Chapter 14 To what extent does global awareness affect quality of life?

Awareness of Issues Benefits of the Internet Drawbacks of the Internet Global connections Vast quantities of info and opinion Anyone can listen Drawbacks of the Internet Reinforces ignorance (lack of context/unreliable –wide range of POV and perspectives) Links to less appealing aspects of human life (terrorism, poverty, human trafficking, environmental degradation)

Awareness of Issues Ripple effect – we know more about an issue Ripple effect – we work longer hours (e-commerce) Ripple effect – we have to invest more $/Time in tech. POV – does tech provide a solution to a need or does it create more needs?

The Ingenuity Gap The gap between people’s need for new and innovative solutions to problems-and their ability to supply those solutions The gap is often clear cut: the developed world can provide solutions, the developing cannot Why? -Developing countries: Less money is available; weak market forces; internal conflicts that create instability

Gender Issues Gender Gap: Social, economic and political differences that separate men and women 2005 World Economic Forum Study extent to which women in 58 countries had achieved equality with men in terms of politics, economics and health care

Scores: 1- 7: 7 represents full gender equality How did we do?

Gender Issues Communication Gap: Some members of women’s organizations-and those who they are trying to reach, often do not have access to contemporary communication technologies When members of these groups try to use technologies, they often face some of the following barriers: Social and cultural expectations language difficulties lack of education money The result? Women tend to have less access/ability to use these technologies in a way that meets their needs  

Gender Issues Women in Government First woman in a national legislature: 1907 ( Finland ) First Canadian woman to sit in the House of Commons: 1921 By 2007, no national legislature included 50% women (even though they make up half of the population ) Rwanda: Has the highest proportion of female parliamentarians Why is it that if women form half of the population, why do they not hold half of the elected positions in governments?

But that was 2007? Where are we at in 2016 Mr. Flynn? 88 Female MPs (that’s 26%) with a new rank of… 50th

Gender Issues Women and Employment – Employment equality still a concern in Canada 1967: Canadian women who worked full time outside the home earned 58.4% as much as men 2003: Canadian women earned 71.2% as much as men Reason for change: Lobbying campaigns to reduce the inequity, laws requiring men and women to receive equal pay for equal value

Gender Issues Women and Employment – Women in Canada are still struggling to rise to leadership positions 5.4% of the top earner’s at Canada’s 500 top corporations were women

Gender Issues Women and Employment – Women still do more unpaid work than men Women in Canada spend 4.3 hours a day doing unpaid work compared to 2.8 hours for men

Labour and Employment Issues Unions and Collective Bargaining Unions have been under attack since the era of globalization began WHY? Nations think their economies have to be lean and strong Unions contribute to rising manufacturing costs Unions promote the interests of their members-not the state AS A RESULT: Far more outsourcing now than in the twentieth century union membership has fallen sharply Despite this, unions continue to exert power and influence at the national level

Labour and Employment Issues International Initiatives At the international level, most unions fragmented/little power “super-unions” have been formed (cross borders and include large populations ) The International Trade Union Confederation. Their goal: to ensure that globalization does not erode worker’s rights-and more More and more- unions are trying to redefine the society that many workers experience, focusing on human rights and eliminating poverty

Labour and Employment Issues Labour standards Protests against the World Bank, the IMF and the G7 are often about how globalization threatens labour standards (protect workers and the environment ) Protesters POV: The World Bank has done a lot to protect investors- but little to protect workers Protestors Goal: Pressure organizations to place labour standards on their agendas

Labour and Employment Issues Labour standards (con’t.) The battle over labour standards continues: High labour standards will reduce competitiveness. VS Without labour standards, the “race to the bottom” increases inequality and suffering.

The Knowledge Economy globalization has created a division between workers who can use knowledge to generate ideas and those who cannot. knowledge economy needs workers who can come up with innovative ideas and transform them into commercial products and services that consumers want. many parts of the world, workers have few opportunities to acquire or apply these skills and attitudes. The GAP is widening…….

Global Awareness and Quality of Life Social Clauses trade agreements have a components that requires measures to stop extreme forms of labour exploitation. Effective Governance exposing corrupt and unfair practices. Foreign Debt – questionable funding/corruption Structural adjustments for funding –reduces quality of life Debt Clock