FICHE NOTION espaces et échanges

FICHE NOTION

Spaces et exchanges

The notion « Spaces and exchanges » wich is the notion of all the exchanges between different spaces (cities, countries), can be seen through the trade.
Trade = international trade: exchange of goods and services across international nations

          Traders exist since ancient-time (travelled the world on camel caravans to buy silk, spices, china…) to now with computer, the internet and cellular phone.

So, we can ask ourselves what trade can bring to us.

In a first time, we will see the negatives aspects and in a second time, we will discover the positives aspects to trade.  

1. Negatives aspects

• Globalisation -> out sourcing

Example seen in class: Nike, the largest shoe manufacturer in the world (co Nike chairman Phil Knight with Michael Moore)

The seat of the company Nike is located in USA but shoes are made in Indonesia by teenage girls and paid 40c/h + Indonesia is committed genocide in East Timer = Nike supports this system

So, American are upset because Nike make no shoes in America => no job for American!  

        Out sourcing is a negative aspect because 1) Industries pay workers very not much, 2) It can have the back of “bad actions” like repressive regime… to keep their industries in the country, 3) It makes less jobs for citizens

        Globalisation increase inequalities: benefits are not shared equally among the citizens of a country = give (money) to rich and take to poor.

+ example in class: On-point: Stiglitz on globalisation: Globalization and its discontents

Outsourcing + lay-off in America

Globalization need some serious fixing -> new rules on trade/environment/ labour

In fact, globalization make a lot of losers= (in some countries) more less than winners

Globalisation -> large number of countries has debt crisis

• Free Trade

Example seen in class (evaluation): TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) = bill wich

aims to form a trading block between USA and the European Union where all could move freely => free trade wider

Negative aspect of workers’ rights, alimentation. Citizens’ power is stolen and give to multinationals corporations.

• Fair Trade

Critics says the system (Fair Trade) doesn’t promote modern methods that would help farmers escape living poverty.

1. Positive aspects

• Fair Trade

Fair Trade guarantees safer working conditions and bans forced child labor + promotes systems that improve soil fertility and sustainable farming method wich protect farmers’ health and preserve the environment + get better prices.
Popular because: can be found everywhere

Example seen in class: (co Fair Trade: the power of the consumer)

American consumers -> have so much power + can “vote” with their money in stores for a better world = purchasing power

It is a new method to help global challenge/problem (like poverty, climate change…) because old methods (government intervention) don’t work.

Fair Trade: Americans can make the difference

Win/ Win: Better quality/ taste + healthier <-> direct connection with what the farmers gets for his harvest (x$)

+ Example seen in class: Making Globalisation work (front page of J. Stiglitz’s book Making Globalisation work)

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