INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - MERCOSUR

International Organizations

Mercosur

Characteristics :

Type : Intergovermental

Establishment : Treaty of Asunción (March 26th 1991) and
Protocol of Ouro Preto (December 16th 1994)
Headquarters : Montevideo, San Pablo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas
Official Languages : Spanish, Portuguese, Guarani

Full Members : 5 (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela)
Associated Members : 5 (Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú)
Observer Members : 2 (México, New Zealand)

Area : 19.326.961 km2 (Full members only)
Population : 288.996.820 (2012)
Density : 15 / km2

Description :

Mercosur or Mercosul (Spanish: Mercado Común del Sur, Portuguese: Mercado Comum do Sul, Guarani: Ñemby Ñemuha, in English: “Southern Common Market”) is a sub-regional bloc.

Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Its associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. And, Observer countries are New Zealand and Mexico.

Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. The official languages are Spanish, Portuguese and Guarani. It has been updated, amended, and changed many times since. It is now a full customs union and a trading bloc. Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations are customs unions that are components of a continuing process of South American integration connected to the Union of South American Nations.

Geography :

The territory of Mercosur consists of the combined territories of five of the 12 countries of South America and their population. Including the overseas territories of member states, Mercosur experiences most types of climate from Antarctic to tropical, rendering meteorological averages for Mercosur as a whole meaningless. The majority of the population lives in areas with a subtropical climate (Uruguay, Southern Paraguay, Northeastern Argentina and Southern and Southeastern Brazil), or a tropical climate (Venezuela and Northeastern Brazil).

Merchandise Trade :

Intra-Mercosur merchandise trade (excluding Venezuela) grew from US$10 billion at the inception of the trade bloc in 1991, to US$88 billion in 2010; Brazil and Argentina each accounted for 43% of this total. The trade balance within the bloc has historically been tilted toward Brazil, which recorded an intra-Mercosur balance of over US$5 billion in 2010. Trade within Mercosur amounted to only 16% of the four countries' total merchandise trade in 2010, however; trade with the European Union (20%), China (14%), and the United States (11%) was of comparable importance. Exports from the bloc are highly diversified, and include a variety of agricultural, industrial, and energy goods. Merchandise trade with the rest of the world in 2010 resulted in a surplus for Mercosur of nearly US$7 billion; trade in services, however, was in deficit by over US$28 billion. The EU and China maintained a nearly balanced merchandise trade with Mercosur in 2010, while the United States reaped a surplus of over US$14 billion; Mercosur, in turn, earned significant surpluses (over US$4 billion each in 2010) in its trade with Chile and Venezuela. The latter became a full member in 2012.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Mercosur Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: April 25th, 2016
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 60

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

PERSONALITIES - EDUCATORS - ENRIQUETA COMPTE Y RIQUÉ

Personalities - Educators

Enriqueta Compte y Riqué

Characteristics :

Birth Date : December 31st, 1866
Birth Place : Barcelona - Spain

Decease Date : October 31st, 1949
Decease Place : Montevideo - Uruguay

Occupation : Teacher

Description :

Enriqueta Compte y Riqué (Barcelona, December 31st, 1866 - Montevideo, October 18th, 1949), Uruguayan teacher born in Spain, founder of the first kindergarten of South America in 1892 and famous for having contributed decisively to teaching preschool in Uruguay and Latin America.

Biography :

Daughter of Catalan parents, Enriqueta Compte and Riqué emigrate to Uruguay with his family while still a child.

Despite his myopia, Compte manages to overcome his problem and is dedicated to studying teaching, graduating with only 19 years as a first grade teacher and in 1886 as Senior Master.

In 1887 he was appointed sub-director of the Normal Institute for Women, and during that same year he traveled to Europe on official mission, sent by the government Máximo Tajes to specialize in preschool education. He had entrusted internalize the teachings of Friedrich Froebel, that is why she visit Belgium, Germany, Holland, France and Suiza. She returns from this trip in September 1890. As a result of this trip produced a report which stated: "the hope of realizing in the Republic, the creation of these establishments, as close as possible to the ideal of Froebel, and incorporating public organization of Primary Education."

He published in magazines and books in children between 3 and 6 years old. With psychological and pedagogical methods, their work will be inclined to study children respecting their individuality and personal learning ability.

It was the forerunner of secular education based on social inequalities and overcoming prejudices and obstacles that, in its opinion, were detrimental to the student, but especially for the child as a human being who does not deserve to be marked by a world disparities full of goals and possibilities.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Stamp 1 of 3, from Remarkable Women Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: March 8th, 2016
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamps Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 27 mm. x 39 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ARCHITECTURE – LIGHTHOUSES – G0702 CERRO DE MONTEVIDEO

Architecture - Lighthouses

G0702 Cerro de Montevideo

Characteristics:

International Number : G0702
National Number : 75530

Localization : Cerro Neighbourhood, Montevideo, Uruguay
Coordinates : 34°53’18” S, 56°14’34” O

Built : 1802
Height : 8 m.
Elevation : 148 m. above sea level

Light Color : White
Phases : 10 s.
Range : 19,2 Nautical Miles

Description :

The Lighthouse of "Cerro de Montevideo" is located in Fortress "General Artigas" in the "Cerro" neighborhood, of Montevideo, the Capital city of Uruguay.

The lighthouse has a height of 148 meters, which allows the entrance to the port of Montevideo in a more safe way.

It has a height of 8 meters and a beam range of 19.2 nautical miles.

History :

In September 1799, the Spanish Court decides to install a lighthouse on the Hill of Montevideo.

It was inaugurated and illuminated for the first time on April 4, 1802. It is a circular masonry tower with a dome and a building at the foot. Then, in 1942 the lighting system was electrified, replacing lamps of steam of kerosene by an incandescent lamp of 1500 W of power.

Philatelic Issues

2016 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Carnival Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: February 19th, 2016
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 20

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 32 mm. x 71 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated