When you start to talk about globalization you might be talking about a word that have many definitions, that depends on which area are you in.

For example, there are many diffirent topics, such as: economy, finance, consumption, capitalism, socialism, culture, religion, among others, where the word “globalization” can fit in. But for now I’ll only talk about some facts.

Globalization is a process of global economical, political and cultural integration. Its major characteristic features are capitalism expansions, global labor division, migration of financial, human and production resources within the planet, standardization of legislation, economic and technological processes, as well as removing the borders between cultures of various countries. But does globalization can be a good factor for the world development on all it’s dimensions?Well, that’s a really hard question to be answer, but in somehow, and in my personal opinion, I can say that, globalization is not a force that may abolish traditions, religions, and why not history.

In these new era, the world is facing so many changes, Internet is a great tool for everyone, and no one can deny it, and of course all technology that the world is making continously every single day, is perhaps for our own comsuption, and service. But have you ever thought if those advantages which are really important for yourself, where made just to satisfy the pokets of rich people who careless about enveriomental issues or people’s explotation?. Obviosly you may not be that dramatic, and furthermore that it is not the only problem of the internationalization.

With every passing day, the world is becoming smaller, and the globalization process is taking place. Advances in communication, transportation, genetics, and computer technology have all played a role in making the world a smaller place. With the right equipment, people can talk to friends and family from the other side of the world. Traveling from America to China, which once required months at sea, now only takes hours in the air. Computer networking and fax machines allow world businesses to conduct negotiations and money transactions, within a matter of seconds. Images such as the McDonalds’s golden arches and Mickey Mouse are recognized worldwide. Yet, while globalization is taking place, it is not doing so without dispute. Many countries, in fact, feel threatened by Western culture and consequently, are acting out to preserve their own identities. That’s what I call “Cultural globalization”.

People around world moves from a place to an other everyday, exchanging manners, likes, foods, ideas, whatever.

That would be probably why we may find a chinnese restaurant in Berlin, or directions on our city’s library in more than 3 languages!

Globalization has much more dimensions and we can find something positive in every single one, but it brings ecological threats, religious conflicts, cultural unification and many more biting problems. Globalization is natural and irrecoverable process and we cannot do anything against it, but we should, at least, keep it in our minds.

GLOBALIZATION By: Laura Galindo March 30/2009

Small distances!