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OVERVIEW
Regions
and Economies - Oregon and U.S. Midwest
This
video program features two case studies on the United
States: Oregon: A Fight for Water and
U.S. Midwest: Spatial Innovations.
The first case study, Oregon: A Fight for Water,
looks at agricultural production in the regional transition
zone from the lush West Coast of Oregon to the state's
more arid landscapes on the east. Technology has enabled
residents of eastern Oregon to harness scarce water
resources to support agricultural production, but at
an environmental cost. Farmers there rely upon the Columbia
River for irrigation for their fields and for transportation
of their products, thirty percent of which is shipped
across the Pacific to Asia. A local Native American
tribe is demanding that the diversion of the river be
limited in order to revive the dwindling salmon runs
that rely on the Columbia and its tributaries to spawn.
New
material for this case include new maps and video footage
updating the status of the water dispute and salmon
population, and further analysis of the differences
between the West Coast and the interior of the state.
U.S.
Midwest: Spatial Innovations focuses on the
geographic distribution of Japanese auto plants throughout
the Midwestern United States and explores the spatial
nature of Japanese just-in-time production techniques.
Key reasons for Japan's decision to locate in this region
are proximity to the majority of U.S. consumers and
the sophistication of the Midwest's transportation infrastructure.
The case study also explores the U.S. automotive industry,
its history of competition with Japan, and its gradual
incorporation of Japanese production methods to meet
the high standards set by its competitor. Competition
and cooperation among industries and nationalities have
led to new levels of productivity and quality in this
U.S. region.
Updates
to this case include a rich variety of archival footage,
new discussion of the impact of just-in-time production,
an examination of future trends in automobile manufacturing,
as well as further interviews with geographer Dr. James
Rubenstein who was featured in the original case study.
Video
Key Words
Oregon
- Center
Pivot Agriculture
- Senior
Water and Fishing Rights
- Hydroelectricity
- Formal
Regions
- Demography
and Physical Geography
- Rain
Shadow
U.
S. Midwest
- Relative
Location and Site Selection
- Traditional
Mass Production
- Lean
Production System
- Diffusion
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