Chapter 11 Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific

Chapter 11Chapter 11

Oceania: Australia, New Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and the PacificZealand, and the Pacific

Map of OceaniaMap of Oceania

Figure 11.1

Housekeeping ItemsHousekeeping Items► A reminder that the final exam will be in class A reminder that the final exam will be in class

next Wednesday (the 27next Wednesday (the 27thth) and, if you owe me ) and, if you owe me work, get it in as soon possible, but certainly work, get it in as soon possible, but certainly before the last day.before the last day.

► I have another couple of articles to circulate. As I have another couple of articles to circulate. As Craig pointed out, it would be ideal if we would Craig pointed out, it would be ideal if we would have more time to read and discuss them in have more time to read and discuss them in class.class.

► We have the Indian food presentation today.We have the Indian food presentation today.► Today, we can cover the Oceania chapter, but Today, we can cover the Oceania chapter, but

last class people seemed really bored, and I was last class people seemed really bored, and I was pretty bored too. Alternatively, you can read the pretty bored too. Alternatively, you can read the notes on your own, and we can watch a short notes on your own, and we can watch a short video, or do part lecture and part video.video, or do part lecture and part video.

I. THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTINGI. THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

►Region covers ¼ of the Earth’s surfaceRegion covers ¼ of the Earth’s surface►Pacific Ocean serves as both a link and Pacific Ocean serves as both a link and

a barriera barrier►Many different overlapping place Many different overlapping place

namesnames Country, island grouping, ethnic grouping, Country, island grouping, ethnic grouping,

etc.etc.

A. Physical PatternsA. Physical Patterns

►Continent FormationContinent Formation Australia: broke free from Gondwana and Australia: broke free from Gondwana and

crashed into Eurasiacrashed into Eurasia►Great Barrier Reef: Longest coral reef in world; Great Barrier Reef: Longest coral reef in world;

shunts warm water to the southshunts warm water to the south

► Island FormationIsland Formation Some created via tectonic actionSome created via tectonic action Some created via volcanic actionSome created via volcanic action

►Hot spots, atolls, Hot spots, atolls, makateamakatea

A High Island and an AtollA High Island and an Atoll

A. Physical PatternsA. Physical Patterns

►ClimateClimate Most islands in tropical and subtropical Most islands in tropical and subtropical

zonezone Mild temperaturesMild temperatures Arid in Australia’s interior, low islandsArid in Australia’s interior, low islands

►Australia: only one river systemAustralia: only one river system

Moist everywhere else, high islandsMoist everywhere else, high islands El NiEl Niñño: Causes droughts every 2-7 yearso: Causes droughts every 2-7 years

Climates of OceaniaClimates of Oceania

Figure 11.8

A. Physical PatternsA. Physical Patterns

►Flora and FaunaFlora and Fauna Isolation has had impacts on life in OceaniaIsolation has had impacts on life in Oceania Australia: 144 species of endemic Australia: 144 species of endemic

marsupialsmarsupials►Endemic plants adapted to aridityEndemic plants adapted to aridity

New Zealand and the Pacific: Islands have New Zealand and the Pacific: Islands have to be colonized by animals and plants to be colonized by animals and plants carried by wind or birdscarried by wind or birds►Biodiversity thins to east, away from landBiodiversity thins to east, away from land

Duck-billed PlatypusDuck-billed Platypus

Figure 11.10

B. Human Patterns Over B. Human Patterns Over TimeTime

►The Peopling of OceaniaThe Peopling of Oceania Australian Aborigines: migrated 50,000-Australian Aborigines: migrated 50,000-

70,000 years ago70,000 years ago►Melanesians settled surrounding areas (i.e., Melanesians settled surrounding areas (i.e.,

New Guinea)New Guinea)

Austronesians: Migrate throughout Pacific Austronesians: Migrate throughout Pacific about 5000-6000 years agoabout 5000-6000 years ago

Three cultural regions: Micronesia, Three cultural regions: Micronesia, Melanesia, PolynesiaMelanesia, Polynesia

Culture Groups in the PacificCulture Groups in the Pacific

Figure 11.13

B. Human Patterns Over B. Human Patterns Over TimeTime

►Arrival of the EuropeansArrival of the Europeans Pacific divided among Europeans by the Pacific divided among Europeans by the

1800s1800s►Displacement of natives, idea of ‘noble Displacement of natives, idea of ‘noble

savage’savage’

On resource-rich islands, relatively simple On resource-rich islands, relatively simple social organizationsocial organization

On resource-poor islands, social On resource-poor islands, social hierarchies institutedhierarchies instituted

B. Human Patterns Over B. Human Patterns Over TimeTime

►The Colonization of Australia and New The Colonization of Australia and New ZealandZealand Australia: founded by UK as penal colonyAustralia: founded by UK as penal colony NZ: Founded later by voluntary immigrantsNZ: Founded later by voluntary immigrants

►Natives thrust into grinding povertyNatives thrust into grinding poverty

►Shifting TiesShifting Ties Until WWII, strong ties to UK; after WWII, U.S.Until WWII, strong ties to UK; after WWII, U.S. Since 1970s, increasing connection to AsiaSince 1970s, increasing connection to Asia

Penitentiary at Port Arthur, Penitentiary at Port Arthur, TasmaniaTasmania

Figure 11.15

C. Population PatternsC. Population Patterns

► Just 34 million peopleJust 34 million people 2/3 live in Australia2/3 live in Australia

►Australia and NZ: older, slower Australia and NZ: older, slower growing populationsgrowing populations Other countries: younger, faster growingOther countries: younger, faster growing

►High rates of urbanization throughoutHigh rates of urbanization throughout Often poorer standard of living than ruralOften poorer standard of living than rural

Population Density in Population Density in OceaniaOceania

Figure 11.16

II. CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC II. CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC ISSUESISSUES

►Shift from Europe to Asia for trade, Shift from Europe to Asia for trade, tourismtourism

►Emerging technology promotes Emerging technology promotes regional identityregional identity EmailEmail InternetInternet Jet travelJet travel

A. Sociocultural IssuesA. Sociocultural Issues

►Ethnic Roots ReexaminedEthnic Roots Reexamined Historical Australian/NZ identity as EuropeanHistorical Australian/NZ identity as European

►Led to racism against Asians; illegality of Led to racism against Asians; illegality of immigrationimmigration

►Multiculturalism in bloom from 1970s onwardMulticulturalism in bloom from 1970s onward

Number of people identifying as Aborigine or Number of people identifying as Aborigine or Maori risingMaori rising►Rise in prestige; increase in mixed-race marriageRise in prestige; increase in mixed-race marriage►Increase in legal rights; still not greatIncrease in legal rights; still not great

Fiji: struggling over ethnicity, land ownershipFiji: struggling over ethnicity, land ownership

Aborigines and MaoriAborigines and Maori

A. Sociocultural IssuesA. Sociocultural Issues

►Forging Unity in OceaniaForging Unity in Oceania Many languages in small areaMany languages in small area

►Growth of Pidgin languagesGrowth of Pidgin languages

The Pacific WayThe Pacific Way►Consensus as traditional approach to problem Consensus as traditional approach to problem

solvingsolving

Sports as a Unifying ForceSports as a Unifying Force►Sailing, surfing: indigenousSailing, surfing: indigenous►Rugby, volleyball, soccer, cricket: importedRugby, volleyball, soccer, cricket: imported

Cricket in the Trobriand Cricket in the Trobriand IslandsIslands

Figure 11.23

A. Sociocultural IssuesA. Sociocultural Issues

►Women’s RolesWomen’s Roles Myth: Pacific women are simple love objectsMyth: Pacific women are simple love objects Reality: in Polynesia, could achieve rank of Reality: in Polynesia, could achieve rank of

chief; in Micronesia, lineage traced through chief; in Micronesia, lineage traced through womenwomen►Vary greatly from island to islandVary greatly from island to island

►Men’s RolesMen’s Roles Stereotypical Aussie male: laid-back drifterStereotypical Aussie male: laid-back drifter

►Persistent but erodingPersistent but eroding

Stereotypical Men and Stereotypical Men and WomenWomen

B. Economic and Political B. Economic and Political IssuesIssues

►Shift from Export to Service EconomiesShift from Export to Service Economies Still very little manufacturing; undercut by Still very little manufacturing; undercut by

AsiaAsia Pacific islands tend more towards extractionPacific islands tend more towards extraction

►TourismTourism Growing rapidly, creates problems for Growing rapidly, creates problems for

ecologyecology In Hawaii, growth is in Asian touristsIn Hawaii, growth is in Asian tourists Attempt to promote sustainable tourismAttempt to promote sustainable tourism

Origin of TouristsOrigin of Tourists

Figure 11.26

B. Economic and Political B. Economic and Political IssuesIssues

►New Asian OrientationsNew Asian Orientations Most apparent in economicsMost apparent in economics

►Asia buys 71% of Australian exportsAsia buys 71% of Australian exports►Loss of European protection for markets is Loss of European protection for markets is

painfulpainful Gutting of labor unionsGutting of labor unions

►Stress less visible in Pacific islands; tradition Stress less visible in Pacific islands; tradition of self-sufficiencyof self-sufficiency

Geopolitical concern over ChinaGeopolitical concern over China

Exports From OceaniaExports From Oceania

Figure 11.28

C. Environmental IssuesC. Environmental Issues

►Australia Australia Introduction of rabbits decimated native Introduction of rabbits decimated native

speciesspecies Grazing requires irrigation, ‘dingo fence’Grazing requires irrigation, ‘dingo fence’ Urban sprawl boosts carbon outputUrban sprawl boosts carbon output

►New ZealandNew Zealand Deforestation rampant from grazingDeforestation rampant from grazing 15 times as many sheep as people15 times as many sheep as people

Human Impacts in OceaniaHuman Impacts in Oceania

The Dingo FenceThe Dingo Fence

Figure 11.30

C. Environmental IssuesC. Environmental Issues

►Pacific IslandsPacific Islands Mining: Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea; Mining: Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea;

NauruNauru►Indigenous forced off land, which is left ruinedIndigenous forced off land, which is left ruined

Nuclear pollutionNuclear pollution►U.S. and French testing on possessionsU.S. and French testing on possessions

UNCLOSUNCLOS►Provides 200 mile buffer around islands for Provides 200 mile buffer around islands for

resource exploitationresource exploitation

Global Warming: fear of rising sea levelsGlobal Warming: fear of rising sea levels

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Figure 11.33

D. Measures of Human Well-D. Measures of Human Well-BeingBeing

►Low GDP per capita belies relatively Low GDP per capita belies relatively high standard of livinghigh standard of living Informal economy, remittances, Informal economy, remittances,

subsistence farming or agriculturesubsistence farming or agriculture

►Australia and NZ: high HDIAustralia and NZ: high HDI Most else: missing statistics, but changing Most else: missing statistics, but changing

diets lead to health issuesdiets lead to health issues

►New Zealand: 2 female PMs since New Zealand: 2 female PMs since 19971997

Human Well-Being RankingsHuman Well-Being Rankings