Globalization And The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline

Alaska, located from the northwest of Canada, supplies oil to America via the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline system. Though its oil industry has brought about huge economic growth in the state, it has also largely suffered because of the environmental issues that had resulted from its oil industry. Alaska benefits from the demand for consumption of energy, yet suffers at the same time from supply energy. This essay will firstly highlight the social issues brought about by the oil industry in Alaska. Next, social concepts such as modern science and the logic of industrial capitalism will be analyzed to explain the cause of these social issues. Lastly, the essay will conclude on how globalization is the underlying cause for the negative impacts on the

80% of revenue in Alaska came from oil taxation (Modern Alaska 2016). This huge economic growth from the oil industry improved the livelihoods of Alaskan as it provided jobs to millions of Alaskans. However, with the carbon emissions produced from the oil industry, the temperature in Alaska is dramatically increasing; Alaska is experiencing a climate change. As Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska in 2007 mentioned, “Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is also a social, cultural and economic issues important to all Alaskans,” (Cage, Dance, and Goldenberg 2013). Firstly, potential of economic crisis for Alaska exists. With its heavy reliance on the revenue generated from oil industry, Alaskans could be heavily affected when the oil prices dropped or when Alaska is no longer able to supply oil from its oilfield anymore. Besides, with environmental issues such as sinking lands and

Nevertheless, globalization aids in deteriorating the environment as well. The rising demand for production of energy is driven by mass consumption as energy is essential in sustaining the production system to produce commodities to meet the demands of the consumers. Globalization helps by speeding up the transportation of goods across nations. With technological advancements, modes of transportations such as airplanes and vessels are able to speed up the process of transporting goods (Giddens 2000). However, in the process, greenhouse gas emissions and other waste are produced. Vessels are fueled by burning coal and airplanes on the other hand are powered by oil. As the greenhouse gas produced by these activities exceeds nature’s limit, temperature gradually increases. The impact of rising temperature was most apparent in the colder regions, causing the melting of ice. However, environmental issues such as global warming are trans-boundary. As ice melts, water return to the sea, causing an increase in sea-level. Earth consists 70% of water, with water surrounding most of the land. As sea-level increase in Alaska, the impact will not only be felt in Alaska, but other nations that have lands close to the sea as well, such as Maldives whose islands is only no more than 2 meters above sea-level. Though globalization helps to prevent energy crisis, sustaining human