China’s Population Problem![c:\documents and settings\cheffernan.sd203\local settings\temporary internet files\content.ie5\ohc9lkd7\mcj04057240000[1].wmf](30671_html_5de094fc.gif)
Plan One: Slow Population Growth
Mao Zedong, China’s first Communist leader, encouraged Chinese citizens to have many children to make China a more developed nation. However, China did not have the resources to support such a huge population. In order to slow down China’s population growth, in 1979 China began the one child policy. This was a set of laws that limited most Chinese families to having just one child. Though the policy has changed somewhat over the past 30 years, it is still in place in China.
Brainstorm:
What are 2 benefits of the one child policy?
What are 2 problems with the one child policy?
Look at your answers for the questions above. Knowing that China remains overpopulated, make a brief recommendation (one paragraph) to the Chinese government about whether or not they should continue this policy.
China’s Population Problem
Plan Two: Three Gorges Dam
Changing to a manufacturing economy presents new problems for a country. One of the biggest problems is pollution. Factories release many chemicals into the air leading to medical problems for citizens all over the country. Due to a lack of environmental regulations, China’s pollution problems are among the worst in the world. The Three Gorges Dam is being built to alleviate some of the environmental problems caused by China’s development. Read page 665 in your textbook to help you with the questions below.
Brainstorm:
What are 2 benefits of building the Three Gorges Dam?
What are 2 problems with the building the Three Gorges Dam?
Look at your answers for the questions above. As an outsider, what would you have recommended the Chinese government do? Explain your recommendation in a paragraph below and make sure that you provide evidence for your recommendation.
China’s Population Problem
Plan Three: Special Economic Zones
MADE IN CHINA. Quite a few objects in your possession have this stamped somewhere on them. This is the result of a policy China developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s dealing with “Special Economic Zones.” For the first time in China’s Communist history, some areas of China would be opened up to foreign companies. In these Special Economic Zones, government control would be loosened allowing foreign companies to operate the way they wanted to. Use the Special Economic Zones sheet to help you answer the questions below.
Brainstorm:
What are 2 benefits of Special Economic Zones?
What are 2 problems with Special Economic Zones?
Look at your answers for the questions above. Respond in a paragraph to this statement: Special Economic Zones have improved the lives of China’s citizens.
Adapted from Geography Alive! Lesson 30 Reading Notes
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