EUROPE Today’s Issues

Turmoil in the Balkans Slobodan Milosevic President of Serbia from President of Yugoslavia from Led Serbia and Yugoslavia into many ethnic wars killing thousands and destroying Yugoslavia

Roots of the Balkan Conflict Why all the conflict? –Different ethnic groups wanted control of the Balkan Peninsula In the 500s the South Slavs migrated to the Balkan Peninsula and each group (Croats, Slovenes, and Serbs) formed its own kingdom Over time different groups ruled parts of the Balkan Peninsula and the Slavs became divided

The Kosovo Maiden Why has this painting has become a symbol of national pride for many Serbs? What do you see? What do they represent?

Yugoslavia Formed Yugoslavia “Land of the South Slavs” was formed in 1929 to help end ethnic divisions –Why would it be named for South Slavs?

Ethnic Groups in Yugoslavia

Ethnic superiority and WWII How does ethnicity and nationalism lead to war? What is nationalism? –Loyal to a country w/ political boundaries or a specific people? –Ethnicities want their own country. –Look at the map again (pg. 322) –Read the first section on page 320.

1990s – A Decade of War The 1990s brought a decade of war to Yugoslavia. –Serbia wanted to expand its borders, but Slovenia and Croatia (two republics) declared their independence and became nations. In response, Serbia launches war. –Slovenia achieved freedom, but the Serb-Croat hatreds exploded.

…a decade of war Bosnia and Herzegovina declare independence but Serbia launched a war to stop it. –The Serbs used murder and violence to get rid of Bosnia’s Muslims and Croats. Ethnic cleansing: the policy of trying to eliminate an ethnic group through violence.

…a decade of war In the late 1990s Serbia tried to assert control over Kosovo and wipe out its Albanian culture. –Serbia began an ethnic cleansing of Albanians –In 1999, NATO started bombing Serbia to force it to stop the violence. Later in the year Serbia left Kosovo.

Saving Europe’s Water Causes of water pollution: 1. Industries – release chemicals into water 2. Sewage – lack of treatment plants 3. Chemical fertilizers – rain washes into rivers 4. Oil spills – oil spills and spreads in deep waters and along coastlines

Cleaning up the Water Representatives from France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland formed the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine River. The European Union passed environmental laws that its member nations must obey The EU also set up the European Environmental Agency

Air Pollution Air pollution is made up of harmful gases and particulates. When these react with sunlight it creates smog. Air pollution not only creates health problems, but also harms plants, livestock, forests, and buildings.