Theme+3+-+Human+&+Environment+Interaction+JJR

Human & Environmental Interaction In Southeast Asia and the South Pacific; economies in both regions continuously expand in wealth, while taking advantage of low production taxes in addition to minimum-waged, workforces. Simultaneously, forests are being cleared in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, and Papua New Guinea for resources (lumber) and the lands are being burned for new and possible agricultural developments. Economic sustainability in the Southern hemisphere (sixty percent of the world's population) comes at the expense of the environment, and thus the atmospheric harm has a potential worldwide effect. Laos

Throughout the two regions there's a division between developed and undeveloped areas; rich urban areas and poor rural areas. Developed cities, suffer from fossil fuel pollution while construction causes erosion which clogs waterways. On the other hand, underdeveloped rural areas, use wood fuels for cooking and heating, which contributes to deforestation and air pollution.

Increasing urbanization causes mass migration, increasing automobile production and traffic, which consequently leads to severe air pollution.

Dams are being constructed throughout the regions in order to receive higher energy demands. However, the dams require local population relocation (ruins socialization) in addition to rerouting fish migration. Poor rural residents, usually do not benefit from the generated energy because the cities and major industries are given the prioritized privilege.




 * Works Cited**

- Hildebrandt, Timothy, and Jennifer L. Turner. "A Land on Fire: The Environmental Consequences of the Southeast Asian Boom." //Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2009.

- Series. "Environmental Problems in Southeast Asia: Property Regimes as Cause and Solution: International Development Research Centre." //INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE | CENTRE DE RECHERCHES POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2009.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Ubol_Ratana_Dam.jpg

http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/tours/pictures/18-days-Tibet-and-Yangtze-River-Adventure/daybyday/jiefangbei-chongqing_thumb.jpg

http://www.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/hires/unstudyadvis.jpg

http://www.breathepureair.com/airqualityblog/wp-content/uploads/air-pollution1.jpg