Globalisation, is it good or bad? - Part1

Talking with a friend recently about how fast news spreads around the world, we pondered over the above statement. My friend suggested that globalisation is bad. Reasons… In his view, information overload appeared to be his ‘hang up’.

I disagree. In a world where there isn’t enough information on the truth of corporate greed, local exploitation and basic human rights, the more we can understand the plight of those around, I believe the greater chance for us to be motivated to do something about. Although the latter sounds idealistic, the alternative is apathy and a dumbed down media engine.

Consider the flowers one may purchase from a supermarket. Without coverage of how farm hands are forced to work under extreme health and safety non-compliance, we may never have discovered the real facts of this situation. Sweat shops, child labour, arms sales and disrespect of religious artefacts are all issues that could be described as newsworthy but should be considered in the context of raising awareness and purporting to place them on today’s political agenda.

However, although we are presented with this information on a daily basis, how many of us simply accept, forget and occasionally give to a charity collection – the latter being a good step but when do we get to hear about the improvements we seek – NB continuity of news items is often missing.

The purpose of raising these issues with regard to globalisation is the hope that people will consider the implication of their apathy. In 1971 Marvin Gaye released, ‘What’s going on’. Unfortunately, the words from yesteryear are still applicable today. Common denominators such as war, epidemics and poverty are still prominent. So whose fault is this? I suggest that we’re all equally to blame for today’s outcome. Blaming politicians doesn’t help. Greater personal will to challenge for change is required. For example, raising local awareness, communicating with politicians, writing letters of support or if applicable concern about social issues and developing a greater understanding of those around us.

I’ve recently watched ‘Pay it forward’, in my view the theme sent out a message of greater understanding between people. Therefore, globalisation can be good only if we use the information we gain to understand the experiences of others to create a greater good.Consider world music, world cinema and appreciate the thousands of dialects that people have developed to communicate. In a connected world, isn’t it sad that we sometimes don’t want to talk to our own relatives? Even people living next to each other will never enter each others home, in fear of either making the first move, being too busy or ‘bending’ to simple egotism.

I believe we’re all here on this Earth for too short a time and there fore need to develop more confidence in each other. I was saddened by the comments made to the Sikh runner at the recent New York Marathon. I won’t repeat them but they were from a camp that failed to understand that all communities suffered on that awful day on 9/11. However, there were many in the crowd that gave encouragement applause and positive comments and were appreciative of the determination of the runner. Let that be a message for us, respecting each other in a world where there is so much positive energy means we have to try harder to sustain it. Sustaining the positiveness in a global state can only be achieved through working together to share the resources we have, forgiving debt and rejoicing in our diversity.