CourseworkHelp

Deforestion 2

Intro

Deforestation is the cutting or clearing of trees.

In the Amazon certain developments have taken place. The building of highways, houses ranching, mining, small-scale farming, rail links and a hydroelectric power station. The highways and rail links provide transportation for moving the produce and crops as well as transport for the locals. The hydroelectricity provides light and energy into the houses in the Amazon. The mining produces iron ore and gold. The iron has been widely used internationally for different purposes. The ranching provides meat that is exported to different countries.

First Part

People might argue about the development of the Amazon. Some say it is economically wise but some say it is a global mistake. Developing the Amazon has its advantages which are all for the people and economy of Brazil. Brazil currently owes a huge debt and locating new businesses is very essential. The employment the development will make will provide jobs and adequate shelter for the people. It will also cover some of the debt. The Amazon is rich in vegetation and minerals.

 It produces a large amount of iron ore, which is a product that the leading car manufacturers, cannot do without (Source B).                                           Source F explains how the ranching produces large amounts of quality meat, which is exported to developed countries.

The new homes and opportunities will attract people to come live there. It will prevent overcrowding in the Southeast and bring development. The goods produced will be sold to different countries and that will bring income. People might think that it will bring income but there are circumstances to be faced, which will affect the Brazilians and the entire world. The cutting down of trees will kill fauna, vegetation and cause soil erosion. Source J states that burning the trees down results in carbon dioxide and sea levels rising. This has been already proved because the ice caps are melting due to global warming. It further explains how the Amazon rainforest is the world’s best supplier of oxygen. One third of the world’s oxygen comes from the rainforest.                      

 If the development is encouraged it will contribute to global warming. The effects of this are very crucial and vital to everyone. The rainforest is the home of certain plant life and wildlife that is only found in the Amazon rainforest and is now facing extinction. The ranching is very expensive plus the soil is eroded and not good for farming. The Amazon is not only inhabited by plants and animals but by people as well.                                                   Source A says that the Amerindians who have lived in the forest for hundreds of years are being driven out and made to change their way of life. They have so far looked after and taken care of the forest. If the developments carry on this will eventually lead to their extinction. The Amazon rainforest is an area, which consists of poor families who think that they will benefit from the industries but in fact they will get poorer and poorer whilst the rich get richer. 

The sources that have the most important arguments for supporting the development of the Amazon are sources B and D. Source B is important because the car industry is one of the largest and leading industry today and providing resources for such an income earner is very essential for Brazil at the current moment. So the iron ore being extracted in the Amazon is a necessity to strengthening of the economy of Brazil. Source D explains why mining is important. The mining industry is very valued. The minerals can be sold and the money gained from it can help cover the huge debt Brazil owes. Not many countries or areas can mine ores that are valuable so there is not that much of competition in trade and selling price. Industry is a very good solution for developing the economy of Brazil but it does not have to destroy or harm the environment. Sources E and I have strong points against developing the Amazon.

Source E points out a fact that is occurring in Brazil. The poor just get poorer and the rich just get richer. They are forced to live in shantytowns, which are growing rapidly on the outskirts of the Amazon. If the developments mean displacing its original occupants it should provide an alternative location where they can live healthily and benefit from the development. There is no point in carrying a huge economic project if the local people or the poor do not get any aid or a helping hand.

Source I is a very important fact that does not only affect Brazil but the entire world. Oxygen is the life giver and without it we would all die. Since the Amazon is a contributor of this vital resource, it would be wise to keep it untouched and natural. It does not only supply us with a third of the world’s oxygen but also a quarter of the world’s fresh water is stored in the basin there. We cannot afford to lose these two reserves. The source tells us that these two reserves would be lost if we encourage the destruction of the rainforest.

Evaluation

The sources provide both arguing parties’ point of view and therefore are fair argument wise. Both parties in the sources state information that supports their point of views. They also contain both facts and opinions.

The developers want money and to strengthen the country’s economy that is what every country hopes to gain. On the other hand the other group is more concerned with the consequences the development will bring.

Source E that is against the development is a recent statement and fact. Although it lacks detail it points out a strong fact that is unlikely to be biased. This is not only a problem Brazil talks about but is also an issue all over the world. But this source is not backed up by any other source making the argument a bit less important which it is not.

Source I not only affects Brazil but also everyone else. It is again a fact that is also backed up by source J in a way.

They are both concerned about the effects it has on the environment. Source I is brief but very detailed in pointing out its point. This source is an occurring fact making it entirely recent. The only weakness it might have is that it was written by the WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) who might/can be bias. If it contained statements from other groups who are not connected to issue it could become an immaculate source having strong arguments, which are all proven and provable.

Source B is for the development and it comes from a very reliable source, which cannot be biased in any way. The date on it is 1997 making it recent. It has detailed information but generally it is an opinion because there are a lot of other countries that extract iron and can sell it to Western Europe and Japan. In other source from the same place that gave the first statement it is a follow through because it was taken a year before the statement in source B.

Source D was the other source I chose which backs the development. This was a video made in 1996, which is quite recent. The weakness it has is that it is not detailed. This source is backed up by source B strengthening its point. It is unlikely to be biased because it comes from a neutral side.

Conclusion

I do agree with the hypothesis and not everyone is benefiting from the exploitation of the Amazon because certain groups of people who are told that they will live better lives seem to be the ones worst off. The developers are the ones gaining most of the profit and the poor community are left to scramble with what they can hold on to. It is creating a bigger gap between the two sides instead of improving the situations. I think that if the poor could actually form organisations sponsored by the government and calculate how much the poor need to improve their communities from the profits the developments bring.

If this does not work I think they should involve a third party from a neutral country to handle the profit which would be distributed to everyone equally and help improve the poorly maintained schools, hospitals and other publicly utilised places. If this wealth is for the country it should be handled wisely and distributed equally amongst the Brazilians.

If you still can't find any of the coursework that you are looking for, click here to look at over 30,000 GCSE, A-Level and University Level essays on Coursework.Info.