Two Themes for World Issues CGW4U Two Themes for World Issues Globalization and Sustainability

Globalization The trend towards greater interconnectedness of the world’s financial, economic, technological, political, cultural, sociological, ecological, and geographical systems. Globalization as it exists today is not fully understood, and its impacts are as yet unclear.

Financial globalization World’s financial systems have become intimately interconnected. ie: oil prices and the stock market.

Economic globalization A growing number of companies are multinational or transnational in nature, having integrated operations across much of the world. ie: Coca-Cola, Nike, and Shell. This type has been the most controversial.

Technological globalization A “global village”, with the growth of communications and computer technology.

Political globalization Many countries have adopted a neo-liberal agenda (cut government spending, reduce economic and environmental regulation, privatization, and opened their economies to the world). ie: Canada’s free trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico (NAFTA).

Cultural globalization The gradual harmonization of the world’s cultures at the expense of distinctly different local cultures. A “world culture”.

Sociological globalization The growing belief that certain common attitudes and standards of behaviour should exist in every country. ie: policies of fundamentalist Islamist countries.

Ecological globalization Planet is treated as a single ecosystem, rather than a collection of separate ecological systems. ie: ozone depletion, global warming, and climate change.

Geographical globalization A borderless world that is dominated by a network of vast relationships, not individual countries.

Evidence of the rising and falling forces of Globalization: Dubai by air video clip from the BBC

Concerns About Globalization

Is it worth it? Where do we go from here? Pros and Cons Positive Impacts of Globalization Living conditions have improved Increased understanding of different cultures More jobs Reduce costs of goods Negative Impacts of Globalization Focus is often on short-term gains only Rich are richer, poor are poorer destruction of the environment neglect of human rights Is it worth it? Where do we go from here?

Sustainability What is it? Development that meets the needs of people today without jeopardizing the well-being of future generations. Historical Perspective Throughout most of human history, people hunted animals and gathered plants to survive Hunter-gatherers had little impact on the environment - they lacked the technology to do great damage Nomadic in nature: If they ran low on resources, they moved on, allowing that area to replenish itself Agriculture developed and urban civilizations became more wide spread, causing further intensification of agriculture Many native groups saw destruction of the environment and practiced conservation and sustainable practices

These terraces (flat areas) were carved out of the sides of mountains by hand to increase the amount of arable (farmable) land.

By 1700’s globalization was well under way as Europeans colonized parts of the Americas, Australia and Africa Merchants felt justified in exploiting nature and its resources because the ensuing accumulation of wealth was the ultimate goal Most Europeans were ethnocentric (only cared about their own ethnicity)

By 1800’s animals, birds, plants were becoming extinct Deforestation and land degradation was ubiquitous

Expansionist World View Europeans saw “new” lands as having limitless natural resources and space set about using their technology to exploit the environment They believed that science and technology could control nature for the benefit of humankind

Expansionist World View Industrial revolution gave rise to - mechanization - factories - railways - steamships - massive urbanization As people lost their direct contact with the land, their knowledge of and respect for nature diminished. Ultimately, the primary value of nature is in value to modern society

Ecological World View Nature centered world view developed in the 19th century as a reaction to destruction of the environment Nature not seen as something to be exploited Gave birth to the idea of conservation First national park opened in the US in 1832 – Sierra Club founded in 1892

Ecological World View20th century response to destruction of environment: world’s systems are all interrelated; biotic community to be protected; nature, in itself, is to be valued; human activities need to work within the planet’s ecosystem; nature provides a forum to judge the state of humanity

Environmentalism – philosophy that reflects concern for the environment; main tenet is that humans have a responsibility to protect the global environment. first wave in the 1970s, reaction to chemical and industrial pollution (oil spills, pesticides, etc.) 80’s - global warming, ozone depletion, old growth forest cutting Environmental laws and restrictions

Resources and Resource Use Resource – Anything that meets people’s needs; includes natural resources (water), human-made items (technology), and aesthetic items (ecosystems). Something only becomes a resource when humans need it. Three conditions must exist before something in the total stock becomes a resource: It must be physically possible to exploit. It must be economically feasible to develop the resource. It must be culturally acceptable to develop the resource. Renewable resources are infinite; nature replenishes them (ie: air, water, and fish). Non-renewable resources are finite; no new ones will replace them.

Different Views of Our World Spaceship Earth Concept Earth as a tiny, fragile sphere with limited resources and a rapidly growing population whose life-support system is in jeopardy.

Different Views of Our World Gaia Hypothesis The world is a self-regulating, living entity made up of organisms, that modifies the Earth to ensure their survival. There is constant feedback between living and non-living matter to maintain an equilibrium of life-giving components.

Different Views of Our World Limits-to-Growth Thesis Based on computer models, in 1972 the Club of Rome predicted that if current growth trends continued the limits to human growth would be reached in 100 years. The world population would exceed the Earth’s carrying capacity – the maximum number of people that can be sustained by Earth’s resources.

Different Views of Our World Cornucopian Thesis Science and technology will continue to advance, with the result that new resources will be developed to take the place of old, depleted resources.

The Need for Sustainable Development

3 Objective of Sustainable Development Programs Maintenance of essential ecological processes. Sustainable use of the Earth’s resources. Preservation of genetic diversity What cycle are we in now??

Some perspective on where we are now… The Story of Stuff