Case Studies Population and Settlement Youthful Population Gambia
Case Studies – Population and Settlement
Youthful Population - Gambia Background Info: • Gambia is the smallest African country. • There has been a taboo on contraceptives = birth rate is high, with each women on average having 7 children. Many children die before they become adults. • Birth rate is 40 per 1000 and for every 1000 children born 11 mothers die in child birth. • Life expectancy – women is 57, men is 53. Responses to the problems: Positives of Youthful Population: • Contraception – educate people on importance of • Provides a steady supply of workers and encourage economies to grow contraception and increase access. E. g. ‘Futures’ • Growing market for manufacturing goods campaign, subsidised by the World Health • Children are a valuable source of income as well as provide support for Organisation. family and younger siblings • Improvements to health services – free vaccination funding from Canada to reduce IMR, as well as Negatives of Youthful Population: improvements to maternity care. • Strain on education system = Illiterate population • Pressure on health services- lack of hospitals, high number of patients to • Managing resources – Farming schemes to help each doctor, lack of medicines = reduces ability to fight curable diseases improve access to food, as well as sewage systems • Food supplies limited = famine to reduce the spread of diseases such as Cholera • Lack of housing = slum dwellings spring up which have no running water, (pollution to drinking water) sewage systems or proper shelter = spread of diseases and increase in crime. • Education – improvements to education system to • Lack of jobs available allow more children to attend school and get basic education
Overpopulation- Kibera, Nairobi Causes and impacts: • Nairobi is the capital and largest city in Kenya – rapid growth= overcrowding. 45% of the population live in shanty towns • Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi with 250, 000 residents living in improper housing. • No planning with no roads and Inadequate sewage disposal, drainage, clean water or electricity. • Lack of access to education and high crime rates due to high unemployment rates and widespread poverty. • Mortality rate is high – especially immortality rate. • Diseases are spread easily due to cramped/unhygienic living conditions, as well as poor health care services and a lack of health care professionals. Kibera Self-Help Youth Group - bottom-up organisation run by local people to help improve the quality of life for residents of the slum and created employment for members of the group. - Waste collection and recycling: clearing the streets of waste and recycling whatever can be reused or sold to recycling companies. - Youth theatre – an opportunity for young people to express themselves, while also running events to communicate the activities of the group and issues like AIDS/HIV to illiterate local people - Sports club – bring the local youth together in a spirit of co-operate and competition, - Local business – income, create jobs e. g. internet café Solutions: The Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme – improve the lives of 5. 3 million slum dwellers in Kenya by 2020. Implemented in 2003. Construction of 14 blocks of flats and 770 housing units in Kiberia. Ensure provision of basic services. Cost = $1 billion Peepoo Project – In June 2010, Peepoople registered and incorporated ‘Peepoople Kenya’ as an NGO. Peepoo is a personal, single-use, self-sanitising, fully biodegradable toilet that prevents faeces from contaminating the immediate area and surrounding ecosystem. Can be used to fertilise the land. Kibera Water Kiosk Project - Life Force Kiosks purified one-million litre of water 2013. Initiated in 2010. Cleaned over 5, 000 water storage containers to reduce drinking water contamination. Sold over 600 diapers and 70 bars of anti-bacterial soup within 2 months. SODIS – water treatment method – transparent PET-bottle are placed in the sun for at least 6 hours. UV-radiation and heat from the sun inactivates the pathogens that contaminate the water. Improved access to safe water and sanitation and increase the knowledge of health and hygiene.
Ageing Population – East Devon, UK (MEDC) 10 million people in the UK are over 65 (16% of the population) - predicted to nearly double to 19 million by 2050. 33% of over 65 s are aged 80+ which is predicted to reach 8 million by 2050. Positives of an Ageing Population: • Tourism industry are benefited with retirees going on several holidays throughout the year, making it less seasonal. • Elderly people willing to spend in their local area – helping economy • Support with childcare, allowing parents to go out to work • Undertake voluntary work helping fill job gaps and society projects • Knowledge – pass on skills and info to younger generation Negatives of an Ageing Population: • Place strain on health care services – suffer more problems and need operations – more doctors, hospital, care houses required • Shortage of retirement homes – building required • Transport links are vital to transport people around – many get free bus passes so don’t contribute to the running costs • Provision of leisure activities and day centres – social isolation is common amongst the elderly. East Devon: • Has the 2 nd highest concentration of over 50’s in England. • Coastal county with beautiful countryside which appeals to the retired population. Solutions: - Residential complexes designed for the elderly, with security and assistance if needed and communal areas to socialise in. - Care homes to free up holiday space, as well as home visits to keep old people in their own homes instead of in hospital. - NGO Age Concern organise game clubs. Local leisure centres having swimming and keep fit classes to improve health of the elderly. - Ring and ride buses to help pick up those in remote areas as well as those in need to wheel chair access (main bus fares increased to subsidize this)
Ageing Population – Japan • Japan has the highest proportion of old dependents (about 23%) and the lowest proportion of young dependents (about 13%) in the world – fertility rate of 1. 25, which is well below the 2. 1 replacement rate. Effects on society • 2025 – dependency ratio = two dependents for every three workers • Japanese people are living longer with life expectancy predicted for 2060 at 90. 93 (women) and 84. 19 (men) – 4. 5% increase since 2010. • 27% of national income would be spent on social welfare • Estimations suggest that 40% of the population will be of retirement • Nursing homes, day care facilities for the elderly and home health programs Causes • Combination of low fertility and high life expectancies (i. e. low mortality) – Education more important, late marriage and even no marriage as more women are working. • Average number of children born per women over her lifetime has been fewer than two since the late 1970 s – devotion to raising healthy children, high costs of child care and education • Family planning – use of contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancies • Traditional Shinto belief – overpopulation will upset the Kamis and natural balance of the world • Incidences of chronic disease increases with age – health care system and pension systems put under severe strain.
Anti-natalist: China’s One Child Policy General Facts: • 1960 s – rapidly expanding population was threatened by a series of famines and food shortages (1. 3 bn people). • Established 1979 – each couple were allowed just one child. Benefits include: • increased access to education for all • childcare and healthcare offered to families that followed the rules. • Success – yes or no? • Yes – the population is growing more slowly, but it is still growing. Long-term implications: - Relaxed somewhat in recent years – couples can now apply to have a second child if their first child is a girl or if both parents are themselves only-children. - Falling birth rate – leading to a rise in the relative number of elderly people - Fewer people of working age to support the growing number of elderly dependants – ageing population. Problems with enforcing the policy in General: - Those with more than one child did not receive these benefits and were fined. - Policy was keenly resisted in rural areas – traditionally large families to work on farms. - Urban areas – policy strictly enforced - Rural areas – harder to control due to access and monitoring - Some women who became pregnant after they had already had a child were forced to have an abortion or forcibly sterilised. Impacts of the policy in China: - Birth rate in China has fallen since 1979 and rate of population growth is now 0. 7% - Traditional preference for boys – large numbers of female babies have ended up homeless/orphanages and some killed. - Gender balance of Chinese population has become distorted – men outnumber women by more than 60 million.
Pro-natalist Policies: Singapore Slow and reverse the boom in births that started after World War Two and encourage parents to have more children because birth rate has fallen below replacement levels. • Policies known as Stop at Two created numerous issues. It involved: - Abortion and sterilisation were legalised in 1970 - Low educated women were given cash incentives to voluntarily undergo sterilisation. - Hospitals were required to charge incrementally higher fees for each additional child. Have three or more (if you can afford it) in 1987 – falling birth rates were a serious problem and reverse previous policies. • Mothers with third child were given cash incentives in child relief. Fourth child would qualify for enhanced child relief plus 15% increase of mothers income. • Disincentives and penalties on school registration removed • Hospitals costs of third child removed • Large families given a flat and would receive priority to upgrade. • Abortion counselling and sterilisation cash grant for lowly educated women was liberalised in 1993. To counteract the Stop at Two policy, the Graduate Mothers Scheme in 1984 – favoured the children of mothers with university degree in primary school placement over the lesser-educated. There was a trend that educated women would be less likely to marry and procreate. • government were to give education and housing priorities, tax rebates and other benefits to mothers with university degrees, as well as their children. • Also encouraged men to choose highly educated women as wives - Social Development Unit (SDU) was also established in 1984 to promote marriage and romance between educated individuals. • Incentives for educated women to have three or four children to reverse ‘Stop at Two’ policy. However this resulted in ‘The Great Marriage Debate’ and was questioned for women’s rights. Impacts of the policy: - Fertility rate has dropped to 1. 2 in 2011 rather than increased Insufficient workers to fill jobs vacancies due to the decrease in the birth rate Singapore has an ageing population – future tax issues
Migration: Mexico to USA What is the situation? • There is a 2000 km border between USA and Mexico • Illegal migration is a huge problem for USA – 1 million+ Mexicans migrate every year • US Border Patrol guard the border and try to prevent illegal immigrants • Migrants usually men – send remittances (money home) • 2013 – approx. 11. 6 million Mexican immigrants reside in USA – up 2. 2 million from 1980 • Account for 28% of USAs 41. 3 million foreign born. Impacts on the USA: + Mexican workers benefit US economy – working for low pay = money on business investments + Enrich culture with food, language and music from Mexico – better integration - Costs USA millions of $ for border patrols and prisons - Drain on USA economy – skills gap and health care - Mexican workers keep wages low which affects Americans - Cultural and racial issues – conflicts Push Factors - - - High crime rates in Mexico e. g. homicide rates 10 -14 per 100, 000 people (higher than world average) Unemployment rate risen – 34. 43% increase 2009 = 5. 37 rate 2010. 47% of population living below poverty line. Climate and natural hazards – arid area resulting in water shortages. Earthquakes and Volcanoes making homes uninhabitable. Adult literacy rates 55% - poor education/job prospects Pull Factors - - Significantly better living standards and access to a range of services – healthcare, water supplies etc. Less than 1% of USA population lives on less than 60 p per day 8 of 10 Americans own a car Low paid jobs available to Mexicans with limited skills and/or experience Excellent medical facilities Existing Mexican communities in stages such as Texas and California Impacts on Mexico: + Legal and Illegal immigrants together send some $6 billion a year back to Mexico – invest in Mexican economy + Bring skills and connections when migrants return - Mexican countryside = shortage of economically active people = deprivation and lack of farming - Many men emigrate leaving women without marriage partners or at home fending by themselves - Young people tend to migrate = high dependency ratio
Rural to Urban Migration – Kibera, Nairobi • • • Kibera - Largest slum in Africa; Second largest in the world 1 million people living within 1 sq/m Many newcomers are forced to live in Shanty towns, such as Kibera, Nairobi’s largest Shanty town Push Factors • • • Pull Factors - Cannot afford fertilizers or - Better paid jobs good quality seeds or - Access to education and machinery to mass produce – improved health care hard farming conditions - Want a better quality of life - Do not own their land – costly to rent and cannot compete with wealthy land owners - Drought, pests and floods ruin crops • • Life in Nairobi There a lot more poor people living in Nairobi than rich Houses are built out of basic materials such as corrugated iron. Over 60% of Nairobi’s Population live below the poverty line. Kibera is heavily polluted by soot, open sewage routes, human and animal faeces and rubbish. 2. 2 million Kenyans living with HIV live in Kibera. Unemployment rates are high. Crime is rife and police are reluctant to enter the slum. Child mortality is high – malnutrition and disease Golf course next to Kibera has irrigated greens whereas people in Kibera barely have enough clean water to survive- many die of Cholera Average monthly wage after tax in Nairobi is $419. 59 compare to $92 in Kibera – economic inequality Only 44% of households have regular income – selling vegetables, second hand clothes, waste collection No roads, proper sewage systems and limited electricity
Counter Urbanisation – St Ives, Cambridge Pull Factors Push Factors - Traffic congestion in urban areas Pollution – air and noise Fear of crime – muggings, burglary and car theft Stress of living in the ‘rat race’ Increasing house prices Social changes – ethnic minority groups St Ives, Cambridge: - - Aspirations of a quiet country life Land house prices cheaper in rural areas – get more for your money Transport links allowing people to commute more easily Pleasant surroundings New developments Technological improvements – work from home. Effects on Rural Areas: • Modern housing estates are built on edges of settlements - take away its character • Spread of rural urban fringe • Old properties converted and modernised • House prices increase = resentment to incomers • Small industrial unity sited on main roads – destroying idyllic views • Commuting leading to services not being needed – closed • Farmers selling off their land to urban authorities or developers. 65 m North of London – road access to A 1 straight into London and trains regularly from Cambridge to London Housing was very affordable – now prices doubled High car ownership within the village – large proportion work outside (25% commute to London every day) Considerable number of housing developments around the periphery of St Ives – exclusive apartments along the River Ouse Farm land being sold and farm buildings renovated into luxury properties – high demand
Case Studies – Development
Goat Aid Background • • • Advantages: - Goat milk and meat is an excellent food source - Brings village together as they look after the goat(s) Oxfam charity - Goats breed easily which makes it sustainable Gives goats to families and villages - Manure can be used as crop fertiliser Produce food and income Disadvantages: Most of the work is carried out in Africa. - Transporting the goat to a new environment can be an issue – lack of transportation and animals may not like it. Non-governmental organisation – doesn’t rely on support from the Government. • Focused on widowed women by providing a goat which will create multiple benefits. - Veterinary care is expensive and will be hard to find in places such as Africa - They need to be taught how to look after the goat properly – training costs Sustainability - Goats can easily be looked after and require little input It is a self-perpetuating system, so once they have received a goat, it can breed to grow a new herd – this makes it sustainable Once a goat has been bred, it is then given back to the organisation so it can be given to help other people = sustainable project A GOATASTIC GIFT! Give a Goat as a gift and help support Oxfam in their campaign to help people in Africa improve their lives.
Computer Aid Background • The main aim of all the charities involved is to help close the ‘digital divide’ between the less developed and the more developed world. • Computer Aid International (UK) is one of the leading charities. It asks British businesses and organisations to donate unwanted computers to support education and health projects around the world, particularly Africa. • The computers are checked and digitally cleaned before being sent to partner organisations. • Provide e-learning courses and training C/S: Training teachers in Ghana - All secondary-level school children in Ghana are set ICT exams, however few schools actually have computers. Computer Aid has been working with Computers for Education and Development(CFED) to provide PCs for use in an ICT training programme for teachers. Teachers are then able to use ICT to the best possible advantage – improve lesson content and quality across all subjects therefore improve education and employment prospects. Advantages • Remote medical centres in Kenya can get help from Doctors in Nairobi using PC’s, digital camera and scanners • Can use the internet to connect to World Health Organisation (WHO) for up to date information and treatment of killer diseases e. g. Malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB • Farmers can get accurate forecasts on likelihood of rains to help decide best crop to grow • Students are able to develop their computer skills and can now use this to get better paid jobs • IT has been recognised by UN as a driving force for the development. Disadvantages • Software is unreliable and incompatible • Insufficient staff to provide technical support and lack of knowledge • Running costs can be high due to bad technology connections in comparison to the UK, USA etc. • Some think that Africa is the dumping ground for unwanted hardware
Nike – Multinational Company or Slave Driver • Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design and development, manufacturing, worldwide marketing and sales in footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services. • Headquarters are in Oregon, USA • It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel with a revenue in excess of US$24. 1 billion in its fiscal year 2012. • As of 2012, it employed more than 44, 000 people worldwide. More than 700 shops around the world and offices in 45 countries outside the US. • Like many multinational companies/ transnational companies, Nike subcontracts or uses independently owned factories in different countries to produce its trainers- often in LEDCs as labour costs are low. – most of the factories are located in Asia. • China boasts the largest number of Nike contract factories – 124 in total. • Majority of workers are women under the age of 25 What is happening in Indonesia: - Many of the workers in the Indonesian factories come from the surrounding countryside where they live in poverty. - They face low wages and long hours, industrial accidents such as loss of limbs, poor health due to bad conditions and lack of breaks - No workers’ rights – trade unions are illegal in Indonesia and when workers do complain or protest they can lose their jobs - Exploited and easily replaced - Although 60% of factories monitored met the required standards, ¼ of factories were found to present some serious problems – workers at 9 Nike factories in Indonesia had suffered sexual/verbal abuse, lack medical attention and compulsory overtime. - Female workers gained jobs through sexual “favours” Companies arguments against exploitation claims: - Contractors say they cannot afford to pay their workers more and Nike says that it is difficult to control what is happening in individual factories. - Nike say they are in the business of “marketing” shoes, not making them. - Set up ‘the Fair Labour Association’ a non-profit group that combines companies, human rights and labour representatives to establish independent monitoring and code of conduct – minimum age and work hours
Factors that influence economic activity – MEDC: M 4 Corridor Advantages - Land on the edge of cities is often cheaper - Out of town surroundings (green spaces) and accessible to workers - Ideal location for building science and business parks – space to build - Motorway and rail links provide access for commuters and people on business as well as transporting components and products easier. The M 4 Corridor stretches from Heathrow airport in the east to Bath and Bristol in the west. The corridor is home to companies such as Hewlett Packard and Sony who are involved in research and development (quaternary industry) and have links with universities who provide well-qualified graduates. Few raw materials are used and therefore transport costs are low, making the industries ‘Footloose’ (companies not tied to a particular location). Examples of companies along the M 4 Corridor: Large company: Icera – designs chips for smartphones, USB data dongles and other wireless devices for some of the world’s largest mobile companies such as Nokia, LG, Samsung etc Smaller company: CHQ – specialises in helping schools to organise their sports and extra-curricular activities Disadvantages - Workers wanting to live near their place of work increases the demand for housing and puts pressure on green belt land - As demand grows, house prices increase - Less skilled and lower paid workers disadvantaged to desirable areas
Conflict between economic activity and the environment: The Pearl Delta - China’s Pearl River Delta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s largest urban area in both size and population. It is considered a megacity – which covers a significant part of China’s manufacturing heartland, is now home to more people than the countries of Canada, Argentina or Australia. The Pearl Delta has experienced Rapid Urbanisation – growing from 4, 500 sq/km in 2000 to nearly 7, 000 sq/km in 2010. Data Facts: • In 2013, the GDP grew by an average of 9. 4% - accounted for 79. 1% of Guangdong’s GDP or 9. 3% of China’s GDP. • Also, the regions Foreign Direct Investment stood at US$23. 1 bn, 19. 6% of the national total in China. • Guangzhou is beocming one of the three auto manufacturing bases in China. • It is estimated that more than 80% of China’s coastal water and about 70% of its rivers and lakes are polluted with industrial waste, raw sewage and agricultural run-off. • The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) is responsible for the protection of the natural environment in China but has limited funding, staff and control of transnational companies. MEP relies on local government funding – many of whom are unwilling to invest in environmental protection. • 86% of the Chinese population live and depend on the Pearl River Delta but there is a lack of sustainable management of these waters. Marine wildlife is being destroyed and polluted by chemical waste from manufacturing.
The Galapagos Islands represent a place in the world were ECOTOURISM takes place. This is environmentally friendly tourism where the people involved seek to protect the environment as much as possible and to allow for some level of education as well. In many cases of ecotourism, some of the profits go back into protecting the environment and the tourism is small scale, with low visitor number densities and environmental approaches to accommodation and food. • The Galapagos are run along these lines because; • Tourists visit under strict rules • They can only visit on small ships of 10 to 16 tourists, most of which are owned by local people • The tourists can only visit a limited number of places on the Islands, thus protecting the rest of the Islands • The tourists are only allowed to visit in small numbers. • Visitors also receive information on how to conserve the Islands prior to their departure to the Islands. The Galapagos Islands are most famous because many of the plants and animals found there are not found anywhere else in the world. This is because the islands are isolated or cut off from the rest of the World’s land mass by the Pacific Ocean, allowing the plants and animals to EVOLVE in their own way for hundreds of thousands of years. • They also have to pay a £ 25 fee to promote conservation on the Islands Approximately 90% of the Islands are designated as National parks and there are only 20, 000 permanent human residents (although this has risen from 9, 000 only 20 years ago), allowing for a high degree of protection of the environment. The area became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and they are also a biosphere reserve. However, local people make a valuable living from tourism and there are few other employment opportunities available. Tourists also generate a lot of businesses in the local economy as guides, restraints, hotels, boats owners and cleaners all benefit. Despite all of this, there are still some problems from the overuse of some sites (honey pot sites), oil spills from boats, and pollution to the Islands water supply and the water supply is put under pressure from the tourists use.
Oil Palm in Borneo and Indonesia Palm oil is used by virtually every one of us in one form or another (see photo at the bottom of this text). In its basic form it is used in processed or prepared foods such as bread, cakes, breakfast cereals and ready meals, as well as ice cream, margarine and crisps. The vast majority of the worlds palm oil comes from Malaysia and Indonesia where the expansion of the industry has destroyed millions of hectares of rainforest. This deforestation is said to be far greater than the rate of deforestation due to logging in the Amazon rainforest. In the past the majority of palm oil production has been for food and cosmetics but now the European Union have agreed to cut greenhouse gasses by 20% by 2020 we are having to find a new source of fuel for our transport. The answer is said to be bio-fuels however this will mean that Indonesia and Malaysia will produce more palm oil which will result in further destruction of some of the most valuable rainforest on the planet. • The effect of this destruction will mean that many species of plants and animals that live in these rainforests will be lost forever. Examples of species that will be lost are the Sumatran tiger, Asian Elephant and the Orangutans of Borneo The FOE (Friends of the Earth) have highlighted how the palm oil industry is having a devastating impact on the orangutans of Sumatra and Borneo. Some orangutans are killed off as the land they live on is cleared for palm tree plantation and others are killed as they have a fondness for eating palm oil seeds. The rate of the forest clearance along with the killing of the orangutans is happening so quickly that orangutans could be extinct within 15 years. 98% of the Indonesian forest is expected to be destroyed by 2022 • At the moment there are between 55, 000 and 60, 000 Orangutans in Borneo but 5, 000 to 10, 000 orangutans are killed each year.
Case Studies – Hazards
Earthquake – Haiti 2010 (LEDC) Causes of the Earthquake: - Economic impacts: 30, 000 commercial buildings collapsed - businesses destroyed Damage to the main clothing industry Airport and port damaged President’s Palace and 60% of government buildings either destroyed or badly damaged - Haiti lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. Responses to the Earthquake: - There was a slippage along a conservative plate boundary that runs through Haiti. • - On 12 th January 2010, a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Haiti at 16: 53 local time. - The earthquakes epicentre was 25 km west of Port-au-Prince, the Capital – where the majority of people, businesses and services are located. - Social Impacts: 3 million people affected Over 220, 000 deaths 300, 000 injured 1. 3 million made homeless Several hospitals collapsed Cholera outbreak later due to poor water supply and contamination • • • Neighbouring Dominican Republic provided emergency water and medical supplies as well as heavy machinery to help with search and rescue underneath the rubble – mostly down to people themselves Emergency rescue teams arrived from a number of countries e. g. Iceland, USA, UK Temporary field hospitals were set up by organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross. Across the world money was raised to fund emergency aid boxes and medicines to be sent over United Nations troops and police were sent to help distribute air and keep order. After 1 year, there were still 1, 300 camps and not much rebuilding had been done Schools and hospitals slowly being rebuilt.
Earthquake – Japan Tsunami 2011 (MEDC) General Info: • Japan Is located at the meeting point of 3 tectonic plates – The Eurasian, the Pacific and the Philippines. The boundary is east of the 4 main Japanese Islands • It is a convergent Destructive boundary with faults running off the boundary Impacts: Ø Buildings remained relatively the same after the earthquake – earthquake proof buildings due to common occurrence Ø Waves up to 30 ft high hit the coast - Waves swept away everything in its wake • The islands are volcanic in origin Ø Within a day of the event – 91 countries and 9 international organisations offered aid and people to help with rescue and recovery • Japan gets 30% of the world’s earthquakes every year Ø Confirmed death toll 15, 890 (2015) Causes of the tsunami: Ø Material damage from the earthquake and tsunami estimated at about 25 trillion yen ($300 billion) § § There was a magnitude 7. 2 earthquake on the 9 th march before the 8. 9 -9. 0 magnitude earthquake on the 11 th march. (largest recorded earthquake to strike Japan) Build up of energy as the Pacific plate subducts under the Eurasian plate – frictional force released energy as earthquake waves Tsunami caused a section of Eurasian plate popped/bounced back upwards displacing water causing ripples – as they reach land they rise in height. Tsunami warning issued an hour after the quake Ø Japanese government declared state of emergency for the nuclear power plant near Sendai – Sixty of Seventy thousand people living nearby had to be evacuate. Ø Estimates that the tsunami swept about five million tons of debris offshore – 70% sank Ø 300, 000 buildings destroyed and a further one million damaged. Almost 4, 000 roads, 78 bridges and 29 railways also affected (2012) Ø 2014 – nearly 270, 000 people remain displaced Ø Japanese government is pouring $250 billion into a five-year reconstruction plan
Volcanic Eruption – Mount Etna, Italy 2002 (MEDC) • Mount Etna is Europe’s highest and most active • • • volcano. It is located on the east coast of Sicily, towering 3340 m over the city of Catania. The African (oceanic) plate is subducted under the Eurasian (continental) plate Plate where Vesuvius was also formed – different volcanic arc More than 24% of Sicily’s population lives on Etna’s slopes. Main source of income from agriculture due to its rich volcanic soil and ski tourism Composite (strato-volcano) – layers of ash and solidified Lava. Has more than one active chamber Has erupted previously affecting the shape of the volcano and the surrounding area – damage to land buildings Effects of Eruption: • • • Biggest eruption for many years – ash clouds that deposited material as far as Libya Completely destroyed the tourist station at Piano Provenzana and part of the tourist station at Rifugio Sapieza, located on the South side of the volcano. Took two weeks for lava to reach tourist centre of Rifugio Sapienza Losses in agriculture due to avalanche of debris – destroying food supply and livelihoods 77 deaths $8 million in damages Clouds of ash caused airports to close Responses: • • Damns of soil and volcanic rock were put up to protect the tourist base and divert the flow – didn’t work. New vents blasted to divert lava flow – more damage Local rebuilding own properties from salvaged material or relocated elsewhere – government intervention limited Monitoring increased
Volcanic Eruption – Montserrat 1995/97 (LEDC) • Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean. Volcanic area located in the south of the island on Soufriere Hills called Chances Peak. 1997 Eruption: • Before 1995 it had been dormant for over 300 years – in 1995 began to show warning signs of an eruption - Montserrat was devastated by Pyroclastic flows due to the dome collapsing. Caused forest fires. • Remained active for five years – most intense eruptions occurred in 1997. • Lies on a Destructive plate boundary - 11, 000 people were evacuated in 1995 to the north of Montserrat and neighbouring islands. - 5 million cubic metres of hot rocks and ash ran down the side of the volcano engulfing nearby villages as it went Long-term responses: - 19 people killed 1995 and 23 people in 1997 – mostly farmers - Exclusion zone set up in the volcanic region - The Monserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) was built to monitor the volcano - New roads and airport built further away - Services in the north of the island were expanded – encourage people to live there - 2/3 s of the island was covered in ash, mostly Plymouth (capital) which was covered in layers of ash and mud. - Many homes and buildings destroyed including the only hospital, the airport and many roads.
Drought in South East Australia 2010 (MEDC) • Primary Impacts: There is a water shortage and reservoirs are empty • Animals die of thirst and starvation • Plants die - even less evapotranspiration which further increases the impacts of drought. Secondary Impacts: • Major water restrictions are enforced Causes of the drought: • Dry conditions lead to bush fires • El Niño – every few years the normal weather pattern in the South Pacific • In 2009, 180 people die in bush fires is reversed. Usually the winds blowing across the ocean to Australia bring • Water quality declines and poisonous algae forms lots of rain. However, El Niño blows the wind from west to east and as it • Crops fail so farmers and exporters loose income • Farmers move to towns to find work crosses over Australia, the winds become dryer. • Suicide rate amongst farmers rockets due bills wracking up • Water consumption – Australians have the world worst records for • Wine industry affected – worldwide issue conserving water – they use lots of water (filling swimming pools, • Over half of all businesses are affected e. g. supermarkets have less watering plants, cleaning cars etc). Not a good thing when rain fall is low. food to sell and prices of food are high – imports required • Tourist industry suffers Forest Fires: Drought becomes more of an issue in Australia as forest fires increase. Early Jan 2010, south Australia experienced ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions where a CFA volunteer was killed and two other injured. Acres of farmland was destroyed.
Drought in Kenya 2009 (LEDC) Causes of the drought: - Deforestation – trees cut down. This causes fertile soil to be eroded quicker and leads to less evapotranspirtation. Rivers dry up and land is no longer irrigated. Climate change – high temperatures have dried up farmland the essential rainy seasons failed from 2007 -2009. Lack of farming knowledge in terms of irrigation of farm land Inability to afford irrigation systems. Why don’t people move? -No money to move -Poor infrastructure – ability to move -Poor education -Faith – generations grown up in the area for years. Environmental Impacts: • Hundreds of animals die due to lack of water and food - Kenya’s key species die, including lions, wildebeest and zebras – species become endangered • Lake Nukuru is shrinking fast – threatening 1. 5 million flamingos and other species • Crops fail in several areas • Grazing land no longer support cattle • Crops fail – food supply very low – famine • Rivers, such as the Njoro, dry up totally. Social Impacts: - 19 million people suffer from water and food shortages – millions starve – 15% rise in malnourished population - Hygiene levels decrease due to lack of water increasing risk of disease - People are forced to drink water polluted with cattle urine and dung - Many families can no longer afford to send their children to school – paying out for food rather than growing their own or cannot sell their crops/animals - Poor harvest force food prices up by 130% - Tourist numbers are down as a result of the drought - Fights frequently break out over scarce water supplies.
Hurricane Katrina – 2005 (MEDC) • 29 th August 2005 – Category 5 hurricane hits the Gulf of Mexico – Bahamas, Miami, New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama • Winds of over 100 mph batter New Orleans and storm surges reached over 6 metres in height. • 28 th August people began to evacuate New Orleans due to warnings but many could not leave – too poor and not enough time. • It was the costliest natural disaster as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes in US history. Responses: - There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster - $50 billion in aid was given by the government - UK send food air during the early stages of the recovery process - National guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order - NGOs such as British Red Cross sent out to help Primary Impacts • Flooding puts homes and roads underwater due to flood defences breached • Power lines are cut, trees felled, shops wrecked and cars hurled across streets strewn with shattered glass. • People seeking refuge on rooftops • 1 million people were made homeless and about 1, 2000 people drowned in the floods. • Oil facilities were damaged – petrol prices rose worldwide. • Total property damage estimated at $108 billion (USD) Secondary Impacts: • City descends into anarchy, with reports of looting, shootings, carjacking and rapes. • Flood waters contaminated with e-coli • 400, 000 people lost jobs • Key US politicians resign due to bad warning, evacuation systems and aid • Coast guard rescued 34, 000 people in New Orleans alone
Cyclone Nargis- 2008 (LEDC) • May 2008 – category 2 hurricane equivalent • Little warning was given • Winds of 200 km p/h and low pressure created a storm surge, measuring 6. 3 metres high. • Mainly affected Myanmar (Burma) a country south west of Bangladesh. Responses • Initial response of military government was appalling – did not want foreign people coming into the country and destabilising their political oppression – refused aid • Full 6 days before government said they were unable to cope and asked UN for help • Harsh restrictions on even most basic forms of assistance. Eventually had to give in to international aid for food, medicine and basic supplies. Foreign aid workers remained banned. • 3 weeks beforeign aid workers were allowed into the country. • UK gave £ 17 million in aid and sent international relied teams to help with relief effort • US donated $41 million USD to relief effort and sent American Red Cross to help. Impacts - 2008/2009 harvest of rice destroyed ( a lot of rice is grown here) - impacted 65% of country’s paddies - Shrimp fishing industry was damaged – many boats destroyed/ dragged out to sea - Areas were left without water, food and electricity - UN suggest that nearly 200, 000 people died - $10 billion worth of damage - 75% of buildings collapsed and on the delta 95% collapsed - 1, 163 temples destroyed - Floodwaters penetrated an estimated 40 -50 km inland from the coast - 50, 000 people still missing - Diseases spread - many survivors dying after event - Estimates that at least 2. 4 million people were affected
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