Impact of world trade patterns on people and the environment
People
- People in developing countries work very long hours for very low wagesThe money paid to people for doing a job., eg in India, many people live on less than £1 per day.
- Low standards of living – there is a lack of money to invest in and improve education, health care and infrastructure.
- Working conditions are very poor.
- Lack of employment lawThe rights that employees have in the workplace law means that people are treated badly, eg no rest or food breaks.
- cash cropCrops which are sold for profit. such as coffee and cotton are grown for export, removing vital land available for local people to grow food to survive.
- Children are forced to work to support their families – 30 million children work in factories in India.
Environment
- Lack of strict laws and policies in developing countries mean that factories can polluteWhen the air, water or land are damaged by harmful chemicals. the environment without any consequences such as large fines or prosecution.
- Cash crop plantations are unnatural and rows upon rows of the same tree spoil the look of the landscape.
- soil erosionWhen earth is washed or blown away. and land degradationThe deterioration of an area of land over time. are common where cash crops exhaust the land of vital nutrientsChemical elements that are essential for plant nutrition..
- The use of fertiliserA nutrient added to the soil to increase the soil fertility. and pesticideGeneral name for chemicals used to kill pest species that feed on crops and reduce crop yield. to grow more crops pollutes rivers and water sources.