World into winners and losers Essays

World into winners and losers Essays World into winners and losers Essay World into winners and losers Essay Globalisation, simply put, refers to the process by which the world is said to be transformed into a single global system such that events in one part of the world more and more have effects on peoples and societies far away. (Baylis Smith 2001, p. 7) However, to use the phrase simply put when giving a definition of globalisation may be misleading as there is no simple or agreed definition of what constitutes globalisation, nor any consensus about how far the process has advanced. About all that can be said with confidence about globalisation is that it represents a major site of contestation. The contestation that this essay will focus on is neither whether globalisation in fact exists nor whether it is a new phenomenon. Rather, the focus of this essay is on the impact that globalisation has had on the world. Is globalisation a savior that is uniting the globe? Or is it curse that is dividing us all into winners and losers? The first part of this essay will focus on the question of unity. That is, is globalisation unifying the world around common interests? This question involves looking at the increase in technology and thus the increase in global mass media and communications alike. While the biggest transnational corporations (TNCs), such as General Motors and Ford, have revenues larger then many states, the Internet has allowed small businesses to also offer their services worldwide. Music tastes, and fashions shape life across borders, as do economic practices such as Fordism (mass production techniques plus mass consumption). Even brand names such as Coke can move people (Clemens, Jr. 2004, p. 15). For example, in post-Communist Albania many people viewed their first Coca-Cola plant as a sign of good life to come. Cricket may unite the Commonwealth more than any speeches, and The Beatles and Coke may well have done more to subvert the Soviet realm than did the CIA. (Clemens, Jr. 2004, p. 15) Thus, it seems that as the world becomes globalised, it is also unified around common interest and values. This is also demonstrated in religious movements which, although have operated for millennia across borders and oceans, have increased since the onset of modern technology and have united millions of believers across borders. (Clemens, Jr. 2004, p. 14) A similar story can be found in governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which unite millions across the globe around common goals. For example, Greenpeace has united parts of the globe around environmental concerns. This exemplifies that the globe is not just unified around cultural interests, but also political ones. In fact globalisation has three dimensions: cultural, political and economic. Looking at the advantages globalisation has to offer in these other realms, one would see increased free trade between nations, and increased liquidity of capital allowing investors in developed nations to invest in developing nations. There is also now a greater ease and speed of transportation for goods and people, as well as a spread of democratic ideals to developed nations. Certainly, it seems a valid argument that globalisation is uniting the world around common interests. However, many sceptics of globalisation would find flaws in this assertion. Many would argue that globalisation has not united the globe as it is uneven in its effects and thus only applies to the developed world. As Baylis and Smith commented, to pretend that even a small minority of the worlds population can connect to the World Wide Web is clearly an exaggeration when in reality most people on the planet have probably never made a telephone call in their lives. (Baylis Smith 2001, p. 10) Thus, not everyone is a winner in regards to receiving the benefits of globalisation. And what about the interests that are unifying the world? Some non-Western countries, such as Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea, enjoy economic success but subscribe to Asian values. As discussed earlier, globalisation unites many around Western values and thus, there is a somewhat paradox here: how can these countries continue to modernize without successfully adopting such values? Moreover, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced recently that the same open borders, free markets and technological advances that are the hallmarks or globalisation can also be exploited by terrorists, drug traffickers and other criminals. (Annan 2004) Thus, while the world may be uniting around common interests, it may lead to a conflict in values, crime, and the anticipation of possible disputes. This brings this essay to the question of winners and losers, and it seems that there are not as many winners as what first appears. In fact, critics have noted that there are very considerable losers as the world becomes more globalised. These critics may refer to the fact that globalisation symbolises the success of liberal capitalism in an economically divided world, which consequently allows less well off nations to be more effectively exploited. For example, there is an increased flow of skilled and non-skilled jobs from developed to developing nations as corporations seek out the cheapest labor. TNC managers look worldwide for settings that promise lower costs and higher profits. If their global outlook calls for a move to greener pastures, local workers and governments may be left high and dry. A recent article in the Age newspaper drew on this very problem. The sub-headline said it all: Global change will take jobs away from some people, with no guarantee of new ones. (Colebatch 2004) Economics Editor, Tim Colebatch, gave the example of Germanys global tyre maker Continental setting up a factory in Transylvania because Romanian workers cost $A2. 40 an hour, whereas German workers cost $42 an hour (Colebatch 2004) The winner/loser debate is incomplete without also looking at the global free trade market economy. In this system, states with smaller economies must compete against each other as well as the powerful countries. This creates a situation described as a race to the bottom as nations attempt to underbid each other in the competition for foreign markets and foreign investment. Moreover, when developing nations open up their own economies, local producing industries must compete against well-resourced and aggressive foreign companies in battles they rarely win. These same states are also faced with problems with the rapid expansion of Western companies into their economies, forcing out local producers and distributors. Certainly, it seems quite a strong contention that globalisation is dividing the world into winners and losers. Globalisation is a unifying force that is now, more than ever, connecting societies. Different peoples and societies are rallying around certain interests and values, and different cultures and political and economic systems are shaping lives across borders. The result of this has been great benefits, but benefits that are not shared by the whole globe. Not only are millions of people excluded from the benefits of globalisation, but also the worlds strong economies are using globalisation to exploit the economies of developing states. Therefore, this essay concludes that while globalisation is a unifying power, it is certainly also a tool that divides the world into winners and losers.

Tips for Urban Stargazers

Tips for Urban Stargazers Stargazing in the city? Why not?  Just because someone lives in an urban environment doesnt mean they cant do a little sky observing. Sure, its a bit tougher because of bright lights and overall light pollution, but it can be done.   Most articles  about stargazing  recommend finding a good, dark-sky observing site. But for someone living in the city, who cant get to a dark-sky reservations, its tempting to just stay inside and look at the stars on a computer screen. However, it turns out, there are ways to do some city observing, despite the problems posed by light pollution. Much of the worlds population lives in or near cities, so enthusiastic city stargazers can and do find ways to do back-yard or rooftop observing.   Explore the Solar System The Sun, Moon, and planets are readily accessible because theyre bright. The Sun is an obvious choice, but observers do need to take some strict precautions. NEVER look directly at the Sun with the naked eye and especially NOT through binoculars or a scope that dont have solar filters. If an observer has a  telescope  equipped with a solar filter, then they can look at it through the eyepiece, to see the sunspots and any prominences that might be moving up from the Suns surface.  As it turns out, however, theres a very low-tech way to see sunspots without filters. Heres how it works: let the Sun shine through the telescope, and direct the bright light onto a white wall or a piece of paper. The observer gets to see sunspots without burning their eyes out. In fact,  a number of successful sunspot observers use this method all the time. That method also makes it very easy to sketch sunspots since all the observer has to do is direct the view onto paper and then trace what is projected. Checking out the Moon The Moon is also a great target for city viewing. Watch it night after night (and in the daytime during part of the month), and chart how its appearance changes. Its possible to explore its surface with binoculars, and get really finely-detailed views with a good telescope. One popular pastime is to explore all the large basins and craters on the surface.  Another one is to look for mountains and cracks on the surface.   One thing to look for during an observing session is an iridium flare. Thats a glint of light from the surface of an Iridium satellite. These usually happen not long after sunset and are very bright, so bright then can be seen from cities. However, as Iridium satellitesd are gradually phased out, such flares will happen less and less frequently. Seeing Planets from the City The planets are also good targets for city skygazers. The rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter  are popular targets. Plus, they show up well in binoculars or a telescope. There are good observing guides to the planets in the pages of Astronomy, Sky Telescope, SkyNews  magazines, as well as many sources online in other languages. A  digital astronomy program or app, such as StarMap 2 or Stellarium also provide precise positions of the Moon and planets in the sky.   The Deep Sky From the Big City Unfortunately, many people who live in light-polluted areas have never (or rarely) seen the Milky Way. During a power outage, theres a chance of seeing it from the city, but otherwise, it can be very difficult to spot unless they can get a few miles outside of town.   But, all is not lost. There are  some deep-sky objects that city dwellers can try to find. They just need to get out of the way of lights. One trick that many urban observers use is to stay up after midnight when some building owners turn off their outside lights. That might allow a view of such things as the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades star cluster, and some of the brighter star clusters. Other tricks for city observers: Find places to observe from that are shielded from bright nearby lights, such as a corner of a porch, the top of a roof and next to a wall, or from a balcony;Some put a blanket over their heads and their telescopes to block out the direct light;City astrophotographers take long-exposure images of deep sky objects;Use  good star chats  that help a skygazer hop from star to star as you search out a cluster or a nebula.   Ask the Locals Local planetarium theaters often offer stargazing shows, where people can learn the night sky.  They might also have classes for stargazers, so check out the nearby facilities to see what they offer. They are often found in science centers, but also at universities and some school districts offer public access from time to time. Amateur astronomer groups in and near big cities often have observing nights where people can gather with others to do some sky exploration. For example, in New York City, the Friends of the High Line organization have weekly observing sessions from April through October. Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles holds star parties each month, and its telescope is available each week for a peek at the heavens. These are just two of many, many stargazing activities in towns and cities. Also, dont forget the local college and university observatories- they often have observing nights, too. The city might seem like the least likely place to catch a glimpse of the stars, but in cities from downtown New York to Shanghai to Bombay and beyond, people can still often see the brightest stars and planets. It may be a challenge, but the rewards are worth it.