Human Case Studies Flashcards

Question

Case study of foreign water problems

Answer 1

India. 2015 a report by the Central Pollution Board (CPCB) found that over half of Indias rivers were polluted. Caused by the quantity of sewage generated by rapid urban expansion. Survey of 27 cities found that untreated sewage flowing in open drains was causing serious deterioration of groundwater quality and subsequently human health. Vector-borne diseases like cholera and jaundice and diarrhoea are wide spread. Water pollution was a major cause of poor nutrition and underdevelopment in children. According to the World Health Organisation more than 87% of people in Indias cities (compared to 33% in rural areas) now have access to a toilet, but it is the leading and incomplete sewage systems that are leading to contamination of the rivers and lakes. The Prime Minister has made cleaning the Ganges, a river holy to Hindus, a key policy goal. Plans for infrastructural improvements and wastewater recycling in cities across India. In Ahmddabad the state council introduced a scheme where children are paid to use public toilets as open defection is a problem where people do not have access to proper sanitation. Number of toilets have increased to prevent human waste running into Well's and streams, contaminating bathing or drinking water.

Answer 2

The Thames Tideway Tunnel. Much of London is served by a combined sewerage system,collecting sewage from homes as well as rainwater run-off from roads, roofs and pavements. The interceptor sewers (constructed following the 'great stink' of 1958) are still the backbone of London sewers today. They are struggling to cope with the expanding population and the demand of modern day living. During periods of heavy rain, the Victorian drainage system discharges raw sewage directly into the River Thames, killing large quantities of fish and other aquatic life and threatening public health. In 2013, 55 million tonnes of raw sewage was washed into the river. Thame Tideway tunnel is under construction to upgrade Londons sewage system. Specialist tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been used to excavate a circular tunnel while also creating a tunnel wall using concrete segments. The completed tunnel will be 25 kilometres long and up to 65 metres deep.

Answer 3

Glasgow. Research has linked proximity to contaminated derelict sites with health problems such as low birth weight infants, heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease. Many of the industries prevalent in Glasgow during the industrial period were ‘dirty’ ones, with high usage of toxic and dangerous chemicals and environmental degradation of the surrounding areas. Industries including shipbuilding, dye works. Tanneries, distilleries, cast iron foundries and chemicals manufacturing.

Answer 4

London. For some, derelict buildings provide a fascinating look at our architectural past. The derelict London website includes over 3,000 pictures of London sights not normally seen by toursits. The ‘New Statesman’ review suggests, the appeal of the website is ‘in how it seems to trace the skeleton of a dead city while it is still in apparently rude health’. It shows how buildings have changed overtime. Some proprieties are in even greater disrepair and some photos are taken before and after regeneration like the Lambeth Hospital Buildings. The LHB shut in 1976 and much of the original workhouse was demolished, although the water tower survived but lay derelict. Some of the more modern hospital buildings remain in a derelict condition until being cleared for a new housing development. The former workhouse administrative block is now a cinema museum.

Answer 5

In preparation for the 2012 London Olympic a 350-hectare area of East London was ‘cleaned up’ and is now the largest new urban park in Europe. It has 100 hectare of open land and 45 hectares of new habitats. Over 2.2 million square metres of soil was excavated, of which nearly half was treated by soil washing, chemical stabilisation, bioremediation or sorting. 80% of the excavated material was re-used in sites. A total of 235,000m^2 of contaminated groundwater was successfully treated.

Answer 6

Detroit. Once the centre of global car production. Detroit’s population has fallen from nearly 2 million in 1950s to less than 1 million today. City now has 40,000 vacant and derelict lots, compromising 1/3 of the area. Between 1970 and 2000 over 150,000 buildings were demolished and large commercial developments built in order to try and revatalise the area but the decline continued. Detroit community grounds are now using areas of the city for a range of small, community based activities like urban based farming. By 2010 they converted over 6 hectares of unused land into more than 40 community gardens and micro farms yielding over 6 tonnes of produce like hay, eggs, milk, honey, herbs etc. Much of it is produced by volunteers and students, and sold onto other community organisations such as soup kitchens. Derelict buildings have been converted into community centres, cafes and greenhouses.

Answer 7

Curitiba. It’s got an integrated bus system as part of the Curitiba Master Plan in the 1970s. The extensive network of dedicated bus lanes provides a service comparable to underground or subway systems but at a cost estimated to be 200 times less. The associated reduction in traffic has led to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

Answer 8

Freiburg Germany. Solar investment subsidies are given to residents installing solar panels and ‘plus energy’ homes have been constructed which create more energy than they consume. Low energy construction standards have been introduced in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2035

Answer 9

Curitiba. The ‘Garbage that is not garbage’ scheme promotes recycling through the seperate collections of different waste components. The ‘Garbage purchase’ programme encourages residents in the faceless to sell their rubbish back to the city in exchange for food, bus tokens and football match tickets. The scheme has helped clean up densely populated areas that the rubbish van cannot reach.

Answer 10

Low carbon housing developments include the experimental BEDZED development. Environmentally sustainable, recycled and local materials were used in their construction and the accommodation comprises a mix of social housing and private units

Answer 11

Somalia, 2012. World Bank: 40% of somalians rely on remittances to meet their basic needs. They support economic development and people’s livelihoods. 50% of GNI and 80% of all investment in the country. 2012: concern that the money was falling into the hands of terrorists led many US and UK banks and money transfer agencies withdrawing their services. Devastating effects and Protests organised by human rights groups supporting Somalians. Concerns of US and UK financial institutions based on these conditions: Informal economy, Little government regulation. Lack of anti-money-laundering laws. Lack of due dilligence, SARS (suspicious activity reports) for money transmitters. Some remittances may end up in the hands of terrorist groups which receive donations from domestic and foreign sympathisers.

Answer 12

Coca-Cola is an example of a company with a single product; only minor elements are tweaked for different markets. The company uses the same formulas (one with sugar another with corn syrup) for all its markets. The bottle design is recognisable in every country but the size of bottles and cans conforms to each country’s standard sizing. In Senegal, one of the poorest places in Africa, Coca Cola stands are still there and Coca Cola pay for paintwork and often for refrigeration units for vendors

Answer 13

Since 1995 the US vehicle giants Ford and General Motors have relocated much of their component assembly to maquiladora plants in Mexico to take advantage of the cheaper production costs and the non-tariff barriers that are part of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). The US car industry has been revitalised by investment in new plant and technology by foreign vehicle manufacturers such as Toyota. U.K. Lost most of its domestic car industry as part of decentralisation from the 1980s onwards. However, as a result of investment by the Japanese companies Honda, Nissan and Toyota at factories in Swindon, Sunderland and Derby respectively. The U.K. Is now one of the most productive car manufacturers in Europe. These plants give the Japanese TNCs access to the larger and lucrative EU market, underlining the importance of free trade agreements as one of the factors in determining the locations of production. U.K. Vehicle manufacture has been further boosted by investment by TNCs from BRIC economies, especially by Indian conglomerate Tata who bought Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008.

Answer 14

In 2006, the UN Security Council imposed trade sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment nuclear programme. This severally harmed Iran’s integration into the world economy until it was recently resolved. Russians supposed backing of separatists in Ukraine has brought sanctions against them from the EU and the USA.

Answer 15

The Umbrella City. Umbrella around for over 3000 years, likely Chinese were first to create Umbrella and subsequently export the, via the Silk Road to Asia and Europe. Around 70% of Umbrellas made in China. Corner of production is Songxia, in the city of Shaoxing (described as the umbrella capital of the world) 1/2 billion umbrella made here annually in more than 1200 factories. One worker makes 300 a day. Songxia retains its prominent position as a result of comparative ad rages: Specialisation - all kinds of umbrellas are manufactured. Access to domestic and international markets - good road networks connect Songxia to large population centres in China e.g Shanghai and Ningbo port to export them. Cheap production costs - as a labour-intensive industry,umbrella manufacture in China benefits significantly from low labour costs and a flexible, local and efficient 40000 workers (female) prepared to work long hours. Government support - local government support for the single-product city include tax incentives for producers, as well as preferential policies for all parts of the supply chain (such as fabric weaving, dyeing and printing, manufacturing of robs, poles and handles) Songxia Umbrella Industrial Park - established with local government support to strengthen the competitiveness of the many local manufacturers and to raise the brand awareness of Songxia Umbrellas in domestic and global markets.