Globalization/Cultural Nationalism in St. Cloud
I was reading through the St. Cloud Times online edition this morning and ran across an article that I think ties very closely with globalization and is specific in some parts of the area in addressing cultural nationalism. The article talks about the story of a St. Cloud State student named Subigya Shayka who is attending school in St. Cloud from Nepal.
The article first starts out describing elections in Nepal and all the violence that is centered around it. I'm sure we'll learn about this political situation later on College Geo. However, in the article I felt that Cultural nationalism was mentioned when Shayka told the Times that many times he and his friends listen to music by AC/DC, Def Leppord and Deep Purple. I'm not really sure who Deep Purple is though. I believe this though is an example of how the Western influence in media, specifically music, has reached Nepal.
One other area of globalization that I think people also make overlook is schools. Many colleges these days are very diverse. The article sites that St. Cloud State is home to 160-180 people from Nepal. I also found through St. Cloud State's website that there are more than 84 countries represented at the college.
I think that students coming from all over the world to study abroad in American colleges is a form of globalization in itself. Certainly there was likely a time when colleges were learning institutions only for people in the same country, especially back when communication throughout the world wasn't as convenient and easy. People are worried that globalization will affect us today (kids) because we will be competing against people all over the world for jobs because of the high standards in education. It's interesting to note however that this is already happening. We're already competing against students from all over the world to get the education to get jobs; it will be just a matter of time before we're competing for the actual jobs.
Here's the article up for read:
Click here
Fossil Fuels, Are They Worth It?
We have been talking a lot about fossil fuels and how much they impact our environment. I found an article on what fossil fuels do to our world, and some possible solutions on how we as people can cut back on our use of them. The article has many interesting facts in it, stating things like the United States contributes 80% of the fossil fuels by driving cars, buses, trucks, etc. This struck me a lot, and although I new it was a large number, I didn't realize that every time I got in my car I was hurting the environment so badly. I think to myself, is driving to school each day or going to the mall to browse really worth it? Personally, I don't want the air for future generations to be so bad that they can't even breath. If we keep using fossil fuels at the rate we are today, this will be the case. We all saw on our GIS mapping activity how the continents are shrinking in size and environmentalists are not making the fact up. This article does mention that natural gas is among the least harmful fossil fuels, although it still does create a "smog" in the air. When reading this, I did not feel comfortable at all. I mean, if natural gas is one of the better fossil fuels to use and it creates cloudy air, then what exactly are the effects of the bad fossil fuels? Check out
http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/naturalgas.asp to learn much more about the different fossil fuels and their effects on the environment.
Recent studies have shown that global warming is in fact a reality. They have studied tree rings, ice cores, and fossils to find out more about the statistics of the change in our climate patterns. These studies have shown how we can loook to factors in the environment such as trees to see how our climate is changing. The tree rings show how well a tree grew during that year and how warm the summer was. From data such as this, scientists have concluded that this present stage we're in is the longest warm period in 1,200 years. The whole Northern Hemisphere is warmer than normal. Global warming is a complicated thing, and as we learned in Geo, there are many factors that are contributing. Of course, humans are abig part of it, and as such, i think that it is our responsibility to do something about it. I remember reading about the different attepts at solving or helping the problem. We've tried treaties that will cut back on our uses of greenhouse gasses, but we never seem to be able to live up to the standards. I think that the public needs to be more educated on this issue if we are going to start making a difference. Before this class i thought that global warming was a unrealistic idea that only environmentalist freaks (excuse my termonology :) ) worried about. I don't think many people think about global warming much or what they could do to help the problem. If we knew what we could realistically do we would be that much closer to helping out this place we live in.
There has been a major draught in Kenya that has left millions - 2.3 to be exact- in need of the bare necesities of life. This is the fifth season in a row that the crops have failed because of little or no rain. The people of Kenya largely depend on their agriculture to survive. The malnutrition rates have gone up significantly- from 18-30% in children under the age of five. About 15% of these are considered emergency. That's just in Kenya. The drought rages across eastern Africa and affects Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. This drought is not only causing famine and agriculture problems, it will hurt Africa's economy at huge rates. Power plants are cutting back and the dams are at their lowest levels ever. We have just finished learning about how the world has enough food for everyone, and all we need to do it distribute it more effectively. We can't let some countries suffer and die while we struggle with obesity. We are so rich and have more than what we need. Many people live on a dollar or less a day and we complain that we don't make enough per hour. To add insult to injury, we hesitate and make excuses when our counrty tries to help another. All we can think of is ourselves. How many times in a day do we think about what is best for ourselves, what we like the most, and how we can improve our own lives. What if, sometimes, we thought of someone else? There are so many people in need of help and we have the opportunities and resources to do it. As Leo Tolstoy said, "everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself." If we don't step out and help the people in need, who will?
"Few westerners think about the sugar in their food. But for many people in the developing world,
sugar is a matter of life and death." According to this article, sugar farmers in developing countries are facing many difficulties. The sugar farmers from Latin America and Africa find themselves unable to compete with farmers in the U.S. or Europe. They seem to be on the disadvantaged side. This article states that the government guarentees high prices for large American/European sugar producers. Basically, they will pay these countries more to keep the businesses profitable. However, developing countries aren't given the same benefit. From Ch 1, I recalled that pro-globalizers feel that economic globalization creates healthy competition. However, I think that this situation is absolutely unfair. These developing countries depend on their sugar farms to feed their families. "Many in the developing world don't want handouts, but they do want the ability to compete fairly on the world market, something that Western governments do not currently allow."
I feel that if we're all about equal opportunities then we better recheck our actions. These poor countries simply ask for a fair shot. If we can't deliver the favor, then we obviously need to fix our greedy attitudes.
*Check out this interesting story
and statements from the sugar farmers themselves
Sugar Farming Problem
Class summary for 2-10-06
Today we took the test on chapter one and two. The test took up the whole class time. We also got the new study guide packet.
Sweatshops: Good or Bad?
"In China, workers at Wellco Factory making shoes for Nike are paid 16 cents/hour (living wage for a small family is about 87 cents), 11-12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, 77-84 hours per week; workers are fined if they refuse overtime, and they’re not paid an extra rate for overtime hours."
Yet American companies still operate low-wage factories "sweatshops" in developing countries. Developing countries then compete for the business of these companies by lowering labor standards -- minimum wages and workplace safety requirements. Western workers lose, when factories in the U.S. close down, and migrate overseas in search of laborers willing to work for poverty wages. Often children go uneducated because they must work in factories, 9 hours a day, six days a week.
In third world countries the people are used to low wages and long hours. They know that there is no other way for them to support their families. Third world countries cannot afford to pay their workers more and give them the benefits that Americans enjoy, so "sweatshops" are the best they have to offer to the uneducated majority. In most cases immigrants, in America, do not object to poor working conditions and low wages because it is far better than what they had before and they are just glad to have a job.
In a way I believe that sweatshops are good, for the fact that it’s all people in developing countries have to live on. It’s much better than being unemployed and not making anything. If you think about the U.S. started with people working long hours in factories and farming in the 1800s, for low wages, and we later prospered into an industrialized nation. Now developing countries are trying to do the same thing. I understand that wealthy countries want to produce goods at the cheapest price, but sometimes minimum wage offered in developing countries is unbearable. I also don’t agree on some of the conditions associated with sweatshops. Such as the long overtime without pay, girls forced into prostitution, the harsh environment with inadequate ventilation, workers being abused physically, mentally, or sexually, and the harsh and unsafe working conditions. This I feel is very inappropriate and should be stopped. If we want cheap labor, at least provide a safe environment for the workers. It’s the least that we can do.Sweatshops: Good or Bad?
GIS: Water world
So what did you think of the GIS exercise? What was most interesting? What surprised you? Did the coastal flooding meet or exceed your expectations? What questions do you have?
Global Banking
It may be a little late to look at this site but it's a great site explaining the positive and negative views of globalization. More specifically how the world banks like World Bank, IMF, and the Bank for International Settlements are effecting the world. It shows how the banks help globally and nationally, aiding in the natural disasters Katrina and Rita.
http://www.augustreview.com/index.php?module=AdTracker&CODE=google2
The climate change caused by global warming is threatening polar bears with starvation, by shortening their hunting season. The bear's main food consists of ringed seals. However, ice on the hudson bay is thinning and cracking apart earlier and earlier. Therefore, the animals have less time available to hunt. So when they arrive back, they are in poor condition and malnourished. The results are devestating as the animals become more and more thin. Not only that but the mother is giving birth to fewer cubs. "The plight of the Hudson Bay polar bears is a warning that climate change is not something that will happen far off in the future, it's happening now," said Stephanie Tunmore, climate campaigner with green pressure group Greenpeace.
As if news for the bears couldn't get any worse, according to an article in the St.Cloud Times, the animal may be 1st on the endangered species list, due to the warming.
*Check out these sites for more info
Starving Polar BearsOn Thinner Ice
Many people have considered the idea that global warming won't be so extreme. However, recently an article was published from the British Met office. It stated that temperatures don't need to rise that much for dramatic changes to occur. "temperature need only rise about halfway to the worst-case scenario for such catastrophic events as the melting of the Greenland ice cap, or, worse yet, the West Antarctic ice sheet. The latter event could raise sea levels a whopping 5 meters, or about 16 ft., which could drown huge swaths of low-lying coastland and essentially wipe out countries like Bangladesh and the Maldives. Modest temperature increases could also shut off key ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, plunging Europe into a mini-Ice Age." With this report, Tony Blair responded with “"It is now plain that the emission of greenhouse gas is causing global warming at a rate that is unsustainable.”
I think that it's great that world leaders are finally realizing the problem with global warming. Maybe they'll get past unresolved issues and work to achieve an international agreement. However, at this rate, whose to say that anything will be done.
*Check out this website...
Time Magazine
Class summary for 2/6/06
Class started with trivia "What state is farther north Idaho or Maine?" Answer Idaho. We then went to the PUB and did GIS on "Water World". We learned what would happen if the polar ice caps melted.
Feb 9th 2006 Class review
We had trivia, "which state is farther north, Maine or Idaho? Ans: Idaho. We spent the rest of the time in the pub doing Module 7 GIS Packet. In the packet we learned about global warming effects on Antartica, and how the melting of the ice would flood the continents.
KARE Airs Climate Special
Last night when I was watching television I saw that KARE 11 is airing a series of special reports on climate change in the world. The reports are being done by Rick Kupchella and thus far there have been two reports given.
I didn't catch Tuesday night's Extra, but on Wednesday they talked about air pollution/carbon that is clogging our air system. All the sources for the report are highly credible scientific sources. The sources claim that our rise in global temperature is attributed to both human and natural factors, but less snow fall, less ice, and more rain for the past 50 years is more so attributed to human factors.
Mark Seeley who is a climatologist with the University of Minnesota makes a point that I feel many should agree with: we need to stop pointing fingers and stop this problem. We need to recognize these sources and correct them and not worry about who is at fault.
An interesting point to cite deals with the warming of the Arctic Ocean. In the article, it is said that the Arctic Ocean used to have small cracks throughout it that were about 100 yards long, and open water can be seen in these cracks. Now, these cracks have become much larger to the point where you wouldn't be able to see across the crack. This indicates to me some serious warming.
The article/special also attributes the problem to coal burning. In America alone, 1/2 of electricity comes from coal. In Minnesota, 2/3 of energy comes from coal. This coal is creating increased carbon in the air, which is in turn warming up our earth.
I think scientists need to continue to invest resources to trace sources and develop solutions to this problem. Check out the article!
Article
Notes for 2-7-06
II. Human Impacts on Plants and Animals: The Glabalization of Nature
A. Bioregion: An assemblage of local plants and animals covering a large area (tropical rainforest or grassland)
1. Includes naturally occuring flora and fauna
2. Shaped by our domestication- and modification- of these plants and animals
3. Today bioregions may be home to multinational conglomerates as well as to local plants, animals, and peoples
B. Tropical Forests and Savannas
-Mostly found in equatorial climate zones
-Covers around 7% of the world's land area
-Three layered canopy
-As one moves polewards, distinct dry season forms and tropical forest becomes more open
- Further poleward, grassland and savanna replace forest
C. Deforestation of the tropics
-Annually, an area of tropical forest the size of Wisconsin is denuded
~Land cleared for wood sale, for cattle grazing and for settlement purposes
~Natives lose their homes
D. Deserts and Grasslands
-Large areas of arid and semi-arid climate that lie poleward of the tropics
-Comprise 1/3 of the Earth's land surface
~Desert: Areas recieve less than 10 inches of rain a year
~Prarie: North American grassland
~Steppe: Shorter, less dense grassland found in Russia and SW Asia
-Desertification: The spread of desert-like conditions
~Caused by poor agricultural practices on marginal land, overgrazing, build-up of salts and soil from irrigation
E. Temperate Forests
-Large tracts of forests found in middle and high latitude (near poles)
-Two major tree types dominate
~Conifers of evergreens (pine, spruce, fir)
~Deciduous trees that lose leaves in winter
-Forests cleared for agriculture
-Commercial logging places pressure on forests
Study Tips
With our first big test coming up I thought it would be appropriate to link a study web site to our blog. It is all created for college students and has many other study web site links to help you prepare for the big test!
http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~kak7409/CollegeSurvivalLinks.html
The Most Powerful Nation?
The United States has always been known to be the best, the strongest, unbeatable since before any of us can remember. This in fact whether it suprises you or not, is about to change. The United States of America is at a 0% increase in population right now, and the only thing that is keeping that statistic at 0% is immigration. Not only that, but we are destroying all natural resources, and are losing all sorts of resources everyday. While all this is happening, China has been doing the exact opposite. The chinese whether you believe it or not, are getting smarter, and are building themselves up to become the smartest country in the world. With this knowledge, who knows the possibilites. We have always known the Chinese and Japanese for their superior knowledge of electronics, but who knows the kind of power it could give them if they directed it towards national military. While all this would be quite shocking to us, it has already started, and I believe it is something that we should all be aware of. The United States will not be the biggest, best, most powerful nation for long. I happened to read a lot of this information out of a book. I am going to put a link on here of the book online if you would like to see the book. If you click it it will allow you to read some of the book online I believe. The book is called
The World Is Flat
Poverty in Our World
"It may be surprising to most people to realize that USA, the wealthiest nation on Earth, has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation, and the difference continues to grow. In 1989, the United States had 66 billionaires and 31.5 million people living below the official poverty line. A decade later, the United States has 268 billionaires and 34.5 million people living below the poverty line-about $13,000 for a three-person family."
Poverty is the state of being for more than half of the world’s people and nations. Why is this? Behind the flourishing relief and assistance promised by globalization, are global decisions, policies, and practices. Today’s "corporate globalization", is where the wealthier are able to determine the rules, form the international institutions and influence communication. For poor countries these impacts can be devastating.
Governments in poor countries therefore must:
- spend less
- reduce consumption, which results in resources becoming even cheaper from the poorer regions (which favors consumers in the West).
- decrease financial regulations, which results in the value of labor decreasing
In the face of such large outside influence, the governments of poor nations and their people are often helpless. Here’s a link to a facts sheet on poverty in the world. It’s rather sad and in reality seems unbearable that people actually live like this. We should be very fortunate that we live in a growing part of the country, have proper education and have money to buy luxury items.
Class on 2-8-06
Today we started like everyday doing trivia. The question was: What is the circumference of the earth? The answer was
24,855.34 miles.We then moved on to taking notes. The notes were about The Green Revolution. We talked about how the Green Revolution has increased global food production since the 1950's. We then went on to talking about Stage 1. In the first stage, there was a shift from single crop fields to mono crops. Also, there was an intensification of applications of water, fertilizer, and pesticides. We then began discussing Stage 2. In Stage 2, there were new types of fast growing wheat and rice that were specifically bred for tropical and sub tropical climates. India doubled their food production in Stage 2. We then talked about the environmental costs of the Green Revolution adn how there were more fossil fuels burned during this time. There were also social costs such as the money spent on oil and fertilizer. There are many problems with food in the world today. Globalization is causing a worldwide change in food preferences. There is undernourishement throughout the world. The UN predicts that by 2010, almost 200 million people in South Africa will suffer from chronic undernourishement.
We then began working on our atlas packets during class.
Homework1. Finish atlas packet2. Work on Chapter Reviews3. Start working on notecard for Friday4. Study for test on Friday
The Climate Change in Minnesota
Last night I was watching Kare11 news, and they had this special on global warming in our state. Perfect timing! From the show, I gained a lot of new information. It said that "By the end of the century, Minnesota would be at the high end of the range. Ten degrees warmer would be stunning. 10 degrees is what ended the iceage and that took 10,000 years. If current projections prove true, we'd be warming the planet to that degree 100 times faster!" According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, by the end of this century Minnesota could look a lot more like the oak, elm, and maple forested areas of central Illinois. Not only that, but "MN would feel more like Illinois in the wintertime with temperatures 6-12 degrees warmer." They also said that Summertime would be about 4 to 8 degrees warmer. Keep in Mind that these changes would cause many effects on our own environment. For instance, Experts have seen the impact of warming lakes, in the form of thinner ice. These scientists have also observed Lake Pepin in the summer to measure the impact on the Walleye population. From their studies they realized that warmer water is causing large walleye to grow slower. They even noticed that reproduction was also altered, with decreased numbers of young walleye on Lake Pepin.
Another animal that will be affected is the state's Moose. Scientists know how sensitive the animal is to temperature change. For example, when it reaches 67 degrees fahrenheit, the animal will pant. Therefore, increasing temperatures can put more stress onto the moose and danger as well.
As you can see, this issue is controversial and debatable. Although more is yet to be known, the topic opens the door to a wide range of discussion. Hopefully more investigating will help us understand what the future for Minnesota holds.
Guess what! Tonight (wednesday), around 10:00pm you can check out part 2 on Kare11 News. "Wednesday night's Extra will look at the factors believed to be contributing to global warming-in particular, man-made factors, and what if anything can be done to reverse our impact on the environment."
The Kare11 Part 1 site:
The Great Climate Change
Controlled Burn Gone Bad in Orange County Calif.
In a recent "controlled burn" of a 10-acre area near Sierra Peak started a wild burning fire the caught over 6,500 acres of land. Also forcing over 2,000 to evacuate. Luckily no one was hurt and no homes were burned. There not saying that the controlled burn was the official cause; "Hawkins noted that the apparent cause would not be considered final for two weeks because several people in a pickup truck had been seen in the area where the wildfire roared to life early Monday". There is no excuse for this wildfire, but we should be way more protective when we do "controlled burns" so a little acre burn dose not turn out to a 6,500 wildfire putting peoples lives in danger. Read the full article
here.
New Found Paradise
Scientists have found a hidden paradise deep in the jungles of New Guinea. Helicopters were used to reach the Foja mountains of Irian Jaya. They have discovered dozens of new species of frogs, plants, and butterflies. They also discovered the "orange-faced honeyeater, the first new bird discovered in New Guinea in over 60 years!
The article,
here, goes on to describe their expedition, and all of the new species they discovered. I think this is an outstanding discovery, and it's exciting to see that there are many things in our world that are yet to be discovered. It says in the article that the animals arent scared of humans, and that is because the animals havent encountered humans before.
The leader of the expedition hopes to return in the future..."There were so many new things it was almost overwhelming. And we have only scratched the surface."
-weaselXcore
Tropical Deforestation
As I was searching for topics to post, I found this article to have a lot of good information about deforestation in the world that has recently occurred. This article has many striking facts in it that sadden me. One thing that kind of struck me was that in the past 50 years, 40 % of Central America's tropical forests have been destroyedby being cut down or burned down. This connects back to the notes that we took in class today, and many of the same causes for deforestation that we talked about are listed in the article. Commercial industrialization was stated as being a huge cause to tropical deforestation, and the trees are constantly being cut down to create wood products for paper and such that we use foolishly. Another reason that was mentioned in the article was was that much of the lands are being taken over for cattle grazing. As we all know, meat has become a growing expense and delicacy for many people in the world. Instead of paying for meat at such a high cost, some people are deciding to raise their own cattle. Because of this, 2/3 of all the lowland tropical forests in Central America have been turned into cattle pasture. You can read more about this interesting article and the causes and effects of tropical deforestation at
http://www.ru.org/32defore.html
"‘Lost World’ of wildlife found in Indonesia"
In Jakarta, Indonesia, last December, on an expedition to one of Asia’s most isolated jungles, scientists from the U.S., Asia, and Australia, found several dozen new species of frogs, butterflies, flowers and birds. The remote area covers over two million acres, where they also found large mammals that have been hunted to near extinction, where there they occurred in abundance.
"There was not a single trail, no sign of civilization, no sign of even local communities ever having been there," said Beehler, who’s a Conservation International scientist and leader of the expedition. There did not appear to be any immediate conservation threat to the area, which has the status of a wildlife sanctuary. "No logging permits are given to this area, there is no transport system — not a single road," Beehler said. "But clearly with time everything is a threat. In the next few decades there will be strong demands, especially if you think of the timber needs of nearby countries like China and Japan. They will be very hungry for logs."
At first I didn’t think this article was that interesting, but as I read on, I realized its significance and importance. It’s a whole different world out there, and its amazing that we continue to find new discoveries everyday. I think it’s really cool that we can still discover tropical forests and new species of animals. But it’s sad that someday it will probably look like the rest of the world, treeless and industrialized.
Lost World of Wildlife
Class Summary for 2/7/2006
Today in class, the first thing we did was trivia, as usual. The trivia question was True or False: To get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean you must travel west. The answer ended up to be false.
After trivia, we continued taking the notes in the packet on Chapter 2. Here they are:
II. Human Impacts on Plants and Animals: The Globalization of NatureA.
Bioregion: an assemblage of local plants and animals covering a large area (e.g., tropical rainforest or grassland)
1. Includes naturally occurring flora and fauna.
2. Shaped by our domestication-and modification-of these plants and animals.
3. Today bioregions may be home to multinational conglomerates as well as to local plants,
animals, and peoples.
B. Tropical Forests and Savannas
- mostly found in equatorial climate zones
- covers around 7% of the world's land area
- 3 layered canopy
- as one moves poleward, distinct dry season forms and tropical forest becomes more open
- farther poleward, grassland and savanna replace forest
C. Deforestation in the Tropics
- Annually, an area of tropical forest the size of Wisconsin is denuded
-land cleared for wood sale, for cattle grazing, and for settlement purposes
- Native peoples who live there lose the most
D. Deserts and Grasslands
- these are large areas of arid and semi-arid climate that lie poleward (north and south) of the tropics
- comprise 1/3 of the Earth's land surface
- Desert: areas receive less than 10 inches of rainfall per year
- Prairie: North American grassland- Oklahoma, Nebraska
- Steppe: shorter, less dense grassland found in Russia and Southwest Asia
- Desertification: the spread of desert-like conditions
- caused by poor agriculture practices on marginal land, overgrazing, and build-up of salts in soil from irrigation
- UN estimates that 60% of the world's range lands are threatened by desertification
E. Temperate Forests
- large tracts of forests found in middle and high latitudes (nearer the poles)
- 2 major tree types dominate
-Conifers or evergreens (pine, spruce, fir)
- Deciduous trees that lose leaves in winter (hardwoods include elm, maple, beech, and many others)
- in many regions, these forests have been cleared for agricultural purposes
- commercial logging interests place global pressure on forests
After notes, Mrs. Hartman explained and handed out a notecard to each of us that we could write on for the test.
For the rest of the class period, we worked on our "Using the Atlas Part II" packet.
*Homework*
- read pgs. 40-43
- blog
- atlas packet due on Thursday
- notecard for test due on Friday
- study for test which is on Friday
Hurricanes and Global Warming
Meteorologist Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Peter Webster of the Georgia Institute of Technology have both suggested that there is a strong link between
global warming and hurricanes. They have found that in the past 30 years, there has been an increase of tropical storms in the North Atlantic and the Pacific. They have also found an increase in category 4 and 5 hurricanes.
class summary 2-06
Today we started with trivia then took notes(see below) then finished with a movie about earthqakes and volcanos
Notes Chapter 2
Global Climates: an uncertain forecast
A. Climate links the people of the earth together in a global economy, providing opportunity to some, hardship to others, and challenges to all as we struggle to feed the world.
B. World Climate Regions
a. Weather: short term, day to day expression of atmosphere processes
b. Climate: long term average conditions usually at least 30 years of daily weather data temperatures and precipitation
c. Climate region: Boundaries drawn around area with similar average climate conditions
d. Climograph: Provide average high and low temperature and precipitation for every month in an entire year.
C. Global Warming
a. Human activities: connected with economic development and industrialization affect the worlds climate
b. Anthropogenic: (human caused) pollution increase the natural greenhouse effect.
c. Causes of global warming include: Natural greenhouse effects make the earth warm enough to support life. Beginning with industrial revolution in Europe and north America greenhouse gases have increased dramatically mostly from burning fossil fuels. Co2,N2O CfCs CH4 are the major gases
4. Effects of global warming include:
Computer models and scientists are coming to agreement on effects
Global average temps increase 2 to 4F by 2030
Major shifts in agriculture areas
Rising sea levels as polar ice caps melt endangering low lying islands around the world, and crustal areas elsewhere
D. Globalization and Climate Change: the international debate on limiting greenhouse gases
a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 1st international agreement on global warming 167 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gases by certain date
b. Worst offenders: U.S.A., Japan, China,
c. Kyoto, Japan: 38 industrialized countries agreed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases to below 1990 levels to take effect countries emitting 55% of worlds greenhouse gasses must ratify them
Tenth Planet
A tenth Planet? The tenth planet which was found in 2003 in California has now put Pluto on the chopping block. Since the newly discovered celestial body is a decent amount larger than Pluto, the question now is if Pluto is even a planet. I think it’s amazing that we have the technology to detect plan that is nine billion miles away. Space exploration will be the next frontier that humans will expand into.
Forest issues
While reading over chapter 2 tonight I noticed that the world’s nations are definitely too concerned with being the leading nation and not taking enough consideration into what actions they are taking. Also how the actions of today will cause problems for the people of tomorrow. The one idea that really caught my mind and made me actually kind of mad is when it was discussing Japan and the things they do with their resources and how they aren’t doing to much to prevent deforestation. As it said in the book ½ of all tropical forest timber is used in Japan, taking into consideration that Japan has a lot of people living there that is still a lot. Especially considered a lot of it is used for paper and chops sticks. There are much more important things that we could be using that wood for, or not using it at all, and preserving it, but one thing I am sure of is that chop sticks are not a necessary item and maybe they could start to make them out of something more environmental friendly.
Appearance of Face Transplant
Here is an incredible and amazing story from France where a Frenchwoman received the world’s first partial face transplant. On Monday she showed off her new features to the public. Speaking in a slurred voice, she’s happy to look "like everyone else" and is looking forward to resuming a normal life. The operation occurred on November 27 in Amiens, France. The face tissue was donated by a brain-dead donor and was attached in a 15-hour operation. "I expect to resume a normal life ... I pay homage to the donor’s family," she said. "My operation could help others to live again."
This truly shows the capability and advancement of today’s medicine and the current available technology. This was never possible a few years ago, and now look at the knowledge and progression that has increased. Who knows what will be available in the next few years. It’s certainly an remarkable story.
Read more on this
noteworthy event.
Another Sign of Global Warming?
On this website, it talks about giant jellyfish invading the shores around japan. they dont know why they invaded exactally, but a couple theory's say that it could either be from a river in China, which experienced high ammounts of precipitation not to long ago, or its said that they came because of the warm water is good for breeding, the same warm water that is a result from global warming. These jellyfish are also changing the economy in japan because the fish are harder to get.
Greenhouse Effect
I was sitting here and searching the internet and found this web site that is full of information about global warming. It is from a Science Museum so it explains everything to a level where everyone is about to understand. It has very nice diagrams also. It explains how the earth is usually able to regulate how much CO2 is in the air but since us humans are using fossil fuels so quickly the earth is not able to compensate for the extra fast enough. It also stated that the earth is going supposed to raise one degree by 2025. This does not seem like much to us but they say our earth is so fragile and will affect it greatly. It’s a very informational site check it out.
http://www.koshlandscience.org/exhibitgcc/causes01.jsp
IAEA
To continue the discussion started earlier here are some links for IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
and
Wikipedia
GFATM Information
The following link outlines the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). I feel that as a member of society we should take notice and encourage action on issues like Aids. This article explains various details about this fund that was started by UN Secretary- General, Kofi Annan, it officially came into being in 2002. Aids is a global problem that seems to be spreading more and more everyday with the numbers of victims continuing to rise. I was proud to see the United States make a large contribution, however we cannot do it alone.
Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria
http://www.avert.org/global-fund.htm
Class Summary: Friday, February 3rd
We started class with Trivia as always... We then went into the Pub. to finish our GIS packets. No homework over weekend unless you wanted to start/finish Chapter 2 Packet. Or finish Chapter 1 Packet
The Flu
I found this link while searching for a new topic to post. I didn’t realize that the flu could be so harmful and spread so easily throughout the world.
Click here: CNN.com
Adding Iran to the list of threats, a good decision?
While recently peruzing the internet i found an interesting article about the escalation of events in the nation of Iran. Over the past couple weeks suspicions have been aroused as to the nature of Irans search for nuclear power. On February 3rd, 2006 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to have the matter turned over to the the United Nations Security Council. Iran says that if the United Nations begins investigations, it will not allow any inspections nor release any information of its progress in the nuclear field. I believe that if the United Nations goes forward with this it will bring an even greater feeling of unrest to the United States, which is already attending to hostility in Iraq and Afghanistan. How do you feel this will affect our country?
http://globalization.about.com/b/a/241189.htm
Our World
After reading this article I am only more disappointed in the greed people hinder in themselves. Although I do think that mining for precious stones is harmful, it is harmful when multitudes of people gather in one place for it. If geophysicists do discover large gold or other stone mines in or around the Madagascar area, I think the result could be destruction. Many people would come to that area and not worry about the other environmental aspects of the area, and possibly destroy them. I believe the only way to safely handle this is to get rid of greed. However, that is a close to impossible task, so hopefully people will remember that it's not all about the money. At what cost must we obtain certain things?
Gold, worth is or not?
20 most global nations
I found this list while reading a few articles on globalization. The list reflects the
20 most global nations. I was surprised at how far down the list the United States was, because to me it seems like we are much more globalization then this list shows.
20 MOST GLOBAL NATIONS!
Will the Human Race Live On?
Well, will it? With the Bird Flu ravaging the world and atomic power in the hands of ancy politicians will the human race as a whole life on? Or one day will we all be wiped off the face of the Earth? There is lots of thinking to go on. I have many links below pertaining to this subject. Is over population going to do us under? Maybe pollution?
The Day After Tomorrow plus the New Orleans and the Tsunami show us the horrors that this world is basically sinking. Perhaps we won't be wiped out and instead, but only beaten so badly will enter the next Dark Ages? You decide. What will most likely be our undoing?
http://dieoffhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-585716941089093304&q=nuclear+powerhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4067824142752170079&q=bird+fluhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5269775865801643056&q=tsunami
The Budget Deficit Act of 2005
Back in December, Vice President Dick Cheney was flown back to Washington from Pakistan in order to cast the decisive vote on the president’s Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The republicans won with 51-50 votes. The act is meant to reduce the budget deficit (which is predicted to reach $365 billion), but according to the January 26 issue of The Rolling Stone, it will create a $50 billion increase in the deficit. It also seems as though most of working-class America will be the ones paying up. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 will affect single moms, the sick, foster parents, the working poor, and college students. Reportedly, 1/3 of the cuts will affect student-loan programs in a time when public colleges are already raising their tuition.
My reaction to “The Deficit Life” article was upsetting, especially the figures relating to college students. The price of college is increasing at a ridiculous rate, and I’m sure in the years to come students will pay as much in loans as they will for college itself. It was also hard to read about how the Deficit Reduction Act will seem to have a negative impact on many middle and low class working families.
Because my source was a magazine, I don’t have a link to the article, sorry.
McDonald's & Globalization
I found this really interesting site about McDonald's and its affects on our world. It's cleverly written and gives you plenty of information (and as an added bonus: humor). It states that McDonald's is a prime example of cultural imperialism. This means that is actively promotes one cultural system at the expense of another. It has dominated and influenced many other cultures. For example, in Asia the restrooms used to be unkept and dirty. However, once McDonald's emerged higher cleanliness standards were established. In Korea,the tradtion of ordering food was wild madness with people pushing and shoving. When McDonald's golden arches arrived,a new system of waiting in line was introduced. The affect on Russia was kind of funny..."When the first McDonald’s was opened in Moscow, it was necessary for an employee to stand outside the McDonald’s with a blow horn in order to explain to those in the queue that the smiling employees were not laughing at them but, rather, were pleased to serve them."
Although many people believe McDonald's is homogenizing global culture, others feel it "works to appeal to the unique local tastes and customs of people around the world."
What do you think?
This site:
McCultureOr check out the anti-McDonald's site which gets 1 million hits per month.
McSpotlight
Preserving The Myanmar Culture
Myanmar is a country barely marked by the global culture. According to the article you won't find Coca-Cola, Starbucks, McDonalds, or other forms of global consumer culture. Instead, this country has taken heavy measures to protect their way of life. In 1960, the government closed its borders to safeguard itself from "alien influence and the evils of western culture." Satellite hookups are availably by government-issued licenses. Not only that, but it is illegal and punishable, with sentences from 7-15 years to use the internet! Why would the government act so extreme, as to forbid western culture? Well-"the new Prime Minister of Myanmar, Khin Nyunt, once summed up their position on foreign influence, saying, "cultures and standards of large countries with the upper hand in technology, and economy have been breaking up, overwhelming and changing national and traditional cultures of smaller ones," and that it was up to the country's youth to preserve and maintain traditional culture. At different times his government has outlawed rock n' roll, break dancing, and western-style dress." Therefore, the citizens dress in tradional "garb and wear multicolored tube-like skirts." The only T.V. typically watched contains cultural dancing, songs, and stories.
With strong efforts being made, the Myanmar culture is currently being preserved. However, their are many outside influences such as the changing economy that could eventually affect the culture. I think that hybridization could occur if the preservation falls. Although this is a controversial debate, no one person can know the exact answer. Only time will tell, what fate the culture will meet.
*If you want to know more go to this site, it's surprisingly interesting.
The Myanmar Culture
Danish Consulate Burned
Islamic people become very angered over cartoons 'deplicting the Prophet Mohammed, and protestors completely ransack the Danish consulate in Beirut. I found this article to be very interesting because it talks about cultures clashing around the world and becoming infererated. It shows how cultures feel about their religious beliefs and what happens when they feel that their culture has been violated by another. Islam's Prophet Mohammed is banned by Islamic law and thousands of people have become angry and have protested in many cities around the world, and contracts have been banned between some countries.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/cartoon.protests/index.html
