Karan Ramchandani Jeremy Phan April 23 rd , 2009 Orso – 1 st

1. East/Southeast Asia Assessment Karan Ramchandani Jeremy Phan April 23rd, 2009 Orso – 1st Picture of Southeast / East Asia

2. Physical Geography of E/SE Asia Historical Significance of the Great Wall Although it’s primary goal was to prevent invaders from foreigners, it also served as a source of containment to keep Chinese traditional cultures within China as opposed to letting them spread to the outside world as a result of trade and cultural diffusion Physical Features of China’s Isolation Mountainous regions, the Great Wall of China, and its location/distance in correlation to other nations Japan’s adaptations to the Ring of Fire Due to the tectonic activity in this area, the Japanese have started to build their buildings upon gyro-springs, which act like the shocks of the Nike Shox running shoes, for it provides flexibility and allows the building to bend instead of snapping from the earth. Another adaptation is their strict building codes, about when and where something should be built, how it should be built, and what exactly is being built. Benefits of Terraced Farming Provide the villagers with the ability to cultivate more arable land along the slopes of mountains and/or hills, simply because the given land in the village is becoming more and more un-arable, therefore terraced farming is a good alternative

3. Human-Environment Interaction in E/SE Asia • Modifications Seen Pertaining to Problem • Lack of Arable Land: terraced farming and land reclamation • Tectonic Activity: gyro-springs, earthquake drills, strict building codes • Modifications Seen per Area • Modifications that deal with the lack of arable land would be most suitable in a developing area because they are generally more rural, thus allowing more land to be seen and used for proceedings such as these, where as modifications dealing with tectonic activity would more likely be seen in a developed area due to their availability of money and/or resources • Arguments For/Against the Three Gorges Dam • A traditional business man who would benefit from the dam would argue that it would increase shipping, thus increasing the amount of trading the nation is doing, thus resulting in more money for the economy, where as a villager who would not benefit from the dam would argue that the resulting over flow of water from the dam would drown their burial grounds, their temples, and their land The Three Gorges Dam from China.

4. Population in E/SE Asia • Name of Country • Japan • MAIN Population Problem • Graying Population • Potential Solution • Angel Plan: somewhat worked because it provided many free benefits as well as incentives for providing the nation’s needs • Negatives of Overpopulation and Graying Population • Overpopulation: too many people, not enough resources • Graying Population: too many elderly, not enough young, therefore high unemployment rate, due to people retiring

5. Religions in E/SE Asia • Three Major Religions in East/Southeast Asia : • Confucianism – In China • Shinto – In Japan • Buddhism – In China, Japan and other East and Southeast Asian countries • Major Beliefs • Buddhism – Nirvana • Shinto – Worship nature and Japanese gods • Confucianism – Moral belief Similarity and Difference of the Religions Similarity – All the religions have been since BC and are worshipped in SE/E Asia Difference – Different countries and points of origin Buddhism Clip Explains Buddhism

6. Communism in E/se asia Soviet Union became Communism Soviet Union spread Communist to China China spread Communist to most E/SE Asia When the Soviet Union became a Communist country, it started the concept that would have a domino effect on Southeast Asia. Communism has started to diffuse to other nations at this point, starting the chain reaction that would spread everywhere. By this point of time, Communism has spread across the majority of the continent. Countries like the United States have fought in wars to attempt to contain the practice. The spread of Communism negatively affected the people, government, and economy by taking away their freedoms, controlling all aspects of the citizens’ lives, and the economy of each country is crippled by Communism. Map showing countries ran by Communism today

7. Economic Development in E/SE Asia The JAKOTA provides trade and money, benefitting all three countries. • Barriers to Economic Development • No trading routes- A nation cannot develop easily without trading. • No natural resources-Without resources, a country cannot develop and build solid infrastructure. • Factors aiding Economic Development • Industrialization – Countries with modern technology are usually economically developed • Infrastructure – Infrastructure provides the basic needs to a country and its people.

8. Conclusion – East/Southeast Asia Summit Problems Economic Problem No infrastructure – With no infrastructure, a country cannot trade or develop economically Economic barriers – Oceans separate nations, reducing trade and the countries don’t have an adequate supply of natural resources to build infrastructure Political Problem Communism - The majority of E/SE Asia countries are Communist, damaging their government Government controls everything – The government controls everything and makes bad decisions for their nations Social Problem Graying Population – The people have more deaths than births and its population is dying out Overpopulation – The people of a country cannot receive basic needs because there are not enough resources to support the people Ranking 1. Communism 2. Government controls everything 3. No infrastructure 4. Overpopulation 5. Economic barriers 6. Graying Population

9. Conclusion - East/Southeast Asia Summit Solutions Economic Solutions No infrastructure – A country can improve its infrastructure by slowly constructing things like railroads and trading routes using natural resources Economic barriers – The countries can use cargo ships and airplanes and they can trade for natural resources Political Solution Communism – The country could overthrow the dictators and hold elections Government controls everything – After overthrowing Communism, the people can control what they do Social Solution Graying population – The country’s government can encourage the people to have babies Overpopulation – The country’s government can limit the birth of children