• 1. GLOBAL INTEGRATION: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Globalization is the process by which different societies, cultures, and regional economies integrate through a worldwide network of political ideas through transportation, communication, and trade. Generally, globalization has affected many nations in various ways; economically, politically, and socially. It is a term that refers to the fast integration and interdependence of various nations, which shapes the world affairs on a global level. Globalization has affected the products people consume, the environment, culture, security, and idea exchange between different countries. There are many factors that lead to the speedy globalization trends. This acceleration inglobalization can be attributed to an increase in free-trade activities, emergingtechnologies, or the worldwide acceptance of markets. Globalization has affected cultures and economies on matters dealing withenvironmental destruction and availability of the already limited resources.Globalization has had diverse implications for environmental issues such as,pollution, deforestation, water resources climate change, and biodiversity loss. Therampant environmental problems have become the subject of international effortsbecause the effects are felt globally. The negative impacts of globalization focus onthe destruction on the environment that is export-oriented. On the other hand, thepositive impacts are the multinational companies research into technology that iseco-friendly and an increase in environmental awareness. A major impact of globalization on the environment is that, there is animprovement on the use of resources and the awareness of environment degradation.Due to issues dealing with globalization, a lot of research is being carried out onprogressing greener technology, which will replace current ones that harm theenvironment. Globalization has also helped in the improvement of resources to savethe environment by the promotion of growth through improvement of incomes andeducation. For example, the World Bank aided Mexico in reducing unhealthy ozonedays during the 1990s. Moreover, multinational companies are on the forefrontcreating technologies that will reduce their adverse effects on the environment. Forexample, hybrid cars are being developed that will economize fuel, as well as, lower
• 2. Gaseous emissions to the environment. Apple is also aim at manufacturing productsthat are eco-friendly. Unfortunately, the negative impacts of globalization have outweighed thepositive effects. On a global level, natural resources are being overused. This isbecause there has been a rise in demand and ecosystem removal, as a result ofpopulation growth. The need for disposable products has caused logging to be on theincrease, which result into extensive deforestation. About half of the indigenousforests that covered the earth in the past have been depleted. Deforestation is on theincrease year by year. Moreover, over-fishing is also becoming a global problem. Astudy by the United Nations reveals that commercial species of fish have been over-exploited. Globalization has also affected negatively the environment through globalwarming. This is as a result of greenhouse gas emissions caused by rapidindustrialization in the developing world, and a heavy dependence on fossil fuels.The average global temperatures have increased tremendously over the past years. Inaddition, the transport sector and gases from factories have immensely contributed toglobal warming. Globalization has been a scientific debate concerning structural change in theearths ecology; it has in the past become a controversy. There has been linkagebetween environmental decay, trade and support, government, and globalization.Activities that are required for industry and trade use a lot of energy resources. Themisuse of these resources causes air pollution, acid rain or global warming. Globalization affects education in that, the direction and objectives thateducation had previously, has to change. The idea that education is a public servicehas to be abandoned. It has been replaced with the idea that education is at the serviceof economies; that is as a personal investment. International organizations haveincreasingly become involved with the educational sector. Recently, the World TradeOrganizations and the World Bank have proposed the privatization of this sector.These policies aim at adapting the contents of education globally to the needs ofemployment. They also aim at creating an education system that is efficient andprofitable.
• 3. There has been a massive spread in education at all levels. The consequencesof schools that are widely available are as a result of the globalization process. Aspart and parcel of globalization, education is seen as a factor that contributes a lot todemocracy on a global level. The different forces that affect globalization havetremendously affected the operations of educators. Moreover, it has affected theexperience associated with formal and informal sector. For example, some schoolinginstitutions have become the targets for various corporate expansion, as well as, sitesfor branding. Many policies that affect the educational sector are directed towardsmarkets. Globalization has made education look like a private affair, and no longerpublic. This marketization process has led to privatization of the educational sector ina number of nations. In the United States, higher education has been seen to be alucrative market for privatization. Various State schools have been contracted out tovarious companies that are private. Globalization has affected the nature of the agencies that people go to school.There have been numerous changes in educational technologies. Distance learninghas grown tremendously, and there is more use of internet and other computer forms.This advancement in technologies allows people from different nations to participatein the same programs; student contact can be across far distances. Various educational systems have undergone a transition in response to theimpacts of technology and globalization. Educators and policy makers need to put inplace models that take advantage of the opportunities and challenges brought aboutby globalization. It is vital to note that, global initiatives have affected the roles ofuniversities in the economy, community colleges, decentralization, and the curricula . With globalization on the rise, many aspects have to change for the well-beingof the global village. The forces that push globalization pose new challenges toeducation in lifelong training of students in schools and universities. Many policymakers and governments should ask themselves: To what extend is educationaffected by globalization? How is it changing the conditions of the existingeducational systems?
• 4. With all these in mind, globalization seems to affect education by transformingthe teaching and learning processes. The most significant question is how is thecurrent move toward economic restructuring affecting educational systems globally?While, education seems to be a key factor in globalization, what role does educationplay in shaping values, attitudes, and understanding of a citizen, who is multiculturedand part of the cosmopolitan world? In order to meet the existing challengespresented by globalization, individuals should be prepared to work in a changingenvironment, with constant networking. Globalization has affected human health and development in a number ofways; some positive while others are negative. The liberalization of trade inagricultural products leads to economic benefits in poorer countries that are shortterm. This will then improve the human health depending on the equitability of theallocation of these benefits. Globalization has reshaped the social arena that nationsget involved in prevention of disease or improvisation of health. Health problemshave crossed over national boundaries. It is due to cooperation on a global level thatsuch issues may be affected. The impact of globalization on health is in various forms. With globalization,harmful products can bring disastrous implications worldwide. There is an increase inthe free trade of foods, drugs, medicine and other forms of substances that posedamages to health. Moreover, with efficiency in cross-border communications, thehealth sector has remained to be a benefit in the use of e-mail and internet.Information and knowledge dealing with health matters are free, which facilitatestelemedicine and telehealth. Globalization can be used for advancements in health. The increasedcooperation between countries is very effective in the event of arresting the spread ofdiseases that are communicable in nature. On the other hand, by harmonizing foodand drug standards and regulations, developing nations end up benefitting in healthissues. . Some discussions focusing on globalization effects on health have pointedout the fear that, the increase in migration of people from poorer countries intodeveloped nations creates a complex issue in healthcare systems.
• 5. In conclusion, globalization is a serious issue that affects many nations.Researchers should analyze these impacts carefully so as to prevent the negativeimpacts. It is essential to note that the force behind globalization cannot be stopped. Itis therefore essential that all nations create forms of globalization that areenvironmentally and socially sustainable. These forms should be more beneficial toall humanity and reduce costs. Indirect impacts of globalization on health operatethrough the national economy, for example, effects of trade liberalization, and thefinancial flows on resources for health expenditures. Direct affecting of globalizationon health is on health systems, as well as, policies of multilateral trade signings andagreements.