Port Campbell – Campbellot C

Ambassador: Eric McIntyre.260
Zack Richards
Jenna Jackson

       The community of Port Campbell has always been known for its fishing and trade industry. The waterfront location and humid subtropical climate have made it a hub within the country for job opportunities related to such industries. This prime real estate on the harbor has drawn people from around the world. As a result of this, Port Campbell has become one of the most diverse cities within Campbellot. Walking down any street you could find yourself at one point passing a restaurant that serves authentic Puerto Rican food, and just a few steps ahead there could be a 4-star restaurant famous for its Italian cuisine or a crowd of people lined up for Mexican street food served just like it is in Tijuana. A variety of languages and music can be heard all at once on any given day in Port Campbell.
       The growing population of this highly advanced/developed G7 economy has also created a large strain on the existing natural capital. Due to unknown amounts of pollution, the pH of the city’s harbor and waterfront has almost certainly been thrown out of balance, which has put much of the ecosystem in jeopardy. For a community that is so heavily reliant upon the marine life, this imbalance could certainly have serious financial implications. The population has continued to rise since the city was founded in 1796, and this figure now stands at a staggering 2.8 million people. In the past, the strain on the harbor and ocean was not always apparent, but the effects are becoming more and more visible as the population demands more from the marine ecosystem with each passing year.
       Investors have become rather conservative due to instability in international trade, and this has caused them to be hesitant toward distributing money to clean up the harbor. Residents frequently form large protests in an attempt to make their desires heard. There have been steps in the past to educate local fishermen about the state of the ocean and the future that could be in store for them if they also continue to fish at the rates that they do. These efforts have not produced significant results. Attempts have been made to educate the general population about alternative revenues that could be obtained from eco-tourism, but residents have not been able to make the
switch from the system they have been so heavily dependent upon. Port Campbell has always struggled with offering and promoting postsecondary education for its residents, which would allow them to gain knowledge for highly skilled careers and create a more diverse economy.
       A high level of distrust for the local government has evolved due to perceived inaction and lack of representation on behalf of the community. Over the years, residents have frequently seen corporations get away with harming the environment. One major incident occurred when an oil tanker caused a massive crude oil spill in the harbor and surrounding coastline. The company continued to operate within the city as if nothing happened, and the fines were viewed by many as being minuscule compared to the damage. Had the penalty been stricter, the company would have been more likely to alter the ways in which it operates.
       If there were a stronger relationship between the unionized dockworkers, longshoremen, and the wealthier financial and trade sectors, this could catalyze efforts toward better maintaining the main bridge that connects Port Campbell to the southern portion of the country. Overall, the social networks of the city have not been as interconnected as they could have been. Many problems can begin to be addressed by investing in bridging these social capitals.

Community C: this community is located on the ocean and is tied economically and culturally to its harbor. 

Population size = 2,800,000 residents

Natural: 5 This city was initially founded due to its great harbor; the harbor was developed to serve as a key port for international trade for the nation; its natural marine resources have been degraded from pollution, overfishing (contributed to by community J), and non-point source runoff (from surrounding local areas and community H’s river outlet into the ocean).

Cultural: 4 The city maintains an “international and cosmopolitan” identity in part due to its connection to other international cities through its port and rich history in trade. The arts and cultural sectors in the city are underfunded and not well connected to, or supported by, wealthier philanthropists in the city.

Human: 4 This city is the most populous in the nation; however, the general labor force is divided between high-skilled, white-collar workers in trade and finance, and unskilled, largely blue-collar workers; in-migrants come to find high-wage, low-skill jobs in the port with limited success; strong postsecondary education (vocational schools, community colleges, universities) are lacking in this city.

Social: 4 There is strong bonding social capital within the unionized dockworkers and longshoreman communities, which are bonded through several close-knit civic associations and industry organizations; but there are very few connections between those civic associations and the much wealthier financial and trade corporate sectors. There is also a small group of residents interested in improving tourism and recreation opportunities in the city, but they are not connected to any major political or civic leaders.

Political: 3 The local government and its robust port authority has had clashes with organized labor in the past and is distrusted by some in the community. Environmental groups, poorly funded, argue that the community and local industries violate basic environmental management policies; there are deep, long-lasting political factions within the community.

Financial: 6 Traditionally lots of shipping containers move through its port due to a very strong trade industry; the corporate offices of several major banks are located here; instability in international trade have made investors in the community very conservative; business leaders tend to underfund the non-profit sectors and are firmly against raising taxes; recently, there has been some small interest in eco-tourism in the area to provide an alternative revenue outlet but these run into conflict with current industries and lax environmental standards.

Built: 4 While the city’s port is traditionally well-maintained, water pollution management has been a historical problem for this city; it’s responsible for maintaining a bridge that links the city to the nation’s mainland highway, which is in disrepair.