chapter 22 notes handout.docx

Chapter 22: Southeast Asia Physical geography-What is the physical geography of Southeast Asia like? Regions of southeast Asia Mainland Southeast Asia The Malay Peninsula-Hengduan Mountains, Shan Plateau, Khorat Plateau The Indochina Peninsula-Luong Prabang Mountains, Annam Highlands, Mekong Del...

Chapter 22: Southeast Asia Physical geography-What is the physical geography of Southeast Asia like? Regions of southeast Asia Mainland Southeast Asia The Malay Peninsula-Hengduan Mountains, Shan Plateau, Khorat Plateau The Indochina Peninsula-Luong Prabang Mountains, Annam Highlands, Mekong Delta Island Southeast Asia The Malay Archipelago The Philippine Archipelago Physical landforms Southeast Asia lies at the collision point of four main plates: the Indian, Eurasian, Philippine, and Australian. This region is on the western side of the Ring of Fire, at the collision point of many tectonic plates so volcanic activity, earthquakes, and tsunamis are possibilities. Bodies of water Oceans and Seas-Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Andaman Sea, Malacca Strait Rivers-Mekong River, Salween River, Irrawaddy River, Chao Phraya, Red River, Saigon River Climates of Southeast Asia The weather is hot and muggy year-round. Apart from the highland areas, all the islands have a tropical wet climate with two seasons: dry and rainy. Resources of Southeast Asia Agriculture Plants and Animals Minerals and Energy Fertile, arable land, Rice, Palm oil, Cassava (tapioca), peanuts, cacao, coconuts, coffee Thousands of flowering plants, Elephants, monkey, orangutans, tigers, Komodo dragons, Hardwood forests = rubber Gold, copper, nickel, tin, gemstones, Sulfur, Oil and gas, Hydropower Section Review What are the main regions of South East Asia? Mainland Southeast Asia-Malay Peninsula, Indochina Peninsula Island Southeast Asia-Malay Archipelago, Philippine Archipelago Why does Southeast Asia have so many volcanoes and earthquakes? because it sits on the Ring of Fire at the collision point of many tectonic plates What oceans or seas are located in the region? Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Andaman Sea, Malacca Strait Why would most of the people of Myanmar and Thailand live in and around the central river valleys? It is fertile land that can be farmed. How might the floods during the rainy season every year affect the people and the economy? They damage infrastructure and crops. People are killed, displaced, and discouraged. What are two resources found in Southeast Asia under the plants and animals’ category? Thousands of flowering plants Elephants, monkey, orangutans, tigers, Komodo dragons Hardwood forests = rubber Human geography-How do the people of Southeast Asia live? Mainland History Thailand is the only country in this region to avoid being colonized. One positive result of colonialism was the unifying influence exerted among various tribal groups throughout Southeast Asia, which made independence possible and practical. Vietnam was a central conflict zone of the Cold War from the mid-1950s through the early 1970s. The driving force for American intervention was the Domino Theory. Domino Theory-The belief that if South Vietnam fell to communism, Southeast Asia would fall, followed by the rest of Asia and eventually the world The Communist party “Pathet Lao” took over Laos in 1975. The Communist party “Khmer Rouge” under dictator Pol Pot took over Cambodia from 1975-1979. 1-2 million people died under the government’s harsh policies. They forced people from their homes onto community farms or factories. Anyone who resisted or disagreed was killed. Island History The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to be colonized and the only one to be colonized by Spain. They were taken over by the US after the Spanish-American War in 1898. Emilio Aguinaldo led a 2-year revolution against the Americans after the Spanish-American War. The Filipino war was more devastating to the Americans than the Spanish War. Aguinaldo did not win, but after WWII and the US granted the Philippines independence, he became the first president. The hub of Indonesian civilization has been the island of Java. The new country Timor-Leste gained international recognition in 2002. Governments Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ASEAN-Association of Southeast Asian Nations; founded in 1967 to promote economic and political cooperation Brunei = constitutional sultanate (dictatorship) Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia = constitutional monarchies Myanmar = former totalitarian government Vietnam and Laos = Communist governments Singapore = parliamentary republic Indonesia and the Philippines = presidential republics Economies Today all the ASEAN countries are seeing continued growth. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) stepped in to manage the economies when economic collapse happened in 1997. IMF-International Monetary Fund; an international organization whose goal is to foster monetary cooperation and secure financial stability worldwide The tourism industry has grown for the whole region. Most of these nations are involved in the manufacture and exportation of clothes and shoes. Due to widespread poverty, these nations have large economic diasporas which has created a brain drain. Diaspora-Group of people who have left their home country to live and work abroad Brain drain-When the smartest people of a nation emigrate to more developed countries Singapore is the financial and high-tech hub of Southeast Asia. Brunei is wealthy because it has successfully harvested its large oil and gas reserves. Myanmar has suffered because of sanctions by foreign countries due to their persecution of ethnic minorities. Timor-Leste was fairly new and small and had to rebuild its infrastructure when it split with Indonesia. Demographics The Philippines has the highest birthrate in Southeast Asia. The mainland is one of the least urbanized regions in the world. Singapore is one of the most densely populated nations in the world. Each nation has a couple of main ethnic groups, but in isolated regions, there are many additional minority groups. Most people are bilingual or trilingual. Culture and Diversity Four broad attributes of ASEAN culture: 1-Showing respect 2-Avoiding shame 3-Treasuring one’s family 4-Having an easy-going attitude toward life Foods Southeast Asians take pride in their various dishes. Food must be prepared in the traditional way, which is labor intensive. Vietnam-Pho (Noodle Soup), Indonesia-Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice), Philippines-Adobo, Singapore-Chicken Rice, Myanmar- Lahpet Thoke (Pickled Tea Leaf Salad), Thailand-Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad), Malaysia- Nasi Lemak (Rice cooked in coconut milk and a pandan leaf) Religion Majority Catholic: Philippines and Timor-Leste Majority Buddhist: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam Majority Islamic: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia Mainland Southeast Asia Buddhist countries are not tolerant of other religions, whether that be Christianity or Islam. The mainland Buddhism is mixed with spiritism. While the mainland ethnic majority populations have been resistant to the gospel, the minority mountain and hill tribes have largely accepted Christ. Myanmar is home to the second-largest population of Baptists in the world, after the United States. Cambodians have been open to the gospel since the end of the twentieth century. In Vietnam Communism is the official ideology; Buddhism is tolerated, but Christianity is not. Buddhism Buddhism is a religion that promotes the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhists use collections of Buddha’s sayings as their scriptures. Buddha’s diagnosis of the world’s problem and the way of salvation is called the Four Noble Truths. Buddhists follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The goal is to escape from samsara into nirvana. Indonesia and Malay Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. The Indonesian side of New Guinea (West Papua) is Christian. Philippines and Timor-Leste The Philippines and Timor-Leste are the only Catholic-majority nations in Asia. The Philippines also has the most evangelical Christians of any ASEAN country. Section Review What are two common characteristics of ASEAN governments? corruption and instability How does having a large diaspora help and hurt the economy? It helps the economy when the people send funds back home in remittances It hurts the economy when the smartest people of the nation are not present to build it up. INTERACTIONS OF PEOPLE AND PLACEs-What are some of the challenges of living in Southeast Asia? Interaction among People One major threat to ASEAN nations is the worldwide human trafficking problem. There are more people in slavery today than at any other time. Control of the waters in the middle of the South China Sea is hotly disputed. One-third of all global shipping travels through here. The waters are believed to conceal a treasure trove of oil and gas. On the Myanmar/China border, there is a lawless autonomous area called Mong-La where many illegal activities occur. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Chinese plan to build a series of roads, seaports, airports, and power plants around the world, is especially significant in Southeast Asia. Belt and Road Initiative-The Chinese plan to build a series of roads, seaports, airports, and power plants around the world Environmental Issues in Southeast Asia Water Air Land Little access to potable water or wastewater services, Pollution in the Citarum River, Decline of fish stocks, Death of coral reefs, Drought from China’s dam-building Air pollution in cities Deforestation, Soil erosion, Loss of biodiversity, Land mines, Illegal hunting. Opium trade Reasons for Environmental Issues The water pollution is from farming and factory wastes and inadequate water treatment facilities. Fish are decreasing for a variety of reasons. Motorized transportation is the main source of air pollution. Much of the deforestation is illegal. The mass of garbage collecting all over the countryside is the result of rapid urbanization. Proposed Solutions The Mekong River Commission was formed by the involved nations to collectively deal with the problems related to control of the river. Farmers are using better irrigation practices and managing erosion by replanting trees. The Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI) hopes not only to find solutions to the environmental issues but also to solve the underlying cause by finding other means of income for the people. Poverty Environment Initiative-An initiative in Southeast Asia to solve both environmental problems as well as the underlying causes Nonprofit organizations are working hard to remove land mines and unexploded ordnance from Cambodia and Laos. Section Review What are some major threats or environmental issues to ASEAN countries? human trafficking, Deforestation, damming of rivers without consideration of impact, soil degradation, dying coral reefs, trade in endangered species, opium, air pollution