SOCA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Maurice Strong, Michael Crichton, James Lovelock
Document Summary
The world s first major nuclear reactor accident occurred in december 1952 at the chalk. River nuclear facility about 125 kilometres (80 miles) northwest of ottawa. A partial meltdown of the reactor s uranium fuel core caused the four-tonne lid to blow off the reactor, spurting radioactive water and creating lethal radiation levels. Globally, life expectancy doubled from thirty-one years in 1900 to sixty-seven years today. In 1950, china s infant mortality rate was 190 per 1, 000 births; it s now 62. In 1950, india s infant mortality rate was 190 per 1, 00 births; it s now 26. In the developing world between 1970 and 2001, the proportion suffering from chronic hunger declined from 37% to 17% despite an 83% increase in population. Global average incomes in real dollars have tripled since 1950. Since 1981, the proportion in the developing world living in absolute poverty has fallen from 40% to 20%.
