NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBALIZATION

1.  Free Trade Market and Globalization: Free Trade Market is one of the characteristics of a globalized world, because Free Trade means to eliminate unfair barriers to global commerce and raise the economy in developed and developing nations alike. But, the free trade have, also negatives consequences like adverse working conditions. As underdeveloped countries attempt to cut costs to gain a price advantage, many workers in these countries face low pay, substandard working conditions and even forced labor and abusive child labor. This “race to the bottom,” as critics call this drive to cut costs at the expense of human rights, is a key target of protests aimed at the WTO (World Trade Organization). In developed countries, also, workers protest due to feared job loss to foreign countries with cheaper labor

2. Globalization and environmental problems: Activists have pointed out that globalization has led to an increase in the consumption of products, which has impacted the ecological cycle. Increased consumption leads to an increase in the production of goods, which in turn puts stress on the environment. Globalization has also led to an increase in the transportation of raw materials and food from one place to another. The amount of fuel that is consumed in transporting these products has led to an increase in the pollution levels in the environment. It has also led to several other environmental concerns such as noise pollution and landscape intrusion. Transportation has also put a strain on the non-renewable sources of energy, such as gasoline. The gases that are emitted from the aircraft have led to the depletion of the ozone layer apart from increasing the greenhouse effect. The industrial waste that is generated as a result of production has been laden on ships and dumped in oceans. This has killed many underwater organisms and has deposited many harmful chemicals in the ocean

3. Globalization and Culture or "McDonaldization" of the culture: For some, Globalization is a positive process leading to share social values worldwide. For others, the term has a negative meaning, and critics see it as marginalizing less dominant cultures, particularly those in the developing world. Some critics refer to it as the "McDonaldization" of culture, due to global advertising campaigns that undermine cultural diversity.

4. Outsourcing: the definition of outsourcing is “to transfer (certain manufacturing operations, administrative activities, etc.) to outside contractors to reduce one's operating costs”. When a U.S. company hires an independently-operated call center in India to handle telephone customer service, this is an example of outsourcing customer service. Generally is used to reduce cost of production.

TASK I

THE SHADOWS OF A GLOBALIZED WORLD

GEOGRAPHY 3º ESO

Level of achievement: 8

Criterion:

Critical Thinking: D

Communication: C

Globalization, at the same time, has negative effects. As you can see in the following pictures, there is people who refutes the advances of globalization and have a critical thinking at about it.

Your task is analyze these critical pictures:

1.     Describe these pictures in detail.

2.     Have a glance at consequences of globalization explained above.

3.  Point out the problem or negative consequence of globalization described in each one, using, compulsorily, “key words”.

4.     What do think the author is trying to say in each one?

5.  Label this problem in one of these categories: economic, political, environmental, cultural or social.

Picture 1

[Key words: Human rights - Factories]

Picture 2

[Key words: inequalities – Northern]

Picture 3

 [Key Words: Free trade[1] – WTO – NAFTA[2]]

Picture 4

[Key words: MacDonald’s – cultural heritage]

Picture 5

[Key words: Factories – Kyoto agreement[1]]

Picture 6

[Key word: Cultural differences]

Picture 7

[Key Word: Outsourcing]

Picture 8

[Key Words: low wages – corporations – outsourcing]