Category: Globalisation

‘Diversity brought about by globalisation should be celebrated, not feared.’ Discuss.

Increasing globalisation has made the world more diverse and more connected. People today learn about different languages, cultures and traditions transcending geographical boundaries. While diversity has led to positive effects on the world by fostering strong relationships among countries. There are those who believe that globalisation has led to the neglect of local populations. Despite this, it cannot be denied that the diversity globalisation brings along should be celebrated and not feared because it brings economic and social benefits.

Communication technologies around the world have connected people transcending geographical boundaries. The increased communications have helped people gaining a sense of various cultures and traditions. Moreover, increased connectivity among people has also led to greater cooperation among international communities. People today can connect to various political leaders and communicate with them in a smooth manner. This is evident from the fact that English is being spoken across the world today and is being learnt even in non-English speaking countries like China and India. Easier communication through the medium of English has helped in developing business as well as political relationships. The acceptance of linguistic diversity has allowed various languages to spread across the world, and even for movies and music to accepted by people in other countries. Therefore, diversity should not be feared as it allows people to share better relationships with people from across the world and enriches them as individuals.

Diversity has also had positive effects on the wellness and healthcare industry. Globalisation has led to diversity in the way diseases are treated and how people take care of themselves. From Ayurveda, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine alternative treatments are increasing across the world due to globalisation. Doctors today are discovering new forms of diseases which were previously limited to specific countries. Examples of this can be diseases like Ebola, Monkey Fever and the latest Coronavirus, where doctors learn about these viruses and try to come up with treatments that can benefit people globally. Furthermore, people today are more likely to follow diets and consume organic food products that are eaten globally. For example the current popularity of exotic superfoods, from chia seeds, acai berry to quinoa. Globalisation has also led to greater awareness of health issues like obesity which in turn has helped people to alter their diets and live a healthy lifestyle. Thus, globalisation and the resulting diversity should not be feared as it has led to unprecedented advancement in healthcare systems and healthy practices that have improved the lifestyle of people.  

Despite its benefit to the global economy, greater diversity can undermine the wellbeing of individuals within countries. Due to excessive globalisation, the local population suffer as countries continue to hire foreign talent. This can be seen in countries like Singapore where foreign talent is preferred more than local talent this is especially true in the food, construction and retail industries. This trend might cause panic among the local populations as they need to be more competitive to get these jobs. Another peril of globalisation is that with diverse alternative medicines it has also brought a diverse range of ailments and infections. For example, globalisation increased the risk of a pandemic outbreak like SARS and ongoing Coronavirus which has infected several hundred-thousand people. The other dark side of globalisation is how western fast foods have caused severe health issues in the developing world. Thus, the benefits associated with a more diverse workforce or alternative medicines should not be taken at face value because with greater diversity comes greater problems like social instability and the threat of fatal diseases.

In conclusion, diversity brought about by globalisation has both positive and negative effects on the world as a whole. However, it is undeniable that with diversity, more people have jobs, friends, opinions, fashion and food.  Greater connectivity through trade has increased living standards and given us more choices.

Does global aid really improve the lives of those who need it the most?

It is believed that generosity is a virtue that needs to be enriched. However, when it comes to global aid developed countries do not provide aid just for altruistic reasons. Aid provided by donor countries is not driven by generosity but by strategic economic and political motives. As a result, global aid does not help in improving the lives of the needy but makes the situation worse for them.

Global aid provided by nations is often viewed as being done on humanitarian ground. But global aid provided by one country might be guised as assistance but it only assists the donor country economically and politically. For example, in 2018, the UK prime minister Theresa May provided aid to Nairobi in the form of aid packages but the real intention was expanding to the African markets and securing investment opportunities for UK companies. Similarly, Donald Trump also in one of his speeches mentioned that countries that receive foreign aid from the US will be examined for having “our interests at heart”. All these instances prove that global aid is not provided due to selfless reasons but is tied to economic and political benefits for the donor country.

The idea of providing global aid might be selfish but aid can be effective and beneficial for people. In 2017, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued a call to the world’s largest economy to redouble its financial commitment to needy countries. In 2019, the foundation mentioned that if the US wanted to help itself it should provide foreign aid and improve global health. Examining the recent coronavirus outbreak, we see countries providing aid on humanitarian grounds in an attempt to strengthen global healthcare systems. Moreover, countries today are trying to reduce the migrant crisis by providing aid to improve educational systems in developing and underdeveloped countries. It can be said that gradually there is a shift in how aid is provided which addresses the issues at the root instead of being superficial. Therefore, by changing the way in which aid is provided people’s life can be improved and changed for the better.

However, the path to provide aid is filled with hurdles in the form of governments who receive this aid. Many times, the governments who receive the aid are corrupt and never let the aid reach the people who really need it. There have been cases where foreign aid has been used by corrupt officials like in the case of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma. Such corruption has also bee seen in countries like Nepal and Liberia. Foreign aid thus fails in improving lives of people in the countries where corruption is widespread. In fact, in corrupt countries, foreign strengthen corruption in these countries which and adds to the woes of the people.

Moreover, providing foreign aid can lead to dependence and make countries unstable. While short term foreign aid can help countries to solve their problems like in the case of South Korea and Taiwan. However, on the other hand, providing too much aid can lead countries to become dependent and develop a crutch mentality. The foreign aid if provided continuously can prove counter-productive and lead to social and political instability. This can be seen in the case of Liberia, where, foreign aid gave people the sense of stability but when foreign aid was pulled away the country was pushed into economic doldrums and instability which led to protests and demonstrations. Similarly, Afghanistan is heavily reliant on foreign aid and has led to corruption in the country. International economists have warned about providing excessive aid to countries as it leads to the deterioration of the country. In cases, like these, it is important that foreign aid should not be excessive and should be only to an extent where the country can wean itself off from foreign aid. As the Chinese proverb says, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Thus, excessive foreign aid does not improve lives but only gives false hopes to people and negatively affect the country politically and economically.

In conclusion, global aid does not do much to improve the lives of people who need it the most. However, with a shift in the way aid is provided it can result in better outcomes. In some cases, foreign aid can definitely help to alleviate the issues plaguing people, however, there is a need for foreign aid to be truly selfless.

A picture is more powerful than words. Discuss.

Though many might believe that pictures hold a greater power, the claim is not completely justified. This is because words tend to be more influential as it has the power to influence people mentally and emotionally.

Technological advancements in the modern age have allowed people to have access to media more than ever before. Through apps like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Tumblr, people can share and view images which are mundane to the mind-boggling. A picture is more powerful than words.

Critics of words suggest that images have more power than words because they capture the imagination of society in an impactful manner. There is little doubt that images are considered more creative than words and have contributed largely to the society in positive ways. For example, the artist Banksy is known to highlight powerful messages through his art. Similarly, in the earlier times many artists like Goya, Picasso and Jacques Louis David had tried to revolutionize the world through their art. Photographs like A Man on the Moon or Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl are considered important images that has changed the course of history. Photographs have also captured the horrors of war which has led to huge emotional response. Notable photographs include the Napalm Girl, which showed the impact of American war in Vietnam. Thus, it can be said that images have exposed the horrors that exist in the world. As such, a picture is more powerful than words.

Critics  of pictures valiantly promote the view that despite the allure of pictures and videos, words still hold a significant place. They explify their stand by citing the ever increasing sales of novels, books and magazines. For example, J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter is still popular; books like 1984 by George Orwell and Killing a Mockingbird by Harper Lee continue to leave a lasting impact on new audiences. Words are a powerful medium is also evident from the fact that, people continue to buy self-help books. For example books like “You can heal your Life” by Louise Hay and “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho have sold millions of copies and continue to inspire people and guide them to live a successful and happy life. Words are an elixer that soothes the mind and soul. Hence, pictures are not always more powerful.

However, pictures do not always convey the intended meaning and sometimes the people fail to connect with pictures on an emotional level. Words have a more lasting impact and can stand the test of time. For example, Shakespeare’s plays like Hamlet, The Last Lear and As you Like, use words that evoke a series of emotions that people can still relate to in present times. The mastery of his words continues to inspire and impress people around the world even today. In fact, many phrases used by people in daily life are actually from Shakespeare’s plays. His dialogues like “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” are repeated and considered a metaphor for life even today.

Images of Mahatma Gandhi exemplify peaceful resistance. The famed head portrait of Che Guevera subliminally depict the fight against oppression. When Malala Yousufzai’s or Greta Thunberg’s stand to deliver the views, it is images that we first connect to, not words. Historically, the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima is still etched in all our minds. In more contemporary times, the incessant media coverage on Trump has painted in our minds a certain view of him. It is pictures that move and mould our thinking. Not words. A picture is more powerful than words.

No single word has changed the world, but a single picture has.

How true is it that most of the pleasurable things in life are bad for you?

Yes

No

  • Human beings are ‘programmed’ to seek pleasure, from physical reproduction to spiritual satisfaction
  • Those who feel fulfilled are less likely to harm others
  • Pleasure = well-being = better health
  • Pleasure = contentment for self & others
  • Many pleasurable things are good
  • ‘Moderate’ pleasure can be healthy.