Globalization’s
Impact on Turkey’s
Environment Post #9
As globalization
increases, humans are not the only things living on the earth’s surface that
are affected by globalization. The earth itself is affected as well as
populations expand and land is cleared to accommodate the ever-increasing
numbers and needs of man. The vast jungles of the Amazon are often what first
come to mind, as the forests are burned and cleared in the process of
grassification in order to give the inhabitants of South
America and other surrounding countries more room for farming and
growth. Of course practices such as these can be viewed as immediately positive
for mankind, but in the long run can be detrimental for the environment.
Trade agreements also
impact on the earth’s environment due to the increased level of economic
development and construction which lead to increased urbanization,
often at a brisk pace that can also be damaging to the surrounding environment.
When major companies, especially large and foreign companies, make a successful
trade agreement with a less-developed nation, any potential damage to the
latter’s natural surroundings or ecosystem due to pollution is not among their
first concerns.
Figure 1. An oil tanker off the shores of Turkey.
After World War
II, Turkey wished to become
more modern, and it saw capitalism and free trade with the western world,
(particularly Europe and America)
as the way to prosperity. They endeavored to cultivate European interest in
their natural resources, and were prepared to pay any price for Western investment,
even if it meant alienating their political allies, or damaging their own
country. [1] Compared
to its immediate neighbors, Turkey has had a somewhat less tumultuous history
of trade relations, but as it is a considerably developed and economically
functional country, it is not without its problems. The natural resource that Turkey’s foreign investors are the most
interested in is oil, and this is what has proven to be the most harmful to Turkey’s
environment. Among many of the risks that are associated with oil production
are oil spills from oil tanker accidents, and Turkey received international
attention with the infamous Nassia
catastrophe in 1993, which caused considerable marine pollution.[2] It must be hoped that in future Turkey will use more green energy and take more precautions with its oil industry.
Figure 2. A map showing Turkey's rich natural resources, including oil.
Figure 3. A graph showing Turkey's oil production.
Works
Cited
Ahmad, Feroz. The Making of
Modern Turkey.
London:
Routledge, 1993. 119. Print.
"U.S.
Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and
Analysis." Turkey:
Environmental Issues. 1 Mar. 2000. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.nuce.boun.edu.tr/turkey.html>.
Figure 1. Turkish Oil Tanker. Digital image. Seanews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Figure 2. Turkey's Natural Resources. Digital image. Www.lib.texas.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
Figure 3. Turkey's Oil Production. Digital image. Eia.gov. N.p., 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
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