Human Geography ALL Case studies according to
specification:
Coffee
Apple
Antartica
Changing places
Highgate
Banglatown
IMF/ World Bank/ UN / WTO
Resource Security
Copper
BP Alaska Energy TNC
Coca Cola in India over water abstraction
Geopolitics in Russia EG Nord Stream
3 Gorges Dam
SNWTP China water transfer (Yangtze River)
4 Tap water distribution network Singapore
SW USA
Tar sands in US XL pipeline
The Nile
,Coffee
Globally no 1 cash crop as it employs 36% of global population
Coffee grows in hot wet areas close to the equator dominated by countries such as Brazil (no1
producer), Vietnam, Columbia, Indonesia and Ethiopia
Two types of bean Arabica and Robusta Arabica higher quality and more expensive to produce
Since the International Coffee Agreement fell apart (1990) coffee became a free traded commodity
(race to the bottom)
Vietnam causing the oversupply of coffee resulting in extremely low prices for TNCs putting other
international farmers out of business
No education for children due to poverty leading to brain drain
Issues for coffee production can arise through:
Diseases such as coffee leaf rust
Weather conditions such as drought in Ethiopia
Coffee is produced by LICs and BRICs and sold to HICs with Brazil being the largest exporter, 2015
20% of worlds coffee. Usa largest importer.
Price fluctuates around supply and demand.
7-10% off the price of coffee goes to famers rest goes to TNCs such VOLCAFE.
TNCs pick and choose where they import their coffee from leading to price wars with farmers also
known as the “race to the bottom” resulting in regulation and wages of farmers being cut.
In 1992 the Fairtrade Program was initiated which aims to guarantee farmers a Minimum Fairtrade
Price for their coffee to support living standards and farmers rights.
What is the Fairtrade Premium?
, A communal fund that aims to help local communities. With this extra money and the more
economic security (from the foundation), farming communities in LEDCs, like Peru have been able to
invest in computers, machinery and schools.
Apple
Apple is a huge TNC that operates in many countries around the world. Its headquarters are based in
Cupertino, California. This is where much of the programming is done. Many of its shops are also
located in developed countries in much of Western Europe, USA and recently China. The sales are
centred at its sales headquarters though in Cork, Ireland due to SEZ.
Manufacturing Location and why?
Manufacturing is completed mainly in developing countries such as China (Foxconn and Pegatron),
with no Apple hardware being made in the USA. This is the case for several reasons which are:
Wages are lower
Land is cheaper to buy, and therefore is relatively cheap to set up a factory. They can also sub-
contract a factory meaning a new one doesn’t have to be built.
They have direct to global markets
Trade restrictions can be easily avoided
Criticisms:
The factory in which Apple employs to manufacture its products has been under close attention in
recent years. The conditions within have been questioned by many. 14 people died in 2010 after
committing suicide, due to the conditions they were forced to work in. As a result, Foxconn installed
nets to prevent people throwing themselves off high points of the building. Some employees
reported working over 36 hours without being allowed to have a break, and regularly work around
60 hours per week. The wages are also low at $100 per month, with much spent on living costs. In
addition, some workers sued Apple after they were reportedly poisoned by a chemical used to clean
LCD screen.
Why have Apple become important on a global scale?
Employs over 18,000 people directly and over 1 million involved in making, supplying and selling the
products. In 2014 Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones and £11.8 billion in quarterly profits, with net cash
reserves being £93 billion. Has highly skilled workers in the quaternary sector e.g., computer
scientists A fluid, simple to use, detailed websites allow them to reach all corners of the planet.
Antarctica
General stats about Antarctica.
- 90% of all ice in the world
- 70% of Earths fresh water
specification:
Coffee
Apple
Antartica
Changing places
Highgate
Banglatown
IMF/ World Bank/ UN / WTO
Resource Security
Copper
BP Alaska Energy TNC
Coca Cola in India over water abstraction
Geopolitics in Russia EG Nord Stream
3 Gorges Dam
SNWTP China water transfer (Yangtze River)
4 Tap water distribution network Singapore
SW USA
Tar sands in US XL pipeline
The Nile
,Coffee
Globally no 1 cash crop as it employs 36% of global population
Coffee grows in hot wet areas close to the equator dominated by countries such as Brazil (no1
producer), Vietnam, Columbia, Indonesia and Ethiopia
Two types of bean Arabica and Robusta Arabica higher quality and more expensive to produce
Since the International Coffee Agreement fell apart (1990) coffee became a free traded commodity
(race to the bottom)
Vietnam causing the oversupply of coffee resulting in extremely low prices for TNCs putting other
international farmers out of business
No education for children due to poverty leading to brain drain
Issues for coffee production can arise through:
Diseases such as coffee leaf rust
Weather conditions such as drought in Ethiopia
Coffee is produced by LICs and BRICs and sold to HICs with Brazil being the largest exporter, 2015
20% of worlds coffee. Usa largest importer.
Price fluctuates around supply and demand.
7-10% off the price of coffee goes to famers rest goes to TNCs such VOLCAFE.
TNCs pick and choose where they import their coffee from leading to price wars with farmers also
known as the “race to the bottom” resulting in regulation and wages of farmers being cut.
In 1992 the Fairtrade Program was initiated which aims to guarantee farmers a Minimum Fairtrade
Price for their coffee to support living standards and farmers rights.
What is the Fairtrade Premium?
, A communal fund that aims to help local communities. With this extra money and the more
economic security (from the foundation), farming communities in LEDCs, like Peru have been able to
invest in computers, machinery and schools.
Apple
Apple is a huge TNC that operates in many countries around the world. Its headquarters are based in
Cupertino, California. This is where much of the programming is done. Many of its shops are also
located in developed countries in much of Western Europe, USA and recently China. The sales are
centred at its sales headquarters though in Cork, Ireland due to SEZ.
Manufacturing Location and why?
Manufacturing is completed mainly in developing countries such as China (Foxconn and Pegatron),
with no Apple hardware being made in the USA. This is the case for several reasons which are:
Wages are lower
Land is cheaper to buy, and therefore is relatively cheap to set up a factory. They can also sub-
contract a factory meaning a new one doesn’t have to be built.
They have direct to global markets
Trade restrictions can be easily avoided
Criticisms:
The factory in which Apple employs to manufacture its products has been under close attention in
recent years. The conditions within have been questioned by many. 14 people died in 2010 after
committing suicide, due to the conditions they were forced to work in. As a result, Foxconn installed
nets to prevent people throwing themselves off high points of the building. Some employees
reported working over 36 hours without being allowed to have a break, and regularly work around
60 hours per week. The wages are also low at $100 per month, with much spent on living costs. In
addition, some workers sued Apple after they were reportedly poisoned by a chemical used to clean
LCD screen.
Why have Apple become important on a global scale?
Employs over 18,000 people directly and over 1 million involved in making, supplying and selling the
products. In 2014 Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones and £11.8 billion in quarterly profits, with net cash
reserves being £93 billion. Has highly skilled workers in the quaternary sector e.g., computer
scientists A fluid, simple to use, detailed websites allow them to reach all corners of the planet.
Antarctica
General stats about Antarctica.
- 90% of all ice in the world
- 70% of Earths fresh water
