Broad topic: The Impact of Industrialization on the Caribbean: Issues of the 21st Century - Essay Example

The Impact of Industrialization on the Caribbean Introduction The Caribbean countries include Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica,Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis and other islands related to France, United Kingdom and Netherlands. In the last century and the current one, industrialization has been the key to development in the Caribbean and this has come with its list of both positive and negative impacts.

In this work we shall use the above topic to see whether industrialization has brought positive or negative impacts on lifestyle and the environment.1. The Caribbean countries have been emphasizing on creation of stabilization policies and in the process promote the production of industrial products in the countries. Due to the support they get from the Western countries, this has been made possible and industrialization has been on the rise in the past few years. The increased industrialization has positive effects to the people.

First the exports and local market have ensured that there is money flowing and so development of the countries has been possible (Tarron, 2011).2. The industries provide employment opportunities to a large number of people in the population. The education policies in the countries especially Cuba has enhanced the increase in skilled labor and so there is enough man power in the industries. This has ensured that the people are having a steady income that has promoted their living conditions. The living standards have consequently risen as the people are earning and this has had a positive impact on the economy of the countries due to increased taxes.3. Industrialization has also come with its wave of negative effects.

First due the people working in the industries have been exposed to carcinogenic emissions a situation that has facilitated the rise in cancer cases in the countries indicated. Though not so serious as in other parts of the world, the green house effect has been experienced in some parts that are intensely industrialized like the cities and smog can be seen suspended in the atmosphere. Smog is dangerous and it has been a key player in the increased green house effect witnessed in some places.

The changing lifestyles have also brought about increase in cases of obesity as many people just live a non active life.4. The effects of industrialization on the environment have been far reaching. The waste products that are emitted from the industries have often found their way to water bodies and contaminate the water. This has consequently led to the death of aquatic organisms. The leakages especially from large storage tanks in the industries have found their way to the aquifer and this has led to the contamination of the ground water.

Once the ground water is contaminated then the people around that region are at the risk of getting infected if they take the water. These, together with the production of gases that destroy the Ozone layer have been a concern in the preservation of the environment and promotion of a green environment.Cited WorkKhemraj, Tarron. W. A. Lewis Legacy of Industrialization and Caribbean Economic Policy, New College of Florida, November, 2011. Web.