tensions

• • When Donald Trump became US President, one of his first executive orders (No. 13769) was to curb immigration from certain countries. This order was branded the 'Muslim ban' by some and saw 60,000 visas revoked.
• In some cases, migrants do not integrate well with the local population and this can cause tension.
• It is likely that tensions around migration led to the UKIP's 12.6% vote in the 2015 general election. Concerns also played a part in the vote leave in the June 2016 referendum. A survey published in 2017 found that Brexit was the result of widespread concern over the numbers of migration in the UK - millions of whom have done so through the EU’s rule of the free movement of people.
• • An example is the First Nations indigenous people in Canada. The Jumbo Valley is threatened with exploitation to become a ski resort but the indigenous people are resisting this development.
• The ‘Keep Jumbo Wild’ campaign represents local residents, concerned citizens and the Ktunaxa Nation (indigenous people) who strongly oppose the development. Their argument is that there are few areas of wilderness left in the world and so it should be preserved for future generations - ensuring sustainability.
• • Sustainability means the ability to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Localism/local sourcing aims to increase sustainability by limiting food miles. It lowers carbon emissions. It is meeting today’s needs and ensuring that the planet is protected to meet the needs of future generations.
• Transition towns/groups are a movement helping to promote local sourcing. They try to get ready for an era after fossil fuels and look to be sustainable now, by promoting local schemes. Totnes is an example of a transition town in Devon. Totnes wants to support the local economy, but also be environmentally responsible. They try to use things like clean/renewable energy.
• Buying goods from local providers may be more expensive. While the carbon emissions may reduce from reduced food miles, if growing the crops locally requires intense resource consumption then this benefit is overset. For example, growing tropical fruits in England requires a great deal of energy to recreate the ideal temperatures.
• Fair trade and ethical consumption schemes aim to reduce the inequalities of global trade. They also aim to reduce environmental degradation by increasing awareness of the negative impacts of production.
• The Fair Trade Foundation is the most well-known example of a scheme that aims to reduce inequality from globalisation. The Fair Trade logo is placed onto products and ingredients that meet the standards set by the foundation. They seek to make sure that workers’ rights and the environment are protected.
• Companies pay the Fairtrade minimum price for products which makes sure that producers are paid a fair amount. Companies pay an additional Fairtrade Premium which is invested in business or community projects of the community’s choice. According to their website, £106.2 million was paid to producers in the form of the Fairtrade premium in 2013-2014.
• The UK government sets recycling targets for local councils to meet. Heavy fines are now given to organisations that throw away too much waste. Different areas recycle different products and the ease of recycling varies greatly across the UK.
• Consumers can be confused. A survey in 2016 found that 2/3 of all UK households are not sure which bin to use for one or more items.
• Many NGOs are working to increase the amount of recycling that happens in the UK. Keep Britain Tidy is an example of a charity. They aim to cut litter, end waste, improve public places and educate future generations. The Great British Spring Clean where people across the country clear up the litter around their local area.