IMPACT ON CARIBBEAN SOCIETY GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES

IMPACT ON CARIBBEAN SOCIETY GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA

GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES • TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONEMNT • THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ARGUES THAT IT IS THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/THE LANDSCAPE THAT PLAYS A GREATER ROLE IN INFLUENCING HOW SOCIETY AND CULTURE DEVELOPS. • PROPONENTS OF THIS VIEW REFER TO HUMAN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS WHICH RESULT FROM TRADE WINDS, RAINFALL, TOPOGRAPHY ETC. • HUMAN AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY PERSPECTIVE: • THROUGH THE USE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN BEINGS HAVE IMPACTED THE SHAPE OF THE LANDSCAPE TO ACCOMMODATE HUMAN HABITATIONS AND SUSTENANCE.

GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE • POST-MODERN PERSPECTIVE: • IT IS THE COLLECTIVE INTERESTS OF THE POWERFUL/ DOMINANT GROUP IN SOCIETY THAT HAS THE GREATER IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. • THE TERM PEOPLE IS USED TO DESCRIBE THOSE WHO HOLD THE GREATER POWER TO INFLUENCE THE ENVIRONMENT. • THE TERM ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT MEAN A FIXED SPACE OF PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. INSTEAD, IT REFERS TO A CONSTANTLY CHANGING SPACE THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED OVER TIME BY DOMINANT/ POWERFUL GROUPS. • THESE GROUPS HAVE MOULDED THE SPACE TO SUIT THEIR OWN PURPOSES FOR THE TIME THAT THEY NEEDED IT.

GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE • EUROPEAN COLONIAL VIEW ON THE ENVIRONMENT: • LAND IS AN ASSET THAT HUMANS CAN DOMINATE AND CONTROL. IT IS AN EMBLEM OF POWER, A FACTOR OF PRODUCTION AND A MEANS TO ACQUIRE WEALTH. • ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENABLED EUROPEAN COLONIZERS TO CONTROL NATURE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOOD, INCREASE MANUFACTURING AND ACQUIRE WEALTH. • THE ENVIRONMENT WAS ORGANIZED FOR ECONOMIC GAIN.

GEPGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA • THERE ARE FIVE MAIN FORMS OF GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA THAT AFFECTS CARIBBEAN SOCIETY, THEY INCLUDE: • PLATE TECTONICS • HURRICANES • SOILS • CORAL REEFS • DROUGHTS AND FLOODS

TECTONIC PLATES • THIS THEORY EXPLAINS HOW THE EARTH’S OUTER CRUST MOVES AROUND THE MOLTEN LAYER OF ROCK BELOW. • THE CRUST IS MADE UP OF PLATES THAT MAY MOVE AGAINST EACH OTHER OR COLLIDE. THESE MOVEMENTS CAN FORM MOUNTAINS AND CAN CAUSE EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANOES AND TSUNAMIS.

• PLATE TECTONICS VIDEO LINK • HTTPS: //WWW. YOUTUBE. COM/WATCH? V=RA 2 -VC 4 PIOY&T=13 S

CARIBBEAN PLATE TECTONICS

THE CARIBBEAN PLATES • A SMALL SECTION OF CRUST UNDER THE CARIBBEAN SEA • AS IT MOVES TOWARDS THE EAST, IT CREATES A VOLCANIC ZONE IN THE LESSER ANTILLES • ANOTHER VOLCANIC ZONE IS FOUND ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE CARIBBEAN PLATE. • AS THESE PLATES MOVE, IT RESULTS EARTHQUAKES OR SMALL TREMORS. • THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BOUNDARIES OF THE CARIBBEAN PLATE ARE OFTEN EARTHQUAKE ZONES.

HOW IT IMPACTS THE CARIBBEAN • THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE VULNERABLE TO THE IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANOES AND TSUNAMIS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION. • ADDITIONALLY, MANY CARIBBEAN ISLANDS LACK THE RESOURCES WHICH INCLUDE FINANCIAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND HUMAN TO PROTECT ITSELF FROM THE IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS AS WELL AS RECOVER QUICKLY FROM NATURAL HAZARDS. • THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IS SEVERELY IMPACTED BY NATURAL HAZARDS. WHEN A NATURAL DISASTER STRIKES ONE COUNTRY, THE ENTIRE REGION IS AFFECTED AND THIS REDUCES TOURISTS ARRIVALS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

HOW IT IMPACTS THE CARIBBEAN • AS A RESULT OF THESE GEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSES, THE REGION CAN EXPERIENCE TSUNAMIS WHICH CAN DESTROY THE COASTAL AREAS. • EARTHQUAKES CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. IT CAN HINDER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE AFFECTED COUNTRY ( HAITI 2010). • VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE, PROPERTY AND LAND SPACE (MARTINIQUE). • POISONOUS GASES RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AS A RESULT OF ERUPTED VOLCANOES CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT PLANT GROWTH AND CAUSE ACID RAIN.

HOW IT IMPACTS THE CARIBBEAN • MANY COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS MAY EXPERIENCE A BRAIN DRAIN AS PEOPLE MOVE TO OTHER COUNTRIES. • NATURAL DISASTERS CAN DISCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTORS FROM ESTABLISHING BUSINESSES IN THE AFFECTED COUNTRY. • ON THE OTHER HAND, HOT SPRINGS THAT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ATTRACT TOURISTS. • VOLCANIC ACTIVITY CAN PRODUCE SOIL THAT IS RICH IN NUTRIENTS. THIS HELPS AGRICULTURE IN THE AFFECTED COUNTRIES.

HOW IT IMPACTS THE CARIBBEAN • THE FORMATION OF MOUNTAINS CAN CREATE A SCENIC ENVIRONMENT WHICH CAN ALSO ATTRACT TOURISTS. • VOLCANOES CAN EXPOSE VALUABLE MINERALS SUCH AS GOLD, SILVER, NICKEL, BAUXITE AS WELL AS OIL AND GAS.

CASE STUDY HAITI’S 2010 EARTHQUAKE • A MAGNITUDE-7. 0 EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK HAITI ON THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 12, 2010, WAS ONE MORE DISASTER IN A COUNTRY THAT HAD SUFFERED FROM DECADES OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL SETBACKS AND INEQUALITIES. • WITH APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED, THIS EARTHQUAKE WAS THE MOST DEVASTATING NATURAL DISASTER EVER EXPERIENCED IN HAITI, THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. ROUGHLY 250, 000 LIVES WERE LOST AND 300, 000 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. ABOUT 1. 5 MILLION INDIVIDUALS WERE FORCED TO LIVE IN MAKESHIFT INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) CAMPS. AS A RESULT, THE COUNTRY FACED THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN NEED IN ITS HISTORY.

• IN 2010, THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ESTIMATED THAT THE EARTHQUAKE CREATED BETWEEN $7. 8 BILLION AND $8. 5 BILLION IN DAMAGE. IT SAID THAT THE DAMAGE COULD BE AS MUCH $13. 9 BILLION OVER TIME. • THE EARTHQUAKE SHRANK HAITI'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY 5. 1 PERCENT. IT CRIPPLED THE MAIN AIRPORT, MOST OF THE PORTS, AND ALMOST ALL THE PAVED ROADS. THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR RELIEF EFFORTS TO REACH THE VICTIMS. THE QUAKE DAMAGED 294, 383 HOMES AND DESTROYED 106, 000 OF THEM. • THE QUAKE HIT PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI'S CAPITAL. THIS IMPAIRED GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO RESTORE ORDER. IT KILLED 25 PERCENT OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS LIVING IN THE CAPITAL. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND 80 PERCENT OF ITS SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

HURRICANES • HTTPS: //WWW. YOUTUBE. COM/WATCH? V=R 6 RR-PIH 1 CG • HURRICANE DEFINITION: A LARGE ROTATING STORM WITH HIGH WIND SPEED, STORM SURGE AND TORRENTIAL FLOODING. HURRICANES ARE COMMON IN TROPICAL CLIMATES. • THE CARIBBEAN REGION CAN EXPECT TO FACE UP TO THREE HURRICANES PER YEAR.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF HURRICANES • PEOPLE SUFFER THE LOSS OF THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY • AS A RESULT OF THE TRAUMA OF LOSING THEIR HOMES AND JOBS, THERE IS ALSO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT WHICH MY CAUSE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. • BUSINESSES SUFFER BECAUSE OF LOSS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND STOCK. • IN SOME CASES BUSINESSES MAY HAVE TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE AND RELEASE THEIR WORKERS. • IF PORTS ARE DAMAGED, IT WILL AFFECT THEIR ABILITY IMPORT AND EXPORT PRODUCTS • DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, ELECTRICITY SUPPLY LINES, WATER SUPPLY LINES AND FACILITIES’ TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES. • THIS CAN LEAD TO COMMUNITIES BEING CUT-OFF. COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS LOVED ONES, HEALTH FACILITIES, FOOD AND DRINKING WATER. • DAMAGE TO HOSPITALS AFFECTS PATIENTS AND THE HOSPITAL’S ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.

CONTINUED… • STUNTS ECONOMIC GROWTH. • MOST CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES RELY ON AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM TO EARN REVENUE. WHEN THESE SECTORS ARE DESTROYED BY HURRICANES THEY ARE LEFT WITHOUT THE NATURAL RESOURCES THEY RELY ON TO EARN REVENUE. • BEACHES ARE DESTROYED • HOTELS AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT CATER TOURISTS ARE DAMAGES OR DESTROYED. • SHORTAGES IN AGRICULTURE LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES FOR FOOD

CASE STUDY GRENADA • THE STRONG WINDS IMPACTED MORE THAN 14, 000 HOMES ON GRENADA [3] WITH 90 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S HOUSES DAMAGED AND OF WHICH 30 PERCENT WERE DESTROYED. [22] THE CAPITAL CITY OF ST. GEORGE'S WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, [3] WHERE EVERY MAJOR BUILDING WAS EITHER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. [9] IVAN'S PASSAGE EITHER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED 85 PERCENT OF THE STRUCTURES ON THE ISLAND, [23] INCLUDING THE NATION'S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE[4] AND A 17 TH-CENTURY PRISON, WHICH ALLOWED MANY INMATES TO BRIEFLY ESCAPE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM. [3] THE HURRICANE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED 75 PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, WITH ONLY TWO LEFT IN WORKING CONDITION. [24] ALL OF GRENADA WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER OR RUNNING WATER. [22] • TOURISM WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED; AN ESTIMATED 60 PERCENT OF HOTEL ROOMS WERE DAMAGED. [24] THE WINDS DOWNED 80 PERCENT OF THE NUTMEG TREES ON THE ISLAND, [3] WITH OTHER CROP LOSSES VARYING BETWEEN 60– 90 PERCENT. [24] AN ESTIMATED 18, 000 PEOPLE WERE LEFT HOMELESS BY THE HURRICANE, AND ABOUT 700 PEOPLE SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE STORM. [22] IVAN WAS CONSIDERED THE WORST HURRICANE TO STRIKE THE NATION SINCE HURRICANE JANET IN 1955; [3] ITS PASSAGE RESULTED IN 39 FATALITIES AND $1. 1 BILLION IN DAMAGE (2004 USD, ($1. 46 BILLION 2019 USD), [2] ABOUT 200% OF ITS GDP[24] AND OF WHICH ABOUT 45% RESULTED FROM HOUSING DAMAGE. [21]

SOLUTIONS • IMPROVE THE EMERGENCY BROADCASTING SYSTEM TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED AND TO INITIATE WARNINGS. • EDUCATE THE POPULATION ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS • IMPROVE CURRENT AND CREATE SHELTERS • IMPROVE HOUSING/ BUILDING CODES TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN WITHSTAND THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANES AND EARTHQUAKES • IMPROVE HURRICANE DEFENCES ON PORTS • IMPLEMENT EVACUATION PLANS FOR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES • PLANT MANGROVES AND TRESS BECAUSE THEY ACT AS A BARRIER AGAINST THE STORM

SOIL • SOIL EROSION IS A COMMON CONCERN FOR MANY CARIBBEAN ISLANDS. IT IS THE REMOVAL OF THE TOP SOIL DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL OR WIND. • THE BARE SOIL IS EASILY WASHED AWAY. THEREFORE, SOIL EROSION LOWERS CROP YIELDS AND INCREASES THE COST OF PRODUCTION. • SOME FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SOIL EROSION ARE: • POOR FARMING METHODS SUCH AS OVER-CROPPING; OVERGRAZING; DEFORESTATION; MINING ETC. E. G. HAITI

HAITI

HAITI

CASE STUDY HAITI • HTTPS: //WWW. YOUTUBE. COM/WATCH? V=MU 4 BFJEUU 8 C&T=86 S

SOIL CONSERVATION • KEEP THE NATURAL VEGETATION ON STEEP SLOPES AND USE THE GENTLER SLOPES FOR AGRICULTURE. • FARMING TECHNIQUES SUCH AS: CROP ROTATION; PLOUGHING IN CONTOURS; MIXED CROPPING AND MULCHING CAN BE APPLIED. • FENCING OFF SPECIFIC AREAS FOR ANIMALS TO GRAZE. • AFFORESTATION PROJECTS • BUILDING CHECK DAMS IN RAVINES TO ENCOURAGE INFILTRATION. • MAKING TERRACES/STEPS ON HILLSLOPES TO PREVENT THE TOP SOIL FROM WASHING AWAY. • MIXING CROPS • ENCOURAGE THE USE OF ENERGY SOURCES THAT DO USE TRESS/ CHARCOAL

• CAPE 2003 • DESCRIBE HOW THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE HAS INFLUENCED SETTLEMENT PATTERNS IN THE REGION. • (20 MARKS)