World We Imagine P1

 Today we are redefining the geography of community and accepting shared accountability for common human values. We have the chance to extend the notion that all men are created equal to every human being on the planet. This will require global structures and products we are only beginning to imagine.... Each of us in his or her own way can contribute something by thinking -- and acting -- like a true global citizen. We have only one world for all of us on earth, and the future really is ours to create, in a world we dare to imagine together.

Thinking and acting like a global citizen requires a scale of thought that I am not very used to. When I think about the communities that I belong in, I usually think of myself as apart of USC, SoCal, and an American. Digital technologies have made communication easier than ever and have brought people together all across the globe; however, often times it is easy for many people to dismiss global issues and problems as matters that are distant and foreign. The quote we have just read challenges us to think beyond local communities, beyond borders, and beyond continents. It reminds that although nationalities, cultures, and languages may be different, we are all humans living together on this Earth and we all have a responsibility to each other and our planet. 

In making the world a better place, I believe that the first step is protecting the world that we reside in. Reckless destruction of nature for the advancement of human society should be avoided when possible. We have already expanded our civilizations to all corners of the earth and have exploited many precious natural resources in the process of doing so - natural resources that are finite in number. Recycling, conservation, and sustainable sourcing are already hot topics. However, companies globally must actually commit themselves to making these positive changes instead of simply pretending to do so because it is good for company image and marketing. On a broader scale, global warming has also been a big topic of discussion but it seems like much more progress is needed and needed fast. Thinking in terms of business, it is really up to these large corporations that hold the most influence - politically and financially. Companies often care most about the bottom line and are not in a hurry to make large scale changes that will require large financial investments, cut profits, and difficult implementation. As consumers, we have the power to persuade these companies via our willingness to spend. 

Also, there needs to be a shift in mindset. Personally, when I see that conflicts, disasters, and issues happening on the news, I feel empathetic but often forget soon after as there are many pressing issues in my own life that need addressing. I know that this is a very common way of thinking. Many people regard international problems as problems that are not theirs but just something that you see on the news or while scrolling on social media. However, we need to realize that global issues affect everyone. As a global citizen we should make more of an effort to take real action in helping address problems that happen beyond our country.