The modern world is connected through the influences of culture, media, technology, and globalization. People share cultures, they communicate through media and technology, and they create business partnerships for economic globalization. All these factors have brought our interconnected world closer than ever before.
On the downside, because of the world's synergistic quality, issues are also globalized. Global issues such as governance, consumption, economics, and poverty effect more than a single population, it effects the world. There is a balance between Earth's global issues, which means that if one issue goes astray then every other issue will be thrown off balance as well. People recognize global issues first through specific events, next they make patterns out of similar events, then they identify the structure of the issue. People use systems thinking to understand global issues, which means that they consider all parts of a connected system in their perspective.
To understand the world it is important to be aware of the varying worldviews and media literacies across the globe. To have global awareness is to understand differing perspectives and how those perspectives were acessed and influenced.
Quote:
"An ability to appreciate differences in worldview can help increase understanding among different people throughout the world." (p. 18)
Personal Thinking:
I particularly liked this quote because...well, I think it's fun to understand people who are different than me. Generally people gravitate towards people who are similar to themselves, and maybe that is because we are inherently afraid of people who are different than us. However, I think that appreciating and understanding differences can really open one's mind, which is essential to thinking globally. I think understanding different perspectives is important because, regardless of whether we understand it or not, peoples' actions affect one another and if that is understood then maybe we can make decisions that benefit everyone.
It's almost intimidating having to think on a global standard when I am just an individual. However, seeing how closely linked our world is makes it seem easier to impact.
Citation:
Skelton, Laura, et al. Exploring Global Issues: Social, Economic, and
Environmental Interconnections. Seattle: Facing the Future, 2013. Print.
Even on small scale levels it is always extremely eye opening to see another persons view on a certain situation. It is especially a exciting when it's the view of someone half way across the globe. I feel the quote cannot only work in this instance of environmental circumstances but also in an all around generalness of bond between countries. If we can all appreciate the lives and ideas of others then maybe wonderful ideas will appear from the mind of anyone, from anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your quote. It is true that people tend to surround themselves with others that are like themselves. I think that people need to see and explore other cultures to fully understand them; this is especially important when investigating global issues.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of feeling like a small piece in this puzzle, yet we are all interconnected. After reading the intro, I completely agree that technology is becoming so advanced, and we are not taking advantage of all the opportunities. Although we are all interconnected in this world, it is hard not to think of yourself as a minute piece, and that our efforts are making a difference, but on a global scale, we are all becoming more aware of our effects on the environment. As a unit, we could all make a change.
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