Notes GEO101-D Part 3
11/2/2007 12:00:00 PM
Street Fight Movie Running for mayor of Newark, NJ Too much poverty 40% graduate from high school There is low turnover in city politics in Newark NJ Lots of corruption and fierce politics in Newark have proved to be an obstacle for Booker People were scolding him for going to Yale and being a Rhodes scholar To some extent there is a restriction of the free press
GEO101-D Notes
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Street Fight Movie The campaign began to take a race course As the campaign began to pick up speed, they needed to do more fundraising Many lies are being purported by Sharpe to discredit Booker They need to decide if they need to go negative in the campaign Sharpe has been able to use city money and raise his salary to cause more corruption The mayor is using the police to intimidate voters into voting for James or at the least not voting for Booker James is fixing the election Some of the voting machines have been tampered with Booker was endorsed by the NYT Federal election officials are going to supervise the election The police are taking down the booker signs Lots of election fraud is occurring Booker lost the 2003 election
GEO101-D Notes
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Sharpe James was using his influence to take trips and to sell land to his friends at a reduced rate There is still a lot of violence in the city and he still needs to fight against the adversity against him An ambivalent sense of place- a perpetual state of having both positive and negative, or contradictory feelings as a result of experiences and memories as they associate with a place What we may term `positives' Spatial benefits- ones own sense of space and safety (own room, car) Privacy benefits- security and the control of information Ownership/financial benefits, own car, own spending money, new clothes, etc Educational benefits- in general better school systems, increased potential for college, better resources, less babysitting Intangible benefits- informal connections, idea of comfort, stable family, vacations, community support and safety What we may term positives can also be thought of as negatives Spatial constraints- feelings of isolation, confinement, imprisonment Privacy breeds solitude (and xenophobia)- poor interpersonal skills, limited exposure to difference `Everything has been given to you'- `owning everything' translates into laziness or professional uncertainty Never enough education- increased desire to stay in school, not confront `adulthood' Intangible negatives- numbness, malaise, loneliness, lack of enlightenment Hikikomori- translates as `withdrawal' and refers to a person sequestered in his room for six months or longer with no social life beyond his home Hiki- draw back Komori- hide/stay low This recluse behavior is blamed on the pressure put on boys and girls to some extent to live up to the standards of their elders
GEO101-D Notes
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Hikikomori In Britain and Western Europe: NEET- not in employment, education, training NEET is a designation assigned by the government to people ages 16-18 who do not participate in society and are beyond labor welfare. In 2004, 7.7% of this age group were coined `NEET' by the British government The British government says there are roughly one million NEET members Why are the Hikikomori and NEET categories populated predominantly by males Why are these determined to be psychological or mental disorders (like anorexia, bulimia, or obsessive-compulsive) instead of personal problems? Boomburbs- low-density, sprawling, auto-dependent suburbs growing exponentially at the fringe of metropolitan areas A good example of a boomburb community: the sun city communities Characteristics of Sun City communities and boomburbs Private and high levels of security Normally have quite hours Home ownership comes with country club membership Often have age purchasing requirements No permanent residents allowed under 19 Identical architectural styles for all homes At least 10 miles from major metropolitan area Often in unincorporated area Have homeowner's association Suburbs or `edge cities' are different Form the edges of US cities Originally created as private enclaves for the metropolitan wealthy Now many are decaying, experiencing the same kinds of disintegration and decline as inner-city neighborhoods More compact than boombutbs, with more public transportation options Are more affected by housing market ups and downs Better reflect US diversity
GEO101-D
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Transitioning to the developing world: informal urban economies Definition and examples of informal economies, prevalent in the non-western world Informal economy: un unregulated economic sector where activities are driven by demand, specific eras of globalization, and the skill sets of its supplies Unregulated is the most important part of the definition Not regulated by the government Unregulated in US Drugs, prostitution, etc. The most important informal economy in the world is the trade of food and textiles Accra, Ghana South Africa Urumqi, northwest China Hanoi In the informal grocery markets and such, women are the primary people doing the work Informal economies are also in transportation Drug trafficking Huge informal market Drugs from south America to US Drugs from Afghanistan sent to Europe Human trafficking/smuggling Pakistanis returning from an attempt to get into Oman There are new fencing along the Mexican us border Prostitution In China where those caught are publicly shamed There are degrees of illegality, prostitution is regulated to some extent Netherlands and Germany all of legal prostitution Informal economic activities usually produce informal housing Characteristics of the informal economy Demand comes first, supply comes later (but quickly) Untaxed, unregulated Not a part of a country's GDP Prevalent in urban and rural areas (and those regions in between) Informal economic members move in and out of the sector, working when demand is not being met, when additional income is needed, or as a stop-gap between formal occupations
GEO101-D Notes
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Transitioning to the developing world: informal urban economies Definition and characteristics of informal economies Prevalent in the non-western world Dirty work: Mexico City Giuliani Time The informal economy is huge in the other parts of the world Characteristics of the informal economy continued The work of the sector is divided predominantly along gender lines o Women- waitress, sales. Can also do manufacturing o Men- fix things, managers/middle-men Age indiscriminate Very difficult to measure, study, and define- MOST IMPORTANT Ubiquitous in peripheral countries Haphazard governmental attempts at monitoring, formalization, and dissolution are largely fruitless Governments would like to monitor the informal economy and in some cases they want to get involved in the informal economic sector Countries in Africa have a disproportionate amount of their labor force in the informal economy-women 97%, men 83% Why is the informal economic sector so prevalent in peripheral countries and not in core countries? Historical precedent/inertia Prices in some formal markets are artificially high o Informal can be more inclined to follow the market Excessive to-down regulations force informality Regulations are considered `unfair' and will inevitably favor government over private suppliers Yet the fact that the informal economy is prevalent only in peripheral countries is a misnomer Money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, gambling, ticket scalping, eBay Mexico City 22 million people (2nd biggest in the world), 7200 feet above sea level, lies between the Sierra Madre Occidentals/Orientals 24.1% of Mexico's GDP comes from Mexico City Mexico City is the epitome of a primate city Mexico City houses one of the biggest and most respected art collections in the world Some current issues in Mexico City Population growth- the urban area is seeing a population increase of 1500 per day (mostly rural immigrants) Pollution-Transportation, Industrialization, the Bathroom Problem Water-Scarcity, Pollution, High Consumption
Corruption- Dirty Police, unresponsive city government, kidnapping, citizens taking their problems into their own hands Production-Mexico City is a major player in the global cities network Attractiveness-Mexico City pulls Mexicans to the promise of economic opportunity (oil, service sector) Pollution Water, and Corruption The geographic area where Mexico City sits contributes to the pollution The city is in a basin which traps all of the pollution within (think of Denver but worse because Denver only has one mountain range to contend with) The city has a high elevation, which means less air available. This enhances the emission capabilities of carbon monoxide (fossil fuels). With so many cars, you get the point Due to the astronomical growth in Mexico City, the government has lagged in enacting policy to curb the pollution The Mexican government now requires catalytic converters on vehicles It has closed notoriously heavily polluting factories (and moved them north) Incentives to replace old vehicles with newer ones (eg tax and gas subsidies) The result- Environmental conditions are gradually improving Water MC has minimal access to surface water (relies on aquifers) Reliance on aquifers means decreases in groundwater Limits in urban financing mean the city cannot repair leaks and provide wastewater treatment The result- Carlos Barrios Orta and Julio Cesar Cu of the MC sanitation Dept.
GEO101-D Notes
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Transitioning to the Developing World: Informal Urban Economies Dirty Work- Mexico City Giuliani Time Dirty (Informal) Work: Manila Sanitation Too many people and too much waste Clear obstructions from the city's 600 miles of sewers (garbage, plastic bottles, mattresses, trees, a Volkswagen, and they have found human bodies) Fix leaks They do their job completely by feel (the water is too black to even bring a light) The water is 60 degrees F This is the best way to make a fragile, large, and unstable (earthquakes) system from completely collapsing They make $480 a month to do the job Corruption They brought in Rudy Giuliani Mexico City police corruption centers on one major issue Move drugs and pay off police to help/turn the other cheek And is partially responsible for another issue o Kidnappings of family members of wealthy/middle classes There are great disparities between the rich and poor Why is the Mexico City police force so corrupt? Poor pay- police officers cannot afford the basics for their families (women stay at home in greater numbers than in the US, and Mexicans get married much younger) and must seek alternate income sources Legacy of Corruption- everyone else does it, why not me? Disparities in wealth between rich and poor- at least 40% of Mexico City's residents live in poverty and the wealthy are stinky rich (contributes to kidnappings) Poor resources- the city government does not have the money to outfit and supply officers with the proper equipment High population growth rates- too many people, too few officers, which translates to strong-arm tactics Residents fearful of reporting crimes- crimes are often not reported due to bribe taking and fear that reporting will bring further violence Kidnapping is a result of police corruption income disparities, the importance of drug profiteering and drug trafficking, and strong family ties
Why would Mexico City outsource its work to Rudy Giuliani for 4.3 million? International reputation- zero tolerance and a though police force International Reputation for solving the WTC disaster- Mexico City gets respect and legitimacy Pacifies visitors- oh, Giuliani is there, it can't be that bad
GEO101-D Notes
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Transitioning to the developing world- informal urban economies Quiz Information: November 28 Edge cities Boomburbs Defensible space Smart growth o 1-4 first chapter o Chapter 12 has no boldface words Optimistic and pessimistic futures Jane Jacobs' `dark ages' What is biotechnology What are the most speculative realms of the global future What are intelligent transportation systems (ITS) cards Wild 467-488 Manila, Philippines Megalopolis It has the highest population density of any city in the world In 1950, it had 1.5 million residents, and today it has 10-15 million residents The Philippines was colonized by the Spanish from 1550-1898 The US controlled the Philippines from 1898-1946 Languages are Tagalog (indigenous), Spanish, and English (and a combo) Predominantly Catholic (90%), an outcome of Spanish colonization There is a big disparity between the rich and the poor There is a large waste disposal problem Payatas dumpsite information 10000 scavengers and 2000 households Located about 30 miles from downtown Manila 450 trucks unload trash everyday In 2000, floods caused a landslide of the mountain, killing hundreds It would take 3000 trucks 11 years to clear out the waste and transfer it to a sanitary landfill ID cards have been created by the government to document and assign scavengers work shifts (no one under 14 is officially allowed to work) Over half of all Filipinos make $2 a day Scavengers make on average 150 pesos a day ($3) Best item ever retrieved 6500 peso Rolex (new) Worst item ever retrieved: live hand grenade What causes this industry to boom? Why are there so many others like it? Beirut's Quarantina Khartoum's Hillat Kusha Calcutta's Dhapa
GEO101-D Notes
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Future geographies Current affairs to illustrate the examples below: o A new world order, culture, economics, education, surveillance and civil liberties, environment Hierarchies and Hegemony At this time in history most of the world would consider the US to be the world's hegemon, or one that exercises influence, domination, and power over others This is an expedient position for the US and a source of frustration for much of the rest of the world The expediency of hegemony: a position of power that lends itself to laying the groundwork to further one's own interests For the US, hegemony is expedient because the government can: Refuse to sign the Kyoto Protocols (and resist international pressure to do so) Engage in war with Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of global terror Refuse direct engagement with other `questionable' nations (like Sudan and North Korea) Enact economic policies that favor its own businesspeople, farmers, etc. Insist on the extradition of Americans accused of crimes back to the US Kyoto Protocols: a set of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gases by 2012 Ratified by 170 countries but not the US or Australia At the time of the treaty's signing in 2005, the US was the largest single emitter or carbon dioxide from the burning off fossil fuels (now topped by China) US will not sign because: o The strain it would put on the US economy o It does not clamp down hard enough on China's emissions Kevin Rudd- new PM of Australia, elected on an environmentalist platform, remove Australian troops from Iraq John Howard- former PM of Australia and ran government for 11 years, was a good ally of the US Rudd will sign the Kyoto Protocol and regulate Australia's fossil fuel emissions, immediately pull all combat troops from Iraq What does this say about the changing status of US hegemony? Western countries see more benefit in aligning with the majority of the world over the minority (no matter how influential the minority is/was)
Developing/non-western countries do not feel as if their environmental/geopolitical stances will cost them diplomatically Western countries around the world can take a non-interventionist stance toward conflicts Orthodox countries fee legitimated in their beliefs and perspectives Global terrorism will grow? Jay-Z displaying Euros Symbolizes a transfer of currency power Many music contracts are now set up in Euros rather than dollars Suggests that allegiance to home currency (and thus home country) is not as important as monetary value no matter where its origin Culturally, what does Jay-Z's decision mean? Remember when he boycotted Cristal champagne In other words, what does it mean when Jay-Z tells consumers he favors the Euro
GEO101-D Notes
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Future geographies- Culture Five definitions of culture Tales from France o Headscarves and the French government o Culture as politics Revisiting a question from the beginning of the semester: what is culture? 1. Culture is `a level at which social groups develop distinct patterns of life' Age often determines one's social group status 2. Culture is also a `thing' One goes to museums to experience other cultures 3. Culture is a sphere of social life every bit as important, yet very different from politics, the economy, and the environment So culture also has geographical boundaries 4. Culture explains action, behavior, resistance It is not just a thing but a causative process 5. Culture is an idea that can be deployed by those in power Gender stereotypes, George Bush It has a malleable function to it Used to explain falsehoods, and also explain the pillars of society France, Headscarves (Hijabs), and culture France is officially a secular state (no ties between religion and the political system) The French government wrote a aw banning all religious objects or clothing in all its public school (largely in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks) The government's belief is that the headscarf is a political symbol The law was written because the government felt that public schools were recruiting centers for radical Islamists to encourage Muslims to join the jihad There were numerous cases of violence against Muslim women in public schools who were not wearing their veils or fasting for Ramadan The law also includes Jewish yarmulke and Christian crosses France's goal is to make every student `free' and integrated into a national public school system How do some French Muslim women feel about the situation? 1. Angry- the headscarf is a requirement for public attire, like shirts and shoes (Muslim women liken the rejection of the headscarf to requiring French women to wear bikinis to school). Muslim women's culture is tied to this piece of clothing 2. Confused- the hijab is not a political symbol to then, like the Star of David or the Cross. These items shouldn't be equated with each other
3. Defiant- France is attempting to mold people into a singular `French' culture to feed nationalism. This may cause more violence and oppression toward Muslim women 4. Marginalized- many Muslim women feel this is direct discrimination 5. Supportive- they are free from a symbol of oppression and sexism What happened to the law? It passed and went into effect in March, 2004 Culture has been played by the French government and French-Muslim women as a political issue- a strong idea with equally strong ramifications
GEO101-D Notes
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The European Union and A new World Order Instead of Economics- instead of economics, turkey An overview of the EU and its members Major characteristics Notable omissions Formal and informal characteristics for admission Why turkey's potential entrance is controversial The allies were in favor of a united Europe after WWII Began as a twelve country union of sorts in 1952 Officially became the EU in 1992 (common currency, common foreign policy, common security were all created in 1992 but not implemented until later) It has evolved very quickly (now has 25 members and counting and a strong currency surprisingly) 1999 border controls were removed Treaty for common foreign policy 2003 EU members FYI- Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, UK,... Major Characteristics political and economic union- not cultural union single set of laws for the market freedom of movement of peoples, goods, services, and capital single currency passport control has been largely abolished strong policies toward the environment what are some notable omissions? Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, Croatia, Iceland, Russia, turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia formal characteristics stable democracy, human rights, elections European location- this is becoming increasingly difficult to figure out market economy accept EU treaties informal characteristics high income- the UK vs. Turkey stable democracy- Germany vs. Turkey (terrorism issues) high education levels- the Netherlands vs. Croatia human rights protection Christian copious material possessions interest in politics green attitudes high taxes- social community
turkey is in negotiations to become a member of the EU- issues? Fears that Turks will migrate into other EU countries Is turkey a secular democracy terrorism in turkey turkey is far from green turkey's connections to the US turkey is strongly militaristic many Turkish citizens are not in favor of joining the EU
GEO101-D Notes
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Only chapters 11-12 are on the final Chapter 12 terms: genetic engineering, specifically the positive and negative perspectives of its use, where does the majority of technological innovation occur, nor occur? Large sectors of the population belong to which three categories, what characterizes these categories? (479) What is the European Dream? What is a kleptocracy-where are the located, global metropolitanism, Asian brown cloud, risk society In Vancouver last month, a Ukrainian man was tasered and died after becoming agitated because of the long wait at customs At Sky Harbor (Phoenix) woman accidentally strangles herself after being restrained by police China Environmental degradation/three gorges dam project Where will China be in 2030 The Three Gorges hydroelectric river dam On the Yangtze river (Chang Jiang) Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei province Work began in 1994 Height 181 meters Width- 1/5 miles The reservoir is 400 miles long Cost- 203.9 billion (US 24.65 billion) 1.13 displaced people Installed power generation capacity will be 22.5 megawatts Functions- flood control, power generation, improved navigation After completion the dam will be able to provide electricity to 4 Los Angeles' Construction timetable 1993-1997 relocate river 1998-2003 first batch of generators, permanent ship lock 2004-2011 end of project, 26 generators Goals faster trade routes (navigation from the interior to the ports more jobs flood control dramatically reduce reliance on coal for power which curs greenhouse gas emissions releasing water from the dam provides relief from drought curbs rural to urban migration by providing more resources and jobs Issues with construction vast unchecked environmental destruction (water pollution, deforestation ecological destruction (habitat modification)
human rights violations (resettlement, worker death) damage, destruction to historical and heritage sites pollution sits in reservoir rather than getting flushed out many costs-time, monetary, and opportunity widespread accusations of corruption
GEO101-D Notes
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Final Review 3 Gorges Dam- where it is in China? What river it's on? Who it serves (people along Yangtze river), what the point is for the Chinese is? What don't people like about it? When is it going to be done? Global Metropolitanism- there is a certain culture associated with Urban living (urbanity) sophisticated, technological innovation, fashion-is popular in non-western countries too Hikikomori Kleptocracy- ruled by thieves, leaders steal public monies Post Modern Urban Design- has a lot to do with architecture and urban design schemes- wanted to induce a change from the boring buildings of the past, innovation, creativity, and competition are emphasized Technological innovation- where and where not did it occur-occurs in western core countries, make our lives easier by making products better, India China Indonesia are also engaging in technological innovation Know the boldface words from chapter 11 European Dream- community relations, respecting individuals, work should be second to quality of life, life should be harmonious and not a fight, high value of human rights, diplomacy based on collectivism and not unilateralism Socio-Spatial Formations- 6 kinds, distinct boundaries where societies occur Pessimistic futures- chaos, nightmare, too many people, just plain old bad stuff Asian Brown Cloud- mass of pollution that sits in the atmosphere above SE Asian countries Know who is in the EU