Design & Society
Chapter 13
By Vyvie, Thu, & Lindsey
“Mining” Australia
The world's smallest continent but the sixth-largest country in the world.
Located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.
Geography
- Mountain ranges
run from north to south
along the east coast
-Consist of the
Western Plateau &
the Eastern
Highlands.
-Between the two
lies the Central
Lowlands.
-Largest part of
Australia is desert.
Climate Map
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Australia-climate-map_MJC01.png
History of Australia
-Aborigines, 40,000
years ago from
Southeast Asia
-Dutch, Portuguese,
and Spanish ships
sighted Australia in
the 17th century
-The British arrived
in 1688,Captain
James Cook named
east coast New
South Wales
Today Australia consist of six states.
Economy
-Prosperous, Western-style
mixed economy.
-However low productivity due
to Australian soils causes
economic problems.
-Minerals, tourism, wool &
other agricultural goods are
main exports today.
-Trade partners shifted in last
half century.
Australia & Britain
-Many Australian’s today
feel strongly connected
to their British heritage.
-Over capitalization
resulting from British
cultural values (monetary
values and belief
systems).
-According to the author
Australia is more British
than modern Britain itself
in its architecture &
attitudes.
Soil
-low nutrients
 affect farming
 fisheries
- high salt
Water supply
Farmland
infrastructure
Water shortage & Climate Changes
• Low rainfall or
extreme desert
• Rainfall depends
on El Niño
Southern
Oscillation.
Australia
mining
Mining Minerals
• Key to
Australia’s
Economy today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kalgoorlie_The_Big_Pit_DSC04498.JPG
• Mining of coal,
gold, iron, and
aluminum.
**Australia’s largest gold mine**
• Overexploited
resources.
Minerals
Gold
Coal
Silver
Copper
Interactions with other societies
-US remains Australia’s
largest source of import &
Japan export.
-With in the last 25 years
Australia became engaged
with its Asian neighbors.
1] Accepted Asian
immigrants.
2] Cultivated Asian trade
partners.
-The three top customer of
mineral exports are Japan,
South Korea, and Taiwan.
• Two thirds of
Australia's exports
energy and
minerals goes to
China.
“tyranny of distance” is an
important factor in
Australia’s development.
Land Degradation
• Clear land of vegetation
• Sheep, Rabbits remove
vegetation
• Government policy
• Overgrazing
• Soil nutrient exhausted
• Soil erosion
• Man-made drought
*5 Point Framework Analysis*
1] Damage to the environment:
Yes, humans have obvious massive impacts on environment. i.e, land
degradation, soils, water shortage . . .
2] Climate change:
Definitely, it’s increasing the severity of those impacts today.
3] Hostile neighbors:
Partially, it has been bombed recently in 2002 & 2004.
4] Decreased support by friendly neighbors:
Yes, relations with Britain as trade partners & model society.
5] The society responses to its own problems:
Central question: Which of our traditional core values can we retain &
which ones instead no longer serve us well.
The End :]