When it comes to globalization I’m of two minds.
First of all, I feel it’s an inevitable (and vital) step in our ongoing evolution. Over the millenia, we’ve gone from living in small tribes or clans to towns, city-states, countries and even associations of countries like NATO and the United Nations. As our burgeoning technology permits us to become progressively more integrated it’s only natural that we should expand our concept of community to encompass the globe.
Unfortunately, thus far anyway, the globalization agenda has been pretty much driven by powerful economic (and military) interests. Interests that tend to value production and profit (and conquest and control) over the welfare of people and the broader natural environment.
Economic development and improved national security are key components of globalization, of course. But it should also promote and celebrate our diverse cultures, traditions and ecologies, which is the true key to our long-term survival on Earth.
In a lecture at the University of Regina (Rm. 119 Research & Innovation Centre) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Bruce Alexander explores a possible negative consequence of this relentless march toward a global consumer culture — specifically, that the soul-destroying nature of this culture is spawning feelings of alienation and emptiness that people are trying to dull through drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviours.
For more info call 522-3515.