Globalisation

-THE END- :)

2006-05-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well, that's all we have for the readers!
We hope that the readers find these bits of information useful in any way possible. We would like to thank Mr Ng, the readers, those who tagged on our board, those who just wanted to check our blog out, and of course each other. Feel free to comment or tag regarding any of the posts. Hope you have a great day ahead! Thanks for taking the time to visit our blog and read the posts. :) Sayonara!

- From the team of experts in 2A'05 :)

Outsourcing a route to lower expenditure

2006-05-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

One of the main characteristics of modern large corporation is the method it functions, one of which being out sourcing. Outsourcing is defined as the management and/or day-to-day execution of an entire business function by a third party service provider. Outsourcing and out-tasking involve transferring a significant amount of management control to the supplier. The world is being shrinked down because of effective communication and infrastructure porvided by nations. This makes all the work much more effection.

In many modern establishments, this method has been very popular as it not only strengthen ties between nations, it also prove to be a cheaper alternative of labour. Unlike in previous post which I have mentioned shortage of labour hinder economic growth, this method can be seen as lack direct solution to lack of labour within the nation and employing foreign help. However the only difference is that the foreign help does not have to live in the nation itself. This is a win-win situation. Company in country A pays small administration fee to company under same/different branch in country B and have all their work done. Furthermore country B can benefit from the branch company from taxation and all because workers in the company is of that nationality. Workers thrive, company profit, country prosper, world economy is boosted. One such case could be the U.S. taxation company Deloitte. Many of the administrative work under Deloitte are outsourced to its India branch to help save cost and provide a living for the people in India as well.

Although this may seem like big corporation are trying to take advantage of low cost abroad, you may have to reconsider, if foreign money is not pumped into countries, is it still possible for a nation to grow? This can all be seen as another form of trade I would say, except in this case, it is country-corporate relationship but no country-country relationship. Nonetheless, this helps to promote ties between nations as well as often big corporations represent countries as well as they are sometimes seen as symbols of different nations.

R.B.Wong

Environmental Effects caused by globalisation (water pollution)

2006-05-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

Let me just continue from where I have stop last time about the pollutions that are caused by industries and factories…

Another pollution that is caused by the factories is water pollution. This happens especially when the waste products are not cleaned and are directly thrown or released into the sea. Not only will this action cause water pollution which will affect us humans indirectly, it will affect the marine life in the particular location. Therefore, the effects of water pollution are not only devastating to people, but they can kill animals, fish, and birds. Hence, try to do your part and don’t cause water pollution! What I have below are the descriptions of the different aspects of water pollution.

Harmful Effects of Oil Pollution

When oil is spilled into the water, the effects on the marine life and its components are overwhelming. Some animals, such as birds, mammals, and fish may and can be killed if they take in oil. However, most deaths are caused by eating oil contaminated prey. Birds may die if the oil coats their feathers as they can neither fly nor stay warm. Furthermore, when oil coats the feathers they can become sick and die. In addition, oil can cause the water to have a bad smell and leave a sticky layer on the surface of water that kills fish or in fact every animal.

Effects of Factory Pollution

Many factories have pipes that drain chemicals or unwanted waste into rivers or streams. These chemicals and waste products can damage marine life as they are carried downstream and affect a large area in the place. Furthermore, the added chemicals can warm the river, which decreases the amount of oxygen that the fish need to live. In short, it will disrupt the whole marine life and it will take a lot of effort just to improve the condition.

Effects of Garbage from Private Offices and Homes

In some countries, people dump their garbage into streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans that is near their homes. Aluminum cans, paper, furniture, and other household products are common garbage that are thrown and dump into waters. When people dump unwanted waste into the waters, they are destroying and endangering the ecosystem and disrupting marine life in the process. Take for an example, when plastic is dumped in lakes; ducks are at risk because they might be. In addition, aluminum cans can cut the animals and fish which may cost their lives or injure them.

Effects of Eutrophication

Eutrophication: over-enrichment of a water body with nutrients, resulting in excessive growth of organisms and depletion of oxygen concentration. The usual cause of eutrophication is the runoff of chemical fertilizers from fields and farms that uses chemical fertilizers. Some effects of eutrophication are bad tastes and odors as well as green scum algae. In addition, as the growth of rooted plants increases, the amount of oxygen in the deepest waters of the lake decreases and this will result in the lack of oxygen for the animals like fish. Eutrophication can also cause some lakes to be totally lifeless.

jia he

globalization and health (part2)- SYAKIRAH

2006-05-18T04:25:00.000-07:00

How is globalisation linked to health?

Humans have lived with continual change since the migration of Homo erectus out of Africa a million years ago. Globalisation, in this sense, has gone hand in hand with the evolution of human societies but our current phase of globalisation is distinctive in its unprecedented intensity and extent of change.

It would be overly simplistic and inaccurate to describe globalisation as either "good" or "bad" for health. For example, spatial change is leading to increased migration of people throughout the world. For high-income countries, the debate surrounding globalisation and health tends to focus on the perceived threat, from low- and middle-income countries, of acquiring certain acute and epidemic infections, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, plague and, more recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Richer countries also fear the potential financial burden of unhealthy populations migrating from the developing world. What are less appreciated are the risks that high-income countries may export to other parts of the world through products such as tobacco and fast food and, more indirectly, macroeconomic policies affecting foreign direct investment and debt burdens. There is also a tendency to overlook the benefits to high-income countries from population mobility - the migration of health professionals from poorer countries offers benefits to understaffed health systems in high-income countries (but at the expense of capacity in the developing world). In other words, the increased movement of people and other items creates a complex equation of pluses and minuses for each society.

Similarly, temporal change affects the spread of disease. The speed of modern transportation systems means that infections can potentially move around the world within a few hours (as illustrated by the SARS outbreak in 2002-03). On the other hand, modern technology potentially enables the health community to respond more quickly to such emergencies. For example, an international network of institutions coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) via global telecommunications can readily detect and rapidly respond to changes in the influenza virus - such a capacity was unavailable after the First World War, when an estimated 20 million people died of influenza worldwide.

Finally, cognitive changes brought about by advertising and marketing Western consumer goods have facilitated the global spread of so-called "lifestyle" diseases (eg, obesity) in certain populations within low- and middle-income countries. The shift in the tobacco pandemic to the developing world has been clearly driven by the tobacco industry. It is estimated that, by 2030, 70% of all tobacco-related deaths (7 million annually) will occur in developing countries. The spread of health sector reform can also be seen as a form of cognitive globalisation in transferring policies about health service provision and financing across the world. National health systems thus face the challenge of sifting through and adapting these policies to local contexts. Global consciousness is also leading to the increased sharing of principles, ethical values and standards that underpin decision making about health. Examples of this are the 1964 Helsinki declaration on ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, the International code on the marketing of breast-milk substitutes adopted by the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1981, and the Framework convention on tobacco control adopted by the WHO in 2003.

- SYAKIRAH

Environmental Effects caused by globalisation (air pollution)

2006-05-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Now, I shall do on the environmental effects of globalization (thanks to syakirah who did some on technological effects) Let me get started now…

As we progress and advance, more factories are built and inevitably air pollution occurs as more pollutants are emitted. Let me first define what air pollution is. Air pollution: The presence in the atmosphere of one or more contaminants in such quality and for such duration as is injurious, or tends to be injurious, to human health or welfare, animal or plant life. Some major factors responsible for air pollution includes industries, vehicles, increase in the population, and urbanization.

Basically, the pollutants include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), Chloroflorocarbons (CFC), lead, ozone Nitrogen oxide, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). These pollutants not only play a part in the happening of air pollution, they also result in serious consequences like acid rain, smog and health problems.

Health problems
The magnitude of the London fog of 1952, which affected such a large number of people, was the first incident that made people aware of the damage done to the atmosphere due to industrialization. The SPM levels increased manifold and resulted in over 4000 deaths.
Furthermore, according to the National Resources Defense Council, some 64,000 people in the USA die faster each year from causes linked to air pollution. This link was made when the National Resources Defense Council applied findings from a 1995 study by the American Cancer Society and the Harvard Medical School. Air pollution from coal-fired power plants accounts for about 30,000 premature deaths in the USA each year. It is estimated that in the most polluted cities, lives are shortened by an average of one to two years. In addition, other effects like permanent alteration of lung tissues and nerve and skin damage. From this we can see the harmful effects that air pollution has on us humans and how globalization has cause these environmental problems.

Smog
Smog is created by burning coal and heavy oil that contain sulfur impurities in power plants and industrial plants. The smog consists mostly of a mix of sulfur dioxide and fog. Suspended droplets of sulfuric acid are formed from some of the sulfur dioxide, and a mixture of suspended solid particles. This kind of smog is common during the winter in cities such as London, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. Large-scale problems were witnessed (large number of people being affected) when these cities burned large amounts of coal and heavy oil without control of the output. But today, coal and heavy oil are burned only in large boilers and with reasonably good control so that this kind of smog is less of a problem nowadays. However, there are still some countries like China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and some other eastern European countries, still burn large quantities of coal without using adequate controls.

So how can we reduce air pollution so that our lives will be cleaner and problem-free?

1. Encourage your family to walk to the neighbourhood market.
2. Whenever possible take your bicycle.
3. As far as possible use public forms of transport.
4. Don’t let your father drop you to school, take the school bus.
5. Encourage your family to form a car pool to office and back.
6. Reduce the use of aerosols in the household.
7. Look after the trees in your neighbourhood.
8. Begin a tree-watch group to ensure that they are well tended and cared for.
9. Switch-off all the lights and fans when not required.
10. If possible share your room with others when the airconditioner, cooler or fan is on
11. Do not burn leaves in your garden, put them in a compost pit.
12. Make sure that the pollution check for your family car is done at regular intervals
13. Cars should, as far as possible, be fitted with catalytic converters.
14. Use only unleaded petrol.

jia he

Globalization and health (definition)- SYAKIRAH

2006-05-16T03:54:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I shall now bring up on the issue regarding on how globalization has affected health matters. After researching, I have found a very interesting thing on the meaning of globalization when it comes to using it in relation to health/clinical terms. I was very shocked when this paged crossed me and so I decided to share these different definitions on globalization with the readers.

So, what is globalization?
Globalization is highly contested on many fronts and will remain so. The term "globalization" has been misused and overused. I believe it is best defined in terms of three types of changes, which have been occurring at unprecedented rates over the past few decades:

Spatial changes
Globalization affects how we perceive and experience physical or territorial space. Movement of people, other life forms, information, capital, goods and services has not only intensified across the borders of countries but, in some cases, has rendered national borders irrelevant. Trafficking of illicit drugs, cigarette smuggling, undocumented migration, money laundering and global climate change are transborder phenomena that are challenging the capacity of governments to effectively regulate them. New social geographies are being formed that redefine how individuals and populations interact with each other. Some argue that we are moving towards a "global village"; others argue that societies are fragmenting and, in some cases, imploding. Even more novel is the creation of new forms of space, such as cyberspace and virtual reality, which challenge traditional notions of a physical location.

Temporal changes
Globalization affects how we perceive and experience time. On the one hand, social interaction is speeding up through modern communication and transportation technologies. "Hooked on speed", we race through life under ever-increasing pressure to "multitask", eat fast food, obtain instant credit, and even "speed date". On the other, our lives are slowed down by other modern complexities that bring us information overload, ballooning bureaucracies, and gridlocked roads.

Cognitive changes
Globalization is profoundly influencing how we see ourselves and the world around us. The main agents of change here are the mass media, the advertising idustry, consultancy firms, research institutions, political parties, religious groups and other institutions seeking to win "hearts and minds". In the process, our cultures, wants or perceived needs, values, beliefs, knowledge and aspirations are being changed.

Therefore, with these definitions in place, I would like to, generally, refer back to these definitons when I write my upcoming reviews on health issues. :)

- SYAKIRAH

Another Side to Free Trade

2006-05-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_trade_controversy

In this article both pros and cons of free trade have been raised and brought up. As can be seen in this article, the points raised against free trade have been overwhelming to the extent it makes free trade seem like a monster. What has free trade got to do with globalization you may ask? Well, as mentioned in my previous post, in order for nations to progress, working and forming ties with other nations is inevitable and free trade would be a result of this.

The first contentious con brought out was international trade require more resources to distribute. Delivering food produced on the other side of the world to a supermarket has an environmental impact because it requires the use of fossil fuel in delivery from overseas, as compared to local delivery. However I do believe regardless of whether delivery is local or overseas, there is definitely a need to utilize fossil fuel. However the question is whether the fossil fuel is put to good use and efficiency. IKEA is a well-known global furniture corporation from Sweden. The method of it distributing its products all over the world can be said efficient. Due to the fact that many of its product actually needs you to D.I.Y, ‘Do it yourself’, there will not be money wasted on transporting unwanted space and air in a package, and this is part of its company’s slogan.

Another point is that free trade undermines cultural diversity. However I believe the predicted outcome of globalization is that people all over the world would be united in the aim for world peace and no more porverty. If indeed free trade undermines cultural diversity but enriches culture, it should continue. In order for a nation to prosper, culture and belief diversity is not really ideal. Similar for a global village to be possible, there must be a common belief. Therefore I would say actually it is inevitable if it was for the greater good of a global government and nation.

Therefore in conclusion, although there are both good and points to free trade, which is inevitable as globalization occurs, I would say nations should learn to embrace the idea of free trade. Although for instance Malaysia would rather have their local products prosper, it is inevitable that free trade would occur throughout the world in order to boost economy. By accepting free trade, it would also raise quality of local products so as to stay competitive and compete with foreign products.

R.B.Wong

Interesting webpage! =) - SYAKIRAH

2006-05-14T00:18:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! I have found this very interesting "slideshow" on how globalisation (with special attention to technology) will affect the future. the slides are interesting as it shows an insight of what there is today and how it might just shape what the future is going to look like. In other words, it kinds of predicts how the future is going to be like with the evidences we can find today. so, here's the web page link.

Future Gallery

well, hope you find the webpage as interesting as I did. Have fun browsing! =)

- SYAKIRAH

Technology Trends (part 2) - SYAKIRAH

2006-05-13T01:35:00.000-07:00

Trends in science and technology and crime

[This is a continuation of my previous post. therefore, I'll still refer to Canada as my example.]

Every day, scientific and technological advances provide the law enforcement community in Canada and around the world with better tools to prevent crime and prosecute criminals.

Take for instance biometric identification systems in airports or x-ray scanners used to detect illicit goods in Canadian harbours. Progress in the area of encryption allows for secure communication between members of the intelligence and security community.

But criminals also know how to make the most of scientific and technological headway. For instance, the RCMP environmental scan revealed a significant increase in bank note counterfeiting activities in the past few years, in part due to more easily accessible laser colour printing technology.

The latter also makes it easier to counterfeit identification papers, which is also on the rise in Canada. And as do police officers and members of the intelligence community, criminals use encryption to conceal their communications.

The growth of the Internet and online chat rooms, along with greater accessibility and user-friendliness, have sparked a boom in the online child pornography industry and sexual exploitation activities mostly that of children.

Studies have shown that almost all children in Canada have access to the Internet on a daily basis, and that 15% of them have spoken with someone online and then made arrangements for a face-to-face meeting. Complaints of sexual exploitation have more than tripled from 2000 to 2003.

Lastly, Canada is a major target for cyber-attacks, ranking fifth in 2003 with 5,000 such attacks on individuals, commercial enterprises as well as government, representing breaches of national security. The high connectivity rate in Canada is partly to blame for this state of affairs.

At the international level, the technological threat is also being felt from risks related to the proliferation of and greater accessibility to weapons of mass destruction, due namely to the poor securement of chemical, nuclear and bacteriological weaponry by some countries, such as Russia.

Organized crime, already deeply involved in the light weapons trade, and terrorists may well take advantage of new opportunities on this black market. In this case, political and socio-economic factors exacerbate the threat of technological advances.

It is obvious that science and technology are without question at the very heart of tools used to commit crimes. The challenge for the law enforcement community in Canada is to stay abreast of developments in this regard, not only to anticipate and prevent crime, but also to fight effectively against it.

Therefore, in my opinion, examination and research must continue in the field of the latest means used by criminals, then complete this examination with a higher-level and longer-term strategic analysis. this will then enable companies to be more aware and keep in touch with the rate at which technology is adcancing either in the wrong or right means.

- SYAKIRAH

Free trade- erosion of borders

2006-05-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another phenomena that we are about to dig deeper into is the occurrence and concept of free trade. Free trade can be defined as follows, International trade of goods without tariffs (taxes on imports) or other trade barriers (e.g., quotas on imports) or the free movement of capital between countries. These trades transcend the sphere of control that a nation would usually have. Although this may seem to be handicapping the developing nations, it is actually not.

Due to the resources that these developing nations have, the cost of production would be low. Standard of living in these nations would initially be low; therefore cost of living will not be high. These leads to lower wage cost too. In this sense, cost production can be reduced. For instance China and Thailand are nations known for the low labour costs. International Corporations like Nike and Addidas are constantly pumping money into the countries market in a bid to bolster their economy. This also allows a nation to specialize in one aspect of good. “Analysis shows that free trade increases the global level of output because free trade permits specialization among countries. Specialization allows nations to devote their scarce resources to the production of the particular goods and services for which that nation has a comparative advantage. The benefits of specialization, coupled with economies of scale, increase the global production possibility frontier.” Adding to this, in order to attract more customers, goods produced are of highest quality and this would result in edge in competitiveness, which actually does well as a whole to nations.

Singapore also signed free trade agreement with China, India and more significantly the United States of America. It can be said as a win-win situation for parties involved, 1. infrastructure profits go to bolstering economy of nation, 2. nations can work hand in hand, ie. using resources from another nation for its own benefit. International trade is inevitable for economical growth in modern times and free trade is arguably the most effective way in helping a nation to flourish. More significantly because of the ties that these nations would have, it would lead to a more harmonious world as nations become more interdependent. War would in this case be disastrous.

R.B.Wong

Technology Trends (part 1) - SYAKIRAH

2006-05-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

The speed and magnitude of globalization and technological developments are disrupting the environment in which governments evolve. Climate changes, the birth and growth of the Internet and China’s ascent as a world economic power are but a few of the international factors impacting countries around the world.

In this context, it becomes imperative for governments to develop mechanisms designed to monitor trends and identify opportunities and threats affecting their area of activity. Therefore, with reference to the renewed environmental scan done by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), I have shockingly, found out afew impacts of technology on the environment and the rising trends in social activities.

Key national and international trends

At the international level, the scan has shown the increasing inequities in several parts of the world and the resulting threat to security; the instability in the former Soviet Union and the possible consequences thereof on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; new forms of transnational organized crime, such as counterfeiting and the persons trade; and the higher risk of natural disasters in the future due to climate changes.

However, in Canada, an aging population might mean a shift from violent crimes to fraud. The surge in drug-trafficking activities and drug-use offences are having significant repercussions on our youth. As well, development of the diamond industry in the Canadian North threatens to increase organized crime activity in this part of the country.

Overall, these complex threats require an integrated approach by security and emergency preparedness stakeholders.

- SYAKIRAH

Economic Impact - Singapore

2006-05-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

If you simply check out the definition of globalization in economic terms it would be this, “the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services, free international capital flows”. Alright before we go in depth into the impact that globalization has on different nations and the world itself I would first like to state the intention of this post. This initial post is to discuss the effect that foreign labour has on nations as a result of globalization, with specific reference to Singapore.

Over the years there has been an increase in the influx foreign talents or foreign workers, whatever people would like to address them as. This external labour came in search of better jobs and better future for their children. In Singapore these external comes from mainly, Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia like China and India. Due to the low birth rate in the nation, thus leading to a lack of labour, importing them was the most ideal solution.

In order for a nation to be able to compete with other nations and attract foreign investors, infrastructure the determining factor, as compared to other factors like climate and temperature in this age of technological advances. One of the main components of the infrastructure is labour. In terms of providing monetary help, government aid and ports, Singapore can definitely meet the demand and up the standard. However one point is that though Singaporeans are skilled technically, there is a shortage of these labours. As mentioned, in order to stay competitive Singapore has to import these labours and true enough the results came. Foreign workers contributed over a third of the total growth in Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) over the last decade. Higher skilled foreign workers are estimated to have contributed 2.87 percentage points or 36.9 percent to the city state's total growth rate of 7.79 percent.

Globalisation aims to break down the barriers between nation and turn the world into a ‘global village’ as many have described. In this instance we can clearly see how this is gradually being achieved. The cycle of importing foreign labour would never stop, one because of the increasing world population and two the need to have vast resources ie. labour in order to stay competitive. The economical result achieved as can be seen in Singapore’s case is beneficial. Nonetheless there would be social problems that the government might need to solve as time progesses.

R.B.Wong

Culture

2006-05-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

Before we can begin on discussing what effects of globalization are there, we must first understand what globalization is. IMF has defined globalization as "the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services, free international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology". However, globalization has not only allowed people to focus on the economy, but on many other aspects too. In my opinion, globalization would be the interdependence of countries worldwide, affecting the political, social, economical and cultural aspects of each country.

What country, people may ask, is affected by globalization? Of course, it would primarily involve the developed and more developed countries, because the greatest source of connection between countries would be the Internet and mass media, and only countries that can afford for almost 100% accessibilty to them would be more affected.

Having said, I will now focus on the implications on the cultural aspects in a country. It is not denied that globalization mainly boosts the economy of a country, however we do see that with all these changes in the economy, there would definitely bring about changes in the other aspects too. As a country develops, it would mean that they would have enough capital to build a better infrastructure, therefore being more involved in the interdependence between countries. Then, countries would feed on one another's economic development, to see the development of their own. It would, theoretically, be a cycle that benefits everyone involved. Unfortunately, this is not so.

The Internet, being one of the greatest causes of globalization, is a place where there is almost no control over what people gain access to. Just as they are the world's military superpower, the United States of America has not failed to dominate the Internet. While countries like Japan may be working on their technology and information systems, they have had no impact on America's steady "fortress". As for Europe, not only have they failed to build up their military, they also are not anywhere near Japan, in terms of achieving more in the information arena. Hence, it leaves America at the highest advantage for, probably, a long time. With its power, America takes advantage of the situation to practice cultural imperialism, which can also be seen as one way to preserve their economic status.

Being the superpower they are, America has gotten the upper hand when it comes to manipulating information put up on the Internet. Also, they have dominated the media through the release of Hollywood films. These are very effective methods of spreading their own culture and thus having veto power over the world’s culture. We can see from the world today, where people dress in t-shirt and jeans like how people in the States do; where people understand certain Spanish terms such as “adios” and “amigo”, even though they do not know the language. We see the assimilation of the American culture into the world; or rather it would possibly become “Americanization”, as what some people may call it.

Eventually, globalization would only serve as America’s stage to further substantiate their stand as the most powerful nation .

Globalization brings in new technology - SYAKIRAH

2006-05-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

Alright since this is my first post, I shall start with glabalization's impacts on technology around the world. Before i start off, i would like to limit my first technological country to India. As you know, India is a huge country. Though it's advancing quite rapidly, more than half of its population are currently in a state where anyone might just compare it to a third world state. Therefore, I chose India as my first case to cover these questions:
- what has unrestricted globalization done to India?
- whether globalization would bring in new technology into the country
- how then would it would affect it's speed of globalization
I hope that this review would answer or at least clarify the doubts of many regarding this issue.

Firstly, there is a powerful and very vocal lobby for globalization in India that every successive administration in the last decade has eventually succumbed to the pressures of globalization suggests that regardless of how different political formations package their policies in advance of the elections. This is because for some sections of Indian society and the Indian diaspora, globalization has come as something of a bonanza.

Non-Resident Indians (NRI)s look forward to new business opportunities in a globalized India. English-language (or even local language) media outlets who expect globalization to increase advertizing revenues have also been eager supporters of globalization. (A recent Economic Times survey of the nation's top CEO's indicated that most major India businesses anticipated considerably higher allocations for marketing and advertizing campaigns in order to survive in the globalized Indian economy. Some estimate that the advertizing industry has been one of the fastest growing industries in India - growing as much as 25-30% in some years.)

Another outcome of globalization has been a huge increase in salaries of senior managers, accountants, lawyers and public-relations personnel working for Multinational Corporations (MNC)s or their local competitors. For the IT-literate, job opportunities have been plentiful, and there are also opportunities to live and earn abroad. For the English-speaking upper middle-class, this has come as a boon. With greater access to disposable income, the seduction of consumerism becomes hard to resist, and the demand for unrestricted globalization inevitably follows the attraction for new and ever more advanced consumer goods. This new and more prosperous class of Indian consumers associates India's progress with the availability of the latest automobile models and consumer goods. The local availability of imported European cosmetics and fashions, imported drinks and confectioneries - these have all become important to those who have sufficient disposable income to purchase such items.

Globalization has other champions too. Importers have a strong financial interest in a globalized economy. But so do exporters dependent on imported parts and machinery. Industrialists with interests in ports, shipping, international warehousing and other aspects of international trade and commerce may also see globalization as beneficial to their sectors of the economy. Indian industrialists who have so far failed to invest in research and development and are losing the battle for market share are also becoming amenable to globalization in the fond hope of partnering with an MNC that will enable them to stabilize or expand their sinking business ventures.

Although these sections of society are in numerical terms a very small minority in the country, they are able to wield considerable authority on account of their financial clout. Their voices are far more likely to be heard in the Indian media, and they are much more likely to be able to influence important political decisions in the country. Because of their familiarity with English, and privileged access to major media outlets and institutions of higher learning, they are taken to be more credible, and are thus able to exercise tremendous influence on public policy.

But it should be noted that the interests of a particular section of Indians need not match the real interests of all other sections of Indian society. Other sections of society may benefit only to the extent that a fraction of this new prosperity trickles down to them. Some may not benefit at all, while some may even be adversely affected. In addition, globalization may have hidden consequences that may negatively impact the quality of life even of those prospering through globalization.

But the greatest danger posed by unrestricted globalization is that it may exacerbate the problems of nagging poverty and uneven development, and create grave infra-structural mismatches. It is already evident that the Indian economy has become more dependent on imports which has brought with it constant pressure on the value of the Rupee, leading to recursive bouts of high inflation. And rather than expand India's manufacturing strength and develop new capabilities and technological development in India, globalization may in fact put India at a global disadvantage in key sectors of modern industry leading to an economy that is always chasing scientific and technological advances that occur in other nations.

Well. take the argument that globalization brings in new technology. On a selective basis, globalization indeed brings in new technology and opposition to globalization is not tantamount to becoming technologically isolated from the rest of the world. But today, almost no advocate of globalization is calling for selectivity. For instance, Coca-Cola and Pepsi were welcomed into the country even though they offered little in terms of new technology. Cosmetic manufacturers and manufacturers of designer label clothes have also brought in little new technology of any consequence. The same can be said of advertising companies and manufacturers of consumer non-durable goods like soap, detergent, toothpaste, cereals etc.

And although there has been significant investment in the manufacture of automobiles and consumer goods, the capital equipment and the assembly lines for their production is imported. Little of the design and development work takes place in India. And in many instances, all that happens is the local assembly of knocked-down kits. So far, globalization in India has not been tantamount to an all-around technological upgradation of Indian design and manufacturing.

Some offer a counter-argument for unrestricted globalization arguing that only if India liberalizes unconditionally will India be able to attract high technology and capital investment in the areas it really wants. In other words, if we let the Cokes and Pepsis of the world to come in, the INTELs, the AMDs, and the CISCOs will follow. But the experience of the last decade belies such claims. While it is true that INTEL, AMD and CISCO have all invested in India, the sum total of their investments has been minuscule in relation to their other investments abroad. And rather than bring in new technology to India, they are actually sucking out technology from India. All their investment has been on divisions that either develop software on demand, or provide research assistance to their US counterparts. None of them has set up any manufacturing plants in India or signed any technology transfer agreements with any Indian company. All the technology that is developed is owned and marketed by the parent company, and other than the slightly higher than average salaries that accrue to a small minority of Indians working in the sector, few benefits accrue to India as a nation. What is worse is that these companies are provided all manner of perks and privileges to exploit India's intellectual capital. They are given tax breaks and tax write-offs. They are given preferential treatment in the allocation of scarce resources like land, and round-the-clock electricity supply.

Now, i shall state an evidence from a news article that i found on the internet. In a July 20 Times of India report titled 'IT expert warns against digital divide in country' the author wrote: A leading information technology (IT) expert has cautioned against a "digital divide" in the country and creation of disparities between the IT haves and have-nots. The report quoted M. Anandakrishnan (vice-chairman of the information technology task force of the Tamil Nadu government and the vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu state council for higher education) as saying: "You cannot have a high-tech facility and have 50,000 people within a few kilometres who don't have any access to computers. Availability of computers in every village did not mean accessibility and accessibility does not mean assimilation. Unless there is 'localisation of content' this technology could not be used by 97 per cent of the population." The article goes on to question the euphoria surrounding the growth of the IT sector and again quotes M. Anandkrishnan: "We speak of 57 per cent growth of the software sector and 100 per cent growth of the hardware sector. We must take into consideration that the figures include hardware and equipment imports. We are talking of someone else's products. We are still dependent on imports, and even now we have to use servers abroad to get to the Net". (Although there are some companies that assemble personal computers in India, India's share of world hardware manufacturing is less than that of Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, China, or Singapore - even lower than Thailand or the Philippines). M. Anandkrishnan was also quoted as saying that the productivity of Indian labour was very low - that Indian workers earned one thirtieth of what a Japanese worker took home, concluding that the burgeoning of IT could be termed a "revolution" only if a "high intensity of growth," was indicated. The absence of any significant investment in the local design and manufacture of advanced electronic components, computer chips or telecommunication hardware must be seen as a significant failure of this decade of rapid globalization.

Advocates of globalization have often made the claim that globalization rather than destroy Indian industry would instead accelerate the growth of new industry and cause India's economy to grow faster. But a detailed analysis of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the last few years indicates that a sizeable portion of this investment has not gone into the creation of new productive capacities. Much of the investment has simply gone into into takeovers of existing Indian enterprises or towards speculative investments in the Indian stock market. Moreover, other than India's "hot" IT companies and select MNCs - the vast majority of Indian stocks have not benefited from such highly volatile FDI flows.

Therefore, in conclusion, technological globalisation in India has received many different perspectives regarding the issue. Based solely on the economic aspect of technology, we can see that some thought its beneficial while others begged to differ. thus, i believe, that globalisation has caused a major turnabout on how technology is viewed and how it has advanced to countries that may even seem to be under-developed.

- SYAKIRAH (health and technological expert)

North Korea and its missiles

2006-05-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

North Korea, a nation under the totalitarian rule of Kim Jong II who emphasizes the importance of national self-reliance, is now equipped with nuclear weapons. The development of these weapons has sparked constant badgering from the US and six-party talks which involved the US, both Koreas, Japan, Russia and China to discuss the issue. The talks aim to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear project if it wanted to resume diplomatic ties with other countries, however North Korea countered by stating that they initiated the nuclear weapons program to oppose US aggression. The problem is, with a famine taking place and millions of people starving, the funds invested for the project would have been better used if they were to help the people. However, we can see that since North Korea publicized the fact that they had weapons of mass destruction, they are once again in the limelight. They now have the power and can play a major role in global politics, which is why the US is determined to convince them to discontinue.

A nation with nuclear weapons is considered powerful in this world. Not only does it signify the technological and military progress the country is experiencing, but that country now has the potential to destroy another country. They can exert influence over another country, or pose a threat to another. In this case, the US feels threatened by the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea considering the tension and conflicts between the two during the past. The fear is that North Korea will be successful in developing long-range missiles capable of targeting the US.

Theoretically, North Korea has the basic right to develop missiles. They have the right to protect their own self-interests from any external threats, and expanding their nuclear weapons program is one way to do it. However, when weapons of mass destruction are in the hands of only one person that is childishly unpredictable, then it is up to the world to try and stop it. This is not a matter of interfering with national sovereignty, it is a matter of protecting the rest of world from any conceivable attacks. The reason that the US does not make a fuss about India or the UK developing nuclear missiles is because they are wholly democratic countries. There is the general assumption that a democracy would not stage war with another democracy, but the postulation does not apply to totalitarian or authoritarian ones. The fact is, Kim Jong II has complete de facto power over the nation, thus the usage of nuclear weapons could go according to his whims. He could decide to just horde it as a display of power, or to destroy South Korea and US as revenge for the Korean War.

Developing nuclear weapons is a sensitive issue, especially in North Korea. While millions are starving and dying, money used for this could have been used to help them. Even though Kim Jong II is trying to protect North Korea from external threats, he does not ensure their welfare or their continuation to live. There will be no one to protect, except the political leaders and militarymen living comfortably in the city, if the majority of the population starve to death.

Dimira (political expert)

Immigration

2006-05-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

For many centuries, America is known around the world as a huge "melting pot." Immigrants, from every country, would flock to the US in hopes of becoming part of the "American dream". In their eyes, America was the land of opportunity; a land where even though people would start out penniless, they would eventually end up rich because of the apparent endless jobs and streamless prospects. The majority of these immigrants came from Latin American countries, including Mexico, which borders the US in the state of Texas. Spanish, the official language of Mexico, is the second most widely spoken language in America, and this is largely due to the Latino population that is concentrated in the United States. Recently, President Bush has pushed forward a plan to build a fence in the Texas-Mexico borders, deploy troops there to reduce the possibility of illegal immigrants entering, and proposed a plan to provide legal citizenship to those illegal immigrants already in the US if they fulfill certain requirements.

Globalization has affected many aspects of society, including cultural, economic and political. The major issue here is that the American society is being greatly affected by the Latin American one. Spanish being the second language taught most in schools is due to the fact that Spanish-speaking immigrants have the largest proportion in America. As the second cartoon comically implies, they have taken many jobs and are allowed many benefits native-born Americans are not. This will take its toll in the economy, as more funds have to be set aside for the welfare of the immigrants if the number that come, whether legally or illegally, increase drastically. To put it bluntly, the American society is afraid and worried that the immigrants that come will take all the opportunities (like jobs) away from them. Even though many immigrants are working in sectors undesirable to the local population, the fact remains that many Americans remain jobless due to the fact that foreign talent are willing to work for less. All this in turn has caused the government to focus their attention on the matter at hand and try to enact some policies regarding immigration.

Protecting the nation's self-interest and welfare is one of the government's obligations. If the American people are threatened, or are disadvantaged, by one party, it is a must for the government to try and reduce that threat. They are leaders of that nation, thus they are bound to prioritize their people's interest over any other's. Clearly, illegal immigration must be stopped, and building the fence and sending troops are some ways to do it. If America continues to turn a blind eye towards this issue, it will inevitably bite them back in the future. They will suddenly realize all the problems that arise due to the overwhelming number of immgrants that have no jobs, housing, education, or cause overcrowding in cities. I am not saying that immigrants are the main cause of problems in cities, I am stating that illegal immigration catalyzes the emergence of problems because they have not been properly documented, thus they do not get the same rights or assistance as everybody else. If anywhere along the road they need that help, they cannot get it from the government.

It is true that illegal immigrants have played a role in the economic sector; they have contributed greatly by working in businesses. However, entering another country illegally in the first place is already violating that country's sovereignty, as they do not respect the laws and regulations being upheld. Being caught can mean going either way: being jailed and/or deportation, or "amnesty". The chances are fifty-fifty, but in order to mantain a country that abides by the law, illegal immigrants have to be sent back.

As for the plan proposed by Bush to offer legal citizenship to those illegal immigrants already in the US, it has to ensure that they strictly meet the requirements. For example, the immigrants must already have jobs and the potential to sustain their lives in the US. Joblessness will only lead to social problems like stealing to make ends meet.

All in all, the interests of the people, in any country, are the utmost priority. It is true that the world is globalizing, but for now, the world has not become one global state.

Dimira (political expert)

US restore relations with Libya

2006-05-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

With reference to:

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/05/15/libya/index.html

Libya and America has once again reconciled; a huge portion of it due to the fact that Libya has willingly subdued to the United State’s requests. Once again, we can see how America has the power and influence to shape the political decisions of a country.

It is interesting to note that Libya suddenly and unexpectedly renounced terrorism right after Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled over by the American forces. In a dramatic and flagrant show of power, the statue of Saddam Hussein was brought down after they managed to successfully seize him. The whole event was recorded and the international community was able to view it through their television sets; a true testament of America’s authority that can be achieved through military power. In the past, Libya has been a major sponsor for terrorism and has been linked to several terrorist attacks, the most notorious one being the bombing of a Pan Am flight that killed 207 people. It has taken no notice of America and did not feel threatened by the underlining power America possessed. In my opinion, Libya did not initially believe that America would ever take the preemptive action and invade another country. However, after they observed how America sent its troops to invade Iraq and overthrow the country’s leader, they began to become afraid. America has successfully instilled fear not only in Iraq, but also in Libya. Witnessing Iraq's downfall made them realize the potential danger and threat America could be and so they changed their ways to appease the great superpower.

As part of the criteria to be in the good graces of America again, Libya has dutifully handed over their weapons of mass destruction to the United States. Weapons of mass destruction, the main requirement basically needed to gain international recognition in world politics, were given to the United States in hopes of reconciling. This occurrence implies that America has influenced Libya to the extent that they believe it is more advantageous to ally themselves with the US than it is to personally reserve their own nuclear weapons. Libya believes that America has can cause greater destruction and can influence world politics more than the possession of nuclear weapons.

It is also noteworthy to see that by doing business with Libya will impact the United State's economy. It is truly lucky that Libya, a major exporter of oil, is once again the US's ally in a period when oil prices are on the rise. The White House has denied claims that that was the real reason behind the reconciliation, but it makes one ponder if the promising drop on oil prices had anything to do with it. It would certainly be profitable to their economy, and now the US has another associate in its "fight against terrorism."

In conclusion, globalization is inevitable. However, what we see today is not called the spread of ideals or businesses from local markets to international ones, oh no, the globalization we see today is not even called Westernization. The globalization we see today is the called Americanization.

Dimira (political expert)

Technological influence (on terrorists)

2006-05-04T01:49:00.000-07:00

Terrorists are people who utilize the systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve political objectives, while disguised as a civilian non-combatant. In the recent years, there has been an increase in the number of terrorist’s attack around the world. Words like “suicide bombings” and “al-qaeda” have become familiar phrase to you and me.

Now, with technology, terrorists are able to carry out their attacks much easier than before. Things like bombs and explosives can be detonated with the help of just one click on the phone. An example will be the bombing of the Australia embassy whereby the bomb was suspected to be detonated by a mobile phone.
Furthermore, discussion of plans can be discussed secretly without anyone finding out [it is impossible for the police and governments to track down or check on all conversations on the internet] By communicating through the internet, terrorists can no longer have to meet up secretly, risking bring followed or caught by the authorities. Therefore, technology has not only made carrying out of attacks easier, it has made it harder for the authorities to pin down the terrorists.

However, with technology, a new form of terrorists has arise --- techno-terrorist. As today’s technology-oriented countries rely on vulnerable computers and telecommunications systems to support their commercial and government operations, the threat of techno-terrorist has became a concern to businesses and government agencies throughout the world. This is so as the terrorists have the advantage of attacking these with little expense by a few people and yet cause a great deal of damage to the economy of a country. They can conduct such activities with little risk to themselves, because these systems can be attacked and destroyed from a base in a country that is friendly to them. In addition, they can do so with no loss of life; thus not causing the extreme backlash against them as would occur had they destroyed buildings, causing much loss of life.

These are some actual and potential techno-terrorist actions: [what I got from the internet]
• Terrorists, using a computer, penetrate a control tower computer system and send false signals to aircraft, causing them to crash in mid-air or fall to the ground.
• Terrorists use fraudulent credit cards to finance their operations.
• Terrorists penetrate a financial computer system and divert millions of dollars to finance their activities.
• Terrorists bleach $1 bills and, by using a color copier, reproduce them as $100 bills and flood the market with them to destabilize the dollar.
• Terrorists use cloned cellular phones and computers over the Internet to communicate, using encryption to protect their transmissions.
• Terrorists use virus and worm programs to shut down vital government computer systems.
• Terrorists change hospital records, causing patients to die because of an overdose of medicine or the wrong medicine. They may also change computerized tests and alter the results.
• Terrorists penetrate a government computer and causes it to issue checks to all its citizens.
• Terrorists destroy critical government computer systems processing tax returns.
• Terrorists penetrate computerized train routing systems, causing passenger trains to collide.
• Terrorists take over telecommunications links or shut them down.
• Terrorists take over satellite links to broadcast their messages over televisions and radios.

Therefore, from this, we can all see how technology has greatly benefited the terrorist and made it harder for us to pin down the terrorists. Not only has technology changed the way of the attacks carried out by terrorists, it has changed the type of attacks that the terrorists are able to carry out.

Jia He

Technological globalisation (in TJC) 2

2006-05-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

there is some problem with this blog last time...so i shall continue from where i have stopped...=))

Other types of technology can be seen in schools too. The two pictures above shows the common technology that can be seen in schools --- the digital projector and the OHP. These two technologies not only facilitate the speed of teaching, but also help teachers to teach easier. Just by plugging in the wire into the computer or flashing the paper on the OHP, students are able to see what the teacher have to say immediately. With additional software like “PowerPoint”, teachers will be able to teach easier and students will be able to learn faster. But of course, the usage of OHPs are decreasing with the uprising number of computers but still we can still see the great impact that technological globalisation have on schools.

What I have here is a device that takes the attendance of a student when he or she flashes her ez-link card which is something that every student has. In TJC, teachers no longer have to call out students’ names just to confirm that the particular student is not absent. With this device, teachers no longer have to do this and will be able to know whether this student is absent from school just by looking at the “attendance sheet” made by the device. This device has effectively saves a great deal of time and hence teachers have more time to teach.

The effect of technological globalisation have gone to the extent that even phones are use to contact teachers in schools. Not only has this phone solve the problem of students having difficulty finding teachers due to the large number of teachers in schools, it has also allow students to contact teachers without having to step into the staff room. From here we can see how technological globalisation has changed our lives and how we communicate.

To ensure security and safety in schools, guards can be seen patrolling in all areas in school. However, with technology, this is no longer needed. As you can see with the picture above, all the school has to do is to “implant” these surveillance cameras in areas where the school wants monitor. By doing this, money can be save [no need to employ guards] and maintaining the school’s security at the same time.

Jia He

How democracy has backlashed

2006-05-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Once again, I will focus more about democracy, but this time from a different limelight. I have previously hinted that democracy today can be stated as the prerequisite for a good government, and that many countries today are either pressurising or undermining those countries that do not uphold democracy. Ironically, from recent events, it seems as though the principle of democracy itself has backlashed against the governments that promote it. This can be explained no better than using the example of the newly elected government of Pakistan. The people, the citizens of Pakistan, have elected the terrorist group, Hamas, to be the political leaders of their country. This is the group that has made it their personal goal and ambition to destroy Israel.

Pakistan has become a democratic country, thus it must be a personal victory to countries like the US and Britain that a Middle Eastern country has implemented the same type of government they did. However, a democracy is mainly run by the people and concentrated on the people. Thus, if the citizens themselves are supportive of a group with ideals that have been deemed violent by the rest of the world, there is nothing the international community can do about it. They are the ones that promoted democracy, what they did not anticipate was that the people's perceptions of what is right and wrong would be far different than theirs. The international community cannot interfere directly with the internal politics of a nation, especially if the political group elected gathered a majority of the votes of the people. It would be violating a country's sovereignty if other countries like the US were to become a major player in Pakistan's internal politics.

That is one drawback about democracy. Since the government is elected by the people, the persuasive powers or eloquence of a political party can be a big influence in the election process. Even if the ideals or goals of that party are not peaceful, as long as the citizens are convinced, they will not think twice about the consequences.

Now, we can see the tensions sparking. Countries are now holding meetings and setting up deals with the Hamas government in order to make sure that they respect Israel's right of having become a sovereign nation. So far, the Hamas government have agreed to certain terms, but they have not promised anything.

Dimira (political expert)

Technological globalisation (in TJC)

2006-05-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

With technology, anything is made possible. Ranging from conquering nature with technology [extracting of natural resources, clearing of forest etc] to going out of Earth [studying the various different planets, including the moon] and this is when the first Man steps on the moon. Today, we can see the effects of technological globalisation everywhere --- even in schools.

As you can see in the two pictures above, it is the latest model of the “tablet pc” whereby the screen is able to turn and “transform” the pc into something like a writing pad. Not only does it facilitate the process of learning, it aids the student in various aspects like completing assignments, learning and etc. In TJC, wireless internet is provided. As the name implies, students are able to access the internet without any wire! Some benefits of using the tablet pc in schools includes: students are able to source for more information with the help of the internet, download the files [e.g. Assignments, project criteria, notes] from a specific website which saves both the teachers and students a great deal of time. Furthermore, students are able to take notes in class with the help of this tablet pc. The traditional way like taking out the pen and paper is no longer seen with the help of technology. Moreover, all TA students in TJC are required to have one tablet pc and this goes to show how technological globalisation are found even in schools. Lastly, TJC is not the only school which uses the tablet pc. Many other schools like Catholic High, are also using and benefiting from the tablet pcs!

As for students who do not have a computer, the school have computer labs like the one above catered for the better good of the students. Students will be able to surf the internet for more information so that they will be able to complete assignments.

JiA hE

What courage?

2006-04-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

With reference to:

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/04/30/safrica.deklerk.reut/index.html

The French Revolution and American Revolution marked the dawn of democracies and the end of imperialism and monarchy. These two events showed the rest world that unhappiness and discontent with the current (and often, ignorant and unfair) government does not mean that they have to tolerate the injustice. Democracy has proven effective in many countries, for example, the US, with one of the main reasons being that the people are not suppressed under a certain leader or a specific set of ideals. They are more or less free to do what they want under certain limits; as long as the people are happy, the nation will prosper. Nowadays, it seems as though democracy is a part of the criteria for globalisation, with ever-increasing international pressure on those countries that haven't adapted this "of the people, by the people, and for the people" form of government.

It is therefore, in my opinion, ironic, that democracy should be restricted to only a particular group of people because of their race. De Klerk urged black people to "recognize the sacrifices made by the whites in embracing all-race democracy". Ahem... Excuse me, but since when was democracy only limited to one race? Why is it so hard to embrace an"all-race democracy" when democracy had no racial boundaries in the first place?

Besides that, he stated that the whites showed "courage" when "ceding power". It seems as if he's saying it was so hard for the whites to hand over their power to the blacks, as if it was the most difficult thing they had to do. Yes, human nature does continually crave for more and more power and to naturally feel possessive about it, but the way De Klerk phrased it made it sound like what the whites did was very honourable. You show courage when you are facing a life-threatening situation and yet you still step up to the plate. You do not show courage if you hand over a government to the people when it was initially rightfully theirs.

On the other hand...

I'll have to admit that it must've been tough for the whites to accept the new changes, so kudos to them for adapting to the new systems. And yes, without the Afrikaners, South Africa would not be the democracy it is today. There are many things that they did for the good of the country.

And please don't get me wrong, I am not a racist and not biased towards one race. I do not favour one race over the other. I am merely saying that it is controversial for De Klerk to defend a regime which separated the people of a nation because of their background and skin colour.

Anyways, the apartheid of South Africa ended in the early 1990s. International pressure was one of the factors that caused the collapse of apartheid in the first place, and by this we can see how the international community can majorly influence the government of one country. Today, countries are so linked towards each other that the countries with the biggest assets can affect the decisions made by other countries. When countries around the world protested against apartheid, they put global pressure on the government to abolish the segregation laws. Many countries imposed economic sanctions on South Africa as a protest to the system. In this world, a country cannot stand on its own two feet economically; it will always need to form some sort of economic interaction with other countries. As a result, South Africa suffered under the sanctions imposed and that was what the external countries wanted.

Also, there were many national strikes and boycotts that opposed the apartheid. During that period, the colonial rule of neighboring countries Mozambique and Angola were overthrown by the blacks. The blacks of South Africa were heavily influenced by this, and believed that they too could overthrow the apartheid government. Violence, protests, strikes, and boycotts acculumated as forms of objection. In the end, both international pressure and internal protests led to the downfall of apartheid.

Dimira (Political expert)

Globalization in TJC - zihui

2006-04-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of people playing soccer . All right , basically soccer originated in Greece or somewhere like that ? And slowly , it has spread to every parts of the world , even Singapore , and it is evident in this picture . So , this is one image of globalization in TJC .

This is a picture of the computer lab in school ._. Computers have been globalized and people are using it all over the world . Hmm , same crap . Yea .

Ahh , this . Classic . Traditional piece of art work found somewhere near the audi or so I think . This is evidence of how eastern artwork has influenced people around the world , or at least students in TJC .

Hmm , so I think I'm done with mine ? Haha =x

Just to get the ball rolling -zihui

2006-03-30T06:22:00.000-08:00

Alright people , firstly , let's set some things straight . ( Ok that sounds so stern . )

We all do know what we've chosen to do right ? Ok but I'll put it up as reminder :

-Zi Hui: Cultural aspect
-Syakirah: Health and environmental espect
-Rongbin: Economical aspect
-Jiahe: Technlogical aspect
-Dimira: Political aspect

Ok , having said that , let's just start with the first thing we gotta do . Post 3 pictures taken from school that represents globalization , and reflect why they are images of globalization . Title it : Globalization in TJC . Oh , then put your name behind it . Indicate name in titles ok ? Or at the end , up to yall .

Tagboard won't be added . I think it's too limited . So we shall make full use of the " comments " part . But if yall wanna add a tagboard for miscellaneous stuff that " commenting " would be too cumbersome , do tell me , I'll add . Or if yall wanna add it on your own , go ahead .

And , I think that's about it . I shall do my part ... some other time . Muahaha .