National Geographic: The New Europe
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2002/01/01/html/ft_20020101.3.html
This site offers a glimpse into the relatively new economic and social order of the European Union. You can read general essays about the goals of cooperation between Union members. You will probably enjoy the personal story of a journalist traveling through the member countries. Links allow you to “Zoom In” on pictures and descriptions of EU sites of interest. Or, take an online video tour of the “New Europe.”

Delegation of the European Union to the USA
http://www.eurunion.org/

This well-organized site has one of the best introductions to the European Union on the Web. You might start by investigating the “EU Guide for Americans.” You will also find lots of information about the relationships between EU member states. Finally, drop in on the “For Youth” option for fun tips on traveling and studying in the EU.

Chapter 15
Population Dilemmas in Europe

U.N. Programme on Ageing: Towards a Society for All Agesy
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/

This United Nations site has lots of information about European demographics for students and teachers. You will find many interesting topics in the “Challenges and Opportunities” area. Be sure to visit “The Ageing of the World’s Population.” This section uses population pyramids and other graphs to explain the world’s remarkable transition from past high birth and death rates to today’s lower birth and death rates.

Population Reference Bureau—Human Population: Fundamentals of Growth
http://www.prb.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PRB/Educators/Human_Population/Change/Three_Patterns_of_Population_Change1.htm


This site has detailed information about population growth around the world. Population pyramids illustrate issues related to both positive and negative population growth. Links will take you to demographic information about all regions of the world, including Europe. This site is best suited for teachers (lesson-planning resources are included) and students interested in more advanced topics.

Chapter 16
Invisible Borders: Transboundary Pollution in Europe

Enviropedia: Transboundary Pollution
http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Acid_Rain/Transboundary_Pollution.php

This Enviropedia Web page focuses on transboundary pollution in Europe. The site explains what causes the movement of pollution across borders. It also investigates how this problem has been addressed by the European Union. In addition, the site has a tremendous amount of information on other pollution problems. Use the links on the left side to learn more about acid rain, global warming, air pollution, and other topics.

Waging Peace—Chernobyl: Remembering the World’s Worst Nuclear Accident
http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/action/urgent-actions/chernobyl/

The authors of this site obviously favor other forms of energy production over the use of nuclear energy. However, the site contains useful information about the current and potential dangers of radioactive pollution. You will find extensive information about the Chernobyl accident, how the radioactivity spread, and problems with how the accident was handled by the former Soviet Union.

Chapter 17
Russia’s Varied Landscape: Physical Processes at Work

PBS The Living Edens—Kamchatka: Siberia’s Forbidden Wilderness
http://www.pbs.org/edens/kamchatka/ring.html
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a great place for studying the physical processes that shape present-day landscapes. This PBS site will help you understand how the “Ring of Fire” has affected the Kamchatka region. Vivid diagrams show how volcanoes, plate tectonics, and magma have contributed to the region’s physical geography. Links will take you to other materials about this area such as wildlife, the environment, and a short history of the peninsula.

World Climate Zones
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm
A visit to this site (produced by a sixth grade class in Massachusetts) will help you understand why each geographic area of the world has distinctive plant and animal life. The landforms of these various regions, or biomes, are very different. These differences are based in large part on differences in climate and geography. Follow the link to the “World Biomes” page. Then click on the color-coded links on the World Biome map to get to more detailed information.

Chapter 18
New Nation-States from the Old Soviet Empire: Will They Succeed?

Freedom House
http://www.freedomhouse.org/
This text-based site offers information about countries around the world, including those that emerged from the former Soviet Union. Follow the “Freedom House Europe” link for current updates on these nation-states. The Freedom House organization continually collects information from these countries to evaluate their progress in establishing free, democratic institutions. Some of the issues covered are governance and elections, civil rights, corruption, and economic progress. This site may best serve the needs of teachers and of students interested in more advanced topics. It could also be useful for middle school students with guidance from a teacher.

The CIA World Factbook: Georgia
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gg.html
The CIA has gathered vast amounts of data about virtually every country in the world. This particular Web page highlights Georgia, a former Soviet republic. To learn about other former Soviet republics, simply use the “Select a Country or Location” feature at the top of the page. You can explore economic, geographic, political, and cultural aspects of these countries. They share a Soviet past, but are now struggling to determine their futures as independent nations.