Revised Summary for "The Double Edge of Globalization"

According to "The Double Edge of Globalization" (2007), Chanda says that globalization has increased international trading and consumer demands. In addition, it has helped to build connection globally and gave rise to advancement of technology.

In order to satisfy the consumer needs and make the best out of the demands, Multi-national companies ignored the importance of protecting the environment by practicing various methods which causes damage to the environment in order to increase productivity. One of the methods, deforestation is widely known to be employed to clear lands for crops at a higher efficiency however, its adverse effect on the environment is disregarded and resulted in many environmental issues such as climate change.

However, it is slightly encouraging to know that there are people around the world who wish to make a change to the situation and with the technology so advanced, they have raised awareness around the world and have put together Montreal and Kyoto protocols to help improve the situation. Some governing entities have hence signed for such protocols however, there are still some who are reluctant to do so. Companies were said to move to countries that have less stringent environmental regulations and therefore, governments play a huge role in deterring companies from using environmentally damaging practices.

In conclusion, globalization has improved efficiency, technology and inter-connectivity. However, governing entities should give their support to improve the environmental issues.

2nd Draft - Reader Response to "The Double Edge of Globalization"

In "The Double Edge of Globalization", Chanda (2007) highlights on the effects that globalization has caused with much emphasis on the environmental degradation. On the contrary, Chanda also mentioned that globalization has helped the world to be more inter-connected through trades and also having to gather various governing entities to implement protocols to salvage the environmental issues.

I couldn't agree less with Chanda that globalization has helped to build the inter-connectivity around the world. In the article, it was pointed out that trades have increased with the demands increased as well. Information and awareness about the other countries had become easily accessible all around the world. This inter-connectivity has improved our lives and brings about rapid advancement in technology as well. Technology have brought everyone "closer" regardless of distance, where we are all connected through the internet, phones and many others. We are now able to easily access countries all around the world and expose ourselves to other cultures.

However Chanda says that with the world connected globally, demand and supplies have increased at the expense of our environment. China was taken as an example where large area of tropical forest was cleared to plant soybeans to supply for the demands as reported by Greenpeace. Chanda also mentioned that with China's productions and exports have caused chemical waste and threatened the environment around the world.

Chanda finds positivity in the Montreal Protocol where it is evident that it helped to shrink the ozone hole caused by deforestation and other environmental threats, many countries were supportive of the protocol which targets to reduce CFC emission through a number of years. However, Chanda also points out that the United States, being one of the biggest contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases, has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol. I can appreciate the global effort in the implementation of these protocols. It is a challenging task to propose and convince nations to be supportive of an idea which may cause them to lose productivity. For instance, the recent case of Indonesia's forest fire. Burning of the forest to re-grow their crops will take a shorter time than cutting down the trees. It was mentioned by Martin Abbugao in "ASEAN urges Indonesia to ratify haze pact" that Indonesia is the only member which has still not ratified as an ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution brokered in 2002.

In conclusion, globalization has brought about adverse effects on the environment. However, it is delightful to see that it has hence contributed much to the advancement of technology. Although without globalization, the deterioration of the environment may not have sped up so quickly but it may have been due to globalization that we have realized the degradation of environment and sourced for solutions with the help of globalization. In my opinion, I strongly thinks that globalization have played an important role in our development, be it as a nation or as an individual.

Reference List:
Chanda, N. (2007, 28 June). The Double Edge of Globalization. Yale Global Online.
Retrieved from
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/double-edge-globalization


Martin Abbugao (2013, 30 June). ASEAN urges Indonesia to ratify haze pact.
Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06/30/asean-urges-indonesia-to-ratify-haze-pact/

Reader Response to "The Double Edge of Globalization"

In "The Double Edge of Globalization", Chanda highlighted the effects that globalization have caused with much emphasis on the environmental degradation. On the contrary, Chanda also mentioned that globalization has helped the world to be more inter-connected through trades and also having to gather various governing entities to implement protocols to salvage the environmental issues.

I couldn't agree less with Chanda that globalization has helped to build the inter-connectivity around the world. In the article, it was pointed out that trades have increased with the demands increased as well. Information and awareness about the other countries had become easily accessible all around the world. This inter-connectivity has improved our lives and brings about rapid advancement in technology as well. Technology have brought everyone "closer" regardless of distance, where we are all connected through the internet, phones and many others. We are now able to easily access countries all around the world and expose ourselves to other cultures.

However Chanda said that with the world connected globally, demand increases and supplies have also increased at the expense of our environment. China was taken as an example where large area of tropical forest was cleared to plant soybeans to supply for the demands as reported by Greenpeace. Chanda also mentioned that with China's productions and exports have caused chemical waste and threatened the environment around the world.

Chanda found positivity in the Montreal Protocol where it is evident that it helped to shrink the ozone hole caused by deforestation and other environmental threats, many countries were supportive of the protocol which targets to reduce CFC emission through a number of years. However, Chanda also pointed out that the United States, being one of the biggest contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases, has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol. I can appreciate the global effort in the implementation of these protocols. It is a challenging task to propose and convince nations to be supportive of an idea which may cause them to lose productivity. Like for instance, the recent case of Indonesia's forest fire. Burning of the forest to re-grow their crops will take a shorter time than cutting down the trees. It was mentioned by Martin Abbugao in "ASEAN urges Indonesia to ratify haze pact" that Indonesia is the only member which has still not ratified as an ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution brokered in 2002.

Despite the fact that globalization has brought about adverse effects on the environment, it is delightful to see that it has hence contributed much to the advancement of technology. Although without globalization, the deterioration of the environment may not have sped up so quickly but it may have been due to globalization that we have realized the degradation of environment and sourced for solutions with the help of globalization.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that globalization have played an important role in our development, be it as a nation or as an individual.

3rd Draft of Thesis Statement for "The Double Edge of Globalization"

The environmental effects caused by globalization should have been prevented early instead of attempting to salvage the situation now.

Improved Thesis Statement for "Double Edge of Globalization"

Globalization have improved the inter-connectivity internationally which caused degradation of environment and ironically, the inter-connectivity is a source of solution to the environmental issues.

Thesis Statement for "The Double Edge of Globalization"

Globalization is said to be double edged, bringing about the rise of international trading and simultaneously damaging the environment through their practices; deforestation has caused global warming and climate change. It is also important that governments have come together to solve the problems that they have caused, thus making the world more interconnected.

2nd summary draft of "Double Edge of Globalisation"

Summary:

According to Chanda (2007),  globalisation has increased international trading and consumers demand. As a result, the environment suffered with the attempts to satisfy consumers need. Attempts such as deforestation has caused great damage to environment and health of the citizens. A plus point for such damages however, is that governments work together to help solve such problems or, at least to salvage the situation. Globalisation also brings about improved efficiency, technology and many other aspects within various countries.

1 liner summary of De Sheng's English Learning Journey

De Sheng had his English education in China and have enjoyed his days as a student under Miss Lin, one who strived to make language learning interesting and this has spurred De Sheng to study overseas.

Summary of "Double Edge of Globalisation"

As the title suggested, Globalisation has brought about positive effects and negative effects. Of which, the summary should therefore contain evidence of bought positive and negative impacts.

Summary:

According to Chanda (2007),  globalisation has increased international trading and consumers' demands. As a result, the environment suffered with the attempts to satisfy consumers' needs. Attempts such as deforestation has caused great damage to environment and health of the citizens. A plus point for such damages however, is that governments work together to help solve such problems or at least to salvage the situation. Globalisation also brings about improved efficiency, technology and many other aspects within varies countries.

Survey questions for “The Double Edge of Globalization”

Why is China taken as an example?

"Governance at both local and global levels has failed to promote conservation and reforestation." Why?

Why were the nations that have signed the Kyoto Protocol not making sufficient efforts to grapple with the challenge of global warming?

Why is deforestation and global warming a highlight in the article? 

What are the positive effects of globalization?

My English Learning Journey Draft 2

Since young, I was signed up for tuition classes just like a typical Singaporean's kid. English language was one of my worst subjects and it still is, now. Despite my parents' effort to put me into tuition class, I still couldn't do well in English. Since Primary 1 through to my secondary school's days, I had been attending the same tuition class with the same tutor and the same method. Eventually I gave up and stopped the class before I was going to the fourth year. Back then I knew I was struggling with English but I managed to get borderline passes until my 'O' Levels. I failed my English and had a hard time trying to find schools for my tertiary education. Fortunately I managed to get into Republic Poly but was required to sit for the 'O' levels English examination again. The school was kind enough to recommend English tuition. I went to sign up for the class and from there, the feedback from the tutor was helpful and eventually improved my grade for English. 

In my opinion, part of the reason for not doing well despite the extra classes was because of the teaching methodology. I guess the repetitive writing and answering comprehensive questions did not help me a lot in improving my English. During the period of time when I was still in the tuition class, we were only told to answer past-year papers and write tons of essays. I personally feel that it could have been better if I had done the questions myself rather than to spend extra cash on getting others to provide me the questions. Nonetheless, I have to admit one of the biggest problems for not performing well in English language is because of my laziness. I have spent very little time on reading books since I was young. 

With this experience of mine, I believe feedback is one key factor to improvement. Reflective learning is the way to go!