Cooper's Compendium Prologue

Cooper's Compendium

What is Globalization? : "To extend to other or all parts of the globe; make worldwide"

How many of you remember these guys and their bothersome motto they would spout every episode?



Once you filter out the fictitious syndicate obsessed with capturing a yellow electric mouse, that is essentially globalization; the interconnected exchange of cultures, ideas, and goods.

Economically, globalization looks more like this:

Not convinced? Go to Europe, or somewhere else abroad, and witness it firsthand. A few years ago I visited Germany, and found dozens of McDonald's. These restaurants were not just in Berlin, but in Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich. If a product or service sells, you can be certain it will find its way onto the global market. 

Here's the paradox, if civilizations can produce and exchange basic goods (those spices in your favorite foods were probably not harvested near the Anacostia River or in the fields of Arlington), then why do severe poverty, famine, and disease exist in countries that are in close proximity to economic super-powers? 

Hey U.S. do you think you could spare some clean water? There are thousands in dire need....

   

   

There you go. I'm sorry we couldn't spare any more. It's the economy, you understand right? If we provided any more free aid, we would lose our competitive edge and profit margains would shrink.

It's one of the many problems we try to justify to ourselves or to ignore completely. In countries like America, we have a seemingly unlimited supply of water, or drinkable resources.

*Sporting Events: Each team is well equipped with water and gatorade.

 

*There is a competitive market for bottled water companies.

*We even have enough to use for recreation.

   

So how is it possible that some people have necessities, such as water, to spare and waste while millions still lack the basic means to live? With current technologies, methods of transportation, and industry, there are no more excuses to justify why half the world is suffering. Gaudium et Spes offers a concise message to not only the Catholic community, but to every person with the means to be charitable towards their fellow man.