Globalization aims to bring to us development and innovation across different fields. And with this, we are promised to have a better future if we are able to go and flow with the fast-changing technology and use up all resources available. With this, we are being driven to use as much resources from the environment, even if it meant that we use more than we actually needed. With the aim to be globally competitive, we sacrifice a lot of things, including the very planet we could only live in. The earth and its environment suffered much with the things man has been doing to reach more of what we think is progressive and advanced. Sadly, we might improve and achieve more in many things, but lose what is much more important, our planet. We will be focusing on the issue of deforestation and what we can do to address this problem.
According to statistics and studies, we are losing Earth's greatest biological treasures just as we are beginning to appreciate their true value. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years. Most rainforests are cleared by chainsaws, bulldozers and fires for its timber value and then are followed by farming and ranching operations, even by world giants like Mitsubishi Corporation, Georgia Pacific, Texaco and Unocal. More than half of the world's timber and 72% of paper is consumed by 22% of the world's population (the United States, Europe, and Japan). Worldwide, industrialized countries consume over twelve times more wood products per person than non-industrialized countries. The United States has less than 5% of the world's population yet consumes more than 30% of the world's paper. Every year more than 8.5 million hectares of tropical rainforests are being razed. This is all true and very alarming.
The causes of deforestation are population growth, poverty, and unequal access to land are among the major causes of deforestation, that is according to the Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Unless people become responsible of their family and nations of their citizens’ family planning, we will hardly solve different environmental issues, especially deforestation. More human beings would mean more demands and needs. Resources are scarce and are not increasing as we increase in number. Population growth does not have to stop but has to be controlled. Poverty and unequal access to land contributes to the problem wherein the less fortunate will not be able to educate themselves and help in the problem. The urbanization of provinces where forests and green places are being converted to subdivisions and malls lessen the trees and add to the problem. The need for timber, for industrial use and as fuel is also a cause to deforestation. Corruption is not an exception wherein government officials allow people to destroy because of money and power that they get.
The different effects of deforestation, on the other hand, are global warming, emission of greenhouse gases, global climate change, carbon stores in soil, reduced net oxygen levels, and biosphere instability. The issue of deforestation does not affect only the specific places but the earth as a whole which means it concerns us all. Landslides and soil erosion are happening. The balance in the ecosystem is destroyed that even animals and plants die because they lose their natural habitat. Many people suffer whenever stronger typhoons happen because trees which are supposed to alleviate the effects of these storms are gone. Carbon dioxide is building up in the atmosphere which is supposed to be taken by trees and exchange it with oxygen. As we continue not to take action of the problem, we are making things worse for ourselves and for future generations.
Forests promise us riches and more discoveries with all that is in it. There are a lot more that we can find and use for development and innovation, to make lives better for everyone of us. We need to take actions now to save the environment most especially our forests. It is never wrong to save and care for where we actually get everything we have now. Globalization, if joined together with right care and proper use of the environment, will not only improve and enrich ourselves and our lives but also the earth where we live in. We get to share the positive changes and the riches to the future generations if we do that. We can always develop and innovate but we need not to sacrifice what is only one and irreplaceable, our home planet, the earth.
December 07, 2011
November 12, 2011
Poverty
Globalization promises to close the gap between nations and tries to establish as much as possible, a free and accessible trade and communication within each sovereign nations. Many countries are continually enjoying the benefits of Globalization which also provides opportunities to different people all over the world. It affected the way people as well as nations grow and develop. But there are also effects which seem to be bad for nations especially for poor countries. It is alleged that behind the good intentions of Globalization comes the deeper intention of rich and powerful nations to control the poor and weak countries; it is like as nations close the gap between the boundaries of each nation comes the consequence that rich nations become richer and poor nations become poorer. The tendency of this is that since Globalization promotes a free and growing world, it comes with exploitation of material resources and also human workforce from poor countries. There will always be different views regarding the effects of Globalization especially towards the growing poverty rate. But is it justifiable to say that poverty will never be eradicated? You be the judge.
Globalization represents success and development among others, but it also drives some countries into poverty. Somehow, the forward growth of development, technology, communication and health - has led to dramatic changes in humanity. Long are the days when people accepted their fates as it is handed to them. Now, people make solutions to their problems through the aid of the products that globalization has created. Sadly, globalization is only for those who can afford it. Millions of people nowadays don't have access to basic healthcare, food and necessities even when the news headlines tell of recent advancements in technology and medicine. Globalization is beneficial to those who use it to their advantage, but it is harmful to those who cannot bring it to their positive use. Poverty is all over the world, and somehow it becomes the root of crimes committed when people get desperate to get their needs fulfilled in order to survive life. - R.S.
Ever since globalization has taken place in our world, a lot of improvements happened which goal is to make the lives of people easier and more convenient. Sadly, this globalization trying to bring development to our world, also created a distinction between people who can afford to help themselves with the things development has to offer and those who cannot. Thus, poverty has been created and when there is poverty, there is violence. Even the very things globalization has brought for people to use, like technology, is being used to deceive people and take advantage of them. Not everyone gets the advantages and benefits globalization and development has to offer because as the world moves forward, their standards of living do not go forward together with the rich people, thus, globalization is just making it more difficult for poor people to develop as the standards of what is developed rises. As the world develops, the rich gets richer and the poor becomes poorer. The world moves forward but leaving people behind who can't go with the flow. Globalization has to address the issue so that the world will be truly developed. - K.N.
November 09, 2011
Media and Globalization
Media and Globalization
Today, when reporters consider their local community, they think not only about the physical and geographical region in which they live. They also think about their associates and neighbors around the world with whom they are connected through e-mail. When a reporter gathers information concerning this or that issue, he or she uses the Internet to find relevant material from around the world. For those who gather information, "local community" no longer refers just to the region in which they live but to the whole world. The involvement of every local media in covering international events and happening shows that it is moving globally.
While media conglomerates press for policies to facilitate their domination of markets throughout the world, strong traditions of protection for domestic media and cultural industries persist. Thus, creating conflict with the interest between conservative/communist communities and liberal states.
Theoretically, global media influences media content, politics, and culture. As the Internet grows and becomes a broadband medium, it is significantly taking on the characteristics of mass media rather than its real characteristics which are interpersonal in nature. There is no doubt that in the future or even in the immediate future, all types of media and its content will be extended to the Internet.
"For instance, a recent study of Dutch children's Internet usage revealed that they primarily used the Internet as a leisure medium to play games, watch video clips, and visit entertainment sites. Research on Americans however, shows people primarily use the Internet to maintain social relationships through e-mail. The Dutch study was conducted by Valkenburg and Soeters (2001), who examined children's home Internet usage. They found three primary motives for children's Internet use: affinity with computers, information seeking, and entertainment. Children must first of all enjoy sitting in front of a computer, the researchers found. Second, children use the Internet to find information about hobbies and homework assignments. Finally, they visit entertainment Web sites. The use of the Internet as an entertainment and leisure medium is similar to television usage."
Studying global media is very important especially now that globalization is rapidly scattering all over the world. One reason for studying such is that people tend to associate global media's international circulation with power. According to Mirza Jan of Pakistan, there are four types of power; economic power, political power, coercive power, and symbolic power. These types of power represent different sectors and different groups of nations that are greatly influenced by globalization or global media. 
As people concerned, we need to know almost everything that happens around us. This will bring forth awareness and we will be able to do something to address the issue. Where we actually get the information about current events is a very important factor that influences our stand and opinion towards things. With the many things that happen every hour in a day and with the fast transmission of information because of technology, it is vital that we filter the information we get because there is no neutral media. If what the media can bring us is being filtered and limited by the government and others, we too have to be careful of what we believe in on the different information that is being given to us. We need to be critical and wise in our stand on the issues that involve us. - K.N.http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr_29_1_08.pdf
November 06, 2011
The New World
Ever wondered how the world would be after 20 years? This is how we view the world in the next twenty years:In 2015, the United Nation’s millennium goals which includes ending poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, maternal and children’s health, fighting known diseases, environmental continuity, and global partnership for development are not met. Though it was noted that the growth of each elements in the millennium goals increased, it did not actually made an impact because of the fast rise of population throughout the world. The United Nations continued to create long term strategies especially focusing on the environmental and health sustainability. Different leaders from all over the world gathered to reinvent their strategies in a more direct and attainable manner. They invested more money to focus on research and development regarding sustainable mediums for providing health care, cure for diseases, and environmental preservation. But still, the progress was still relatively slow.
According to studies, by the end of the century, the sea levels are expected to rise between seven and twenty-three inches by the end of the century. But so far in 2016, sea levels have already increased by two inches which affected land masses that are below sea level such as some part in New York City, coastal areas in the South America region, and Islands near the Pacific Ocean. The following year, strong weather calamities struck different countries including United States, Southeast Asia, majority of Europe and parts of India. Massive storm and cyclones including tornadoes hit the said areas which paralyzed the communication and economic of the world. Millions of people have died and many lost their properties. The United Nations and other Non-government organizations found it hard to allocate the resources needed to provide the basic necessities for the affected victims because the demand was too high and that the calamities happened almost consequently in a given time. Many have died because of illness and hunger especially in developing countries which were not addressed immediately due to lack of resources. In the same year, earthquakes ranging from 8 to 9.4 magnitudes were recorded in different provinces in China. The greatest devastation is the nuclear reactors that were in the earthquake affected areas used for energy were destroyed and created multiple catastrophic effects on people and livelihood in the area. Aside from the millions that were killed in the earthquake, the radioactive contamination that went in the atmosphere had spread throughout mainland China causing severe damage to the health of people and of animals. The damages and its effects even surpassed the Chernobyl disaster. It was in this year that the U.N. proclaimed it as the “year of the consequences”. There were no electricity for some parts of the world, the Internet was badly disabled, businesses were mostly closed, and the economic area of the world has stopped.
Immediately after recovering from the calamities and catastrophic events (2019), leaders from all over the world gathered to address the issues they now face, and the future that would most likely be more horrible to come. In a world with very diverse culture and of different beliefs and standpoints, how on earth will they be able to address the problems that they all face?
In the year 2020, each country is given the task to look within their territories on how they could address the revised UN millennium goals; focusing on environmental sustainability, safety, and proper allocation of resources within the borders of their nation. It is good to start the change if the change will happen within the territory of people with the same culture and beliefs before embarking on a larger scale. People in Southeast Asian nations have found that they could invest more on geothermal and solar energies to provide sustainable and cleaner source of energy for their countries. The people in the Philippines and also in Indonesia have passed several laws to protect the remaining forestry in their archipelagoes which was implemented by their government and was highly supported by the citizens. China has also embarked on clarifying their own goals and vision as a country. Is money and power their sole vision as a country? Or does the people and the environment preservation part of their goals? They balanced each factor and objectively addressed their concerns within the country. They shut down most of their nuclear reactors which they have learned from past experiences to contain very hazardous consequences. Instead, they focused also on clean sources of energy and made stricter quality control on their industrial facilities which accounts most of their contribution to pollution. The United States and other developed nations also saw the need to examine their goals and vision as a country which was seen on how they changed their policies within their jurisdiction. The people also understood the past events that happened and also saw the need to change their lifestyle which led to the interaction and cooperation between the government and the people.
As the year of 2026 is about to end, almost all of the nations around the world had started to change their personal goals and visions which affected the interaction between each nations. Countries have now begun to be open themselves with each other. Gone are the days of the said Globalization which was said to bring nations together and open all borders but in fact resulted in the bigger gap between the rich and poor countries. It is because all of the countries have seen their improvement as a nation, and that they have also noted the change and improvement of other nations as well. Their perceptions towards other nations have changed dramatically over time and it helped them see the positive side of each other. North Korea saw the improvement and opened themselves to the world. Communism was no longer part of a political structure and it was no longer seen in the face of the earth. Legal and fair trade from countries in Africa were supported by countries in the world where they had the chance to increase their economic growth and at the same time, provide necessary funds to protect the people and the environment in their land. The awareness of each nation towards the world and reality now became more objective and that it was not only good for the growth of their nation but also to the world as well.
Years passed by, and the situation between countries are better than ever. Yes, the countries had a hard time changing their bad habits; opening up to the world; not to mention the calamities that affected each nation has not been very helpful to them. The climate still hasn’t improved yet and the effects of global warming, pollution, and other manmade causes are still evident in the world which continues to bring harmful consequences to the people. Joint venture of all nations to battle against their past mistakes and the preservation of scarce resources are now being made into consideration. In the year 2028, the United Nations and the regional organizations of the world took the initiative to launch different channels of communication through nations addressing the different problems they have to face in the near future and how to control it from causing catastrophic effects. Since over the years, the nations have been opened up to the world, it was safe to say that it was now easier for the international organizations to provide the lead in showing all the countries how to have the same vision in order to control the damages and effects of global warming, pollution, and other concerns that will affect the world. The countries saw the need to have the same mindset with others so that they all could benefit from the cooperation of one another. They now knew how it would be attainable to control the growth of global warming and increase the development of all the nations while still considering its people and the environment if they had the same vision and try to work together as one. By the end of the year, countries have signed allegiance to fully cooperate with the United Nation’s goals as well as the goals of the regional organizations. Each country also pledge a part of their income which will be used to fund the research and development of the UN to address its goals. Because of the team learning of all the nations and with high participation to address the problems, the international organization received more power to use it for the greater good of the nations. The nations also respected the decision made by UN because they have the built the trust over the years of communication and interaction. Each nation’s voices were heard in the assembly which is to learn and create a better understanding of what is happening in our reality. Each country contributed to the development of their common goals. China volunteered to be the manpower and provide the necessary resources for producing quality drugs that the scientists from Europe have discovered in curing known diseases. Meanwhile United States and Switzerland continues to partner in discovering solar energy panels that could store up to 100 times the current heat energy it could absorb to minimize the space. Construction firms all over the world share their knowledge, resources, and expertise to discover and continue to find ways to build houses that would withstand climate change in different areas. Countries in Africa is also taking the initiative to protect their eco-system and at the same time harness natural resources for people’s consumption. They have also found ways to generate enough commodities to supply the locals with enough food, shelter, and clothing. Geothermal energies were also used widely throughout the world replacing nuclear reactors in developed countries.
With the steps that the countries have made to learn from the mistakes of their past, the illusion that someone is in charge and that the nations with less power have no say to the world, and that they cannot cooperate as one to address their common goal, it was all proven wrong. The integration of the four disciplines which helped the countries grow first on themselves; then opening up to others; and now working as one for their own survival and growth, helped them achieve the fifth discipline which is the systems thinking. The year 2032 has finally come and that they are now ready to think as a system after the long twenty years of preparation and building of nations to become as one. Patience is always the key. Although we may have been late to start what must have been started decades ago, the nations have learned from it and eventually applied it to reality. It will still be a long road to control the damages that have been done to our environment. And the effects might be harsher than before even if the countries have started to change. Change is inevitable, and the only way to survive the changes is that we should learn how to adapt to it and address problems not for a short period of time, but address them through a long term and continuous process. Just what the countries did for the past twenty years. Who knows, maybe they’ve just prolonged another ice age for future generations to continue.
In line with Globalization, our story regarding the next twenty years of our world coincides with its basic purpose; to remove the borders of each territory and create cooperation amongst the different countries in the world. Globalization is in fact detrimental to both the success and fail of all the nations in the world with regards to its environment and climate change. With the use of Globalization, every nation can either create a change to cooperate as one, slow down global warming and conserve our environment or either hasten it up and destroy our home planet. Each of us know the consequences of our actions; we just don’t know where and when it will hit us back. That is why the nations should know how to effectively use Globalization and its components in order to make a great difference in today’s alarming situations.
October 24, 2011
European Union and Globalization
European Union
European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It has delivered half a century of peace, stability, and prosperity, helped raise living standards, launched a single European currency (Euro), and is progressively building a single Europe-wide market in which people, goods, services, and capital move among Member States as freely as within one country. The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation. This regionalism organization began as a purely economic union and has evolved into an organization spanning all areas, from development aid to environmental policy. It actively promotes human rights and democracy and has the most ambitious emission reduction targets for fighting climate change in the world.
European Union and Globalization
Globalization unifies the world’s economic order by reducing the barriers of economic factors just like what EU has done to its member countries. In treaties that the EU has, free movement of trade and workers allows each member state to expand its capabilities and resources. Also, the means of EU in giving financial aid is a way of expanding and stabilizing the economies of its member states. It also serves as the center where countries under it get in touch with one another, moving and developing as one. One good thing about EU is that they consider each member state's opinion and stand in formulating and implementing policies and rules, this shows that there is respect and belief in one another. This strengthens the relationship of the member states which actually leads to them helping out each other and developing together; a key concept of Globalization.Reflections
European Union is an organization wherein its member states help one another in developing in all aspects especially in economics. Its member states work together as one towards development and growth. Through this EU, wherein market and law is one and applicable to all, the gap between the member states was gone and people can travel and have their jobs in another EU country. Relationships between member states improved and became stronger than before. The EU is what binds these member states together. Globalization has been illustrated in this association because it is through their decision to have one body and one work that they will develop together as one even if they are many and different member states. This work of unity in the European Union will then change each country into something more than what it can be if it were to stand and work alone. Because of globalization, development happens to everyone without someone having to stand alone in reaching the goal. - K.N.The European Union is an organization which is an indirect result of globalization. The need to be more cooperative with one another, the EU was established to pull its member European countries closer to one another and effectively implement policies within its circle. The EU is a political organization; and globalization is represented in the way the leaders of each country socialize with its neigboring nations. The actions of the world leaders determine whether EU's goals will be pushed for action or not. This is also important since some of these programs are aimed for the good and welfare of the general citizens of Europe. However it also becomes a problem for all when there is a hit in the economy and a change in policy. When there is the current trend for unemployment or inflation, all member countries experience the effect. Globalization connects the nations and the world trends, so there appears to be an interdependence among each other and to their environment. - R.S.Like any other regional organizations, the European Union sees to it that all the countries united under the organization are focused on one goal --- to become a more developed country inspite of the fluctuating and unpredictable economic factors. Globalization is also made possible by EU. Countries move forward hand in hand to be on a stable state. Even if EU is currently experiencing a deepening crisis at the moment, this would not hinder the member countries to strive in competing around the international trade. Thus, this crisis somewhat serves as challenge for member countries to prove their worth internationally. Each of them could not do it individually, so the union should take advantage of their alliances to resist the deepening depression for this unified organization. - E.T.Globalization has always been associated with the relationship of each state to other states. It was defined that actions connected with globalization aim to portray a living world that encourages free movement of natural resources, human resources, and all the other products that are manufactured through trade facilities. Just like what the European Union has in their setup. Through the report, it was mentioned that EU has rules posted in their organization that encourages the free movement of resources within the boundaries of each member state. With that, we can see that the goal of EU in having a free resources movement across its member nations is achieved. - D.S.
October 14, 2011
Territories and Globalization
Territories and Globalization
Some may understand Globalization as something that is simple and yet should be ignored but reality wise, it is as intricate and subtle as the human brain for it not only affects some, but all human beings on Earth. Simply said, globalization is a process wherein different groups of people may it be in the business industry, politics, and individuals from different nations interact with each other. It is through international trade, investments among countries, and communications through different networks aided by Information Technology that makes these relations possible. As broad as it may seem, Globalization affects numerous important aspects that directly influence us. Some of these important aspects are the environment, culture, political systems, development of the economy, opulence of all nations, and most especially the interests of all human beings in societies around the world. 
In a political perspective, a territory is described as a region belonging
to the jurisdiction of a state or a sovereign authority. A territory can be a means for securing the welfare of people and its culture. It gives measurement of up to where a certain authority can be executed. It also serves as the borders of the state to which the people living within it should follow the given laws and rules.
Globalization has its ways of closing the gaps between different countries. These countries have territories that they maintain and protect. With the emergence of globalization, territories seemed to be more open with each other, sharing their culture, resources, and information while still trying to compete with the rest of the world. They seemed to be more reliant with each other that along with the goal of globalization to increase the competitive advantage of each nation, they begin to unify as one to achieve their common goal even with the presence of borders such as territories. Territories have their positive and negative sides but the way they are used in order to bring the best in each nation depends on the rulers that govern the said nation. In line with this, they can use the presence of territories to maximize the effects of globalization in different fields.
Given the fact that Globalization is not that easy to comprehend, different understandings of what it really is and how it is related to imperative facets of different nations arise. Example points of views of students are as follows:
It is important to any sovereign to have a clear indication of up to what range their territory is. Just like our personal space as an individual, it is for us to secure. We always see to it that our territories are protected and only the ones we really trust could be the ones who could enter. Just like the immigrants during the game, they would still need to ask permission from the head of the state in order for them to enter. They still needed to pass some qualifications or come up with a treaty. The fun part of the game was establishing the treaties. Being the group with the highest number of members, it was so fun seeing other countries trying to think of the best treaty to offer. - E.T.
Tracing back to the Greco-Roman concept of territory where it all began, we can actually see that the establishment of territories really made a big change in the lives of all people and in every place there is. It actually caused for power, sovereignty and privacy to happen even more. Every country, city or municipality developed relationships with one another where they help each other progresswithout having having to sacrifice their own interests. With the concept of territory, people can also be distinguished from one another based on where they belong or where they came from. This affected the freedom of the people to move from one place to another subject to a lot of conditions. Globalization has helped the concept of territory in such a way that it connects every one territory to another through networking and communication. - K.C.
Territorial boundaries are just one of the representations of globalization. In the world today, globalization enables us to communicate and socialize with everybody faster and more efficient. Globalization has been a bridge for connecting us with the rest, making the world a smaller place. However, the relationship of globalization and territory has its own benefits and disadvantages. One example is the freedom of movement of people from one place to another. Before, it wasn't easy to cross borders from one country to another, due to threats of attack and colonization. Certain landmarks clearly indicate the line separating a state from its neighbor. But now, the rise of tourism, development, diplomacy and education, pushed countries to open its territorial boundaries to visitors, so the state can reap benefits from such exchange of activities. It is ironic though, that the freedom a person can attain from having his or her own passport can freely move around the globe, while the person who bears no such document feels the limiting effect of traveling to other nations for the prospect of a better life. They are the minorities that globalization alienated, for the benefit of open territories can only be attained by those who have a valid passport. - R.S.
Sources:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/territory
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