Costs and Benefits of Globalization - Term Paper Example

Contents INTRODUCTION 2 Causes of Globalization 2 Trade 3 Transportation 3 Increased demand for goods 3 Effects of Globalization 4 Exploitation of resources 4 Chemical pollution 4 Air pollution 5 Problems in waste management 5 Strain on resources 5 Health factors 6 Others 6 BENEFITS OF GLOBALISATION 8 Better life quality 8 International economies 8 Culture and foreign goods 9 Conclusion 9 REFERENCES 10 GLOBALIZATION INTRODUCTION Globalization is the act of national integration of the world that has been brought about by world ideas, culture, and trade and through transport and communication. It is the continuing process that is connecting people, organizations, cities, countries and continents more closely together compared to how they have been before. It involves cooperation and integration of the world’s economies (Pettinger). It has led to our lives being intertwined with people from all different cultures in every part of the world the food, clothing, music and information we get. It started with the movement of people especially Africans who were transported to America to work as slaves this was in the 18th century. In this research paper, we try and understand how globalization has affected the environment. We will first understand what have been the causes of globalizations and then I will identify the effects of globalization to the environment. Globalisation has been brought about the growth of population growth in the world today. Nearly fifty years ago, there was a population of three billion; which the number has doubled to now. Causes of Globalization The need to trade has brought about globalization not all countries have oil but every country needs oil to operate due to this it has become more of a need for trading countries. There are also needs of various minerals to other countries. The countries with resources also have the need to understand how to get more oil and other minerals. Trade Due to increase trade labor and skills have become important ingredients for businesses this has brought about movement of people and resources therefore creating the need for hosing and recreation to the new crowd of people. The world trade organization was formed to ensure fast and effective ways of trade between countries and also continents Globalization has enabled the world to be a universal market. It has opened up nearly all corners of the world for trade. Tomatoes grown in Italy travels through Sweden and is processed with ingredients from Japan and bottles from Britain. For example, in the USA, meat is imported from Brazil while they get their fish from Thailand (Earthisland.org). Communication has become an integral part of business and it is this reason that infrastructure have to be made so as to ensure it meets the certain standards .With this it has become a necessity to build underground cables for easy connectivity. Transportation The need to offer better transportation has been brought about by factors ensuring faster trade and movement of people. This has brought about other needs such as the increase of road coverage. Though certain quarters have been at the forefront of trying to justify the importance of globalization they have been at pains to accept the impact it has had on the environment. Increased demand for goods The human population has been on an exponential growth, which has led also to a direct correlation of the goods needed to survive. For example, Boston General motors has increased the production with also Japan Toyota company doing the same this has brought about more emissions to the environment and also a lot of resources being consumed at the other hand. Effects of Globalization Exploitation of resources With the need for minerals and more profits organizations have been at the point trying to understand new ways for mining and also transactions so as to earn more profit. In A case of British petroleum in 2010 there was huge of damage due to their fail management in the oil drilling in the Pacific Ocean. The oil spill took more than three months to be stopped and the damage in the eco system was huge. Animals and birds lost a home and many people in the society like fishermen loss a livelihood this is one but one effect of globalization though BP were ready to deny the responsibility of their mistake it was obvious that the loss incurred in the ecosystem could not be quantified. Globalization has led to growth of multinationals. Such companies always try to find markets for their products. They also invest in countries that they see as their best targets. Such countries may have lenient and flexible rules that favor its growth (Globalenvision.org). In some countries, like Luxembourg and Bermuda, corporate taxes are low; hence, they attract investment from companies who wish to set up their offices and funnel the profits through subsidiaries (Pettinger). Chemical pollution Due to increase in demand for food, farmers have resorted to growing of food in greenhouses so as to meet the growing population. This has led to use of many chemicals which goes on to the soil and leads the soil to be less productive than before. Also due to this weeds come up and these stress the environment more than before leading to soil degradation. Air pollution Due to the increase of transport of movement of people and goods this has led to airlines emitting carbon emissions on to the air. This is harmful to the ozone layer leading to many diseases to humans and also animals as they are unable to interact well. Carbon emissions have been blamed for the impact of global warming which has been a threat to the environment and its eco-system; Scientists have blamed global warming for the reduction of water levels. This has been a discussion of late with developed superpowers like USA and China pledging to reduce carbon emissions. The transport sector consumes an average of 60% of all the world petroleum oils; which translates to an increase in carbon emissions (Earthisland.org). The human aspect and population has brought about more consumption of foods this has brought more stress already to the overpopulated ecosystem. The need for housing has led to felling down of trees and also the need for food has brought up the need to grow genetically modified feeds which have been at the forefront of the blame about causes of disease such as cancer. This has been the leading cause of deaths in the developed countries. Problems in waste management The consumption has also brought about a lot of consumption this hassled to more waste and very few countries know how been able to ensure waste management works to their advantage. Though a lot of campaign has been done about recycling very few have managed to work on that. Strain on resources The increased population has brought about the need for more resources which is already strained. For example China has been a huge market for ivory from Africa this has brought about the increase of poaching of wild animals such as the rhino and elephants. In Taiwan they see ivory as the cure of cancer which is misinformed this has led to a drop in the number of elephants and rhino therefore creating a threat to this species. Also the need for the population to settle and build homes has brought about a friction between animals and man on where to settle. Health factors The increased degradation of the environment also shows a correlation of diseases caused by this. The cause of diseases such as Ebola have been blamed on the relation of more than human contact with bats and monkeys this has been a very big threat bringing a threat to most of west African countries early part of this year. The diseases have brought down the economy due to the fact most people could not leave their homes for fear of infection. Due to the failure of regulating managing waste, it is vital to comprehend that globalization has a positive impact for the society but only if managed properly. Others The Japan economy has been on the forefront of being supported by fishing using trawling though this has been barred due to the fact that it also eradicates the young ones the demand for fishing has increased and this can be blamed due to the need to feed its economy. Countries have started wars against each other due to fight of resources and this has led to landmines and very dangerous weapons for the fight towards superiority (JunghoBaek) (jorgeson).The land mines and weapons have also been blamed for environment problems such as destroying of water bodies and forests which have caused the reduction of rainfall to most countries and affects food production. Air pollution and noise have been contributed by the growth of globalization with motor vehicle industries and weapon countries testing the equipment in scattered fields which some remnants are left after the training has been done and are found to explode to people in those places. Companies have gone to the extent of ensuring a total ban to plastic bags due to their nature that they cannot be recycled it is for this fact that other countries ensure they tax more for organizations that dispose their waste in the environment this works to discourage and ensure that it does not entertain that. The government also needs to offer incentives to organizations that uses environment planning and the going green strategy this will work to discourage other firms from disposing. For example, companies need to understand the importance of having renewable energy such as solar to help rather than nuclear energy which can have a negative impact for the economy at large. There also needs to have a sensitization programs for the benefits of afforestation and conserving water this can help in creating the notion that conserving the environment is a collective responsibility and is significant to every one of us. Energy has to be cheap so as to ensure every citizen has access and affordability (jorgeson). Superpowers must to be at the front of paying small countries money for conservation due to the emissions that they emit to the ecosystem as a point to show that they understand the impact of globalization. Human activities have been blamed for the erosion of the environment from the failure to understand the basic need to the extent of ignoring important factors. This should be sensitized to developing countries to understand that animals are have a right to be in this world and that poaching should be crime punishable by death. It is important as it difficult and painful to see a lion being killed due to its skin or an elephant due to its ivory (James). With strict regulations, this will help the government to have responsible citizens and it will be a win-win for both the government and the citizens. Research and development should be encouraged so as to minimize the aspect such as why should we still have to kill an animal for leather we should find other materials for leather or other ways. The people need to understand they can coexist peacefully with other living features. Even though population is growing the people responsible can ensure resource allocation has been done and proper housing and drainage have been done so as to stop interfering with other living habitats in the ecosystem. In the research and design, airplanes manufacture must find ways of reducing carbon emissions because solutions are important and researchers show that airline industry will grow in the years to come and so better solutions have to be understood and followed to the core. BENEFITS OF GLOBALISATION Better life quality Due to increase in organizations, there has been an increase of employment; bringing about high standards of living to the people. Moreover, the widespread of services, ideas and goods makes positive impacts on people. The availability of a worldwide market also boosts the income of people (Benefits of Globalization). International economies Globalization has also boosted international trade. By making the word easily accessible from any place, it is now easier to move products across borders. Horticultural crops grown in Kenya are sold in the European market; with no worries of the products going bad (Earthisland.org). The trend translates to more income and employment opportunities. In the 1960s, the growth of non-globalized economies grew at a rate of 1.4% while it was 4.75 for globalized economies; meaning that globalization has a huge impact on a country’s economy (Benefits Of Globalization). Culture and foreign goods Through improved technology and responses organizations have become a (Lloyd)global village and options have been available for anything one would require. Globalization has made it possible for goods that are produced in any part of the world to me made available to anyone. Italian wine can now be drunk in Spain or in Bermuda (Benefits of Globalization). Conclusion After analyzing the causes and effects globalization we have identified that globalization is a need that we cannot avoid and a lot has to be put in place .The need of global market demand has brought about forest been cleared to develop industries and the fight for market share has brought about mass movement of people from one part of the world together bringing about the house demand and also growth of slums to other areas. It is this reason that slums have brought about dumpsite which are not regulated posing as health concern for people living in this neighborhood. Cholera and Diarrhea have been caused by poor conservation of the environment and also it leads to less human work force this leads to slow output of the economy. REFERENCES Benefits Of Globalization. Boundless (2014): n. pag. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. Earthisland.org,. Globalization’S Carbon Bootprint. N.p., 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. Globalenvision.org,. The Environmental Benefits Of Globalization | Global Envision. N.p., 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. Pettinger, Tejvan. Costs And Benefits Of Globalisation | Economics Help. Economicshelp.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. James, Edgar. "Environment and its aftermath." carbon bootprinting (2008): 84. jorgeson, Kramer. "Globalisation in the 21st century." The cost of technology (2012): 86. JunghoBaek. "The environment causes of globalisation." American Agricultural Economics (2008): 29. Lloyd, John. "UN chronicle." Globalisation disease and Environment (2006). Read More