Saturday, April 7, 2007
Since, 1989, the collapse of communism has fuelled globalisation. It is because the communist countries in Eastern Europe and the former USSR which were known as the second world provided a critical alternative to the capitalist system. Due to their large number, they were able to carry out businesses and trade on their own. However, today there are fewer countries that have a strict communist economy. Even China, the largest of the remaining nations with a Communist government, now has a market economy.
Zhan Quan 2CLabels: down to communism
Monday, April 2, 2007
Adidas is a well known international brand. The effect of adidas's international expansion can be seen all around TJC, where students sport the adidas brand in the form of shoes, bags and water bottles. Globalisation as defined by Wikipedia is an umbrella term and is perhaps best understood as a unitary process inclusive of many sub-processes (such as enhanced economic interdependence, increased cultural influence, rapid advances of information technology, and novel governance and geopolitical challenges) that are increasingly binding people and the biosphere more tightly into one global system with one destiny. As such, it can be seen that adidas here is actually binding people in the sense that many people have bought this particular brand.
As mentioned before, globalisation is the process of binding the people of the world. The picture on or right shows Yunru, my groupmate. She is from China, and she personifies the term globalisation. With scholars increasingly being present in the Singapore school system, they tend to teach Singaporean students about what they know, and the opposite can be said to be true too. The mentality of 'them' and 'us' is eventually removed and the gap between the so-called outsiders and us is reduced. This is what globalisation is all about, binding the people of the world together. The rise in importance of education can be signified by the invitation of more and more scholars. This also signifies how the human race is moving more towards a unified destiny, which is also part of the explanation given by Wikipedia.
This picture depicts an advertisement for the TJC Calligraphy club. Globalisation is actually at work here. Globalisation can only bring people closer if they are subjected to similar experiences some how. Calligraphy is actually an ancient art form that originated from China. The fact that this has actualy developed into a PDP here shows how far that small art form has developed. China's effect to globalise has acually reaped other benefits, such as the prominence of its art. The Asian art scene is gathering some speed, not least because of the Chinese art scene, which has actually gained much popularity in the Unites States an such.
This picture was taken in the girl's washroom (NOT BY ME). WE took this picture as this shows how the humble WC (water closet in Britain) has affected life in the world over. Encyclopedia Britannica says that globalization is the "process by which the experience of everyday life ... is becoming standardized around the world." Such a simple issue as going to the toilet can be used as an example to show how globalisation has and is going around all around us. Such a simpe invention such as the water closet shows how the process of evryday life is becoming standardised all over the world, which according to Encyclopedia Britannica says is actually globalisation. Convieniant!
Our final photograph shows an attempt to break a World Record. The Guiness Book of World Record is actually a way of globalisation, if the two definitions that we gave are to be followed. It manages to bring people together, for a common goal, to break a World Record. It also brings people closer as they have something in common to identify with. Globalisation is something that anyone in today's world cannot escape from. As such, globalisation should be embraced and be made full use of, in order to advance.
Cheers!
Balaji
2C'06
Change.
5:32 AM
Test, test.
