Connections and Un-connections Global Networks Connections and Un-connections

This image shows our world at night as seen from space This image shows our world at night as seen from space. The distribution of light gives an indication not just of how population is spread out, but also of where wealth is found – and where it is not. You can see where the wealthier countries are located. E.g. Korea/Japan, Eastern USA and Europe. Less developed areas such as Africa are not lit up.

TNC Trans National Corporation – Companies that operate in more than one country. Number of TNCs jumped from 7,000 in 1970 to 40,000 in 1995. They have become some of the most powerful economical and political entities in the world today. The revenues of the top 500 corporations in the U.S equal about 60% of the countries GDP. TNCs have 90% of all technology and are involved in 70% of world trade.

Example of a TNC McDonalds The world’s largest chain of fast food restaurants. Head Quarters in the USA and operates globally.

Connections Through Technology 200 AD – World’s first sailing ships 1500-1700 – Industrial canals and stagecoach routes reduce land travel times Early 1800s – First steam ship crosses Atlantic in 1819 (29 days) with regular crossings by 1830s Late 1800s – Transatlantic telegraph cable laid in 1866, later to be superseded by telephone. Radio experiments begin in 1890s Early 1900s – Ford motorcar company launched in 1903. First television built in 1926. Boeing commercial flights by 1928. Late 1900s – First mobile phones available in early 1980s. World wide web (internet) developed in 1989 using PC and Modem. Communication Time Line