Reader's Response (Final Draft)

The article titled “The Double edged on Globalization” has presented some of the negtive impacts of globalization that have largely affected the environment in this modern world. Consumerism has driven the destructive forces of globalization towards the environment and caused a ripple effect to the society. Conversely, the author has emphasized on how globalization has positively led to economic growth. In addition, the advancement of technology has also provided opportunity for environmentalists to spread the message about environmental damage effectively that are much contributed by globalization itself.

The global consumerism habits have driven environmental destruction. Consumerism implies the efforts to cater to consumers’ interest. So, how is this bad towards individuals and worst; responsible for causing harm to the environment? It is easier to acquire a greater understanding of the effects of consumerism that have loomed when globalization gets into the picture.

Globalization has expanded trade worldwide. The tremendous expansion of crop cultivation for export has led to further deforestation globally (Nayan Chandra, 2007) and the burgeoning industries of many developing nations have been the culprits for the large emissions of pollutants. To meet the world’s interests and growing demands, the developing nations are providing a variety of less expensive goods to consumers in the developed world ( Kohuk and Wike, 2008) in the expense of deforestation that has contributed to one-fifth of the world’s carbon release. One should never underestimate and limit the impacts of destruction of forests within a region as they could pose detrimental threats worldwide. Prior to the heavy production of low cost product by China, deforestation was undertaken to accommodate more factories. This intensified industrialization has generated pollutants that have traversed and affected other nations too (Wall Street Journal, 2004).

As this article is focused on “double edged” globalization, it has addressed a positive role of globalization in the advancement of technology today. Globalization has strengthened the world’s interconnection and certainly has provided an unmatched platform for advocates to spread environmental awareness worldwide in comparison to the past. Information is rapidly broadcasted and publicized such that consequences are felt quicker than before. Many have expressed high levels of concern towards the environment than before. It is evident in a recent study conducted by (Kohuk and Wike, 2008) that most wealthy and poor nations are well informed about the damage done to the environment owing to the growth in economy. Consumers are more apprehensive of the threats posed by globalization and many may have come to a consensus that damaging the environment is too high a price to pay for economic expansion.

Globalization has also posed problems to the society. There is a widespread concern in immigration policies where many workers in poor nations have shifted to cities in search of new jobs, while some in richer countries have lost jobs that have moved overseas. Regular flooding due to global warming has caused millions of migrants to become homeless. Ironically, this world being well equipped with technologies has been unable to counteract the problem.

Global warming threats can be avoided only when nations commit to act on them together. A collaborative success of the Montreal protocol has reduced the depletion of the ozone layer. However, many countries throughout the world still continue to have broad support for economic growth featured by globalization. In particular, superpowers like USA may highly influences other nations in their dedication and strive towards tackling environmental issues. USA’s refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol, being the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases may have caused a backlash to other countries that have signed. It has been observed that these nations have been inconsistent with its implementation, making only obligatory attempts to tackle the challenges of global warming (Nayan Chanda, 2007).

Globalization might have led to economic growth, which has not created a unanimous advantage to everyone with regards to the widespread concern of huge income gap between the wealthy and poor. While there is a great concern in the wide income gap and majorities agreeing that the government has a great role to support the poorest in society, there is a greater worry about the alarming damage globalization has done to the environment. In this interconnected world, no one-country should stand alone to grapple with environmental and social issues. Nations should support and depend on each other to deal with major challenges. The international governance of the United Nations inefficiency at solving some of the major catastrophes may be due to the lack of support from the superpowers. Some superpowers may express reluctance in providing support and facilitation to combat certain challenges faced in the world, as it might not be in the best of their economic interest. Although, several independent institutions have dealt with the interconnected problems of the world, the leadership of governments is still the cornerstone to effectively combat international problems. The political powers have an influence in globalization in its growth and the direction it takes.