THE ISSUE

The world of trade is always a transaction of some sort between countries. Oftentimes there are many issues involved, such as colonial exploitation and capitalistic greed. What we want to examine is a way to change this: a way to keep the goods flowing in a symbiotic relationship rather than one country depleting the resources of another.

The use of natural resources globally has increased rapidly since the 1900s. Beyond the devastating environmental impact, this can also cause major human rights issues through the lowering of living standards and increase of geopolitical conflict. This is a major issue for Europe as its economic structure is dependent on imports.  This brings to light the question: "How can we rely on hinterlands and ensure that people have the resources they need without the overconsumption and depletion of resources?"