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Globalization: A good or bad thing? by: Roberta Ramirez A01190424

Posted by beyondborders Monday, 7 April 2014 0 comments

Globalization: A good or a bad thing?

Globalization is the process by which different societies, cultures, and regional economies integrate through a worldwide network. Over the last hundred thirty years, globalization, has affected many nations in various ways; economically, politically, and socially. Globalization followed a process over the years that were divided in three following phases.

Success and movement of capital and labor, as well as commercial development that reduced the transportation cost, characterized the fist phase of globalization, which extends from 1870 to 1913. The First World War interrupted this phase; it was impossible for countries to trade between them. The end of WWII marks the beginning of integration between countries worldwide.

The second phase of globalization can be seen as corresponding to the period 1945-1973. This stage was marked by a significant effort to implement international financial institutions and trade cooperation, as well as a significant increase of trade of manufactured goods between developed countries. It amplified the capital and labor.

During the last twenty-five years of the twentieth century (from 1973), a third phase of globalization started to develop. There was a huge spread of free trade, the growing presence on the world stage of transnational corporations whose operation are the international systems of integrated production, expansion and capital flow and notable trend towards homogenization of development models, despite the persistence of selective trade protection mechanisms. Also societies started to mix between them.

There are many advantages for the existence of globalization such as: technological revolution, reduced cost of transportation and products, increase in information, and communication, but also there are some disadvantages that need to be taken into consideration such as illegal immigration, or the domino effect in economies, for example if the USA has an economical crisis most of the countries will be affected, and last, but not least sometimes due to globalization the a person may earn skills in an other country but stay there to apply them instead of their own country.

North Korea

Posted by Unknown 0 comments

The documentary about North Korea was actually the one that really caught my attention. I think it is devastating how globalization is actually going past the society of North Korea. The whole society is behind when it comes to technology, invention and the use of internet. The people have no idea about general news, things that happen in the world, just as about other countries politics, economies and conflicts and crisis. The only information they actually get is provided by the government and very one-sided and biased. Also it is mostly propaganda and hatred that is built towards other countries.

Because the media is only one-sided, people do not know anything really and are not able to form their own opinion. The society seems brainwashed and they might not know that their situation could be better or different anywhere else.

The impact of giving the people access to all the technology and the internet would be extremely dramatic. The people would start using the internet and get in contact with the worldwide media and other people. It would be a big shock for them when they realize what is all out there. The use of media could actually be very overwhelming. But in the end the people could form their own opinion when having access to all the information, they would start to question the regime and probably end in a big protest or riot.

I thought it was shocking to see how North Korea is so far behind in globalization. For us it is so normal being connected with everyone whenever we want, having access to all news from all over the world and having everything available at all times.

Globalization and media. Jorge García Vega

Posted by beyondborders Monday, 31 March 2014 0 comments

Globalization and media.

We can't talk about globalization without thinking in communication and backwards. Is truth that globalization is growing up thanks to the media but is also truth that the media all over the world wont be known if there was no globalization.

Globalization, is a process which humanity is passing by, there are cultural shocks and media is taking a fundamental role for this to happen. Borders between countries are dissapearing thanks to globalization and the ways of thinking within society is getting more similar.

Countries are getting more connected in such an economical, political and social way as a product of the technologies of information and the communication especially now the internet which is getting each day more common for the people. Communication is the main tool of the human being so they can express their ideas so communication and media are great mix to go beyond borders all over the world.

MIRZA SÁNCHEZ ALCALÁ: Food is definitely a "thing"

Posted by beyondborders Tuesday, 25 March 2014 0 comments

So far what we have learn in this curse is in fact our “everyday basis” and everything that surround us and that have an important impact in our lives, our country and definitely in our world.

I would like to talk about food globalization because even thou is not the most important issue right now or it could possibly look like is no a “thing” it is definitely changing something and today it has become a very controversial issue.

Fast food essentially involves the quick and lo-cost preparation of “uniform” food and includes hamburgers, fries, pizza and of course ice creams.

Globalization has both positive and negative effects on the world, I think one of the positive effects include that companies can outsource their foods all over the world.

Recently, fast food has gained much public attention after coming under heavy criticism for lacking in quality and nutritional value, causing environmental damage, exploiting cheap labour and contributing to growing obesity rates, particularly of children. In response to worldwide concerns over nutritional value and childhood obesity, fast food chains such as Subway which not only promote cheap and easy food but also health conscious meals, have experienced growth on an international scale.

So that´s why I think that with all these American and European restaurants in my country, or any other, are ok and it is natural that we start to change some ingredients in our daily cooking or try to improve the American food or any food when we cook it in our own home, I mean, it´s part of the globalization thing, not everything is bad, the way I see it we can learn from other countries by their food and they can learn about us as well

My opinion of this situation is that it will be positive as long as we still keep our own traditions. I think it is good not everybody has the opportunity to taste international cooking and have this experience.

A Punk Prayer

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, 18 March 2014 0 comments

PUSSY RIOT -- A PUNk PRAYER --

Hello Global Gossipers

I hope you are in the mood for some RIOT, because my first post is dedicated to a group of girls that really like to make noise.

When i first saw these girls in class, all i could think was how similar were their costumes to the ones used by the girls in the movie "Spring Breakers", and so my curiosity about the girls in neon balaclavas begun.

PUSSY RIOT is a feminist Russian punk rock protest band, it was founded in august 2011 and is well known for performing in unauthorized public locations, they sing about LGBT rights, feminism and their lyrics show opposition to the policies of President Vladimir Putin and the relationship between the government and the Orthodox Church.

On March, 2012 their performance of " unk Prayer-Mother of God, Chase Putin Away" took them to jail, WHY? Well, because they did not only talk about our "Lord's Shit" but they also performed in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior, according to some: the most sacred place in Russia!

I must say I respect church and I do believe that in some sort of way this girls were disrespectful. While trying to understand what really happened, I bumped into a documentary that teach me a lot about the history of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich and also made me think that maybe i would have done the same if i were borned in a oppressed nation.

HERE is the link to the documentary, take a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH6WTRqJIrs

Mass Media

Posted by Alejandro Walls. Friday, 14 March 2014 0 comments

It's impressive and very worrying how the mass media increase their influence and generates many behaviours that violates in a very serious way the conduct of people around the world, aspects that can not be unnoticed.

Today the media is subordinated to different political and economic powers and they set aside sometimes objectivity, truth, and rather the interests of those who manage it. In addition, it is important to know that the media manipulate the news on their favor.

It is a fact that television, cinema, radio, newspapers and magazines and many other media have experienced a huge progress and a very growth in recent decades. One of the reasons that have driven mass media to this is the enormous influence of these media in society.

An example can be every politic campaign: the objective number one is always to control the media, why? Because if you control the media you control the people, the media control the people. The mass media are also used by the government to hide their mistakes and their corruption. The mass media, in a way, are censured by the government. They are not allowed to convey the truth to the audience, the public, the people.

Media globalization cannot be stopped. It is a result of new communications technology. It is also the prerequisite and facilitator for all other forms of globalization. Communicating internationally has never been easier, thanks to new media platforms, we can have a video conversation with a loved one who is 50,000 miles away.

We just need to be careful I think, media can be good but also can change the public opinion taking advantage of their power.

The mass media, even though they are supposed to inform the general public in a just and truthful way, are being used as tools for concealing the truth and manipulating the masses.

Alejandro Walls A00809713

The good and the bad side of globalization.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, 13 March 2014 0 comments

Mónica Paulina Martínez Torroella a01034469

The good and the bad side of globalization.

Of the material covered already in class, we’ve talked about what does globalization means, what are its main benefits and what are the problems that we’re facing because of it.

Globalization can be commonly described as the spread of connecting communication, technology and production all around the world, involving the diffusion of practices and ideas. According to the Oxford Dictionary, we can say that globalization is “ The process by which business or other organizations develop international influence or star operating on an international scale”.

Now a day, they might exist many pros and cons towards globalization, in which each one of it, touches basis on different aspects of the world. (Example: environment, labor, food, governance, etc.)

Some of the benefits of globalization are:

· New investors can have more opportunity to invest.
· Companies can access to bigger markets.
· The consumers can have a much wider variety of products and more competitive prices.
· People can use other’s countries resources for producing.

Some of the disadvantages of globalization are all about taking new risks of having new markets, intensification of competition, imitation, etc.

One example where we can see the pros and cons about globalization is on the food industry, in which we can perceive how the traditional food system model changed into a global food system. Now a day, having the opportunity of buying imported food is easy, making us have a better panorama of other cultures and way of living. But also, we can forget that especially in Mexico and in USA we are facing an obesity problem, in which we can blame the fast food industries, because today trying to find local food in big cities may be difficult, thanks to all the globalization process, minimizing the diversity of food.

So we can say that globalization may have its pros and cons, but it depends on the point of view of each person to determine its side.

The Global Gossip