Human Geography : Research and produce an essay that explores the problem of prosperity versus the..

Human Geography :

Research and produce an essay that explores the problem of prosperity versus the environment in relation to following case studies:

World Length: 3000 words (excluding Reference)

Case Study 1: Food Production and Industrial Agriculture

What Assessment task should have ?

“The power of global capitalism has reshaped our world. It has enabled unprecedented levels of wealth and prosperity in the developed world. But this has come at the expense of environmental health, as we exploit planet’s resources beyond sustainable levels, and at the expense of prosperity in the developing world.”

Choosing the case studies given below, explore these assertions giving particular consideration to:

a. How global capitalism, environmental health, resource exploitation, sustainability and prosperity are relevant to the particular case study

b. How the assertion that prosperity comes at the cost of environmental health relates to this case and why

c. Whether alternative views of the economy and nature (explored in module 2) are useful in examining this case study, and how

d. What action is being taken by/on/for the actors within this case study to address the problems associated with globalisation and sustainable development (drawing on material covered in module 3)

Explanation

In this assignment it is asked to write a research essay that explores the problem of prosperity versus the environment in relation to a particular case study. The central consideration will be that the essay presents a reasoned argument that draws on case material to support and illustrate key points.

Case Study 1: Food Production and Industrial Agriculture

You can choose either:

1. a particular food chain (examples: milk and dairy products; confectionary; poultry; wine production; brewing; tomato processing; food grains such as rice or wheat; fresh, fruits such as bananas or citrus; fast foods; health foods; organic food and so on) OR:
2. a particular food company and how it is shaping food production (examples: Monsanto in seed production and GMO, Goodman Fielder in poultry, baking, general foods; Fosters Group in wine and brewing; Fonterra in dairy; Nestlé and Unilever, among the world’s largest diversified food and beverage groups; Cadbury-Schweppes in confectionary/soft drinks; ConAgra in meats and commodity trade).

Selected reading list:

Whatmore. S. and Clark. N. (2008) ‘Good food: ethical consumption and global change’, in Clark N., Massey D. and Sarre P. (2008) Material Geographies, Sage, London: 364-416.

Fagan, R. (2005) ‘Globalisation, the WTO and the Australia-Philippines “banana war”’, in Fold, N. and Pritchard, W. (Eds.) Cross-Continental Food Chains, Routledge, London: 207-222

Patel R. (2007) Stuffed and Starved: Markets, Power and the Hidden Battle for the World Food System, Black Inc., Melbourne

Ponte S. (2002) ‘The “latte revolution’? Regulation, markets and consumption in the global coffee chain’, World Development 30(7): 1099-1112

Wright C. (2010) ‘Fair trade food: connecting producers and consumers’ in Inglis D. and Gimlin G. (Eds.) The Globalization of Food, Berg, London: 139-161

Useful Information for Marking

Answering the question

Provides a convincing answer to the question

Originality

Demonstrates a high degree independent thought and reflection, makes an original argument

Argument

Provides a tight, fluid, and logical argument with well supported and convincing conclusions

Research skills

Evidence of extensive research to gather appropriate evidence from a range of sources to give insight into the topic and substantiate the argument.

Structure

One idea/point per paragraph, each paragraph flows on from the one before, each point is clearly relevant and works to progress the overall argumen

Competencies Language, expression, formatting

Well written, easy to follow expression, no mistakes. Perfect formatting

Referencing

Harvard Referencing