Reader Response

In The Double Edge of Globalization written by Chanda (2007), he discussed how globalization has led to both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Globalization has brought about economic growth, but has also resulted in environmental issues such as global warming at the same time. According to Chanda, the actions taken to resolve the problem of global warming are inefficient due to the unwillingness of key actors in the world to solve the problem.

I think that globalization is just one of the factors that contribute to the problem of global warming. The most important factor for the worsening problem of global warming is due to the countries viewing profit over environment.

Through globalization, there is a transfer of goods and services, increasing the variety of goods available to the consumers. This has led to a rise in the demand of good, increasing the resources needed to cater to the demands. As a result, there is a rise in logging activities, and this contributes to the problem of global warming. This shows that globalization is one of the factors that lead to global warming. However, the root cause is the unwillingness of key actors on the global scene (Chanda, 2007). The United States being one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases, is unwilling to sign the Kyoto Protocol. At the same time, other countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol are inconsistent in their efforts to follow the agreement. Many chose profit over the environment, and little has been done to control the situation.

In conclusion, globalization is a factor that helps to accelerate the problem of global warming. Even though solutions are implemented to solve the problem, the effectiveness is limited as countries are more concerned with the economic profits brought by globalization. 

Summary: The Double Edge of Globalization (Final)

Those promoting environmental awareness blamed global corporations for damaging the environment. Through globalization, global companies searched for places where people are not very conscious about the environmental problems, and choose to locate environmental unfriendly activities such as logging there. However, research shows that companies do not choose to log in poorer countries to protect the richer countries. Even though globalization is blamed for logging for the increasing resources to meet the demand in the economy, deforestation is not due to globalization only. The negative effects of globalization will be spreading at a faster rate than before with technology and communication advancement. The economic and social orders are at risk due to problems that may be caused by global warming. The US not agreeing to sign the Kyoto Protocol and the nations not following it is a sign that the world is not ready to face the problem of global warming. On the other hand, with good governance and commitment, it is shown that the problem can be contained. People need to understand that countries are inter-connected today or there may be problems surfacing in the future. The key issue is the dominating leaders are not willing or able to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations despite the environmental problems they are facing. 

Summary: The Double Edge of Globalisation

Those promoting environmental awareness blamed global corporation for damaging the environment. Through globalization, global companies searched for places where people are not very conscious about the environmental problem. However, research shows that companies do not choose poorer countries to protect the richer countries. Even though globalization is blamed for logging for the increasing resources to meet the demand in the economy, deforestation is not due to globalization only. With globalization, the negative effects of globalization will be spreading at a faster rate than before with technology and communication advancement. The economic and social orders are at risk due to problems that may be caused by global warming. The US not agreeing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, and the nations not following it is a sign that the world is not ready to face the problem of global warming. On the other hand, with good governance and commitment, it is shown that the problem can be contained. People need to understand that countries are inter-connected today or there may be problems surfacing in the future. The key issue is the dominating leaders are not willing or able to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations in face with the incoming problems. 

Scary Oil Summary

The most important risk that the economy face today is any further rise in the price of oil. The reason for the rise is the fear of military conflict and global recessions. In response to the rise in oil prices, Iran could increase tension in Gulf. In order to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, attacks are planned targeting Israeli embassies. If attacks failed, US will have to resort to force. The fear of a war will slow down the growth of the economy, and a war will lead to global recession. Oil prices are high despite the weak economic growth in several nations. Any further rise in oil will result in a global recession.

Summary and Paraphrasing Practice

A3  Paraphrasing Practice

1.  In this short excerpt from David Crystal’s English as a Global Language, take note of the way that power relationships rather than the number of speakers influenced Latin   language use.

“Latin became an international language throughout the Roman Empire, but this was not because the Romans were more numerous than the peoples they subjugated. They were simply more powerful.”

Your paraphrase

Latin became a global language due to the power of the Roman Empire. 

2.  As you paraphrase the following paragraph, present the “expected” general features of the nuclear reactors from Declan Butler’s “Nuclear power’s new dawn,” taken from Nature, 20 May, 2004 (Vol. 429, p. 238).

“These new reactors would all operate at high temperatures, improving their efficiency.  And they would include simplified safety features that do not rely on sophisticated backup systems or experienced operators — all are, in principle, ‘meltdown proof’ and can cool themselves down in the event of an accident with minimal, if any, human intervention. . . . Experts agree that reactors will need to be a lot cheaper to run. And to sway a nuclear-averse public, the next generation of reactors will need to produce much less radioactive waste at terrorist-proof facilities.”

Your paraphrase

The new reactors will be cheaper, more efficient, reqiures little manual actions with the safety features and is less hazardous. 

B3  Summarising Practice

1. “In any one nation, there are both very wealthy and very poor individuals and families. When sociologists conduct research on these disparities, they frequently analyze secondary data that originally were collected by the World Bank and the United Nations. These data focus on quality-of-life indicators such as wealth; income; life expectancy; health; sanitation; the treatment of women; and education for high-income, middle-income and low income nations.”

Source: Kendall, D. (2004). Social problems in a diverse society (3^rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon

Your summary

Any society in the world will have the problem of wide income gap. Studies on the difference are usually conducted based on the quality of life indicators. 

2. “Why a language becomes a global language has little to do with the number of people who speak it. It is much more to do with who those speakers are. Latin became an international language throughout the Roman Empire, but this was not because the Romans were more numerous than the peoples they subjugated. They were simply more powerful. And later, when Roman military power declined, Latin remained for a millennium as the international language of education, thanks to a different sort of power – the ecclesiastical power of Roman Catholicism.

Source: Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press.

Your Summary

Whether a language becomes a global language depends on the influence of the speakers. 

D1  Summarising Information Selectively Practice

Your Summary

Students spending much time on Facebook usually underperform in their studies.