Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Final Statement
Final Statement:
3-9-11
China has many different problems that they are facing such as climate change, water issues, and population growth. These issues have become a threat not only to central and southeast Asia, they are global issues too. China is a very strong country, with advanced technology and a rapid growing industry. In order to combat climate change, production must be regulated and industries must find energy efficient methods. Southeast Asian countries are facing disappearing altogether due to a rise in sea level. Therefore we must take into consideration our footprint, and change our ways to help the environment. Water is essential to all life, we must regulate our consumption. Conserving water, using alternative methods, and reducing pollution is key to solving the problem. Although China has already adopted 1 child per couple law, overall population globally has to be addressed through education and family planning. In order to achieve success and promote sustainability we must work together, and all contribute to solving the problems we are facing. Communication, and community awareness is the best method for solving these problems globally.
3-9-11
China has many different problems that they are facing such as climate change, water issues, and population growth. These issues have become a threat not only to central and southeast Asia, they are global issues too. China is a very strong country, with advanced technology and a rapid growing industry. In order to combat climate change, production must be regulated and industries must find energy efficient methods. Southeast Asian countries are facing disappearing altogether due to a rise in sea level. Therefore we must take into consideration our footprint, and change our ways to help the environment. Water is essential to all life, we must regulate our consumption. Conserving water, using alternative methods, and reducing pollution is key to solving the problem. Although China has already adopted 1 child per couple law, overall population globally has to be addressed through education and family planning. In order to achieve success and promote sustainability we must work together, and all contribute to solving the problems we are facing. Communication, and community awareness is the best method for solving these problems globally.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Water Annotated Bibliography #3
Musa Kanso
2-23-11
Water Demand Triggers Crisis in China
Source: "Water demand triggers crisis in China". 2002. Journal of Environmental Health. 64 (9): 59-60.
China has been rapidly using its water supply for industry and production. Cities have also put a strain on the amount of water available. They are tapping into the aquifers, and using unattainable amounts. With the growing population in China, it adds a large strain on the availability of water. Even agriculture has had a large impact on water usage. China is a large producer of grain, and they use large amounts of water for it. The fear of fewer water supplies for grain could trigger world prices to increase. The price increase of food would affect the world market, and it would change it substantially. China is facing the struggle in keeping large amounts of water available for supplying agriculture and its citizens.
I know this is a reliable secondary peer reviewed source since; it comes from the Journal of Environmental Health.
Water Annotated Bibliography #2
Musa Kanso
2-23-11
Annotated Bibliography
Rural Industries and Water Pollution in China
Source: Wang M., Webber M., Finlayson B., and Barnett J. 2008. "Rural industries and water pollution in China". Journal of Environmental Management. 86 (4): 648-659.
This article contains many aspects when it comes to water pollution in China. It begins to discuss how rural industries have growing rapidly in many different regions. It shows that rural industries are less efficient than larger ones in the city. The rural communities use second hand equipment that is less efficient when it comes to wastewater treatment. They are also the main contributors in discharging polluted water into local rivers and lakes. When increasing the pollution in china they are also increasing the disease rate. Mortality rates and health effects on individuals in China have come from the polluted water and its chemicals. It also shows that government water agencies that monitor the rural regions, do not invoke as much pressure to decrease pollution. It is noted that most rural citizens do not take any action when it comes to water pollution. In conclusion China must significantly change practices in rural industries to combat water pollution.
I know this is a reliable peer reviewed source since it comes from the Journal of Environmental management, and it has reliable facts that come from different media sources.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Annotated Bibliography
1. Maloney, Clarence. The Maldives: New Stresses in an Old Nation. Asian Survey, Vol. 16, No. 7 (Jul., 1976), pp. 654-671 University of California Press. This ethnography serves as a means of better understanding the culture of the Maldives. It opens by saying that most people have never heard of the Maldives. This is important information related to public awareness of climate issues in that location. This ethnography can be used as a base understanding of a culture. Understanding the culture will help to understand how it will be affected by climate change (specifically sea level rise.) The areas described within the ethnography are cultural identity, the administrative system, the economic system, and the effects of world war two on the cultural climate. The article is based entirely on a visit to The Maldives in 1974 and a further period of study in 1975. This is a peer-reviewed source as demonstrated on JSTOR, and the PSU library search engine. It was published by an accredited university press (University of California.) ~ Hannah Sorenson 2. Connell, Peter Roy and John. Climatic Change and the Future of Atoll States. Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Autumn, 1991), pp. 1057-1075 Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc. This paper deals with the severe effects of rising sea levels and climate change on the lowlying coral islands in tropical oceans (specifically the Maldives, the Marshall islands, Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu.) The paper argues that the people of these nations (roughly 300,000 people) will become the first refugees of the greenhouse era. It discusses changes economically as well as ecologically. It also discusses the issues these nations face with population growth in congruence with the decline of natural resources and the aspiration for better living in a time when the terms of trade are worsening. This is a peer-reviewed source as demonstrated on JSTOR, and the PSU library search engine. It was published in an accredited journal of coastal research (Journal of Coastal Research.) ~Hannah Sorenson 3. Robert B. Jackson, Stephen R. Carpenter, Clifford N. Dahm, Diane M. McKnight, Robert J. Naiman, Sandra L. Postel and Steven W. Running Water in a Changing World. Ecological Applications Vol. 11, No. 4 (Aug., 2001), pp. 1027-1045. Published by: Ecological Society of America This article discusses the issue of water shortages in the coming decades. It talks about how fresh water is a tiny fraction of the water on the planet, but is still the foundation for life in “terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.” It argues that unless the management of water changes soon, the imbalance of accessible runoff and population growth is likely going to reduce freshwater ecosystem services, increase the number of aquatic species and further fragment wetlands, rivers, deltas and estuaries. It warns that climate change will severely change the hydrological cycle, making every bit of it more extreme. This is a peer-reviewed source as demonstrated on JSTOR, and the PSU library search engine. It was published by the Ecological Society of America. ~Hannah Sorenson 4. Pearce, Fred. When the Rivers Run Dry (Boston: Beacon Press, 2006) Fred Pearce’s text has a lot of information when it comes to water, and China. It provides a clear explanation on what it happening in the world with water, and also explaining China’s role. He is showing that water is globally disappearing, and many of our methods used are causing it to occur. Such as tapping into reservoirs, and building dams that cause floods and disrupt eco systems. It is very significant when it comes to China since in the text he clearly explains how China is being impacted with water. He shows that their rapidly growing population is using up most of the water. In China they have different water regions, which cause the sources of water getting to be spread out. Also a clear explanation is given about how China uses underground water for agricultural use (pg.57). Even we are shown that they have the world’s largest hydroelectric dam which causes controversy to some (pg .181). In conclusion this text is a great source to find information about how water is impacting China, and the Asian region. This is a reliable peer-reviewed tertiary source. It explains how rivers are disappearing and what role China plays in it. Also it gives us a perspective of what is happening from a journalistic approach with experiences and knowledge about regions in the world from Fred Pearce. ~Musa Kanso 5. Cheng H, Y Hu, and J Zhao. 2009. "Meeting China's water shortage crisis: current practices and challenges". Environmental Science & Technology. 43 (2): 240-4. China faces many different issues when it comes to water availability. This article shows the current practices that China is taking and the challenges when it comes to conserving and using water. China faces water shortages in many different regions of the country, and part of the task they face is the distribution to different areas. This article is significant since it shows alternatives to meet water demand in China. It explains each alternative, as well as describing the pros and cons of them. The main initiative to overcome water shortages would be to regulate water usage in industrial and agricultural areas. Having a plan, and a quota for the amount used in certain regions conserves water. Also China must maintain ecosystems and pollution in order to keep their resources clean and healthy. This source explains how water shortages can be overcome, while taking into account the environment and sustainable practices. This is a reliable peer reviewed secondary source since it comes from the Environmental Science and Technology. I know it is a reliable source since two of the authors are professors at a University, and the third author is a research data analyst at Stanford University. ~Musa Kanso 6. Kim, Margret J, and Robert E Jones. 2008. "China: Climate Change Superpower and the Clean Technology Revolution". Natural Resources & Environment. 22 (3): 9 China has surpassed the United States in being the largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Their rapid production, and coal burning plants have caused this large spike in emissions. These effects on the environment certainly create a concern for climate change. In parts of the region, glaciers have melted 20 percent. This causes a shortage on water resources. Also agriculture in China has been impacted by the climate. They have faced droughts, which have caused changes in food production. Although these areas are affected by climate change, China has been taking action in solving the problem. They are investing in clean energy and spending about 200 billion in the next 15 years. They are the largest producer of solar panels, and they have become efficient when using wind turbines in farming projects. In conclusion China will not stop in production and economic growth to reduce emissions. They are planning to continue with their trends, and invest in clean energy. This is a reliable peer-reviewed secondary source because it provides a great amount of information on climate change occurring in China. It also shows the current resolutions to combat climate change. ~Musa Kanso 7. Video: Morris, Chris. BBC NEWS | South Asia | How Sea Level Rise Has Affected the Maldives. BBC News - Home. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7945877.stm>. This video demonstrates the severe nature of the threat of sea level rise in the Maldives. It discusses how one of the islands or “atols” will virtually disappear in the next 20 years. It also discusses the fact that the country of the Maldives may not be able to inhabit their own land in the coming years, they are already looking at purchasing land in Sri Lanka and India, which would have devastating effects upon their culture. This is a media source from BBC news (online) in video form. ~Hannah Sorenson 8. Tih-Fen Ting, Shifts in Reproductive Patterns in China Vol. 25, No. 4, Unforeseen Consequences of Policy Decisions (Mar., 2004) (pp. 299-317) This article discusses reproductive changes in China due to policy decisions in Heibei, Shaanxi, and Shanghai. It emphasises that the same trend is seen in all of these locations, in spite of their differing geographic, ecological and economic characteristics. It discusses the “Great Leap Forward” and the subsequent famine, which created higher birth deficits and mortality among the rural populations of Hebei and Shaanxi while the family planning and “Cultural Revolution” caused lower fertility in the more urban Shanghi. This is a peer-reviewed source as demonstrated on JSTOR, and the PSU library search engine. ~Hannah Sorenson 9. Ministerial Declaration: Message from the Lake Biwa and Yodo River Basin, 23 March 2003, 3rd World Water Forum A/57/785 This is a UN policy document that was used in Japan in March, 2003 at the 3rd World Water Forum. It details water’s importance, particularly in sustainable development, then goes on to discuss the financial changes necessary to provide water to 3rd world nations. This document includes the following sections: General Policy, Water Resources Management and Benefit Sharing, Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, Water for Food and Rural Development, Water Pollution Prevention and Ecosystem Conservation and Disaster Mitigation and Risk Management. Though not peer-reviewed, this is a reliable policy document that conveys important information regarding water safety and availability. ~Hannah Sorenson 10. Shen, Jianfa The Geographical Journal: China's Future Population and Development Challenges (Blackwell Publishing, The Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers Vol. 164, No. 1, Mar., 1998). This journal takes statistics and facts from the last 4 decades and uses them to draw out the effects of rapid population growth and gives a picture of what we should be expecting to see if the constant rate remains the same. It goes into detail about how China's overpopulation will, and has already added to the mass depletion of the worlds resources. This source is a reliable one, that has been peer reviewed. It comes from The Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers. This center for world research has been a reputable source since 1830. ~Michael Campbell |
Monday, February 7, 2011
China Research
Poverty and Wealth in China: Poverty and Wealth in China varies between the rich and poor, there is a wide gap between them.
Poverty: Number of poor people from 2009 statistic is about 18,640,440.0 (1)
Wealth: Average annual income in china 17,175 Yuan (3)
Per Capita: $605,870 (2010) (2)
Total Carbon Emissions: 6,538,367 in metric tons (4)
Cap and Trade: China trades and invests heavily the statistical numbers are:
Merchandise Exports: $1,201,534,000,000.0 (1)
Merchandise Imports: $1,005,688,000,000.0 (1)
Sources: (1) Rural Poverty Portal which is powered by the International Fund for Agricultural Development Link to site: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/web/guest/country/statistics/tags/china
(2)National Statistics Republic of China (Taiwan) Link to site: http://eng.stat.gov.tw/mp.asp?mp=5
(3) The Telegraph by Malcolm Moore
Moore, Malcolm China's wealth gap the largest since economic reforms began (The Telegraph, 2011)
(4)Wikipedia, List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions (Wikipedia, 2007)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Climate Report for East and Southeast Asia
Contributions to Climate Change
China plays a large role in climate change. They are the largest industrial country in Asia. They are the mass producers of many items and they have the highest amount of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide with 22.30% of the world’s total emissions. The pollution output that they have is significant, to the point that the air they breathe is unhealthy. China is the main contributor of climate change in East and Southeast Asia. The pollution that comes from the region has produced brown clouds, which block out the sun. From pollution, the area will see less sunshine, and smog will drift to other parts of the region. China is responsible for building at least one coal plant a week. The contributions of the countries within East and Southeast Asia are unbalanced with China and Japan being two of worlds largest contributors, while other neighboring countries and island nations produce some of the smaller amounts of C02 in the world. Unfortunately every country will bear the consequences of climate change regardless of their own contribution.
China plays a large role in climate change. They are the largest industrial country in Asia. They are the mass producers of many items and they have the highest amount of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide with 22.30% of the world’s total emissions. The pollution output that they have is significant, to the point that the air they breathe is unhealthy. China is the main contributor of climate change in East and Southeast Asia. The pollution that comes from the region has produced brown clouds, which block out the sun. From pollution, the area will see less sunshine, and smog will drift to other parts of the region. China is responsible for building at least one coal plant a week. The contributions of the countries within East and Southeast Asia are unbalanced with China and Japan being two of worlds largest contributors, while other neighboring countries and island nations produce some of the smaller amounts of C02 in the world. Unfortunately every country will bear the consequences of climate change regardless of their own contribution.
~Musa Kanso
Impacts of Climate Change
China is the biggest emitter of Carbon Dioxide on the planet, and the effects are currently noticeable and will increasingly be more severe in China (the air is barely breathable). There have been numerous landslides due to torrential rains and over 1,000 people were killed in the latest one last August. However, other nations within East and Southeast Asia such as the Maldives are seeing dramatic shifts in sea levels that threaten the future of their country. There is talk of purchasing land in India and Sri Lanka because it is a very real possibility that the country will actually run out of land. For example, one island in the Maldives is predicted to be uninhabitable in 20 years time due to increasingly severe storms, but mainly because there won't be enough land for people to live on. In Thailand "the rice bowl of Asia," climate change threatens to submerge the capital city and destroy the rice business. Thailand is the largest exporter of rice in the world and the loss of that industry would be catastrophic to Thailand’s economy.
~Hannah Sorenson
Proposed Solutions
Seeing as climate change is becoming a more and more apparent problem in South Eastern Asia, it is important to recognize the steps to resolving the growing issue.
The first organized effort towards ending climate change is a treaty called the Kyoto Protocol, which was negotiated in December of1997, in Kyoto, Japan. Though the treaty did not come into effect until 2005, it has already made a huge dent in lowering the emission levels (about a 30% cut by 2010). The overall plan of the treaty is to bind the involved countries to cutting their collective emissions by 5.2% compared to what they previously emitted in 1990. Another organized effort for the slowing of climate change is the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This is a development which finances any program that will efficiently move towards the progression of the country involved.
This program’s main focus is developing underprivileged parts of the world. They have found that climate change will be one of the most important factors that will hinder the future growth of these up and coming countries. Since discovering this world dilemma, they have created strategies that will give Asia a chance at having a much more sustainable, climate-resilient future.
~Michael Campbell
~Michael Campbell
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thailand's Cimate Change report from The Climate Institute.
http://www.climate.org/topics/international-action/thailand.htm
Sea Level Rise Threatens the Future of The Maldives.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7945877.stm
On a small island in the maldives, it is doubtful that habitation will be able to continue for more than 20 years due to sea levels rising rapidly.
On a small island in the maldives, it is doubtful that habitation will be able to continue for more than 20 years due to sea levels rising rapidly.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Landslides in China, August, 2010
Landslides in China due to heavy rains.
The problem was exacerbated by logging, both legal and illegal.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
China Leading the Global Race to Make Clean Energy
Article: China Leading the Global Race to Make Clean Energy
Source: The New York Times, Energy and Environment Section
By: Keith Bradsher Dated: Janauary 30, 2010
Notes:
China is world's largest maker of wind turbines, and manufacturer of solar panels
Multinational corporations are building factories in China, since it is a important place to be when it comes to renewable energy
China's economy is benefitting greatly from it since they are also exporting power equipment as well
China has generous subsidies to consumers for installing solar panels on rooftops and solar water heaters
China has the ability to provide the rest of the world with renewable enregy resources, yet some countries such as the U.S. still does not want to depend on imported equipment
Looking further into the future, I beleive China will still be the leader in providing the most energy efficient equipment
China and the Energy Envelope
China and the U.S. both agree to work together to have a joint venture in energy research
If China and the U.S. build a nuclear reactor together, they could have it use half the energy
China will be using half of the worlds energy by 2050
They will be building 300 billion square feet of buildings, in the next 15 to 20 years
There energy research focuses on carbon capture, storage from coal plants, and clean vehicles
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
October 21st, 2010
| Floods spread throughout northeastern Thailand leaving 17 dead, entire villages underwater, crops destroyed and a major disruption in transportation and commerce. |
Friday, January 14, 2011
China's Annual Carbon Emissions
6,538,367.00 or 22.30% of the world's total carbon emissions. China tops the U.S. by 707,986 metric tons.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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