WEEK3 MY GLOBAL EMPIRE:NON-PROFIT PHILANTHROPIC MEDIA

Global empire refers to "the extension of a state's sovereignty over territories all around the world" (Studygroup 2008, no.pg).

My global media empire would be media that are complete non-profit organisation.  The media exist only for facilitation of and raising awareness of goodwill activity in the world, and consequently could contribute to resolving global issues such as poverty, disease and environmental degradation.  

A survey has determined that foundations and non-profit technology service providers have high interests in supporting the use of new digital media tools and strategies for philanthropy (Perlstein 2011, p. 45).  The paper suggests engaging youth with the issues via mobile as an example (Perlstein 2011, p.48).  There can be many rooms to engage people with global issues by utilising digital technology.  In fact, Microsoft’s funder, Bill Gates has established a philanthropic foundation. 


Image sauce: http://www.ikeepsafe.org/digital-citizenship-2/philanthropy-be-good-for-goodness-sake/

Bill Gates : How to fix capitalism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA1ioym5OYA&feature=related

Mass media are able to “control and shape the direction of society” (Steven 2003, p. 38).  When dominant powerful groups in society appear natural through media, their position is maintained and AntonioGramsci called this hegemony (Steven 2003, p. 52).  On the other hand, now the way we receive media information is changing.  Today, people have more media choices than ever before thanks to “the proliferation of new information sources through the internet” (Steven 2003, p. 51). 

Ability to choose media messages means that people are seeing an event from a variety of views.  This could deconstruct established dominant massages among viewers and give more attention to marginalised, excluded and vulnerable people in society and the world.  The idea of ‘media as complete non-profit organisation’ might be a little pessimistic, however, goodwill activity could be more expanded and penetrated among people by cooperating with media technology in the future.  This is my global media empire.

Microsoft Success Driven by 'Constant learning'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EupzN_3IqK8

References:

Perlstein, J 2011, ‘Amplifying social impact in a connected age: A survey of technology-related philanthropy for social benefit.’, National Civic Review, vol. 100, no. 3, pp. 45-49, retrieved 29 July 2012, Academic Search Complete.

Steven, P 2003, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, pp. 37–59.

Studygroup, 2008, 'Global empire', retrieved 29 July 2012,
<http://www.studygroup-bd.org/global-empire.html>.

Week2: Definitions of Globalisation

Robertson (cited in Rantanen 2005, p.7) explains that globalisation "refers both to the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole."

Recent successful transitions to democracy in some of the Middle East countries seem to be significantly related to globalisation, consciousness of the world.  The transitioning process was initiated in the name of protection of human rights.  

People in the region realised the global standard of human rights, because the global standard of human rights started to penetrate in the region, thanks to globalisation.  The increasing awareness of human rights surely exists in people's minds today in the world.

                                  Women advocating transition to democracy in the Middle East.


Image sauce: http://world.edu/arab-spring-year-challenges-reforms-democratic-transition/

On the other hand, what if globalisation ironically is creating situations where human rights are ignored?  There seems to be no consciousness of the world in relation to human rights in sweatshops of developing countries.  For instance, a worker of Foxconn Technology Group which is a main supplier of Apple Inc committed suicide last month even though an agreement of improvement of working conditions was reached in March this year (Reuters 2012 no.pg).  The precise reason of the suicide is unknown, however, it seems fair to say that the poor working condition affected the person's mental aspect negatively.  Also there were other suicides in the company in the past.

                              Workers taking a nap in KYE factory in Dongguan, China.


Image sauce: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-accused-of-using-chinese-sweatshop-labor/

If Apple had had a recognition of universal standard of working conditions, workers in Faxconn would have been offered same working conditions as that of developed states.  Therefore, in the context of human rights in sweatshops in developing states, globalisation could not refer to increasing consciousness of the world.




References:
Rantanen, T 2005, The Media and globalization, Saga, London, pp. 1-18.


Reuters, 2012, 'Foxconn says plant worker jumps from apartment', The Age, 15 June, retrieved 21 July 2012,

<http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/foxconn-says-plant-worker-jumps-from-apartment-20120615-20dwp.html>.

Week 1 The flows of globalisation : Globalisation and religion

Nederveen Pieterse (2004, p. 16) defines globalisation as “an objective, empirical process of increasing economic and political connectivity, an subjective process unfolding in consciousness as the collective awareness of growing global interconnectedness”. 

The former process could include flow of people, goods and information between states and the latter may involves psychological effects on people’s minds caused by social and cultural interaction.  People are naturally encouraged to learn about other countries, different values and beliefs in globalising world and it appear as awareness of interconnectedness in people’s minds.

Do you think that the awareness of global interconnectedness influenced how religious beliefs should be respected in Australia and other parts of the world?  

In 2010, The University of Western Australia (UWA) announced that they would take part in               

Religion and Globalisation initiative which examines 

the impact of religion on the world with other research

universities in the world. (UWA 2010).

“Add to the opportunity to learn and explore what is shared and what is different in values, beliefs and philosophies and you have a very rich educational experience. This is globalisation at its best.” (UWA 2010).

                             Image source:  http://olmwsimpletruths.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/differences-in-religion/

This might imply that the impact of religion was not explored and researched profoundly in academic fields prior to 2010 in Australia.  Different religious beliefs might be welcomed in only such as community groups and entertainment field.  However, 2010 seems to be late to launch that kind of initiatives as globalisation is not a new phenomenon and Australia is originally an immigrant country.

References:

Nederveen Pieterse, J 2004, ‘Globalization: consensus and controversies’, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 7–21.

The University of Western Australia, 2010, ‘UWA establishes religion and globalisation initiative’, retrieved 16 July,

<http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201006082555/arts-and-culture/uwa-establishes-religion-and-globalisation-initiative>.

ALC215 Globalisation and the Media Weekly Blogging