4.7.3
Ethical Responses to Globalisation
Localism
Localism
Concerns about unsustainability and a growing awareness of the impacts of a consumer society have led to an increasing movement towards localism.
What is sustainability?
What is sustainability?
- Sustainability means the ability to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is localism?
What is localism?
- Localism or local sourcing aims to increase sustainability by limiting food miles. Buying food from local producers means that it does not travel to reach its destination and so carbon emissions are lowered.
- If food travels less far and produces lower carbon emissions while doing this, then it is meeting today’s needs and ensuring that the planet is protected to meet the needs of future generations.
Transition towns
Transition towns
- Transition towns and transition groups are a movement helping to promote local sourcing. They try to get ready for an era after fossil fuels and look to be sustainable now. They promote local schemes and try to avoid using things like oil.
- Totnes is an example of a transition town in Devon. This transition town is a community-driven operation and local charity.
- Totnes wants to support the local economy, but also be environmentally responsible. They try to use things like clean/renewable energy.
Drawbacks of localism
Drawbacks of localism
- Buying goods from local providers may be more expensive and may make people themselves worse off, despite being a benefit for the local producer.
- While the carbon emissions may reduce from reduced food miles, if growing the crops locally requires intense resource consumption then this benefit is overset.
- For example, growing tropical fruits in England requires a great deal of energy to recreate the ideal temperatures.
Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption Schemes
Fair Trade and Ethical Consumption Schemes
Fair trade and ethical consumption schemes are further examples of the impact of increasing awareness of the impacts of a consumer society.
Aims of fair trade
Aims of fair trade
- Fair trade and ethical consumption schemes aim to reduce the inequalities of global trade.
- They also aim to improve the working conditions for some people by making sure that a fair price is paid to the producer of the product.
- They also aim to reduce environmental degradation by increasing awareness of the negative impacts of production.
Fair Trade Foundation
Fair Trade Foundation
- The Fair Trade Foundation is the most well-known example of a scheme that aims to reduce inequality that results from globalisation.
- The Fair Trade logo is placed onto products and ingredients that meet the standards set by the foundation. They seek to make sure that workers’ rights are protected and the environment is protected.
Fair Trade Foundation cont.
Fair Trade Foundation cont.
- Companies pay the Fairtrade minimum price for products which makes sure that producers are paid a fair amount.
- Companies pay an additional Fairtrade Premium which is invested in business or community projects of the community’s choice.
- According to their website, £106.2 million was paid to producers in the form of the Fairtrade premium in 2013-2014.
Recycling
Recycling
Recycling is another example of an action taken to manage resource consumption. Recycling helps to reduce ecological footprints.
Recycling in the UK
Recycling in the UK
- The government sets recycling targets for local councils to meet. Heavy fines are now given to organisations that throw away too much waste.
- Different areas recycle different products and the ease of recycling varies greatly across the UK.
Inequality in recycling efforts
Inequality in recycling efforts
- The result is that consumers can be confused. A survey in 2016 found that two-thirds of all UK households are not sure which bin to use for one or more items.
- In the UK, some areas see households recycle as much as 67% of everything that they throw away.
- At the other end of the scale, some households only recycle around a fifth of what they throw away.
Recycling NGOs
Recycling NGOs
- Many NGOs are working to increase the amount of recycling that happens in the UK.
- Keep Britain Tidy is an example of a charity. They aim to cut litter, end waste, improve public places and educate future generations.
- They run several different campaigns to achieve these aims.
- One example is the Great British Spring Clean where people across the country clear up the litter around their local area.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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