1. Today’s Issues:
East Asia
The issues facing East Asian nations include
earthquakes, economic recessions, growing
populations, and rapidly changing societies.
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2. SECTION 1 The Ring of Fire
SECTION 2 Trade and Prosperity
Today’s Issues:
East Asia
Case Study Population and the Quality of Life
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3. Section 1
The Ring of Fire
• The islands of Japan form part of a
geologically active area called the Ring of
Fire.
• Because of its location, Japan has faced
disastrous earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and tsunamis.
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4. Physical Forces in the Ring of Fire
Shifting Plates
• Many Japanese cities are threatened by
earthquakes
- Japan is on the Ring of Fire—chain of volcanoes
around Pacific Rim
• Subduction—oceanic plate slides under continental
plate
• In East Asia, Pacific oceanic plate meets Eurasian
continental plate
- crumpled continental crust forms mountains,
volcanoes
- stress builds where plates meet; sudden slip
creates earthquake
SECTION
1 The Ring of Fire
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5. The Geology of Japan
Volcanoes
• Subduction of Pacific plate under Eurasian plate
created volcanoes
- volcanoes formed Japanese islands
• Since first records, at least 60 Japanese volcanoes
have been active
- best-known Japanese landform, Mt. Fuji, is a
volcano
SECTION
1
Continued . . .
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6. SECTION
1
Earthquakes and Tsunamis
• An average of 1,000 earthquakes occur in Japan
each year
- most are mild, but some cause many deaths,
great destruction
• 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and its fires killed
140,000 people
- left Tokyo in ruins, damaged or destroyed
700,000 homes
• Underwater earthquakes move ocean floor; can
create tsunami
- huge wave of great destructive power that can
reach over 100 feet
continued The Geology of Japan
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7. Preparing for Disasters
Problems
• Older buildings won’t withstand earthquakes as well
as newer ones
- some are built on less stable ground or landfill
• Underground gas lines are likely to rupture in an
earthquake
- leaking gas can catch fire
• Crowded blocks and narrow streets hinder rescue
operations
SECTION
1
Continued . . .
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8. SECTION
1
Solutions
• Japan has strict building code
- engineers study how different buildings withstand
quakes
- studies affect codes governing construction
materials, techniques
- this makes newer buildings safer than older ones
• Schoolchildren have yearly disaster drills with
firemen
continued Preparing for Disasters
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9. Section 2
Trade and Prosperity
• East Asian economies became global
powerhouses in the 1970s and 1980s.
• The decline of Asian economies in the 1990s
created a crisis that spread around the globe.
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10. Opening Doors
Opening to the West
• East Asian nations are isolated from world until
1500s
- Europeans use various means, including force, to
end isolation
• By 1800s, treaties give Europeans spheres of
influence in East
- exclusive areas where specific nations control
trade
• Commodore Matthew Perry sails to Japan in 1853
to open U.S. trade
- U.S. warships intimidate Japan into opening up to
U.S., West
Trade and Prosperity
SECTION
2
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Continued . . .
11. SECTION
2
Industrialization and Globalization
• After WWII, nations industrialize, East-West trade
increases
- “Made in China,” “Made in Japan” labels are
common in West
• Regional economies merge, global economy
develops
- global economy—nations are interdependent for
goods, services
• Japan imports resources, exports manufactured
goods worldwide
• East Asian nations use cheap labor to become
manufacturing powers
continued Opening Doors
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12. Powerful Economies of East Asia
Zone of Prosperity
• Many Asian economies do very well in 1980s, early
’90s
• Economically powerful nations in Pacific Rim zone
of prosperity
- called the Jakota Triangle—Japan, Korea
(South), Taiwan
• But by mid-1990s these economies are having
problems
SECTION
2
Continued . . .
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13. SECTION
2
Economic Problems Arise
• Asian economies run on efficiency, innovation, and
cheap labor
• 1995 report from UNICEF (the United Nations
Children’s Fund)
- over 500,000 East Asian children work in
factories, beg on streets
• Bank, business bankruptcies in mid-1990s panic
foreign investors
- they sell Asian stocks; riots occur; governments
topple
• Japan enters recession—an extended decline in
business activity
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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Continued . . .
14. SECTION
2
A Global Ripple Effect
• Many of the world’s economies are interconnected
- Asian economic crisis spreads through the world
- creates concern on New York Stock Exchange,
other exchanges
• Steps are taken to prevent global economic
downturn
- World Bank, International Monetary Fund step in
- they lend money to East Asian countries that
promise reform
• The economic downslide begins to reverse
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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Continued . . .
15. SECTION
2
The Promise of Reform
• Crisis shows East Asia that serious reform is
needed
- increased wages for adult workers
- ban on child-labor, forced-labor practices
• Reform also requires an end to using sweatshops
- places where people work long hours in poor
conditions for pennies
continued Powerful Economies of East Asia
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16. Case Study Population and the Quality of Life
BACKGROUND
• Some East Asian countries, cities are among
world’s most prosperous
• Japan, South Korea, Taiwan have high incomes,
life spans, literacy
• Economies are strong, but today’s problem is
managing population
What Pressures Does
Population Put on the
Environment?
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17. Case Study
The Situation at Mid-Century
• In mid-1900s, East Asian nations are among
world’s least developed
- poor health, literacy, economic statistics
- widespread poverty, short life expectancy
• High fertility rates, but also high infant and
maternal death rates
- in 1950, region’s women marry young, average
six children
• Economies remain rural through mid-century
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Patterns of Population
18. Case Study
Environmental Stress
• Policy makers know population control is key to
solving problems
• Unrestricted population growth strains quality of
life, environment
- food production is barely adequate
- lack of sanitation fouls water supplies
- water tables are drained to low levels
• East Asian governments move to prevent
catastrophe
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Addressing Population Problems
Continued . . .
19. Case Study
Problems and Policies
• Aggressive family planning programs level, then
lower birth rates
- by 2000, region’s women marry later, average
2.5 children
• In China, 1950-55 birth rate was 6.2 children per
woman
- drops down to 1.82 children per woman in 2000
continued Addressing Population Problems
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Impressive Results
• Drop in birth rate, industrialization lead to fast
economic growth
- life expectancy, literacy rates are now among
world’s highest
20. Case Study
Some Ongoing Problems
• Region’s huge populations still put pressure on
environment
- a 1% growth rate in China equals 13 million
people each year
• Population growth is concentrated in cities
- more people require more housing, sanitation,
transportation
• Citizens don’t always like family planning programs
- feel China’s one-child-per-family policy
compromises rights
NEXT
The Quality of Life
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