PowerPoint 1: What is my place in the globalised world?

Jake loves wearing American brand-name clothes – this hat was ordered from the USA over the Internet

Jake loves wearing American brand-name clothes – this hat was ordered from the USA over the Internet

Jake enjoys watching ‘The Wire’ – a television series set in the USA

Jake enjoys watching ‘The Wire’ – a television series set in the USA

Although the brands are American, most of Jake’s clothes are made in Asia

Although the brands are American, most of Jake’s clothes are made in Asia

Last year Jake went on holiday to Florida in the USA

Last year Jake went on holiday to Florida in the USA

Jake’s grandfather is Maori – from New Zealand

Jake’s grandfather is Maori – from New Zealand

Jake went on a French exchange when he was younger

Jake went on a French exchange when he was younger

Are you a global teenager?

How is your life linked to other countries?

Which countries do you have links with?

Draw a self-portrait and label it to show your links.

Objectives

Understand that our lives are linked to those of people who live in other parts of the world

Consider the impact of these links on people in other countries

Be able to annotate a world map to show my links

Understand that globalisation means different things to different people

How are you linked to other places?

Use an atlas to find out the countries you are linked with and mark them on the world map (Map 1)

Annotate the map to show how you are linked with these places (annotations are labels that explain)

If there is time, add annotations to show the effect your links are likely to have on different places

 

Example annotation

My school bag is made in China. This means that Chinese workers will have jobs

What does ‘globalisation’ mean?

Globalisation: when available goods and services, or social and cultural influences, gradually become similar in all parts of the world

n What are the differences between cultural globalisation and economic globalisation?

n What does globalisation mean to you?

n What impact does it have on your life?

n Do you think that globalisation is a good or a bad thing?

Globalisation: good or bad?

In 2001, the BBC invited people to say whether they thought globalisation was good or bad. Some of the views expressed are shown on the following slides:

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/talking_point/1444930.stm

‘Globalisation can be very good. Peaceful global protests against globalised injustice are the best globalisation one can imagine.’Andy, Athens, Greece

‘The Earth is an amazing place because of its diversity – culture, history, arts, etc. These will all be lost when we have a Global Empire in place. Surely this is what we are working towards. Totalitarianism on a global scale.’Tom, London, UK

‘Globalisation is a modern method of slaveholding and colonisation of third world countries.’Mojtaba Ziaee, Tabriz, Iran

‘Get real, everybody: globalisation has been going on since the Industrial Revolution. If third world countries sorted themselves out, then they would be able to compete. Why should this be our problem?’ Gavin, London, UK

‘Tell me, how is possible and fair for a small country or poor country like India or Pakistan to compete with a rich and resourceful country like USA? The fruits of globalisation will only be eaten by no more than 50,000 people in the world (who are multinational companies and of course politicians).’Ajay Jain, Norfolk, USA

‘Globalisation is indeed a great and inevitable event if it is done on a fair and equal basis only. Right now it is far from that and only exists between rich countries.’Abdoul A. Konare, East Lansing, USA

‘The logical conclusion of globalisation will see the whole world having a western quality of life and shame on you for trying to block it. The main downside of globalisation is that Bangkok will look like Delhi, will look like London, etc.’Dave, London, UK

‘Globalisation is like many things, good, neutral and bad – it depends on the intentions of those in control. People will be helped and people will be hindered. There will be winners and losers. Ultimately it will be implemented because it cannot be stopped. It is now only a matter of how well we manage it and the ethical integrity with which it is administered.’Earl Engelhardt, Kingman, USA 

Respond to the following quote, “It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity." (Kofi Annan)Respond to the following quote, "Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility." (Kofi Annan)Respond to the following quote, "Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very nice thing... you are talking about the Internet, you are talking about cell phones, you are talking about computers. This doesn't affect two-thirds of the people of the world." (Jimmy Carter)Respond to the following quote, “Our task is not to make societies safe for globalization, but to make the global system safe for decent societies.(John J. Sweeney)

Why do you think different people have different views about globalisation?

Research opportunities

Either

look at the labels of 5-10 of your favourite items of clothing and find out where they were made. Do you have a global wardrobe? What impact has the globalisation of the fashion industry had on you? Do you know anything about the impact it has had in other parts of the world?

Or

think about your family holidays. Where have you visited in the last five years? You could ask your parents and grandparents about their childhoods: where did they go on holiday? How does this illustrate the recent rapid expansion of globalisation?

Example of clothes labels research

Photos: Catherine Owen