Why is China taken as an example?
"Governance at both local and global levels has failed to promote conservation and reforestation." Why?
Why were the nations that have signed the Kyoto Protocol not making sufficient efforts to grapple with the challenge of global warming?
Why is deforestation and global warming a highlight in the article?
What are the positive effects of globalization?
These are good questions, Kenneth, though I think #1 should be contextualized.
ReplyDeleteWho is your partner?
China is taken as an example because China benefits greatly through globalization and at the same time, it is creating a lot of global environmental problems. According to the author,"Accelerated burning of coal and use of chemicals to fuel the export machine pollute not only China's air and water but the world's environment as well.... reported the Wall Street Journal in 2004."
ReplyDeleteOne reason why governance at both local and global levels has failed to promote conservation and reforestation is that the country wants to develop in a fast pace and earn more money. The author gave the example of increasing demand for soybeans which resulted in large scale of tropical forest been cleared to plant soybeans. Like what Brad mentioned in the class, Sarawak's forests have turned into oil palm plantation due to the interest of the country.
The reason is somewhat similar to the second question. In order to tackle global warming, countries will have to slow down the pace of development but in the globalized world today, every country will not want to lose out too much and lag behind. However, the author did give evidence that the situation is better now with the Kyoto Protocol been signed."Yet there is dramatic evidence that with the commitment of nations and effective global governance, it is possible to avert dangerous trends....more nations are reversing the longstanding trend toward destruction of their forests."
Deforestation and global warming are the main concerns of the whole world today. They are linked because with the decreasing number of trees due to deforestation, there will be more green house gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This results in global warming. Global warming will cause the icebergs at the poles to melt which will result in rise in sea level. Most of the low lands will be flooded and eventually we will not have any land to live on. Like what author said,"Global warming has the potential to shrink the global economy by 20 percent...increasing trade and industrialization brought by globalization is unmistakable." and "The millions of migrants who might be forced out of their homes because of flooding caused by global warming are still in the realm of speculation."Thus it is chosen to be the highlight in the article.
With globalization, information can be received or passed to the whole world very effectively.From first paragraph,"Activists are the new preachers in a modern world..... globalization might not be so bad" From paragraph 4,"It has also been found that within a given industry, foreign-operated plants tended to pollute less than local peers."