Are chickens gettting smaller or families getting bigger?

The Overview

You might be wondering at this moment in time if I'm off my trolley, but in actual fact the title does make sense. Let me explain: To make things more clear this brief piece of writing is on globalisation, but what about the title? 'Are chickens getting smaller or 'families' getting bigger?' - This refers to the traditional Sunday roast, The 'families' are (because of globalisation) the people that we have communication with via the Internet, phone, work and any other thing you can think of. However to really delve into the title we must first look at what Globalisation is. Globalisation is the extreme increase in communication, trade and world relations we find ourself in today (that is of course a brief definition). A fantastic example of Globalisation is Macdonalds. Macdonalds is an originally American based company, however, it has expanded to become the world power in fast food. Through Macdonalds we have been able to eat different foods and indulge ourselves in the brand. Even the clothes we wear show signs of Globalisation. Increasingly foreign based companies are setting up shop in England and expanding their market. This is all possible through Globalisation. We can experience different cultures, markets, clothes, tastes and identities through globalisation and through the next few weeks, I will be writing on various aspects of globalisation.

Mediocre?

me·di·o·cre
  –adjective
1.
of only ordinary or moderate quality; neither good nor bad; barely adequate.
2.
rather poor or inferior.

In the current economical and technological climate we find ourselves in today, it has become increasingly apparent that we find ourselves in amedeocre state of mind. We feel inadequate to approach challenges and we find ourselves being swept along by the crowd and the medioracies that surround us. This is being an increasingly comfortable way of living, avoiding challenges, becoming stale and making no difference. We blind ourselves from the economical struggles and the hard life. We bury our head in the sand and seek to keep our valid opinion to ourselves. We don't wish to cause a scene and make a difference. What about the increasing pressure from government on Christianity and freedom of speeech? The solution is simple: 1. Bury head in sand. 2. Make no sudden movements or gestures.

Is this how we want to live our lives? Is this what we want to confine our hearts to? Do we wish to contain the fire? Sadly, it seems like this is the case. Instead we need to pull our heads out the sand when challenges come and take a look around. In a single glance we will see others facing familiar struggles and challenges, but with their heads buried. We can stand together building each other up and strengthening each other in love. This is not a revolution but is summed up in one word. Church.
We are not inadequate or of moderate quality. We are warriors for the Kingdom, a strong army ready to fight against challenges and wage war against the devil. We need to take hold of what is given to us and be prepared to make sacrifices, we need to be prepared to be struck down, but we need to ready to be lifted up. We need to look at what is coming and have the faith to conquer. We need to be brimming with God's love and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Our ability to make a difference is greatly influenced in our desire to become like-minded in Christ, to walk and not be faint and to mount up on wings like eagles. We need to be on fire for God, a different generation ready to make a difference. A people ready to serve. A nation ready to conquer.

Case Study: Kosovo

Kosovo a new country found in one of Europe's poorest regions, almost half its people live in poverty. Its main economic activity is agriculture, even though it possesses rich mineral resources. Kosovo was one of the last countries to emerge from the break of Yugoslavia. However, the emergence of Kosovo as an independent country was not a pleasant one. It became the scene of violent conflict in the mid to late 1990s. This conflict was between Kosovo Albanian resistance forces and Serbian military. The commotion and violence throughout the then state of Yugoslavoa, caused a lot huge amount of tension between the inhabitants. This is shown by the fact that some 200,000-280,000 people (the majority of a the Serbian population) left Kosovo with the Serbian forces. The tension, however, still remains with looting of Serbian properties by inhabitants who have a severe distaste for Serbs and general violence against both parties of people. Also, it is clear that the nation has not settled with over 65,000-250,000 (a figure disputed by some) IDP's or internally displaced persons.

During the war a number of the killings/ executions of Kosovo Albanians made it clear that some outside intervention was desperately needed. So in March 2009 NATO launched a ten week aerial bombardment against Serbia. These intensive attacks were aimed at the Serbian military and police forces, causing them to withdraw from Kosovo. It is estimated that during the war, more than 13,000 people died, were wounded or went missing and the scale of the tension and disturbance is clear when up to 1 million people were forced to leave their homes and flee to the surrounding countries. The population now consists of about 2 million Albanians who make up around 90% of the population, and around 100,000 Serbs remained after the war. They live in separate areas watched over by NATO peacekeepers.

This conflict is a good example of inter-state conflict with many not knowing who to trust, and fearing that if they settle down they will have to accept and comply to a new set of rules and regulations. This is seen is the huge amount of IDP's. Fear that violence will kick off again is also evident in the fact that external forces have stayed for such a long period of time. This is also a good example of tribalism, where there are many different minorities, who have settled and are not willing to change their cultures and risk losing identity for the good of the nation. Change is needed, but for change to be put in place, you need a stable and popular leader who can unite the nation and lift it from its poverty stricken state.

So in conclusion cooperation and trust is needed in Kosovo, Why? Well, the UN can only do so much. It is up to the government to make some fast and effective decisions, and it is also up to the remaining Serbs to gain the trust and friendship of the inhabitants.
They need to change the way the country is headed. Its up to them to transform it short history.

Identity Crisis?

More and more pressure is being heaved onto countries to comply with the rules and regulations of the units/ organisations (the EU or such a thing) they have joined. I agree that it is good to have high standards of living and trade, but when we are faced with changed how we think because the organisation wants us to stay in line is unacceptable. We are individual nations! We are not one mass of units functioning as one body. We are different cultures, different people and have different views on things. Individual identity as a nation is becoming less and less important. Now its more important to stick together and play a fantastically messed up game of leap-frog! Why can we not be more individualist as nations. The problem is that if we pull out of these organisations we are faced with, less support and less trade, this bring the economy shooting down and disaster soon follows. It would be helpful if a lot of nations pulled out at the same time. Is this the solution though?- A triumphant act of rebellion? I don't think so, these organisations are good, but they want to have more and more power over how we act and what we do. I think we need to be able to draw the line concerning how we function. Granted there are times when we need to pull together as a world, but we need to remember that we also need to work alone.
I believe there is an identity crisis.
One that has to be sorted.

Unity?

How do we define unity? or maybe, In which ways does unity define us as people? and Where, when and how do we see and show this unity?
A fantastic example of unity is seen in both of the World Wars, and specifically in the United Kingdom. In the face of the Nazis invading the country, the U.K. rallied together and stood strong as a nation. This is evident when I have spoken to people who experienced these events they spoke of how it seemed that everyone was almost family, it was clear to see that everyone was fighting for the same cause. So this example of unity shows how people join together for a mutual cause. But where do we see this nation-wide unity now? The simple answer is that we don't. Unity has either taken a different meaning or it is gone. I think we see different aspects of unity, but we don't see it fully embodied in our nation. However, when the United Kingdom unified they won. I think we ought to take this as an example that we will accomplish more by unifying. Unity is essential, we need to have the same goals (economically/politically) and unify to make them happen.We have to give 'unity' the meaning it deserves. If we want to see ourselves excel as a nation and get out of the mess we are in we need to do a little bit of soul-searching. We ought to delve deeper into what really makes up our nation, what values are compromised and what sacrifices we make. It is essential to bring back the good in the character of the nation. We need to strive for purpose and value. We need a different emphasis. We need unity, but how?

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Tribalism?

Tribalism. How does this work? Well, in brief terms less importance is placed by the public on country and more on community. In this, a very localised form of neo-realism is found. Our desire to see our 'immediate', (i.e. where we live, walk and work...) improve and become more comfortable increases the awareness of tribalism. To make this more clear let me ask you a question-Would you rather see all the housing market rise by 10% or your local area rise by 15%? If you answered 'no' to the local prices and 'yes' to the nationwide prices, its seems obvious that you are more concerned with you wider community (your country) and if you answered 'yes' to the local prices, it seems like you are more inclined to tribalism. Even though you might not see it, this individualistic character is becoming more and more evident. 'Ah!' you might say,' How does this 'tribalism have any bearing on me as a person?' Well, I think we will see more politics arrowed at communities. We as a nation are more interested in this than our wider country.
Tribalism continues and there is definitely more to come....

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Change or 'Revolution'?

'The faster we're falling, we're stopping and stalling- we're runnning in circles again....' do these lyrics from ,Sum 41- 'In to deep', remind you of anything?
It seems that they have an unfortunate similarity to the politics we are faced with. Maybe change is needed? Maybe it our turn to sort this mess out? I'm not suggesting revolt, I'm suggesting revolution. We need to change how we think and act on a political scale. Some say capitalism is ending, others say it is just beginning and some even suggest it is already dead. However, I think it is in the process of transformation. In the transforming process it is key to direct this process in the right direction. The name 'capitalism' may be changed, but essential the fundamentals will remain the same. To change our political system would be disastrous for us and others, therefore we need to revolutionise in a way that gradually transforms our system. This will be a benefit for us all. However, we need to consider what is more important on a world-wide scale- us or others.
We can't change others, we can only change ourseleves.

Unitism?

The state of the world that we live in is becoming less and less secure. A fantastic inability to meet each others demands. The UK is quickly sliding down the economic premier league table and it is clear that with our weakening economy we will be forced to sit with the other European powers agreeing to every thing that they say and meeting their every demand. It seems to do this would take any sort if government out of power. However the wishes of the mass are taking its toll on government and we stand on rocky ground concerning the Euro-political zone.

Another brilliant example of less security is the Arab League. Syria is faced with being thrown out if their country continues on the way it is going. The Arab League has sent in 'monitors' to well monitor the situation while doing a fair bit of damage on the way. The UN has been rejected access to Syria showing the utter dis-contempt to those in the west.

We talk about the rise of individualism, but I think that this is not so obvious in world politics. I think it is clear that we are trying to conserve our nations, however political units, for example the EU, are becoming increasingly more important then the national politics. However, trying to fit into the mould of the EU means sacrificing a large quantity of our comforts, and we of course are rightly unprepared to do so. The problem is that others either have no option or made the rules. Being stuck in the middle means that you tend to be a large factor in balancing the scales.

Unfortunately, majority wins.

End of.

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