One World The Global Village One

One World

The Global Village

One World “Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being. However integration of environment and development concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfillment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. No nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable development. ” Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3 -14 June, 1992.

The Global Village ¢ A Canadian professor of Communications, Marshall Mc. Luhan noted that the world seemed to be getting smaller all the time. ¢ His phrase “the global village” describes the situation aptly.

Transportation and Communications

The Global Village Transportation ¢ Transportation on land, sea and air have been revolutionized during the last century or two. ¢ In the 19 th century the railway transformed British North America and helped to create a new country. ¢ Traveling overland across Canada went from being a virtual impossibility to a relatively comfortable trip of less than a week.

The Global Village Transportation II ¢ Modern aircraft shorten the journey even more. ¢ It now takes as little as 9 hours to fly from London, England to Vancouver, BC. ¢ Future generations of SCRAMJET aircraft may reduce this time to under 1 hour.

The Global Village Transportation III ¢Our technological achievements are even taking us beyond this world - into space.

The Global Village Communications ¢ Time and space are also compressed by modern means of communications. ¢ Telephones, fax machines and the internet bring people together instantly.

The Global Village Communications II ¢ In the developing world, cell phone and satellite communications may enable countries to avoid the problems and expense of maintaining land-line links.

The Global Ecosystem

The Global Ecosystem ¢ The world is a closed system. Changes in its elements may have wide-ranging effects. ¢ Biological systems may be local, but they still interact with larger systems.

The Global Ecosystem II ¢ Man has a huge impact upon the natural world. ¢ Entire ecosystems have been modified or entirely replaced.

The Global Ecosystem III ¢ In recent years much concern has been voiced over the loss of rain forest in temperate & tropical climates. Rainforests are sometimes referred to as the “lungs of the planet”.

The Global Ecosystem IV ¢Since 1970 the world’s wooded area per 1, 000 population has been reduced from 11. 4 square kilometers to less than 7. 3. ¢From 1990 to 2000, the rate of loss of forest cover was. 2% per year – 9, 391, 000 hectares in total.

The Global Ecosystem V ¢Concern has been expressed over the loss of plant and animal species as woodland is converted to pasture or cropland.

The Global Ecosystem VI ¢ Deforestation has sometimes led to desertification, permanently altering the local ecosystem and even triggering local climate change. Former farmland in South Australia

The Global Ecosystem VII ¢ Water bodies, like the land, are also affected by man’s actions. ¾ Irrigation projects launched by the government of the former Soviet Union has deprived this water body of fresh water volume. ¾ The sea is now shrinking and sea life is dying in the saltier new environment. The Shrinking Aral Sea

The Global Ecosystem VIII ¢ The United Nations reported in 1998 that 20 countries already suffer from water stress - with less than 1, 000 cubic meters of water per capita available. ¢ It also reports that the 1950 total of 17, 000 cubic meters per capita has been reduced to merely 7, 000 today. ¢ As population increases, our ability to sustain life is being reduced. The UN suggests that 2/3 of the world’s population will face moderate to severe stress in 2025.

The Global Ecosystem IX ¢ Local incidents may now have regional, or even global implications, as the Chernobyl nuclear accident of 1986 showed. Radiation fallout contaminated wide areas of Europe.

Global Warming ¢ One of the most alarming threats facing the world is global warming. ¢ Though the earth has warmed and cooled a number of times in the past, it has not happened so quickly before – and this time it is triggered by human activity.

Global Warming

Global Warming ¢ Human production of greenhouse gases allows more heat to be retained within the atmosphere than would occur without them. ¢ The result is heating of the earth – with many ecological changes.

Global Warming ¢ Melting Icecaps. ¢ Desertification.

Global Warming ¢ Rapid changes in living conditions for plants and animals. ¢ Rising sea levels as polar ice melts.

Global Warming ¢ Were it not fore the poor world economy, this would be a top story in the news. ¢ President Bush largely ignored the issue. Obama sees it as important, but cannot get enough political support to deal with it. ¢ Others, including most scientists, believe action must be taken now – to avert a global catastrophe.

Copenhagen Conference • When the world met at Copenhagen in December 2009, there were high hopes for progress in dealing with climate change, a treaty to replace and improve upon the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. • Coming during a major world economic downturn, it resulted in disaster. • In particular, there was a falling out between the US and China.

Copenhagen Conference ¢ China, now the #1 producer of greenhouse gasses, wants special treatment as a developing nation – something accepted at earlier talks. ¢ The US wants China treated like a developed nation. In addition, Obama is unable to get Congress to even consider cuts to US emissions as Republicans, especially of the “Tea Party” sort – don’t even accept the premise of climate change.

The Global Economy

The Global Economy ¢ Trade has always brought intercultural contact. ¢ Globalization -today’s international economy has made brought unparalleled integration. Money trades freely in most of the world.

The Global Economy II ¢ Since World War II international trade and investment has grown enormously. ¢ In the developed world prosperity increased enormously. ¢ Newly industrialized economies have also prospered.

The Global Economy III ¢ Nonetheless, business is not without risks. ¢ The lure of better profits elsewhere can cause investors to pull their money out. ¢ Money can leave quickly, resulting in devastation in local economies.

The Global Economy IV ¢In the late 1990’s currency speculators devastated some newly industrializing Asian economies when they withdrew funds from local currencies.

The Global Economy V ¢ In 2008 the world economy experienced the most serious crisis since 1929. ¢ Years of governments deregulating and not enforcing regulations resulted in some the creation of new kinds of investments, called derivatives. ¢ These are investment certificates based on packaged securities, like ownership of mortgage debt. In an ideal world the risk is analyzed by mathematical models and derivatives serve as insurance policies. ¢ The problem lay in banks selling off their risk, so they lost any reason to be careful in their lending. ¢ Buyers of securities did not really know how much shaky debt they were buying. When the US real estate market headed downward a banking crisis followed.

The Global Economy VI ¢ Banks stopped lending and the world economy was on the verge of collapse. ¢ National governments bailed out the banking system and spent massively to keep business and employment afloat.

The Global Economy VII ¢ Taxpayers were left to bail out big banks, big investors, and large corporations. ¢ Governments now faced huge debt problems. They, quite rightly, spent money borrowed from the future to prevent a new Great Depression today. ¢ When to stop spending and how soon the money should be paid off are questions facing all governments today. ¢ Governments that seek to eliminate the debt quickly cut services to do so and hit the poor and middle class hardest. There is huge resistance to increasing taxes. ¢ It seems we have privatized profit and socialized risk for major corporations and investors. ¢ Worse still, focus on economic problems get in the way of dealing with other pressing problems.

One World ¢We are stewards of a rare and special planet. Mankind must act responsibly to ensure that our planet survives. There can be no going back to the past; we must create a sustainable future.

All is not lost ¢Prophets of doom have regularly predicted global disaster. “Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. ” Thomas Malthus In fact, food production has more than kept up with population increases.

All is Not Lost II The 1972 Club of Rome publication Limits to Growth predicted that at current rates of use, reserves of minerals would be used up by the turn of the century. ¢We have not reduced consumption, yet reserves are still adequate.

All is Not Lost III We have already passed the human population Earth can sustain. Paul Ehrlich, author of The Population Bomb, has regularly predicted massive global famines - yet more people are better fed today than at any time in history.

Environmental Problems are Very Real ¢The prophets of doom may have exaggerated, but their warnings should still be heeded. ¢We must address ecological and economic problems to avoid disasters. Industrial Waste in the Danube River

Environmental Problems are Very Real II ¢Our water and air quality is stressed in the developed and developing world alike.

What is Being Done? ¢ Huge progress has been made in fixing problems in the developed world. ¢ London, England, no longer experiences the killing smog of the 1950’s and earlier. ¢ The Thames River is cleaner than it has been in centuries.

International Aid ¢ We all have a vested interest in solving problems in the “global village. ” ¢ Those of us in the developed world have the financial resources to pay for remedies. ¢ Solutions to problems may be global or local.

Multilateral Aid ¢ Aid directed from many sources to one or more recipients is known as multilateral. ¢ Organizations like the World Bank or UNICEF frequently dispense such assistance.

Bilateral Aid ¢Aid directed from one country directly to another is known as bilateral assistance. Canada

Tied Aid ¢ Sometimes aid is given with strings attached. ¢ Recipients may have to buy goods or support donor countries politically in return for aid.

Military Aid ¢ Much “foreign aid” is given in the form of military equipment. ¢ Donors see their equipment in action. ¢ They can also dispose of surplus goods.

Military Aid II ¢ Military assistance may hinder, rather than assist, development as regional arms races spiral out of control, drawing an increasingly large portion of developing countries’ budgets.

Grassroots Aid ¢Development experts agree on one thing: For development aid to work, it must get into the hands of those in need. ¢Too often, corrupt officials skim a portion of the money. ¢Sometimes little is left by the time aid reaches people at the lowest and neediest levels of society.

Grassroots Aid II “We need to be clear; corruption is not the grease that oils the economy. Corruption undermines economic stability, deters foreign and domestic investment, and erodes support for development assistance. Above all, corruption imposes a disproportionately heavy burden on the poor. ” James D. Wofensohn President, World Bank, July, 1998.

Non-Governmental Aid ¢ Independent relief agencies are often best placed to ensure the delivery of grassroots aid.

Click for hyperlink NGO’s ¢Doctors from around the world volunteer their professional abilities to help in developing countries.

NGO’s ¢Oxfam provides technical assistance to help at the grassroots level. Oxfam’s cheap and effective water bucket has been lauded as an outstanding example of British practical design. Oxfam designed, but locally made, these latrine covers markedly improve sanitation.

NGO’s Operation Eyesight Universal ¢ Founded by Dr. Ben Gullison, in 1947, OEU sends volunteers to developing countries to perform vision-restoring procedures. Dr. Gullison & his wife

NGO’s Operation Eyesight Universal II Cards are sent to donors, informing them of what their specific donation has accomplished

Emergency Aid ¢ When Michael Buerk’s televised report from Ethiopia was broadcast, the response to his horrific images was astounding. ¢ British rock stars formed Band Aid, recording first a charity single, then initiating the Live Aid fund raising concert. Artists elsewhere followed suit including a Canadian effort Northern Lights - and a BC effort by the West Coast Recording Artists.

Emergency Aid II ¢Food, water, medicine and shelter were needed immediately and the overwhelming response saved the lives of many. ¢However, once the emergency had passed, priorities shifted to long-term assistance in constructing roads and infrastructure. ¢To continue delivering goods would have harmed the local economy. ¢Free food drives local farmers out of business!

Long Term Aid ¢ Grassroots recipients know what they need. ¢ Aid donors can assist by providing funding and technical assistance with appropriate technology. ¢ The key is to help people to help themselves.

Appropriate Technology ¢In many instances, western technology is inappropriate. ¢Engine driven machinery requires fuel and spare part; pedal drives might be more applicable in low-income areas. ¢Solar or wind power may provide all the energy required for small enterprises.

Click on logo for hyperlink Appropriate Technology II Inexpensive & locally produced, a Zimbabwean Scotchcart can lighten a rural worker’s load. ¢ The concept of using intermediate technology, first championed by E. F. Schumacher, is now widely accepted as the best development option for poorer parts of the world.

Appropriate Technology III ¢ It is in the developed world that technological change is fastest. ¢ In the past such developments as fuel injection greatly increased fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. ¢ Future innovations - like fuel cell engines or fusion power may bring revolutionary changes for the better.

Micro-financing ¢ E. F. Schumacher’s comment that “small is beautiful” applies not only to technology. ¢ Dr. Mohammad Yunus pioneered small business loans to the very poor. ¢ His Grameen Bank concept has since been copied around the world, even in developed countries. Dr. Yunus

Micro-financing II ¢Grameen Banks lend to individuals who must be part of a group of people who all hope to obtain loans. ¢For the second loan to be obtained, the first must be paid. The group has a great incentive to help out if need be. ¢Grameen bank loans go to women in low gender-equity countries. This improves the status of women.

Micro-financing II ¢The Grameen experiment has been a huge success and it now provides loans to more than 2 million low-income people. ¢Loan repayment rates are better than those of conventional banks. ¢This is grassroots aid at its best helping the poor help themselves.

The Future ¢The Club of Rome’s doomsday predictions were wrong. As crises loom, we have always pulled back from the precipice. Emerging problems stimulate the discovery of new solutions.

The Future II ¢Solutions, like problems, know no boundaries. Automakers scramble to meet California’s tough emission standards and the whole world reaps the benefits. ¢Intermediate Technologies’ web pages are open to all. ¢Perhaps the 21 st century will see us begin to clean up our global village.

Chapter 18 - Looking Forward ¢Do Activity Sheet- 18 -1 & 18 -2 ¢Do Activities: -Page 425 -1 -4 -Page 454 -1 -3

Image Credits

Image Credits Every effort has been made to credit images used in this presentation. All images not otherwise credited have been obtained from clip art collections or are believed to be in the public domain. The authors would be pleased to correct any omissions. Slide #5 – Courtesy of Dr. Paul Ehrlich from http: //www. stanford. edu/group/CCB/Staff/paul. htm Slide #6 – Courtesy, UNOPS project related photo gallery “Sampling of Industrial Waste” Slide #9 – Private collection, K. J. Benoy (Both London) Slide #19 - Images courtesy of Oxfam Slide #20 - Images courtesy of Operation Eyesight International and Mrs. Gullison. Slide #21 - Image courtesy of Operation Eyesight International. Slide #26 - Images courtesy of the Schumacher Centre for Technology Development Slide #28 – Private collection, K. J. Benoy and Grameen Communication