GI4 - Environmental Change Case Studies

Question 1

Agro-Industrialisation and Intensive Farming (also Relocation of polluting industries and waste disposal to countries with weak safety and environmental laws)

Answer 1

Smithfields (USA meat processing company / TNC)

• supermarket pork
• annual sales $12bn
• employs over 52,000
• overcrowded pens in factories - 10,000 in single building
• pig waste problems - waste into lagoon
• large US food company = political influence
• local water supplies dangerous/health impacts
• animal suffering overlooked for profit and cheap consumer products
• North Carolina to Poland (ban spray system = TNC look abroad - low labour cost, regulations lax)
• brought Animex from Poland
• Polish farmers ruined
• Contaminated groundwater in Poland = health / environmental impact
• smell a problem with 20,000 pigs on fringe of village
• fear pig MRSA

Question 2

Food Miles Case Study

Answer 2

Egypt to British supermarkets: potatoes
- 400,000 tonnes sent annually
- high oil consumption, 11,500 miles round trip
Process
1. Seed potatoes grown Scotland exported to Egypt
2. Potatoes grown in desert = large sprinkle systems (irrigation); sand = no nutrients = fertiliser use
3. Drill 350m for water (system below Sahara) 500 litres = 1kg potatoes
4. potatoes packed with peat from Ireland to protect in shipping
5. 2 week journey truck and ship

Question 3

Air Freight Example

Answer 3

Kenya

• 0 carbon footprint as sun (strawberries unseasonal in UK)
• 165mn packets beans flown in from Kenya annually
• flowers transported all year round from Kenya to satisfy developed countries needs

Question 4

Food Miles (Home Grown issue)

Answer 4

Netherlands

• peppers grown in vast greenhouses require gas-fired generators for heat + light in winter = 3.5 thousand light bulbs and thousands tonnes of gas]
• not environmentally friendly

Question 5

e-waste ‘recycling’ industry Example

Answer 5

India

• extract valued copper
• poverty, cheap labour and corruption (low recycling cost) attractive to TNCs

Question 6

e-waste Case Study

Answer 6

China

• 70% world’s electronic refuse sent there
• 120,000 locals work for industry (poor, many ex-farmers)
• Illegal disassembly by hand extreme health risks (10hrs day) e.g. respiratory + skin disease from pollution; brain damage from lead gas
• over 80% children pos for zinc poisoning
• River’s polluted as result

Question 7

Industrialisation and Environmental Degradation (Relocation of polluting industries and waste disposal)

Answer 7

China

• ‘Open-Door’ Policy, EPZs + lax environmental controls + large workforce = heavy TNC investment
• world’s largest fertiliser consumer
• air = 400,000+ premature deaths 2003
• 16/20 top polluted cities in world
• 3.5mn+ tons sewage waste day + limited no. treatment plants
• Beijing CO2 levels 2-3x safe level
• 600mn/50% Chinese drink contaminated water (waterborne disease vulnerability)
• Beijing hazardous smog (coal, industry, cars; geog worsens mountains 3 sides trap smog) - 1.4mn die early due to smog or 4,000 a day - PM2.5 levels over 20xsafe level (deadliest smog particles)
• lead levels 44x accepted level in rivers
• 1.3bn pop = demand = coal reliance pollution huge (open 2 coal-fired power stations week); CO2 emissions 6.2bn tonnes 2006; 30% China suffered acid rain 2007
• 70% rivers/lakes polluted / unsafe for human contact
• toxic runoff contaminates aquifers
• heavy metals in water taken up by plants = cancer + kidney stones

Question 8

Transboundary Pollution: Acid Rain

Answer 8

China

• local gov. overlooked environmental regulations for economic development
• Sulphur Dioxide double safe level
• 25.5mn tonnes sulphur dioxide spewed out, mainly from coal-burning factories
• 1/3 China affected by acid rain
• Reservoir serving 100,000 people NW China polluted by chemical spill

Question 9

Transboundary Pollution

Answer 9

Chernobyl, Ukraine 1986

• uncontrolled reaction (reactor exploded) in Soviet Nuclear Plant blew roof off = cloud radioactive material
• Radiation poured out 10 days
• 200,000km2 contaminated (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia 71%; also N Europe
• workers risked health to contain disaster
• 31 immediate deaths, 4,000 projected
• 50,000 residents evacuated = ghost town
• 250,000+ moved to safety, 30km exclusion zone
• Soviets tried to cover it up

Question 10

Civil Societies 1

Answer 10

Greenpeace

• Founded 1971 Canada
• donation reliant
• offices 40 countries worldwide
• political lobbying + consumer pressure
• 3mn active members
• expose causes of environmental destruction
• funded Smithfield’s film - factory farming problems to public’s attention

Question 11

Civil Societies 2

Answer 11

WWF

• Founded 1961 Switzerland
• encourages eco-friendly practices in companies
• offices over 80 countries
• over 5mn supports worldwide
• registered company with gov
• works with corporations + international organisations

Question 12

Greenpeace Campaign

Answer 12

Campaign against Shell’s arctic drilling

• Portland Oregon bridge July 2015 13 climbers, 13 support climbers + kayaks
• protest against Shell’s “Fennica” ship there for repairs - stopped it leaving for 40hrs
• Judge ordered Greenpeace pay £1,600 per hour of blockage
• urged Obama rescind Shell’s permit to drill in Arctic - spill could damage wildlife populations
• sep 2015 Shell announces stop drilling for foreseeable future in Arctic

Question 13

WWF Campaign

Answer 13

Campaign against SOCO’s oil exploration in Democratic Republic of Congo

• Virunga National Park (7,800km2) UNESCO world heritage site - wildlife damaged by poaching + Congo Civil War
• Oct 2013 3min film highlight oil exploration impact environment starred hollywoood film star, screened ODEONs UK
• WWF complaint upheld by UK Gov. = BP ceased interest in Virunga (told by Gov had to)
• June 2014 SOCO abandons drilling Virunga National Park

Question 14

Homogenisation

Answer 14

Dubai

• 2.2mn pop - 15% Emirati, over 65% South Asian
• growth from oil discovery + revenues
• 30-50yrs ago: tents, nomadic lifestyle, primary economy, (market shopping ‘souks’, dhows transport, falconry, hunting + horse riding = still exist + local dress but less prominent)
• Now: international sport + host events e.g. IRB Rugby Sevens, supermarkets/malls shopping (Dubai Mall one of largest world with over 1200 shops), global brands available (Nike), explosion fast food (McDonalds), International cuisine, popular tourist destination, Emirates airline based there, hotel chains e.g. The Hilton, wide variety entertainment e.g. Quad biking, international schools, apartment/suburb living with modern appliances e.g. AC, 4x4s favoured, Metro, Monorail, bus, international airport, culture: pork + alcohol available, western dress, international music/film, multiple religions