Reader's Response : Runaway Globalization Without Governance

        According to the article “Runaway Globalization Without Governance” by Nayan Chandra, it can be learnt that from a long time ago, communities have been connected with each other, but unfortunately regulations regarding this connection have failed to follow it. Empires and faith were good tools for the creation of rules, but as a result of growing transportation and communication technology, globalization has reached higher levels faster than the protocols governing it. There are three serious challenges as a result of the lack of order : sovereignty and security problems, spread of nuclear weapons, and climate change. In spite of these challenges, nations are hesitant to face them together. USA's constant rejection to regulations controlling these issues seriously hinders the world's fight against these dilemmas.

        Despite the constant worry of the danger of nuclear weapons, they are a strong tool to control the world. Power has always been a perfect instrument of control as it is able to subjugate people with fear and thus forces them to obey. It is an out of date method, and perhaps a little barbaric, but this seems to apply for the world as well.

Power is represented by the possession of nuclear weaponry. Countries all over the world have been trying to get their hands on this dangerous weapon to be able to hold their ground in case a war happens. Multiple nations possess these deadly tools and they are considered dangerous threats to the global world. Ironically, as countries are perfectly aware of the dangers of a nuclear bomb exploding in their territories, they become docile. No one dares to be out of control and wreak havoc because nuclear weapons can be used to bombard them anytime. The world is in a delicate balance because of this weapon. Therefore, nuclear weapons are ideal to keep the world in check.

Final Draft : Summary : The Double Edge of Globalization

     Even though there are many other factors in play, it can be assumed that globalization has brought harm to nature, because of its role in encouraging trade expansion and consumerism. For example, China’s demand for soybean resulted in the clearing of forests, and China’s export activities caused pollution to air and water. The research by the World Bank proved that 20% of global carbon production was caused by deforestation. Furthermore, damaging the environment may prove fatal for the world’s economy, as the global warming may cause a huge economic unrest that can affect the whole world.

     However, globalization also provides an easy way to spread and acquire information, including information about the devastating state of the world. The activists, also known as “new preachers”, are trying to raise people’s awareness to global environmental issues. With this almost unrestricted access to global knowledge, people are now aware of what’s going on.

     The problem now is that major powers in the world are not truly cooperating in the struggle to save the environment, even though their intervention may increase the world's opportunity to repair the damaged environment and preserve it for future use.

Summary : Scary Oil

            The world is now facing a financial crisis. The greatest threat of all is the increase in oil prices which has been brought about because of the fear that war will break out in Iran.

            Economic recessions that occurred a few times before in the world has been caused by a political instability occurring in the Middle East, which resulted in increasing oil prices. Iran is still a threat, as they’ve been trying to create nuclear weapons. If the World take arms against them, the oil price will definitely escalate to a whole new level and will lead to an economic depression.

Summarising and Paraphrasing Exercises

1.     “These new reactors would all operate at high temperatures, improving their efficiency. And they would include simplified safety features that do not rely on sophisticated backup systems or experienced operators – all are, in principle, ‘meltdown proof’ and can cool themselves down in the even of an accident with minimal, if any, human intervention…

      Expert agree that reactors will need to be a lot cheaper to run. And to sway a nuclear-averse public, the next generation of reactors will need to produce much less radioactive waste at terrorist-proof facilities.”

      

      My paraphrase

      Some expected general features of  the new nuclear reactors are : high temperature operation to improve productivity, easy safety operations, low-cost, less radio-active waste, can withstand terrorist attack, can do automatic emergency measures. (Butler, 2001)

2.     “In any one nation, there are both very wealthy and very poor individuals and families. When sociologists conduct research on these disparities, they frequently analyze secondary data that originally were collected by the World Bank and the United Nations. These data focus on quality-of-life indicators such as wealth; income; life expectancy; health; sanitation; the treatment of woman; and education for high-income, middle-income and low income nations.”

      Source: Kendall, D. (2004). Social problems in a diverse society (3^rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

      

      My Summary

      There are poor and rich people everywhere in the world. Sociologists usually measure the difference between them with “quality-of-life indicators” data from the World Bank and the United Nations.

                                                                              

3.     Facebook can effectively affect/lower students’ grades as students tend to spend more time on Facebook rather than their schoolwork.