THE

CONTEMPORAR
Y WORLD
ELIAS VEGA AVENIDO
COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR
 FOOD SECURITY
 THE DEMAND FOR FOOD WILL BE 60% GREATER THAN
IT TODAY, AND THE CHALLENGE OF FOOD SECURITY
REQUIRES THE WORLD TO FEED 9 BILLION PEOPLE BY
2050.
 GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY MEANS DELIVERING FOOD
SUFFICIENT FOOD TO THE ENTIRE WORLD POPULATION.
IT IS, A PRIORITY OF ALL COUNTRIES, WHETHER
DEVELOPED OR LESS DEVELOPED.
 THE SECURITY OF FOOD ALSO MEANS THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF SOCIETY SUCH AS POPULATION
GROWTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER SCARCITY, AND
AGRICULTURE.
 BUT PERHAPS THE CLOSEST ASPECT OF HUMAN LIFE
ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD SECURITY IS THE
ENVIRONMENT. THE CHALLENGES TO FOOD SECURITY
CAN BE TRACED TO THE PROTECTION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
 FOOD SECURITY
 A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IS THE
DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL HABITATS,
PARTICULARLY THROUGH DEFORESTATION.
INDUSTRIAL FISHING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE
DESTRUCTION OF MARINE LIFE AND ECOSYSTEM
 BIODIVERSITY AND FARMLAND USE HAVE ALSO
DECLINED AT A RAPID PACE BECAUSE OF
COMMERCIALIZATION OF LAND.
 ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL
CHALLENGE IS THAT OF THE DECLINE IN THE
AVAILABILITY OF FRESH WATER. THE DECLINE IN
THE WATER SUPPLY BECAUSE OF DEGRADATION
OF SOIL OR DESERTIFICATION, HAS
TRANSFORMED WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED A
PUBLIC GOOD INTO A PRIVATIZED COMMUNITY.
 FOOD SECURITY
 THE POOREST AREAS OF THE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE A
DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF WATER-RELATED
PROBLEMS.
 THE PROBLEM IS FURTHER INTENSIFIED BY THE
CONSUMPTION OF “VIRTUAL WATER”, WHEREIN PEOPLE
INADVERTENTLY USE UP WATER FROM ELSEWHERE IN
THE WORLD THROUGH THE CONSUMPTION OF WATER-
INTENSIVE PRODUCTS. VIRTUAL WATER, ALSO CALLED
“EMBEDDED WATER” OR “INDIRECT WATER,” IS THE
WATER “HIDDEN” IN THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND
PROCESSES PEOPLE BUY AND USE EVERY DAY.
 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WATER ECOSYSTEM MAY
LEAD TO THE CREATION OF “CLIMATE REFUGEES”.
THESE WERE FORCED TO MIGRATE DUE TO LACK OF
ACCESS OF SAFE DRINKABLE WATER DUE TO
FLOODING.
 FOOD SECURITY
 POLLUTION THROUGH TOXIC CHEMICALS HAS HAD A
LONG TERM EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. THE USE
OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS, TOXIC
CHEMICALS THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT HUMAN
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE
WORLD, HAS LED TO SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL
POLLUTION.
 GREENHOUSE GASES, GASES THAT TRAPS SUNLIGHT
AND HEAT IN THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE,
CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE GLOBAL WARMING.
 THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, AS A RESULT, CAUSES
THE MELTING OF LAND-BASED AND GLACIAL ICE
WITH POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS, THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUBSTANTIAL FLOODING, A
REDUCTION IN THE ALKALINITY OF THE OCEANS,
AND DESTRUCTION OF EXISTING ECOSYSTEMS.
 FOOD SECURITY
 ULTIMATELY, GLOBAL WARMING POSES A
THREAT TO THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY AS WELL
AS TO HUMAN HEALTH. FURTHERMORE,
POPULATION GROWTH AND ITS ATTENDANT
INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION INTENSIFY
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.
 THE GLOBAL FLOW OF DANGEROUS DEBRIS IS
ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN, WITH
ELECTRIONIC WASTES OFTEN DUMPED IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
 THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS AND AGENDA
PUSHED BY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO
ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF GLOBAL FOOD
SECURITY. ONE OF THIS IS THROUGH
SUSTAINABILITY.
FOOD SECURITY
 THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SET ENDING HUNGER, ACHIEVING
FOOD SECURITY, AND IMPROVED NUTRITION, AND PROMOTING
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AS THE SECOND OF ITS 17
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS FOR THE YEAR 2030.
 THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ALSO ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE
THROUGH THE NEW VISION FOR AGRICULTURE (NVA) IN 2009
WHEREIN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WERE ESTABLISHED.
 IT HAS MOBILIZED OVER 10 BILLION DOLLARS THAT REACHED
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS. THE FORUM’S INITIATIVES WERE
LAUNCHED TO ESTABLISH COOPERATION AND ENCOURAGE
EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG FARMERS, GOVERNMENT,
CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN BOTH REGIONAL AND
NATIONAL LEVELS.
ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
 ACCORDING TO SWEDISH STATISTICIAN HANS ROSLING, THE ONE TO
TWO BILLION POOREST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO DON’T HAVE FOOD
FOR THE DAY SUFFER FROM THE WORST DISEASES, GLOBALIZATION
DEFICIENCY. THE WAY GLOBALIZATION IS OCCURRING COULD BE MUCH
BETTER, BUT THE WORST THING IS NOT BEING PART OF IT.
 ECONOMIC AND TRADE GLOBALIZATION IS THE RESULT OF COMPANIES
TRYING TO OUTMANEUVER THEIR COMPETITORS. WHILE YOU SEARCH
FOR THE CHEAPEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES, COMPANIES SEARCH FOR
CHEAPEST PLACE TO MARKET THEIR SHOES.
 THEY FIND THE CHEAPEST SOURCE OF RESOURCES AND LABOR, AND
THE RESULT IS THAT LABOR-INTENSIVE PRODUCTS LIKE SHOES ARE
OFTEN PRODUCED IN COUNTRIES WITH THE LOWEST WAGES AND THE
WEAKEST REGULATIONS.
ECONOMIC
GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND
INEQUALITY
 THIS PROCESS CREATES WINNERS AND LOSERS. THE WINNERS INCLUDE
CORPORATIONS AND THEIR STOCKHOLDERS WHO EARN MORE PROFIT. THEY
ALSO INCLUDE CONSUMERS WHO GET PRODUCTS AT A CHEAPER PRICE.
 THE LOSERS ARE HIGH WAGEWORKERS WHO USE TO MAKE THOSE SHOES.
THEIR JOBS MOVED OVERSEAS. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LOW WAGE FOREIGN
WORKERS? ARE THEY WINNING OR LOSING?
 A LOT OF WORKERS ARE THROWN INTO HAZARDOUS WORKING CONDITIONS
BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT MANY WORKERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE
AT LEAST MAKING MORE MONEY. THESE JOBS PAY ABOVE AVERAGE WAGES.
 PEOPLE WANT THESE JOBS AND ALTHOUGH THE PAY WOULD BE
UNACCEPTABLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, THEY ARE OFTEN THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE.
ECONOMIC
GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND
INEQUALITY
 THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT MEANS AN INCREASE IN ONE ECONOMIC ACTIVITYCAN LEAD
TO AN INCREASE IN OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES. FOR INSTANCES, INVESTING IN LOCAL
BUSINESSES WILL LEAD TO MORE JOBS AND MORE INCOME.
 NOT EVERYONE AGREES TO THIS. OPPONENTS OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION CALLED
THE OUTSOURCING OF JOBS AS EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION, AS FORM OF ECONOMIC
COLONIALISM THAT PUTS PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLE.
 A FEW CALL FOR PROTECTIONIST POLICIES LIKE HIGHER TARIFFS AND LIMITATION ON
OUTSOURCING. OTHER FOCUS ON THE FOREIGN WORKERS THEMSELVES BY DEMANDING
THEY RECEIVE HIGHER WAGES AND MORE PROTECTION.
 THE ROOT OF MANY ARGUMENTS AGAINST ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION IS THAT
COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES THEY DO IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES. SOME OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE NO MINIMUM WAGE LAWS.
THEY DO NOT HAVE REGULATIONS THAT PROVIDE SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS OR
PROTECT THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
ECONOMIC
GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND
INEQUALITY
 IN THE ABSENCE OF REGULATION, IT IS STILL POSSIBLE THAT WORKERS WOULD
NOT BE HORRIBLY MISTREATED. FIRST, PUBLIC AWARENESS IS GROWING ALONG
WITH THE PRESSURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO TAKE STEPS TO
PROTECT WORKERS.
 FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNITED STATES PRODUCES AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION
CALLED THE LIST OF GOODS PRODUCED BY CHILD LABOR OR FORCED LABOR. IF A
COMPANY IS BUYING PRODUCTS FROM THE LIST, THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE
BLASTED BY OFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA. SO, AWARENESS IS THE FIRST STEP TO
IMPROVEMENT.
 THE SECOND STEP COMES FROM THOSE THAT SUPPORT GLOBALIZATION. THAT
PRO-GLOBALIZATION SET ARGUES THAT AS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES GROW,
THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS, WHICH LEADS TO MORE
COMPETITION FOR LABOR AND HIGHER WAGES.
ECONOMIC
GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND
INEQUALITY
 ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION HAS HELPED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GET OUT OF
EXTREME POVERTY BUT THE CHALLENEG OF THE FUTURE IS TO LIFT UP THE POOR
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEP THE PLANET LIVABLE.
 ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO HELP THOSE IN EXTREME POVERTY TO ENABLE THEM TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY. THIS APPLIES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE
GLOBAL MARKETPLACE AND TO INDIVIDUALS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
 A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS MICROCREDIT. MICROCREDIT IS A COMMON
FORM OF MICROFINANCE THAT INVOLVES AN EXTREMELY SMALL LOAN GIVEN TO AN
INDIVIDUAL TO HELP THEM BECOME SELF-EMPLOYED OR GROW A SMALL BUSINESS.
 MODERN MICROCREDIT IS TYPICALLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE GRAMEEN BANK MODEL,
DEVELOPED BY ECONOMIST MUHAMMAD YUNUS. THIS SYSTEM STARTED IN
BANGLADESH IN 1976, WITH A GROUP OF WOMEN BORROWING $27 TO FINANCE THE
GROUP'S OWN SMALL BUSINESSES. THE WOMEN REPAID THE LOAN AND WERE ABLE
TO SUSTAIN THE BUSINESS.
ECONOMIC
GLOBALIZATION,
POVERTY AND
INEQUALITY
 MICROCREDIT WAS A SUCCESS AND HAS SINCE SPREAD TO DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WIORLD. PRIVATE LENDERS, GOVERNMENTS,
AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JUMPED ON BOARD TO LOAN
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE WORLD’S MOST DISADVANTAGED.
 HOWEVER, MICROCREDIT CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF EXTREME
POVERTY, BUT IT ENABLES THE IDEA OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETEER.
 MICROCREDIT, WHEN IT WORKS, ALLOWS PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIES BY
PARTICIPATING IN THE ECONOMY ON THEIR OWN TERMS. BUT WE CANT
FORGET THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
GLOBAL ECONOMY ARE NOT DOING IN THEIR OWN TERMS.