Globalization and Globalization and Environmental Environmental

Issues Issues

Chernobyl Nuclear Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Disaster

The Ukrainian city of The Ukrainian city of Chernobyl was the site of the Chernobyl was the site of the worst nuclear disaster in the worst nuclear disaster in the post-1945 world. post-1945 world.

Incompetent operators and Incompetent operators and the inherently unsafe design the inherently unsafe design caused a reactor to explode caused a reactor to explode on April 26, 1986.on April 26, 1986.

Over 100,000 people were Over 100,000 people were evacuated. evacuated.

30 people died immediately 30 people died immediately and hundreds died later from and hundreds died later from exposure to radioactive exposure to radioactive materials. materials.

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol Signed on March 15, 1999, Signed on March 15, 1999,

the Kyoto Protocol is an the Kyoto Protocol is an agreement under the U.N. agreement under the U.N. Framework Convention on Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Countries that ratify commit Countries that ratify commit to reduce emissions of carbon to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse dioxide and other greenhouse gases. gases.

The Intergovernmental Panel The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts a rise in temperature predicts a rise in temperature of 1.4° C (2.5° F ) to 5.8 °C of 1.4° C (2.5° F ) to 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100. between 1990 and 2100.

If successfully and completely If successfully and completely implemented, the Protocol implemented, the Protocol will reduce that increase will reduce that increase between 0.02 °C and 0.28 °C between 0.02 °C and 0.28 °C by 2050. by 2050.

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol

The U.S. is a signatory to the protocol, but has neither ratified nor withdrawn. The U.S. is a signatory to the protocol, but has neither ratified nor withdrawn. The Senate stated that the U.S. should not sign any protocol that did not The Senate stated that the U.S. should not sign any protocol that did not

include binding targets and timetables for both developing include binding targets and timetables for both developing and and industrialized industrialized nations.nations.

President George W. Bush indicated that he does not intend to submit the President George W. Bush indicated that he does not intend to submit the treaty for ratification because of the strain he believed it would put on the treaty for ratification because of the strain he believed it would put on the economy.economy.

He emphasized the uncertainties which he asserts are present in the climate He emphasized the uncertainties which he asserts are present in the climate change issue.change issue.

Hubbert Peak TheoryHubbert Peak Theory

The Hubbert Peak Theory states that oil reserves are not The Hubbert Peak Theory states that oil reserves are not replenishable and oil production must inevitably peak and decline. replenishable and oil production must inevitably peak and decline.

Controversy surrounds the theory.Controversy surrounds the theory. M. King Hubbert noticed that the discoveries in the U.S. peaked in M. King Hubbert noticed that the discoveries in the U.S. peaked in

the 1930s, and concluded that production would peak in the 1970s. the 1930s, and concluded that production would peak in the 1970s. The US peaked in 1971. The US peaked in 1971. OPEC was able to manipulate oil prices, leading to the oil crisis in OPEC was able to manipulate oil prices, leading to the oil crisis in

1973. 1973. Most other countries have also peaked.Most other countries have also peaked.

GlobalizationGlobalization ““Globalization” is a series of Globalization” is a series of

economic, social, technological economic, social, technological and political changes that and political changes that increase interdependence and increase interdependence and interaction between people in interaction between people in disparate locations.disparate locations.

Globalization Debates:Globalization Debates: whether it occurs from whether it occurs from

'above' (through government 'above' (through government and state actions) or 'below' and state actions) or 'below' (through civil society actions)(through civil society actions)

supporters see it as economic supporters see it as economic savior for the world's poorsavior for the world's poor

opponents consider it opponents consider it oppressive to the developing oppressive to the developing world, destroying local world, destroying local culture and contributing to culture and contributing to global warming.global warming.

NATO ExpansionNATO Expansion

NATO began as an alliance against the Eastern BlocNATO began as an alliance against the Eastern Bloc NATO was expanded since the collapse of Communism in Europe. NATO was expanded since the collapse of Communism in Europe. The first post-Cold War expansion of came with the reunification of The first post-Cold War expansion of came with the reunification of

Germany in 1990.Germany in 1990. In 1994, NATO took its first military action, shooting down 4 Bosnian In 1994, NATO took its first military action, shooting down 4 Bosnian

Serb aircraft violating a UN no-fly zone. Serb aircraft violating a UN no-fly zone. NATO air strikes helped end war in Bosnia, resulting in the Dayton NATO air strikes helped end war in Bosnia, resulting in the Dayton

Agreement.Agreement.

NATO ExpansionNATO Expansion

Between 1994 and 1997, wider Between 1994 and 1997, wider forums for regional cooperation forums for regional cooperation between NATO and its between NATO and its neighbors were set upneighbors were set up

In 1999, 3 former communist In 1999, 3 former communist countries, Hungary, the Czech countries, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, joined Republic, and Poland, joined NATO. NATO.

In 1999, NATO saw its first In 1999, NATO saw its first broad-scale military broad-scale military engagement in the Kosovo engagement in the Kosovo War.War.

An 11-week bombing campaign An 11-week bombing campaign forced Yugoslavian leader forced Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milošević to accept Slobodan Milošević to accept UN resolution 1244. UN resolution 1244.

NATO helped establish the NATO helped establish the KFOR, a NATO-led force under KFOR, a NATO-led force under a U.N. mandate that operated a U.N. mandate that operated the military mission in Kosovo.the military mission in Kosovo.

NAFTANAFTA The North American Free Trade The North American Free Trade

Agreement, (NAFTA) is a trade Agreement, (NAFTA) is a trade agreement among Canada, the agreement among Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. U.S., and Mexico.

It went into effect on January 1, It went into effect on January 1, 1994. 1994.

NAFTA called for immediately NAFTA called for immediately eliminating duties on half of all eliminating duties on half of all U.S. goods shipped to Mexico U.S. goods shipped to Mexico and Canada, and gradually and Canada, and gradually phasing out other tariffs. phasing out other tariffs.

Provisions regarding worker and Provisions regarding worker and environmental protection were environmental protection were added later.added later.

Unlike the European Union, Unlike the European Union, NAFTA does not create a set of NAFTA does not create a set of supranational governmental supranational governmental bodies, nor does it create a body bodies, nor does it create a body of law which is superior to of law which is superior to national law. national law.

NAFTANAFTA

There was opposition on both sides of the border.There was opposition on both sides of the border. The U.S. House passed NAFTA by 234-200 (132 Republicans and The U.S. House passed NAFTA by 234-200 (132 Republicans and

102 Democrats voting in favor)102 Democrats voting in favor) U.S. Senate passed it by 61-38.U.S. Senate passed it by 61-38. One of the effects of NAFTA has been the significant increase in One of the effects of NAFTA has been the significant increase in

bilingual and trilingual labeling on products.bilingual and trilingual labeling on products.

GATTGATT General Agreement on Tariffs General Agreement on Tariffs

and Trade (GATT) was created and Trade (GATT) was created by the Bretton Woods by the Bretton Woods Conference.Conference.

The GATT was part of a plan The GATT was part of a plan for economic recovery after for economic recovery after WWII.WWII.

It included a reduction in It included a reduction in tariffs and other international tariffs and other international trade barriers.trade barriers.

In 1948 it was signed by 23 In 1948 it was signed by 23 countries.countries.

In 1994, GATT was updated In 1994, GATT was updated ("GATT 1994") .("GATT 1994") .

One of the most significant One of the most significant changes was the creation of changes was the creation of the World Trade Organization the World Trade Organization (WTO).(WTO).

WTOWTO

GATT members and the European Communities founded the WTO GATT members and the European Communities founded the WTO in 1995.in 1995.

The WTO is an international, multilateral organization, which sets The WTO is an international, multilateral organization, which sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between member states.between member states.

The agreement is based on the "''unconditional most favored nation The agreement is based on the "''unconditional most favored nation principle”: conditions applied to the most favored trading nation principle”: conditions applied to the most favored trading nation (i.e. the one with the least restrictions) apply to all trading nations.(i.e. the one with the least restrictions) apply to all trading nations.

As of 2005, there are 149 members. As of 2005, there are 149 members.

WTOWTO

The WTO has been a major target for protests by the anti-globalization movement. The WTO has been a major target for protests by the anti-globalization movement. One of the largest and most successful protests occurred during the 1999 Seattle One of the largest and most successful protests occurred during the 1999 Seattle

WTO conference. WTO conference. The negotiations were overshadowed by large street protests outside the venues. The negotiations were overshadowed by large street protests outside the venues. Because of the disruptions in the Seattle rounds, negotiations were not begun Because of the disruptions in the Seattle rounds, negotiations were not begun

until the next meeting which was held at Doha, Qatar, a locale easier to control until the next meeting which was held at Doha, Qatar, a locale easier to control and police.and police.

CitationsSlide 2: http://english.pravda.ru/img/idb/chernobyl21.jpgSlide 3: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwealth/chornobyl_radiation96.jpgSlide 4: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/nuclear_disasters/images/map_europe.gifSlide 5: http://fig.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150ss97/GH_earth.jpgSlide 6: http://phoenix.liu.edu/~uroy/externalities/emmisions101802.gifSlide 7: http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/KyotoProtocol/images/olle.jpgSlide 8: http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/gene/peakoil/nonopecfsu.gifSlide 9: http://students.umf.maine.edu/~pondcm/globalization.gifSlide 10: http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/fileadmin/festplatte/deutsch/bilder/05_aussenpolitik/05_02_Nato.jpgSlide 11: http://www.barraclou.com/memorial/coldwar/nato_expansion.jpgSlide 12: http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/TEI/NAFTA.jpgSlide 13: http://cati.csufresno.edu/cab/rese/96/960301/img/fig5.gifSlide 14: http://www.un.org/UN50/Photos/un50-014.gifSlide 15: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/wto/images/wto_hq2.jpgSlide 16: http://content.lib.washington.edu/wtoweb/images/wto-protest.jpgSlide 17: http://www.deh.gov.au/heritage/programs/rnhp/images/coastal-pollution.jpg