(Revised 4/29/10)

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Scott Neufeld “Spain and Morocco’s Geography and Climate”
Dana Bessinger “Pre-Tour Information”
Allen Entz “Morocco”
Jackie Roberts “Spain and Morocco’s Geography and Climate”
Brent Thompson “Agriculture Economics of Spain and Morocco”
Burton Harmon “Real Estate in Spain and Morocco”
Scott Sproul “Livestock Production in Spain and Morocco”
Tim Taylor “Grain Crop of Spain and Morocco”
Charles Rohla “Horticulture Crops of Spain and Morocco” page 1
page 2 page 5 page 7 page 9 page 11 page 12 page 15 page 17 page 20 page 23
John Cothren “Spain’s Government”
Annette Riherd “Morocco’s Government”
Mary Steichen “Spain and Morocco’s Government”
Rose Bonjour “Family Structure, Life and Ordering Dinner in Spain and Morocco”
Kent Switzer “Religion and Cultural Priorities”
Chad Selman “Business Etiquette” page 30
page 36
Carol Cowan “The People, The Heritage, Entertainment and Architecture of Spain and Morocco” page 26 page 27 page 32 page 37 page 42 page 45 page 48
Lisa Blubaugh “Health and Education in Spain and Morocco”
Wesley Crain “Education and Health in Morocco”
Michael Marlow “Overview of Spanish and Moroccan Ag Trade and Trade Agreements
Ryan Luter “Monetary Policy and Banking in Spain and Morocco”
Daniel Skipper “Economic Base, Industry and Workforce of Spain and Morocco” page 49 page 50 page 52 page 55 page 56 page 58 page 61
David McMullen “Imports, Exports, US Compliance and Doing Business in Spain and
Morocco”
Daniel Skipper “Tourist Trade: Suggestions for Spending Money in Spain and Morocco” page 63 page 65
Gary Kafer “Spain and Morocco Transportation and Communication”
Brandon Winters “Transportation and Communication in Spain and Morocco”
Jared Cullison “Infrastructure of Spain” page 67 page 68 page 70 page 71 page 73
John Leonard “Current Events of Spain and Morocco”
Mechelle Hampton “Current Events of Spain and Morocco” page 74 page 77 i

Submissions by:
1

As we divided up the assignment into segments to report, my written document will include the topics of the Spain’s geography, topography, landscape, natural resources, wildlife, water and soil, environment, land use, and changes that are happening in the country today with these areas.
Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula and includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. It is bordered on the west by
Portugal, to the northeast by France, the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest and southwest. The Canary Islands are a group of 13 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of African mainland. They are mostly rugged mountains with some fertile valleys. Spain’s highest mountain, Pico de Teide, which reaches 12,198 feet is on the island of Tenerife. The Balearic Islands are a picturesque group and also combine steep mountains with rolling, fertile ranges in the Mediterranean Sea. Ceuta and Melilla are also parts of Spain but are located on the northern tip of Morocco. The country of Spain is roughly the size of Texas minus the panhandle in land mass and has a population of 45.6 million people. 1
The country is divided into several different geographical regions. The heartland is the Meseta, which is a broad central plateau at approximately ½ mile above sea level. This area is mostly used for the cattle ranching and grain production in Spain. The city of Madrid, the Spain’s Capital city, is found in this central region. In the country’s northeastern region lies the broad valley of the Ebro River, the mountainous region of Catalonia, and the hilly coastal plain of Valencia. Large areas of this region are covered with pasture for grazing and much of it is covered with forest area as well. The Pyrenees Mountain range almost serves as a border between Spain and France. To the northwest is the Cantabrian Mountains which are rugged, heavily forested, with interspersed tall peaks. In the southern region are the irrigated lands of the valley of the Guadalquivir River which are rich in citrus and orchard production. In this area we will also find miles of olive trees in the poorer soils that are not irrigated as well as some extensive grazing lands dotted with stone oak trees. To the south and southwest is Andalucia with Sevilla as it’s largest city. To the south of the river valley are the snowcapped Sierra Nevada. The southern portion of the country is an extension of the Sahara desert of which areas have been made extremely productive by the greenhouse plasticulture. The region of Andalucia is where we will spend most of our time touring, viewing the agriculture in the Mediterranean Valley growing region. This region includes the cities of Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Motril where we will be stopping. From Cordoba we will board the AVE and head northward to Madrid. The Levante is on the Mediterranean coastal belt with Valencia as its chief city. The Balearic Islands attract millions of visitors and retirees especially from northern Europe.
The official language in Spain is Castilian Spanish but in the various regions of the country other dialects are spoken including Catalan, Galician, and Basque. Many will be able to speak enough English to be able to communicate adequately. The religion is predominately Roman Catholic. The currency is the euro of the EU.
Natural Resources in Spain are plentiful with coal mining accounting for a significant proportion of the total mineral production. Other minerals include iron, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, uranium, mercury and gold.
European Union regulations have significantly changed mining in Spain recently. They do not have much natural gas potential as we are familiar with in Oklahoma but they do rely heavily on hydroelectric power provided by many of the northern rivers in Spain. In the early 2000’s Spain became the European Union’s leader in promoting renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and thermoelectric plants. Many wind farms like we see here in the
U.S. are beginning to pop up around the mountain tops of Spain along with solar panels being used as a growing source of renewable power. We were able to witness some of Spain’s initiative in building new dams to reservoir their water resources to secure future water needs. We were able to hear and visit enough to know that water is still the top priority here and the battles over rights and usage are common there also.
Land use in Spain is diverse with about a third of it being arable or farmable land. Another third is considered forests and woodlands. Twenty-one percent is used in permanent pastures with the remaining 9 percent in permanent crops such as citrus, olive, and tree crops. Their irrigated land consists of 13.7 million acres.
Spain’s wildlife is diverse although influenced heavily by their close proximity to Africa. This has caused many of their wildlife species to be more African than native to Spain. The European wolf and the brown bear are found in the scarce wild areas of the northeast. The Barbary ape is indigenous but survives under protection at Gibraltar.
2

The wild boar, wild goat(ibex), and red and fallow deer are common. More than half of the bird species of Europe are found in Coto Donana National Park at the mouth of the Guadalquivir and the Spanish imperial eagle, the eagle owl, the buzzard and several varieties of pheasant are native to the high Pyrenees. Desert locusts have been known to invade southern Spain from North Africa. The country’s waters are diverse as well especially where the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters mix. Species include the red mullet, mackerel, tuna, octopus, swordfish, pilchard and anchovy. Bottom dwelling species such as hake and whiting are also plentiful. Striped dolphin and the long finned whale inhabit the waters off southeastern Spain and the bottlenose dolphin is found off the Ebro delta. Over fishing has been a problem and tended to change the balance of the species.
In Spain there are five major soil types. Alluvial soils are found in the major valleys and coastal plains which are widely distributed. Mountain soils are more poorly developed. Brown forest soils are restricted to humid Galicia and Cantabria areas while acidic southern brown soils are prevalent on the crystalline rocks of the western Meseta which lead to a more limited diversity of crops. Gray, brown, or chestnut soils are prevalent in the eastern Meseta and the eastern seaboard. Saline soils are found in the Ebro Basin and coastal lowlands. Calcretes are a hardened calcium carbonate which are developed in the arid regions of the east.
2
Soil erosion is a major problem in Spain and has created extensive badlands, reduced soil cover, downstream alluviation and more recently the silting of dams and irrigation works. This is most prevalent in the high areas of the central plateau and southern and eastern parts of Spain. One of the main threats to modern Spain is desertification.
This is defined as the impoverishment of arid, semiarid, and even some humid ecosystems caused by the joint impact of drought and human activity. It is estimated that nearly half of Spain is moderately or severely affected.
The government has adopted policies of afforestation but some authorities believe that natural vegetation regrowth would yield more speedy and permanent results. As we visited we were able to witness some of the erosion issues facing them but also were able to see their several year drought being broken by beneficial rainfall in all of this region with dams filled to the brim and rivers flowing bank to bank. There was concern about the integrity of some of the new dams that had been constructed within the last ten years that had not been properly tested yet.
I read one article from the New York Times about the fact that Spain is running out of water. They believe in global warming as the cause along with poor land planning. Farmers are fighting developers over water rights. A province in southeastern Spain, Murcia, has witnessed changes over the past few decades. Land that once yielded wheat and barley watered only by rainfall has now converted to growing almonds. About ten years ago the almonds were converted to organic peaches and pears and most recently have been converted to figs and olives which are more resistant to drought and less sensitive to temperature swings. As you can see, they have their challenges as well dealing with climate and government issues.
3
Our second report to the larger group consisted of a day by day agenda of our itinerary in Spain. Allen Entz and
Jackie Roberts presented this part of the report and I interjected information about the individual hotel accommodations and amenities at each stop. Dana Bessinger presented the potential temperatures and weather we could anticipate at the various regions we will be visiting and the clothing choices as far as raingear, umbrellas, and warm jackets. I concluded the report with some parting thoughts about how we should strive to conduct ourselves as representatives of OALP and the greater Oklahoma and as Americans in a foreign country. I stressed to be aware of our surroundings and the personal humor and how that is perceived from others. Being helpful and courteous in the airports and shopping areas we will find ourselves in can help break the stereotype others will put on us. I also emphasized our need to follow the customs of the areas we will visit when it doesn’t compromise our own country’s values and standards. This was especially felt in our visit to Morocco as they served us with green tea and a small snack upon arrival at our host. We also felt the Muslim impact of this culture with the calls to prayer five times a day. I stressed that we want to have a good time but to be conscious of whom we represent and who is watching us at all times.
REFERENCES:
1 Books, Time Life. LIBRARY OF NATIONS SPAIN . New York City: Time Life Books, 1987. Print.
2 Topography - Spain - average." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about countries of the world, United
Nations, and World Leaders . N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Spain-
TOPOGRAPHY.html#ixzz0VMuVV1Sh
3

3 Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground ." The New York Times [Europe] 3 June 2008: 1,2.
Print
4

PRE-TOUR INFORMATION
DANA BESSINGER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Do NOT eat with your left hand.
Women cannot drink alcohol.
Men are the only ones that can drink alcohol in public.
Do not extend your hand to a man.
It is going to be cold.
It is going to be warm.
You need at least seven shots, including one for malaria.
8.
9.
10.
All you need is a flu shot, if your tetanus is up-to-date.
You can get by with two pair of underwear.
You won’t need your OALP coat.
I’m taking my OALP coat.
11.
12.
13.
14.
All your money should be exchanged before we leave OKC and you better do it before January.
Getting Moroccan money in the USA is very difficult.
All I’d take would be a couple hundred dollars and a credit card.
Make sure all you money is new, crisp bills. 15.
Facts, fiction, and important information regarding Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XIV’s international trip to Spain and Morocco have been running rampant for several months throughout the class. The truth and the answers are about to be discovered for ourselves as we embark on our International Seminar on
February 15 th !
Our group, Group 1 was assigned the report on pre-tour information needed. We met as a group during Seminar X through southeast Oklahoma. We divided up the research, e-mailed info, graphs, charts, and photographs to Jackie and Allen to put together in a power point. Allen and Jackie were to report on Morocco, Scott and myself reported on Spain.
Each of us discovered information though various Internet sites to pass on to the group. We have also heard from speakers such as Barbara Charlet, an ODAFF employee and Dr. Sue Williams who travel worldwide. Dr. John
Caddel and Dr. John Wagner who lived in Africa years ago. Each person had something to add to information we have already received, with a different spin on the information.
Information we presented to the group during Seminar XI included the geography, topography and landscape of
Spain:
•Located on Iberian Peninsula
•Includes Balearic and Canary Islands
•Bordered by Portugal to west
•Bordered by France to NE
•Mediterranean Sea to East and SE
•Atlantic Ocean to NW and SW
•Population of 45.6 million
•Size of Texas, less the panhandle
•Country is organized into autonomous communities
Each having its own regional customs
3 have their own official language
Official language is Castilian Spanish
Christianity is the main religion, predominately Roman Catholic
The latitude of each of the cities in Spain was compared to favorite cities in Oklahoma. Madrid is on the same latitude as Central Park in New York City.
Other information passed on to the class included the important information needed to spend money and get beautiful.
•€0.67=$1 Euro to U.S. dollarsRegarding a Blow Dryer/Flat Iron/Electric Razor:Spain uses 220 volt, 50 cycles, AC for its electricity
5

–
–
Travelers will need electrical converters to operate American appliances.
A plug adapter is needed because the electrical plugs have a different configuration than those in the US.
Madrid is on of the major cities we will visit. Pretour information of Madrid included:
–Stately surroundings
–A city of majestic plazas, grand avenues, and the Retiro Park in style hotels and hip restaurants
–Spain's exalted artistic history covered in three great museums: Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia
–Wonderful walking city
–Official residence of Spain's royal family
Another major city we will visit includes •.Sevilla. The following are some expectation from that area:

Extravagant Moorish architecture of the Alcazar the Spanish royals' pad

Yearning rhythms of flamenco

The splendor of the Catedral de Sevilla, the world’s largest Gothic building

Exceptional Renaissance and medieval art in the equally impressive setting of the Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

In February be sure to bring an umbrella. Almost everybody carries an umbrella.
Other pre-tour information will be left to the traveler to discover. Our international trip to Spain and Morocco has been well planned and anticipated for some time. We are ready to discover if the statements at the beginning of this essay are fact or fiction!
After our amazing International Experience, the about questions were answered. It was appropriate to eat with the left hand if a fork was provided. The left-handed never had to eat with their right hand. The two nights we were in
Morocco, wine was ordered with dinner and perfectly fine for women as well as men to drink. Also in Morocco, the tradition of hand-shaken was accepted. The men we encountered were accepting of a handshake from a woman.
The weather was cool and we wore our OALP coats most every day. It was the rainy season, and umbrellas were used. Those who had received only two shots, flu and tetanus, came home healthy. We were able to exchange money easily after we landed in Malaga. The credit card was accepted many but not all places. A crisp bill was not necessary. Many brought Moroccan money back as souvenirs for their children to take for show and tell at school.
And two pair of underwear was definitely not enough. None of the hotels had a laundry for personal use. Any washing of underwear was in the sink in the hotel room.
The sights and experiences reported by classmates were much better experienced in person rather than on paper. As
I read back over the details of the cities we visited I can now picture with a clear view what is written here.
REFERENCES: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spain-information/geography.htm
http://www.travelinginspain.com/Madrid.html
http://www.travelinginspain.com/euro.htm
http://wikitravel.org/en/Madrid
6

MOROCCO
International travel is a tremendous experience for many, especially with a group. The travel allows for fellowship with fellow travelers, experiencing new sites, and most importantly, it creates a tremendous educational experience of other cultures and the agriculture sector. However, the educational experience begins before you board the plane.
Learning of the area(s) you are visiting prior to your departure can maximize your experience.
Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, Morocco boasts 1,140 miles of shoreline. The majority of Morocco’s land border is shared with Algeria to the east and the remainder being shared with Western Sahara to the south. Morocco is a close neighbor to Spain, separated by the 9 mile wide Strait of Gibraltar off the northern section of the country. Located in the Strait, the Rock of Gilbraltar stands 1,396 feet high. The Rock was transferred to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1713 after the War of the Spanish Succession.
With a population of approximately 30,000, the Rock attracts many tourists each year for its wildlife and large network of underground tunnels. The land area of Morocco is 172,413 square miles, compared to 69,957 square miles in Oklahoma and is most comparable in size to the state of California. (Cia.gov)
When you think of natural resources in the state of Oklahoma, the obvious come to mind: Oil, natural gas (we are the third largest gas producing state in the nation), wind, wheat and cattle. The natural resources in Morocco are: phosphates, fish, citrus, manganese, lead, silver and copper. OALP Class XIV has gained firsthand knowledge of the affects of lead mining after our tour of what was once the largest lead mines in the world located in Picher,
Oklahoma . (John Sparkman, Picher Housing Authority) With this knowledge and recent experience, it will be interesting to observe the environmental and health impact, if any, of lead mining in Morocco. With phosphate being an important natural resource of Morocco, fertilizer is obviously a product of the country. Morocco utilizes the power of cooperatives to benefit their citrus production, very similar to coops in the States.
With the diverse terrain and climate that Morocco has, the country naturally has an interesting lineup of wildlife.
The Gregarious Barbary Macaque, also known as the Barbary Ape, is considered an Old World monkey and is found in Morocco. The tailless animal weighs between 10 and 25 pounds and ranges between 15 and 30 inches in length. They are a yellow brown color and their front limbs are longer than their hind limbs. The well known cheetah also calls Morocco home. This spotted cat is decreasing in numbers and is listed as a ‘vulnerable species’.
Decrease in the availability of prey and overly-aggressive hunting has led to this classification. Though most visitors never encounter the renowned Egyptian Cobra, they are present in Morocco. Though the Egyptian Cobra does not go out of its way to make contact with humans, when threatened the snake does raise its’ hood. These snakes are more likely to be found in cultivated farmland, open fields or arid landscapes.
Despite most people having an impression of Morocco as being desert country, it is known for having a tremendous fishing territory in the Atlantic Ocean. The fishing in the area is not just limited to ocean waters, but also many rivers, streams and lakes. These waters not only attract tourists, but are also a way of life for many Moroccans.
Some of the fish found in Morocco are similar to that of the United States and even Oklahoma. These fish include: trout, pike, perch, black bass, carp, barbells and eels.
The very same waters that produce such abundant and diverse type of fish have suffered greatly in the recent past.
Over-fishing has contributed to this problem, but changes are being made. Authorities have implemented restrictions on fishermen, including permits and limits. The continuous battle of over-fishing is not just the result of
Moroccan fishermen, but also from fishermen from nearby Spain. Another real and present threat to the countries fish supply is the contamination of the country’s inland water supplies. This contamination is caused by waste dumping, litter and lack of soil conservation efforts. However, in recent years, conservation practices along with
7

educating the public have been implemented. These efforts are proving to be beneficial to Morocco’s important resource. ( www.morocco.com
)
Over the course of traveling across the state of Oklahoma, we have learned of many different types of tourism and the need for it. Our educational opportunities have ranged from the Thomas P. Stafford Air and Space Museum in
Weatherford, learning about the Peanut Shoppe in Durant or touring the Wild Horse Gallery and Art Center in
Guymon and many places in between. These stops along our path have proved that there are development opportunities no matter the location. On a much larger scale, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI saw the need in 2001 to launch a tourism policy for the country, known as Vision 2010.
The King recognized that his country had been underachieving in the tourism sector. With this observation, the King believed the combination of the country’s climate, culture and beautiful scenery would make Morocco a world traveler’s destination. Spain, the close neighbor to the north, is the third most visited country in the world by international tourist. France is first, followed by The United States then closely by Spain. (Eduardo Vandoorne, Malaga Guides) With Spain being a main tourist destination, all Morocco needs to do is entice those same travelers to cross the narrow Strait of Gilbraltar and discover their beautiful country.
Vision 2010 aimed at significantly boosting the number of annual visitors to the country from 2 million in 2001 to
10 million by the end of 2010. Seven million of these visitors are international visitors. This plan would have a significant impact on the country because tourism makes up 20% of the country’s GDP. In addition to a boost in
GDP, this plan has created over 600,000 new jobs.
In order to achieve this vision, six “Plan Azur” areas were identified. These areas were all established on stretches of beautiful coastline with untapped tourist potential. Each of these areas was given a theme to be the centerpiece of development in the area. Entertainment in each of these areas range from golf courses, sports, casinos, local arts and crafts to luxury spas. The plan has moved along with impressive efficiency and Morocco has been identified by a
London agency as the second largest desirable area in overseas travel. ( www.essentialmorocco.com
)
Realizing untapped resources, whether it’s within a rural Oklahoman town or along the beautiful coasts of Morocco, is key to long term sustainability and well-being.
REFERENCES:
The World Factbook, Africa-Morocco ; www.cia.gov
; Accessed January 13, 2010
John Sparkman, Picher Housing Authority, personal/class communication, November 12, 2009
The Morocco Channel, Wildlife – Discover the Barbary Macaque or the Camels of Morocco ; www.morocco.com
;
Accessed January 13, 2010
Eduardo Vandoorne, Malaga Guides, personal/class communication, February 20, 2010
Essential Morocco, Morocco Investment Brief ; www.essentialmorocco.com
; Accessed January 13, 2010
8

SPAIN AND MOROCCO’S GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE AND TRIP PREPARATION
Jackie Roberts
Morocco, located in far northern Africa, is an exciting three-day stop on the international tour. While traveling internationally, it’s important to learn about all aspects of the country you are visiting as well as travel tips. This report includes Morocco vs. Oklahoma climate, geography and weather patterns, electricity and voltage differences, currency, time difference, and traveling tips to prevent jet lag.
Morocco is located in northwest Africa and has a diverse climate and weather pattern. Morocco’s climate is
Mediterranean with the more extreme environment toward the interior of the country. The climate resembles
California and northwestern Mexico in nature. Splitting the landscape from north to southwest are two mountain chains; the Middle Atlas and the High Atlas. The land between the two mountain chains has rolling hills and is very beautiful. The land to the south and east of the mountain chains becomes very arid the closer it is to the Sahara
Desert. (CultureGrams) The coastal areas, in the north and west have much milder winters and the temperature is more pleasant. The coldest time of year in Morocco is during February; however, temperatures can be quite pleasant depending on which area of the country you are visiting. Temperatures have a high average of 71˚
Fahrenheit and an average low of 47˚ Fahrenheit in the subtropical areas of the country. February is considered part of the rainy season and rainfall averages four inches during this time of year. (Morokko-Info) While in Morocco, the rainfall was much higher than average. They have experienced mudslides from all the rain and many of the fields we drove by were flooded; however the landscape was very green and beautiful due to the rainfall.
In comparison, Oklahoma’s climate is continental. Air from the Gulf Coast moves north into Oklahoma and has a large influence on the humidity and precipitation of the southern and eastern portion of the state. The western and northern portion of the state is drier in comparison. Temperatures of 90˚ Fahrenheit or more occur anywhere from an average of 60 days per year in the northern part of the state, an average of 115 days per year in the southwest and
85 days per year in the southeast. In the winter months, temperatures of 32˚ Fahrenheit or less have occurred an average of 60 days per year in the southeast and an average of 110 days per year where the panhandle joins the rest of the state. (Arndt, 2003)
Oklahoma’s terrain consists primarily of plains, varying from flat in the west to rolling in the central and eastern parts of the state. The state does feature mountainous areas, including the Wichita Mountains in the southwest, the
Arbuckle Mountains in the south-central and the Ouachita Mountains in the southeast. The two main rivers flowing through the state are the Arkansas river, in the northern two-thirds of the state, and the Red river, in the southern section of the state. (Arndt, 2003)
Morocco’s terrain ranges from coastal, in the northern and western portion of the country, to mountainous, in the middle and flatter in the southern border closer to the Sahara Desert. The primary mountains in Morocco include the Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti Atlas. Temperatures in the Atlas Mountains can go below zero degrees and remain snow capped throughout the year. (Focus Multimedia)
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (Dh or MAD) and is worth 0.12827 US Dollar (USD) per 1 MAD. The larger cities do have ATM’s to convert money and recommended to use while in Morocco. Coins are available in
5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, Dh 1, Dh 2, Dh 5, Dh 10 although coins smaller than 20c aren’t seen very often. Paper money is available in denominations of Dh 10, Dh 20, Dh 50, Dh 100 and Dh 200. If you decide to bring US currency into the country, it is recommended to bring the new $100 and $20 bills as some exchange offices may refuse to exchange the old style currency. (Wikitravel)
Electricity and voltage differ in Spain and Morocco as to the United States. The voltage in Spain and Morocco is
220 volts alternating at 50 cycles per second and the outlets have a two-pin plug known as the Europlug. Equipment
9

or appliances that require heat and a motor, such as a hair dryer, will require a power converter as well as an adapter.
(Wikitravel) The plugs in Morocco look like the following depiction:
Morocco is six hours ahead of Oklahoma and flight schedule and time difference may cause jet lag; however, several tips can be used to prevent exhaustion. It is highly recommended to drink plenty of fluids and stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks. When your body is hydrated it does not get as tired or worn out and drinking plenty of water will help deter sickness. It’s also recommended to stay on your regular sleep schedule as close as possible to prevent jet lag. The departing flight to Spain is overnight and will land in the morning in Madrid, therefore sleeping during the flight would be optimal. In correlation with this, you should try staying awake all day once landing in Spain. This will help you sleep better your first night of arrival and help your body adjust to the time zone. It’s also recommended to try to go to sleep around the same time that you would normally at home. In comparison, the returning flight to Oklahoma City is during the day and it is recommended to stay awake as much as possible so that your body can adjust back to normal schedule. To adjust to mealtimes, it’s a good idea to eat several small meals throughout the day rather than big meals if possible. Eating several smaller meals or snacks will help keep your body energized and adjust to different meal times. Remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes on the flight as this will help you relax. You may also want to get up and walk around the plane to stretch out your legs.
Baggage should be limited to one checked bag per person. The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches
(length + width + height). The maximum weight per checked bag is 50 lbs. One carry-on bag is permitted and you may also carry a coat, umbrella and purse. Please heed the baggage restrictions and don’t pack more than you will need. Visit the following website to help with baggage packing. www.TSATravelTips.us
(Agrotours, Inc.)
REFERENCES:
Agrotours, Inc. (© 1999-2009) Agrotours Travel Hints – 2010 .
Arndt, D. (2003, January 1). The Climate of Oklahoma . Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://cig.mesonet.org/climateatlas/doc60.html
.
CultureGrams World Edition 2010. Kingdom of Morocco.
Retrieved from ProQuest LLC on October 2009, from www.culturegrams.com
.
Focus Multimedia. Geography and Climate of Morocco . Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.focusmm.com/morocco/mo_geog1.htm
.
Morokko-Info. Morocco’s Climate – There is a season . Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.marokkoinfo.nl/english/climate-of-morocco .
Wikitravel. Morocco Travel Guide . Retrieved October 2009, from http://wikitravel.org/en/Morocco .
10

Submissions by:
11

In analyzing the basic economic factors of the agriculture products of the countries of Spain and Morocco, one will find that the overall impact on the respective country’s total economy is somewhat different. I will attempt to point out these differences and also how they compare with the United States.
Both Spain and Morocco have similar types of agriculture products that they produce. These products include olives and olive oil, oranges, mandarins, fish and wine.
SPAIN
In terms of land mass, Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe and ranks second in elevation after
Switzerland. In total, Spain has 50.5 million hectares (123,500,000 acres) of which only 20.6 hectares or roughly
40% is suitable for cultivation. In comparison to other Western European countries, Spain’s land devoted to agriculture is relatively low. Of the land that is cultivated, only about 17% of it is irrigated. However, of this irrigated land, it is estimated that it supplies between 40%-45% of the gross value of crop production and 50% of the value of agriculture exports.
Spain’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is worth $1.6 trillion dollars or 2.56% of the world’s economy. The definition of GDP is everything produced by all the people and all the companies within a particular country.
Spain’s entire economy is the fifth largest in Europe and the twelfth largest in the entire world. The economy of
Spain has been growing at an average rate of .85% from 2000 through 2007 and into the second quarter of 2008.
Then beginning in the third quarter of 2008, Spain like the rest of the world felt the effects of the global recession.
Year to date 2009, Spain’s total GDP has contracted 1%. In looking at Spain compared to the United States, our entire GDP is worth $14.2 trillion dollars with our economy being the largest in the world constituting over 23% of the world economy.
The chart below will show the trend of Spain’s GDP growth rate from 2006 to 2009. The chart also shows the
United States’ GDP growth rate during the same time frame.
GDP Growth Rate
April 2006 - October 2009
4.00%
3.00%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00%
Ap
-1.00% r-06
-2.00%
-3.00%
-4.00%
O ct-
06
Ap r-07
O ct-
07
Ap r-08
O ct-
08
Ap r-09
O ct-
09
Spain
USA
-5.00%
Agriculture only provides 4% to Spain’s GDP. The majority of their GDP is made up of services and industries
(96%). Once again in comparing this to the United States’ GDP, only 1% of the USA’s GDP is derived from agriculture with services and industry making up the remaining portion.
On our tour of Spain, the greatest technique that really caught my attention was the use of greenhouses for fruit and vegetable production. The incredible number of greenhouses in Almeria was overwhelming. To see them in person
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is best described as a sea of white rippling plastic blowing in sync with the rolling waves of the Mediterranean with no definition between the two. In 1974 there were basically no greenhouses in the region and today they occupy 3% of the total land mass of Spain which is roughly the size of Texas. As can be seen from the graphic below, this 3% accounts for 35% of Spain’s total annual agriculture output.
100%
6%
3%
8%
17%
8%
10%
48%
6%
35%
5%
10%
4%
25%
Others (inc. Forage)
Vegetables
Industrials & Legumes
Olive oil
Vineyards
Orchards
Cereals
16%
0%
Crop Breakdown Final Output
Source: John Deere Ibérica S.A.
PowerPoint
Agriculture in Spain has made such an impact on me because just as in the United States, Spain has seen a decrease in the number of farms over the past couple of decades. In 1990, Spain had nearly 1.6 million farms and this number has fallen to just over 1.0 million farms in 2007. I also found the statistics of the average age of the Spanish farmer interesting as well. In 1986, 58% of the farmers fell in the category of 25-54 years old. However, in 2005, this number increased to nearly 71% showing that a younger generation is becoming more interested in agriculture.
During that approximate same time frame, average annual farm revenue had increased by almost 250%. So even though there has been a noticeable loss in actual farm numbers, their agricultural industry has exploded in revenue while drawing in a younger generation of farmers. I believe this resurgence of a younger generation of farmers and increase in agricultural revenue is directly correlated to their fruit and vegetable production within their greenhouses. The upsurge of greenhouses in Spain was very inspiring to me as a fourth generation family farmer. I can see the use of greenhouses expanding within the United States as a potential way to bring our youth back to farming while providing an efficient and fresh product that meets the needs of the consumer.
Strictly from a GDP standpoint, even with a relatively small amount of agriculture production percentage wise,
Spain is considered to be Western’s Europe’s leading producer of crops. Spain is the world’s largest producer and exporter of olives and olive oil and the world’s 3 rd largest exporter of wine. They also produce a great deal of citrus fruits along the Mediterranean coastline.
MOROCCO
Morocco is a country located in the northern tip of Africa. The country is located south of Spain just across the
Strait of Gibraltar. Morocco has a total land mass of 44.7 million hectares (110.3 million acres), however, only 8.55 million hectares (21.1 million acres) is arable with only 1/7 of this land having irrigation. Unlike Spain, Morocco’s
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economy is highly reliant on agriculture. This reliance does not necessarily show in the make up of their GDP, but nearly 40% of their entire country’s 32 million people depend on agriculture for a living.
Morocco’s total GDP is worth $128.3 billion dollars or roughly less than 1% of that of the United States. The entire economy of Morocco is considered to be the 54 th largest economy in the world.
Morocco is highly reliant on agriculture to aide in feeding their country but has to import many goods such as grains, sugar, coffee and tea. More than 40% of Morocco's consumption of grains and flour is imported from the
United States and France. Exports include fish, vegetables, citrus, olive oil and wine. The majority of their exports are sent north through Spain then traveling throughout Europe.
REFERENCES:
"Agriculture in Morocco." Agriculture in Morocco . Wikipedia. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Morocco
"Agriculture in Spain." Agriculture in Spain . Wikipedia. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Spain
Solsten, Eric, and Sandra W. Meditz. Spain-Agriculture . Tech. Library of Congress. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://countrystudies.us/spain/57.htm
Spain GDP Growth Rate . Rep. Trading Economics. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=ESP Spain . Rep.
The Tellus Mission. Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://www.ceja.educagri.fr/en/pays/espa.htm
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The way I approached this assignment was to look up a few properties for sale in Spain and Morocco. This was a great topic to do a power point presentation on, however this is a little tougher to write about. It is hard to find very much information written in English.
The first property in Spain was called a farm on the web site, but is not much of a farm in my book. I included it anyway. This property was 2.249 m2, with three houses on it. It has a view of the sea for a whopping 542.000 euro.
That is $811,211 for 0.000555 acres. It does have a roof top pool with white stucco walls and red clay roofs.
The next property is a better example of a true farm. This farm is located in Alicante. This place is a little heavy on the houses, just like the first property. This one has five. This is a multi use property with farm ground, vineyards and game farms, totaling 718 HA. The asking price of 9.000.000 euro is approximately $13,470,300.00.
At 1,774 acres that is almost $7600 per acre.
In the town of Alpujarra there is an organic olive farm. This property is 11 HA with a house. The farm is priced at
248.000 euro, that is $371,181 for 27.2 acres. The price per acre comes to $13,646. The price per acre seems high but the next property is another olive farm in the town of Alpjarra. This place did not mention a house and the price per acre is comparable at $10,921. That is $808,218 for 74.13 acres. For all of you who are wandering that is
540.000 euro for 30HA.
Near the town of Cordoba is the most interesting farm that I located for sale in Spain. This is not the largest I found at only 300 ha (220 ha of olive plantation and 80 ha of grazing land), but it has the most. This farm has a fully automatic irrigation, with computerized fertilization, huge water reservoirs and pumping stations. The very complete machine park includes ten modern tractors, harvesting machinery, pick up trucks and all the necessary tools. The stables will hold 70 horses and most of the horse feed is raised on the farm. The horses are looked after by a permanent staff of two, there is an additional staff of six for the rest of the farm, and more are hired during the harvest season.
The main house has several reception rooms with open fireplaces and beamed ceilings on the ground floor as well as two kitchens, one of them is used for industrial catering of bigger events. On the upper floor are six double bedrooms with two bathrooms and the master suite. There are also staff quarters with six bedrooms, a kitchen and living room.
As far as olive production, 75% of the olives are for consumption. The remaining 25% are for oil production. There are subsidies available for approximately 20-30% of the market price.
Speaking of price you are probably wandering what the the grand total is, drum roll please, tap tap tap tap tap........
12.000.000 euros that comes to $17,960,400 for about 741 acres. The price per acre is irrelevant, but with all the extras it comes to $24,238.
There are only two farms that I found available in Morocco. The first was near El Jadida. This farm is 2.5 ha located on a blacktop road with electricity. The price is non negotiable at 70.000 euros. That is $105,070 for 6.2 acres. In dollars per acre this property seems high at over $16,000!
The last property is a 7 acre apple farm located in the city of Midelt. The price is a100.000 euros. That is $150,050 in U.S. dollars. That comes to $21,435 per acre.
After traveling to Spain and Morocco, I have new insight about the real-estate market and building industry there.
For instance, in Morocco the buildings in the cities were concrete framed with red tile bricks for walls. The walls were then covered, by hand with concrete. For the most part this was the only form of constructing large buildings. Unlike the United States there were not many land for sale signs, in fact I only saw one, and it was for a citrus grove. If you were going to sell land in Morocco this would be the year to sell, because everything was wet and green.
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The thing that stood out to me in Spain was the fact that with all of the green houses a half a hector farm really is realistic. In Spain, there are 27,000 hectors of green houses. These allow numerous people to make a living on a small amount of land each. Another thing that stood out was the fact that it was hard to tell where one farm stopped and another farm started, even in the olive and farm country. Here in the U.S. you can usually tell where one farm stops and another starts, farming practices, fencing and just general up keep are distinguishing factors. I could not see those differences in Spain. The last thing that I noticed was there were several large abandoned buildings along the road ways. It seemed that at one time Spain was a growing and prosperous country then fell on hard times and the buildings were abandoned. When the next good times came the buildings were not reused or torn down, they are just forgotten. Spain is in the middle of this world wide “economic crisis” and it will be interesting to see if they abandon these buildings and start over or will they reuse what is there?
REFERENCES : http://www.iberianature.com/directory/farming-in-spain/ http://countrystudies.us/spain/57.htm http://www.ceja.educagri.fr/en/pays/espa.htm http://www.realigro.com/properties-for-sale-spain/Land-for-sale-Spain.php http://realestate.classifieds1000.com/Spain/Andalusia_/Plot_in_Andalusia_1 http://www.allspanishproperty.com/148_listing_Commercial-Properties__Organic-Olive- Farm-for-sale-in-
Spain.html http://www.allspanishproperty.com/90_listing_Rural-Property__Olive-farm-for-sale-in- Alpujarra.html http://www.imagesofandalucia.com/properties_detail.php?cat=29&property_id=722 http://farms.glo-con.com/property.php?property_no=AD1_24953 http://farms.glo-con.com/property.php?property_no=AD1_16706 http://www.moulin.nlspain-farm-for-sale.html
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Agriculture in Spain has many similarities to agriculture in the United States. Types of production such as animals and crops parallel those that we Americans produce to feed ourselves and the world. Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe and has a climate that is much like we are used to here in Oklahoma. It can be bitterly cold in the winter months but change to a sweltering heat in the summer. With this extreme change in climate from season to season and the different types of terrain that are scattered throughout the country, there is a diverse amount of species of animals produced in Spain to utilize productivity from the forages and grains produced. Swine,
Poultry, Beef, and Mutton are the main livestock produced in Spain, and they are mostly produced for meat consumption.
The swine industry is the most important meat producing livestock sector in Spain’s agriculture. Spain’s total number of swine number only eleven million head, which is a fraction of the 116 million head of pigs located in the
United States. Swine production in the northern regions of Spain is somewhat similar to that here in the United
States. The pigs are concentrated and grown until ready for slaughter. Although it is not on as large of a scale as what we see here in western Oklahoma and other parts of the United States, it is fashioned in a similar way. This is in a large part due to the production of grains and the forages necessary to grow the animals. A higher rainfall amount annually enables more modern farming practices to be used and the land is able to be more productive.
Small grains are produced and are able to be fed back to the swine to grow them. When you move to the central uplands and higher elevation areas of Spain, the climate becomes more arid and the land is not as productive. Some swine production occurs in this area but these animals are generally un-penned and not fed the higher concentration diets as those in the northern regions. The swine production of Spain has some similarities that we practice in
America but not on as large of a scale.
The poultry industry in Spain has experienced a rapid growth in numbers and production. Most of the poultry produced in Spain is for meat production much like it is done here in the United States. Catalonia, located along the northeast coast of Spain, has played home to the expanding poultry industry. This is due to the highly productive land, which many different crops and grains, such as maize, are produced to feed the chickens. The demand for chicken has increased partly due to the outbreak of BSE in some European countries. People have changed to poultry products feeling they are consuming a safer product.
The cattle industry of Spain has some similarities and some differences to the cattle industry of the United States.
Five million head of cattle occupy Spain, which is small in comparison to the 101 million head located here in the
United States. The dairy industry makes up a large portion of the cattle numbering 1.9 million head, nearly half of the total numbers. Oxen make up 25% of the total cattle numbers, as they are used for draft purposes. One unique industry within the cattle sector is the bulls produced for the bull rings. This make up 2% of the cattle produced in
Spain. The main cattle areas are again located in the north and northwest regions where the land is more productive and rain is more prominent.
Sheep production on the other hand is a much larger industry in Spain than in the United States. Total sheep numbers total 17 million head which is much larger than the 2.5 million head we occupy here. Sheep are becoming increasingly more popular for meat production. They are primarily used for producing wool, milk and cheese. The sheep in Spain are mostly raised in the central parts of the country where the elevations are higher and less grass is grown. The sheep are able to utilize these areas more efficiently than some of the other species of livestock produced in Spain.
Animal agriculture in Spain is comparable to that here in the United States. The same types of animals are produced, much like we do, but only in smaller numbers. Reflecting back on the trip and having the opportunity to see animal production in Spain, there are ways that the Spanish are more advanced and other ways they are years behind the Americans in production agriculture. One way I felt they were ahead of us was in terms of their use of cooperatives. The Covap cooperative we visited outside of Cordoba amazed me in terms of how they work with producers in all aspects of their production. They did this from providing feed for the livestock all the way to the final marketing of the products produced. On the other hand the ranch we visited in Spain had a very big challenge
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with the low demand of beef in Spain. I also found it interesting how they do not castrate or dehorn any of the bulls produced in the country.
Moroccan agriculture is somewhat similar to that of Spain and the United States. Morocco has a slightly larger land area but smaller population than Spain by about ten million people. Fifty percent of the total land in Morocco is used for agriculture and grazing and 40% of the population is involved in agriculture. But one of the biggest factors affecting the agriculture crops and production in Morocco is the sporadic rainfall from year to year. Although, the
2009 rainfall totals look to show improved outputs in the Moroccan agriculture industry. As a whole, the same livestock species are grown in Morocco and Spain with the exception of swine. This is due to the overwhelmingly large Muslim population. Poultry, sheep, cattle and goats are the top livestock species that are raised, along with a small amount of donkeys, mules, horses, and camels. Sheep, cattle, and goats provide nearly all of the red meat production. Most of the red meat is produced in extensive systems based upon vegetation and crop by-products.
According to ilri.org, “estimates indicate that the contribution of livestock production to total agriculture production declined from one-third in 1969 to less than one-quarter in 1987”. Most of the farmers in Morocco own less than five hectares of land, but they have 60% of the cattle and 50% of the sheep on one quarter of cultivable land. Most
Moroccan farmers invest in livestock as insurance against crop failure.
Sheep and goat production are large parts of the Moroccan livestock industry. There are 16 million sheep and nearly five million goats in the country. Sheep production numbers are much smaller in the United States, but the trends in numbers are much the same. United States sheep numbers have fallen over a sixty year period from 56 million head in 1942 to the current 2.5 million head today. Moroccan sheep production is declining in importance of economic activity, but is moving toward more integration within crop production areas. This is largely due to the degradation of forests and rangeland because of poor management. Most of the sheep are compromised of local breeds with a small portion of imported meat breeds being brought in for cross breeding for meat production.
Goat production numbers are similar in Morocco and the United States with Morocco having 4.8 million and the
U.S. having and little over 3 millions goats. These animals are produced for meat and milk production much like in
America. U.S. goat production has been rapidly increasing unlike that of Morocco which has stayed steady.
American goat production has been increasing mostly due to the increase in the Hispanic culture.
Cattle production in Morocco includes three main systems of production, which are dairy, mixed, and beef. This is somewhat similar to our cattle production except we are mostly beef production with some dairy. Cattle numbers are much smaller in Morocco than here in the United States. Morocco has a total of 2.5 million cattle compared to the 100 million head here in the United States. Dairy production is similar to what we see in America only on a much smaller scale. High production Holstein and Friesian breeds, like those in the U.S., are based on irrigated land where adequate forages and feed concentrates are produced to feed the cows. Production varies but in some of the more productive regions cows can produce up to 6,800 Liters of milk per animal unit annually, compared to 21,374 gallons per animal in the U.S.
The mixed system of cattle production is a dual purpose animal that is used for meat and milk production. These animals produce less milk than the Holstein dairy cows, but also produce calves that are more suitable for meat production than the dairy cattle. These cattle are located in the higher rainfall areas.
Beef cattle production is the final cattle system located in Morocco. These cattle are compromised of local breeds that are not near as productive as our beef cattle in the U.S. Moroccan cattle produce an average of 135 Kg of carcass weight compared to carcass weights of 800 pounds in the United States.
Poultry production plays a large role in meat consumption in Morocco. Thirty-five percent of total meat consumption comes from poultry along with 1.4 billion eggs produced annually. Other animal in Morocco include
820,000 donkeys 470,000 mules, 200,000 horsed, 60,000 camels, and 10,000 pigs. Although these animals don’t have as many numbers as other species of livestock, their importance is still a vital key to Moroccan livestock production.
Livestock production in Morocco has its similarities and differences to production in the U.S. Several of the same species are raised like we do in the United States, but after traveling across the country of Morocco, it was evident
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that the livestock as a whole are produced in a much more primitive way than what we are used to. While traveling we encountered many people herding their flocks of sheep or goats numbering around 25 head trying to find something green for them to eat. We would occasionally see a small herd of cattle doing the same. Although, we did get the opportunity to visit a large ranch that keeps around 1,000 Santa Gertrudis cows and produce beef to feed the people of Morocco. This ranch had great vision and is trying to upgrade the type of cattle being produced in the area, but they have a barrier of available commodities to feed these cattle. It was very interesting to see first hand the livestock production in another country and really made me appreciate not only what I have, but the freedom opportunities that I have available to me here at home.
REFERENCES:
Spencer, . "Overview of the United States Meat Goat Industry." Alabama Cooperative Extension
System (2008): n. pag. Web. 14 Jan 2010. http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP -0104/
National Research Council, . "Changes in the Sheep Industry in the United States." Report in the
Brief (2008): n. pag. Web. 14 Jan 2010. http://dels.nas.edu/dels/rpt_briefs/SheepFinal.pdf
USDA, . " July 1 Cattle Inventory Down 1 Percent." National Agricultural Statistic s Service
(2009): n. pag. Web. 14 Jan 2010. http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUB S/TODAYRPT/catl0709.txt
Solsten, Eric. " Spain: A Country Study." Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress (1988): n. pag. Web. 14 Jan 2010. http://countrystudies.us/spain/59.htm
Boulanouar, B. "Morocco Country Paper." Unknown (1993): n. pag. Web. 14 Jan 2010. http://www.ilri.org/InfoServ/Webpub/Fulldocs/Wana/Morocco.htm
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The crops that are grown in these two countries are similar to the crops that we grow here in Oklahoma and in other surrounding states. Let’s start with one of the most important crops to Oklahoma - wheat.
Wheat is grown in all parts of Oklahoma as well as in Spain. Farmers in Spain grow more types of wheat than we do here in Oklahoma. The two most popular types are soft wheat, which accounts for about 75% of Spain’s total wheat production. This is mainly grown in the northern part of Spain. Durum wheat accounts for the other 25% and is mainly grown in the southern part of the country (as seen below).
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Morocco raises the same types of wheat as Spain. Although both countries grow a significant amount of wheat, this is not there main grain crop. The main grain crop is barley. Spain is ranked 4 th globally in barley production. Grains cover about 10% of Spain’s cultivated lands and 10% of that area is irrigated. Most of the irrigated land is used for corn production and wheat and barley are grown out in the dryer areas, which is usually more of the upland areas where rainfall is less abundant.
Spain and Morocco both lack the land mass that it would take to grow enough grain to be self sufficient so they must both rely on imports from the US and other countries. Even in a good year Spain typically has to import about 12 million tons of grain. This past year this cost Spain approximately 3 billion dollars. More recently, as of January 7,
2010, Spain has imported 134.8 thousand tons this week and as of a year ago they imported 363.8 thousand tons of
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wheat. Morocco has imported 128.6 thousand tons this week which is up from a year ago when they only imported
19.6 thousand tons. This spike is due to drought conditions being felt in this region.
Let’s touch on some of the other grain crops that are grown in Spain. Maize is one of the other main crops followed closely by rice and corn. Other crops that are very important to Spain are sugar beets in which they produce sugar, olives in which they make olive oil, and potatoes. Spain is also very well known for their fruits and vegetables. They are ranked 3 rd in global wine production.
I found some interesting information on other uses for Spain’s wheat and barley crops. They are using them for the production of ethanol. Spain uses wheat, barley and waste from winery processing as the main raw materials. In the town of Salamanca the new plant will use barley as feedstock for about 85% of production and wine and alcohol waste making up the difference. Currently the plant uses just over 700 thousand tons of grain (wheat and barley) which produce about 250 thousand tons of distiller’s grain. A new plant in Salamanca will increase the grain usage to about 1.5 million tons which will come mainly from barley and increase the production of distiller’s grain to about 500 thousand tons. Corn is not used in the production of ethanol in Spain nor do they foresee using it in the future, because barley and wheat are far more extensively grown and more accessible for the plants.
Morocco has many of the same crops as Spain does. Morocco produces sugar beets, citrus fruits, grapes, olives, beans and other lentils. As much food as Morocco produces they must import a portion of the products that they consume. They produce a considerable amount of product compared to the small number of acres that they have available for production. Only about 20% of Morocco is cultivated due to severe drought with much of the other land being either mountains or desert.
REFERENCES: www.reuters.com
www.countrystudies.us/spain
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The area of horticulture is a critical component of the agricultural industries in Spain and Morocco. In both countries, horticulture accounts for a high percentage of the agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a substantial percentage of the labor industry. Primary horticultural crops from these countries include citrus, deciduous fruits, olives and olive oil, nuts, wine, cut flowers and vegetables. Both countries use extensive irrigation and some of the most advanced technology and techniques to produce these horticulture crops. One key method of production is greenhouse technology, which is utilized in both countries and has turned large areas of unproductive land into highly intensive vegetable and fruit production areas. Horticulture crops in both countries are highly productive and most of the produce that is produced is exported into the European Union.
In Spain, horticulture crop production has a value equal to that of the livestock, dairy and poultry sectors combined and accounts for 70% of total agricultural exports (Spain; Overview, 2010). Spain’s grape industry accounts for over 17% of all acres worldwide devoted to grape production (FAO, 2010). In fact, Spain has the largest area in the world devoted to vineyards. Vineyards are scattered across almost all regions throughout Spain. Numerous vineyards are located on sites unsuitable for other crop production. Overall production quality is poor on these sites and the grapes that are harvested are used for juices and raisins and not desirable for wines. Nevertheless, Spain is well known for its wines. Some of the world’s finest wines are produced in the regions with good fertile soils and a large number of the wines are very affordable (The Best Wines & Vineyards, 2010). Spain is best known for its production of reds, whites, sherry and champagne. There are more than 5,500 wineries located in this region which produces over 870 million gallons of wine yearly (Spain Wineries, 2010).
Another strong segment of Spanish horticulture is olive production. Spain is the world’s leader in production of olives with over 300 million trees. Of the 2.1 million hectares (5.19 million acres) devoted to olive groves, 92% are dedicated to olive oil production (Iberia Nature, 2010). Olive trees have an extensive history in this region of the world. Some of the trees in Spain have been in production for over 1,000 years (Vossen, 1997).
Spain also has a history of intensive fruit tree production. It leads Western Europe in citrus production and is the world’s leading exporter of oranges and mandarins. Spain is also the world’s largest fresh citrus exporter (70% of production exported into Europe) and fourth in overall citrus production behind Brazil, the U.S. and China (Witney and Chao, 2000). In addition, Spain has one of the highest productions of grapefruit, lemons and limes in the world, second only to Italy. Other tree crops grown in large quantity include apples, bananas, figs, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches and nuts (Solsten and Meditz, 1988).
Fruit and vegetable production in Spain has dramatically changed over the past 20 years. This has led Spain to become one of the world’s leading producers of fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables are a significant economic sector in Spanish agriculture, accounting for over 30% of the total output and almost 50% of export of food and agriculture products (Arias Canete, 2002).
Spain is also the leading country in organic production with over 1,250,000 hectares (2,675,000 acres) of certified organic fields in 2008 (Spain, 2010).
In southern Spain, in the area of Almeria, there has been a significant increase in agricultural production over the past 20 years. There has been over 45,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of greenhouse crops grown in what was once desert land. The crops that dominate this area are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, muskmelons, and watermelons (Cantliffe and Vansickle, 2003).
With its Mediterranean climate, Morocco has the potential for the production of a wide array of crops varying from temperate species in the Atlas Mountains to tropical and subtropical crops along the Atlantic coast and the Souss
Valley. Moroccan horticultural crops parallel that of Spain, but to a much lesser degree. Moroccan labor has been utilized in Spain for centuries and therefore Moroccan agriculture has been greatly influenced by Spain.
The Moroccan agricultural sector is limited by land size and water for irrigation. Most of the agriculture land in production consists of family farms of less than 5 hectares (12 acres). There has also been substantial effort to
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construct irrigation systems by building dams and irrigation zones to open up areas of land that have been too dry to use for agricultural purposes in the past.
Moroccan citrus production (213,284 acres) is small in total worldwide production (less than 1% of total world production), however Morocco is the fourth largest exporter of fresh citrus and second in exports of fresh mandarin
(USDA statistics, 2000). The citrus farms in Morocco are substantially larger than the farms in Spain with an average size of over 200 acres. With the inexpensive labor cost in Morocco compared to other parts of the world,
Morocco has a large advantage in the industry (Witney and Chao, 2000).
Morocco is also known for its floriculture. More than 90% of the cut flowers that are produced in Morocco are exported to Europe. The climate of the country permits the production of a wide range of high quality flowers. The average number per hectare of cut flowers produced in open field’s averages about 100,000, while in greenhouse production it can sometimes reach as high as 300,000 stems per hectare. Many varieties and assortments of flowers are produced (Moroccan Horticulture Industry, 2010).
Because of its arid climate, Morocco is an ideal place for cultivating dates and today boasts over 100 different varieties of dates, with 45 of those grown in southern Morocco alone. Dates have been an essential part of the
Moroccan diet for thousands of years. (A History Tour of Moroccan Dates, 2010) The Medjool Date is a variety that originated in Morocco and because of its superior quality was reserved to be eaten only by royalty. However, in
1927 a disease threatened to drive the Medjool date to extinction. In a desperate attempt to save the Medjool, the
Chariff of Morocco sent eleven mature plants to the United States. Nine of the eleven survived and are the basis for today’s flourishing date orchards in California, Arizona and Mexico (Almondjool Jewels of information, 2010).
Another threat to the abundant date industry in Morocco is Bayoud disease. This disease affects the date palm and causes extensive damage that can sometimes take on stunning proportions when the disease shows its aggressive epidemic aspect. The first case of this disease was reported in 1870 in Zagora, Morocco. By 1940, it had already affected numerous entire date plantations and after one century, the disease has affected virtually all Moroccan palm groves. Bayoud has destroyed in one century more than twelve million palms in Morocco. (Diseases and Pests of
Date Palm, 2010)
Area and production for the main vegetable crops in Almeria, Spain (1998)
Crop
Tomato
Acreage
20,250
Production (tons)
769,500
Pepper
Watermelon
Melon
Snap beans
19,250
16,000
14,500
12,750
465,850
339,200
261,000
64,000
Lettuce
Cucumbers
10,610
7,750
100,795
294,000
Source: Costa and Heuvelink, 2000
2002 World Greenhouse Vegetable Production Area (ha)* Country Production Area (ha)
Canada
United States
876
395
Netherlands
Mexico
Spain
Source: BC Vegetable Marketing Commission.
1 ha = 2.471 acres.
4,300
1,520
70,000
REFERENCES:
A History Tour of the Moroccan Date. 2010. Available online at http://moroccotravelblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/moroccan-dates-travel-to-morocco-with-these-deliciousdate-recipes/
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AlmondJool Jewels of Information. 2010. Available online at http://wholefooddelights.com/abouttrees.htm
Arias Canete, M. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 2002. Preface In:. Espana Orchard of Europe.
Sociedad estatal para Exposiciones Internacionales y Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion. ISBM 84-
491-0539-0 Madrid, Espana.
Cantliffe, D. and J. Vansickle. 2003. Competitiveness of the Spanish and Dutch Greenhouse Industries with the
Florida Fresh Vegetable Industry. University of Florida IFAS Extension #HS918
Diseases and Pests of the Date Palm. 2010. Available online at http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/Y4360E/y4360e0g.htm
Moroccan Horticultural Industry. 2010. Available online at http://www.agrsci.unibo.it/wchr/wc2/morocco.html
OLIVE FARMING, OLIVE OIL AND OLIVES IN SPAIN. 2010. Available online at http://www.iberianature.com/material/olives.html
Spain: Country Overview. 2010. Available online at http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Spain.html
Spain Wineries. 2010. Available online at http://www.destination360.com/europe/spain/wineries
Spain, leading EU Country in Organic Farming. 2009. Available online at http://en.greenplanet.net/food/organic/340-spain-leading-eu-country-in-organic-farming-.html
The Best Wines & Vineyards. 2010. Available online at http://www.frommers.com/destinations/spain/0242020874.html
Vossen, Paul. 1997. Spanish Olive Oil Production. Technical Report on the Olive Oil Production Tour.
Witney, G.W. and C.T. Chao. 2000. The Clementine Mandarin Industries of Morocco and Spain. Highlights of the
Study Trip Sponsored by the California Citrus Research Board.
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Submissions by:
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HISTORY
The Romans came to the Iberian Peninsula in the second century BC and laid the groundwork for Spain's present language, religion, and laws. They were followed by the Visigoths in the fifth century AD. The last Roman strongholds along the southern coast did not fall until the seventh century AD. Later the Moors sailed across the straits and within a few years took control of the peninsula. The efforts to drive out the Moors lasted until 1492. By 1512, the unification of present-day Spain was complete.
Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe during the 16th century because of its wealth from its presence in the
Americas. But a series of long, costly wars and revolts began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country during the 18th century, leading to an occupation by France during the
Napoleonic era in the early 1800s and a series of armed conflicts throughout much of the 19th century.
The 19th century saw the revolt and independence of most of Spain's colonies in the Western Hemisphere; three wars over the succession issue; the brief ousting of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic (1873-74); and, finally, the
Spanish-American War (1898), in which Spain lost Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. A period of dictatorial rule (1923-31) ended with the establishment of the Second Republic. It was dominated by increasing political polarization, culminating in the leftist Popular Front electoral victory in 1936. Pressures from all sides, coupled with growing and unchecked violence, led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936.
Spain was officially neutral during World War II but followed a pro-Axis policy. Therefore, the victorious Allies isolated
Spain at the beginning of the postwar period. Spain joined the United Nations in 1955. In 1959, under an International
Monetary Fund stabilization plan, the country began liberalizing trade and capital flows, particularly foreign direct investment.
Despite the success of economic liberalization, Spain remained for years the most closed economy in Western Europe-judged by the small measure of foreign trade to economic activity--and the pace of reform slackened during the 1960s as the state continued to be involved in the economy. In the 1960s and 1970s, Spain was transformed into a modern industrial economy with a thriving tourism sector. Its economic expansion led to improved income distribution and helped develop a large middle class. Social changes brought about by economic prosperity and the inflow of new ideas helped set the stage for
Spain's transition to democracy during the latter half of the 1970s.
Upon the death of General Franco in November 1975, Franco's personally-designated heir Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon y
Borbon assumed the titles of king and chief of state. Dissatisfied with the slow pace of post-Franco liberalization, he replaced
Franco's last Prime Minister with Adolfo Suarez in July 1976. Suarez entered office promising that elections would be held within one year, and his government moved to enact a series of laws to liberalize the new regime. Spain's first elections since
1936 to the Cortes (Parliament) were held on June 15, 1977. Prime Minister Suarez's Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), a moderate center-right coalition, won 34% of the vote and the largest bloc of seats in the Cortes.
Under Suarez, the new Cortes set about drafting a democratic constitution that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in a national referendum in December 1978.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Spanish government is set up very similar to that of the United States other than the fact they have a King that isn’t elected instead of a President that is elected. There government is similar to that of England in that they have a Prime Minster as the head of state that is an elected official. They have three main branches of government just like the United States. The
Executive consists of the King and is cabinet. Some of his cabinet he appoints and some are elected. The Legislative branch consists of elected officials from regions and provinces just like the USA. Spain has 5 major political parties but also has several smaller parties and lobby groups that have influence on the government.
The Legislative Branch consists of two “Houses” similar to that of the United States. They have a Senate much like ours and a Congress of Deputies that is much like our House of Representatives. To help define the Legislative branch we must look at how it came about. The 1978 constitution authorized the creation of regional autonomous governments. By 1985, 17 regions covering all of peninsular Spain, the Canaries, and the Balearic Islands had negotiated autonomy statutes with the
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central government. In 1979, the first autonomous elections were held in the Basque and Catalan regions, which have the strongest regional traditions by virtue of their history and separate languages. Since then, autonomous governments have been created in the remainder of the 17 regions and 47 provinces with each having one senator’s seat. The central government continues to devolve powers to the regional governments, which will eventually have full responsibility for health care and education, as well as other social programs.
The electoral system--with the exception of the Senate, which uses a majority system--is set forth in the electoral law of
1977, updated in 1985, which is based on the d'Hondt system of proportional representation. A party must obtain a minimum of 3 percent of the vote in order to qualify for parliamentary representation. Each province is to have a minimum of two seats in the Congress of Deputies, plus one additional seat for every 144,500 inhabitants or fraction over 70,000 inhabitants. Each province is allotted four seats in the Senate, regardless of population. That means that there is a 350 seat Congress of
Deputies that represent the 47 provinces and 17 regions.
This system tends to over represent the more traditional, rural, and thinly populated parts of Spain and to favor the larger parties, which also benefit from the system of post electoral subsidies. Under this arrangement, the state allocates funds to the party of each elected candidate. Parties are also given smaller sums for each vote received by their candidates, provided that at least one candidate is elected. One of the effects of this system is that parties able to demonstrate probable electoral success are able to obtain loans to finance their campaigns based on their expected subsidies.
The electoral law guarantees universal, free, and direct suffrage and stipulates that voting shall be by secret ballot. It permits postal balloting for those away from their areas of registration. Voting is done by party list. Only the names of an individual party and its leader appear on ballots, with the exception of those of the Senate, for which a multiparty list is used, and voters choose any three candidates. Elections are held every four years, although an early dissolution of the Cortes will mean early elections for this body. Elections in the autonomous communities, except those in the "historic regions", which received their autonomy earlier than the other thirteen communities, are held simultaneously.
The third branch is the Judicial. It is different from the USA in that there are two Tribunal Courts. The first is the Supreme
Court of Spain. It is the highest judicial body in Spain for all matters not pertaining to the Constitution. Members are appointed by the King on advice from the elected Prime Minister. The second type of court is the Constitutional Court. It is authorized to rule on the constitutionality of laws, acts, or regulations set forth by the national or the regional parliaments.
This court consists of twelve magistrates (justices) who serve for nine-year terms. Four of these are nominated by the
Congress of Deputies, four by the Senate, two by the executive branch of the government, and two by the General Council of the Judiciary, all are formally appointed by the King.
MILITARY
The Spanish military is very similar to the United States and many other developed countries in that it consists of three main branches with four main areas. They have the Army, Navy (which includes the Marines just like the USA) and the Air Force.
The military service age in Spain is 20 years of age compared to 18 in the United States. It is also similar to the USA in respect to the fact it is a voluntary service. Spain’s military is considerably smaller than the United States. To put it into perspective of dollars spent on the military compared to each countries Gross Domestic Product or GDP, Spain has average expenditures of 1.2 % of GDP (compared to US military expenditures of 4.6% of US GDP) Spain has a GDP of 1.683
Trillion verses a 14.33 trillion for US GDP. So the annual military budget in Spain is roughly 20 billion verses 660 billion for United States annually.
MEDIA
Under the rigorous censorship that prevailed during the Franco regime, only news favorable to the government could appear in the press, and there was little concern for the veracity of such reports. With no reliable coverage of political events, reportage diminished to a few items pertaining to society news, sports, or business.
A new press law, approved in 1966, provided a degree of liberalization for publications and eliminated prior censorship, although newspapers were expected to exercise self-censorship. The 1966 law did not usher in freedom of the press, but it did expand the scope of news that could be published; newspapers even began debating what forms of government might evolve after Franco's death.
The early post-Franco years witnessed a proliferation of newspapers and magazines, although many of these were short lived.
One large news agency, EFE, dominated the distribution of news. This national agency, which the government owned and subsidized, was controlled by the Ministry of Transportation, Tourism, and Communications. The government frequently
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exercised its prerogative of appointing EFE directors. At the same time, financial aid from the state contributed to the significant growth of the agency. Observers questioned the appropriateness of newspapers' receiving their information from an agency so closely linked with the government.
In addition to newspapers, Spain had a large number of weekly and monthly periodicals that filled in the gaps in newspaper coverage
REFERENCES:
[1] http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/sp-spain/gov-government&all=1
[2] http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/spain/index.html
[3] http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2878.htm
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MOROCCO’S GOVERNMENT
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with a parliament of two chambers. The Assembly of Representatives has 325 members elected for five-year terms, comprising 295 members elected in multi-seat constituencies and 30 in national lists consisting only of women. The Assembly of Councilors has 270 members; elected for nine-year terms by local councils (162 seats), professional chambers (91 seats) and wage-earners (27 seats) the prime minister is appointed by the monarch.
The last elections to the Assembly of Representatives were held in September 2007. The Independence Party won
52 seats, the Islamist Justice and Development Party received 46 seats, the Peoples’ Movement Party and the
National Rally of Independents both took 41 seats, the Social Union of Peoples Forces gained 38 seats, the
Constitutional Union won 27 seats and the remainder were scattered among several smaller parties.
The last elections were in June 2009 for the Municipal and the next elections are in 2012 for the House of
Representatives.
There are twenty-nine officially recognized political parties. The Independence Party, or PI, which was established in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for Independence. The party provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement and remains a strong political party today.
Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions, which are broken down further into provinces and prefectures. A
Walis or governor administers the regions, the Walis is appointed by the King.
The Moroccan Constitution provides for a strong monarchy, but a weak Parliament and judicial branch. Dominant authority rests with the King.
The current Prime Minister is Abbas El Fassi.
MOROCCAN HISTORY
The earliest known settlers of Morocco are believed to have come from southwestern Asia, known collectively as
Berbers or free men (Amazigh is the singular for this term).
Morocco has been the home of the Berbers since the second millennium BC. In AD 46, Morocco was annexed by
Rome as part of the province of Mauritania until the Vandals overran this portion of the declining empire in the 5 th century.
The Arabs invaded circa 685, bringing Islam. The Berbers joined them in invading Spain in 711, but then they revolted against the Arabs, resenting their secondary status. In 1086, Berbers took control of large areas of Moorish
Spain until they were expelled in the 13 th century.
The land was rarely unified and was usually ruled by small tribal states. Conflicts between Berbers and Arabs were chronic. Portugal and Spain began invading Morocco, which helped to unify the land in defense. In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sheriff dynasty, descended from the prophet Muhammad, and rules Morocco to this day.
In 1787, Morocco signed a peace and friendship treaty with the United States. This treaty, which made Morocco one of the first independent nations to recognize U.S. sovereignty, is still in force.
In the early 1900s, the French controlled much of Morocco, and they wanted a young king whom they could influence. They let Muhammad V become king at age 17. King Muhammad V didn’t do what the French wanted: he spoke for Morocco instead of France. When many Moroccans grew angry with France’s colonial government, the
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French forced Muhammad V to go to the island of Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. He never gave up his title. Eventually, the French had to bring him back; they granted Morocco independence in 1956.
King Mohammed VI has ruled since the death of his father in July 1999. Because of his direct linage with the prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam, he also serves as his countries spiritual and moral guide.
Brief history on important people who helped shape Morocco.
1.
Fatima al Fihria (11 th century) educator
 Fatima al Fihria was the founder of what is considered to be the world’s first university. She is revered as one of Morroco’s most influential women. The university she founded, Alkarawayin
University, promoted higher education in Morocco, especially in the fields of science, literature, and religion.
2.
Ibn Batuta (1340-1368) traveler
 Ibn Batuta’s travels took him from his home in Morocco as far west as Spain and as far east as
China. He is thought to have traveled more than any other person has during the medieval era. His travel narratives reveal a great deal about the period and places of his visits.
3.
Abd el-Krim El Khatabi (1882-1963) King

Uniting the Moroccan people against both the French and the Spanish, Abd el-Krim fought from
1920 until he was captured and imprisoned in 1926. As the most influential figure in the Moroccan fight for independence, he received a special commendation as a national hero in 1958.
4.
Hicham El Guerrouj (1974-present) runner

El Guerrouj first participated in sports as a soccer goalie, but when he won his first national competition at age 14, he switched to running. He has since set several world records and holds seven of the eight fastest times for 1500 meters run outdoors. He has won several world championships and in 2004 became a two-time Olympic gold medalist. His winnings have made him a millionaire and gained him intense fame in his native country.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Morocco is a moderate Arab state, which maintains close relations with Europe and the United States. It is a member of the United Nations and contributes consistently to UN peacekeeping efforts on the continent.
Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and declare solidarity with the American people in fighting terrorism. Morocco has seen its own terrorism as home as well. On May 16, 2003, Moroccan suicide boomers simultaneously attacked five sites in Casablanca, killing more than 40 people and wounding over 100.
REFERENCES
1.
http://www.portal.euromonitor.com/PORTAL/Magazines/Countries.aspx
2.
http://online.culturegrams.com/famouspeople.country.php?fp_country
3.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/431.htm
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SPAIN
Overview of Treaties and Laws
King Juan Carlos I, a conservative, mild-mannered king, guided Spain quickly and peacefully toward its first democratic elections in 1977. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. The “Law of Spain” is the term used to describe the legislation which is in force in the Kingdom of
Spain, which is understood to mean Spanish territory, Spanish waters, consulates and embassies, and ships flying the
Spanish flag in international waters. It is also applicable to the Spanish armed forces worldwide. Spanish law stems from the Spanish people through democratically elected institutions. Equally, part of the legislation comes from the supranational institutions of the European Union, which also enjoy democratic legitimacy. Spanish law follows the continental system, which means it is supported principally by the law in the broad sense (laws and regulations) and to a lesser extent by judicial decisions and customs. Likewise, it is a complex law, in which autonomous community legislation coexists with the national laws.
Relations with Other Countries around the World
After the return of democracy following the death of Franco in 1975, Spain's foreign policy priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the Franco years and expand diplomatic relations, enter the European Community and define security relations with the West. As a member of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) since
1982, Spain has established itself as a major participant in multilateral international security activities. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on April 4, 1949 and constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. With the 2001 normalization of diplomatic relations with North Korea, Spain completed the process of universal relations.
Spain's European Union (EU) membership represents an important part of its foreign policy. Even on many international issues beyond Western Europe, Spain prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the
European political cooperation mechanisms. The EU is a political and economic unit of 27 members committed to interregional integration. Spain is also a member of the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The United Nations is an international organization of 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world, whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights, and achieving world peace. OECD is an international organization of 31 countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and free-market economy. The WTO is an international organization that supervises and works for liberalizing world trade.
Spain has maintained its special identification with Latin America. Its policy emphasizes the concept of an
Iberoamerican community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of hispanoamericanismo, or hispanism as it is often referred to in English, which has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy for formerly non-democratic South American states, as shown in the many trips that
Spain’s King and Prime Ministers have made to the region.
Historical Relations with USA
The relations between Spain and the United States were laid by the colonization of parts of the Americas by Spain.
The first settlement in Florida was Spanish, followed by others in New Mexico, California, Arizona, Texas and
Louisiana. The earliest Spanish settlements north of Mexico (known then as New Spain) were the results of the same forces that later led the English to come to that area. The history of Spanish–American relations has been defined as one of "love and hate" and evolved through the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, the
Spanish-American War, Spanish Civil War, and World War II among others.
From 1996 to 2004, Spain was led by the centrist Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. He adopted moderate policies to minimize the stress on Spain’s young democracy, fighting problems such as unemployment and foreign debt with reasonable success. However, his support of George W. Bush’s pre-emptive war in Iraq was extremely unpopular
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with the vast majority of Spaniards. In spring of 2004, the retiring Aznar supported a similarly centrist successor,
Mariano Rajoy, who seemed poised to win the election. But during the morning rush hour on March 11, 2004, three
Madrid train stations were bombed, killing 200 people. The terrorist group claiming responsibility denounced
Spain’s Iraq policy, and three days later, Aznar’s party lost the election. The new prime minister, left-of-center Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, quickly began pulling Spain’s troops out of Iraq, as well as enacting sweeping social changes in Spain.
What Opportunities/Limitations Exist for Citizens of Spain
As of November 2009, the government of Spain keeps a balanced gender equality ratio. Nine out of the 18 members of the government of Spain are women. Under the administration of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain has been described as being "at the vanguard" in gender equality issues and is noted for taking more steps of any other modern, democratic, administration outside Scandinavia to place gender issues at the centre of government.
Spanish Laws and Regulations for USA Travelers
The US Embassy is located in Madrid, Spain at Calle Serrano 75, telephone 915.872.570 or, for after hours emergencies, telephone 915.872.200. The website for the US Embassy in Spain is www.embusa.es/cons/services.html
.
Spain has very strict anti-smoking laws in public places. In particular, a total ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and leisure venues begins in 2010. Fines are assessed for violation of the anti-smoking ordinances. If you drive, an
International Driving Permit is officially required. Seat belts and insurance verification are required by law. Traffic tickets are issued and paid for on the spot. Regarding hotel stays, if you experience any problems, all regulated hotels will have a complaint book. A request for this book will generally prompt the hotel to solve your problem, should one occur.
Passport and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required for the period of stay but no visas (if staying less than three months) or shots are required for entry into Spain.
MOROCCO
Overview of Treaties and Laws
Moroccan law is based on (i) Islamic law and French and Spanish civil lay systems and (ii) judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997, although the king still possesses the actual political power.
Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, and even though the status of the territory remains unresolved, the government acts otherwise ( e.g.
, on all maps in
Morocco, Western Sahara is drawn as an integrated part of the country).
Relations with Other Countries around the World
Morocco is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the International Olympic Committee, the
Organization of African Unity, Group of 77, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the World Trade
Organization, the Mediterranean Dialogue Group, and is a major non-NATO ally of the United States since 2004.
Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not currently a member of the African Union and it has shown no interest in joining, due to other African nations recognizing Western Sahara as a sovereign state.
Morocco has established the following bilateral and multilateral agreements: Council of Arab Economic Unity,
Middle East Free Trade Area, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area, and the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.
Historical Relations with USA
In 1777, Morocco became the first country to publicly recognize the United States, and it remains one of America's oldest and closest allies in the Middle East and North Africa. Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date from 1787 when Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations. Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty
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is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history, and Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world. Now a museum, the Tangier American Legation Museum is also the only building on foreign soil that is now a National Historic Landmark.
Morocco and United States relations are bilateral relations between Morocco and the United States. U.S. and
Moroccan relations have generally remained positive. Under King Hassan II, Morocco was seen by the U.S. as a bulwark against radicalism. American diplomatic policy has characterized Morocco as a stable, democratizing, and liberalizing Arab Muslim nation, important to U.S. interests.
Morocco has received U.S. assistance since independence in 1953, via U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and its predecessor agencies, receiving a cumulative amount exceeding $2 billion. The amount of USAID assistance to Morocco in 2006 was $19.2 million, with an estimated $18.9 million allotted for 2007. USAID's current multi-sectoral strategy (2004-2008) consists of three strategic objectives in creating more opportunities for trade and investment, basic education and workforce training, and government responsiveness to citizen needs.
The Peace Corps has been active in Morocco for more than 40 years, with the first group of 53 volunteers arriving in the country in 1963. Since that time, nearly 4,000 volunteers have served in Morocco, and have served in a variety of capacities including lab technology, urban development, commercial development, education, rural water supply, small business development, beekeeping, and English training. In 2007, 197 volunteers served in Morocco, working in four sectors: health, youth development, small business, and the environment.
In the 21st century, both countries have become close allies in the global war on terror. After the September 11,
2001 attacks, Morocco shared valuable information with the United States about al Qaeda. Conversely, when
Casablanca was the victim of terrorist bombings on May 16, 2003, the U.S. government offered Morocco – one of it oldest allies—the full resources of its military and intelligence community.
What Opportunities/Limitations Exist for Citizens of Spain
Education in Morocco is free and compulsory through primary school (age 15). Nevertheless, many children – particularly girls in rural areas – still do not attend school. The country's illiteracy rate has been stuck at around 50 percent for some years, but reaches as high as 90 percent among girls in rural regions. Morocco has about 230,000 students enrolled in fourteen public universities. The Mohammed V University in Rabat and Al Akhawayn
University in Ifrane (a public university) are highly regarded. Al-Akhawayn, founded in 1993 by King Hassan II and
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, is an English-language American-style university comprising about 1,000 students. The
University of Al Karaouine, in Fez, is considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world and has been a center of learning for more than 1,000 years.
Morocco allocates approximately one-fifth of its budget to education. Much of this is spent on building schools to accommodate the rapidly growing population. Education is mandatory for children between the ages of 7 and 13 years. In urban areas the majority of children in this age group attend school, though on a national scale the level of participation drops significantly. About three-fourths of school-age males attend school, but only about half of school-age girls; these proportions drop markedly in rural areas. Slightly more than half of the children go on to secondary education, including trade and technical schools. Of these, few seek higher education. Poor school attendance, particularly in rural areas, has meant a low rate of literacy, which is about two-fifths of the population.
Moroccan Laws and Regulations for USA Travelers
The U.S. Ambassador to Morocco is Thomas T. Riley. The U.S. maintains an embassy in Rabat, Morocco which is located at Boulevard Moulay Youssef 8, telephone 22/26-45-50 with the website located at www.usembassy.ma
It is illegal to bring local currency out of the country.
Passport and Visa Requirements
A valid passport extending six months beyond your travel date is required but no visas (up to three months stay) or shots are required for entry into Morocco.
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REFERENCES:
SPAIN-
Rick Steves Spain 2010 , copyright 2009, first printing September 2009.
Government of Spain , retrieved January 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Spain .
Foreign relations of Spain , retrieved January 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Spain .
Spain , retrieved January 2010 from http://wikitravel.org/en/Spain
Instituto de Turismo de Espana , retrieved January 2010 from http://www.spain.info
MOROCCO-
Rick Steves Spain 2010 , copyright 2009, first printing September 2009 (with commentary regarding Morocco).
Moroccan Government , retrieved January 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_government
Foreign Relations of Morocco , retrieved January 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Morocco .
Morocco, retrieved January 2010 from http://wikitravel.org/en/Morocco
Kingdom of Morocco , retrieved January 2010 from http://www.maroc.ma/PortailInst/An/home
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Submissions by:
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Topics: “The People, The Heritage, Entertainment and Architecture of Spain and Morocco”
Also: Study the people, heritage, language, art, music, sports, holidays, food, and architecture.
Class XIV of the Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program began their international experience by leaving
Oklahoma City, OK on Tuesday, February 16 th , 2010, with a stop in Dallas, before leaving for Madrid on our transatlantic flight.
We arrived at Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) at 10 AM on Wednesday, Feb. 17 th . Members of the class were impressed by the architecture of the airport terminals. This airport is Spain’s busiest, handling more than
40 million passengers a year. MAD is located 13 kilometers (eight miles) north-east of central Madrid. MAD is the fourth - largest airport in Europe. The massive terminal 4 handles flights from 32 carriers, including American
Airlines, our carrier from the US to Madrid. Airport terminals are connected by bus service and also a subway. Our group transferred to Iberian Airlines, the flag carrier airline of Spain and based in Madrid, and flew to the Malaga
Airport. The Malaga airport is 8 kilometers west of the city of Malaga and is the main flight path for millions of people with flight connections to more than 60 worldwide destinations. Around 12 million passengers pass through this airport each year. We met our guide Eduardo Vandoorne at the airport, and soon boarded our motor coach.
We traveled southwest along the Mediterranean coastline to Torremolinos to eat our first Spanish meal and exchange US dollars into Euros. From here we traveled on to Algeciras. Algeciras occupies the far side of the bay from Gibraltar. The last town of the Spanish Mediterranean, Algeciras had once been an elegant resort, but today it is a port and industrial center. Thanks to our guide, Eduardo, we had almost non-stop commentary of the areas we drove through.
Thursday, Feb. 18 th - Today we took the fast ferry across the Gibraltar Strait to Tangier, Morocco, Africa. The Rock of Gibraltar is the most famous rock in the world, and is made of limestone. The stretch of water that separates
Gibraltar from North Africa is called the Strait of Gibraltar and throughout history has played a strategic part in battles fought and won to control the western Mediterranean seaways. It is approximately 9 miles wide at its narrowest point. Our ferry ride was rough, and many found it difficult to walk! Tangier is located on a beautiful bay and overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar and is called the gateway to Morocco. We traveled across the desert landscape to Meknes which is one of four imperial cities in Morocco. It is an agricultural center of the region, and is famous for the fertility of its surrounding soils. Although it is desert, it was unusually green. Many areas we would consider to be flooded from all the rain, the local people considered it a wonderful rain, and they appreciated the water. Some said it was the most rain they had in 15 years, and others said it was 40 years since they had this much rain. Meknes was added as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
UNESCO stands for The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. There are currently 890
World Heritage sites in 141 countries. There are three categories of sites - cultural, natural, or mixed. If a site is threatened, UNESCO helps provide a plan and often funding to ensure the site’s preservation. We visited several
UNESCO sites on our trip.
The National School of Agriculture was our destination for the afternoon. The director, Dr Mohammed Boulif studied years ago at Oklahoma State University and the University of Minnesota. We viewed video presentations and had extensive discussion about agriculture in the area. This was a very informative afternoon!
Our first stop on Friday, Feb. 19 th was to Ranch Adarouch among the Atlas Mountains. The ranch was started with
Santa Getrudis cattle from the King Ranch in Texas, but they no longer partner with them. We also visited the ranch’s feedlot. Next we had a city tour of Fes, the oldest of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, and another
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UNESCO site. Fes is the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, and is known for its leather products. The leather tanning pots were amazing to view. Fes is also home to the oldest continuously operating university in the world. The University of Al-Karaouine was founded in 859 A.D. Since its inception it has been an important education center for Islamic studies with international students to study theology. Fes is a remarkable city. Our guide, who wanted us to call Habibi (friend), took us through streets that were 1000 years old!
Saturday, Feb. 20 th we visited the Roman Ruins of Volubilis, a city built in the first century A.D. by the Romans and remained an active and inhabited city until the 18 th century. Although its historical structures suffered damage in an earthquake in the 1700’s and some of its marble was taken for construction in Meknes, it is the best preserved
Roman ruins in all of Morocco. It was surreal to walk the paths of Romans! We headed back to Tangier, then crossed the Gibraltar straight once again, and began our stay in Spain, leaving Africa behind.
Touring Jerez de la Frontera, the capital of world famous sherry wine production, was a great way to start our tours of Spain on Feb. 21 st . Winding roads take you through flat and barren plains to seemingly endless vineyards, and the rolling countryside is carpeted with blindingly white soil known as albariza, unique to this area and the secret to the grapes used in sherry. The sherry production houses are located in the center of the town of Jerez and are generally associated with an element of snobbery and aristocratic pride. The Spanish word bodega means “cellar”, but its generic meaning is “wine manufacturer.” Felipe Gomez Devault was our guide for the bodega tour. We had wine tasting of four different sherry wines produced there. They also raise purebred Spanish horses. I had the honor to be photographed with a purebred show horse that measured 17 hands. Next on the agenda was a city tour of
Seville, the birthplace of flamenco dancing. Many points of interest were viewed, including beautiful ornate buildings, and history about Christopher Columbus, including viewing the Cathedral that houses Columbus’ sepulcher. We had shopping time in Seville, which was wonderful!
The 22 nd of February began with a trip to a village of El Viso del Alcor where we visited a cooperative by the name of Canla, that produces and packs Seville oranges. El Viso del Alcor has 16,597 people and is 20 square km. in size.
It is made of fertile, well-watered sedimentary soil. Seville sour orange trees range in height from less than 10 ft. to
30 ft. Inside the orange, there are 10-12 segments with bitter walls containing strongly acid pulp and from a few to numerous seeds. The center becomes hollow when the fruit is full grown. They are used mostly for making marmalade. The cooperative has 355 farmer members. We were able to see the production lines as the workers processed the oranges. The smell of the oranges was truly mouth-watering! For lunch we visited the town of
Antequera. Our bus stopped near a Spanish bull-fighting arena. The area we drove through after lunch is called
Archidona, a thriving and unspoiled village (around 10,000 population), winds its way up a steep mountain slope beneath the ruins of a Moorish castle. Its economy still depends to a large extent on the olive groves that surround the area which yield a very high quality of olive oil. In 1980, Archidona was declared a village of Historic and
Artistic Interest. It is here that we toured the OleoAlgaidas Olive Oil Cooperative. Pedro Flores, the plant technical manager gave us a tour. We saw the entire process - from trucks unloading the olives among twigs and dirt, to the end result of oil pouring into containers. Tonight we had a special treat of visiting a gypsy cave flamenco show. It was quite entertaining, with several class members and Dr. Joe Williams jointing in with the dancing!
On Tues, February 23 rd we were in Granada. This city rises majestically from a plain onto three hills, dwarfed on a clear day by the Sierra Nevada. Atop one of these hills is the reddish-gold Alhambra Palace. This palace and The
Palace of Generalife is the most visited destination in Spain, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Two million people visit here annually. Some architectural highlights are: nearly all columns support false arches constructed purely for decorative purposes; ancient inscriptions are used to quote the Koran and Arabic poems; glazed ceramic tiles covered with geometrical patterns cover the walls; and water is used as a practical and ornamental architectural element. We also toured the Palace of Charles the First of Spain, which is square shaped on the outside and round on the inside! On our way to Motril, we visited Bodegas Sierra Nevada, in a beautiful setting with a 4-star hotel, vineyard and packaging facilities. After our tour given by Mayte Moya Garcia, we were all treated to wine tasting with chips, cheese and bread sticks. At this point in our trip, we are beginning to see many
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greenhouses that cover the area in white plastic. We received another wonderful tour at the LaPalma Cooperative in
Granada. Christian Jacobi gave us an extensive overview of the cooperative, which included a power point presentation, tour of the packing plant and tours of the greenhouses. Tonight, many of the class were drawn to the
Mediterranean Sea coast to walk along the beach which was very near our hotel.
El Ejido, the prosperous center of vegetable and fruit production was the starting point for Feb. 24 th . This area is called “The Salad Bowl of Europe”. We visited IFAPA, a Research and Training Agricultural Center that specializes in horticultural production in greenhouses. El Ejido crosses what was once a wilderness of salt-flats and sand dunes and which in now a sea of plastic. 64,000 acres of polythene provide the environment for the year-round production of fruit and salad vegetables. Miguel Gimenez Moolhuijzen gave a power point presentation and a tour of the greenhouses here. Our next stop was at AgrupaEjido, a privately owned company that produces vegetables, packages them, and sells them by auction. We watched a live auction, and then continued to the company warehouse facilities and greenhouses where we saw cucumbers growing.
Pozoblanco was our destination for Feb. 25 th . We visited the Andalusian Cooperative Cattle Raising Corporation of the Valley of Pedroches. (COVAP) This is one of the most important cooperatives in Spain, and has 15,000 members and their main businesses are cattle, dairy, sheep and pigs. They raise Iberian Hogs that are fed on acorns.
We toured their milk plant and visited their pork facility that has a 600,000 ham capacity. Four hundred hams are processed a day. Members of the cooperative must purchase their feed through COVAP before they can bring their milk or hogs back to COVAP for processing. Raquel Santos Alcudia of COVAP spoke with us about their lamb feeding facility which we also toured.
On the morning of the 26 th we went to Cordoba, which is another UNESCO Site, for a city tour. We will visit the
Mezquita, a Roman Catholic Cathedral, also called the Great Mosque. The Mezquita’s construction was started by the Muslims over 1200 years ago. It was converted into a cathedral in the 14 th century. Today it is an active church.
Luis our guide spoke of a lot of history. After our tour we headed for the high speed train to Madrid. This train, called the AVE line, reaches speeds of 290 kph (180 mph) we had to pass through ticket control and passport checks before boarding the AVE train. Gates close 2 minutes prior to the train’s departure time so we had to hurry everyone and their luggage onto the train. Upon arrival in Madrid, visited the United States Embassy and spoke with the US Ambassador Alan Solomont and others to discuss US/Spanish relations and agriculture.
Today, Feb. 27 th we visited the John Deere Training Center with Juan Carlos Aguado as our host. This facility is a training center for dealers in Spain and Portugal. Mr. Aguado provided us with a very informative tour. Isa Del
Moro, a cattle operation near Beunavista was our next stop. Pablo Munol, the ranch general manger and Juan
Vizuete, a veterinarian answered many questions we had while we viewed the large bulls. We have learned on this trip that male beef cattle in Spain are not castrated, or dehorned, and the large animals are considered ’veal’.
A Madrid sightseeing tour is planned for us after breakfast on Sunday, the 28 th , given by Rosa Munoz. Madrid is the capital of Spain, and has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration , Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Madrid is #4 on the “10 worst cities for pickpockets” list according to www.travel.yahoo.com, so we were all careful as we walked the streets of Madrid.
After lunch we headed for Toledo Spain. It is one of the first Spanish cities declared a World Heritage City. Toledo sits on a rocky mound isolated on three sides by a looping gorge of the Rio Tajo. Every available inch of this outcrop has been built upon. The local economy relies mainly on tourism, wine-making and farming. Our guide
Luis Alba took us to many beautiful areas, including the second largest Gothic Cathedral in Spain, the old Jewish section of the city, and a walk over a 700 year old bridge. We learned the term “Holy Toledo” comes from here, because there are 80 churches in the city. We also visited a sword making shop and watched as a skilled craftsman incorporated gold thread into gold pieces of jewelry.
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On Monday, March 1 st , we began our travels back to Oklahoma City. We learned you can survive an 11 hour flight, and we learned how thorough customs can be at DFW airport, while we were questioned at the agricultural customs area! Some of our group had to have their shoes disinfected! The flight to OKC was short, and we were glad to finally be back in Oklahoma! What an exciting, educational adventure we have taken!
Following is a comparison between Spain and Morocco on these points:
SPAIN:
People:
Population is 46.7 million
Heritage:
Is of European culture
Language:
Has several official languages
MOROCCO:
Population is 34.9 million
Is a nation of Arabs and Berbers in business, classic Arabic is the official language
Art:
Major tourist attraction for art
(Picasso, Dali)
English is spoken, French commonly spoken
Express themselves through their carpets, clothing, jewelry, paintings, sculpture
Music:
Range of styles, and feelings
Sports:
Arab, Berber, classical and popular elements
Soccer, bullfighting, basketball Football, trekking, soccer, skiing, camel rides, horse riding, fishing, rafting
Holidays:
Mix of religious, national and regional holidays
Food:
Mediterranean flavor - uses olive
Islamic religious holidays are calculated the lunar calendar, so their dates rotate
Co-mingling of savory and sweet, meals made to be eaten with your fingers and finished of with green tea oil, herbs, and seafood
Architecture:
Mix of Moorish influences,
European trends and surreal modernism
Blend of Black African and Islamic most buildings feature large, intimidating archways and beautiful domes.
REFERENCES
World Airport Guides. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://www.madrid-mad.com
By Air. Retrieved 11-22-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010, pg. 50.
Travel, tourism-airports. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://andalucia.com/travel/airport
Algeciras, Spain Hotels, vacations, tourism. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://travel.yahoo.com
Welcome to Gibraltar. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://www.gibraltar.gi/tourism
Tangier. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://www.andalucia.com
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Historic City of Meknes. Retrieved 11-22-09, from http://worldheritagesite.org
World heritage List. Retrieved 11-23-09, from http://whc.unesco.org
National School of Agriculture of Meknes. Retrieved 11-23-09, from http://enameknes.ac.ma
Travel Guide to Fes. Retrieved 11-23-09, from http://goafrica.about.com
Universities-Morocco-Providing Top Education. Retrieved 11-23-09, from http://www.morocco.com/universities
Volubilis - Roman Ruins in Morocco. Retrieved 11-23-09, from http://morocco-travel.suite101.com
The Land of Sherry. Retrieved 11-28-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010 , pg. 656-662
Visitor Information. Retrieved 11-28-09, from http://www.turismojerez.com
Exploring Andalusia - Seville. Retrieved 11-28-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010 , pg. 619-651
El Viso del Alcor. Retrieved 11-28-09, from http://www.elvisodelalcor.org
and http://www.crwflags.com
Seville Oranges. Retrieved 11-28-09, from http://www.hort.purdue.edu
Malaga Province - Antequera, Retrieved from 11-29-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010 , pg. 754
In Focus - Alhambra. Retrieved 11-29-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010 , pg. 703-710
Motril. Retrieved 11-29-09, from http://www.spain-holiday.com
Almeria Travel Guide. Retrieved 12-7-09, from http://www.costaalmeria.biz
Mezquita. Retrieved 12-7-09, from http://www.travelinginspain.com
and http://www.sacred-destinations.com
AVE Line. Retrieved 12-7-09, from Fodor’s Spain 2010, pg. 829-831. And http://www.raileurope.com
Madrid. Retrieved 12-10-09, from http://www.aboutmadrid.com
Toledo. Retrieved 12-10-09, from http://travel.yahoo.com
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Topics “Family Structure, Life and Ordering Dinner in Spain and Morocco”
FAMILY STRUCTURE AND LIFE, POPULATION, ETHNIC GROUPS
In Spain, family, including the extended family, is the basis of their social structure. The family supports members both financially and also socially. Traditionally, their families are large and it is not unusual for extended families to life together. The male has had the dominant role, however this is changing. Today families are smaller, and most do not live with their extended family. Spain has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe. More women are continuing their education and entering the workforce.
Similar to Spain, Morocco’s family structure is also core to their society. The elderly are revered and respected.
The predominately Islamic religion strongly influences the culture of the country. Women are legally inferior with only one out of eight attending high school, and women making up 25% of the workforce.
There is no similarity in Spain and Morocco’s ethnicity. Basques, Catlans, and Galicians are the primary ethnic groups in Spain. Arab-Berber is 99.1% of the ethnic makeup of Morocco. Sixty percent of the population is indigenous Berbers. Arabs are the ruling class in Morocco.
FOOD AT RESTAURANTS
Food and eating is an important part of the Spanish culture. Olives and olive oil, almonds, garlic, fresh fruits, chicken, and seafood are all prevalent in Spain. The world’s most expensive spice, saffron, is also common in
Spanish cooking. Although common threads in cusine, there are regional variations.
Five basic meals are served in Spain during the day compared to our three. These include El Desayuno (breakfast),
Tapas (little meal), La Comida (Lunch), La Merienda (snack), and La Cena (dinner).
El Desayuno is the smallest meal of the day and usually consists of café con leche (strong coffee with hot, frothy milk), bollos (sweet rolls) with jam, or toast with jam or a mild cheese. Tapas is a snack, not meant to replace a regular meal. Tapas may be a Tortilla Española (Spanish potato omlette), Patatas Bravas (Potatoes with Spicey
Brava Sauce), or Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic). Enjoying tapas sometimes includes hopping from one tapas bar to another. Tapas bars were common in many of the cities our OALP class visited in Spain.
La Comida is the large meal of the day and may consist of multiple courses. It is eaten between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. and may start with a vegetable or seafood soup. The main course may be fresh fish or seafood, roast chicken, lamb, or a rabbit stew served with fried potatoes. Our class experience sheep tripe in a tomato based sauce at one la comida. A green salad or vegetables is always included in the lunch meal. Dessert consists of flan (light Spanish vanilla custard), light pastry, fresh fruit or ice cream. Coffee, Brandy and a Cigar is a normal way to end the meal.
La Comida is followed by a siesta (nap) as shops and businesses close for two to three hours mid afternoon. Our schedule sometimes found us in small towns at siesta time for our lunch, leaving few options for eating other than at tapas bars.
La Merienda may include anything from bread with a piece of chocolate to bread with chorizo (pork sausage), ham, or salami and is eaten around 5:00 when we would normally be eating our evening meal. La Cena, which is eaten after 8:30 p.m., and often after 10:00 p.m., might include fresh fish or seafood, roast chicken or lamb, fried potatoes or rice. Most nights our evening meal was served at 8:30 p.m or later and was never rushed. Green salad and/or a vegetable dish are included in the dinner. A lighter dessert of fresh fruit or flan may also be eaten. Arroz cubano is a fast dinner consisting of a mound of white rice, topped with tomato sauce and a fried egg. Before bed, there may be a nightcap of Churreria (fried pastries) and Chocolate Caliente (a thick, Spanish hot chocolate).
Unlike most African countries, Morocco produces all of its own food. Citrus, melons, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, figs, olives, almonds, dates, fish and seafood are all bountiful in Morocco. The national dish is “tajine,” named after the cone-shaped earthenware dish in which it is cooked. “Veil” (which is what we call beef), lamb or poultry may
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be the main ingredient, combined with almonds, hard-boiled eggs, prunes, lemons, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
The distinctive flavoring comes from spices including saffron, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, and ground red pepper. The tajine we had was very similar to our pot roast with vegetables. Moroccan sweets are often homemade with almonds and honey.
Morocco offers unique mealtime experiences. Meals often are consumed around low, round tables. Participants sit on cushions on the floor and eat with their hands using the first two fingers of their right hand. (Today silverware is often provided.) Our class never experienced a traditional setting. Small, warm, damp towels are passed around or basins of water are used to clean hands. The napkin is not to be used to wipe hands. Bread is used to carry food to the mouth and soak up sauces. Sometimes meals are eaten from a large, single main bowl, which often contains a hearty soup or stew. Flat round Moroccan bread, couscous or rice, and salad or cold vegetables are served with meals. Dessert consists of fresh fruit. A production is made of serving sweetened mint tea by pouring it from three feet or more above the cup.
There are some distinct difference our class found in snacking in Spain. Class members were unable to find Dr.
Pepper, or any generic version of it. Snickers candy bars were also difficult to find. Kit Kats were the most common candy bar was smooth and creamy.
KEY MENU ITEMS
Menu items in Spain may include items such as:
Cocido – national dish of Spain – wholesome stew
Tortilla Española – Spanish omelet, made of eggs, potatoes and onions
Gazpacho – cold tomato soup
Paella de marisco – seafood rice
Paella valenciana – rice with rabbit, snails and vegetables – may also be fish, pork or chicken
Jamon serrano – Spanish ham
Chorizo – Spanish pork sausage
Calamares en su tinta – squid in their own ink
Pollo al ajillo con vino – Garlic chicken with wine
Ensalada andalucia de arroz – Andalusian rice salad
Flan – custard dessert
Albondigas con picada de almendra—meatballs in almond, garlic and parsley sauce
Cordorniz en escabeche—marinated quail
Rabo de toro – oxtail stew
Bacalao al ajo arriero – dried cod with peppers and tomatoes
Moroccan menu items may include items such as:
Beyssara – dried fava beans stewed with cumin and paprika (breakfast dish)
Beghrir – pancakes (breakfast dish)
Tajine – a lamb or poultry stew - national dish
Couscous – crushed wheat product served with vegetables, meat, or seafood
Couscous marrakesh – semolina grain with lamb and chicken
Pastilla – pigeon meat pie
Brochette – shishkebab with various meats
Harrira – a soup with mutton, saffron, and coriander, sometimes with dates and lemon slices
Zaalouk – an eggplant and tomato mixture
Kebab koutbane – Beef kebabs
Batinjaan salud – Salad made with eggplant
Bocadillo – Sandwich (baguette)
Kaab el ghzal ("gazelle's horns") - pastry stuffed with almond paste and topped with sugar
Halwa shebakia – honey cake – pretzel-shaped pieces of dough deep-fried and dipped into a hot pot of honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds
Halwa shebakia – cookies eaten during the month of Ramadan
Zucre coco – coconut fudge cakes
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Much to many class members’ surprise, and almost without exception, the food found in both Spain and Morocco was delicious. Fruits and vegetables were all very fresh and flavorful. Wine was commonly offered with meals.
Most pastries were outstanding. It was hard to imagine anyone losing weight while on our trip.
REFERENCES
Ali-Dinar, Ali B. “Morocco.” African Studies Center. University of Pennsylvania. 1 December 2009. www.africa.upenn.edu/Cookbook/Morocco.html
Flores Monica S., et al. “Africa Stage: Time Machine – Mali to Egypt.” The Odyssey: World Trek for Service and
Education. 1999. The Odyssey. 1 December 2009. www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/africa/timemorocco.html
“Food in Morocco – Moroccan Food.” Food In Every Country. 2010. Advameg, Inc. 8 January 2010. www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/ Morocco.html
“Moroccan Cuisine.” Wikipedia. 9 January 2010. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 January 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_cuisine
“Morocco – Language, Culture, and Doing Business.” Kwintessential. 2009. Kwintessential Ltd. 2 December
2009. www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/ global-etiquette/morocco-country-profile.html
“NobleArt – The Fine Art of Travel.” NobleArt Travel. 2007. NobleArt S.A.R.L. 1 December 2009. www.nobleart.travel/info.php
Porter, Darwin. Frommer’s Spain & Morocco on $40 A Day. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1989.
Sierra, Lisa & Toni. “Meals and the Culture of Spain.” About.com. 2007. The New York Times Company. 1
December 2009. http://spanishfood.about.com/od/ discoverspanishfood/a/spain_meals.htm
“Spain – Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette.” Kwintessential. 2009. Kwintessential Ltd. 2 December
2009. www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/ global-etiquette/spain-country-profile.html
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Topics “Religion and Cultural Priorities”
HOW DOES RELIGION AFFECT LIVES AND CULTURAL PRIORITIES IN THE COUNTRIES OF
SPAIN AND MOROCCO?
As I begin this report on religion as it relates to Spain and Morocco, I would like to acknowledge that I realize it is very presumptuous to make a blanket statement and attempt to apply it to an entire region or country. As an example, someone from a foreign country could come to Western Oklahoma and determine from their visit that the
United States was very flat, windy and with few trees. A blanket statement concerning the geography of the United
States based on a visit to Oklahoma would be presumptuous at best. With that in mind, I plan to give statistical information on the countries of Spain and Morocco as a whole recognizing there will no doubt be variances by area and region.
RELIGIOUS BREAKDOWN BY PERCENTAGES:
Spain:
Roman Catholic - 76%
No religious affiliation – 20%
Islam – 2.3%
Jewish - .1%
Other – 1.7%
Morocco:
Sunni Muslim – 98.7%
Christian – 1.1%
Jewish - .2%
As you can see from the breakdown of religious affiliation, the two countries of Spain and Morocco are very diverse from each other. The religion of the majority of the population of Spain is Catholicism. The Catholic religion in
Spain has strong roots spanning centuries. Because the government of Spain is now a secular one, it can no longer be said that the Catholic religion is the official religion in Spain. The Catholic Church does however, receive some official state funding from the government. Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. Of those Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 58% hardly ever or never attend church.
Islam is practiced by the vast majority of Moroccans and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day – at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.
Friday is considered to be the Muslim holy day.
Marriage in Spain and Morocco is also radically different between the two countries. In 2005, the Spanish parliament approved a same-sex marriage law, giving same-sex couples the right to adopt children and receive inheritances. The Catholic Church has vehemently opposed same-sex marriage and divorce in Spain. Pope
Benedict XVI has condemned gay marriage as an expression of “anarchic freedom” that threatens the future of the family. In Morocco, homosexuality is considered a criminal offense. Overt displays of affection between same-sex partners are discouraged. Homosexuality in Morocco does however exist, but the social attitude towards it keeps those relationships private to avoid the obvious consequences associated because of society’s denial of its existence.
The way the public dresses in Spain and Morocco is also very different and has direct ties to their respective approaches to differing religious backgrounds. Spain tends to dress more formal than the rest of Europe. In Spain, it is important to project good taste in apparel. Business attire includes well-made, conservative suits and ties.
Shorts are seldom worn in pubic. Public dress in Morocco amongst women varies greatly by age. Younger women will be seen with sleeveless shirts and knee-length skirt, with their hair flowing down their backs. Many older women will wear the traditional long outer robe with full sleeves, her hair in a bun. Some wear the strictest Islamic dress, covering themselves in black from head to toe, with only the eyes visible.
Despite only becoming legal in Spain in 1981, the divorce rate is now the highest in the European Union. Spain’s divorce rate tripled between 1960 and 2000. Relaxed laws implemented in 2005, have further escalated its rate. It is important to point out that Spain’s rate is still below that of the U.S. Morocco’s divorce rate is very low and the overall rate is going down. Women are now allowed to initiate divorce which was strictly prohibited in years past.
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Moroccan women can be found in most professions, ranging from policewomen to several cabinet ministers, and at least 10 percent of the legislature is now made up of women.
According to a 2004 report, Spain is one of Europe’s highest consumers of cocaine, cannabis, and extasis. Cocaine consumption among the Spanish population has doubled in the past 10 years. Personal possession of any drug is not a criminal offense in Spain, and punishment, if any is usually very light. Spain’s many miles of coastline creates a lot of opportunity to move drugs in and out of the country. Morocco has very strict penalties for those caught purchasing or using drugs, especially among tourists. Do not buy marijuana from anyone who approaches you (and you may be approached). Despite those strict laws, enforcement is lax, and marijuana is smoked by a sizeable percentage of the Moroccan male population. Morocco has in fact, become one of the world’s largest producers of illicit hashish, most shipments being directed to Western Europe.
Spain is not a country known for its high crime rates, although, like any other country in Western Europe Spain has its fair share of crimes. A crime noticeably on the increase in Spain is passport theft. These stolen passports are sold on the black market to illegal immigrants in Spain. If you find yourself a victim, notify your embassy in Spain as soon as possible, which will make arrangements for a replacement. Pick pocketing, mugging, and stealing valuables left in vehicles is also common in Spain. Violent crime in Spain is fairly low. Violent crime in Morocco is also fairly rare, but getting harassed by “guides” and petty theft is fairly common. Avoid walking alone at night especially in unlit areas and on the beach. Take care of your valuables and don’t flaunt jewelry.
WHAT KIND OF GIFTS DO WE BRING TO PRESENT TO SPEAKERS, TOUR LEADERS, AND
OTHERS?
Family is very important to people in Spain. Time is very relaxed. It is wise for foreigners to be punctual, but
Spaniards do not put a great emphasis on time themselves.
Men who are close friends will often exchange a hug. Women who are close friends usually meet and part with a small hug and a kiss on the cheek. Dinner is usually served after 9:00 pm. Tipping service people is not expected, but appreciated by the Spanish people. Waiters don’t expect anything from Spanish customers, but are used to receiving tips from foreigners. Bargaining is not expected and is out of place. Presents are not expected, but are appreciated. If one does give a gift to a host, they appreciate a small gift from the visitor’s homeland.
.
In Morocco, if you are invited to a Moroccan’s home bring sweet pastries, nuts, figs, dates or flowers to the hostess.
Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks. Gifts may or may not be opened when received. Do not be surprised if you are asked to remove your shoes upon entering their home. Food is generally served at a knee-high round table. A washing basin will be brought to the table before the meal is served. Hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. Dry your hands on the towel provided. Do not begin eating until the host blesses the food or begins to eat. Food is served from a communal bowl. Proper etiquette would be to eat from the section of the bowl that is in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side. Scoop the food with a piece of bread or the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. Traditional
Moroccan custom would require one to eat and drink only with the right hand. Do not wipe your hands on your napkin; a washing basin will be brought around the table again at the end of the meal.
Hopefully this report will give our group some idea of what to expect from a religious and cultural standpoint as we enjoy our trip to Spain and Morocco.
REFERENCES:
Religion in Spain." Wikipedia . 12 Dec. 2009. Web. 21 Dec. 2009. www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/ Religion in Spain
"Morocco - Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette." Morocco - Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette . 8
Apr. 2004. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/globaletiquette/morocoo-country-profile.html
Spain culture guide: Religin in Spain." Kwintessential . 16 Sept. 2003. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/Spain/Spain-culture-guide-Religion-in-Spain
"Spain Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage." Washington Post 30 June 2005. Print.
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Zijlma, Anouk. "Morocco Travel Information." Web. 22 Nov. 2009.
www.goafrica.about.com/od/morocco/a/ moroctraveltips.com
>.
Spanish Business Etiquette . Rep. 18 Feb. 1999. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. www.cyborlink.com/besite/spain.html
Tarvainen, Sinikka. "Moroccan women seek their way between Islam and feminism." Editorial. Moroccan women seek their way between Islam and feminism 1 June 2008. Web. 28 Nov. 2009. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/moroccan-women-seek-their-way-between-islam-and-feminism-
2
"Spain becomes EU country with highest divorce rate." Catholic News Agency 25 May 2007. Print.
"NationMaster - Moroccan Crime statistics." Nation Master . 18 Dec. 2008. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. www.nationmaster.com/country/mo-morocco/cri-crime
"News from Spain: Drugs in Spain." Weblog post. 14 Sept. 2004. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2004/09/drugs-in-spain.html
"A toker's guide; Levels of prohibition." The Economist . 7 Mar. 2009. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. www.proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index
"Spain society guide: Crime in Spain." Kwintessential . 10 Jan. 2006. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Spain/Spain-society-guide
"Bargaining, tipping, and gifting in Spain...Rude or Polite?" 21 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2009. www.answers.yahoo.com/question/index
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Topic “Business Etiquette”
Time is very relaxed in Spain and Morocco, but it is wise for foreigners to be punctual. Spaniards do not put a great emphasis on time themselves. The Spaniards often consider deadlines an objective that will be met if possible, but do not become overly concerned if the deadline is not achieved.
Much like Mexico, business in Spain is often obtained as a result of personal relationships. While the relationship building process takes time, it is important to gain such relationships if you are to be effective in Spain. Also, you must be very selective when choosing your Spanish representative, as it is extremely difficult to change to another person.
Negotiations are usually an extremely long and difficult task; do not be in a rush to close a deal in Spain. Be prepared for chaotic business negotiations, often numerous people will be speaking simultaneously.
Men who are close friends will often exchange a hug. Women who are close friends usually meet and part with a small hug and a kiss on each cheek.
Dining is usually associated with establishing business relationships in Spain, so be prepared for your business associate(s) to join you at any or all of your daily meals.
Dinner is usually served after 9:00p.m, so you may want to take full advantage of the siesta and get in a nap.
A large portion of your communication will take place over lunches and dinners. They are an extremely important part of business life in Spain.
During business negotiations, rules and systems are only used as a last resort to solving a problem.
During business meetings, doors are usually kept shut and business colleagues often dine together, but different ranks within a company do not mix.
Although many Spanish businesspeople speak English, it is a good idea for foreigners to have all of your materials printed in
Spanish. Business cards should be two-sided, one side having English and the other side containing Spanish. When presenting your business card, place the card with the Spanish side facing your Spanish colleague.
REFERENCES: http://www.portal.euromonito.com/PORTAL/Magazine/Countries.aspx
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Submissions by:
49

Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. One can safely say that a human being is not in the proper sense until he is educated. The school system in Spain is large and complex, and does not differ from the school system in other European countries. There are many public and private schools serving this country.
Spain's state funded school system is supported by a comprehensive network of private schools, including many foreign and international schools. Around one-third of Spain's school children attend private schools, most of which are co-educational day schools. 1
State education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Science, although authority can be delegated to regional governments. Of the 17 autonomous regions, seven (Andalusia, the Basque Lands, the Canary Islands,
Catalonia, Galacia, Navarre and Velencia) have responsibility for their own education system (including higher education). State Education is free but parents must usually pay for school text books, school supplies, and extracurricular activities. Students usually go to local village nursery and primary schools, although attending secondary school may entail traveling long distances.
2
If you have just finished high school and are looking for some college or universities to continue your studies there are a few things to consider when choosing the right place. First, bigger universities are not always the best. Some universities are divided, they have their faculties in different places and vary enormously from one university to another, the majority of them have their bigger buildings for those careers with more affluent students. Second, the locations of many larger universities are too far to live at home, but some universities have residence halls for at least the first and last year.
3
There are also many career tech or specialty schools in Spain. So, Spain, like the United States has the same attitude toward education – The training of the human mind is not complete without education.
Spain is one of the most popular destinations in Europe and many people are pleased to find out that the Spanish health care system is very simple, very effective and free to many people. However, you do need to understand how the system works, how you contribute and how the private health care sector in Spain operates.
There is obviously a great interest in medical treatment for those living and visiting Spain for prolonged periods because ultimately, as in many countries around the world, there is the potential to incur significant costs.
4
Spain's health care is ranked 7 th in the world according to the World Health Organization ranking, compared to the
United States being ranked at 37.
5 The average life expectancy is 81.1 years compared to 72.6 in the U.S. Also, the infant mortality rate in Spain is 3.8 deaths per every 1000 live births compared to the average of 4.9 deaths per every
1000 births.
6
The Spanish prescription system is very much looser than that in the UK and many medicines are readily available over-the-counter without a prescription. If you are registered for free health care in Spain and you’re over retirement age there is no cost at all for prescription medicines.
Spain has taken technology to the forefront when it comes to booking a doctor’s appointment, unlike in the U.S. We book appointments over the phone; in Spain you can book an appointment with your doctor via text or on line.
7
Although no inoculations are required for Spain, the flu vaccine is highly recommended.
8
As with any foreign country be very careful when drinking the tap water, be sure to bring all of your prescription medicines with you and enjoy your trip and don't worry about taking ill or getting injured while in Spain, because if you prepare by purchasing travel medical insurance you will be in good hands with one of the highest ranked health care systems in the world.
REFERENCES:
1 http://www.justspain.org/spain/schools-in-spain.asp
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2 http://www.justspain.org/spain/schools-in-spain.asp
3 http://www.justspain.org/spain/education-in-spain.asp
4 http://www.expatforum.com/spain/health-car-in-spain.html
5 http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
6 http://www.expatforum.com/spain/health-care-in-spain.html
7 http://www.expatforum.com/spain/health-care-in-spain.html
8 http://www.expatforum.com/spain/health-care-in-spain.html
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Morocco gained independence from the French in 1956 and has tried to improve education since that time. In the
1990’s, tough economic times slowed improvement, but the government kept trying to improve education. In 2006, the expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 5.5 percent, higher than education expenditures as a percent of GDP for Arab countries, such as Omar, Kuwait and Egypt 1 .
Compulsory basic education was introduced in the 1960’s, and by 1985 enrollment of school age children had reached 85 percent compared to 17 percent at the time of independence. Even though school is compulsory and free, many school age children do not attend or drop out of school early, especially in the rural areas. The percentage of children attending schools is greater in the urban areas with males having a greater percentage than females. Among school age children the literacy rate has been increasing, but at 70 percent in 2002 is still low compared to 86 percent for the North African region 2 .
Education is the responsibility of the Supreme Council for Education 3 . This council occupies a central position in a group of councils that are headed by the king. The education system in Morocco is composed of four elements: pre-school, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Pre-school education is basic and compulsory to all children under the age of 6. This level is open to children of ages 4 to 6; however, only around 60% of the children attend.
Primary education consists of six years of education for children in the age range of 6 to 12 year olds. After primary school, there are 3 years of lower secondary education. At this stage students receive a certificate of collegial studies and are able to move on to the upper secondary level if they wish to move forward. At the lower secondary level, many classes have to be retaken because of failure and in turn there is a big drop out and non completion rate at this step. The upper secondary level is divided into two main areas: general or technical and professional. Upon completion of upper secondary education a student must pass a national achievement examination to be able to move on to the tertiary level.
The tertiary level of education is what we call college level. There are 14 public universities in Morocco in addition to a large number of private universities. Entrance in most universities require the baccalaureat certificate earned from the upper level of secondary education, but some fields such as engineering require special tests and training before entrance is granted. Morocco is also partnering with foreign countries in helping with collegiate education.
Vocational education is available at different levels to students. After six years of primary education students are allowed to take vocational training. After completing any of the next steps of education; vocational training is available with different levels of certification. It appears the more education a student receives before entering vocational school determines the level of skilled training that the student will be able to receive.
There are many problems in the education system in Morocco. Language barriers are one of the major problems along with different values and customs in various areas of Morocco. Arabic is the main language taught in the schools with French being used in the more science based classes. English is becoming more prevalent in the tertiary levels. Rural areas seem to have very low attendance rates and very high drop out rates. Even though school is compulsory there seems to be no enforcement, punishment, or incentives to make children attend. Even though it is a problem, Morocco does seem to be ahead of the United States in teaching different languages to the people. It appears that most students attending secondary schools will know two to three different languages fluently.
Overall, Moroccan education has made great strides in the last few years. They are currently planning and striving to move ahead in the next few years; however, they are farther behind and will take years to catch up with the developed world.
The health care in Morocco is very similar to the educational reforms in Morocco. There have been great strides in improving health care and the well being of the citizens, but there is still a long way to go to bring up some of the health and medical issues to the standards of the region. In 2005, two reforms were legislated by the government of
Morocco to expand the health coverage 4 . The Moroccan health care system includes a mix of public and private financing as well as delivery to the people. One reform passed is intended to extend health coverage from sixteen percent to thirty percent of the population. This is a payroll-based mandatory health insurance plan. The second is a
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publicly financed fund to cover services for the poor. The problem with this plan is not the quantity of care given, but the quality and availability of the care. There are still many problems that need to be worked out with this system because of the number of people that are not classified as poor, but are not covered by a payroll or private insurance carrier. The poor in rural areas still do not know that they can get medical help or where they can receive these services. Morocco has debated national health insurance coverage for everyone for fifteen years, and the debate is very similar to the one in the United States. The same questions arise in both countries: financing, quality, choice of doctors, coverage limits, different care and availability in different areas, prescription coverage, etc.
According to the United States government, Morocco has an inadequate number of physicians (0.5 per 1,000 people) and hospital beds (1.0 per 1,000 people); however, the majority of population have good access to water (82% of the population) and good sanitation (75% of the population) 5 . The health care system has 122 hospitals, 2,400 health centers, and four university clinics but it is not nearly enough to take care of the demand and the quantity of people.
The health care is better in the urban areas and worse in the rural areas; however, even the urban areas hospitals are mismanaged and are over capacity. It seems that private hospitals and clinics offer a wider variety and better services than public institutions although the cost is prohibitive except to the upper class of people.
Several programs have been initiated to help the people of Morocco. In 1960 the child mortality rate was 215 per
1,000, the rate had decreased to 47 in 2000, and is now at 36 6 . Although they have made great strides it is still six times higher than Israel. There have been successful programs to educate people about hygiene and campaigns against malaria, tuberculosis, venereal diseases and cancer. In 2004, the minister of health announced the country had eradicated a variety of childhood diseases, specifically diphtheria, polio, tetanus and malaria, but other diseases continue to pose challenges to the Moroccan people. The government has programs to promote the use of contraception, and it is reported that over half of the women in
Morocco use these. In Morocco, 57.5 % of the population still does not have running water. 17% of the urban households do not have running water and 81.97% of the rural households do not have running water 7 .
Travelers to Morocco are advised to drink bottled water, and milk should be boiled before drinking. Dairy products should be avoided because they may have been made from raw milk 8 . Most water is safe in large cities and communities, but the rural areas are the unsafe areas. Meat and fish should be eaten when well cooked, preferably very hot. Salads cause an increased risk because they may have been washed in contaminated water. Vegetables should be eaten cooked and fruit should be peeled just before eating.
All public phones have emergency numbers listed on them in case of a health emergency, accident, or a crime. In the event of vehicle accidents involving injuries, immediate ambulance service is usually available. When sick, one should ask a Moroccan resident for a referral to one of the many doctors in private practice. When in a public hospital, tipping can be useful in order to get better treatment 9 .
Vaccination requirements to enter Morocco are more recommendations than requirements. It is recommended that travelers have the mumps, measles rubella vaccine, diphtheria, pertussis, Hepatitis A and B, and be current on the tetanus shots. Malaria is sometimes recommended if you travel to southern regions during the hottest periods of the year from June to October. My health care provider and the local health department seemed to be more worried about flu vaccines and especially for travelers that will be stressed, in a new environment and exposed to all kinds of people on a trip to a foreign country. They both advised to get the regular flu shot and the H1N1 flu shot so that travelers have a better chance of being protected from getting sick.
One area of health concern when going to Morocco is the (DVT) or deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in the legs during plane flights, chiefly because of prolonged immobility 10 . Though most blood clots are reabsorbed through the body some may reach the lungs and cause life threatening complications. Symptoms include swelling in the calf, ankles or feet and if a clot reaches the lungs it will cause chest pain and difficulty in breathing. Preventing deep vein thrombosis is the best way to deal with this potential problem. When traveling on long flights you should walk about the cabin and contract the leg muscles while sitting, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and tobacco. If you have any symptoms of deep vein thrombosis you should seek immediate medical help.
Probably, the biggest risk for most people visiting Morocco is gastronomical upsets with diarrhea being the prevalent stomach problem. With the stress of flying, eating different foods, and a foreign environment most people say if you stay long enough you will get diarrhea. The best way to avoid it is to eat properly prepared foods and bottled water. However if you do get sick, a friend that has traveled to several foreign countries suggest having the following items: 1. A big bottle of Imodium AD 2. Preparation H 3. Own supply of toilet tissue.
Another person that has visited relatives in Morocco says that she did not drink bottled water and was never sick.
The same person also commented that the schools are very rigorous and comparable to the schools in the United
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States and that sports are a big part of the Moroccan life. When she spoke of health care she thought that hospitals were not as rigorous or regulated and were more “casual” than in the United States.
In addition she said if specialty care was needed her relatives would go to the United States for treatment.
Morocco should be a very educational and fun place to visit. Some safety precautions to guard your health are a must. There seems to be a big difference in health care and education in the rural and urban areas and also the care and education given to the poor. Most of the literature indicates that if you stay in the urban, more populated areas with good motels that the sanitation is good and the water is safe to drink, but they still recommend drinking bottled water. Eat well cooked food, enjoy the friendly nature of the Moroccan people, and do not worry about what might happen and enjoy the adventure. I am looking forward to learning everything I can about the Morocco on the trip including: the agriculture, the weather, soil, history, transportation, climate, people, culture, entertainment, food and things that I have not even thought about that come with international travel.
This last paragraph is being written after we have been on our learning experience to Spain and Morocco. The information provided above was obtained from books, articles, the internet, etc. Several times the information from one article would be the exact opposite from another and I struggled to get what I thought was the right information.
After being there, I believe that what I have written is correct on the average. There is a tremendous amount of difference between the rich and the poor, the educated and the noneducated and the urban and the rural. I am sure we did not see the extreme poor or isolated people on our short visit to Morocco. Morocco is a country with a lot of history and has been a lower class country, but I believe they are trying to educate and improve themselves.
Morocco was a very interesting country to see and was part of the trip that I will never forget.
REFERENCES
1 Education in Morocco. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Morocco - Accessed 2009 October
30.
2 Clark, Nick. 2006 April. Education in Morocco. http://www.wes.org/ewenr/06apr/practical_morroco.htm
Accessed 2009 October 30.
3 Education System. http://education.stateuniversitycom/pages/1018/Morocco/EDUCATION-SYSTEM-
OVERVIEW.html
Accessed 2009 October 30.
4 Ruger, Jennifer Prah, and Daniel Kress. Health Financing and Insurance Reform in Morocco. Health Affairs 26.4
(2007): 1009-1016.
5 Health in Morocco. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/health_in_Morocco Accessed 2009 October 30.
6 Morocco. LookLex Encyclopedia. http://looklex.com/e.o/morocco.health.htm
Accessed 2009 October 30.
7 Morocco. http://www.roleofwomenineconomicliFe.net
Accessed 2009 December 3.
8 Morocco Health. http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/180/health/Africa/Morocco.html
. Accessed 2009
October 30.
9 French in Morocco. LangMedia. http://babel.uorego.edu/LangMedia/collection_french.AV/lm_morocco/mo_emergencies
Accessed 2009 October 30.
10 Hardy, Paula, Mara Vorhees, and Heidi Edsall. Morocco. Lonely Planet Publications, 2005.
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Submissions by:
55

SPAIN
Spain is part of the European Union (EU) which allows free trade of most goods within the EU countries with a few limitations. All European Union countries must allow for tariff and duty free trade among members. This internal free trade agreement allows free movement of most products within their borders imported from or exported to other
EU members. These goods exported or imported within the EU cannot have quantity restrictions either. They cannot limit the number of tones of pork sent from Spain or the bottles of wine received from France. Licenses to buy or sell most goods are not required. The exception is the import and or export specific merchandise including pharmaceutical drugs, military items or technology including defense, police, sport and hunting weapons. There are some great hunting firearms made in the EU and their import and exports are closely licensed. These items require a permit prior to their import or export with specific purpose, origin and destination. (a)
As a member of the EU each country has an obligation to work as a team when addressing trade issues with third party countries not affiliated. So if you import goods into Spain from third countries like the United States they are subject to the Common Customs Duties of the EU. If your company does something to make Spain think that your not trading fairly then you could be brought before the EU Trade Commission for dispute resolution. (a)
Imports of agricultural products from third party countries will be carried out under free trade conditions without national or community restrictions. As an entity the EU has the right to restrict the import of certain goods until their ministries of science and agriculture deem them safe. (a) This works for most imports like pharmaceuticals.
Genetically enhanced crops from biotechnology are different. The EU can deny approval even if the ministries of science and agriculture approve them. It is a slow process with approvals pending for the importation of biotechnology crops for more than a decade. In the EU Spain is much more accepting of biotechnology than the average. The European Commission last November, 2009, approved Swiss company Syngenta's modified (GMO) maize type MIR604. It passed their review for public safety and had no further need for restriction despite negative public sentiment about genetically enhanced products. The approval could open the door and enable the resumption of imports of soymeal and soybeans for animal feed from the United States.(b)
When importing third country traditional crops it would be necessary to apply for and present an Agricultural Import
Certificate (AGRIM). This certificate is a release allowing the free circulation of specific agricultural goods.(a)
This means that if you import wheat in to the EU it can then freely among nations with this permit.
Spain is a major provider of agricultural products to the EU and the world. These include wine, olive oil, oranges and clemantines. With its diverse agriculture it is very self sufficient with abundant exports and a ample supply of food for its people.
MOROCCO
Is a member of the World Trade Organization and has many diverse trade agreements. With its close proximity to
Europe they have established a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union. This agreement has been negotiated and implemented in phases by sectors since 2000. In January 2006, the bilateral Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) between the United States and Morocco went into effect. The FTA represents an important step towards a vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area and was the first for the U.S. in Africa. The U.S.-Morocco FTA eliminated tariffs on most bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products. It provides protection for Moroccan wheat sensitive Moroccan agricultural products such as wheat. (e) It appears to me to be a food security issue for
Morocco.
In addition to agreements with the United States and the European Union, Morocco has 13 other trade agreements with countries. These agreements typically call for the elimination of all customs duties. Morocco is a member of
Codex, an international trade standards organization. (c)
Moroccan agricultural exports consist mostly of seafood, citrus, and vegetables. The European Union dominated
Morocco’s trading in 2008 at about 58 % of its imports and 57% of its exports.(d) To quantify trade with the EU,
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Morocco imports $2 billion in agricultural products and exports about the same value. On average, in the past 5 years Morocco exported some $1.3 billion dollars of agricultural and food products to the EU and imports some
$800 million from the EU per year. (e)
This makes logistical sense for a country with primary exportable goods that are perishable food items including fresh fruits and vegetables. It is all about logistics and the cost to compete with perishable goods over large distances. Countries like the U.S. have difficulty competing with Europe for consumer oriented products like these because of the higher freight costs.
In 2008 the United States was Morocco’s third largest trading partner at 4.2 % of its imports and 4.4% of its exports.
(d) For perspective that is about 8% of the European total. Even in those rare years when rain is abundant Morocco will depend on imports for products including wheat, dairy products, corn, soybeans and sugar. They are in better shape when it comes to animal feed, pulse crops and dairy with average annual supply outpacing demand.
Morocco is investing in its ability to provide a surplus of food for the export market. In the past decade advancements, in their irrigation and technology, have improved their crop production and dramatically added to their export capabilities. With its diverse agriculture and willingness to work with key trade partners Morocco has become much more self sufficient. This enhances standard of living their ability to import those items they desire to diversify the food on their tables.
REFERENCES:
(a) ICEX database; National Statistics Institute;. June 2008
(b) Reuters, EU clears Syngenta GMO maize for imports. Mon Nov 30, 2009
(c) Morocco Agricultural, Economy & Policy Paper, March 2009
(d) EUROSTAT, Comext, Statistical regime 4, Sept. 22, 2009
(e) Trade Facts, Free Trade With Morocco, A Vital Step, March 2, 2004
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MONETARY POLICY AND BANKING IN SPAIN AND MOROCCO
Ryan Luter
The ability of an economy to thrive and grow as a result of its’ citizens confidence is rooted in the foundations of monetary policy. Monetary policy is defined as the relationship that exists between a country’s interest rates, or the cost to borrow money, and the total supply of money within an economy [1]. Money supply is often associated with currency, for example in the United States the dollar bill. For thousands of years, people have been using scarce resources or commodity money to purchase items because of the perceived value. Some of the first forms of currency included barley, precious metals, cowry shells, beads, etc [2]. As a society becomes more developed and people have the need to obtain goods not in their possession, a complex market develops, known as an economy.
This structure, as we understand it today, can be traced back to the Babylonians and their code of law in the 1 st and
2 nd centuries BC that defined terms of rules on debt, legal contracts, basic business practices and defined interest rates on debt. Today, after thousands of years, the fundamental structure of a society’s economy has changed very little. However, the policies that governments implement in controlling monetary supply can have an immeasurable impact on the ability of a society to succeed.
In the following report, the monetary policies and banking structures of both Morocco and Spain will be reviewed to provide a greater insight to the country’s respective economic developments and the advantages or disadvantages they encounter.
MOROCCAN MONETARY POLICY AND BANKING STRUCTURE
The growth and development of a country’s economy is a complex process that takes on many different shapes and sizes depending on the stage of development. Generally speaking, as the market systems become more advanced, we observe less dependence in the country on agricultural production and more development in services, manufacturing, housing, etc. Morocco is considered by many around the world to be a “developing” country. This suggests that many market advancements and complexities present in the U.S. have yet to come to fruition in
Morocco.
At the heart of every strong economy is a sound banking system. Morocco in its’ recent history has worked to improve banking policies and deregulate some of the state controlled banking system to encourage competition and improve confidence in the system. For years, Morocco struggled, as many developing countries do, with high inflation, currency devaluation, market shocks, and a number of other issues [3]. However, in the 1990’s, the monarchy realized the necessity to economic development in the country was dependent on banking system confidence. In 1993, banking reforms began that liberalized financial markets, restructured capital markets, and put in place components for indirect and market based instruments of monetary policy. The Moroccan Dirham was also made convertible for all current transactions, which helped encourage foreign investment [4].
These changes have led to the current banking system in Morocco that is considered developed and modern by today’s standards and is one of the most liberalized in North Africa. The system consists of a Central Bank, Bank al-Maghreb, sixteen commercial banks, some development banks, and thirty-six financing companies [4]. Although, competition in the financial sector is encouraged, the six largest banks in the country still control 85% of the banking sector assets [5]. The economic troubles the U.S. has faced recently reinforce the dangers in having a concentrated banking system.
The Central Bank of Morocco plays a similar role to the Federal Reserve in the United States. The Central Bank controls minimum capital requirements, liquidity, solvency, and legal lending limit ratios for banks located within the country [6]. More importantly, the new banking laws regard price stability as the primary objective for the
Central Bank [7]. Two reasons for this new focus are to encourage foreign investment to spur economic development and promote more citizens to use the banking system. Studies estimate that about 80% of society still does not use banks and most developed networks exist only in the urban areas [8].Much like the Federal Reserve
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Bank, Bank al-Maghreb has the primary supervisory role of banking entities in the country and issues all licenses.
Bank al-Maghreb is made up of a council including the governor of the Bank al-Maghreb, the vice governor of Bank al-Maghreb, the director of the Ministry of Finance Treasury, and six members appointed by the prime minister, three of whom are proposed by the governor [7]. This board composition changed with banking reforms and has removed some of the strong government influence to ensure policy decisions are determined in the interest of the entire country.
Many of the changes previously discussed have allowed Morocco to significantly improve the worldly perspective on their creditworthiness. Morocco’s fiscal deficit has been significantly reduced and government debt has decreased by 20% from 2000 to 2007 [9]. These changes have led to the gradual improvement in living standards and per capita income. However, the impacts of the global economic recession on this delicate economy remain to be seen. The next few years will tell the story in the effectiveness of the country’s monetary policies and fiscal strength.
SPANISH MONETARY POLICY AND BANKING STRUCTURE
The development and advancement of the Spanish economy is far different from that discussed in Morocco. The economy of the Iberian Peninsula can be traced back to the prehistoric times of the Iberians and Celts that centered on raising cattle [10]. As a result, there is no surprise that a far more advanced and complex economy is observed in
Spain. We observe that underlying this economy is a banking system considered to be one of the most solid and best equipped Western economies to handle the worldwide recession. In fact, Spain’s largest bank participated in the United Kingdom government’s bailout of the UK banking sector [10].
Although Spain has a central bank, their function and authority has been diminished with the establishment of the
European Union. For a large part, Banco de Espana serves as an intermediary between the European Union’s
Central Bank and the Spanish banking sector. The general responsibilities of implementing monetary policy, conducting currency exchange operations, and promoting the sound working of payment systems are administered by the European System of Central Banks [11] In order to better understand the economic policies and structures in
Spain, we must explore the structure of the European Union banking system.
The establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) began in 1979 to address fluctuating exchange rates surrounding a common currency. Over the next 20 years, countries altered their monetary and economic policies to converge on the common monetary unit to later become known as the Euro. This convergence allowed the
European Union to establish the Economic and Monetary Union that eventually granted access to the Euro currency for eleven countries, one of which was Spain, on January 1, 1999 [11].
The European Central Bank was established with a 5 billion Pound capital deposit by each member National Central
Bank. The governing council for the European Central Bank is comprised of the members of the Bank’s Executive
Board and all Governors of the National Central Banks whom have adopted the Euro currency. The council meets every two weeks and acts individually rather than as a representative of their country. As observed in Morocco, the
EU’s primary monetary policy objective is to provide price stability in the sense of level prices without extended periods of inflation or deflation. Similar to the U.S., the EU uses short term interest rates and money supply as its primary mechanism to control inflation [11]. Despite the success and continued development of the EU, addressing specific monetary issues relative to a geographical region or country are more difficult.
Spain over the last four decades had grown their tourism industry into the second largest in the world. The economy had been regarded as one of the most dynamic in the EU and Spain’s economy created more than half of the EU’s jobs from 2000 to 2005. Similar to the U.S., Spain had also benefitted greatly from the worldwide real estate boom that led household debts to triple in a decade and many households now have negative equity in their mortgages
[12]. As Spain slipped into a recession at the end of 2008 and now faces unemployment rates at or near 20%, one wonders if a National Central Bank could have more easily and directly addressed the apparent inflation issues that
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led to this situation. Unfortunately, the European Central Bank could not address the warning signs in one country individually, but rather had to make their policy decisions based upon the health of the entire Union. A parallel to this challenge is considering the mechanisms the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Government have implemented nationwide. Many states on the coasts and the Midwest had a similar situation as Spain, yet many of the Plains states were later to feel the impacts from the recession and appear to be far less severe. Had policies been enacted immediately by the Fed to address East and West Coast problems, Oklahoma may have been thrown into an inflationary market or could have entered the recession a lot sooner with deeper impacts to our economic health.Despite these frustrations for Spain, there is significant traction and advantages to these countries to be a part of a common currency that encourages trade, opens markets, and allows for greater movement of capital into and out of a country. As the economic recovery begins, the Euro System will adapt to address these issues, but in the meantime, Spain may suffer a disproportionate economic contraction.
REFERENCES:
1.
Mansfield, Edwin. Applied Microeconomics. W.W. Norton & Co., 1997. 2 nd Ed.
2.
“History of Money.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Jan. 2010. 13 Jan. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_money
3.
“An Overview of the Moroccan Economy.” The Literature and Culture of Morocco in a Postcolonial Web.
13 May 2001. 18 Dec. 2009 http://www.postcolonialweb.org/morocco/economics/economy1.html
4.
“Finance and Banking System.” Country Perspectives – Morocco. ANIMA Investment Network. 18 Dec
2009. 18 Dec 2009. www.animaweb.org/en/pays_maroc_financesbanques_en.php
5.
“Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment.” U.S. Department of State. 18 Dec. 2009. 18 Dec
2009. http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/othr/ics/2009/117848.htm
6.
“Morocco.” Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd. 15 Jan 2010. http://www.infoprod.co.il/article/21
7.
“Morocco Monetary Transparency.” Oxford Analytica Ltd. Country Report 2006. Dec 2006. 18 Dec
2009. http://www.calpers.ca.gov/eip-docs/investments/assets/equities/international/permissible-
2007/morocco-monetary-report-2006.pdf
8.
Album, Andrew. “Middle East: Moroccan Banking Sector.” The Free Library. Farlex. 1 Dec 1998. 18
Dec. 2009. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MOROCCAN+BANKING+SECTOR.-a062926847
9.
“Economy of Morocco.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Dec. 2009. 13 Dec. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Morocco#Fiscal_Policies_and_Debt_Managing
10.
“Economic History of Spain.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Dec. 2009. 14 Jan. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Spain
11.
“The Eurosystem.” Banco de Espana Eurosistema. Dec. 2009. 14 Jan. 2010. http://www.bde.es/homee.htm
12.
“Economy of Spain.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Jan. 2010. 14 Jan. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Spain
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Spain and Morocco are two very different countries geographically, spiritually, and especially economically.
The economy of Spain has grown every year from 1994 through 2008, when it began a recession in the 3 rd quarter.
In 2009, Spain had a GDP of $1.37 trillion compared to GDP of the U.S. of $14.26 trillion. 3.4% of this GDP came from the agricultural sector. More statistics about the Spanish economy can be found in Table 1. Spain is considered a mixed capitalist economy, being that there is a mixture of privately owned industry intermingled with more centralized economic planning and government regulation than we are accustomed to in the U.S. The current socialist president, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has been in office since 2004 and has been trying to carry out key structural reforms regarding employee rights, government spending, and government involvement. The fiscal budget within Spain consisted of a revenue stream $420.4 billion in 2009, compared to $1.9 trillion of revenue in the U.S.
More information regarding the fiscal standings of Spain can be seen in Table 2. Some major Spanish industries include textiles and apparel, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, medical equipment, and tourism. Spain has a labor force of 22.97 million people, 4.2 percent of which are employed in agriculture. At the end of 2009, the unemployment rate was at 18.1 percent, it is estimated higher around 20 percent in March 2010. More information on the labor force of Spain can be found in Table 3.
The economy of Morocco is much different however. New policies in the early 1990’s brought economic stability to
Morocco but has not spurred economic growth. The GDP for Morocco was $146.7 billion in 2009, compared to
Oklahoma’s $104.5 billion. It’s GDP per capita is tremendously lower however by almost $24,000 per individual.
18.8% of Morocco’s GDP comes from the agricultural sector. More statistics about the Moroccan economy can be found in Table 1. Many trade agreements have been signed between Morocco and importing countries and this has provided more jobs for its people. The main issues faced by Morocco’s growing economy are a lack of education and skilled laborers and a wide income gap between upper and lower levels of income. Moroccan government revenues totaled $22.9 billion is 2009, as compared to the Oklahoma statewide revenue of $15.9 billion. More information about the Moroccan financials can be found in Table 2. Some major Moroccan industries include phosphate rock mining and processing, leather goods, construction, and growing ever more important, tourism. The labor force consists of 11.46 million people, 44.6 percent of which are doing agricultural labor. The unemployment rate at the end of 2009 was 9.9 percent; it has remained fairly steady. More information regarding the Moroccan labor force can be seen on Table 3.
Table 1:
2009
GDP
GDP per Capita
Inflation
GDP by Sector
Ag
Industry
Services
United States
$14.26 trillion
$46,400
-0.7%
1.2%
21.9%
76.9%
Oklahoma
$104.5 billion
$28,600
-0.4%
1.3%
43.7%
55.8%
Spain
$1.37 trillion
$33,700
-0.8%
3.4%
26.9%
69.6%
Morocco
$146.7 billion
$4,600
2.0%
18.8%
32.6%
48.6%
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Table 2:
2009
Budget
Revenues
Expenses
Public Debt of GDP
Prime Lending Rate
(12-31-08)
Currency
Table 3:
United States
$1.9 trillion
$3.6 trillion
39.7%
0.5%
US Dollar
Oklahoma
$15.9 billion
$16.1 billion
-
0.5%
US Dollar
Spain
$420.4 billion
$536.3 billion
50.0%
11.02%
EU Euro
Morocco
$22.9 billion
$22.9 billion
54.1%
-
Moroccan Dirhams
(DH)
2009
Labor Force
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force by Occupation
Ag
Industry
Services
United States
154.5 million
9.4%
0.60%
22.60%
76.80%
Oklahoma
1.77 million
6.80%
2.20%
34.80%
63.00%
Spain
22.97 million
18.1%
4.2%
24.0%
71.7%
REFERENCES:
Central Intelligence Agency – The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/index.html
Oklahoma 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. http://www.ok.gov/OSF/documents/cafr09.pdf
Morocco
11.46 million
9.9%
44.60%
19.80%
35.50%
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MOROCCO
Over the years Morocco has relied more and more on imports to sustain its way of life. With their vast growth in population Morocco continues to run a trade deficit that forces it to borrow heavily to pay for its consumption.
Morocco's main consumer goods imported include wheat, dairy products, cereals, tobacco, and Animal feeds. Their main capital goods imported include paper board, paper, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, plastics, rubber, power generating machinery and equipment, industrial machinery, office machines, telecommunications, vehicles, transport equipment, scientific and controlling instruments. Even though Morocco imports more than they export, they do export a variety of raw goods and finished goods. Over one third of their exports are made up of phosphates and phosphate byproducts. The other two thirds of Morocco's exports include fish and fish byproducts, vegetables and fruit, coffee, tea, cocoa, fertilizer, textile goods, clothing, and footwear. A lot of the capital goods that Morocco imports are produced in to finished products that Morocco exports. Some of these goods would be appliances, electrical parts, electrical machinery, prefabricated buildings, plumbing supplies, heating and light fixtures. The country of Morocco weighs heavily on the goods and consumer goods that it imports, but is able to transition a lot of those imports into exports.
There are over 160 United States companies that are doing business in the kingdom of Morocco. Those different business sectors are represented by several well-known US companies and some not very well known US companies. Some of the companies doing business in Morocco include 3M, AT&T, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Cargill
Grain, Dairy Queen, Dunkin' Donuts, General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Jordache, Microsoft, McDonald's,
Mobil oil, Motorola, Pepsi-Cola, Pizza Hut, UPS, Westinghouse, and Xerox. There is also one company that has its corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City, and that companies name is Technical Drilling Services. TDS provides mud logging and consulting services for oil and gas exploration.
SPAIN
As the world's 17th biggest exporter, Spain exports a multitude of both consumer and capital goods. Although a relatively small nation it is positioned in a climate which is fertile for many valuable crops. Some of its main consumer good exports will include vegetables and fruit, wine, fish and fish byproducts, fuel oil, and petroleum products. Spain is one of the world leaders in renewable energy, and one of its top exported capital goods are wind turbines and solar panels for generating power all over the world. Other capital goods exported would include pharmaceutical preparations, iron and steel products, oilfield and drilling equipment, industrial machinery, computers, synthetics, floor and wall tile, stone, sand, cement and lime. Over the past year and a half Spain has reduced some imports due to the recession it is experiencing. However its top consumer goods imports would be barley, oats, sorghum, soybeans, nuts, bakery products, rice, coal, and other food preparations. The capital goods that Spain imports will include military aircraft, civilian aircraft, pharmaceutical preparations, medicinal equipment, telecommunications equipment, industrial engines, and vehicle parts and accessories. Spain's international trade amounted to 43.4% of its overall GDP.
There are over 300 United States companies doing business in the country of Spain. Much like Morocco these companies cover a variety of different business sectors. Some of the more well-known companies would include
Exxon, General Electric, General Mills, Hewlett-Packard, John Deere, Monsanto, Burger King, McDonald's,
Microsoft, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, and Nike. Some of the lesser well-known companies would include Grace Davidson & Co., Grey Global Group, Multiserv, Marsh Inc, RSA Security, Covidien, and
Ingram Micro. This is just a partial listing of all the companies that do business in Spain; I was unable to find any
Oklahoma companies with offices in Spain.
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REFERENCES:
(a) United States/Spain Department of Commerce.
(b) Foreign Trade Statistics. Sept. 23, 2009
(c) IPR Strategic Business Information Database. July 29, 2008
(d) Spain's Top Imports and Exports. 2008
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Spending money in a foreign country can be very confusing, especially when you are visiting two different countries with two different currencies like OALP Class XIV will be doing. With the added convenience of credit cards, this has become the preferred method of purchasing items abroad. Traveler’s checks are accepted but it is recommended that the amount per check does not exceed $100. The complication regarding traveler’s checks is that you must find a bank to exchange them and will most likely have to stand in long lines. ATM’s, more commonly known as “cash machines” in English in European countries, are very common in the areas we will be traveling. They have become increasing more popular as a means of getting cash, in part because of the preferential exchange rates. Credit cards are also widely used throughout Spain and Morocco. You must be sure to contact your bank and credit card company if you plan to use these methods of purchasing items abroad.
If you plan to make purchases at vendor booths and from individuals, cash will mostly likely be a necessity in Spain and Morocco. The Euro will generally be the only currency accepted in Spain. While in Morocco, vendors may accept the Dirham, the Euro, or the U.S. Dollar. You must keep exchange rates in your mind however if you do not plan to carry Dirhams and do not always assume other currencies will be accepted. As a rule of thumb regarding safety, it is not a good idea to pull out big wads of cash when you purchase something. If you withdrawal a large amount of money from the ATM when you first arrive, consider putting some in each pocket or use a money belt to make it appear that you don’t have as much money.
While we travel and begin collecting things to bring home to our family members or purchase as keepsakes, we must also consider how much money we are spending. One of the easiest ways to reduce how much money we spend is to bargain. Bargaining in Spain is not uncommon but it is not the general rule. Bargaining is a means of business in Morocco. It is very common to only pay one half of the initial price marked on an item that you buy from a vendor. It is very likely that many people in our group may purchase the same item and all pay different prices. If you do not like to bargain but would like to pay a lower price for something, find someone else in the group that enjoys bargaining and see if they will do it for you.
While tipping is customary in the United States, these customs do not always hold true in other countries. In both
Spain and Morocco, it is not customary to leave a large tip. It is typical that Spaniards leave change as a tip but waiting staff might expect a 5-8 percent tip from an American customer. Moroccans typically tip the same as
Spaniards, but it is expected that tourists tip 10 percent. If you are assisted with your baggage at a hotel, it is common to tip 5 dirham per piece of luggage. Regardless of country, it is customary to tip according to the value of your service.
Americans have been very blessed with a very cheap, safe food supply. We spend approximately 10 percent of our total income on food consumed at home and away from home. In Spain, this percentage is between 17 and 20 percent and in Morocco it is 40 to 45 percent. Therefore, along with exchange rates, we will most likely pay more for food products while in these countries than we are typically accustomed to in the U.S. The table below focuses on a few common items that we purchase in the U.S. on a regular basis. These prices were pulled from a variety of travel blogs from individuals that have recently visited, or are currently, visiting Spain.
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Cup of Coffee
Bottle of Water
Coca-Cola
Bread
Lunch Out
Glass of Beer Out
Bottle of Wine
Spain ($1 = 0.70 €)
2.00 € $2.86
1.50 €
2.00 €
3.00 €
6.00-15.00 €
2.00 €
8.00-12.00 €
$2.14
$2.86
$4.29
$8.57-$21.43
$2.86
$11.43-$17.14
Morocco ($1 = 7.85 Dh)
10 Dh
6 Dh
6 Dh
2 Dh
25-65 Dh
10-25 Dh
94 Dh
$1.27
$0.76
$0.76
$0.25
$3.18-$8.28
$1.27-$3.18
$12.00
REFERNCES:
Corrigan, Damian. Tipping in Spain-Should you Tip in Spain? http://gospain.about.com/od/spanishlife/qt/tippinginspain.htm
(last visited January 13, 2010).
Corrigan, Damian. Spain Travel Budget. http://gospain.about.com/od/beforeyougo/qt/budget.htm
(last visited
January 13, 2010).
Einfeldt, Siim. Prices in Morocco/Morocco Price Guide. http://travel.thecheers.org/Prices-in-Morocco--Moroccoprice-guide-23.html
(last visited January 13, 2010).
Let’s Go Inc. Let’s Go: Western Europe 2009. St. Martin’s Press: November 2008. ISBN: 0312385749.
Trip Advisor. Morocco Tipping & Etiquette. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293730s606/Morocco:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
(last visited January 13, 2010).
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Submissions by:
67

PURPOSE
This report is written to help inform the OALP Class XIV in conjunction with their international trip in Feb 2010.
OVERVIEW
Growing up I would hear preconceived ideas of references to Oklahoma such as Indians living in tepees and kids ride horses to school. Similarly, when first hearing we are going to Spain and Morocco, I am sure all of us had some preconceived ideas. Would we be traveling by camel or crowded buses with chickens aboard? Would we be able to communicate with our families easily? Would we be able to afford the costs of travel and communication on our trip?
One of the first articles that I read on transportation in Spain was that they are celebrating 90 years since the Madrid
Metro train system began. It consisted of a ten minute ride. Currently, it is behind only New York City and Paris on the number of stations (294) with more than 2.5 million travelers per day.
As to communicating while there, AT&T costs $1.29/min to use their service unless you sign up for the world plan which is $3.99/mo with a cost of $0.99/min. Texting is $0.50/message (which should curtail some of the avid text senders in the group) or $1.30/message multi media. Some participants in the past have established a blog online and kept everyone at home up to date on their trip. For internet use on my phone, the cost is $25/mo for 20 mb which is not much usage.
MOROCCO
I certainly had weird thoughts concerning Morocco, camels for instance. However, while visiting with a couple in
Nashville recently, I was surprised to learn they are traveling to Morocco on vacation. Languages spoken in
Morocco are Arabic (official language), French and Berber. Berber, the name given to the Moroccan people by the
Romans in the 4 th century B.C., means “barbarian”.
Tangier is our first stop in Morocco. The ferry ride from Algeciras, Spain, to Tangier will take 60-70 minutes and normally cost $40 US. The main options of travel and examples are as follows (per Lonely Planet, $1 US = 8.5
Dirham):
1.
Bus--$10 US to Rabat (4 ½ hrs)
2.
Taxi--$3.40 US per hour; $0.80-$1 for rides in town
3.
Train--$13 US to Casablanca (5 ½ hrs); $20 US to Fes (9 hrs)
One afternoon will be spent in Fez (1 million pop). Local bus travel cost $0.40. We are cautioned to be careful of the
“false guides” wanting to show you around. Exploring the Moroccan Sahara by camel is one of the country’s signature activities. Cost is $34 US for one day or $40 overnight. Air travel is another means of travel in Morocco with five airports. Mohammad V International is the largest located in Casablanca. There are 10 airlines with Royal
Air Moroc being the dominant. Bicycle another option for travel with no rules or special roads; additional they can be taken onto trains and buses. Cars can be rented but are expensive and risky. Cost is $395 US/week (unsure of insurance) or $57/day. If you travel by camel, you will want to enjoy the bathhouse ritual at a Hammams at $1.20
US or $1.70 extra for a massage. In Meknes, the bathhouse is Hammam Zitouna in the heart of the medina.
Internet service is cheap at only $0.60/hour. Internet cafes should be easily found. When in Morocco, a good phrase to learn in Arabic, “es salaam alaykum” (peace be upon you). Information was taken from Lonely Planet Africa,
Morocco 2008 and Wikipedia.
SPAIN
There are four official languages spoken in Spain. Castilian has been the official language of Spain since 1714 as ruled by Phillip V. It was renamed Spanish in 1925. The second language is Catalan which dates back to the 12 th century and spoken by more than 5 million people. The third language is Galician. Galician-Portuguese originated in
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Galicia at the beginning of the Middle Ages which approximately two million people speak. The Euskera, or the
Basque language, is spoken in northern Spain by approximately 700,000 people. Top ten useful words or phrases:
English Spanish
(Castillian)
Basque Galician Catalan
1 Hello Hola Kaixo Ola Hola
2 Bye* Hasta luego/adios
Aio Adeus Fins ara!
3 Yes/no, please/thank you
Si/no, por favor/gracias
4 Where is...? ¿Donde esta...?
Bai/ez, mesedez/eskerrik asko
Non dago...?
Sí/no, por favor/grazas
Sí/no, si us plau/gràcies
Onde está...? On és...?
5 I don't understand
6 Two beers, please
No entiendo Ez dut ulertzen Non entendo No ho entenc
Dos cervezas, por favor
Bi garagardo, mesedez
Dúas cervexas, por favor
Dues cerveses, si us plau
7 The check, please
8 Do you speak
English?
La cuenta por favor
¿Hablas inglés?
9 How much is this?
¿Cuanto cuesta esto?
Kontua, mesedez A conta, por favor
Ingelesez hitz egiten al duzu?
Falas ingles?
El compte, si us plau.
Parles anglès?
Zenbat balio du? Canto custa Quant costa això?
10 Excuse me Discuple Aizu Desculpe Dispensi
Travel in Spain is certainly better than in Morocco when it comes to trains, buses and cars , although I am not sure about camels. All travel is more expensive. Spain is well linked to other European countries by air, rail, and road.
Air travel is getting cheaper due to competition and probably the cheapest and fastest for European travel. However, the high speed train system is a close second traveling at 180 mph. Citizens of the 25 Euro Union can travel with their national identity card. Others must have passports. By law you are required to have your passport with you at all times. Although passport checks are rare, police can ask for documentation.
Ferries out of Spain are run by Acciona Transmediterranea. Entering Spain by car from Morocco (via ferry) would likely mean being searched for illegal drugs. Buses are the cheapest by land (Eurolines) but trains are the most comfortable. Cars require proof of ownership and third party motor insurance. Motorcycles are very popular and can often go where traffic is restricted. Cabs can cost $0.60/Km.
Travel to Morocco and Spain offers many of the modern conveniences we are accustomed. Yet, we will also be able to travel by camel if we so choose. Both countries offer advanced technology. Communicating with family back home will be possible though definitely more expensive for phone calls. Internet service will be an affordable ($.60
Euro/30 mins) and easily accessible form of communication.
REFERENCES:
Lonely Planet
Frommers
Wikipedia
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SPAIN
Transportation in Spain is generally very good in the cities. Most cities have efficient buses, rail systems, and taxis’.
However, taxis’ in Spain are expensive. It is important that you only use taxis’ that display special license. Most taxis’ are very high standard, as they are governed by strict legislation. They will display a green light when they are free. They can be flagged down or found at a taxi rank, and they are metered but have set prices for certain journeys.
Tipping is customary of 5-10%. Intercity rail is available as well to get you to all major cities. The Spanish rail network is operated by a state owned company called Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Espanoles or short for
(RENFE). They offer a wide range of services and fares, even though most do not run to small towns. There are also a huge variety of local, short distance trains called tranvias. Suburban commuter trains are second class only and stop at all stations. In addition, there are also Metro service lines in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia which are the fastest way to get around these cities and are unsurprisingly crowded during rush hours. Much like what we saw in
Washington DC., Spain also offers local bus service and majority only run from 0600 to 2200. There are very few services that run until midnight. Most buses don’t have a lot of seat options only standing room for maximum capacity. Urban buses are quite slow and most towns have a terminal. Also, keep in mind that the bus may not always stop for you, unless you indicate you wish it to. There are reports that some taxi drivers, especially at airports, will try to rip off tourists by over charging them. Warning! Before you get into a taxi ask for an estimate or fixed price. In some cases, it may be in your best interest to get the driver to write down the charge before leaving.
If you have a dispute with a taxi driver, it is best to tell him that you are going to call the police and this usually will be enough to settle the dispute. Coach travel is the most comfortable means of travel and is affordable. While train travel is fairly cheap, it is higher than bus travel. Unfortunately, the amount of time traveling is less by train than by bus, as most of us know this. Train travel between major cities can run from about 7 euro’s to 70 euro’s, thus traveling by bus will run from about 10 euro’s to 61 euro’s.
Communication is Spain is similar to that in the United States. They have TV, Telephone, and Internet. Satellite TV reception is excellent in most major cities. The telephone service is controlled mainly by Telefonica, which owns several other companies. A great deal of money can be saved on out of the country long distance calls, by purchasing and using a phone card. They can be purchased at Internet cafes and shops from which long distance calls can be made. Most of Spain’s travel is efficient either by air, bus, train or taxi and most of Spain’s population uses mobile phones regularly. Also, there are dozens of radio and television stations that serve the country.
MOROCCO
Transportation in Morocco consist basically in 4 ways Car/Taxi, Moped/Bicycle, bus, or by foot. The most popular is by car or taxi and usually consist rather quickly. Traveling by taxi can be nerve racking since it seems to be a contest of who can get there the fastest. The major cities sound much like New York Traffic during rush hour. There are two kinds of taxis Grand and Petits. Grand taxis are old Mercedes that will take you to another town for 40 or 50 dirham’s ($4-$5) and usually consist of 5 passengers. Petits taxis are tiny economy cars that are color coded by city and only cost 15 dirham’s to take you from one end of town to the other. It is also warned to watch taxi drivers at tourist spots, because they will do their best to rip you off which is both illegal and a sin against Islam. It is recommended, that you find a taxi in the street verses at a taxi stand. Most buses are within cities are not considered safe, due to high theft, and should therefore be avoided if possible. Most driving practices are very poor in Morocco.
When traveling at night, lighting can be very poor, which makes driving conditions very poor. When walking, be very careful while crossing streets as drivers feel they have the right away. Morocco does have train travel between major cities. Most train travel in Morocco is convenient and is reasonably modern and cleaner than bus travels to major cities.
Communication in Morocco is provided by the government and is usually by telegraph, telephone, and postal service. The communication is considerably better in major cities than in rural areas. There are two television stations: the governmental owned station broadcasts nationwide while the private station serves only the major cities. Morocco has two national radio stations and eight regional stations that serve the country. Newspapers are common, although several are band because of its criticism toward the government on its policies. Many Moroccans use shortwave radios and satellite television to listen to news or watch shows from other countries. Internet access is growing in all major cities and some towns have internet cafes.
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To begin we should look at the Spanish time table. Spaniards have a more relaxed attitude towards time and day layout. But in retrospect important things like trains, busses, cinemas and football games the time is generally stuck to. So things that need to get done do get done. For example the afternoons (tarde) do not start till about 4pm or so… and does not end till 9 or later. Most shops and offices will also close from 2pm till 5pm for well lunch. As for night life it will not start till about midnight and will go till 6am or even later, and do not be surprised if you see families out with small children at midnight. Now as for the siesta, Spaniards do not use this time to sleep it is for long lunches and conversation. But if you have been out till 6am well it’s your call.
Money, we all have questions about the money. Credit cards will be by far your best bet. It is suggested to bring two, one as a backup. The best way to get cash is via the ATM system they are readily available and will almost always have the best conversion rate. Now if in a pinch you can also use banks and exchange services, and you will also find places at all train stations and border crossings. But with that you will almost always pay a higher exchange rate. And do not forget almost all the stores and restaurants will take credit cards like MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. Now if you do use your credit cards you will be asked for ID, driver’s license and pass port all work well. Spain now uses the euro and is set up as such 1,2,5,10,20 and 50 cents (centimes) also 1 and 2 dollars all in coin form. In note form you have 5,10,20,50,100,200 and 500 euros. And although the euro has been used for the past eight years you will still find some places like small villages that will have the price listed in pesetas the old currency form. Now for the Spaniards bank hours Monday – Friday they open generally from 8:30am to 2pm and
Saturday is 9am to 1pm so be prepared. Now that I have told you how to get money you need to know that Spain is a haven for pickpockets in some places it is considered an art form. So keep money away from rear pockets and divided up into small amounts and place in different locations. The pass port they love to steal pass ports so be very protective. I asked my dad for some things to look for (he is a cop). He said people being overly friendly mostly when you are in the middle of a transaction. People touching you period they are a friendly people but hey keep your hand off my back end (they will work in groups). If you see a posted sign or people telling you to watch your money because of possible pickpockets DO NOT grab at your valuables to check them, they are watching you and you have just told them where your goods are.
Mail, for those of you who wish to mail back gifts, wine or spices listen up. Mailing letters and packages back will cost a bit more than what we are used to in the states. A postcard or letter 20g or less is about 75 cents and for faster delivery an extra 2 euro’s will be charged. As for packages up to 2.2lb you will pay about 25 to 50 euro’s and the price jumps with the weight. To buy stamps you can buy them at (tobacos) these shops signs will be yellow letter and a maroon background. You can also buy them at post offices and they will be open from 8:30am to 8:30pm
Monday – Friday and 9am to 1:30pm on Saturday.
Phone, you will need to use on more than likely. Unlike the US, Spain has many pay phones which are blue and will make both domestic and international calls. These phones will take coins and will have slots for phone cards.
The cards are issued by the national phone company Telefonica and can be purchased from post offices and estancos for 6 and 12 euro’s each. You can also buy non Telefonica cards but these tend to be not for the slots but you punch in the numbers on the phone. Be wary of these cards they tend to have surcharges and taxes that they will take out before the call. You can also find pay phones in bars and restaurants and usually green in color and will be more expensive. But do not forget about you hotel some hotels have good phone rates even to the US but be sure and check first. Now for the pricing, domestic calls will range from 15 to 45 centos for a 3 minute call depending on the location. Calls to the USA will be about 1 to 2 euro’s depending on time of call. To make an international call from
Spain dial 00 then the country code, area code then the number you wish to call. Most codes will be listed on the phone you are using. See List
Cell phones, you can get a prepaid for about 80 euro’s. Be aware that Spain uses GSM 900/1800 this is the system that the whole of Europe uses. Now some US phones will us the GSM 1900 so check your phone. Call your provider if your phone is useable in country if so maybe buy international plan for the time in Spain. Ask about messaging and voice mail because you may be charged twice.
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E-mail cybercafés and other internet points are available in most towns. And in most cases 1 to 3 euro’s will get you one hour of use. Your e-mail and all your normal systems will work in Spain.
Laundry, Self service locations are becoming popular in Spain and will run you about 7 to 10 euro’s per load and in some places like hotels you can get your laundry done and folded for about 10 euro’s.
Bathrooms, public toilets are not common but some cafes and bars will let you use there facilities without buying anything, but be nice. And a good rule of thumb have some paper with you many of the bathrooms will have no paper.
Food and water, restaurants that have large groups of locals and tourist will more than likely be ok to eat at. Please be adventurous I’ll bring the Pepto. As for water if you see a sign that reads Agua Potable it is good to drink but be aware the sign that reads Agua No Potable it will get you. So just buy a bottle of water they are cheap and cost about the same as here in the states.
OK FOR YOUR SAFETY A FEW PHONE NUMBERS.
The United States Embassy number is 91 587 22 00.
Visa: 900 97 44 45 MasterCard: 900 97 12 31 American Express: 900 37 56 37
Country codes USA
AT&T: 99 00 11 USA Sprint: 99 00 13 USA MCI: 99 00 14 USA Worldcom: 99 00 17
English speaking operator dial: 1008
For international inquires dial: 025
Emergency Numbers For all emergencies: 112 Ambulance: 061 Fire: 080, or 085
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On the heels of our trip we have a great deal of news to report about the current events of Spain and Morocco.
Although their cultures are distinctly different there are a multitude of various recent events that affect each nation and their region as a whole.
Unfortunately, both Spain and Morocco have suffered their share of terrorist activity over the past few years.
Although all we can do is be aware and vigilant regarding our surroundings and situations we’re in, it is still important to know the security history of each nation. Spain is a target for the ETA, a Basque separatist group.
However, recent research shows that a great deal of aid and planning came from Al Qaeda. In fact some attacks were claimed strictly from Al Qaeda.
The worst of the suicide attacks occurred in March 2004 with the bombing of the commuter trains, in Madrid resulting in 191 deaths & 1800 injuries. The effect was just as profound to the nation as 9/11 was to the United
States. In December 2006 the Barajas airport was bombed resulting in 2 deaths.
Morocco was met with attacks in May 2003 when 14 suicide bombers targeted several places in Casablanca including the 5 star Hotel Farah, a Spanish owned and Jewish owned restaurant, and a Jewish community center. In all, 12 bombers died along with 33 civilians, two bombers were arrested before they could carry out attacks. More than 100 people were injured.
In March 11, 2007, 2 suicide bombers targeted an internet cafe. One bomber died 3 others were injured. The 2 nd bomber was captured by authorities. In April 10, 2007, in a major security operation against suspected Islamist militants (following the March bombings) resulted in 3 suspects blowing themselves up and a fourth shot dead by police as he tried to detonate his device. One police officer died in the explosions. In April 14, 2007, 2 more suicide bombers blew themselves up in Casablanca near the U.S. consulate and its cultural center. One woman was injured passing by. In October 2008, Morocco sentenced 45 people to 2 to 30 years in prison for their roles in the plot to attack targets in Casablanca related to the 2007 bombings.
As unpleasant as it is to report, Al Qaida made a threat over new years regarding their intentions of “disinfecting”
North Africa and Spain of infidels. Al Qaida terrorists are currently holding three Spanish aid workers and are demanding concessions from the Spanish government. The aid workers were captured by terrorists in late November
2009 during a mission in Mauritania.
Last year Spanish police seized more than 14 tons of cocaine, which had been smuggled into the country in stuffed animals, nappies, seafood and, in one instance, a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Just after New Years, police were alerted after a shelf-stacker at a Lidl supermarket in Madrid found a brick of neatly wrapped cocaine under a bunch of fruit. Searching other Lidl shops, police sniffer dogs reportedly found 25 such packets, worth several million euros. The fruit had been shipped in from Ecuador and Ivory Coast. A great deal of money made by Al
Qaeda is from drug trafficking as an example from December 2009 showed.
Less than a month ago, three men alleged to be Al Qaeda associates were charged with conspiring to smuggle cocaine through Africa -- the first U.S. prosecution linking the terrorist group directly to drug trafficking. The three suspects, who were charged in federal court in New York are believed to be from Mali and were arrested in Ghana during a Drug Enforcement Administration sting. Although U.S. authorities have alleged that Al Qaeda and the
Taliban profit from Afghanistan's heroin trade, the case is the first in which suspects linked to Al Qaeda have been charged under severe narco-terrorism laws.
In another first of 2010, Spain ruled out paying a ransom for the release of three Spanish aid workers kidnapped in
Mauritania. "The Spanish government does not pay ransoms," Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told journalists. "This position is clear and firm." The Spanish aid volunteers, two men and a woman were kidnapped on
November 29 in Mauritania when they were in the last vehicle of a convoy carrying supplies. The North African branch of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility on December 8, when it also said it was holding a French man snatched in northern Mali. Spanish newspaper El Mundo said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb demanded $7m and the release
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of several of its members in return for the three Spanish hostages and that the Spanish government was aware of the demands.
Spain also turned a page in a positive light over the New Year when it was handed the reigns of the European Union presidency from Sweden. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that his country will strive to end
Europe's economic crisis. Ironically, as of December 2, the Spanish jobless claims rose by 60,593 in November from
October to almost 3.9 million people, almost a million more than a year ago. That’s basically caused Spain's unemployment rate to soar to nearly 18 percent, the highest level in Europe, with construction workers leading the job losses.
Ironically, due to the already poor economy and high unemployment rate, the number of illegal immigrants risking their lives in rickety boats to reach Spain's Canary Islands from northwest Africa has descended to levels last seen a decade ago. In 2009, a total of 2,041 adults - and 201 children - arrived in the islands or were rescued as they sailed toward them.
However, financial ratings agency Standard and Poors released a report on December 12 stating that Spain’s financial situation was deteriorating. Prime Minister Zapatero simply limited himself to an outright rejection of such negative economic forecasts, declaring the naysayers to be wrong in the light of the self-evident fact that Spain was just about, at this very moment, to emerge from the recession which has now bedeviled it for so many months.
Bombardier Inc. announced a 14-year contract, together with its Spanish partner Talgo, to maintain Spain's 30 highspeed trains. The contract is worth $917 million, and Bombardier's share is $405 million. Spain's national rail operator Renfe awarded the contract to the two companies, which are now jointly manufacturing the trains in Spain.
The maintenance contract begins in early 2010. Bombardier's crew of more than 600 workers will maintain the trains' propulsion system, power supply, signaling and other high-tech components.
An award-winning independence activist returned home to Western Sahara December 23 rd 2009 from Spain. She ended a 32-day hunger strike as Morocco admitted her to the disputed territory following multi-nation negotiations over her case. A Spanish government jet carrying the activist, Aminatou Haidar, 43, left Lanzarote Airport in Spain’s Canary Islands around 10:30 p.m. local time Thursday, en route to El Aaiun Airport in Western Sahara.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement, saying, "I was pleased to hear of the government of
Morocco's decision to re-admit Aminatou Haidar on humanitarian grounds following her month-long hunger strike in Spain."
Morocco, however, has been most fortunate in its economic growth. In fact, International Monetary Fund released a report also in November describing the growing strength of Morocco’s economy. There are many examples of government programs aiding in this endeavor. “Plan Helieutis” will provide 9 billion DH to the fishing industry and is expected to create 20,000 direct jobs. This will be implanted over the next 5 years and is also designed to help build aquaculture and reduce over-fishing.
The Moroccan and EU negotiators signed an agreed minute concluding negotiations that have been ongoing for almost four years. In view of a future agreement on improving bilateral trade conditions for products from the agrifood and fisheries sector. The conclusion of the negotiations is subject to the approval of the respective authorities.
This agreement will allow both parties to take full advantage of changing consumption and market potential, while reinforcing cooperation and safeguard mechanisms. The agreement marks an important stage in trade relations between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco, in line with political commitments made in the framework of the
Barcelona Process.
Computer group Hewlett-Packard is looking to Africa as a potential platform for technical support for its customers elsewhere in the world By end of next year at least 1,000 people will be working for HP in North Africa with
Morocco being one of the prime investments.
Among other U.S. and Moroccan mutual ties has been the countries order of aircraft worth $2.4 billion from US defense manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. A total of 24, F-16 fighter aircraft and safety equipment will be delivered by Lockheed to Morocco. Other firms that manufacture or supply parts and equipment or can train technicians will share in the contract, AFP reports. Lockheed is reported to be having $841.9 million from the deal.
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Commerce in cactus is boosting Morocco’s economy from small scale production into a significant industry. The cactus similar to a prickly pear but easily 2 to 3 times its size is being used to produce a wide range of products but its greatest value is primarily used in cosmetics. It has indirectly won women a great deal of freedom since many are working in the processing plants.
In early December Spain’s Catalonia region and local government cast a ballot for a referndum to gain it’s independence from Spain. Apperently the region’s population has felt left out on many of the government programs and subsidies for community development yet it is a major draw of the county’s financial gain in industry and tourism. It also has a basic cultural divide that seperates itself from the country including language and ideology.
Even though all these bits of news have been compiled over the past month, their relevence continues on in the way they reflect the trends of their respective countries. In general, Spain is struggling to get back on it’s feet after the worldwide economic crash. They are making great advances and are in a particularly good place to have their prime minister lead the EU. Morocco on the other hand seems to be bursting with economic growth with the help of government investment. Both are progressing in agriculture development which will hopefully be something our class will see first hand.Regardless of how difficult times have been for Spain and Morocco, both nations have shown great determination in moving on and making strides to correct them.
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On January 12, 2010 for the first time in a half a century, snow fell in parts of Spain as a wave of Arctic cold swept southwards. At the Madrid-Barajas airport, more than 270 flights were cancelled. Seville a southern Spanish city that normally enjoys temperatures around 59 degrees Fahrenheit was shivering. Spanish schools were cancelled for more than 160,000 children due to the ice and snow. Mobile phone service in the region collapsed briefly due to the number of citizens calling friends and family to report the rare snowfall.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Secretary Janet Napolitano has accepted the invitation of her
Spanish colleague Interior Minister Alfredo Rubalcaba to travel to Toledo, Spain to meet with her European counterparts to discuss aviation security standards and ways to reinforce international security measures.
According to Spanish Health Minister Toledo Jimenez, for the eighteen consecutive years Spain leads the world in organ donations in 2009. A new record was set for organ transplants, 4,028 from 1,605 donors. In 1989, Spain set up a network of transplant coordinators at the hospitals, who monitor emergency wards and identify potential donors. Since the implementation of this process, Spain has become a world leader in organ donation.
For most of 2009, Spain has suffered a drought; however, heavy rain since December has filled reservoirs to 15.8 percent above average levels for the past ten years and boosted hydropower. This is good news for farmers who grow maize in Spain’s harsh climate, a crop like many others including alfalfa, rice, and cotton which all require irrigation. Although wheat and barley do not require irrigation, the rainfall is necessary to replenish the groundwater needed for the crops to grow. With the rainfall levels, Spain will now be able to generate hydropower to irrigate crops rather than have to import gas. Spain is the world’s third largest importer of natural gas.
Spanish Agriculture Secretary praised the recent rains to fill the reservoirs, which are needed to irrigate cereal crops and beneficial to livestock. However, the heavy rains have killed 20% of the harvest of vegetables and 15% of the olive groves. Farmers along the Granada coast have lost over 2.5 million kilograms of tomato and cucumber due to the splitting of the fruits and botrytis, which is 20% of the crop. The entire crop of olives has been unable to be harvested due to the heavy rains. Not only are the crops suffering from the abundance of rainfall, but the agricultural infrastructure as well. Greenhouses, ditches, or what the Spanish call breakwaters, and rural roads are a few of the infrastructure being affected. This is a repeat of economic loss for the Spanish Agriculture Industry as in
2009, the number of farms declined by 17 percent, livestock prices are suffering in recent years, and the olive sector experienced a fall of 22 percent in prices. In Granada where fruits and vegetables are the primary horticultural sectors, prices fell 20 percent; losses are estimated to be more than 62 million Euros – mainly affecting the tomato, pepper, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, and fruits such as lemon, tangerine, and oranges.
Twenty-five kilos of heroin were found among a shipment of bananas in Madrid, Spain. The heroin was found as employees of the Lidl Supermarket were unpacking the boxes of bananas. The Spanish National Police said the bananas were delivered in error to the Spanish capital’s wholesale market as the heroin was smuggled into the country in the shipment.
Spanish police seize a van loaded with explosives in the town of Bermillo de Sayago. The exact nature of the explosive material is not being released. Two terrorists were later arrested over the border in Portugal and two additional ETA are being detained on a separate operation in France. The suspects are Garikoitz Garcia Arrieta, the van driver, and Iratxe Yáñez Ortiz de Barrón, the woman who was driving the second vehicle. Both vehicles were carrying French plates, and detectives are investigating any connection with the two ETA members who were arrested in France on Saturday, when they were going to check on a weapons cache in Clermont-Ferrand, in central
France.
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Tourism like any other field is possible to be touched by any political, economic, and social world changes. For
Morocco, the field is one of the most economic developments that the country relies on since the 60’s, beside agriculture and fishing. Yet tourism in Morocco is the only infrastructure, which is not stable due to its sensitivity to be influenced easily by surrounding factors. Tourism professionals in the international fair in Marrakech, Morocco
Travel Market, discuss mainly three obstacles that lately Moroccan tourism suffers from: economic crisis, unemployment, and H1N1. Apparently, people forget about the fourth obstacle that frightens not only tourism in
Morocco but in most of North African and Arab countries; it is terrorism. Nobody can deny that tourism in
Mauritania is at its zero level because of terrorism and lack of security. Moroccan tourism did suffer from this global problem few years ago when 45 people in Casablanca were killed in three suicide bombings. Yet, it is a fact that Moroccan tourism is still touched by the hysteria of terrorism that North African and Arab countries sadly experience.
Lockheed Martin, a US Defense group has won a contract with Morocco worth $841.9m (£528.2m) to supply
Morocco with twenty-four F-16 fighter aircrafts and support equipment. This contract makes the second contract in as many years. Lockheed beat France's Dassault Aviation, which makes the Rafaele jet fighter, to the contract.
Morocco will send relief aid worth $1 million to Haitians who are suffering from a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The national emergency aid including medical and pharmaceutical supplies will be airlifted as soon as possible, according to the foreign ministry.
Economic growth in Morocco will slow to 4.1 percent this year as the agriculture industry will have a weaker expansion offset by a pick-up in the demands for exports, according to the High Planning Commissioner Ahmed
Lahlimi Alami. Non-agricultural industries will expand 5.9 percent, compared with 1.6 percent in 2009, while agricultural production increases 5.3 percent, down from 26.2 percent.
The European Union and Morocco have come to an agreement for the liberalization of products - exchanges in the food, agricultural and fishing sectors after a four-year long process. According to the European Commission this a step ahead in the project of Euro-Mediterranean free trade area, which is about trade relations between the EU 27 and Morocco. The agreement will have to be ratified by the Council of EU ministers, the Parliament and the
Moroccan government before it can enforced in 2011. Complete liberalization is expected in the next ten years.
The Spanish industry is concerned because it fears an invasion of Moroccan produce at low prices.
France will loan Morocco €40 million through the French Development Agency (AFD) to finance agricultural irrigation projects. The new irrigation network designed to be a step toward more rational management of water resources should benefit 20,000 farmers.
1 Books, Time Life. LIBRARY OF NATIONS SPAIN . New York City: Time Life Books, 1987. Print.
2 Topography - Spain - average." Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about countries of the world, United
Nations, and World Leaders . N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jan. 2010. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Spain-
TOPOGRAPHY.html#ixzz0VMuVV1Sh
3 Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground ." The New York Times [Europe] 3 June 2008: 1,2.
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