Friday, May 22, 2015

Shipping containerization history

The "containerization" of shipping made modern globalization possible through vastly increased speed and vastly reduced cost. Containers are uniform sizes around the world and use software to quickly organize and load cargo in contrast to the slow process of having thousands of marked boxes, barrels, and sacks loaded onto a ship.

Containerization: the world in a box - financial Times
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3544453973261662672#editor

Sunday, May 10, 2015

China's solar cities

Rizhao City
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2007/05/chinas-solar-powered-city-48605

"In Rizhao City, which means City of Sunshine in Chinese, 99 percent of households in the central districts use solar water heaters, and most traffic signals, street and park lights are powered by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells."

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Great interview on China-Africa relations

Great interview on China-Africa relations with Howard French author of "China's Second Continent"

http://www.france24.com/en/f24-interview-2014-10-06-1645-french-china-africa-economy#./f24-interview-2014-10-06-1645-french-china-africa-economy?&_suid=1431185061527012200812251525472

-Chinese wave of migrants to Africa began with Chinese workers on projects there who stayed afterward
-Many Chinese very happy to be away from Chinese corruption, communism--find less corruption in Africa
-China-Africa resource-for-infrastructure swaps
-Africa has more middle class people than India--predicts a huge expansion of wealth and the middle class in Africa
-Chinese immigration not a big issue for Africans generally except Zambia and maybe Ghana; Chinese have had a relatively smooth and friendly reception

Monday, May 4, 2015

Asia for educators

Great resource with key points in Asian history

Asia for educators
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/main_pop/kpct/index.html#kp4

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Iran's dying lakes

Iran has a number of dying lakes due to prolonged droughts. Lake Oroumieh and Lake Hamun are both in danger, both on borders with Turkey and Afghanistan respectively.


Iran's Lake Oroumieh has shrunk more than 80%

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2563031/Lake-Oroumieh-shrinks-80-400-square-miles-ten-years.html

Evictions in Cambodia

The effects of globalization on Cambodiaby Chak Sopheap
https://futurechallenges.org/local/the-effects-of-globalization-on-cambodia/

"Yet despite such positive effects from  globalization, Cambodia has yet to make use of  this potential for better social-economic development to bring about sustainability and wellbeing for the population.

The problem of forced evictions and land grabs is getting worse amid the increasing need of land for economic purposes. This is leading to violence fuelled by deep dissatisfaction over existing resettlement schemes. While the government justifies evictions and land grabs for the sake of beautifying and developing the country, there are many eviction cases involving violence and legal abuse where little or no  development has taken place. Unfortunately, most of the areas that have been cleared to make way for development projects have been turned over to private companies owned or chaired by high-ranking officials and affiliated powerful businessmen."