Globalization
So just about every day I read something about Globalization. Here in the UK it's almost always negative.
I find this so strange from a country whose massive colonialism and it's impact on the world are largely
responsible for much of what we now negatively associate with the concept. (before you rant, please note I'm talking historical precedent here not currently - the US definitely owns that position of honor.)
My feelings about Globalization are largely mixed. On the one hand I love to travel, and enjoy nothing more in the world than landing/wandering/getting lost and ending up in a town without one multinational advertisement or retail establishment. It doesn't happen often, the last time was deep in northern Romania - but when it does it's magic. So I guess you could say emotionally I'm with the anti-Global's; the world is a better place when we spend in our communities, use less fossil fuel and preserve our culture.
Except that it's not. One of the amazing things about technology, progress and innovation is the shrinking of the planet. The fact that I have been able to travel to:
But, and maybe it's because I'm mostly white (though not as much as you all might think), male, middle-aged and American that I think this is a good thing - but I still think it is. Trade, for the most part, is good - if it's Fair Trade. Cultural interchange has brought us the blues, reggae & dub and for that matter most of the great art of the 21st century.
In business terms, most of the wealth, success and happiness attributed to progress have to do with globalization and it's ability to open new markets and expand existing ones. I think most of the anti-globalization folks are off the mark - they should be screaming about sustainability. They should be yelling about free markets and fair trade (eliminating subsidies, corruption and increasing open markets, while rewarding sustainable business activities. In short, to borrow from Google. They should be demonstrating with signs that read "Don't be evil"
As long as we're conducting ourselves sustainably, I can't see the issue. More importantly, I think globalization is inevitable. We live in a smaller world, we've already met each other. We're going to fuck, trade, fight, innovate, steal, and love - lets just do it for the better good; with an eye to leaving the world a better place than we found it.
Comments
Hello"Don't be evil" - that's so the crux of it I guess! I'm with you entirely - I have huge discussions with my housemate about saving the planet and sustainability. I say achieve responsible sustainability and equilibrium and you'll have saved the planet, he says "but it's all nature so it's all meant to be as it is, and anyway since when were humans outside nature?". And I can tell you, that's a REALLY hard argument to disprove!
Love the travel map too - I'm going to give it a go. My dad worked for an airline when I was a kid so my bro and I got to live in some awesome places!