In 2004, for the fourth year in a row, 'Foreign Policy' magazine surveyed 62 countries
to determined which country on Earth is the "most global nation".
Exactly what globalization means, how historical it is and how it affects lives
worldwide are matters of considerable discussion. While
anti-globalizers such as CorpWatch and pro-globalizers such as the International Monetary Fund debate their
positions, geographer Doreen Massey writes about the "Geography of Power"
and the alternatives to the standard view of globalization.
From your reading, how would you define globalization? What arguments
would you make for an alternate approach to globalization?
Children are in many countries the most numerous segment of the
population, yet with no economic or political power, they are often the most
vulnerable. Worldwide, children are industrial laborers, workers in the sex trade, or outright slaves. If they live in a war zone, children are
simultaneously combatants, victims, and political symbols. Even in more
peaceful areas, children frequently must deal with very adult subjects, such as
HIV.
Look at the state of American children from the perspective of the
Annie
E. Casey Foundation or the Children's Defense Fund. What
is the role of North American children in the global economy? Is this a
significant role compared to the economic productivity of children in other
world regions?
The worldwide need for sustainable development is receiving
attention from national governments, nongovernmental
organizations, and transnational corporations.
Students are often directly involved in aid and development
projects. The International Institute for Sustainable Development
provides an interactive online toolkit for college students
interested in sustainable development projects. Please investigate one of these
initiatives further and suggest how you might assist this effort personally in
your own community.