What is globalization? Getting started with global issues.

Essential Questions What are global issues? What is sustainability? What is a global perspective? How can we be involved in global issues and sustainable solutions? What concepts and tools can help people understand and work towards sustainable solutions?

Globalization is the interconnection and integration among people, economies, and societies throughout the world. Human beings around the world, now more than ever, are connected to one another. – Can you think of some examples? Globalization

Multi-national corporations (e.g., McDonald ’ s, Coca-Cola); The spread of information via the internet; The spread of epidemics around the globe via air travel; Worldwide effects of local environmental problems.

Increased need to develop a global perspective to address/redress global issues

What are global issues? Global issues are significant issues relating to or involving most or all of the Earth. An issue is global if it: – Persists or is long-acting – Is transnational or transboundary; – Affects large numbers of people; – Is an underlying cause of events; – Is connected to other issues that meet these criteria.

Example: Global Warming is … Persistent & long-acting in that it may take years or even decades to be fully felt, and may require similar time frames to be resolved. Transnational, meaning that its affects are felt well beyond the borders of the countries responsible for creating it. Significantly affects millions of people & is an underlying cause of many events such as desertification, crop failure, and diminished water supply. Interconnected in that efforts to slow global warming could impact other issues i.e., food security.

Why should we care? Global issues will determine what the world will be like in the future and our quality of life

Sustainability means the ability to meet our needs in the present without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs. What is sustainability?

Sustainable Development The efforts made by nations and organizations that enable people of the world to lead healthy, fulfilling and economically secure lives without destroying the environment and without endangering the future welfare of people and the planet.

SEEP We will consider global issues from 4 distinct perspectives: – Social: interpersonal relations or relations between communities; – Economic: financial costs and benefits; – Environmental: how we impact the environment and how the environment impacts us; – Political: power, control.