Case Studies Flashcards
China Trade War: What is it?
It is an ongoing trade war between Australia and China. In 2020, China gradually imposed several trade sanctions on Australia. A wide range of Australian products were sanctioned, including barley (90%), beef (10-20%), lobsters (30%+), coal, and wine (40%).
CTW: Short term impacts
- Severe impacts on certain industries and their ability to trade to some of their primary markets
- Loss of time and money gathering and storing products with no market to sell to.
- Mental health decreases in workers in said industries
CTW: Long term impacts
- Impacts to the national economy as they have already suffered a big hit to their income, which is further impacted by the decrease in jobs in the industries
- Australia begins to steer away from dependence on China and diversify our market, start selling more locally and rely less on exporting problematic substances that harm the environment (coal)
CTW: Solutions
To diversify the Australian market to steer away from dependence on China as a primary buyer.
Poverty in Australia
Poverty is measured using a ‘poverty line’. Those who fall below a certain amount of income are considered to be in poverty
PIA: Why People Fall Below the Poverty Line
- lack of paid employment
- low levels of income
- low education levels (-> affect employment & ability to earn money)
- difficulty finding affordable and suitable housing
- family and health situations
- lack of access to affordable community services to assist the economically disadvantaged
PIA: Short Term Impacts
- Increased risk of malnutrition/obesity due to food insecurity
- Illnesses
- Stealing/drugs
PIA: Long Term Impacts
- Low levels of income lead to low levels of education which affect ability of employment
- Addictions
- Mental and physical health can severely deteriorate
PIA: Solutions
- More affordable housing
- More affordable/accessible community services to aid the economically disadvantaged
- More free education
- More job opportunities
The Citarum
Incredibly polluted river in Java Island, Indonesia as a result of the many unsustainable textile factories along the river. The river is used for water, cooking, bathing, agriculture, farming etc.
TC: Short Term Impacts
- Death of animals
- Flooding
- Biodiversity loss
TC: Long Term Impacts
- People with severe illnesses
- Death of fish - food source
- Toxic rice crops
- Severe water pollution
TC: Solutions
- government/brands should pay for half of the resources that help textile factories be more sustainable
- 10% price increase in fabric prices
→ introduce 12 stages of filtration
→ drinkable water - The president has promised that the water from the river will be drinkable by 2025 with help from a historic cleanup plan for the Citarum announced by the Indonesian government
TC: Drivers of Change
- Environmental Changes: toxic water causing disease and death, biodiversity loss, contaminated flora and fauna
- Direct Drivers: textile factories waste pollution
- Indirect Drivers: lack of government regulation, corruption, important part of the economy, lack of development/technology, high demand for the textile products, increased population, lack of education, poverty
Phillip Island Management Evidence
- By 1990s 9/10 little penguin colonies on Phillip Island were extinct (land-based threats, housing, traffic, pets)
- Predictions said wiped out by 1990s
- Conservation since 1980s -> 12000 penguins in 1980s to estimated 32000 today.
- Estimated 150-200 foxes in early 2000s to 20-30 in 2011
- In jan 2000 penguin population was estimated to be 600 -> 1000
- In July 1985 John Cain announced that the state government had decided to buy back the entire estate and return it to a wildlife reserve for the little penguins.
