If you want to know what is meant be globalisation and international trade, look no further than the Emma Maersk (pictured above)
Said to be the world's largest container vessel the Emma Maersk arrived in at the massive port of Felixstowe, Suffolk, to unload 45,000 tonnes of Christmas goods from China. Hundreds of spectators lined the shore to watch as it was guided into port by three tugs. The ship is a quarter of a mile long, 200ft high and as wide as a motorway. Its cargo of toys, books, computers, Christmas crackers, decorations and food, are bound for Britain and mainland Europe.
Paul Davey, of the Port of Felixstowe, said the size of the load reflected the increase of trade with China.
"This year alone we have seen a 16% increase in the volume of goods coming in from China. The year before that it was 24%, so it is continuing at a considerable pace of increase," he said.
The ship's Danish owner, Maersk Line, said the Emma Maersk was "one of the most environmentally friendly" container-vessels built, but campaigners have warned of the environmental damage such giant ships could cause.
"The environmental costs of long-distance trade need to be properly taken into account," said Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South East England.
"We must manage international trade in a way which is socially and environmentally sustainable, working towards global agreement on measures such as fuel taxes and import tariffs designed to support home-grown businesses.
Click here to see more photos of this ship on Flickr
3 comments:
The BBC news report on the ships arrival can be watched by going to the following web address:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm
I suppose the article highlights the main problems of international trade, globalisation and modern transport.
By trading with China we are assisting their economy, but perhaps we are damaging our own by not buying local produce/products made in Britain. However, by exporting our goods to other countries we support our own economy by bringing in money.
Globalisation is again a possible damage to our economy and it does place much wealth in one area, i.e Coca-cola. If we all buy goods from Coke, we are paying money into their centralised bank account (in a kind of roundabout way) and centralising the world's wealth. However, the large MNCs could, I suppose, invest money into the economies and people of the country they are based in or selling their producrs in.
Long distance transport does have an effect on our environment, and we are aware of this. Building super-ships and super-aircraft and large vehicles which burn more fuel will be detrimental to the environment due to the increased emmissions, however if they take the trade of smaller ships so there are less ships on the sea/aircraft in the air and as such less fuel being burned they could be a positive thing.
Tie the three points together and we get a mixed view. International trade is a double edged sword and in my opinion it should be kept to a minimum as this way we can support our own economy and help lower the damage done to the environment. Trade does bring us new exotic things that we should not take for advantage. The MNCs no longer need to rely on trade to survive, however, due to increased communication technology, and as such I feel they would not suffer greatly and perhaps by manufacturing their goods in a target country create employment and assist that country.
A MESSY way to put forward an idea, but I'm sure you get the gist of it!
Thank you David; a very good overview of the economic and environmental dilemmas posed by globalisation. You put forward some interesting ideas, espcially the point about MNCs targetting particular countries to create employemnt.
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