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The impact of multinational corporations, global trade and extreme weather on agriculture in West Africa: Difference between revisions
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The impact of multinational corporations, global trade and extreme weather on agriculture in West Africa (view source)
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It’s not possible to link specific weather events to climate change. However, most scientists agree the world will experience more unpredictable and extreme weather events as a result of climate change. | It’s not possible to link specific weather events to climate change. However, most scientists agree the world will experience more unpredictable and extreme weather events as a result of climate change. | ||
Adaptation | Adaptation: | ||
We can't change weather | We can't change weather. | ||
Changes in crops or crop management(modernisation). In some cases this could have other negative effects like enviromental damage. | Changes in crops or crop management(modernisation). In some cases this could have other negative effects like enviromental damage. | ||
Better managment of the foreign aid in an emergency.(2010 famine) | Better managment of the foreign aid in an emergency.(2010 famine) | ||
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Global trade | Global trade | ||
To the developed world the developing countries serve as reservoirs of cheap labor and raw materials | To the developed world the developing countries serve as reservoirs of cheap labor and raw materials | ||
Trade generates incredible wealth, and links the lives of everyone on the planet. | Trade generates incredible wealth, and links the lives of everyone on the planet.But unfair trade agreements and agricultural subsidies hamper efforts to reduce poverty in poor countries | ||
Rich countries limit and control poor countries' share of the world market by charging high taxes on imported goods. As a result, many poor countries can only afford to export raw materials, which give far lower returns than finished products. | Rich countries limit and control poor countries' share of the world market by charging high taxes on imported goods. As a result, many poor countries can only afford to export raw materials, which give far lower returns than finished products. | ||
For example, the rich world buys cheap cotton and cocoa and turns them into expensive clothes and chocolate. At the same time, poor countries are threatened with having loans withheld unless they open their markets to rich countries' exports. | For example, the rich world buys cheap cotton and cocoa and turns them into expensive clothes and chocolate. At the same time, poor countries are threatened with having loans withheld unless they open their markets to rich countries' exports. | ||
The rich world tells the poor world to get rid of subsidies, but continues to spend $1 billion a day subsidizing its own farming enterprises. | The rich world tells the poor world to get rid of subsidies, but continues to spend $1 billion a day subsidizing its own farming enterprises. | ||
Rich countries dump subsidized produce on developing countries, driving down the price of local produce - with devastating effects on the local economy. This has made many poor farmers even poorer, or forced them off their land completely. | Rich countries dump subsidized produce on developing countries, driving down the price of local produce - with devastating effects on the local economy. This has made many poor farmers even poorer, or forced them off their land completely. | ||
If the new trade agreements are skewed in favor of Europe’s rich countries, then they are more likely to increase rather than reduce poverty. | If the new trade agreements are skewed in favor of Europe’s rich countries, then they are more likely to increase rather than reduce poverty. | ||
Europe is pushing for new trade rules which would open up African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to competition from technologically advanced European industries and heavily subsidized European farmers. | Europe is pushing for new trade rules which would open up African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to competition from technologically advanced European industries and heavily subsidized European farmers. | ||