Transcript Slide 1

Chapter 15 : Global Connections
There are millions of communities all over the world. Some of these communities
are day to day interactions and others are virtual communities.
At times even when we have no connection to a community we help out in
whatever ways that we can. An example would be flooding in High River, and the
tsunami in Indonesia.
The effect of transnational corporations on communities can be devastating.
Think back to the Wal Mart video: businesses that have been in a town for
generations can be wiped out within a year of Wal Mart coming to town.
How Does Globalization Change
Communities?
• A community:
– People who identify with others through
shared connections
• (geographic location, similar religious beliefs,
common language, cheering for same NHL team,
etc.)
• Belonging to communities is important to
people’s identity and defines who they are.
How Does Globalization Change
Communities?
• Globalization has affected the communities
people identify with.
• Modern communication technologies and
the speed of transportation mean that
people can identify with others from all over
the world.
– The Asian tsunami of Dec. 2004 allowed the
global community to provide help and support.
Transnational Corporations &
Communities
• Those who support globalization:
– economic activity stimulated by expanded
global trade has strengthened towns/cities.
– Factories built by transnationals attract other
businesses and people and create services
and opportunities for residents that did not
previously exist.
Transnational Corporations &
Communities
• Those who are against globalization:
– transnationals can create more challenges
than opportunities.
– Low wages paid out by transnationals allow
poverty to become widespread
– The environment may deteriorate if standards
are lowered to try and attract these companies
to the community.
Wal-Mart: Good or Bad for the
Community?
• The success of Wal-Mart is an excellent
example of globalization. It is the world’s
biggest retailer and one of the world’s
most successful transnational
corporations.
• Pg 347
– Fig. 15-4: What is the cartoonists’ main
message?
Immigration’s Effect on Communities:
With the population of Canada aging and the birth rate
decreasing, immigration accounts for a large portion of the
growth in Canada.
People often come to large cities such as Calgary because
they have heard that it is an economic hot bed only to find out
that unless they are making a lot of money they can not afford
to live there.
The Effects of Immigration on
Communities
• Immigration has kept Canada’s population
growth rate higher than that of any other
developed country.
• In 2006, immigration made up more than
2/3rd’s of the increase in Canada’s
population.
• What do you think made up the other
third?
Multiculturalism
• Canada introduced official multiculturalism
in the 1970s and this sparked a
remarkable shift in Canada’s source of
immigrants.
• Before the 1970s most immigrants arrived
from Europe. Today, Asia is the biggest
source.
Mass Asian Immigration
• Some 56.5% of
immigrants in
2007 came from
an Asiatic
country.
•
• In 2007, Canada
received 236,760
immigrants.
– Top ten sending countries,
by state of origin (2007):
People's Republic of China (28,896),
India (28,520),
Philippines (19,718),
Pakistan (9,808),
United States (8,750),
United Kingdom (7,324),
Iran (7,195),
South Korea (5,909),
Colombia (5,382),
Sri Lanka (4,068).
Immigrants & Cities
• Most immigrants to Canada head for the
largest cities in the country.
• Toronto alone accounts for more than 40%
of immigrants.
• http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008x/2008001/article/10556-eng.pdf
• Why do almost all immigrants to Canada
want to live in the city?
,
• Figure 15-5, pg 349
Immigrants & Cities
•
•
•
•
Newly arrived immigrants consider a number of
factors when deciding where to settle. They
often want to be close to:
Family & friends already in Canada
Where other members of their cultural group
have already established businesses, places of
worship, cultural centres, etc.
Lots of jobs and economic activities
Where education & health care are most
accessible
Immigrant Population by Place of
Birth
Turn to pg. 349 in your textbook and analyze
the data in Figure 15-6. Look for:
• Patterns, such as numbers that are
consistent.
• Inconsistencies, such as a % for one census
metropolitan area that is markedly different
from others.
• What are some of the reasons for the
patterns and inconsistencies you identified?
Perhaps the biggest global force when it comes to
resources is OIL.
The world needs oil from everything from driving to
plastic production. The competition for oil can lead
to war (Fig 15-7, pg350).
The debate is still out: did Iraq have as many
weapons as the USA said or were they after the
black stuff in the ground?
Why is the crisis in Africa (Darfur) ignored? Many
people would argue if they had oil it would be
different.
The oil sands in Fort McMurray have huge reserves
of oil. The question now is does the Canadian
government allow for foreign ownership or
takeovers of Canadian companies that have land in
the oil sands. The other debate is the royalty
review that would greatly affect the economy and
people of Alberta.
Global Need for Resources
• In a globalized world, the need for resources is
great.
• Some resources, such as oil and water, are so
valuable that some governments are willing to
use force to secure their supply.
Blood Oil
• Blood oil is a new term that refers to oil
obtained through violence and bloodshed.
Nigeria
• In Nigeria,
several
transnational
corporations,
including Shell,
Chevron, and
Total, have been
developing oil
fields in the delta
of the Niger
River.
Gov’t vs. the People
• People who live in the area say that the
activities of these companies have damaged
the environment – and that they were
persecuted when they tried to protest.
• The Nigerian gov’t, which was controlled by the
military at the time, co-operated with the oil
companies by brutally suppressing opposition.
Why would the government be
on the side of the oil
companies?
Execution of Activists
• 1995:
– the gov’t executed nine Ogoni activists who had
been fighting to preserve their ppl’s homeland,
which was in the area slated for oil development.
• Since then, a civilian gov’t has come to power,
and the oil companies have changed some of
their practices – but many people continue to
oppose the development.
Iraq
• Iraq has huge oil reserves.
• By 2007, only 15 of its 74 oil fields had been
developed.
• Known reserves total 112 billion barrels, but
estimates say that potential reserves could top
300 billion barrels, amounting to about onequarter of the world’s oil.
• Estimates place the value of Iraq’s oil at more
than $3 trillion.
Iraq No Longer Ignored
• Until the early 20th century, Iraq was largely
ignored by the imperial powers. But this
changed when oil was discovered there.
• The invention of the automobile and the use of
fossil fuels to power vehicles and heat homes
made Iraq’s oil reserves suddenly desirable.
• Consequently, Iraq became the focus of many
late 20th and 21st century conflicts.
• Figure 15-7 pg. 350
The US & It’s Invasion of Iraq
• Since Saddam Hussein took control of Iraq in
1979, western access to oil had been uncertain.
• Added to that was the fact that Saddam refused
to give in to American demands in the years
after the 1991 Gulf War, making him even more
of a “threat”.
• As far as western nations were concerned, as
long as Saddam controlled Iraq, the global
supply of oil was at risk.
What “excuse” did the US give
for invading Iraq in 2003?
Weapons of Mass Destruction!!!
• George W. Bush justified the US’s invasion of Iraq
in 2003 by accusing Saddam of developing
weapons of mass destruction.
• These weapons were never found, but by this time
Iraq was in the hands of the US and its allies, and
Western oil companies controlled the country’s oil
fields.
• Was the invasion just an excuse to solidify Western
control of the country’s massive oil resources?
• Green Zone trailer:
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJilPA6MFLs
The Tillman Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daccIQzKVkg
Alberta
• In the early 20th century, neither the Canadian
gov’t nor Canadian investors were willing to
play a leading role in developing Alberta’s oil.
• As a result, int’l companies came to dominate
the provinces petroleum industry.
• Until 1969, Canadian representatives of
transnational corporations – mostly Americanbased - dominated the industry. The “big four”
were Shell, Imperial, Gulf, and Texaco.
The Creation of Petro-Canada
• By 1969, foreign ownership was sparking fears
that Canada was losing control of its energy
resource. So, the Liberal gov’t began trying to
“Canadianize” the industry.
• They introduced the National
Energy Program, which was
designed to increase
Canadian control, and
created Petro- Canada to
ensure a Canadian presence
in the global development of
energy resources.
Why did most of Alberta hate
the National Energy Program?
Is it important for Canadians
to own a large share of
Alberta’s oil and gas industry?
Free Trade & Alberta Oil
• The Free Trade Agreement between Canada
and the US and, later, the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has:
– reduced restrictions on foreign ownership in the
energy sector
– spurred development of Alberta energy projects,
including the tar sands.
– Assignment: Read pgs 352-353. Answer #2 (not in
booklet).
What is an epidemic?
What is a pandemic?
Globalization & Health
• A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads
around the world.
• Medical experts today are concerned that
pandemics pose a more serious threat than
ever because of people’s ability to travel farther
and faster than ever before.
The Black Death
• In the 14th century (1300s), an epidemic of
bubonic plague that became known as the
Black Death started in Asia and spread across
Europe.
• By the time the plague had run its course, 75
million people had died, including 2/3rd’s of
Europe’s population.
• Pg 355
• National Geographic:
• http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/healthand-human-body/human-diseases/plague-article/
Where did the Black Death
come from?
Black Death’s Origin
• Most experts believe the Black Death was
carried by rats but spread through human
contact. It had travelled to Europe along the
Silk Road.
Why So Deadly?
• The Plague coincidentally struck at time when
the ppl of Europe were particularly vulnerable.
• War had disrupted farming and trading, famine
was widespread, weather conditions were
colder than normal, and a pestilence was killing
sheep and cattle.
• Economic and social conditions were
deteriorating and there was little ppl could do to
limit the spread of disease.
The Spanish Flu
• Occurred just after WW I, between 1918 and
1920.
• Killed an estimated 100 million people, a death
toll that was much higher than that of the war.
• What was most unusual about this disease was
that it killed healthy young adults rather than the
old, very young, and sick – the usual victims of
influenza outbreaks.
Why did WW I make the
Spanish Flu that much more
deadly?
How Did Spread So Easily?
• WW I did not cause the Spanish flu, but
concentrations of soldiers helped spread the
disease (fighting in trenches).
• The soldiers’ movements from one area to
another ensured that the disease moved quickly
over a large geographical area.
What is SARS?
Pandemics of Today: SARS
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
resulted in 774 deaths worldwide.
• It was first discovered in rural China when a
farmer died of an unidentified disease in 2002.
However, China did not report the incident to
the World Health Organization, the United
Nations agency that monitors global health
security.
• Why would the world be ticked off at China for
this?
SARS Spreads
• Since the WHO was not notified, the disease
did not become public until 2003, when an
American man travelling to Singapore from
China died on an airline from the disease.
• Those who treated him developed the same
disease soon after.
• On March 12, the WHO issued a global alert,
but the disease had already spread. By the time
the outbreak ended in July 2003, SARS cases
had been identified in 26 countries like Canada.
• Figure 15-16 pg. 356
How Did We Limit SARS?
• SARS could have become a deadly pandemic,
but was held in check by the quick action of the
WHO and national health agencies.
• What is a quarantine?
• Quarantines halted its spread, as ppl who might
have come into contact with an infected person
were isolated in their homes for 10 days. No
contact with others was allowed.
AIDS
• While SARS was successfully contained, the
global response to Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS), has been far less successful.
• Every year, 4 million ppl contract the disease
while 3 million die.
• As of January 2006, an estimated 39.5 million
ppl live with AIDS, while it has already killed
another 25 million.
The “Hush” with AIDS
• There is also a social stigma that comes with
AIDS which has limited effective prevention
programs since it was originally thought to be a
disease of gay men.
• Health officials now recognize that anyone can
contact AIDS, but its association with sexual
activity remains.
• Many ppl who might be infected do not get
tested for fear of testing positive. Those who do
admit the are positive are often ostracized (not
accepted).
If you thought you had AIDS,
would you get tested? Who
you tell anyone that you were
infected?
Should it be mandatory by law
that you get tested for AIDS
and that people are made
aware if you have it?
• Ryan White:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCMr9jbq3Tk
• FACES of HIV: Steve’s Story
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OmEvsm_yDI
• Kamaria
• Renee
Why is AIDS so Deadly?
• There is no cure for AIDS, although expensive
drug therapies help prolong victims’ lives.
• Many gov’ts in Africa were very slow to develop
prevention and treatment programs because
they did not want to admit AIDS was a problem
in their societies.
• Now, 2/3rd’s of all AIDS cases are found in subSaharan African countries.
Estimated prevalence of HIV among young
adults (15-49) per country at the end of 2005
Responses to Health Crises
• The World Health Organization is the centre of
the global response to health crises. Part of UN.
• It systematically gathers reports about
suspected outbreaks of diseases from formal
and informal sources.
• Formal sources include ministries of health in
various countries, academic institutions,
laboratories, NGOs, etc.
• Informal sources would include websites and
newswires that might report unconfirmed
disease outbreaks. In more than 60% of
disease crises, the first clues to WHO come
from here.
Figure 15-17 & 15-18
Centers for Disease Control
• Though the WHO coordinates disease control
measures at the int’l level, most of the
monitoring, reporting, and responding to
disease outbreaks take place at a national
level.
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
in the US is one of the best-known national
agencies. While they deal with pandemics they
also look at healthy living, emergency
preparedness, environmental health, violence
and safety, workplace safety, and travellers’
health.
Why does most disease
control take place at a national
level?
Various countries have come under criticism from
these pandemics that they are not doing enough
to help protect the peoples living in their
countries. Should they be responsible for proving
a needle or vaccine that can help protect their
peoples, and at what cost? Who is paying for it?
How Have People Responded to
Global Issues?
• The worldwide connections that exist
through globalization :
– people today can be informed of harmful or
unfair situations in other places in greater
detail and more quickly than ever before.
• When people are informed, many move to
take action. People can respond in a
variety of ways – as individuals, as part of
a larger society, as part of a corporation,
and through the government.
Consumers
• Consumers can choose how to spend their
money so they can carry a lot of power.
• Many groups have formed to inform
consumers about abuses and
questionable practices by manufacturers
and retailers. (Example: sweatshops.)
• As a consumer, would you be willing to
pay more for consumer goods to
guarantee equality in the workplace?
Boycotting
• Boycotting is a form of consumer action.
It involves refusing to buy a company’s
products.
• A boycott is a form of direct action in which
activists try to achieve their goals by
targeting corporations, rather than working
through the gov’t.
• One high-profile boycott urged consumers
not to buy Nestle products.
Civil Society
• In the past, two sectors of society – gov’ts and
business – were thought to exert the most power
and influence in making decisions and setting
policy. Partly due to globalization, a third sector
has arose.
• Civil society groups (community groups,
NGOs, faith-based groups, universities, etc.)
have become more visible & stronger.
• Civil society groups have grown in importance
due to the apparent decline in gov’ts and rise in
strength of corporations. Also, increased
communication have allowed civil society groups
to form easier and quicker.
• What are some civil society groups?
Corporate Citizenship
• Transnational corporations, whose operations
span national boundaries, are in key positions to
find solutions to important global challenges.
They often have the expertise & financial
resources to make a difference.
• Many of these businesses have developed
corporate citizenship statements that mention a
commitment to promoting sustainable
development, human rights, and community
involvement.
ISO Standards
• Many corporations are showing their
commitment to corporate citizenship by
voluntarily adopting standards set by the
International Organization for Standardization, or
ISO.
• ISO standards are designed to make the
manufacturing and supply of goods and services
more efficient, safe, and environmentally
sustainable & protect consumers/workers.
• Companies that have met ISO requirements
often promote this in their advertising. Is this an
effective marketing tool?
Government Responses
• Gov’ts at various levels are in influential
positions to work to achieve fairness and
equity.
• In Canada:
– Canadian Human Rights Commission
• ensures human rights are being upheld in
businesses such as banking, airlines, and tv
stations.
• In Alberta:
– Alberta Human Rights & Citizenship
Commission
• looks at areas such as education, employment,
and housing.