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Global Connections: Australia and Angola
Both countries might start with the letter A, but on the surface, that might be the only connection you can see between Australia and Angola.
But if you dig a little bit deeper, you might be surprised to find out that they have a lot more in common than you think.
We've chosen Australia and Angola as our seventh set of countries in a segment on CNN International's "Connect the World," that we're calling "Global Connections."
Australia is famed for its relaxed lifestyle, amazing geography, beautiful beaches and of course for being the only country in the world to have wild koalas and kangaroos.
Melbourne and Sydney are also global cities which consistently rank as one of the best places to live in the world.
On the other hand, Angola doesn't have quite the same reputation as the country from down under.
Angola was involved in an intense civil war for more than two decades, but today, the country is slowly recovering.
So what on earth could the connections between these two countries possibly be?
Well, that's why we are relying on YOU.
We need you to send in your ideas and comments on what connections exist - whether it be text, video or photos. We'll be choosing the best ones and then airing them on CNN International. This is your chance to appear on the show to share your connections with the world.
The connections can be anything from culture and geography to music and the economy.
We also want to hear your personal stories too. Perhaps you have a family member that moved from one country to the other years ago and you want to get in touch? Maybe you visited one country years ago on holiday and something special happened? Whatever connection you think there is, we want to know.
All you have to do is leave your comments below on what connections you think exist and then one of our team members will be in touch.
Now it's time for you to get involved - get connecting!
You can also leave your comments on our brand new Facebook fan page - just visit www.facebook.com/CNNconnect for behind the scenes photos, special interviews and even a tour of the CNN London bureau!
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I grew up in Angola – late '40s and 50's. I went to a mission boarding school in Zambia – then Northern Rhodesia. My first teacher, Standard 1 aged 7, was Lucy Traise. She was a "retired" Australian teacher. I came home to Angola with a thick Australian accent which lead to much mirth and teasing.
That's about 3 steps!
They both begin and end with the letter "A".
Once Australia and Angola were intimately connected. They both were once parts of the Great Southern Continent, Gondwanaland. The rocks and fossils tell the tale of the common boarders between the two, but this was rent asunder by the tectonic adjustments of the earth. Rift valleys, similar to that which runs through Africa all the way into Europe formed between the African Continent, and Australia, as well as between them and South America, Decan India and Antarctica. Just look at the globe and fit the continetal jigsaw together to see how it worked. The rifts grew wider and the continents floated away from one another.
Work towards fulfilling the hope that the peoples of the two lands reforge the historic physical connection is aided by analogies such as this, together with the opportunity provided by CNN of focusing on the unity, rather than fragmentation of mankind.
Angola is famous for Welwitschia Mirabilis, an astonishing desert plant, that only grows in Namibe province. Angola is also known for the palanca Negra Gigante which is the national icon of Angola, it is considered to be the most beautiful living antelope in the world. In the other hand Australia is famous for species such as koalas and kangaroos.
Both have great mineral and energy wealth, both onshore and offshore. Huge reserves of gold, oil, gas.
Both Angola and Australia have great traditional sporting rivalry with South Africa.
Both have large ex-pat communities working in energy industry.
Both have very expensive cities in Luanda and Sydney respectively, but for vastly different reasons.
Majority of people in both countries found their belief in Christianity!
also, both countries have been ruled by Europeans in the past. (Angola by Portuguese, Australia by British).
Population numbers of both countries are similar too: Angola 19mil, Australia 22mil.
Australia exports to Angola:
Specialized Machinery & Parts,
Worn Clothing & Rags,
Mechanical Handling Equip & Parts and
Measuring & Analyzing Instruments.
Angola exports to Australia:
Clothing,
Manufactures of Base Metal,
Plastic Articles and
Civil Engineering Equip & Parts.
Jurgen R. Brul
Suriname
The picture showing a waterfall system in Angola was taken from the Namibian side. The waterfall is called Epupa Falls and runs off the Kunene River which, in that region, divides Angola from Namibia. While posted in Angola for military exercises during the war era, not too far from twhere this picture was taken, I was bitten by a puff adder and had to be urgently evacuated to Windhoek Hospital in Namibia (then South West Africa) where I spent some months recovering. Since that time I have viseted this area on numerous occasions to do wildlife photography. I now live in Australia.
http://www.austinstevens.net
Mining sector is a key factor for both of their economies. Australian companies such as BHP Billiton are present in Angola which represents a connection between both countries.
They are both relatively dry countries and that's about where any connection ends. I know where I'd rather live!
Australia and Angola are both situated in the southern hemisphere, therefore they share the same seasons at about the same time of the year. They are also located on the same latitude.
They also have great natural scenic beauty not to mention that they are also both very rich in raw material and mineral resources. They where both colonised by European countries.
Both Australia (Sabrina Houssami) and Angola (Stiviandra Oliveira) placed in the top 6 of the Miss World 2006 pageant.
http://www.meaus.com/112-miss-world-2006-5.JPEG (opposite ends of the photo)
In respect to angola, despite the War that lasted almost 30 year and the difficulties facing angolans we never lose hope, still have a relaxed lifestyle, amazing geography, beautiful beaches and of course for being one of few countries in the world to have untaped-wild life and amazing sites: to name few,
1-Serra da Leba
2-Cascatas da Huila
3-Pedras de pungo andongo
4-Pedras de calandula
Most important, one of the strongest connections between Angola and Australia is the fact that animals are the symbols of both nation
in AUSTRALIA- the Kangaroo
in ANGOLA- the-Palanca NEGRA Gigante (Giant Sable)
as an Angolan i would love to know more about Australia too!!
Many Angolans migrated to Brazil... Brazilians LOVE BBQ's... so do Australians.
We don't see much of a connection here but I do see that Angola has diamond mines and Australia has the machinery and the expertise to dig them out and provide a good source of income to Angola and Austraila.
One significant date in common: November 11, 1975
Both have good decent basketball teams!
I spent sometime working in Angola , I then went to Australia to work met someone there got married returned to Angola where my first child was born we now live in England!
Australia is the most peaceful country I have ever heard in history-no wars, no conflicts. It runs itself quietly with self respect. that is why I find it a nice continent.
Angola is characterized with peaceful relations also.
Historically and on the political arena both deserves Noble Peace Prize!
Both countries were discovered by portuguese navigators
they are on the same contenint
It would be good to promote sister cities and townships for both countries.
Being at the same latitude Australia could help in economic areas where as Angola could assist with culture and environmental. A type of ying and yang. Both complimenting each others strengths and weaknesses.
Portugal is said to once "discoved" australia when it was around the timor islands.
Angola was a former colony of the portuguese and now speak portuguese.
There was a Dutch presence in both Angola and Australia in the 16th century.However neither was colonized by the Dutch.
Anthony from nigeria;angola&australia have many things in common.example is the area of sports:angola are specialist in the area of basketball while australia are the best in swimming,ranked 1st in the world.2:they also share the same border according to evolutionary records,which no longer exists due to the conflicts in angola in the previous decades and the global warming affecting the entire world.3:their name starts with a,they also have two cities which are pleasurable for your leisure.4;they both have wild animals that are not common in their area.angola has the greyrious gazelle,while the goalla & kangaroo is in the australia.
My visa just got rejected inspite of giving the Australian embassy all the papers and the visa was denied on the bases of papers cause some idiot at the Australian embassy his mind told him to reject it.Angola is hundred times better to visit then australia, coyz money walks and talks in Australia and people r allowed to enter and see the country on the bases of their bank balance...but this attitude is a risk ,if a terroist shows million dollars in his account he is allowed to enter the country only on the bases of his papers showing a high bank balance ,but we genuine people r rejected .Anyways good for Australia if they r the only country with kangaroos and a beautiful country but i would still recommend angola instead of a counry whr money walks and talks
when civil war begin 1974/1975 a lot of portugueses leave Angola to Australia ...no big connection than that 😉
Princess Diana.
First europeans to arrive to both countries were the Portuguese.
İf you have said south africa then ı would of writen many things, but the country in question is angola well there's not much to say,maybe only the wild life or perhaps a couple of business ties here and there...
I don't know about a connection but I love angolan kuduro!!
both country can make a coparation to do the best foe the humanity , Angola have a manpower and austrlia have sience .god bless both,ameen
@Roman
Your Christian reference is fictional. The Majority of the country is not Christian at all, in fact, most would laugh at your Religions.
The only connection l can figure out is..."there is Embassy of Austrialia in Angola, likewise, there is Embassy of Angola in Australia" which connected the two countries together.
Both start and end with letter A
Luanda is the most expensive city in the world. well, i guess sydney has even brighter streets.
The major similarity is basically the fact that both countries just like others have abolished the death penalty.
One of similarities is that both countries Where colonised by European Portugal for Angola and England for Australia.......
Both countries engaged in fishing, they are ancient tourist center and colonised by the same empire
Despite the letter A that both have,they're located in the southern part of the continent and with outstanding cultures that can never go on extinct. Greetings to Aunty Commy and her awaited new born baby girl in Dublin,Ireland
Having lived and worked in both of them, I can think of a few common traits:
– GFC survival – both economies seem to have maintained very strong growth when the rest of the world was falling apart, mostly driven by Chinese demand
– Attractive to expats – Australia has been a favoured migration destination for a very long time as a land of opportunity, and so has Angola (first during Portuguese rule as a new beginning away from economic hardship and political oppression in mainland Portugal, and today as a strong alternative for young people escaping from Portugal's problematic economy). In both countries you'll easily find people in their 20's and 30's coming from abroad (in Australia from all over the world, in Angola mostly from Portugal and Brazil)
– Open spaces – along with similar population sizes, both countries have their population concentrated along the coast, with the interior providing very diverse landscapes (both countries both tropical forests and subtropical deserts) and very limited human presence
– Red earth – Both in Angola and in Australia, red earth is common and very distinctive from what you usually find in the northern hemisphere
– Looking for a place in the region – Australia has always struggled to find its place in Asia, too far to be Asian, to close to be anything else and not trusted or trusting its northern neighbours. Angola emerged from the civil war as a possible regional power, hoping to take the place of an unstable Nigeria and a history-marked South Africa as the new African hub
– Proud nations – both nations find unity in their diversity (Australia's population has its origins all over the world, while Angola is very ethnically diverse) through national pride, and in particular sport
– Smooth culture – in both countries you'll find traits of their former colonial rulers (schooling system, favourite sports, language, law), but adapted to local attitudes towards life
I'm from Angola and I love this country. Yes, our economy is growing exponentially but unfortunately we don't feel it. The majority of our population is still living in poor condition due to the lack of transparency. The corruption and the bad way of managing our richness have been the biggest concerns.
I understand about the Angolan economy, as Angolan im shockt that how come on CNN they never talk about Angolan corruption as well and the president is more than 30 year in power, and nobody seems to care, the people are starving in Angolan everyday, we need outside help
I understand about the Angolan economy, as Angolan im shockt that how come on CNN they never talk about Angolan corruption as well and the president is more than 30 year in power, and nobody seems to care, the people are starving in Angolan everyday.
angola and australia are both 3 syllabic words.
@ stanley
I couldn't imagine how anyone can survive in Angola I read your comment. Puts our plights in perspective.
Power & gas bills shoot through the roof, housing rental shortage & landlands can kick you out at will to jack up prices, GFC figures released ot world bogus, stimulus programs cause massive waste in schools who didn't get what they requested & 5 deaths from dodgy housing insulation program & a Govt hell bent on slugging us with a carbon tax that will destroy businesses.
Relaxed?? Reading about both plights I guess the one thing we have in common is not being so.
October 14th, 2010 1:50 pm ET
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Australian had merchandise trade with Angola in 2009 Exports to Angola(A$'000) 11,136.Total exports and imports 11,165.
Major Australian exports 2009:
Specialised machinery & parts 3178
worn clothing& rags 2,048
Mechanical handling equip& parts 1648
Measuring &analysing instrument 1611
Australia's trade in services with Angola 2009: Exports of services to Angola(A$m)
Imports of services from Angola(A$m)
Australian Angola's principal import sources 2008: Autralia 0.1%
As It was already said on Angolan day of independence Angola will be a potential of Africa and the world, this statement made clear that Angolans were prepared to show there potential, civil war broke in and the statement was almost forgotten , but during this time(civil war) Angola took apart in many benefited events, even though fighting against civil war, after the rain comes rainbow, time for reconstruction and being one of the most richest resource country in the world theirs high possibilities of developing, since peace Angola dramatically changed (infra-structures, roads), with great economic BOOM, political, touristic and etc.
Being invited in G8 while it doesn't take part of them its a was a great symbol for achievement in the world giving then China multimillion business trade, the word key is reconstruction, if Australia shows cooperating with Angola from my point of view must be in this sector others sectors will be connected itself due time and loyalty after will be history, take China located in Asia, far way from Angola but so closer than even Portugal and Brasil, from the reportage above I don't agree too much with Palanca Negra Gigante and Kangaroos, its more business opportunity for development, power to empower
Do businessess actually pay individuals to take surveys online?
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