Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Globalization, a Complicated Word / Fernando Dámaso

Globalization, a Complicated Word / Fernando Dámaso
Fernando Dámaso, Translator: Unstated

Globalization, like as a natural process of mankind's development, is
making strides and establishing itself across the geography of the
planet, including in countries both large and small, powerful or weak,
rich and poor. The word is new but the phenomenon is not: it has been
building almost from the beginning of intelligent life on Earth. Its
beginnings date back to the early tools produced by omo sapiens to
survive in a hostile environment, and their constant adaptation, making
your mind and skills flourish. Its background is the domination of fire,
the working of stone, smelting of metals, the transition from a backward
society to a more advanced one, the development of trade, the industrial
revolution, automation, informatics and so on, until the arrival of
everything that amazes us every day in our present existence. It is the
unstoppable march of man towards the satisfaction of his growing needs
and happiness. It is only possible in a world of freedom and democracy,
and is alien to any kind of totalitarian regimes.

In it, some have and continue to progress quickly and others slowly
crawl like slugs unconcerned about time. But we all, consciously or not,
move inexorably toward the same goal, whether or not we temporarily
mistake the route. Globalization is, therefore, a reality. It can be
accepted, as the intelligent and responsible do, or rejected, as the
deluded do, or even fought against, as the irresponsible do.

Given an objective reality that is not subject to our individual
desires, the only option is, first, to study it deeply, and once it is
understood, to seek ways and methods to connect to it and get the most
out of it. To this we should devote the time available and not organize
acts of rejection, burning little signs and flags to the beat of street
music, accompanied by alcohol and why not? of one or another drug.

Like it or not today's world is globalized. Just take a look at our own
lives to prove it: we eat food of all kinds produced in many countries,
wear clothing and footwear also of multiple origin, we heal with
internationally produced medicines, we are transported in vehicles of
various brands and countries, electrical and electronic equipment come
to us from all corners of the globe, and so on endlessly. But not only
that, but in producing these products, dissimilar materials are brought
from multiple regions and in many cases, their component parts are
produced in different countries and assembled in others. That is, the
reality of the production, trade and information has broken national
boundaries and has made ​​the world a global village, where have both
some kind of participation and shared responsibility and mutual
dependence, including even for the crises.

Before an event of this magnitude, the result of human development and
not from any the desire or Machiavellian plot of any empire, which is
not the reason, to refuse to admit it and bury one's head in the ground,
like ostriches, so as not to see, is nonsense.

What's more, to claim now raise the banner of sovereignty, independence
and the homeland, is an epochal blur, since it corresponds to earlier
times, when nation states were formed and consolidated nation states and
not the current era, when we remove borders, create unions, create a
single currency, laws, etc., as is the case with the European Union,
just to mention one of the most important.

Those who use these symbols to mobilize the masses against
globalization, should remember the futile efforts of the feudal lords to
defend their coats of arms to the forces of the new symbols of nations
in training, the consolidation of the feudal state and the subsequent
introduction of capitalism. It is a step forward for humanity and not a
flashback, as we expect to see. The question here is: do we open
ourselves and integrate into a globalized world and make progress, or
close ourselves off remain isolated and perish.

28 June 2011

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