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Changing geographies of economic activities

see also: Official sources        

"Economic forces increasingly operate at a global scale and lead to a New International Division of Labour. These processes have different economic, social and environmental consequences in the MEDCs and the LEDCs in which they operate." WJEC specification

Globalisation     Brazil - regional case study     Tourism UK     Transport UK
Trade     Trade - fair, ethical and just?     Environment UK     UK Government

New International Division of Labour "Spread of different stages of manufacturing to locations in different countries, to exploit differences in factor costs and economies of scale; more generally, since late 1970s, process in which especially Asian countries assume key roles in certain industries (cf. commodity chains)." See http://www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org/glossary

Defintion of new international division of labour http://www.soci.canterbury.ac.nz/resources/glossary/newinter.shtml

Wikipedia on division of labour http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_labour

Economist article The fall in manufacturing employment in developed economies is a sign of economic progress, not decline (Sep 2005). http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4458528

"The Disintegration of the International Division of Labor" Heavy going academic chapter from the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Alabama. http://www.mises.org/mmmp/mmmp9.asp

International Division of Labor and Global Economic Processes Another academic offering by Lothar Krempel and Thomas Pluemper which uses the car trade as a case study. http://www.mpi-fg-koeln.mpg.de/~lk/netvis/globale/

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US Library of Congress Country Studies A description and analysis of a country or region's historical setting, geography, society, and economy, among other things. http://countrystudies.us/

Office for National Statistics (UK) ONS data services, recent Census developments, access to public data and a section on the UK in Figures. Britain's economy, population and society at national and local level. http://www.statistics.gov.uk

EUROSTAT EU Statistical Office. Online publications and statistical information provided, including downloadable data (free of charge). Includes sustainable development indicators. http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/eurostat/serven/home.htm

World Factbook (USA Central Intelligence Agency) Profile of every country's geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues. Contact information for diplomatic representation in the US and in the country are included. http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/indexgeo.html If you have problems accessing the geographical factbook list, go to main homepage, look for publications and click on World Factbook. http://www.odci.gov/

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United Nations

United Nations http://www.un.org/
Other UN sites not listed below UN
Economic and social development main site http://www.un.org/esa/
environment http://www.unep.org/
human settlements http://www.unchs.org/
social development http://www.un.org/esa/socdev
sustainable development http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev
statistics http://www.un.org/Depts/unsd/global.htm
WomenWatch http://www.un.org/women
Development economics research http://www.wider.unu.edu/

World Bank Group The World Bank is a source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries made up of two development institutions owned by 184 member countries - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The IBRD focuses on middle income and creditworthy poor countries, while IDA focuses on the poorest countries in the world. Together they provide low-interest loans, credit and grants to developing countries. http://www.worldbank.int

IMF (International Monetary Fund) "The IMF is an organization of 184 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty." http://www.imf.org/

G8 Gleneagles July 2005 Official UK website http://www.g8.gov.uk G8 stands for the 'Group of Eight' nations. The G8 are the United Kingdom, France, the Russian Federation, Germany, the United States, Japan, Italy and Canada.  The European Commission is also represented. It began in 1975, at the invitation of France, as the G6. It does not have a fixed structure or permanent administration and the presidency rotates annually. The UK hosted G8 in 2005 and handed the presidency over to Russia.

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World Economic and Social Survey The United Nations' annual analysis of the world economy and emerging policy issues. Reviews major developments in trade and discusses the net transfer of financial resources of developing countries. http://www.un.org/esa/policy/wess/index.html

World Trade Organisation "The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business." http://www.wto.org/ Doha development agenda Negotiations on agriculture and services soured by discord. The Doha ministerial declaration was adopted in 2001. Negotiations have been extended with a new target end date of December 2006. http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dda_e.htm

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. http://www.oecd.org "OECD work on trade provides analytical underpinnings to support continued trade liberalisation and foster an understanding of trade policy linkages of public concern." http://www.oecd.org/topic/0,2686,en_2649_37431_1_1_1_1_37431,00.html

World Trade UK policy from the Department for Trade and Industry. http://www.dti.gov.uk/ewt/uktrade.htm

Developments Magazine published by UK government department which deals with international development - search the archive for back issues. Issue 15 (2001) is on trade, issue 25 (2004) on fair trade. http://www.developments.org.uk/data/archive1.htm http://www.developments.org.uk DfID http://www.dfid.gov.uk/

A to Z of trade From the DfID. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/organisation/intertradedept-az.asp

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World Development Movement Campaigning for justice for the world's poor, mainly focusing on aid, trade and debt issues. "We lobby decision makers to change the policies that keep people poor. We research and promote positive alternatives. We work alongside people in the developing world who are standing up to injustice." http://www.wdm.org.uk Trade campaign http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/trade/index.htm Trade glossary http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaigns/trade/trade4.htm

Trade Justice Movement A UK-based group of organisations including trade unions, aid agencies, environment and human rights campaigns, fairtrade organisations, faith and consumer groups. "We believe that everyone has the right to feed their families, make a decent living and protect their environment. But the rich and powerful are pursuing trade policies that put profits before the needs of people and the planet. To end poverty and protect the environment we need Trade Justice not free trade." http://www.tjm.org.uk/

Ethical Trading Initiative The ETI is a UK alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations and trade union organisations. Aims to ensure decent working conditions for the people who produce the goods companies sell. Members include major clothing retailers, supermarkets and companies selling coffee, tea and flowers. http://www.ethicaltrade.org/

Tourism concern Campaigns for fair and ethically traded tourism. "We work with communities in destination countries to reduce social and environmental problems connected to tourism and with the out-going tourism industry in the UK to find ways of improving tourism so that local benefits are increased." http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Cafod trade policy papers Papers by leading a Christian charity. http://www.cafod.org.uk/policy_and_analysis/policy_papers/trade

Fairtrade Foundation The organisation that oversees the Fairtrade mark increasingly seen on goods in our supermarkets (£140m worth in 2004). Sections on the history of fair trade, the benefits of the mark and the standards guaranteed by it. http://www.fairtrade.org.uk

Traidcraft UK organisation dedicated to fighting poverty through trade. http://www.traidcraft.org.uk/

Oxfam Make Trade Fair minisite. http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.htm Mugged: report on coffee

Clipper Tea Clipper tea has earned the Fairtrade mark and its production ensures strict standards are met covering education, healthcare, fair pay, housing and working conditions. The tea gardens in South India and Sri Lanka are surrounded by virgin forest. The pickers and their families play a role in protecting the environment from illegal logging and poaching. http://www.clipper-teas.com

Choccie bikkie A site from Channel 4's On The Line team, now hosted by Oxfam, about the implications of that treat in your lunch box. Quiz and Ghana visit. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/schools/chocbix/index.htm

Zambia Bized (as in business education) has a number of worksheets connected to virtual field trips on a variety of topics including GDP and living standards, commodity prices, trade policy and exchange rates. http://www.bized.ac.uk/virtual/dc/teacher/works.htm

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Globalisation

"Globalization refers to a multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch and intensify worldwide social interdependecies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepening connections between the local and the distant." Manfred B Steger, professor of politics and government, Illinois State University. Prof Steger's teaching course notes on globalization http://www.ilstu.edu/~mbstege/resources/syllabi/461D.htm

UK on Globalisation The UK Government 's White Paper on International Development "Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor" is available at the DfID site. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/

'Making Globalisation a Force for Good' UK government white paper. "The White Paper deals with the question of how we can harness the power of globalisation, not only in the UK but in every country, especially in the developing world. It addresses the implications of globalisation nationally and internationally and sets out a vision of a world trading system which is fair as well as free." http://www.dti.gov.uk/ewt/whitepaper.htm

Global Exchange An international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Global economy section and news digest. http://www.globalexchange.org/

World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization Described as 'independent' but funded mainly by the ILO. The Commission explored sustainable ways of combining economic, social and environmental objectives to make globalization work for all. Report released February 2004. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/index1.htm A Fair Globalisation: Making it Happen ILO follow-up to the globalisation report. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/fairglobalization/index.htm International Labour Organisation (ILO) http://www.ilo.org/

Globalisation unmasked A book review from Spectrazine. http://www.spectrezine.org/reviews/Petras.htm

The rough guide to Globalisation Introduction to Globalisation from leading Christian charity. http://www.cafod.org.uk/policy_and_analysis/policy_papers/rough_guides/globalisation http://www.cafod.org.uk

The global fashion industry makes a good case study. El Salvador, China and homeworkers in Canada feature at http://www.maquilasolidarity.org Also see a Dutch site which looks at the labour behind labels such as adidas and Reebok http://www.cleanclothes.org/companies.htm

Cafod - Trading trainers Activity-based topic on training shoes. The game is set in an imaginary Latin American shanty town. Downloadable teachers materials (pdf). http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/schoolsteachers/games/trading_trainers_ks3_ks4

Trading away our rights Oxfam report on women working in global supply chains. http://www.maketradefair.com/en/assets/english/taor.pdf

Teaching globalisation:

Birmingham's development education centre http://www.tidec.org/Globalisation/globmain.html

Development education association http://www.dea.org.uk Wales membership http://www.dea.org.uk/map/wales_members.html North East England http://www.ownne.org/ Scottish members http://www.dea.org.uk/map/scotland_members.html ScotDec based at Moray House, Edinburgh University http://www.scotdec.org.uk/

Cafod resources for teachers http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/schoolsteachers

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