Unit 10 - Resource Extraction Flashcards
(33 cards)
/Malthusian Theory
Made by Thomas Malthus
Suggests that population grows exponentially while resurce grows linearly. Hence at the point of crsis (ie where the two lines intersect), we would face Malthusian Catastrophe (wars, famines, diseases, etc). It suggests how there will be problems once population exceeds resources. Pessimistic thoery and its very Inaccurate to the human world
Malthus’s two checks for population control
To control the population growth based on resource availability, Malthus gave two ‘checks’
- Preventive Check → Postponing legal marriage age, anti natalist policies and reducing fertility rates or other legal actions can help reduce weight on resources
- Positive Check → This was the natural check that would happen at the point of Malthusian Catastrophe, where events such as famines, wars and diseases would automatically eliminate the population back to the required level
Boserup Theory
- Boserup, quoting Plato said that ‘necessity is the mother of all inventions.’
- She said that agricultural and resource development only happens due to some compulsion, and for humans that compulsion is population growth
- She argued that while population grows exponentially, when humans are near the point of Malthusian Catastrophe, we will find ways to adapt and change the situation.
- Optimistic theory that says human will find ways to innovate during times of need
Circular Economy (resource extraction)
A system where materials never become waste and nature is regenrated/ Products are kept in circulation through processes like maintaince, reusing and refurbishing
Paris Agreement
Paris Agreement = Brought into effect in 2016 to limit global warming and its effects. Signed by 197 countries
Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto procotcal = adopted in 1997 was the first legally binding climate treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emmisions and signed by 192 countries
Gulf War
during the 1970s Iraq was doing really well and industrilising.Late rin 1979, Saddam Heusein became the president of the country and wanted to make Iraw the most dominant country in the region.
To do this, he tried to take over Iran, which was just recovering from a revolution. Hence starting the Iraq-Ian warr of 1980 which ended 8 years later in a stalemate.
The ufnding for this war to Iraq was provided to Kuwait, but due to Iraq not winning it, it was in great debt to Iraq.
To stop this debt, in 1988, Iraq tried ot invade Kuwait. They blamed it on them that they were overporudicn goil and huritng Iraqi economy. On Aug 2nd 1990, Iraq wage war on Kuwait, capturing it. However this ttracted attention fm US, which formed a collation with 30+ countries to free Kuwait anfd regulate the global oil market.
This led to Operation desert storm, which led ot the end of the war in 1991.
Why did Iraq want to take over Kuwait
Taking over kuwait would mean control of over 20% of the worlds oil market which would help alliviate the economic situation in Iraq and beocme a global superpower, dominating the oil market
How was churchil responsible for making oil a valuable resource in the feild of warfare
Churchill, during the ww2 emphasised on the need for a strong navy better than the nazi’s. John fisher, a retired admiral suggested to churchill to use oil as it was more combustible than coal. Chruchill took the risk and paid 2.2 million pounds to a Anglo-persian oil company and this gamble paid, making britain have one of the strongest navy’s in the world. Later coutnries copied this and now almost warfare machinery run on distilisaed version of oil.
How many oil wells were set on fire By Iraq on Kuwait during gulf war and what conseuqcnes did it have?
600 oil wells, led to wildfires and thousands were burned in the process
Solar Energy from SBSP as an alternate mehtod of extraction of energy
Solar energy from Space Based Solar Panels uses solar energy with satelites equipped with solar panels to transmit the energy fron the sun to earth using Lasers or microwaves. Brings high amounts of uninterupted energy for daily use and is avaliable 24.7. However, it requires large amount of money and a good space program. Countrues suhc as Japan with their JAXA et US with NASA are actively researching on this
Icelanlds Geothermal energy use as a way of sustainable energy extraction
- Iceland has become a global leader in using Geothermal Energy
- Over 85% of Iceland’s homes are powered by Geothermal energy
- It hosts one of the laregst geothermal stations in the world
- The government played a huge role in public acceptance of this
- they launched education programs, subsidies and integration of energy policies with environmental sustainbility to showcase sustainable resource extraction
Manchurian Crisis
Manchuria was a chinese province in north eastern china but majority of its funding came from Japan. Japan saw it as an area to expand into and promote communism. On 18th Sept 1931, Japanese soldiers planted a bomb on the side of the Manchurain railway which they owned. This was known as Mukden incdeicent which officially srated the crisis.
Even without too much damage, japanese soldiers blamed it on chinese rebels as an act of treason. And as a result, Japanese soldiers took over Manchuria as an act of protecting themselves. Slowly they expand and conquered entirety of Manchuria.
China appealed to the League of Nation and dictated Japan as authorotative. However due to insufficient funding and military support, League of Nation couldnt force Japan out of Manchuria. Despite the warning from LoN, Japan continued to explot Manchuria’s resources and this led ot the exit of Japan from league of nations in 1933, setting the stage for Japan’s imperial expansion prior to ww2
Why did Japan capture Manchuria
This was done because Japanese army and government thought that this conflict would help lessen the impact of the Great depression and to get ahead of other coutnries economically. They would also be able to export Manchuri’as oil, coal and steel resources for themsleves to go ahead in military power and fuel their industrial gowth.
India Green Revoltution
- Period of increase in agricultural productivity in India during the 1960s led by Dr M.S. Swaminathan
- India’s population significantly grew during this time and we say an increase in resource scarcity
- The Bengal famine also worsened India’s conditions
- Hence this revolution was organized to address severe food shortages and chronic hunger
- It also aimed to reduce reliance on food imports and grow domestic farmers
- It aimed to boost food grain production, particularly wheat and rice
- It saw the introduction of many new methods of agriculture in India
- Transformed India from a food deficient nation to now achieving self sufficiency
What were the new farming methods introduced in India in 1960s during the Green Revolution
High Yielding variety seeds (HYV seeds)
Chemical NPK fertilizers
Modern irrigation systems
Governments role in India’s Green revolution
- Creation of multiple institues of R&D on agriculture methods
- Minimum support price → Ensure fair wages for farmers, improving their livelihood
- Financial aid for irrigation system, fertilziers were provided to farmers
Where was the Green revolution most successful, and what does that tell us?
Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
This highlighted even resource development scheme show inequalities as people with pre built industries almost often reap its benefits
Conseuqences of India’s Green revolution
- Environmental degreadition → Too much chemical use degraded quality of soil, leading to long term agriculture issues
- Poor enviromnetal footprint as most production methods relied on fossil feuls
- Smaller farmers struggled to get access to the new farming methods introduce
Resource Curse
- Also known as the Plethora of Plenty
- A paradox, in which countries rich in natural minerals and resources often reaming undeveloped due to foreign companies reaping the benefits
- The wealth from these resources often leads to corruption, increased inequalities and overdependence on one sector
Tragedy of the Commons
- Economic theory which states how human act out of greed and self interest and overuse/misuse shared and limited resources
This leads to overconsumption and resource scarcity which harms everyone in the long run
While this extraction may benefit larger companies, smaller stakeholders as often the ones who face the consequences
Tragedy of commons - example
- Overfishing in the Great Barrier Reef
- The Great Barrier Reef provides food, income and cultural value to indegenious communites such as the Torres Straight Islander community
- However, overfishing and reef degradation has led to enterprises earning profit, but the livelihood of these local residents beign negatively affected
- Also, the large extraction of these fishes has led to many species being endangered, as we fish faster than their reproduction cycle.
- To tackle this, the Australian government has issued programs such as the Reef restoration Act of 2050, which aims to reduce overfishing, climate chnage and human impacts on the great barrier reef by 2050.
Resource Curse - example
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Its a country filled with mineral wealth, and a plethory of cobalt and coltan, yet it suffers from widespread poverty, political instability and even conflict
- Forieng companies and nations, with trade pocilies are the ones who reap the benefits of the DRC
- DRC also isnt developed because it focuses majority of its GDP on this sector and ignore other industries such as gender equality, healthcare, education, etc
Earth Overshoot day
the date in each year when humanity’s demand for natural resources and services exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year
As soon as its release, government try to everything possible to keep extending that day till the next year, but dont tackle the root cause of it
