geography study notes by andrew newbound © andrew newbound 2013

© Andrew Newbound 2013

Geography Study Notes

By Andrew Newbound


GLOBAL CHANGEUnit 1


Definitions and Vocab List

• Absolute Poverty– Having so little food, money, resources – can barely survive

• Active citizenship– Individuals and groups influencing decision making and

participating in community activities and public affairs• Aid

– Charitable donations of money, goods and services from developed countries for developing countries

• Globalisation– The breakdown of traditional barriers between countries allowing

the movement of goods, capital, people and information



• Global Village– A world where anyone can communicate to anyone else

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)– Measure of a country’s wealth– GDP of $140 billion = $140 billion worth of goods and

services for a year• Humanitarian

– Having regard for the interest of all humanity• Developing Countries

– World’s poorest countries – low standard of living



• Ecological Sustainability– Meeting the needs of the population without destroying it for

future generations• Economic globalisation

– Breaking down the walls that separate economies• Non-government Organisation (NGO)

– Private organisation (usually not for profit) with charitable, community or environmental focus

• Transnational corporation (TNC)– Company which has and controls the means of production

(factories, mines, farms and financial organisations) in more than 1 country.



• Westernise– To make more Western in ideas and character– More European/American

• Cultural Integration– Blending of cultures– Communities adapt to and absorb external sources


The Globalisation Process

• 509,600,000km2

• It’s a small world– Communication time

decreased• ‘World gets smaller’

– Global village• Communicate like a small

village– Links between countries,

companies, people, resources, cultures, money

• Links improved – technology– Globalisation

• Globalisation & The World Today– Not new

• Nation-states always traded goods

– Way of trading changed» Technology allows:» Speed, quantities,

methods changed• Lets companies earn

money overseas• Change culture – TV, sport• Influence taste

– Fast food restaurants


The Globalisation Process

• Globalisation & The World Today– Brought by

• Improved transport– Quicker trade & travel

• Improved communication• Improved computer tech• Transnational corporations• Changes to organisations

controlling trade

• TNC’s and Globalisation– Globalisation - Made

TNC’s winners• Use world’s resources

– Large profits– Poorer countries

• Exploited– Cheap goods– Child labour– Low wages– Losers of globalisation


Advances in Communications Technology

The Fibre Optic Cable Network• Fibre Optic cable

– Thin as human hair– Carries large amounts of data– Best method of handling data & phone

calls• Laid around world

– Connects cities– Telephone, cable TV, Internet– Land & sea – Antarctica not connected

• Broadband– Files sent over phone lines, fibre

optics, wireless networks, satellites– Increase data future– Replaced dial-up

Satellite communications• Send data• Invented end of 19th century• Hundreds of satellites• Communications, weather,

TV, radio + internet + defence + GPS

• Geostationary Orbit• Fixed at point• Only needs 3 satellites to

link all regions


Changes in Technology

Communication Technology• Physical distance less

relevant• Business can be

conducted nearly everywhere– Mobile phones– Computers– Email– The Internet– E-commerce

The Digital Divide• Technology availability is

uneven


Computers and The World Wide Web

• PC’s are important:– Companies

• Large & small– Government

• Internet advantage for companies– Sharing information– Selling overseas

• Developed Internet– US department of state

• Developed in-case of nuclear attack– Info still safe

• 1st to use PC network– US department of state

• Term ‘Internet’ 1st used– 1995 to describe the

World Wide Web


Time Taken to Reach 50 million

Internet – 4yrs

PC – 15 yrs

Radio – 40 yrs


Transport Technology & Globalisation

Advances in Transport Technology• Changed people’s views

– Travel + distance• Rise in movement of

people, goods and services

• More goods traded– Major part of Globalisation

How Has Shipping Changed World Trade?• International shipping

– Movement of goods between countries

• Technological advances– Type & volume increased

• Supertanker– Easier to move oil & liquid

• Containerisation– Shipping faster + more

efficient– 90% global trade - sea


Transport Technology & Globalisation

Containerisation• Container ships - Dry cargo• Introduced in 1960’s

– Steady growth• Past

– Cargo nets, cranes, substantial labour• Now - cranes + ports• Large companies

– Quick to convert• 1980 – 6.3% world trade• 2004 – 26.6% world trade• Growing 9.3% per year

– Continues• Major cities have ports

Technology & Air Transport• Air

– Dramatic increase since 1950’s– Larger + faster planes

• Longer distance– Movement

• Faster – more efficient– Useful for trading perishable goods– Future – increase

• Globalisation– World shrinking– Tourism increase

• Largest industry– Result of air travel

– Advantages for big companies• Quick + cheap


Transnational Corporations (TNC’s)

• Large companies – produce goods in many

countries• Head office in 1 country

– Developed• Subsidiary offices

– Other countries

• Aided growth of TNC’s– Advances in

communications + transport tech

• Able to make decision– Transcend borders

• Some countries– Influence governments

• Desperate to earn money + attract industry (jobs)

– Governments provide incentives• Building power plants &

ports• Offering lower tax• Changing environmental

laws



• Very complex structures– Numerous factories

Questions Asked By TNC – How Will Operate Globally• Where cheapest labour?• Where are the facilities to

produce in the cheapest way?

• Where is the best tax deal?• Where is the friendliest

government?• Where is the cheapest land

and electricity?• Where will we sell our

product?



Head office• Rich powerful city

Factory• Modern port with

facilities and cheap power

Factory• Cheap government Subsidiary Office

Regional Office• City with good

communications network

Unstable government• Few environmental

laws


Criticism of TNC’s

Criticism of Some TNC’s• Taking advantage of the

world’s resources– Gaining at cheapest spots

• Influence governments to provide incentives

• Some countries– No match for TNC’s– GDP less than company’s

annual turnover


Sweatshops

• TNC’s use cheapest labour available in developing countries– Produce:

• Sports equipment• Shoes• Clothing

• Factories where these are produced – sweatshops– Poor working facilities– Low wages

• TNC’s often use subcontractors– Get cheapest price– Shipped to developed countries

• Sold at inflated price– Someone to blame

• Human Rights Violations– Less than minimum wage– Child labour– Not paying overtime– Harassment of workers– Poor environmental, safety &

health conditions


Globalisation & Free Trade – At What Price

• Trade– Product not found– Cheaper– Not enough products

• Australia imports more– Cheaper than local

• Globalisation– Trend towards Global Economy


Cultural Impacts of Globalisation

• 1 giant culture– Making music, entertainment,

foods & language same through exports

– Slow – over period of time• ‘Pop culture’

– Merging of entertainment interests around world

• McDonaldisation– George Ritzer 1996– N American TNC’s extending

influences globally.

• Global Media TNC’s– E.g.

• AOL/Time Warner• Walt Disney

– Walt Disney– US$31.9 billion - 2005

• Sony– Export values of country where

based– Falling since 1982

• Less opinions

• Adoptions to TV– No-one offended– The Simpsons

• Homer – Omar• Bart – Bodr• Title – Alshamshoom


Winners and Losers of Globalisation

Stats• 54% of global income

goes to 10% of the population

• 40% of population receive 5% global income

• Richest 50 combined global income greater than the combined global income of the poorest 416 million people

• 2.5 billion people living on less than US$2 per day

• Current trends– 827 million people in

poverty by 2050• Largest 500 transnational

corporations = 70% world trade



Tariffs• Tax on imported good• Local business can

compete• Bananas

– Local Bananas• $1.20 per kg

– Imported banana• $1 per kg + 30% = $1.30

– Local sold 1st

Quota• Limit on amount of imports• Oranges

– Locals produce 3000kg– Locals buy 4000kg

• Before price falls too low for farmers to make an income

– Quota of 1000kg• Maintain price of oranges

for farmers– Locals remain profitable



Subsidies• Governments pay farmers money• Brings costs down• Sell to world at cheaper price• Farmers remain profitable


Managing The Impacts of Globalisation

• United Nations– Established end of WW2– Promoter of Globalisation

• States have responsibility to citizens and world

• World Bank– Established 1944

• Bretton Woods Conference– Provides loans to poor

countries for development• Water & sanitation facilities• Natural resource management• Education & health

improvements

• International Monetary Fund– Established 1946– 182 member countries– Promotes:

• Cooperation on finance• Proper system for exchanging money

between countries– Provides:

• Temporary assistance to countries with high debt

• World Trade Organisation– Established 1995– Administer rules of international trade

• Agreed to by 123 member countries– Aims to promote growth of world

trade• Lowering barriers - Tariffs, quotas


An Unequal World

• Rich countries (developed)• Poor countries (developing)• Enough resources for everyone in world

– Health care, food, safe water, basic education, sanitation• Variations in access = different life opportunities


The Global Pattern

• Wealthiest 20% receive 85% of world income• Hunger – not scarcity of food

– Enough food produced


GLOBAL INEQUALITYUnit 2


Vocabulary

• Democracy– Form of government where people elect their

representatives and can influence the decision making process

• Demography– Study of characteristics of human populations such as

size, birth rates and death rates• Diarrhoea

– Illness that can cause dehydration – means body lacks enough fluid to function properly


Vocabulary

• Ecological footprint– How much land and water area a person in a particular

country needs in order to produce their energy requirements and dispose of their wastes

• Ecological sustainability– Use of the world’s resources by the present generation in

a way that will not limit the ability of future generations to meet their needs

• Fossil fuels– Ancient remains of plants and animals that are stored

underground in the form of coal, oil & natural gas


Vocabulary

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)– A measure of the total value of all the goods and services

produced in a country over a year, also referred to as the Gross National Income

• Gross Domestic Product Per Capita– GDP divided by the population– Represents the per person money value of all the goods

and services a country produces in a year• Human Development Index (HDI)

– Statistic that combines income, life expectancy and literacy rates of a country


Vocabulary

• Infant mortality rate– Number of child deaths per 1000 babies born

• Lobbying– Pressuring governments and other groups to change

through actions like e-mail and letter writing campaigns• Malnutrition

– Where the body lacks vitamins, nutrients and energy needed for normal, healthy development

• Natural resource– Anything in nature that can be used to satisfy a human

want or need


Vocabulary

• Non-renewable resource– Natural resource that is consumed by use

• Renewable resource– Resource that is regenerated in a short period of time

• Sanitation– A means of hygiene, includes washing and sewage facilities

• Squatter settlement– Unplanned housing area where people have no legal

ownership of the land and build houses out of materials they can find or scavenge

– Also known as shanty towns


Amount of Fresh Water

• Most precious resource• 80% of world = water• 3% fresh water• ¾ of fresh water = frozen• Most remaining = underground• ½% of world’s fresh water for our use• If 100L = world’s water

– Less than ½ teaspoon for our use.


Access to Fresh, Safe Water

• Water– Drink– Cool– Wash– Water crops

• Need clean water for good health

• Areas lack fresh water supply– Usually lack drainage & sewer

system– Heavy rain collects waste +

rubbish + animal waste• Carries it to local rivers – become

contaminated

• Take water from rivers– Many countries

• Not treated– Health problems

• Developing countries– Women & children walk

for hours to collect water from polluted rivers, bores and wells


Uneven Distribution of Water

• Essential for survival• Unevenly distributed

– Like other natural resources• Australia has enough money to:

– Build dams, irrigate crops, improve water quality– Despite being dry

• Lack of water – linked to poverty– Africa, Asia, Latin America


Use of Water

• Australians– 1 of highest water users– About 350L per person

per day• USA

– 400-500L per person per day

• Africa & Latin America– 50-100L per person per

day

• Water scarcity– Single greatest threat to

human health, the environment & the global food supply

– Threatens global peace• Asia & Middle East

– Seek to cope with water shortages


Accessing The Necessities of Life

• Needs:– Food, water, shelter

• Quality of Life– Viewed on 2 levels

• Basic needs• Standard of living• Required to live, required to live

well

• Standard of Living– Availability of health care– Ability to vote– Value of women’s roles– Amount of schooling availible


Accessing Food & Shelter

• Adequate diet– Essential for life– Poor diet = malnutrition

• No healthy body– Greater risk of infections,

other diseases

• Adequate Shelter– Allows people to live in

family groups in the safety of a home

– Without shelter• People fact ill-health & harm

• Access to food– Need nutritious food

• To grow• All people

– Malnutrition• Problem facing much of

world• 850 million worldwide

– Most in poorer countries• 9 million + die per year

– 5 million – children» Treatable infections


Accessing Food & Shelter

Is There Enough Food?• World agriculture

– Very efficient• Crops produce large

amounts– 17% + more energy than

30years ago• Enough to feed everyone

• Not issue of quality/amount– How food is shared– Hunger problem – poor– Obesity problem – rich

Access to Shelter• Cities growing rapidly

– Hard to provide good housing– People moved to city to find work

• From country• Poor – can’t afford houses• Build shanty towns

– On any vacant land– Slums– Lack water, sewage, electricity– Routinely cleared by owners– Avoid being cleared

» Built on rubbish tips, other less favourable areas

– Disease and sickness» Common


Other Aspects of The Quality of Life

Role & Status of Women• Affect quality of life• Don’t share equal rights

as men everywhere– Barriers

• Customs, traditions, religious beliefs

– Girls denied education• Affects literacy levels

• Literacy– Ability to read& write

• Can’t read/writeaged 15-24– 57 mil men– 96 mil women

• Without literacy– Difficult to take part in society/gain

work opportunities• Females:

– subject to violence– denied education– no participation in government

matters• Stops women ever achieving

change


Other Aspects of The Quality of Life

Type of Government• Many governments

– Democracy• All adults allowed to vote,

have say in way are governed

• Governments accountable for actions through fair elections

– Moving towards democracy• Countries not democratic

– No democratic elections– People have little say– Death – speaking out

Access to Medical Care• Advances

– People live longer– Reduce birth deaths– Improved quality of life

• Not equal across globe– Rich countries

• Develop latest medical technology• Easily access doctors & hospitals

with best facilities• Inequality

– Child mortality rate– The under 5 mortality rate– Poor health care = Higher mortality

(death)


The World and Its Resources

What Are Natural Resources?• Things from the physical

environment that can satisfy human needs

• Fossil fuels– Oil, coal & natural gas

• Environmental factors– Sunlight, wind, tides &

waves, geothermal energy

Fossil Fuels• Store the sun’s energy• Very efficient fuel sources

when burnt• Oil

– One of most important resources

– Makes petrochemicals• Used in engines• Manufacture:

– Diesel, plastics, fertilisers, pesticides, cosmetics, & medicines


Fossil Fuels

Coal & Natural Gas• Important energy source• Coal

– Many uses– Component of everyday

items• Fuel to produce electricity• Manufacture in industry• Heating & cooking

Fossil Fuels• Non-renewable

– Consumed by use• Limited supply• Burning fossil fuels

– Releases carbon dioxide into atmosphere

• Adds to greenhouse effect + Global warming

• Making coal less favourable


Products Made From Coal

Coal Tar Products

•Insecticides•Fungicides•Moth balls•Paint thinner•Batteries•Wood preservative•Disinfectant•Varnish

Coal Products

•Fuel•Gas•Carbon Dioxide•Soda Water•Acetylene•Synthetic rubber•Charcoal briquettes•Artificial silk

Other Products

•Carbolic acid•Fire insulation•Food preservatives•Billiard balls•Medicines•Perfumes•Ammonia•Baking powder•Paint pigment•Sulphur•TNT explosive•Linoleum•Sugar substitute


Estimated Years Of Use At Current Exploitation Levels

Series10

50

100

150

200

250

OilNatural GasCoal


Reserves By Location

Rest of World37.5%

Saudi Arabia24.8%

Iraq10.7%

United Arab Emerates9.3%

Kuwait9.2%

Iran8.5%

Oil



Rest of World30%

USA25%Russia

16%

China12%

Australia9%

India8%

Coal



Rest of World37.5%

Russia32.9%

Iran15.7%

Qatar5.8%

United Arab Emirates4.1%

Saudi Arabia4%

Natural Gas


Fossil Fuel Alternatives

• Solar & Wind– Most suitable alternatives– Renewable

• Not consumed by use• Wind

– Large towers support blades - turn in wind

– Blades turn generator• Produces electricity

– Clean fuel source• Ecologically sustainable

– ‘Visual pollution– Interfere with TV & radio waves– Harm birds

• Uranium– Naturally occurring

element– Gaining popularity

• ‘Clean energy’– Doesn’t add to global

warming– Risk of leaking radiation– Radioactive waste

remains harmful for 1000’s of years


The World and Its Resources

Who uses the world’s resources?• Energy appetite

increasing• Resources not equal

across globe• Some countries produce

little resources, consume lots

• Fossil fuels– Mined in 1 country– Transported to others

How Sustainable Is The Use of The World’s Resources• Being used faster than replaced• Ecological footprint

– Works out impact that different people have on the planet

– How much land & water area required in order to produce their energy requirements and dispose of waste

– Our’s = 2% larger than world• Need 123% of world’s resources

in order to live the way we do• Takes the earth 1year 2months to

regenerate what we use in 1yr• Cannot keep living this way


The Human Development Index (HDI)

• Accurate measure of the quality of life

• Helps UN– Develop programs &

assistance needed to improve standard of living

• Incorporates– Income (GDP per capita)– Life expectancy– Literacy & education levels– Beats GDP per capita

• Value between 0 and 1– 0 bad, 1 good

• Life expectancy– Average age expected to

live to– Longer people live =

better diet, housing, access to healthcare

• Literacy & education– Able to work &

participate in community• Used to help improve

quality of life


Life Opportunities Throughout The World

Development Indicators India Mali USAPopulation 1 billion 12 million 292 million

Population Density (people per km2) 318 9.1 29

Total fertility rate (Children per woman) 3 7 2.1

Population doubling time 36yrs 23yrs 116

Percentage Rural/Urban (%) 28 72 26 64 78 22

Per capita electricity use (kilowatt hours) 561 63.55 13241

Infant mortality (per 1000 deaths) 66 117 6.7

Life expectancy (yrs)(M|F) 62 64 47 50 74 80

Adult literacy rate (%)(M|F) 68 45 53 40 97 97

GDP per capita (US$) 2670 1000 35750

HDI 0.595 0.3 0.946

Internet Users 7 million 25000 165

Doctors per 100 000 51 4.4 548


Reducing Global Inequality

The Millennium Declaration• Made in September 2000• Recognised commitment

of world’s population to helping countries on path of development

• Laid out Millennium Development Goals– Work to achieve by 2015

Millennium Development Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger– ½ percentage living on

<$1 per day & people who suffer from hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education– Children everywhere

complete primary school


Millennium Development Goals

3. Promote gender equality & empower women– Equal number of boys & girls to complete primary, secondary & tertiary education

4. Reduce child mortality– Reduce under 5 deaths by ⅔

5. Improve maternal health– Reduce women who die in childbirth by ¾

6. Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases– Have stopped spread

7. Ensure environmental sustainability– Halve number who don’t have access to safe drinking water & sanitation; improve

conditions for 100 million8. Develop a global partnership for development

– Improve aid for poor countries– Ensure that free trade occurs


Global Organisations

• Governments– Control the way

countries shares and uses resources

• Non Government Organisations (NGO’s)– Ensure governments do

rolls fairly– Use many methods to

improve environment, quality of life for the world & its people

• NGO’s– Many take donations– Areas

• Improve human rights• Improve status of women• Protecting the environment

– Methods• Providing aid

– Directing funds• Education

– Health education• Lobbying organisations for

change• Raising awareness


NGO’s

Green Peace

•Use media to promote environmental issues•High profile actions – gets message across globally•Email & letter campaigns•lobby global organisations and leaders to ensure environmental sustainability

World Vision

•Direct aid to reduce poverty•Gifts of money•Development programs•Build schools & houses

•Uses child sponsorship to fight global poverty

Oxfam•Combine aid with educational programs•E.G•New farming techniques & given equipment & seeds•Enable to produce food


GLOBAL ISSUESThe Global Financial Crisis


The Global Financial Crisis

• Processes relevant to issue– Housing boom– Commodity boom– High inflation

• Examples– USA

• Loses 11,000 jobs per day• $12,867.5 billion public

debt• Where crisis began

• Examples– Iceland

• 7.2% of population unemployed

• Economy shrinking at 9% per year

• Population in protest over government doing nothing

– Australia• Grew 0.6% in April-June

quarter• Kevin Rudd’s ’08 stimulus• Reserve bank lifting interest

rates


The Global Financial Crisis

• Sustainability– Children have large debt

• Extra taxes• Loss in services

– Countries spent money quickly to stop crisis• Stop even larger holes


GLOBAL ISSUESAccess to Fresh Water


Vocab List

• Aquifer– Underground larger of earth, gravel or porous rock that holds water

• Artesian– Aquifer trapped below an impermeable layer

• Equality– The idea of being just and fair to all people

• Eutrophication– Reduction of oxygen in water due to excessive nutrients

• Impermeable– Water cannot pass through

• Infiltration– The process of water soaking into the ground

• NGO– Non-government organisation


Vocab List

• Parasite– Organism that lives &

feeds in or on another• Porosity

– The ability to absorb water

• Recharge– The addition of water to

an aquifer• Saline

– Containing salt

• Sanitation– A means of hygiene– Includes washing &

sewage facilities• Saturated zones

– Ground where all the gaps are filled with water

• Unsaturated zones– Ground where some of

the spaces are free of water


Vocab List

• Urbanisation– The process involving the increase in the % of a country’s

population living in cities• Water table

– Level in the ground below which all the pore spaces & cracks in the rocks & sediment are filled (saturated) with water

• WHO– World Health Organisation


Global Water Resources

• 70% of earth covered in water• 97% of water = saline• Less than 2.5% is fresh water• Less than 0.5 in available for human use due to where it is

stored (Polar caps, underground)• Earth’s population set to increase from 6 8 billion by

2025• Australian population set to increase from 21 35 million

by 2050• Population increase – global challenge to provide a

sustainable water resource


Global Water Resources

2.5%

97.5%

Total Water

Fresh Water (35000000km3)Salt Water (1,365,000,000km3)

0.3%30.8%

68.9%

Fresh Water

Lakes & River storage

Groundwater

Glaciers and permenant snowcover


Water Use

• Minimum water needed for human survival– 3L per day

• UN says we need minimum 50L per day– Meet basic needs

• Washing, cleaning sanitation and water vegetable plots

• Water used in following proportions on global scale– Agriculture – 69%– Industry – 23%– Domestic – 8%– Varies between regions

• Africa & Asia – up to 80% for agriculture• Europe – less than 50%


Human Use VS The Environment

• Water – essential for well-being of ecosystems• Large scale dams, diversion of rivers & draining of

wetland– Significant environmental consequences on ecosystems

• Some may never recover


Water Scarcity

• We use about 50% of accessible water found in lakes, and underground sources– By 2025 will increase to 70%

• Greatest demand – agriculture– World feeds growing population

• Developed countries become more Westernised– Diets change

• Increase in water usage• Grain fed beef – more water than cereal crops

• Also related to pollution• Land clearing & widespread application of fertilisers

– Lead to high levels of salinity & chemicals being washed into rivers causing eutrophication


Water Scarcity

• In Urban Areas– Industrial waste & storm water pollute wetlands

• Water demand in cities increasing– Demands for new dams, pumping stations & reservoirs


The Water Cycle


The Water Cycle

• Circular system which carries water from the oceans through atmosphere to the land and back to the sea

• Powered by energy from the sun passes through and out of the system– Transfers water from the various stores.

• Consists of a complex system of relationships involving changes in position of water in the environment

• Water transferred between storages• No water leaves cycle• Basic processes

– Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration & run off


Evaporation & Transpiration

• Water changes from liquid to gas and becomes water vapour

• Oceans – most important source of water vapour• Main evaporating areas

– Oceans with clear sky and high temperatures• Occurs in smaller amounts from rivers, lakes & streams• Transpiration

– Plants discharging water into atmosphere• Evapo-transpiration

– Water loss into atmosphere from both evaporation & transpiration


Precipitation

• Rain, hail, snow, dew• Very small water droplets increase in size

– Air can no longer support them• Normally occurs when taken higher into atmosphere

• Convectional rainfall = hot day• Orographic rainfall = mountains• Cold front = cold + warm fronts meet


Condensation

• Reverse of evaporation• Water vapour from gas to liquid• Visible drops in atmosphere• So small = supported by air

– Clouds and fog


Run off & Infiltration

• Some water – stored in snow, ice, lakes, storage• Much water will be involved in infiltration and run-off• Run off

– Occurs land above sea level– Infiltration doesn’t occur– Water go back to rivers/streams

• Infiltration– Water seeps into soil

• Becomes groundwater– Makes its way into rivers and ocean

• Some remains in ground– Tapped at springs and wells

geography study notes by andrew newbound © andrew newbound 2013

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