CHAPTER 17 – UNIT 4Effects of Globalization on Individuals and Communities

Today, change is the one thing that is constant in our lives. During your lifetime, you have already seen many changes in your community and in Canada. You have seen how similar changes have spread around the world. The forces of globalization have had a powerful impact on individuals and communities. They have affected patterns of migration and technology. They have raised new issues and controversies about agricultural practices and the sharing of natural resources. The trends and changes that have led to globalization have raised concerns about the growing threat of diseases that may spread quickly around the world. These are just some of the effects of globalization today.

The modern mobility of the world’s population has produced widespread social and cultural changes.

These changes have resulted in the creation of many multicultural communities across Canada and around the world

Within them, individuals assume multiple identities that reflect the attitudes, values, and behaviours of their home cultures as well as those of their adopted communities.

Globalization and Transnationalism

How has globalization affected migration patterns and trends for individuals and communities?

Think about the speed and accessibility of transportation and communications technologies today.

Today, the forces of globalization allow many immigrants and their communities to maintain close ties with their homelands.

Cellphones, the Internet, and lower-cost air travel make it easier to maintain contact and to visit friends and family “back home.”

Money can be transferred to almost any place in the world easily and quickly.

Transnational Networks As immigrants take advantage of the

opportunities created by globalization, they form transnational networks (networks that extend across one or more borders). These networks create political, social, cultural, and economic links between geographic locations around the world.

Many members of transnational communities see themselves not just as multicultural citizens, but as global citizens. They embrace multiple identities that are not anchored in either their place of origin or their place of destination.

The Effects of Migration on Canadian Communities

Immigrants settle in all parts of the country and in all types of communities. However, choose to settle in the cities and regions in which other immigrants from their homeland have settled.

As a result, today’s cities—such as Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary—are home to large numbers of people from China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and many other countries.

One of the most culturally diverse provinces in Canada is British Columbia. In recent years, Canada’s Pacific province has experienced a major demographic transformation. It is estimated that by 2017, one in every three residents of British Columbia will be a member of a visible minority. This will give the province the largest population of visible minorities in the country.

Chinese Transnationals The city of Vancouver and its suburb of

Richmond are home to the largest number of Chinese immigrants in Canada.

The lower mainland of British Columbia has benefited from the transnational network established by the Chinese community. Many immigrants set up businesses there while continuing to operate businesses in Hong Kong. They invested in real estate around Richmond and Vancouver.

Hong Kong Transnationals

Today, many Hong Kong immigrants are transnationals. They live either in Canada or Hong Kong, depending on their stage of life. Many young people come to Canada to attend school. When they graduate, they return to Hong Kong to pursue business opportunities. In some families, mothers stay in Canada so that their children can attend school. Fathers become “astronauts,” working and living in Hong Kong and commuting for visits with their families. When they retire, many transnationals who have spent their working lives in Hong Kong return to Canada to enjoy the quality of life and the social security benefits available to retired Canadians.

Globalization affects many other aspects of our lives, including one of our most basic needs: food.

Do you ever think about the foods you eat? Do you wonder if chemicals have been added to

preserve them or to make them look more appetizing?

Do you worry that pesticides used in agriculture may be harmful to your health?

These are some of the issues associated with modern agriculture. In this section, you have the opportunity to explore one important issue in agriculture today: the impact of biotechnology on global agriculture.

Genetically Modified Foods

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Green Revolution ushered in a new era in global agriculture.

Many traditional farming practices were replaced by technologies that created increased agricultural production in countries around the world.

Today, some experts believe that biotechnology may offer the world a second Green Revolution through genetic modification.

Genetic modification (GM) allows genes from one species to be introduced into another to produce a hardier and higher-yielding strain.

Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified products include vaccines, medicines, and foods, especially food staples such as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, and soybeans.

GM technology can increase the quality, quantity, and availability of food products for people.

Yet the rapid introduction of products produced through biotechnology has raised questions. What is the potential impact on human health, the

environment, and traditional farming practices? How will these impacts affect individuals and

communities?

The Promises and Risks of GM Products

What are the promises and risks associated with genetically modified products?

Biotech companies believe that GM products will eliminate food shortages in the 21st century by providing better-quality and cheaper foods in greater quantities. They claim these products are safe for both humans and the environment.

Other experts disagree. They argue that GM products pose a number of risks. Some of these risks are already known; others are yet to be discovered.

Each year, health officials warn us about the seasonal influenza that comes around every winter. Many of us get a “flu” shot to prevent us from contracting the disease. If we don’t, we may get sick for a week or two. Although some people die from the flu each year, for most healthy individuals it is simply an unpleasant inconvenience.

Pandemics Now imagine a more deadly type of flu—one

that will likely kill even healthy people. Imagine a flu for which there is no vaccine. Imagine a flu that can spread rapidly around the world.

Today, international travel, agricultural trade, and other forces of globalization can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases to create a worldwide epidemic called a pandemic.

Pandemics are therefore another aspect of globalization affecting individuals and communities.

Avian Flu: A Pandemic Waiting to Happen?

Recently, a deadly strain of avian flu—also known as bird flu—was threatening to spread around the world. The flu was first discovered in domestic poultry in Southeast Asia in 2003.

It quickly spread to other bird species. Within two years it had crossed the species barrier from birds to humans. By 2006, avian flu had spread beyond Southeast Asia to China, the Middle East, Russia, Europe, and Africa.

Experts believe this deadly strain will continue to follow the migration routes of wild birds, eventually reaching North America. There is no immunity to the virus, and there are no vaccines to protect against it. In 2007, there was no evidence that bird flu could spread from human to human. But that could change.

Pandemic Historically, flu pandemics have occurred about every 30

years. The last bird flu pandemic was in 1968. In 2005, the World

Health Organization (WHO) warned that another deadly flu pandemic is imminent unless preventive action is taken. WHO cited the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, which began in February 2003 and quickly spread to 30 countries, including Canada, to demonstrate the need to contain any contagious disease as early as possible.

Some experts believe there is insufficient evidence to support the idea that bird flu is a “pandemic waiting to happen.” They argue that the risk is limited to those in contact with live bird markets, poultry farms, and other places directly involved with live poultry. They believe health officials and governments are sounding a false alarm among the public.

Today, rapid population growth and increased global trade networks have led to increased pressure to develop the world’s limited natural resources.

Many people believe resource development is a positive thing: it can improve quality of life and raise the standard of living for many individuals and communities.

But is resource development always a positive influence? Under what circumstances might this development have negative impacts on individuals and communities?

Water: A Commodity or a Right?

like most Canadians, you probably take water for granted. You drink it, prepare food with it, wash with it, and swim in it. But how much water do you really need?

The recommended basic water requirement is 50 litres per person per day. Yet the average Canadian uses up to seven times this amount. That’s 350 litres of water a day! Compare this to someone living in Gambia in Africa. He or she has only 4.5 litres of water to use each day.

What impact does a lack of fresh water have on individuals and communities in water-stressed regions of the world?

Water Problems Providing fresh water promises to be one of the

greatest challenges of the 21st century. Most experts agree that a global water crisis is

looming. Over the next 25 years, the number of people in the world who will face water shortages is expected to increase dramatically. Before the agricultural and industrial revolutions, fewer than one billion people competed for the available fresh water. Today, more than six billion people compete for the same amount of water. This figure will be at least eight billion—and perhaps as high as 10 billion—by the year 2050.

How can governments ensure that this growing population has access to fresh water?

Water Concerns Many people think of water as a public trust—an

essential, life supporting resource, for the benefit of everyone that should not be exploited for profit. That is why, in most countries of the world, water services have traditionally been provided by public utilities.

In recent years, however, a new global water industry is seeking to privatize water resources and services in many countries. Local governments often lack the money needed to upgrade aging water infrastructure. So instead they issue long-term contracts to transnational corporations to manage water services.

Privatize – to enable the sale of government-owned industries and services to private business.

CHAPTER 18 – UNIT 4Civic Responsibilities in a Globalizing World

Civic Responsibilities There are many ways—political, social, economic

—that you can fulfill civic responsibilities. But how do you decide what your civic

responsibilities are within your various member communities—locally, provincially or territorially, nationally, and internationally?

Globalization gives us virtually instant access to what’s going on around the world. No matter what form of media we choose—print, television, the Internet—the world comes to our door.

When natural disasters occur, we can turn on the TV and see the damage for ourselves. We listen to reports from journalists on the front lines of battlefields. We read about peaceful (and not-so-peaceful) protests by groups of individuals who are working toward a common goal. We can see for ourselves the disparities between our standard of living and that of other people, in Canada and abroad

What are we to do with this information? What is our role in the global village?

Civic Responsibility: Toward Democracy?

For millions of people worldwide, issues central to quality of life are those associated with citizenship rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.

Global information technologies have effectively transmitted democratic ideals, such as human rights, worldwide. But democracy is only one of the political structures humankind has developed, and it is still evolving as a system.

Within the past 30 years, the percentage of countries that hold multi-party elections to choose their governments grew from less than 30 per cent to over 60 per cent.

Civic Responsibility Such a significant change demonstrates

that the world community increasingly believes that countries should “govern with the consent of the governed.” Effecting change on a global scale is an opportunity brought about by globalization, but it also remains a significant challenge.

There are different positions about citizens’ civic responsibilitiesin relation to promoting democracy.

Democracy through peaceful evolution

This position holds that over time, people can build social support for liberal democracy by acting within the laws of their existing political system. They promote a free press and media so that alternative and opposing views can be heard. Individuals seek influence among those with political power to increase citizens’ involvement in decision making

democracy through revolutionary means

Some people believe that moving from a non-democratic system to a democratic one requires revolutionary change that can occur only through popular strikes, resistance, and protest, even to the point of civil war. Activists use globalized media and communications technologies to appeal publicly to international organizations and governments for support.

opposition to democracy Other people consider opposing

democracy to be a civic responsibility. For reasons of culture and tradition, these people believe that those of a particular age, gender, or class have more right to rule, or to direct government, than others. They may suspect the very concept of democracy because they associate it with the imposition of Western values onto non-Western cultures.

Individuals Working Together

Organizations have the civic responsibilities that their members choose to give them.

Non-profit organizations pursue specific goals with the support of individuals, corporate citizens, and often governments, as well. Sometimes these goals focus on providing humanitarian aid—for example, to victims of hurricanes or tsunamis, or food to people in drought-stricken countries.

Sometimes the goals focus on justice, as in working to gain the release of people who have been imprisoned for expressing a dissenting opinion (one that differs from the opinion of the majority). Some goals focus on environmental issues that affect the global community, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Since you began reading Chapter 1, you have probably become more and more aware of the products and services in your life that are available because of globalization.

Some of these products may be associated with a challenge of some sort. For example, are the products made with child labour or in unsafe

sweatshops? Do the factories where they are made cause pollution or

pay low wages? Are the products made with dangerous pesticides or

endangered species? All of these questions point to civic responsibilities.

But who is responsible?

Transnational Corporations

Globalization has made it easier for large companies to locate their factories in countries where labour costs may be lower. People have taken different positions about transnational corporations building branch plants and hiring workers in many countries of the world. Investing in developing countries creates jobs and

raises the standard of living. Transnational corporations contribute to the

corruption of civil societies by investing in, and doing business with, countries ruled by oppressive authoritarian regimes.

Transnational Corporations

Wealthy, developed countries and transnational corporations are just getting richer at the expense of developing countries.

It is a transnational corporation’s civic responsibility to ensure that workers are paid decent wages and work in safe environments

Canadians give the federal government the task of representing Canadian citizens and their interests at the international level.

To a certain degree, this civic responsibility is also given to our provincial and municipal governments.

For example, in applying to host international games or expos.

Globalization has given Canada the opportunity and the tools to promote Canadian culture and values internationally.

Government Responsibility

Since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, Canadian governments have accepted civic responsibilities associated with peacekeeping and peace making.

Canada has been at the forefront of promoting worldwide standards to internationalize human rights, and lead other nations in banning anti-personnel land mines and creating the International Criminal Court.

Also through their governments, Canadians have demonstrated a long-term commitment to economic development in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and to international trade negotiations and institutions (for example, membership in the UN, WTO, the Commonwealth, OECD, NAFTA, and others).

Governments’ Civic Responsibilities

Many Canadians believe that their governments can—and should—help people in other parts of the world cope with the impacts of globalization.

CHAPTER 19 – UNIT 4Your Global Citizenship

Here are four ways that people can demonstrate their global citizenship to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization.

Canadians have many ways to express and act on their values, both individually and collectively, through organizations, businesses, and government.

Through coordinated effort, individual citizens can work informally with others to increase their influence, or they can work directly for organizations that address global problems.

Consumer Activism Consider for a moment the power of the individual

consumer. By directing your purchasing power, you can boycott products, companies, and industries for a variety of reasons.

For example, you and five friends might decide to boycott a company whose practices threaten an endangered species. Organization is a key to coordinating consumer action and making it effective – social media

Boycotts have become a potent instrument of citizens’ discontent in today’s marketplace. Consumers are increasingly willing to refrain from making certain purchases to force large corporations to pay attention to citizens’ environmental, political, and social concerns.

Canada World Youth - CWY

Canada World Youth works to help Canadians aged 17 to 29 to volunteer in other countries. Its mission is to increase the ability of people, especially youth, to participate in the development of “just, harmonious, and sustainable societies.”

The organization’s philosophy revolves around the concept of learning by doing. Volunteers help build communities, and in turn receive an education that only experience can bring.

Examples of projects include helping to build a health centre for a village, working as a reporter at a community newspaper, participating in reforestation projects, teaching English or French, building a computer database for a social services organization, and taking part in a polio prevention campaign.

Perhaps the largest organization with a mission to represent the views of citizens is government.

Taxpayers fund their local, provincial, and federal levels of government to meet the needs of all citizens and address their concerns.

Every few years, Canadians have the opportunity to vote for a political party that will best represent them. Voting, however, is just the most basic of ways that Canadians can influence governments.

Get Involved For example, though you are not yet of voting

age, you still have the right to participate in politics. You can join the youth wing of a political party, participate in political conventions, and campaign for the candidate of your choice.

In addition, you have the power to pressure political representatives to act responsibly. As an individual or as a member of an organization, you have the power to persuade your political representative by force of numbers and headlines rather than by physical force.

Responsibilities of Governments

In what ways can governments act to respond to globalization? First, they have the responsibility to make laws

to solve problems Second, governments can directly fund projects

to address inequities overseas. Third, governments can pressure other

governments Finally, governments can also participate in

intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) that undertake to resolve certain global issues.

In the corporate world, everyone knows the “bottom line”: make a profit for your shareholders or you will go out of business. While this may be true, another position holds that corporations also have responsibilities to society at large, because it is society that grants them the licence to operate.

For virtually any company, gaining and maintaining a good corporate reputation usually makes good business sense; it encourages people to purchase a company’s goods and services.

Businesses Many business people feel a moral

obligation to respect the communities in which they operate. Others feel a sense of moral leadership—they sincerely wish to operate ethically—to conduct business in such a way that contributes to people’s well-being. They base their practices on ethical behaviour, affirmation of Indigenous peoples’ rights, and habits of mutual respect.

Businesses When it comes to the

world of business, however, corporations do not always operate ethically.

Competition drives many companies to pay low wages, ignore safety or health problems, or ignore the environmental problems their business practices create.

Can companies have a conscience? This photograph shows a person

putting acontainer in a Body Shop recycling

bin. Which comes first, a company’s desire

to benefit society, or its desire to increase profits? Does it matter?

You can probably rhyme off the markers of citizenship: It means you have a right to a Canadian passport,

which identifies you to the world as a Canadian. It means obeying Canadian laws, rules, and

regulations. It means being aware of political events and voting

in elections. Underneath these skeletal markers are

further meanings of citizenship— what citizenship means to you personally.

Exploring Understandings of Citizenship

Citizenship is about who you are as a member of a society. It may involve your sense of identity, your rights, your roles and responsibilities as a member of multiple communities, or your spirit of involvement.

For many people, citizenship is about being active and engaged. Active, involved citizens are crucial in creating thriving communities.

Globalization has provided you with challenges and opportunities, roles, and responsibilities, not only to participate in the world that exists in the first decade of the 21st century but also to contribute to improve it.