Globalization and Sustainability CGW4U Unit 1

Globalization Trend toward greater interconnectedness of the world’s financial, economic, technological, political, cultural, sociological, ecological, and geographical systems

Financial Globalization Interconnectedness of the world’s financial systems Stock markets for example Not network of nations, rather network of world cities with significant financial markets

Economic Globalization Corporations becoming multinational Coca Cola, Toyota, Ikea for example Pro: efficiency and global wealth Con: increase differences between haves and have nots transnational corporations become more powerful and influential

Technological Globalization Growth of communications world wide Use of cell phones and internet access Wealthier countries progressing toward developing countries

Political Globalization Adoption of uniform policies world wide Refer back to Social and Economic perspectives Trade agreements

Cultural Globalization Harmonization of world’s cultures Television, music, foods, values for example Con: loss of cultural diversity, threat to religion, development of “American” culture

Ecological Globalization Growing acceptance of treating planet as a single ecosystem rather than a collection of separate ecosystems Montreal Protocol for Example World nations treaty to combat ozone depletion

Sociological Globalization Development of concept that we are all members of a single world society rather than distinct national and cultural societies Common attitudes, standards of behaviour

Geographical Globalization Relationship of network of world cities and surrounding regions rather than separate countries Borderless

Issues with Globalization Loss of unique cultures Corporate profits before workers rights Threat to religious beliefs and morality Threat to contemporary culture Complex issue.....

Case Study: Globalization and the Golden Arches Read the case study on page 29 In pairs, answer the three questions Be prepared to share your responses with your teacher

Case Study: Dubai Watch the National Geographic program on Dubai http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/man- made/3134/Overview#tab-Videos/02870_05 Make notes on the various ways that Dubai exemplifies globalization Record specific examples to discuss after the program

Sustainability Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs

Sustainability Issues Dubai: water usage Canada: Mountain Pine Beetle and Lodgepole Pines (p. 32)

Sustainability Perspectives Expansionist World View 18th Century Europeans Industrial Revolution → city jobs → loss of rural values → wealth = progress →unlimited natural resources in new land Ecological World View Late 18th Century reaction to environmental destruction resulting from Industrial revolution & colonial expansion Emotional and spiritual relationships between humans and environment National Parks Environmentalism Earth day, environmental awareness, scientific data

Current World Views Spaceship Earth Concept Gaia Hypothesis Regards Earth as a fragile, finite self-contained sphere with limited resources and a rapidly growing population whose life-support system is in jeopardy, therefore, we must change the way we live as there is no where else to go... Gaia Hypothesis The world is self regulating, living entity made up of organisms that modify Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, climate, and crust to ensure their survival The word Gaia comes from Greek Mythology – it is the name for the Greek goddess that personifies the Earth (the Greek version of Mother Earth)

Current World Views Limits-to-Growth Thesis Cornucopian Thesis If the trend in population growth, economic development, resource use, and consumption continue, limits to human growth would be reached within 100 years Cornucopian Thesis Scientific and technological advances will develop new resources to take the place of depleted resources Which view best represents your world view? Why? Write a paragraph explaining your stance.

Resources Total stock: Resource: all the material components of the environment taken together Includes energy, living organisms, and non-living materials Resource: Any of the total stock that becomes useful to human beings Includes natural resources (water, air) , human made items (labour , technology), items appreciated for aesthetic qualities (landscapes, ecosystems)

Resources In order for something in the total stock to become resource, the following must occur: Technology must exist to develop the item for human use Return on investment must be greater than cost of developing resource (eg. Oil sands in Alberta) Must be culturally acceptable to develop the resource

Resources Renewable resource: Nonrenewable resource: Nature replenishes them Air, forests, water, solar energy Nonrenewable resource: Once reserve is used up it is gone

Sustainable Development Maintenance of essential ecological processes Sustainable use of resources Preservation of genetic diversity