Hass Interconnections Test

Terms to know:

GDP
Total value of all goods and services created by a country per year.
High GDP = MEDC
(more economically developed country)
Low GDP = LEDC
(less economically developed country)

Globalisation

• Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of economies, societies, and cultures.

• What is it?

  • trade (goods and services)

  • resources

  • ideas

  • international trade + market

• Positive impacts

  • increased interconnection

  • increased accesiblity

  • Increased cultural exchange

• Negative impacts

  • Changes the way people work (AI)

  • Overeliance on other countries

  • can lead to conflict (Russia and Ukraine)

  • Reliance on tech

  • inflation

• Globalisation has been happening since the age of discovery

• It happens through the internet, infrastructure, tech and communication, trade and business, culture and media, etc.

• results in an increase of geographical awareness and more distance for less time

Tourism

• Tourism is the activities of visitors from around the world paying money to travel and see places outside their normal environment

• Tourists spend around 1 trillion annually

• Tourism is an export

  • This is because international tourists’ spending on goods and services in a country represents earnings from that country's economy to the rest of the world, similar to how traditional exports of goods are traded. 

• Different types of tourism:

  • Recreational: Tourists travel to have a good time/ relax (eg, relaxing on a beach, eating in restaurants)

  • Historical: Some tourists are interested in the historically significant aspects of certain places (eg, the Great Pyramid)

  • Wilderness: When tourists travel for the wilderness aspect of places (eg, Mount Everest)

  • Ecotourism: Tourism where tourists travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas to minimise the damage that other types of tourism may cause

  • Cultural: Tourists who go to a place for the culture, such as religion, art, festivals, and other components that shape a society

• SHEEPT factors (aspects of every place that attract tourists):

  • Social: The social aspects of any place (Culture, traditions, religion, festivals, food, or/and language)

    • Eg: Tourists might visit Japan for cherry blossom festivals, or Bali for the chill surf town culture.

  • Historical: The historical aspects of any place (ancient ruins, castles, old cities, museums, monuments)

    • eg: Rome, Athens, Cairo

  • Environmental: Natural aspects of places

    • eg: Great Barrier Reef, Swiss Alps, Iceland's waterfalls

  • Economic: The economic aspects of places

    • eg: Cost of travel, availability of jobs, quality infrastructure, tourist spending power

  • Political: The political aspects of a place

    • eg: Safety, government stability, visa rules, wars/conflicts, laws for tourists

  • Technology: The technological aspect of a place

    • eg: Transport systems, online booking, digital guides, smart tourism

• Positives of Tourism

  • Creates money for the country’s economy

  • cultural exchange

  • infrastructure development

  • environmental awareness

  • revival of culture and arts

• Negatives of tourism

  • environmental damage

  • cultural erosion

  • overcrowding

  • rising costs for citizens/people who live there

  • seasonal jobs/exploitation

Global Interconnections
Global interconnection refers to the way people, goods, money, and information move across the world, linking places and people.

Barriers to Connection

Natural Barriers

• Mountains, rivers, forests, deserts make travel/trade difficult.

• People build bridges, tunnels, canals to overcome them.

• Modern technology and transport reduce their impact.

Human Barriers

• Tariffs and trade restrictions (limits on imports, taxes).

• Government policies and laws can prevent trade or communication.

• Corruption and bureaucracy also slow down trade (especially in developing countries).

Trade

• International trade = exchange of goods and services across borders.

• Often restricted by:

  • Tariffs (taxes on imports).

  • Quotas (limits on how much can be imported).

  • Subsidies (government support for local producers).

• Removing trade barriers could boost global economy by $168 billion/year.

• Developing countries benefit more—better export access, cheaper food.

Unofficial Trade Barriers

• Bribery, corruption, unclear regulations.

• Can delay shipments and increase costs.

Digital Connections

• People connected by:

  • Internet

  • Social media

  • Streaming services

  • Online shopping

  • Messaging and video calls

• Mobile devices and fast internet have transformed communication.

The Digital Divide

• Gap between people who have access to digital tech and those who don’t.

• Indicators of the digital divide:

  • Number of internet users

  • Mobile subscriptions

  • Cost of access

  • Digital literacy

  • Bandwidth availability

• Some countries have more phones than people; others have very limited access.

Example:

• In Niger (2000), 1 in 5000 had a phone. By 2013, 1 in 3 had a phone.

• Social media played a role in political movements like the Arab Spring (2010).

Global Citizen Example: Cadel Evans

• Australian cyclist, lived in Switzerland.

• Rode for American team with Swiss sponsors.

• Adopted an Ethiopian child.

• Teammates from over 10 countries.

• Shows how individuals can be globally interconnected.

Types of Connection to Place

Spiritual Connection

• Emotional or spiritual link to a location.

• Aboriginal people have spiritual connection to Country.

• Example: Jeffrey Lee refused uranium mining to protect sacred land.

Economic Connection

• Job or income linked to a place.

• Farmers, tourism workers, miners depend on their environment.

• Conflict can occur (e.g. gas projects on farmland).

Cultural Connection

• Connection through shared language, traditions, religion.

• Immigrant groups create communities like Chinatowns or Little Italy.

• Cultural festivals, food, and art help maintain connections.

Historical Connection

• Past events (e.g. wars, migration, holidays) give places meaning.

• Emotional attachment to where something significant happened.

• Example: Gallipoli for Australians.

The Internet’s Impact on Connection

• Instant communication with anyone globally.

• Used for:

  • Email, messaging

  • Social media

  • Gaming

  • Online shopping

  • Research and entertainment

• Social media faster than news outlets for breaking news.

• Crucial during disasters (e.g. Black Saturday bushfires).

Online Global Services

• People access products and media from all over the world instantly.

• E-commerce worth around $8 trillion globally.

• Over 50% of Australians regularly shop online.

• Streaming services let us watch shows, listen to music, and follow global trends.