African Union

Administrative Centre Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Largest city Cairo, Egypt
Working languages Arabic
English
French
Portuguese
Spanish(Eq.G. & R.M.)
German (Nam., Tan. & S.A.)
Swahili
Membership 53 African states
Leaders
- Chairman John Kufuor
- Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konaré
Establishment
- as the OAU May 25, 1963
- as the African Union July 9, 2002
Area
- Total 29,757,900 km² (1st2)
sq mi
Population
- 2005 estimate 850 million
- Density 25.7 /km² (3rd1)
/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2003 estimate
- Total US$ 1.515 Trillion (16th1)
- Per capita $1,896
GDP (nominal) 2003 estimate
- Total $514 billion
- Per capita $643
Time zone (UTC-1 to +4)

The African Union (AU) is an supranational union consisting of fifty-three African states. Established in 2001, the AU was formed as a successor to the amalgamated African Economic Community (AEC) and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Eventually, the AU aims to have a single currency and a single integrated defence force, as well as other institutions of state, including a cabinet for the AU Head of State. The purpose of the union is to help secure Africa's democracy, human rights, and a sustainable economy, especially by bringing an end to intra-African conflict and creating an effective common market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union
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South Asian Economic Union – a growing reality that can change the world

A thing that will change the economic landscape of the world for ever. That is the dream many forefathers of South Asian independence dreamed in early twentieth century.

Observing that time for South Asian Union in terms of economic integration had come, India today said the barriers among SAARC countries would have to fall to allow the region's development and voiced confidence about SAFTA coming into force from January next.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, said South Asia could draw inspiration from regional bodies like the European Union and ASEAN for economic integration and advocated a time-bound project-oriented approach by SAARC nations towards achieving developmental goals.

"All of us in South Asia are aware that the idea of a South Asian Union in the realm of economic integration is one whose time has come. We are in danger of missing the bus if we do not recognise this reality," he said after releasing a book "South Asian Union" authored by senior journalist Ranjit Kumar.

For development of the region, he said, barriers of geography, trade and mindset would have to fall. "Today, in the age of IT revolution, many barriers will break down," he said.

"The EU shows how countries which have been at war with each other over the last eight to ten centuries can bury their hatchets in the common pursuit of peace and prosperity," the External Affairs Minister said. Noting that two-thirds of the world trade today takes place through regional economic groups, he said "South Asia can certainly draw inspiration from EU as it can from other successful regional groupings like ASEAN, North Atlantic Free Trade Area (NAFTA) and South Africa Development Community."

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/1592.asp

The Union of South American Nations (Spanish: Unión de Naciones Suramericanas, Portuguese: União das Nações Sul-Americanas and Dutch: Zuid-Amerikaanse Statengemeenschap, abbreviated as Unasur and Unasul) is a fledgling supranational and intergovernmental union that will unite two existing free-trade organizations – Mercosur and the Andean Community – as part of a continuing process of South American integration. It is loosely modelled on the European Union.

According to agreements made thus far, the Union's headquarters will be located in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, while the location of its bank, the Bank of the South (Banco del Sur), is still under discussion (one proposal would establish it in Quito, Ecuador, as well). The Union's former designation, the South American Community of Nations (Spanish: Comunidad Sudamericana de Naciones and Portuguese: Comunidade Sul-Americana de Nações, abbreviated as CSN; Dutch: Zuid-Amerikaanse Statengemeenschap) was dropped at the First South American Energy Summit on April 16, 2007.[1]

Complete integration of the Andean Community and Mercosur to create Unasur/Unasul is expected by the Summit to be held in Colombia in December 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_S ... an_Nations
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int-sau.html
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1564

EVEN JOBS ARE GOING INTERNATIONAL

About Global Unions Increasingly, the name “Global Unionsâ€