Globalization
Is the world now “Globalized”? Certainly not completely. It would seem though that the world is undergoing globalization—as it had been throughout history—perhaps at much accelerated pace than ever before. This is most apparent with regard to communications and technology. The world cannot be described as to have become homogenized: The world still does not speak the same language, share the same culture, among other things. However, there are many aspects in this world that may truly be described as globalized—like telecommunications.
In centuries past, people connect and communicate to each other physically. They would have to physically and really meet each other to talk or communicate. In the last few decades however all these changed. Information and communications technology has allowed people to communicate and interact with each other anywhere in the globe without having to see each other physically. A person in the US can talk a person to someone in China. They may even be able to see each other through video at the same time. Modern telecommunications have broken geographical boundaries. People can reach those in other countries without having to move out of his location at all. Unfortunately, communications technology make people feel so close to each other, they do not anymore realize that the people they are communicating with could be so far away at the opposite side of the world. One would be very fascinated when one thinks about how telecommunications have globalized the world. (Plaid Avenger, Going Global)
Another aspect that may be described as globalized is perhaps the world economy and trade. Countries follow common orders so there can be order in the way they deal or trade with each other. This is the aspect of globalization that affect everyone. The food we eat and clothes we wear for instance could have been imported from Thailand in Asia, Italy in Europe or Brazil in South America. These products come from so far-away lands—Asia across the Pacific Ocean and Europe across the Atlantic Ocean—but they have become so easily available to everyone. The products have become so familiar people do realize that they have come from other countries. People’s acceptance of these products also indicate how homogenized the world has become. Again and unfortunately, people think that all these products come from one place. (Plaid Avenger, Going Global)
Over-population
Is the world overpopulated? Overpopulation may need to be understood as density or concentration of people in a particular place. This would have serious implications on the availability of resource to those people. So, is the world overpopulated,? From a global perspective, one can say no. For one thing, there are many places in the world that are under-populated. There are even countries in the world—like Italy and Japan—where the population is actually declining. Meanwhile, there are countries in the world—like in the Sub-Saharan Africa—where the population is growing very fast. However, Africa is such a vast place and still has many areas that are under-populated. The problem perhaps in Africa is productivity and availability of resources. (Plaid Avenger, World Regions)
In East, Southeast and South Asia, there is a high concentration of people. It is one of those areas in the world that may be projected to be over-populated in time. However, the demographics of the population in this region—specifically in China and India—are changing. The population is growing older. As the countries develop, the population will continue to grow until the growth stabilizes. (Plaid Avenger, World Regions)
Murphy and the Plaid Avenger
The Plaid Avenger has clearly explained how globalization occurs. It is a process that has been going from the beginning of human history. The video was also able to expound on which aspects in this world may be truly globalized (Plaid Avenger, Going Global). In another video, the Plaid Avenger was also able to show how important and useful it approach geography by spatial thinking or viewing things (Plaid Avenger, Making Sense of the Planet). One can thus draw images in his mind to locate, identify and know different geographical regions in the world. The Plaid Avenger is entertaining though it tends to trivialize information. Still, it was fun to watch.
Meanwhile, Murphy’s article did provide insight into the whole concept of globalization: There are important differences among all regions in the world that people should understand. (Murphy) In spite of globalization, different regions in the world have retained many unique characteristics especially with regard to culture and ethnicity. It is important to know these things to help deal and understand many events going around in the world and help people in how to deal with each other.
Citations
Murphy, Alexander B. “Awash in a Sea of Geographical Ignorance.” Directions Magazine. 12 Jan 2004. Web. 18 Jan 2013 < http://www.directionsmag.com/articles/awash-in-a-sea-of-geographical-ignorance/123802 >
Plaid Avenger Inc. “Going Global: The Story of Globalization.” Video. The Plaid Avenger. Web. 18 Jan 2013. < http://www.plaidavenger.com/lecture/intro/ >
Plaid Avenger Inc. “A Plan for Making Sense of the Planet.” Video. The Plaid Avenger. (n.d.) Web. 18 Jan 2013. < http://www.plaidavenger.com/lecture/intro/ >
Plaid Avenger Inc. Chapter 2, “World Population Dynamics.” World Regions. (n.d.). PDF.
