Globalization

Tom Burke, (founding director of E3G) and Thomas Friedman (Hot, Flat, and
Crowded ch5 pg 88), likens globalization to what they refer to as an “Americum". They define “Americum” as any group of 350 million people with a per capita
income above $15,000 and a growing penchant for consumerism. For many
years there were only two “Americums” in the world (North America and Europe)
with small pockets of “Americum-style” living in Asia, Latin America, and the
Middle East. Today, there are “Americums” taking shape all over the planet. China has given birth to one “Americum” and is pregnant with a second, due by

2030. India has one “Americum” now and also has another on the way, due by
2031. Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan constitute another “Americum”. Russia and Central Europe are nurturing another “Americum”, and parts of South
      America and the Middle East still another. So, by 2030, we will have gone from a
      world of two “Americums” to a world of eight or nine. By 2030, the world’s
      population will be 8 billion + according to the median United Nations estimate. Prepare an answer which discusses how humankind can make nine “Americums” sustainable (please note, any suggestion that we kill off a section of the world’s
      population in order to achieve sustainability would be irresponsible). Rubric:
      What is globalization? How does it happen? Who are impacted by it?– 3 marks
      What is consumerism and how does it lead to an unsustainable world? – 1 mark
      Discuss the global population question in relation to resources. Is the world’s population
      exploding? Are we in trouble because of the large numbers? Why? Why not? – 5 marks
      How do we sustain 9 billion people on this earth – 1.2 marks for 5 examples that are
      well supported by evidence.