Nuclear energy
With the recent developments in Japan, atomic energy has once again made its way into the news and people, once again, become painfully aware of the downside of atomic energy. Since the malfunction of the reactor in Chernobyl in 1996, we know the damage that atomic energy does to humans and the ground they live on. The destruction is not only immediate but lasts for decades and even centuries. This is not only an economic problem but also a political and societal problem. Do we want quick energy in abundance? Yes, we do. But at what price?
Below is an interesting video on Chernobyl made by Greenpeace
Below is an interesting video on Chernobyl made by Greenpeace
See the article in the Denver post below with pictures of the destroyed reactor in Chernobyl and comparing it to the current events of Fukushima.
Discussing the pros and cons of nuclear power it is clear that we have to look for other resources. Although it is readily available to us for energy, it creates more problems than it solves. Accidents are always likely to happen and the consequences for us humans are enormous. We will pass on radioactive waste from nuclear power plants to our children and still don't really know what effects it will have on future generations.
In the case of the Chernobyl children, there are over 6000 children born in the Ukraine with heart disease every year, a dramatic increase since the accident of the Chernobyl power plant. Similar outcomes are expected in Japan and it could happen anywhere where nuclear reactor have been built.
We simply have to look for new and alternative energy resources and this will be a major issue to society, politics, and economics in the coming years. With population rising and the demand for energy increasing, it will be difficult to do so. One of the most effective ways would be for us to decrease our energy needs but that is not likely to happen. There are alternatives, however, they come with a hefty price tag, such as solar power and wind. Other alternatives such as coal and oil are either limited or produce air pollution. We will see what new developments will be made on this sector but something has to be done.
http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/AlterntiveToNuclearPower
See the link and picture below to an interesting article posted in the Jakarta post about some popular comic strips on nuclear energy.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06/30/comic-strip-campaigns-against-nuclear-power.html
Globalization
Globalization has been a topic for social scientists on many different levels, especially on the political and economic level. Globalization defines itself as the process of interaction and integration among people, businesses, and governments of the world. Globalization has effects on cultures and people's welfare, nations and their economic situation, as well as on political changes and developments in every country that experiences it. It has had very positive but also negative effects on different countries in the world. Most countries benefit from globalization because it brings about a widening of horizons on the above mentioned levels. It has helped countries such as Singapore to develop from a former British colony city to a very productive and developed nation-state with the third largest per capita household income in the world through foreign investment and international trade.
http://www.globalization101.org/What_is_Globalization.html
See the link and picture below to an interesting article posted in the Jakarta post about some popular comic strips on nuclear energy.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06/30/comic-strip-campaigns-against-nuclear-power.html
Globalization
Globalization has been a topic for social scientists on many different levels, especially on the political and economic level. Globalization defines itself as the process of interaction and integration among people, businesses, and governments of the world. Globalization has effects on cultures and people's welfare, nations and their economic situation, as well as on political changes and developments in every country that experiences it. It has had very positive but also negative effects on different countries in the world. Most countries benefit from globalization because it brings about a widening of horizons on the above mentioned levels. It has helped countries such as Singapore to develop from a former British colony city to a very productive and developed nation-state with the third largest per capita household income in the world through foreign investment and international trade.
http://www.globalization101.org/What_is_Globalization.html
There is no stopping globalization. It is significant that since globalization became an important aspect of economic development even countries such as China have openend up their economies to foreign trade and investment. Other developing countries such as India have benefitted greatly from globalization because it has brought them new ideas for industrialization and investment as well as new jobs as many foreign companies (mostly Western) have outsourced to India with he prospect of paying less for production goods and labor than in their own countries. This is one of the most criticized aspects of globalization as it has opened free trade for countries all over the world but it is exploiting many workers and common people to work for extremely low salaries that stand in no relation to the value of goods they produce for companies of developed countries.
Below are some summarized details how countries such as China, India, and Uganda have benefitted form globalization and why other countries such as Africa have not. This site also points out the differences in globalization for developing and developed countries and how they can benefit from each other in this global development.
http://youthink.worldbank.org/issues/globalization/
The following video is a lecture on the effects of globalization on culture. By developing on economic, political, and technological levels, many globalized countries experiences a shift in culture through immigration and a new standard of living.
In countries such as Singapore, this has led to a loss of national identity, mainly due to the clashing of Asian and Western ideologies and massive immigration and industrialization. Other countries are facing similar issues See link below the video for more information on the importance for countries to keep up national identity through spirituality and a strong sense of togetherness within a nation.
lhttp://www.identityindependence.com/globalization.html
As I am very interested in globalization and how it affect Asian countries in their struggle to bring Western ideas of globalization and traditional Asian values under one roof, I also want to share this blog with you from a popular Singaporean blogger. He talks about current Singaporean issues and in this blog specifically about the struggle for national identity in Singapore since globalization has changed its economic position in the world.
http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2005/06/national-identity.html
Below are some summarized details how countries such as China, India, and Uganda have benefitted form globalization and why other countries such as Africa have not. This site also points out the differences in globalization for developing and developed countries and how they can benefit from each other in this global development.
http://youthink.worldbank.org/issues/globalization/
The following video is a lecture on the effects of globalization on culture. By developing on economic, political, and technological levels, many globalized countries experiences a shift in culture through immigration and a new standard of living.
In countries such as Singapore, this has led to a loss of national identity, mainly due to the clashing of Asian and Western ideologies and massive immigration and industrialization. Other countries are facing similar issues See link below the video for more information on the importance for countries to keep up national identity through spirituality and a strong sense of togetherness within a nation.
lhttp://www.identityindependence.com/globalization.html
As I am very interested in globalization and how it affect Asian countries in their struggle to bring Western ideas of globalization and traditional Asian values under one roof, I also want to share this blog with you from a popular Singaporean blogger. He talks about current Singaporean issues and in this blog specifically about the struggle for national identity in Singapore since globalization has changed its economic position in the world.
http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2005/06/national-identity.html
