People Guided Notes

CHINA: Managing Resources:

  1. What has the demand for more electric power led to? The demand for more electric power has led to increased construction of power plants, especially coal-fired ones.

  2. What has the dam caused to the environment? The construction of dams, such as the Three Gorges Dam, has caused environmental impacts such as habitat destruction, altered river ecosystems, and displacement of communities.

  3. What is China’s primary source of power and what is it causing? China's primary source of power is coal, which is causing air pollution and contributing to global climate change.

Human Impact:

  1. What has resulted in the rise of regional identities? The rise of regional identities in China has been partly influenced by economic disparities between different regions.

  2. What is the main gateway for foreign influence? Ports and coastal cities serve as the main gateways for foreign influence in China.

  3. Power resting in China is causing what in East Asia? China's growing power is causing geopolitical tensions and shifts in power dynamics in East Asia.

Addressing the Issues:

  1. What negative impact has economic growth had? Economic growth in China has led to environmental degradation, including pollution and habitat loss.

  2. How much of China’s water is polluted? A significant portion of China's water, around two-thirds, is polluted to varying degrees.

  3. What is the leading cause of death in China? The leading cause of death in China is cardiovascular disease.

JAPAN: Managing Resources:

  1. What is Japan’s primary source of industry? Japan's primary source of industry is manufacturing and technology.

  2. What alternatives to nuclear energy has Japan been looking into? Name at least 5. Japan has been looking into alternatives such as solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, and biomass energy.

Human Impact:

  1. Japan’s pollution problems were brought about by what event? Japan's pollution problems were exacerbated by rapid industrialization after World War II.

  2. Reliance on the sea for food has resulted in: Overfishing and depletion of marine resources.

  3. Japan is the largest consumer of what? Japan is the largest consumer of fish and seafood.

Addressing the Issues:

  1. Japan supports what industries that profit from: Japan supports industries such as technology, automotive, and robotics that profit from innovation and exports.

  2. Through environmental regulations and investments in green technologies, Japan has been working to mitigate the effects of climate change.

  3. What has Japan encouraged in attempting to offset declining fish stocks? Japan has encouraged aquaculture and sustainable fishing practices to offset declining fish stocks.

NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA: Managing Resources:

  1. South Korea’s economic transformation has had what effect on the environment? South Korea's economic transformation has led to environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, and habitat loss.

  2. What infrastructure issues is South Korea having with population growth? South Korea is facing infrastructure challenges such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and housing shortages due to rapid population growth.

  3. What are they doing with excess untreated sewage? Excess untreated sewage in South Korea is often discharged into waterways or treated in sewage treatment plants.

  4. What pollution problems is North Korea experiencing? North Korea is experiencing pollution problems such as air pollution from industrial activities and water pollution from inadequate waste management.

Human Impact:

  1. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have affected the entire Korean peninsula, reducing the habitats of many animals.

  2. What makes North Korea’s environmental problems hard to monitor? North Korea's closed and secretive nature makes it difficult to monitor and address environmental problems effectively.

  3. What is Drift-net fishing? Drift-net fishing is a fishing technique that uses large nets suspended vertically in the water column to catch fish.

Addressing the Issues:

  1. What is North Korea doing to help its environment? North Korea has initiated reforestation projects and some environmental conservation efforts.

  2. Is the encouragement of fertilizer actually helping North Korea? The encouragement of fertilizer use in North Korea has helped agricultural production but also led to environmental issues such as soil degradation and water pollution.

  3. How much of South Korea has been reforested? Approximately 65% of South Korea has been reforested through conservation and reforestation efforts.