Unit 3 Case Studies

Energy Security
Name
Problem

Solution

Energy insecurity in USA

USA consumes vast amounts of energy- heavily reliant on exports- politically unstable
areas
Reliance on imports is growing
Energy price- rising
Fossil fuel reserves running out
Increase imports- ESAs?

Name
Problem

East-Siberia-Pacific Oil Pipeline (ESPO)

Energy (in form of Oil) needed to be transported to areas where it was in shortage
Would be transported from Russia to other countries in Asia as well as possibly NA
Russian, Chinese & Japanese govs all interested for geopolitical reasons- been competing
for access to Russias oil & the ESPO pipeline project
China
Rapid eco growth

Vulnerable existing oil supply

Political interest over US presence in middle east

Shares border with Russia- good relationship is important

Russia reluctant to commit itself too heavily in terms of energy supply to China
Japan
No oil reserves of its own

76% imported from Middle East

Wants to engage with Russia to increase eco and pol influence

Did not want ESPO to end in China

Solution

Pipeline was built- energy pathway

Originally meant to go through the area where the remaining wild Amur leopards live
July 2005- announced it was being moved
Initial route also:

Ran closely to Lake Baikal- UNESCO protected site- oil spills could lead to env
disaster

Cost ballooned due to rising steel prices & having to build on permafrost

Evaluation

Japan financed a large prop of pipeline meaning it could end closer to them
Russians are able to build most expensive pipeline in history, while restricting Chinas
access to Russias oil & helping to rebuild the Russia/ Japan relationship
Also able to export more widely
Spur still being built of main pipeline to China, as a sweetner Russia promises to
increase oil exports to China via rail

Name
Problem

Gazprom- Russia & Oil

Russia re-emerging as global power- energy used as a political tool
Re-asserting power & influence over former Soviet states
Using gas supply as a weapon?- e.g. cutting of supply to the Ukraine after it got rid of its
pro-Russia gov
Should Europe be concerned over its energy security?
Yes

Russia supplies large amounts of gas to Europe & it goes through Ukraine
No

Russias export market too important to loose

New pipelines created that bypass both Ukraine & Belarus

EU planning own pipeline

Also South Caucous pipeline

Solution
Evaluation

EU looking at alternative energy sources as well as building own pipeline

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name
Problem

Exploitation of ESAs- Arctic

Increased energy usage (1 reason- China & India demanding more and more oil to fuel
their rapid economic development) ESAs needing to be exploited e.g. Arctic
Global warming causes polar ice to melt- oil rich sea beds are being uncovered beneath
the Arctic circle
Could hold worlds undiscovered oil and natural gas reserves- Lomonosov RidgeRussia appeared to be claiming this through placing flag on seabed. Also took samples to
try and prove it was part of Russian land mass- they will then be able to claim it
Large debates as to who will be able to claim the oil
Conflicts between key players (ANWR, TNCs, UN, Tourists, Indigenous people, Env
groups, Nat Gov, Arctic Council) as to whether should be exploited
Evaluation
Tech will need to be developed before exploitation can take place
Negative impacts heavily outweigh positives
Likely to be left with no other options if demand continues to increase
Usage of ESAs becoming more and more economically viable
Type of impact
Positive
Negative
Point
Score
Point
Score
(1-10)
(-1- -10)
Environmental
None
0
Will ruin the pristine environment -9
found in the Arctic,
Will lead to further use of -6
unrenewables,

Social

If the economic impacts

occur, it is likely that they will
have positive social impacts.

Economic

Jobs

Whoever owns oil- $$$

Total

Name
Problem

Evaluation

20

Many species will be made extinct

due to the destruction of habitats
and the inevitable threat of
pollution..
The risk of oil spills is high,

-8

Many communities such as

depend on the ecosystems that
will be destroyed for a living for
food, medicine and clothing.
If Russia (or another one of the
Arctic countries) gain a majority
control of the supplies then this is
likely to have effects on the other
countries within the Arctic (they
may monopolise oil and natural
gas supplies within the region and
aim to control prices etc

-7

-7

-4

-41

Exploitation of ESAs- Canadian Tar Sands

Increased energy usage ESAs needing to be exploited
Tar Sands relatively unexploited- naturally occurring mixtures of sand/ clay and water &
bitumen
Large amounts found in Canada- high as 180 billion barrels
Alberta tar sands-2003: 1 mill, 2011- 3.5 mil, 2030- 5 mil
Uses lots of water
Exploited using vast strip mines- ruin env- destroying forest, drenching wetlands
In-situ- steam assisted gravity drilling- large amounts of infrastructure need to be built &
lots of natural gas needs to be used
Tech will need to be developed before exploitation can take place
Negative impacts heavily outweigh positives
Likely to be left with no other options if demand continues to increase

Unit 3 Case Studies

Water Conflicts
Name
Problem

Solution

Name
Problem
Solution

Evaluation

Middle East
Large areas of low rainfall
A few large rivers
Some significant aquifers (many rely on fossil waters)
Global warming drier conditions
Many areas of low pop density
Population increasing rapidly- high birth rate, migration
Region becoming more wealthy and developed
Oil based economy- money- water
Agriculture- water
Centre of conflict for many years
Today many political conflicts- Arab/ Israeli issue, Islamic/ Western civilization, Many dictatorships
& political unrest, disputes between Shia/ Sunni muslims, oppression of minorities e.g. Morocco
(Berbers), Turkey (Kurds), Sudan (Black African South)
Oil transformed the region
of known reserves found here
Gives middle east global significance
See below

Turkeys Water Insecurity

Varied climate & abundant rainfall- should be well of for water
Regional variations in rainfall, summer droughts in Anatolia and shortages in the main cities of
Ankara and Istanbul
$32 billion South-Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP)
Multi-sectoral & integrated regional development project based on the concept of sustainable
development
Basic aim- eliminate regional disparities by raising peoples income level and living standards & to
contribute to such national development targets as social stability and eco growth- enhancing the
productive and employment generating capacity of the rural sector

Construct 22 dams, 19 hydroelectric power plants and 2 water-transfer tunnels, to provide

22% of Turkeys electricity by 2010

Provide irrigation for 1.7 million hectares (representing 20% of Turkeys cultivable land and
supporting 9% of its population)

Diversify agriculture into cash crops

Stimulate agro-industrial urbanisation (intensive, business-based farms which free up

workers to move to and work in the cities)

Stop the migration of young people from the region

Help the southeast Anatolian economy to grow by 400%

Help the Turkish economy as a whole to grow by 12%

Env impacts- salinisation, erosion
Displaced lots of people
Attempt to increase water supply- geopolitical issue- has upset both neighbouring countries and
global institutions- project means damming up the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers which provide both
countries with water
New dams will restrict river flow while huge reservations fill up
Said will return to normal flow once reservations fill up, may not be the case due to political
reasons
Turkey reviewed Ilisu scheme (Dam on Tigris) to reduce impacts on local settlements and to take
into account major social and env considerations
Also agreed to release water from Ilisu to Syria (not Iraq)
Turkey now plans to build another dam which will collect additional water meaning Iraq & Syria
will be left to fight over whatever water is left

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name
Problem

Egypts Water insecurity

Debt coupled with
1980s many of Egypts rivers dammed
Rivers often cross international borders disputes
By 2025 no of African countries inc Egypt- will be water scarce, will threaten:

Economies

People employed in agriculture

Other current challenges include:

Increasing the number of people with access to safe water and sanitation

Raising people out of poverty

Managing and maintaining water resources

Solution

Toshka project part of long term project to boost food production for Egypts growing urban
population, and for export
Funded by international investment
Aims:

Provide food, electricity and jobs for 16 million Egyptians in new towns in the desert,
and also relocate people to farms in irrigated areas

Use pumps and canals to transfer water from Lake Nasser into the Western Desert

Increase Egypts irrigated area by 30% (2000km2)

Recharge underground aquifers

Grow high-value crops- olives, oil seeds, citrus fruits, vegetables

Maintain a low use of pesticides and fertilizers

Create sustainable communities with self-sufficient smallholdings for families

Improve roads, railways and telecommunications

Promote tourism

Evaluation

Doubts surrounding the project:

Lake Nasser is silting up, so long-term water supplies may not be reliable
The open transfer canals may fill up with desert-blown sand, and water in them will also
evaporate in the desert hear
The irrigation water could lead to salinisation
The water pumps will use huge amounts of electricity, the supply of which is unreliable
Waterlogging could occur in the Toshka basin
There would be a need for fertilisers
There is a risk of the spread of water-borne diseases in the stagnant canal water
The Toshka Project would fail if upstream countries like Ethiopia and Sudan take more water
from the Nile, causing water levels to fall
The finance is insecure and will lead to debt.

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name
Problem

Solution

Evaluation

Name
Problem

Future??

Name
Problem
Solution
Evaluation

Israels Water Insecurity

Israel consumes much more water than it consumes naturally- rapid pop growth means likely to
get worse
Droughts now increasingly common & longer lasting
Due to Israels relations with its neighbours, water pathways are frequently under threat- e.g.
Syria- wants its borders reinstated to where they were before 67 as part of the price of peace25% of Israels water supply would be compromised
It feels that Syrias water-management systems are inferior and could contaminate Lake
Kinneret

The threat from Turkeys GAP project could force Syria to divert the River Jordan away
from Israel to ensure its own water supplies

Israel would be at the mercy of a long-time enemy for a quarter of its water supplies
Overuse and misuse also stretch resources- supplies pit at risk
Israeli gov took control of water 1959- began to develop plans for the National Water Carrier
system
In order to take water to the Negev Desert settlements drip-feed irrigation systems were
developed these were also created to reduce water consumption, evaporation and salinisation
Israels current water-management strategies have several parts to them
To review current uses and develop more efficient techniques they need to manage limited supply
and this is done through:

Recycling sewage water for agriculture uses which could lower overall consumption

Reducing agricultural consumption and shifting the economy to high technology

Better water-treatment plants and conservation techniques

Demand management by charging real value prices for water to reflect the costs of
supply and also ecosystem management
How new supplies are to be acquired also needs to be looked at, and this is done in a variety of
different ways:

Importing 50 million m3 of water per year by ship from Turkey

Piping seawater from the Read Sea & Mediterranean to new inland desalinisation
plants. The Desalinisation Master Plan envisages providing 25% of Israels supply by
2020.
Water supplies also need to be expanded; with one of these being the virtual water supplies
(Virtual water is water which is transferred by trading in crops and services which require large
amounts of water for their production). If water-rich foods are imported vast amounts of water are
saved.
Similar climate to cali, however less water usage, also area of political unstability and harsher
physical environment
aiming to develop the technology as well as using a wide range of strategies in order to be able to
try and solve the problems that this shortage may lead to.

India- future??
Large and growing population
Rapid economic growth on back of green revolution- huge drive to reduce more food- Rice
water. Use of fertiliserswaterpollution
Industrialisation- increase water demand, increases pollution, Urbanisation- localised water
scarcity, overloads water infrastructure- pollution
Urban/ countryside conflict- lack of storage potential (5X less storage/ person than China)
Most of India has large sources of water:

Major rivers

Heavy annual rainfall

Large Aquifers
Climate change less reliable monsoons? Loss of ice in Himalayas threatens sources of major
rivers
Conflict with China over disputed N border
Could be largely avoided with better water management practices- distinct lack of attention to
water legislation, conservation, efficiency in water use, recycling & infrastructure
Government have not been concentrating on water issues
Water Transfer- China
The growth of China mainly in South, meaning farmland expanded in North
North- rains less, facing water shortages- water stored purely residential and industrial uses, not
agriculture
South-to-North Water diversion programme will divert 44.8 billion m cubed year
Cost $62 bn

Destruction of pastoral land

Displacement of people

Expensive

Increased water supply- more food for population, poverty may decrease

Eco development due to increase in water and food security

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name
Problem

Solution

California
Highly populated state- range of landscapes
Problems with water due to:

Recent variations in rainfall- annual flow levels have been declining

Impacts of climate change

Much of Cali is arid- lots of the water lost through evaporation/ transpiration/ flowing out
to sea

Rain mainly falls nov-march

La Nina

Relief of land

Increasing population- also spatially inbalanced

Cali depends on 2 major water supplies- State Water Project & Central Valley Project- provides
water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta for Southern & Central Cali
60% S Cali water- Colorado river via system of dams & aqueducts
Numerous treaties in place regarding Colorado rivers water- however these are often not relating
to current levels conflict
Wetlands have been drained, natural habitats altered, fish stocks depletedwater supplies
Poorly maintained water levees- allowed salty water to submerge some of the islands and
reduced water quality for all users and habitats
Salton Sea- future threatened
75% of its inflow is from cotton, citrus and sugar beet farms in the Imperial and
Coachella valleys-with a toxic mix of pesticides, fertilizers, defoliants and nutrients

High evaporation rates mean that the salt content here is 25% higher than in the Pacific
Ocean

High Salinity, algal blooms and eutrophication are thought to have caused the deaths of
millions of birds and fish (with 7.5 million fish dying in one day- see image)

The New River brings industrial pollutants and sewage from Mexicali in Mexico

The lands of the Cahuilla Tribe are at risk from the deoxygenated and poor-quality
water, increased salinity and reduced fish stocks

Tourists have stopped visiting because of the high salt content, the stench of decay and
the perception that the sea is a toxic waste dump.
Conflicts

Farmers v Environmentalists

Native Americans v other Californians- shares not correct

Range of strategies to try and decrease water shortage

Domestic conservation

Groundwater banks

Re-using wastewater

Saving storm water

Reducing agricultural usage

Smart planning
In order to reduce conflicts by developing a sustainable long-term solution to water management
and environmental problems within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta the CALFED BayDelta Program has been set up. CALFED has several aims for the Bay-Delta and these include
creating:
o
A reliable, goof-quality water supply
o
Ecosystem restoration
o
Improved levees and protected delta islands
o
Increased water storage
o
Improved water conveyance
o
Guaranteed farmers supplies
o
Maintained dissolved oxygen levels to preserve fish and the wetland ecosystem
Salton Sea- Farmers developed more water-efficient irrigation techniques less runoff to the
Salton Sea
Salton Sea Restoration Project- faced choice Agricultural slump or restoring its natural habitats,
options include:
Reducing the nutrient mix in the water to prevent algal blooms- but if farmers allow
lower rates of drainage and runoff to the sea, the water level will fail and the chemical
concentration will increase
Creating evaporation ponds to extract the damaging salt before it enters the sea
Diverting freshwater from the Colorado to dilute the salty sea
Limiting fish stocks by using surpluses to make fertilisers and pet food rather than
allowing them to die and decay
Allowing sea to evaporate completely
Cleaning up the New River from Mexico to reduce pollution
Creating a desalination project to produce fresh water for increasing urban demand and
then selling the salt as a by-product
The restoration has several objectives, which include:
Stabilize Salinity
Shoreline Preservation/Elevation Control
Economic Development

Unit 3 Case Studies

Evaluation

Name
Problem

Solution

Evaluation

Name
Problem
Solution
Evaluation

Name
Problem
Solution
Evaluation
Name
Problem
Solution

Agricultural Water Depository

Healthy Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Still problems despite being MEDC

Murray-Darling Basin
75% Australian Water
Since 1920, pop X 5, water extraction X 5
Such exploitation- unsustainable, env problems, creates conflicts, needs holistic management
Env Problems:

Salinity- Kills plants, Damage infrastructure

o
Low flow levels
o
Pulled to the surface by localised rise in water tables due to irrigation &
through removal of forest cover

Eutrophication- nutrients from fertilizers go into water supplies algal bloomsblock

light remove CO2- worse in slow flowing stagnant river

Loss of natural vegetation/ biodiversityo

Eutrophication
o
Rise/ fall water tables
o
Increased land clearing
Change in approach- by 1990s
More agreement between states

Higher priority to env- ecological values & long term economic reasons

The Cap- creation of environmental flows- 1994 extraction is limit led to conflicts
Farmers V environmentalists

2007 drought- focused minds MDBA- new management strategy

Environmental flows:

Keep river banks moist to encourage plant growth to stabilise them

Allows a downstream flow of nutrients to sustain habitats

Keeps the mouth of the Murray River open

Allows flooding to distribute organic matter across floodplains

Replenishes floodplains, wetlands, habitats

Replenishes groundwater stores

Flushes stagnant pools

Cochabanba- Bolivia (LEDC)

Water privatisation by Bechtel (TNC) in 1999problems
Due to large amounts that were charged, many could not afford this
Led to riots injuriesdeath
Government had to step in and take over water system and pay off company
Situation post BechtelPublically ran since 2000 by SEMPA
However
Government inefficiency

Coverage of pipes to individual houses is 45%

Connections have been increased by 16%

Water supplies only available for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week. Residents have to try
and store this water for use at other times

SEMPA are unable to supply 55% of the population who have to dig their own wells &
beg for water
Aral Sea
Salinity and pollution levels are high as well as declining levels of water- most fish have died and
water suppies been badly affected by wind-blown salt from sea bed
North- Dam project water flow increased, salinity dropped- increase in fish
South- Dam in north provided potential for the South. Plan to reduce desertification impactplanting vegetation in exposed seabed
North- Second dam due to be built- loan from WB
Kissimme River- Florida
Pre-channelization- river supported large amounts of wildlife
Channelization took place due to severe flooding- helps prevent it and improve navigation
Kissimme River restoration act passed with long term aim of restoring the river and regaining
dome of the wetland habitats- 15X more $$ than cost of building canal
Includes:

buying back farmland to replace floodplain

re-instating wetland areas

block up canal forcing river to flow along original channel

allow flooding of wetland areas

encourage tourism based on hunting & fishing to boost economy

Unit 3 Case Studies

Evaluation

help boost economy

more env sustainable
expensive

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name
Problem
Solution
Evaluation

3 Gorges Dam
Ever growing needs of China for water
3 Gorges Dam- energy, harness & provide clean water
Social
Costs

Estimated that 1.3 million people were forced into resettlement during construction (due
to the land being flooded), with up to 4 million more anticipated to be relocated in the
next 15 years due to environmental damage (primarily landslides) and pollution

Fears are rising that a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, could cause immense
damage to the dam, and potentially kill millions in a resulting flood
Benefits

Reduces the potential for floods downstream (to15 million people) by providing flood
storage space
Environmental
Costs

Ecosystem destruction and pollution

As farmers retreat to higher ground and attempt to build farms on the hillsides, massive
erosion and landslides are occurring.

Geologists believe that the threat of earthquakes, already a risk in this region, is
increased by the pressure from the water in the dams growing reservoir.

Silt accumulation in the reservoir is expected to cause flooding upstream.

An increase in the number of landslides caused by the huge weight of water behind the
dam and fluctuations in the water level
Benefits

worlds biggest man-made producer of electricity from renewable energy.

Economic
Costs

Cost an estimated $25 billion (official estimate)

Benefits

Produces electricity

Increases the river's shipping capacity (this will however be at a cost of US$175 million)

area behind the dam will create a reservoir

Name
Problem
Solution
Evaluation

Water Costing/ Metering

Too much water being used
People pay for the water that they use

consumers can save money

people will only use the water that they need- reduced CO2 due to declining use of hot
water?

Cost of installation

Name:
Problem:

Players:

Solution:
Evaluation:
Name:
Problem:

Solution:

Evaluation:

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Vast unspoilt place- most biologically diverse Arctic region in the world. In Northern Alaska
Most of the refuge- designated as wilderness- 1.5 million acres of Coastal Plain not protected this
way
Could be opened up for oil exploration and drilling in the same way Prudhoe bay was 60s/70s
Prudhoe bay- estimated all of the oil will be extracted by 2015- new source needed
Estimated a lot of oil is believed to be located under Coastal Plain
The Inupiat people
The Gwichin
Arctic Power
Politicians
Environmental groups
Economic gain V Environmental degradation
Biodiversity Hotspots- Madagascar & the Indian Ocean
Humans arrived more recently- posing threat on biodiversity
Fragile ecosystem
Much of central Madagascar & other islands deforested
High population density in some of the islands- high growth
Threats exacerbated- introduction of alien species- food sources, pest control, pets
Mad- Gov currently beginning 3rd phase of its national environmental action plan with 5-year program
of conservation and sustainable management issues. Many key biodiversity areas identified as
potential conservation sites
Ecotourism
Other islands- not as much protection
Must address needs of local people with efforts focusing on poverty alleviation & economic
development. Conservation cannot be at the expense of the people

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Problem:

Solution:

Evaluation:

Name:
Background
:

Players

Solution:

Evaluation:

The value of coral reefs

Increased sedimentation
Eutrophication
Over harvesting of fish & other reef based resources
Pollution
Bleaching (caused by climate change)
Mass mortality events (caused by climate change)
Proliferation
Destructive fishing practices
Careless tourism
Coral mining
Climate change
WWF recognised as priority species to protect1) Through exploring and protecting the Coral Triangle (has done for 20 years)- helping to
create policies to ensure responsible environmental management of the area, raising
awareness and promoting the sharing of skills for better stewardships
2) Established coral reefs advocacy initiative in 2002- building on previous work, also
conservation wins
Need to be saved as have high value
Tourism attraction

Research

Traditional crafts

Aquarium industry

Protection

Food source

Pharmaceuticals

Biodiversity
Heather moorland & the red grouse
Red grouse is a game bird meaning it is bred in some areas to be shot for sport
In 2nd half 20th C- much of UKs moorland lost to being ploughed up
75% of worlds remaining moorland UK
Grouse shooting helped to preserve in traditional manner
Grouse need a mosaic of heather at different stages of growth- achieved by systematically allowing
grazing or by setting fire to heather in rotation
Also supports merlin hen- harrier & sky lark
Moorland association:

NGO, represents the owners & managers of grouse moors

Believes that it is conserving the countryside & providing jobs & income to rural
communities
RSPB:

Believes burning been carried out too extensively, changing habitats

Also been problems with illegal killing of birds of prey that will prey on young ones
Gamekeeper:

Grouse most important element manage ecosystem to support the grouse & other
associated birds, may also protect them by killing birds of prey
Farmers:

May wish to remove the heather & use their land for rough grazing to improve income
Natural England:

Conserve landscape & wildlife

Must work together cooperatively
Reduction in levels of heather burning & compliance with the law- prohibiting the killing of Hawks &
Owls
Increased species biodiversity
Whilst having little impact on grouse numbers
If they work together will be little conflict and will have benefits for both env and humans

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Problem:

Players:

Evaluation:

Swedens Factory Forests- Technofix

Sweden is one of Europes biggest producers of forest products- timber, paper
As an MEDC Swedens policy towards forest management was technocentric
Policy in 1 sense sustainable, forest cover expanded in these years
However, biodiversity degrades
Strategy derives from a 1980 forestry act maximise productivity and mechanise a v successful
industry
Forests cover 57% of Sweden (Constant/ slightly rising)Encouraged use of fertiliser
Wet lands are drained- more productive/ commercial
Trees all of same age & type in lines- aids mechanised felling
Large timber & paper companies- Fully support as it minimises cost and maximises profit
Swedish government- supporting major Swedish industry- tax revenues, jobs, support of rich large
companies
Swedish environmental groups/ NGOs SNF. Oppose on environmental & sustainable grounds
Individual Swedes/ public opinion
Positive:

Jobs

Money to gov- tax

Made money for companies

Allowed for fully mechanised felling- quicker & easier

Negative:

Fertiliser can pollute streams/ rivers which can effect ecosystem- Eutrophication

Trees all same age- reduces habitats

Draining marshland- destroyed habitat

Led to changes in strategy (2000-2010):

Forest management now greener

More protection for ancient forests

Less financial support for industrial scale clear felling because:

o
Shift in public opinion & shopping patterns
o
Increase in recycling

Name:
Solution:
Problems:
Evaluation:

British Columbia (Canada)- Island concept of coniferous forest management

Rotate round yearly where trees are cut from
Each year the biodiversity from Islands of protection working out
More ecocentric than Sweden, when back to first section trees have regrown again
Access (moving machinery)
Not maximising potential (economically)
Destroying habitats?
Does not work well in tropical rainforests- takes a long time t grow higher productivity & biodiversity

Name:
Emerging Superpowers- India
Still many living in poverty
Theory- Dependency theory
After India no longer colonial power, then able to thrive more on its own terms
However- dependency theory- cannot break out meaning India & other Eastern-Asian economies have meant
dependency theory lost some influence
Indias move state controlled business to open trade- heavy markers in Indias economic history, main reasons now
emerging superpower
Dependency theory- disapproves of free market economies (free trade falls under)
Growth- outsourcing

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Background
:

Problem:
Solution:

Evaluation:
Name:
Year:
1901
1941
1956
2000
2030

Daintree Rainforest
Part of wet tropics- Queensland, Australia alongside great barrier reef- world heritage site
Some of the most fragile & important ecosystems in the world
Daintree home to high levels of biodiversity
Benefits of Daintree:

Medicine

Carbon sequestration

Tourism

People of the rainforest- rainforest highly important to them

Logging
Many threats including:

Tourism
Management strategies are split into several areas:
Community Development:

Locals to be involved in land stewardship & conservation

Base employment in tourism, organic farming, tropical horticulture and small

business opportunities

Settle around 600 blocks of land

Indigenous people:

Recognise their rights to own land and promote their culture

Water supply & Waste management:

Keep water extraction from streams and underground supplies within

sustainable limits

Use the best available domestic technology for waste disposal

Biodiversity Conservation:

Adopt settlement and land-management practices on private land to protect the

outstanding biodiversity

Identify hotspots for conservation

Identify threats from wild animals and weeds

Around 540 blocks to remain unsettled

Road & Ferry:

Ferry to provide essential access and remain the gateway to the area

Improve facilities for tourists to the south of the river and recreational facilities to
the north

Reduce forest cut-backs

Douglas Shire Council:

Introduce planning controls for biodiversity conservation

Ensure that settlement densities are sustainable

Tourism:

Increase tourist numbers to support the local economy

Increase the length of tourist stays as well as the numbers revisiting the area

Monitor the impacts of tourism to ensure that it is sustainable

Electricity supply:

When settlement densities are reduced to a sustainable level use underground

cables to extend the mains power supply as far north as Cooper Creek

People north of Cooper Creek to continue to use their RAPS

Financial Issues:

Use ferry income to assist community services infrastructure and conservation

initiatives

Require a financial commitment from federal, state and local government to:
o
Establish the Daintree Land Trust to support land acquisition and
compensate those who lose land
o
Meet the cost of priority purchase and financial incentives for
conservation
o Subsidise the electricity supply
Also operation big bird- plan to create wildlife corridor to help protect the cassowary- help to
preserve biodiversity
Cassowary recently been spotted in the wild- signifies operation big bird is successful
History of superpowers
Superpower
UK & British Empire
UK & British Empire, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan,
USA, USSR
USA, USSR (cold war)
USA
USA? China? EU? Other BRICs?

Name of system
Unipolar
Multipolar
Bipolar
Unipolar
Multipolar

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Background
:

Threats:
Solutions:

Name:
Background
:
Players:
Scheme:

Mangroves
Habitat found in tropical & sub-tropical coasts
Areas of high biodiversity
Lack of oxygen due to the permanently water logged nature of the ecosystem, and has a huge
amount of salt as a result of the sea water
Mangrove- 3 main zones:

Red mangroves- found closest to the coast & are permanently water logged so home to
mainly aquatic species

Black mangroves- more protected from erosion & coastal processes & only water logged
for a short period of time, plants have pneumatophores in order to get the maximum
amount of water and oxygen

White/ grey mangroves- furthest inland & least able to survive when waterlogged
Provide- firewood, medicine, food, construction materials. Stabilise sediment, natural barriers
against wind and disturbance on the shore. Home to variety of organisms also tourism
Clearing, overharvesting, river changes, overfishing, destruction of coral reefs, pollution, climate
change
Mangroves for the future- uses mangroves as a flagship ecosystem in recognition of the destruction
caused to mangroves by the tsunami, MFF inclusive of all coastal ecosystems.
Long-term- based on identified needs and priorities for long-term sustainable coastal ecosystem
management. Priorities emerged from extensive consultations with over 200 individuals and 160
institutions involved in coastal management in the Indian Ocean Region
The Korup Project
Ecosystem management strategy for an area of TRF in Cameroon (LEDC)
Cameroon National government, WWF (supports scheme), Local/ Indigenous populations
Ban some traditional practices e.g. hunting
People hunting/ chopping down trees relocation of locals support farming practicesAgroforestry. Provide services- schools, medical support, transport, jobs- ecotourism
People are moving to urban areas- Govt want to stop this

Korup
National
Park

Forest reserves- secondary

cons. areas

Relocated villages

Name:
Fall of the Soviet Union
Economy under communism was inefficient, System was too centralised- too much state control
Cost of the military- cold war
Afghanistan- Russian military struggles
Change in leadership- less hard line communist GorbachorReformerGlasnot/ Peristroika- Openness & Change
Nationalist frustrations grew 1990- political uphearal- communists fall
USSR breaks up- end (for a while?) of a superpower
Break away republics become independent states- Russia left as rump of the old country
Russias economy declines as does its military & internet influence
Soviet Union (Superpower)Russia (Regional power
Since then
Russia, although theoretically democratic- re-established as strong, central gov (Putin)
Crushed further disintegration of Russian state (Chechnya) (Despite world condemnation)
1. Use their vast energy reserves as political levers- influence in EU, forging links with China
2. Russia also strengthens its influence in Former Soviet republics esp Belarus, Ukraine, Maldover
3. War with Georgia- tech about regions of Georgia that wanted independence/ close links with Russia, really
about Russia stopping Georgia moving into Western Sphere of Influence
Russians Foreign policy becoming more Anti-American Stronger links with Tehran/ Iran & China

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Problem:
Solution:

Evaluation:

World Biosphere Concept

Maintaining & conserving biodiversity
Aims
Conserve
Develop environmentally sound
Support

to:
most important biological resources
economic growth
research, monitoring, education & information
exchange related to conservation issues

3 interrelated zonesCore- legally protected from activity

that would adversely effect its
features
Buffer- adjacent managed use area
Transition- larger, larger region in
which local residents, cultural
groups etc work together to link conservation & economic
development guided by the cultural values of the local community
+ve
Internationally recognised

Work co-operatively

Part of an international network

Access to centrally held data for decision making

-ve
Some countries do not have finances to fully monitor or manage

Pressure from development may be difficult to control

Example: Wuyishan (China)

Name:
1750

Rise & fall of the British Empire

Growth of Global trade:
1. Maritime nation
2. Strong navy
3. Established colonies in America
4. Leadership of industrial revolution
5. Capitalist/ Entrepreneurial system
East India Company, Hudson bay company
1805/1815
Trafalgar- establishes primacy of Royal Navy (1805)
Waterloo- defeat major power- France (1815)
1820s/30s
Full imperial global strategy
Colonies established for trade push for Africa
Colonies established for settlement Canada/ Australia
1901
Empire & power at its height, many in Britain believe in Britains god given right to rule the world
Boer war
1914
WW1- V costly- people & economy
1939-45
WWII- bankrupts UK:
1. Empire too costly
2. Nationalist uprising (Ghandi)
3. Difficult moral position
4. Labour Government
1956
Suez Crisis
1973
UK joins E.E.C (EU)
Name:
The role of superpowers
Pre 1945 (Direct)
Post 1945 (Indirect models- USA/ USSR)
Dominant model- Imperial colonial model (e.g.
USA- historically has been anti colonial/ anti imperialist
British Empire)
(Monroe Doctrine)
1. European power gains political control
USSR- Politically opposed to oppression of workers
over a region (often after short colonial
In Africa- USA especially supports political independence
war)
1960s- many new independent countries appear
2. Establish direct power. Put in place a
In reality these new colonies are not economically
colonial administration
independent Neo-colonialism
3. Enables European companies & money
New LEDCs- trapped in producing limited range of primary
to exploit the resources & export wealth
products
back to mother country
New LEDCs become economically dependent on MEDCs,
Large TNCs
New LEDCs became dependent on aid and crippled by debt

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Year
1776

1823
1850

1900
1914
1945

1950s/
1980s

Comparing History of USA/ USSR (Russia)

USA
USSR/ Russia
US Declaration of Independence
Imperial Russia
Expansion Westwards
Russian expansion to W&S
Louisiana purchase
Wars with Mexico
Munroe Doctrine (hands off the
Americas)
Transcontinental power
Transcontinental power
Wealth through pop & resources
Russia consolidates empire
Has influence against Ottoman Empire
Rapid growth in pop, industrialisationCommunist revolution
capitalist system
Chaos & loss of lives/ Territory
US stays out of WW1 until the last
Stalin- 5 year plans Rapid industrialisation &
year. Period of economic growth
modernisation at cost
US in war footing huge increase in
After great losses USSR defeats Nazi Germany,
productivity
controls E Europe
Economic & military super power
Nuclear weapons
Scramble to impose ideologies- Korea 1950s, Vietnam & Cuba 1960s-1970s

Name:
Theory
Dependency
Theory
World
Systems
Theory

Modernisatio
n theory
Social
Darwinism

Year
1750

1850

1917
1920s
1945

Theories relating to Superpower Development

Example
Info
Marxist pers. India? Slight differences in power soon become exaggerated as strong exploit
Growth of
weak
European Empires
Rich exploit poor
th
of 19 C
Development of underdevelopment
Wallerstein 1974
Theory takes the whole world as a linked single economic unit
China?
All part of a broad capitalist system
FeudalCommunist
CAPITALIST
In the system there is:
1. Global market
2. Separate countries- allow political & economical competition
3. 3 tiers- Core: MEDCs, Semiperiphery: NICs/ BRICs, PeripheryLEDCs

Outdated
(Nazism?)

Cycles of growth & stagnation- 1920s Growth, 1980s Growth

Different cycles different times/ magnitudes e.g. Kodrateiff cycle (every 5060 years)
Theory allows for shifts in power during times of stagnation
2008-2010 global eco crisis- China has emerged as an economic
superpower- huge manufacturing, huge surplus
European advances were the global way forward and would spread across
the world because they were better
Survival of the fittest
(outdated and regarded as racist & imperialist nonsense)

Name:
Russia
Control over gas supplies- political power over clients- potential to bring back superpower status
Main clients- W Europe/ EU (esp. Germany), Former Soviet republics (esp. Ukraine & Belarus)
Claims- Russian gas pricing & conflicts in bill paying- political factors behind them
1. Stifling Ukraines desire to join EU/NATO, Destabilising anti Russian gov
2. Blunted EU opposition to things like war with Georgia

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
Organisation
UN

NATO- North
Atlantic
Treaty
Organisation
G7 (G8)((G20)

EU

IMF

World Bank

Superpowers & international organisations

What they do?
Replaced League of Nations, 1945
Response to WW2- Forum for peace & discussion
UN General Assembly -195 members, 1 member 1 vote. Simple majority passes a resolution- no
real force behind it
UN Security Council (real power)- 5 permanent members- UK, China, France, USA, Russia
(veto powers). 10 non-permanent members. This has ability to:
1. Impose sanctions
2. Bring individuals to court- international justice
3. Military action (UN & member countries)
UAA has at times used the UN as an instrument of power
1. Support for Taiwan (until 1973, the official China)
2. Korean war officially UN forces V N. Communists
3. Mid East- Many Arab states see a pro Israel bias supported by USA
Changes?
1. 1973- China falls out with USSR, USA makes political moves towards China. China
(communist) gets UN seat
2. Today- pressure to change permanent members. UK & France with EU, Moves to give
India a seat
Set up 1949- support and help W. European economies & governments
Also a military alliance
War saw pact set up in response
NATO allows European bases long term for US military
1990s- Soviet Power collapses NATO changes & has a more global outlook, NATO forces in
Afghanistan. Umbrella for US intervention
Originally a coming together of 7 largest economies (Western Capitalists)
Idea- global economy became more interlinked international consensus could solve some
problems
US biggest economy- biggest voice
G8- G7 & Russia- suggests that Russia is re-emerging as a global power. Control of energy
resources are influential
G20- Includes many of the new economies
Started as trading bloc- mainly France & Germany (1954) Aimed to:

Economically strengthen shattered European economies

Use economies to politically link the two nations

In time the union grew & included most of W. Europe
Today- EU larger economy & pop than USA
Continued integration United states of Europe
Can be seen currently
Single economic market

Single currency

European parliament

European President

Flag

Anthem
Future- Army, foreign policy, single state, UN seat?
Many characteristics of a superpower
Today natural interests far of
Founded 1944- USA
Fund to support shattered economies- prevent poverty/ communism
Voting rotes on IMF related to contributions
USA/ W Europe most most funds to schemes that tie in with Capitalist liberal democracy
1944- 1st loan to France
1960s-80s financed a lot of big projects in 3rd World- Env impacts, control debt

Name:
Cultural superpowers
On back of eco, pol, military cultural imperialism
Direct- language, curriculum e.g. British Empire
Indirect- TV, film, music, fashion e.g. USA today. Products & brands
Brands- often greater Kudos abroad e.g. Levis, Mcdonalds
Electronic/ digital world Electronic colonialism
SOFT POWER
Behind brands & TV- ideas & belief systems- moving towards global norms- Global culture
Democracy? Freedom Liberal values- Gender, Sexuality
Good: Cultures benefit infusions of new ideas & often customise them
Bad: Potential loss of cultural diversity

Unit 3 Case Studies

Name:
China
Since China enabled form economic capitalism (within a communist political system) it has become the workshop of
the world
Communist gov in 1949- kept country separate- economy planned centrally, goods produced for consumption of
Chinas own people and no private wealth was permitted at all. Gov income- spent on improving health & educationimproving life expectancy
1986- open door policy in relation to overseas investment
1990s- more capitalist eco
Still not pure free-market economy with most of Chinas largest companies being either totally or partially stateowned- any profits still reinvested or ploughe back into state spending
Explosion of goods have given China vast trade surplus with the world
Initially money ploughed into domestic infrastructure & investment
Today- looking outward
Developing significant economic & political links- esp with Africa
Source of raw materials needed by Chinese ind

Source of energy
Trade between Africa- $3 billion 95, $33 billion 2005, $60 billion 2010?
Africa:

European interest declined since imperial times

US/ USSR have not given it a priority since the end of the cold war
China very attractive partner to many African govs
Neocolonial/ exploitative legacy

Trade comes with sweeteners- offering to improve infrastructure, a different political model- strong
economy run by a strong, central gov (1 part state) Also military support e.g. Chinese defending Sudanese
pipelines & political support blocking Sanctions against Sudan for links to Darfer Genocide
Many TNCs cannot compete with Chinese package
Largest sustained GDP growth in history
China- Neo-colonial power??
Future- China also supports technology transfer- gives access to LEDCs in Africa- China is diversifying & buying up
European & US industries
Early 1980s- economy doubled every 8 years
Public spending health & education- health literate & skilled workforce
Growth- great social cost 20% pop living on less than $1 a day
Child labour Human rights
Worlds largest polluter

Name:
Area
Energy

Water

Eco

Superpowers Future
Costs
Greater demand increase prices

Soc

Cons. for the poor

Env

Increased CO2 despite int agreem

China & India- dependence on coal- Climate
change (global), Acid Rain (ChinaWater)
Env damage- open cast mining, tar sands
(Gulf of Mexico)
(price)- in some places e.g. SW USA- price
becoming a break on development
Impacts on native/ indigenous peoples
Native Americans, Kurds in Turkey, Rural
communities in India
Water pollution/ destruction aquifers- India,
China (River Yangtze)
Acid rain, Dam construction- 3 Gorges, Ag
pollution biosphere reduction wetlands

Eco
Soc
Env

Land
use

Eco
Soc
Env

Benefits
Good for suppliers Russia & Arab states
(OPEC)
Growing wealth access to energy increase in
quality of life
Forcing the hand & stimulating search for
alternate source of energy
Demand/ supply- security

Access to clean water increase in some

developing nations e.g. India increase QOL &
health conditions

Alleviating poverty, investing wealth in material

gain for people in emerging superpowers
Growing wealth increased demand for
food- China meat demand X 2 in 15 years
Food prices have gone up globally- impacts
on poor, pressure to grow more- exp animal
feed- soya in Brazil
More destruction natural biomes goes for all
resources- wood, minerals

Unit 3 Case Studies

Views on Development

The Rostow Model

Traditional society: subsistence economy based on farming with limited
technology/ capitol to develop
Preconditions to take off: often injection of external help- industries will
develop & growth of infrastructure. Often single industry will dominate
(UK-1750)
Take off to maturity: many industries grow, airports & roads are built.
Political & social changes. Farming will decline. Investment or
borrowing increases (UK-1820)
Drive to maturity: growth self-sustaining. Multiplier effects in similar
industry types. Rapid urbanisation (UK-1850)
High mass consumption: Rapid Expansion of tertiary services,
employment in service industries grow, manufacturing decline (UK1940)

Study of 15 countries- mainly

European. Suggested all countries had
potential to break cycle of poverty,
develop through 5 stages.
Based on a limited number of countries within a small geographical range
Although capitol is needed traditionaloften brings debt repaymentsstop country developing
Underestimates impact of colonialism

Views on Development
Friedmans Core & Periphery model
Shows- some areas become more eco developed than others & why some regions are wealthier than others
Can be applied on global scale & looking at individual countries

Views on Development
The development cable
Development like an electric cable- power to drive countries from primitive to more advanced states
Core economic growth, technology & enterprise
Outer- different aspects eco growth
Cross-section- reveals stage of development

Views on Development
The Development pathway
Development can also be seen as a pathway
Countries develop at different speeds & may cluster at different points
HIPC- Heavily indebted poor countries, FCCs- Former communist countries, RICs- Recently industrialising countries

LLEDC
(HIPC)

LEDC

FCCs

RICs

OPECs

NICs

MEDCs

Views on Development
Countries that were 1st to industrialise gained momentum & strength- allowed them to develop their
resources & colonise new lands
Views on Development
Evolution of trade blocs to strengthen economies e.g. EU
Views on Development
Economic Globalisation
The growing control of economies of countries by a range of TNCs (link to Dependency theory)
Global interdependence- all economies depend on goods & services from one another

Views on Development
The dependency theory
That keeps LEDCs poor, dominated by MEDCs- form of Neo- colonialism?

Unit 3 Case Studies

Debt:
How?

Uganda- HIPC

In
In the
the 1970's
1970's OPEC
OPEC
raised the
the price
price of
of oil
raised
oil
twice- increasing
increasing its
its
twicemembers
members earnings
earnings

OPEC countries
backed
OPEC
countries backed
these increased
these
increased earnings
earnings
in
in Western
Western banks
banks

Banks
then lent
Banks then
lent this
this
money out
out to
to developing
developing
money
countries
countries

Most developing
countries
in similar
similar
countries in
situation
situation SAP's
SAP's set
set up
up by
by
the
IMF
the IMF

Uganda
found itself
itself
Uganda found
unable to meet its debt
repayments so
so the
repayments
the
unpaid
unpaid interest
interest was
was
added
the original
added to
to the
original loan
loan
amounts
amounts

By the 1980's, global

interest rates
rates had
had more
interest
more
than
than doubleddoubled- massively
massively
increasing the
the
increasing
repayments
repayments needed
needed

Cuts
Cuts imposed
imposed on
on
government spending in
return
return for
for SAPs,
SAPs, without
without
IMF
approval, no
no country
country
IMF approval,
would
would get
get furthur
furthur credicrediSAPs
then become
become
SAPs then
compulsary
compulsary

Biggest
government
Biggest government
budget items in Uganda
health &
& educationhealth
education- IMF
IMF
cutbacks affected
affected bothcutbacks
bothgreatest impact
impact on
on the
the
greatest
poor
late 1980'searly
poor late
1980's- early
1990's
1990's

Solution?

Impacts of
cancellation:

Evaluation

Cancelling debts- HIPC initiative with 2 conditions:

1) The government of each countries had to demonstrate good financial management & a
lack of corruption
2) The money saved had to be spent on poverty reduction, education & health care
2008- 17/38 countries met conditions for debt relief0 received total of US$300 billion, little chance
they will be able to pay back- war, natural disasters.
IMF still unwilling to support many countries due to politics
Uganda:

Spending on public services has risen by 20% overall including 40% extra being spent on
education and 70% on healthcare part of which was abolishing fees for basic healthcare

The introduction of free primary schooling- particularly benefited girls. 5 million extra
children have begun to attend school, with enrolment rates for primary schooling heavily
increasing from 62.3% to 92% for girls and 94% for boys between 2000-2006. Before
debt relief, there were 20% fewer girls than boys in primary school- now the numbers are
almost even

Nearly 10% of the population (2.2 million people)- access to clean water. Fetching water
is usually down to the women/ girls and was often a reason for the girls not going to
school
G8 Nations

Lose all of the money owed to them by the HIPCs which had their debt cancelled- effect
on their economy

Increase trade between countries, indebt increase trading prices which will affect the
G8 nations economy

Countries heavily indebted are- politically unstable. This then means that they may cause
problems for the G8 countries on both a national and an international scale
Now debating whether more countries should be added to the listRisks
Advantages
Reliant on debt cancellation?
The newly added countries may be able to improve
as Uganda has (see above)
New loans may be needed just as debt
are more likely to trade with those G8 countries
is being cut; meaning they are no better
which have cancelled the debt
off
Governments may have kept unreliable
Less risk of political unrest
records of debts- accurate repayments?
(Corruption)
Current economic state, cancellation of
Giving the countries a chance to develop as we
debts could have detrimental effects on
have been able to

Unit 3 Case Studies

the G8 countrys economies- future aid?

Role of Debt in Development Gap

SAPs- reschecualing loans in order to try and make them more affordable- in return IMF imposed cuts on
government budgets & spending. Without approval of IMF- no country will get further credit therefore
making SAPs compulsory Many developing countries biggest cuts in health & education- 2 of the biggest
factors in development- major indicators

Debt political unrestmoney lent to corrupt leaders/ dictatorships

Key Players
UN
World Bank Group

World Trade
Organisation (WTO)
NGOs (Grass Roots)

IMF

5 international organisations- make leveraged loans- generally just International bank for
reconstruction & development, International development agency.
Focused on developing: Human development, agriculture & rural development,
environmental protection, infrastructure, governance
Provide loans at preferential rates to member countries & grants to poorest countries
For specific projects- linked to wider policy changes
Activities of IFC & MIGA- investment in private sector & insurance
Supervise & liberalise world trade
Deals with regulation of trade between participating countries
Provides framework for negotiating & formulating trade agreements
Dispute resolution process aimed at enforcing participants adherence to WTO agreements
Route to alternative development- more democratic, efficient & sustainable
New relationships between community organisations & other institutions developed
Employment- encouraging participating by local people in development through activities
Often meant little real difference in policy making or planning at local communities
Individuals- agents of their own development
Creating power among local communities- education & promotion of understandings
e.g. Wateraid- establish sustainable water supplies & latrines close to home. Influence govs
water and sanitation policies to serve the interest of vulnerable people & to ensure water &
sanitation are prioritised in poverty reduction plans
Overseas global financial system- following ec policies of its member countries
Obj- stabilising international exchange rates & facilitating development through enforcement
of liberalising economic policies on other countries as a condition for loans, restructuring or
aid. Offers leveraged loans

Role of Trade in Development Gap

USA subsidies Mali cotton trade

Developing worldoften focused on 1 or 2 main commoditiessubjective to global $ fluctuations

Mechanisation in developed worldcannot be afforded in developing countries therefore cannot

keep up

Inadequate infrastructure- Uganda is landlocked

Protectionism- thinking of yourself e.g. trade limits, subsidies

Structural Adjustment Packages

Impact of Fair Trade

Trading Blocs- LEDCs not generally part of. EU has subsidies

Climate- many LEDCs hot dry climates limit growth

Fertiliser costs often high LEDCs cannot afford

Mali Cotton Trade
Background:
Factors limiting
countries cotton
industry:

Solution:

Western Africa, area over 1,240,000km pop more 14 mil

GDP just $1,200 per capita 2009- v poor
One of the worlds biggest cotton producers- 75% income
Rainfall scarce
Lack tech
High fertiliser prices
High volatility in cotton futures market
Sinking export demand
Increased comp from polyesters
Environmental sustainability
American subsidies- large subsidies to American farmers- although they got given $37.7
million in USAID, lost $43 million due to subsidies. Main thing holding them back
Oxfam working for fairer trade rules- helping give cotton producers a say- petition
5 year programme aiming to increase income and livelihood security
Also helping in other areas e.g. rural development projects

Unit 3 Case Studies

MDG

Global targets- adopted by UN 2000

Aiming to reduce global poverty by 50% by 2015

Mixed progress- Asia: on target, Africa not until 2147 at current rate of progress
Target
Aims
Uganda
Eradicate
Uganda is on its way to achieving this

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the

Extreme
goal, and it is very likely that it will do
proportion of people whose income is less
Poverty &
so with 22.8% of Children under 5
than one dollar a day
Hunger
moderately or severely underweight

Achieve full and productive employment

(2001) compared to 25.5% in 1995
and decent work for all, including women
and young people

Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the

proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Achieve
Universal
Primary
Education

Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere,

boys and girls alike, will be able to complete
a full course of primary schooling

Uganda is on its way to achieving this

goal, and it is very likely that it will do
so with literacy of the total population
being 66.8% with males having 76.8%
and females at 57.7% (2002 census)

Promote
gender equality
and empower
women

Eliminate gender disparity in primary and

secondary education, preferably by 2005,
and in all levels of education no later than
2015

females are showing an increasing rate

of literacy. In addition to this, Uganda
has 29.8% of seats held by women in
national parliament (2007) which is up
from 17.8% in 2001

Reduce Child
Mortality

Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and

2015, the under-five mortality rate

Improve
maternal health

Reduce by three quarters, between 1990

and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio
Achieve, by 2015, universal access to
reproductive health

Off track to reaching this aim. 1990

children under five mortality rate per
1,000 live births was160, with it only
increasing to 134 in 2006, no. of
children at one year old immunised
against measles 52% in 1990 to 82% in
2006.
Off track maternal mortality rate- 1,200
per 10,000 live births to 550 between
1990 and 2005. In order to achieve the
goal this figure needs to be reduced to
300. Although this is highly unlikely by
2015, it is likely that in the not too
distant future they will reach their first
aim.

Combat
HIV/AIDS,
malaria and
other diseases

Ensure
Environmental
Sustainability

Develop a
Global
Partnership
for

Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse

the spread of HIV/AIDS
Achieve, by 2010, universal access to
treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who
need it

Poss
Tuberculosis prevalence rate per
100,000 population has gone from
295.8 in 1990 to 560.9 in 2006.
Percentage of people living with HIV
aged 15-49, with the figure going down
from 7.9% to 5.4%, these figures do
suggest that Uganda is reversing the
spread of HIV, suggesting it is on the
way to meeting the first aim of this goal.

Integrate the principles of sustainable

development into country policies and
programmes and reverse the loss of
environmental resources
Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by
2010, a significant reduction in the rate of
loss
Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people
without sustainable access to safe drinking
water and basic sanitation
By 2020, to have achieved a significant
improvement in the lives of at least 100
million slum dwellers

Poss
Land area covered by forest has gone
down from 25% in 1990 to 18.4% in
2005
proportion of the population using
improved water sources which has
gone up from 43% in 1990 to 64% in
2006,
CO2 emissions- 0.0456 to 0.0651 tons
of CO2 per capita- minimal in
comparison to developed countries
such as the UK, at 9.7934 in 2004.

not significant enough data to show

whether Uganda is on its way to
reaching the goal, however we can
see that the internet users per 100
of a population has gone up
significantly from 0.72 in 2004 to

Unit 3 Case Studies

5.02 in 2006, suggesting that

Uganda is expanding its internet

Developmen
t

Megacities
City pop 10 million +
1950s- 86, 2008- 400+
Urban population rising worldwide
Becoming problematic- led to an increase in slums- poor living conditions- sanitation, malnutrition
Lagos- biggest city in Nigeria 2nd largest & fastest growing in Africa wages are so low hard to calculate how people
survive
Unemployment in young men 20% crime & drugs
Informal economy- 60%
Differences between city

South Africa & Apartheid

Background:
Still wide disparities between white & black people
Apartheid- 1948-1994
ANC (African National Congress) gov led protests against apartheid 1950 on
First free fair elections- 1994- election of 1st black majority gov
Even today protests against the ANC by Black SAs
Impacts of changes:
High inequalities within country still
Inequalities in SA become even worse due to:
Loss of jobs & unemployment- labour intensive jobs were not created. Black Africans
mainly unskilled 50% SA pop under 18 pressure on economy
Even within ethnic groups there are still disparities
Cuts in health spendingworsened impact of HIV/AIDS
Higher rate of violent crime
Poor are getting poorer
Exposure to global market has affected food prices, which were previously subsidised
Liberalisation of the economy- wealthy white more opportunities
Regional disparities not purely ethnic

Bangalore
Background:

Impacts

Future

Huge differences of culture within the city ( conflict)

Hub of new technology- 40% in IT industry, also Banking/ Finance/ Knowledge industries
big
Outsourcing
Why?
Highly educated large workforce
Designated areas i.e. electronic city- tax breaks
Increase in home grown countries
People have become wealthier- increase in affluence:

Increased demand for housing

Increase in car show rooms (luxury)

Shopping malls

Cafes/ restaurants

Taxi firms
Indias caste system- still exists today & there are large disparities between rich & poor.
Still many jobless Dalits (those with the lowest status)- not only discrimination against
Dalits but also within them
Housing-where to be built? How many? Cost?
Public transport?- needs improving to keep up with growth
Energy?- how can it be provided
Airport expanded?- to meet volume of international traffic
Planning for further but different growth. Gov plans to decentralise- building new tourism,
green field sites
Keen to develop labour intensive sectors & dispersing IT jobs to other cities

Addressing the Development

Gap
Free/ Fair trade
Investment
Appropriate aid
Helping to rule out political corruption
Education

Unit 3 Case Studies

Debt relief

Types of Aid
Type
Bilateral
Aid

Governments- poorer nations

For development projects or
emergency

Multilateral

Through international institutes

e.g. World Bank

NGO

Under 10% of all aid collected by

NGOs
Occasionally used for emergency
aid, mainly long term

Positives
Investment for projects &
development
Helps expand infrastructure
Can directly support eco,
soc, env policies can result
in successful programmes
UNICEF- aims to build
protective environment for
children & provide them
with health & education
FAO- leads international
efforts to eliminate hunger
(and bilateral +ves)
Long-term:
Dealing with root causes
Health programmesmaintain basic health
facilities- eradicating
malaria & other disorders
Food production, water
supplies education
Technical assistance e.g.
training farmers to increase
efficiency & prevent soil
erosion
Short term:
Helping refugees to rebuild
homes & provide farming
equipmentself sufficient
Medical & sanitation
supplies

Negatives
tied aid
Inappropriate tech may be given
May not help those who need it
Schemes- damage env
Unreliable?
Embezzlement
tied aid- with conditions
Big business reaps benefitspoor left sinking in their wake
SAPs- can have ve effectsreduced spending on health/
education
Not necessarily prioritising?
Admin costs
Corruption against politicians

Unit 3 Case Studies

Distribution of Technology: Farming

Farming seen sig changes in recent years due to tech developments:

High-tech machinery

GM crops?
GM Crops
Foods produced by altering the DNA of seeds by the process of genetic engineering
NA highest usage GM (sp. USA) then Argentina, Brazil, China. Much less found in the centre
Europe/Africa/northern SA/Asia
Africa- unable to afford tech as money going on health/education, heavily indebt
Europe- public perception
Advances in tech made in developing countries
CARFOCAL, Andean
Farming community is working with scientists to experiment with high-tech innovations to
Highlands, Columbia encourage Latin American farmers to adopt high-tech farming practices
Local agricultural research committee intro led to mini-boom in maize cultivation
Success of this NGO schemelab made technological advances in maize selection &
production been shared with 114 farming families.
Encouraged poor farmers to adopt new technology in the way they farm their land
Agro-technology
State of the art tech complexensure the latest recommendations in farming tech are used
park, Gannoruwa,
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Leading research into rice development in Sri Lanka- inc new improved & hybrid varieties &
also organising their release for general cultivation
Also houses a no of technological research gardens, food tech centre
Distribution of Technology: Telecommunications
The internet- not economically viable everywhere e.g. Africa- many parts not available, if it is- expensive
Uganda highest cost- $2300 each month (for slow speeds), Kenya-$500 (has had assistance from WB)
Ugandan Communications Commissions aims to develop ICT in critical mass as India has done.
Cable project in Eastern Africa which is being funded by the development Bank of SA & the World Bank
aims to increase internet access
Distribution of Technology: High-speed transport
Essential part of economic developmeny & env planning fast, reliable, safe
Development
Took of in sept 81, French train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) started service- ParisLyon
s in Europe
Today 3000km high-speed across Europe, 920 trains more than 100 million passengers a year
Plans to build additional 6000km high speed lines by 2020
Expected to lead to the creation of Fleets of trains & railway hubs
Development
Due to begin in Morocco 2013- 1.5 billion high speed line linking Northern Tangier to commercial
s in Africa
capitol, Casa Blanca
Drastically cut journey times
Oct 2007- Mor. & France signed an agreement to allow French companies to design, build,
operate & maintain the high-speed link
Tech for this project same as in TGV
Make Mor. 1st African country to have a high speed rail infrastructure to match Europes
Algeria also has plans to introduce high speed railway

Technological
Development
New HIV Drug trials in
the UK, Jan 2008
Using ICT to track HIV
treatment in research
poor countries
Nanoparticle tech. Feb
08
Oral Vaccine

Eliminating HIV from

semen
HIV-free breast milk

How it works

Available to whom?

New drug- blocks an

enzyme that is essential
for HIV to be able to
replicate itself
Info-management tech
which link info between
different aid agencies
working in Africa
Slow release drug that can
be injected once a month
using nano-particle tech
First oral HIV vaccine
stems from research that
was used to produce an
oral vaccine for anthrax &
plague
Scientists in Japan
developed process that
washes semen
Can then be used in IVF
Involves flash-treating
infected milk which
inactivates the virus simply
involves heating a glass
jar of expressed milk in a
pan of water over a flame/
burner

Approx 73,000 HIV

patients in the UKpotential as is only a trial
Aimed for many lives to be
saved through direct care
& preventive care
programmes
Aid Agencies?
Aid agencies?

Hope for those couples

who wish to start a family
but have HIV +ve male
partner
HIV +ve mothers
Use in poor countries with
high HIV rates will be
easily used as much
simpler than previous
methods

Reasons that may

prevent access
Is currently only a trialmay not pass
Cost?
Still being developed
Poor infrastructure may
prove a problem
Still being developed- so
not currently available,
cost?
Still being developed- so
not currently available,
cost?
Still being developed- so
not currently available,
cost?
Should be few reasons,
but poor infrastructure may
pose a problem

Unit 3 Case Studies

Reasons for limited access

North Korea

Amish Population

Politics & Culture

Blackened country, impoverished where televisions & radios are hard wired to
receive government controlled frequencies
Cell phones banned in 2004
Most censored country
Also have internet restricted
Handful of elite have access to the wider web
Any information leaked- devastating
Unknown how will change as tech develops
Led to much controversy
Recent developments led to divisions within the community
techno-selectives- devise technologies that fit within their self-imposed limits
old order- horse & buggy
New order- telephones & powered farm equipment not public electricity
Beachy Amish- permit both public electricity & cars
we dont want to stop progress, we just want to slow it down

Reasons for inequality of access to technology

Wealth
Cost barriers- new tech is expensive & its producers need to cover R&D costs
Infrastructure
Cost of developing necessary infrastructure- benefits of leapfrogging
Culture/ Religion
techno-selective some religious groups beliefs effect access e.g. Catholicismcondoms/
contraception
Jehovah- blood transfusions
Education
Needs to be increased investment in HE to ensure economic growth
Highly skilled labour force needed
China seeing surge in uni apps
Industrialised countries- responsibility to finance, the expansion of Africas university application
to make up for Africas brain drain
Patent Laws
Exclusive rights of ownership countries may not have the ability to invent as quickly as they can
adopt & learn new technologies
Public
GM crops opposition in the UK
opposition
Public perception of nuclear power
Environmental
at the mercy of nature e.g. climate harnessing use of renewable energy
Determinism
Resources
Availability of raw materials
Politics
Some political leaders feel they will be undermined if their people have access to info on the
internet- a means of control e.g. North Korea
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Mobile phones in Afghanistan

Due to conflict in Afghanistan since the Russian invasion of 1979 the country is littered with landmines & unexploded
bombs
Meant that laying/maintaining landline cables is dangerous
Terrain also makes it challenging
Also security issues from ongoing conflict
Led to Roshar (countries largest telephone provider) leapfrogging fixed telephone lines straight to mobile phonesmuch cheaper & safer
2008- Roshan 2 million mobile sub. 43% total market
72% Afghans now covered by mobile signals, just 1% access to fixed landlines
Makes it much easier to order products esp in rural areas

DDT pesticide
Environmental

Economic
Social

Positive
Use as agricultural insecticide

Negative
Threat to wildlife part birds & wide range of
animals & insects
Persistent organic pollutant- extremely
hydrophobic, strongly absorbed by soilsquickly absorbed by organisms in aquatic
ecosystems

Used to control mosquitoes spreading

malaria & lice transmitting typhus in second
half WW2

May cause cancer, diabetes

Moderately toxic
Reproductive consequences- semen levels,
early pregnancy loss

Mobile phones in other areas

Many developing countries now developing mobile networks
2006- 68% mobile subscribers in developing countries

Unit 3 Case Studies

Allow them to avoid need for expensive cabled landlines

Also other examples:
China
Laying of countries infrastructure of cable landlines too slow to keep up with demand for better
communication & eco growth
Led to increased usage of mobile phones
Kenya
Low cost mobile telephone service (M-Pesa) allows Kenyans to send & receive money via text
Removes need to travel long distances
GM crops e.g.
Golden rice
Environmental

Economic
Social

Positive

Negative

Disease-resistant seeds
Higher yielding crops
Herbicide-tolerant varieties

Long term effects not yet been fully testedimpossible to know what long term env
effects there may be
If GM crops escape into the wild and mix
with non-GM crops, there is no knowing how
this might affect plant & animal life
May take 5 years before trial crops can be
devised to suit local climates
Require herbicides to develop
fullypollution
Cost?
Could be effects on the health of those
eating the crops
Still does not contain enough vit A
May discourage children to eat balanced diet

Help to feed ever-growing population

Could remove allergens from foods
Fat-free foods
Alter composition of fruit/ vegetables- tackle
cancer or heart disease
Golden rice- helps with vit A deficiency
Developed 1999 at Institute of Plant Sciences in Switzerland to contain added Vitamin A through the process of
GM
DNA from Daffodil plant & form of soil bacteriarice plant
Purpose to tackle issue of Vitamin A deficiency in children across the world- mainly in areas where rice is main
food
Simple & cheap way of providing extra vitamin A- thought to be more reliable than through vitamin supplements or
trying to promote eating of green vegetables

Issues of externalities of technology

Pollution sink
Many techs produce externalities that are not accounted for e.g. Carbon dioxide from burning
fossil fuels
Atmosphere treated as pollution sink- assumed it was large enough to cope
Issues of the hole in the ozone layer & reducing Living Planet Index suggests it cant
Polluter pays
Those that cause the pollution should bare the economic cost of the damage they are doing to
principle
the env
2 ways:
1) Command & control- new technologies are introduced to limit pollution e.g. catalytic
converters
2) Market-based- govs introduce pollution taxes, carbon trading permits & produce
labelling
The Car industry
Many govs have imposed penalties on polluters e.g. car drivers have to pay vehicle excise duty
(VED) bands based on the amount of CO2 a vehicle emits
Expected to increase
Indian Car sales
Tata Nano car- 1250- cheapest new car in world
boom
Demands for up to 1 mill cars each year
Indian car ownership expected to be more than Japan by 2017
Externalities:

In 2004 India released 266 million tons of carbon= 4th largest CO2 emitting country

Concerns new Tata Nano does not meet current European emission standards & will
increase the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere

Impacts of intermediate/ appropriate technology with hi-tech mega projects- Views

Pessimist- Malthus
Population growth at geometric growth (2,4,8,16,32....)
Food protection increased at arithmetic growth (1,2,3,4,5....)
Leading to starvation as people outweigh food
Optimist- Boserup
Possible to overcome environmental limits through culture & technology
Population increase is the main factor driving technological change & creating a better
world for many more people
Technology definitions
Intermediate technology
Relatively low cost, usually labour intensive technology that can be mastered by local
people, especially in the developing world
Appropriate technology
Technology that suits the level of income, skills & needs of the local people
Mega projects
Looks to develop a high-income consumer economy through large-scale projects
such as dams, airports etc

Unit 3 Case Studies

Ethiopias dam options

Background
Considered one of the poorest countries in the world
Issues of drought- huge water potential not being used
Variety of technology- low-tech- harvesting the rain, high tech- Tekeze dam & intermediate techsmall dams
97.5% of electricity produced in 2005- hydro-electric
When drought struck lack of electricity
Lack of water in rural areas & lack of bottled water in urban areas (as bottled water require a lot of
electricity)
World Bank developed a Country Water Resources Assistance Strategy to help Ethiopia to
develop a water storage capacity to provide year round access to water
Led to a range of strategies
Solutions
Low tech solution- harvesting the rain- Small pits are dug and money is borrowed to pay for a
blue plastic sheet to line it. This pit is then able to hold around 60m 3 of water which will help save
crops if the rains fail.
High tech solution- Tekeze Dam- This hydro-electric project aims to hold back 9 billion m 3 of
water that can be used to irrigate large amounts of land, in addition to generating renewable
energy for the region.
Intermediate Technology- small dams- Small dams built by locals made from local builders are
able to provide families with irrigated land which can then be used to ensure that their crops do
not fail. In this case the families are each given of a hectare in addition to fruit tree seedlings
and elephant grass which will help to stop the walls eroding away. This scheme has helped to
provide food security for the locals of Adis Nifas.
Evaluation
Social impacts
Economic impacts
Low tech solution- harvesting
Malaria (from mosquitoes which have gathered
Many farmers have been left with debts that they
the rain
around the pits)
are unable to repay (also social)
The pit will hold 60m3 of water which will help to
save crops if the rains failed
Helps to improve the water supply for Ethiopias
rural poor
High tech solution- Tekeze
The dam will hold back 9 billion m3 of water that
The cost of the dam is estimated to be $224
Dam
will be used to irrigate 60 000 hectares of land,
million and when finished it will be the 10
as well as generate electricity
electric power plant in Ethiopia
Once complete, the project will supply
500 Chinese expatriates (as the contract is held
electricity to Ethiopias national grid as it will
by a Chinese company) are working on the dam
provide 300 megawatts of electricity
as well as 2000 Ethiopians
Any excess electricity will be sold to
neighbouring countries in order to earn much
needed foreign currency
Intermediate TechnologyThe reservoir is close to the water and
The Relief Society for Tigray provided the money
small dams
manages to retain water for most of the year,
and machinery for the project, meaning little
even through the dry season
economic impact for the locals
Each family in the village has been given a
The dam was built by local people (with support
quarter of a hectare of irrigated land, as well as
from the Relief Society for Tigray) who supplied
fruit tree seedlings and elephant grass to plant
the labour, as well as being built from local
into the earth walls that divide up the fields
materials
(help to prevent the walls from eroding away)
The irrigated areas have now provided food
security for the locals

Unit 3 Case Studies

Role of technology in global issues: Climate Change

Bio-engineering:
Designing things based on nature
Technological solutions to global warming:
Giant sunshade for the earth
16 trillion floating disks to reflect solar energy
Iron fertilisation of the oceans
Encourages blooms of planktonremove excess CO2
Artificial volcano
Sulphur in large amounts causes enhanced reflection of solar radiation
into space- global cooling
Artificial trees
Carbon capture via limewater coating to collect the CO2
Carbon capture technology e.g. Artificial trees

2 aspects- collecting the carbon & then storing it

Possible to collect some CO2 as it is emitted, but not all e.g. not from cars (would require huge storage
tanks)

Alternative- to capture in the atmosphere

Artificial tree- like a filter capturing CO2 from wind

Coating of limewater used on slats to collect CO2 then form limestone which would need removing
regularly

Key issue- what would be done with the carbon once collected?

Prototype being built at great cost

Ion exchange membrane- recent- CO2 can then be pumped into greenhouses to enhance plant growth

Capital cities response to flooding

1) London
Why?
Home to 7 million people, high pop density
Major centre for international business & commerce
6th largest economy in world
Built on floodplain along tidal estuary- Thames
Strom surge funnel of estuaryflooding
Climate change
Tilting of Britain post glacial rebound
Solution
Pre-barrier, building higher & stronger river walls/ embankments
After number of events including 1928 Thames river flood- 14 people died, North Sea flood 1953- 307
deaths, 50m damage (5bn at todays costs)
Thames barrier- worlds largest moveable flood barrier spanning 520m across the Thames at
Woolwich
9 concrete islands- 6 openings for vessels to pass through between them as well as 4 smaller
openings when no flood risk
Future?
Due to increased risk- Thames 2100 project set up- results of detailed assessment and appraisal of
options available to manage flood risk, economic & env costs/ impacts
Recommendations on what should be done- given to DEFRA for them to decide
2) Dhaka
Why?
Capital of Bangladesh- commercial centre of countries economy
Still low average wage
Very close to sea level- in floodplain
Cyclones frequent in autumn
Highly vulnerable to climate change
Solution
Dhaka integrated Flood Protection Project DIFPP- set up as part of national flood action plan- result
of the disastrous floods that struck Bangladesh that badly affected DHAKA
Focused on structural measures e.g. building embankments & levees to hold back floodwaters
Aims:

To make Dhaka flood free

To improve drainage system of Dhaka City

To improve overall environmental condition of the city

Money could not be raised for whole project area
Decided to start by protecting the more densely populated western part of the city
Several schemes, including
o
30km earthen embankment in western side (it can also be used as a road
o
13 nos sluices to control water inside and outside of the embankment. When
water level rises above 3.00m pwd then gates are closed
o
3 pump houses to pump out accumulated water, when water levels go above
3.50m then pump houses go under operation
o
3.8 sheet pile flood wall, 25km slope protection work
o
260 ha. Ponding area to retain storm & surface water
Problems
Dhaka once again badly flooded- engineering solutions on their own not good enough to protect city
Led to Phase II being introduced, aims this time being to:

Protect the eastern part of Dhaka, which had suffered the most flood damage

Start to implement non-structural solutions such as better flood forecasting and

warning, land use planning restrictions, flood zoning and improved emergency
responses

Improve coordination between the agencies responsible for flood protection and
drainage of the city, which could significantly reduce the flood damage
Still flooded again several times e.g. July 2004

Unit 3 Case Studies

London V
Similar approach, London still more eco developed put more money in. Dhaka also more
Dhaka
geographically isolated Dhaka average wage below 300, London- 627
Western Europe tackling CO2 emissions- Germany
Issues
High carbon emissions
Large volumes of traffic- central location in Europe
Impacts of high CO2 levels- climate change unusually high winter temperatures causing storms and
heavy rain
Solutions
2007- Germanys gov put plan in place to improve energy efficiency by 3% per year in order to meet
EU targets
Schemes include:

Jan 2005- electronic heavy goods vehicle toll system put in place- drivers charged around
0.15 per km

Car sharing schemes

Modernizing power stations- Combined HEP stations- trap & reuse heat

Jan 2009- taxes based on both CO2 emissions & engine size

Plans to subsidize railway network

Success
Currently emits more than 1bn tonnes CO2 per year- 6th largest polluter
Fossil-fuel emissions of CO2 from unified Germany declined 22.3% since 1990 to 215mn tons in 2007
Germanys levels meet Kyoto protocol