Design & Society

Chapter 13

By Vyvie, Thu, & Lindsey

“Mining” Australia

The world's smallest continent but the sixth-largest country in the world.

Located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.

Geography

-Consist of the Western Plateau & the Eastern Highlands.

-Between the two lies the Central Lowlands.

-Largest part of Australia is desert.

- Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast

Climate Map

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Australia-climate-map_MJC01.png

History of Australia

Today Australia consist of six states.

-Aborigines, 40,000 years ago from Southeast Asia

-Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships sighted Australia in the 17th century

-The British arrived in 1688,Captain James Cook named east coast New South Wales

Economy-Prosperous, Western-style mixed economy.

-However low productivity due to Australian soils causes economic problems.

-Minerals, tourism, wool & other agricultural goods are main exports today.

-Trade partners shifted in last half century.

Australia & Britain -Many Australian’s today feel strongly connected to their British heritage.

-Over capitalization resulting from British cultural values (monetary values and belief systems).

-According to the author Australia is more British than modern Britain itself in its architecture & attitudes.

Soil

-low nutrients affect farming fisheries- high salt Water supply Farmland infrastructure

Water shortage & Climate Changes

• Low rainfall or extreme desert

• Rainfall depends on El Niño Southern Oscillation.

Australia mining

Mining Minerals• Key to Australia’s

Economy today.

• Mining of coal, gold, iron, and aluminum.

• Overexploited resources.

**Australia’s largest gold mine**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kalgoorlie_The_Big_Pit_DSC04498.JPG

Gold

Minerals

Silver

Coal Copper

Interactions with other societies -US remains Australia’s largest source of import & Japan export.

-With in the last 25 years Australia became engaged with its Asian neighbors.

1] Accepted Asian immigrants.2] Cultivated Asian trade partners.

-The three top customer of mineral exports are Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

• Two thirds of Australia's exports energy and minerals goes to China.

“tyranny of distance” is an important factor in Australia’s development.

Land Degradation

• Clear land of vegetation• Sheep, Rabbits remove vegetation• Government policy• Overgrazing• Soil nutrient exhausted• Soil erosion • Man-made drought

*5 Point Framework Analysis*1] Damage to the environment:Yes, humans have obvious massive impacts on environment. i.e, landdegradation, soils, water shortage . . .

2] Climate change:Definitely, it’s increasing the severity of those impacts today.

3] Hostile neighbors:Partially, it has been bombed recently in 2002 & 2004.

4] Decreased support by friendly neighbors:Yes, relations with Britain as trade partners & model society.

5] The society responses to its own problems:Central question: Which of our traditional core values can we retain & which ones instead no longer serve us well.

The End :]