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Journal summary: ‘One-Child’ Policy: The Time for Change Is Now! Topic #1: Controlling overpopulation by implementing the one-child policy [1]

Thirty years ago China’s growing population became a threat to the future welfare of its people. In order to control this substantial growth the one-child policy was implemented which enforced couples to have only one child. This law is more strictly enforced in cities and with government officials but there are a few exceptions regarding minority groups, parents involved in high risk work environments and disabled children. Currently China’s large work force has promoted the great success of using cheap labor to enhance its world economic position. Privatization policies with state owned industries and foreign investment in China’s businesses also helped with the economic revolution. The growth of industrial China has increased the migration rates to cities causing more people to be strictly enforced to the one-child policy. Due to this high growth rate cities’ infrastructure is unable to keep up with providing better housing, traffic control and pollution control for city dwellers. Urbanization has also increased the gap between the rich and poor which is causing fears of a revolution by the lower class. This policy also has caused a large senior age group to develop. Currently three working individuals support each dependent child or senior. Pensions for seniors will cost China more than $1.5 Trillion and the pension system has not reached full development as of yet. Another demographical concern is the sex ratio of China which is 120 men to 100 women. As families tend to favor males for financial support this leads to worse conditions for the number of marriages and child birth. Psychological concerns of children growing in a one child environment causes them to get whatever they desire resulting in poor compromising skills essential for future leaders in society. The one-child policy provided short term solutions but has aroused future problems like pending pension plans, outdated urban infrastructure and poor social welfare for China that needs to be addressed to maintain their economic integrity. [1] Nakra, Prema. “China’s ‘One-Child’ Policy: The Time for Change Is Now!” //World Future Review (World Future Society)// 4, no. 2 (Summer 2012): 134–140.

Journal Summary: Land Regularization in Brazil and the Global Land Grab [2]

Topic #2: Land Grabbing in Brazil

Land grabbing is the act of a country taking over a part of a foreign land through diplomacy or force to attain its resources. This paper discusses the complex relations between the Brazilian government and other foreign nations in regards to its foreign land grab policies in the Cerrado and Amazon regions. The idea of agribusiness was brought up by the Brazilian government to utilize profits on unused local land. In order to sell this land from the Cerrado region many local villagers were forced out of these forests by the Brazilian government. The first purchaser of these lands was Japan due its need for farmland. As of now the Cerrado region has undergone considerable changes caused by mining, ranching, dam building and farming. This led to considerable amounts of deforestation which caused massive endangerment to many animal and plant species. It did however bring better technology and living conditions for the workers of the area. Currently the Cerrado region is still undergoing land grabs by many other foreign countries in Eurasia and North America to grow sugar cane for ethanol use. Due to the advancement of technology the harsher grounds of the Amazon is further becoming accessible to the land grabbers. This time however the Brazilian government sought to protect the Amazon rainforest due to public pressure and increased concerns of deforestation. Due to the rainforest’s harsh terrain enforcing these laws becomes more difficult in stopping illegal land grabbers. Most of the concern is in the Amazon-Cerrado transition region where expansionist land grabbers are slowly encroaching into protected Amazon territory. The Brazilian government still sells lands in the Cerrrado region to foreign countries for agribusiness but keeping a balanced approach for land grabbing is proving tough for the nation of Brazil.

[2] De L.T. Oliveira, Gustavo. “Land Regularization in Brazil and the Global Land Grab.” //Development and Change// 44, no. 2 (2013): 261–283. doi:10.1111/dech.12009.