The World archipelago - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Think Global - Act Local

Been there, done that, bought the organically grown hemp t-shirt

Meandering thoughts...

As an exercise to generate ideas for writing to inform (WTI), reading Vandana Shiva's book, "Earth Democracy" added to my knowledge regarding the perils of globalization.  I don't profess to be an expert on the subject, but I was somewhat familiar with the subject prior to the assignment.

From the reading, no one thing jumps out at me as more important as anything else.  Is deforestation more important than a corporation patenting wheat?  Is ruining the drinking water of a village less important than taking away the voices of farmers who's way of life was ruined by bankers from another country?  

All of these ideas resonate with me.  I don't need to read "Earth Democracy" to be convinced that as a civilization, we're selling our future possibilities for our present greed.  The message that jumps out to me the most is how I try to live.  Think global, act local.  Catchy.  Design a nifty logo and let's make some t-shirts.  Again, I'm not a paragon of virtue saying this, but I try to live this creed.  I'm not all there, yet.  But it's why I live four blocks from where I go to school.  It's why I walk to school versus drive.  It's why I look at origin labels when I shop.  It is why I want to write as a profession.

The challenge for me with WTI will be neutrality in what doesn't seem to be an issue where balance is warranted.  WTI is a purposeful attempt to remain unbiased while explaining something to your audience.  I say attempt because it's debatable if that's possible.  Balance.  There's been a lot of talk about 'equal time' and presenting both sides of an issue with facts - especially since the rise of radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage.  When President Reagan struck down the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, media outlets were no longer compelled to provide "the rest of the story."  More than 20 years later, we're used to hearing one side of the story.  The younger generation doesn't often ask, "Is that all there is?"   

Scene from the film, Good Night & Good Luck

Edward R Murrow talks about the responsibilities of radio and television reporters

On the other hand, must we play devil's advocate when it comes to the idea that all beings have the right to sustenance or diversity in nature must be defended?  Must I find a reason to dispute any of the ten principles of Earth Democracy?  Is there another side to genocide?  Is there a counter-argument to laying waste to an entire culture's way of life?  If you empirically show strip mining destroys an eco-system, is there really a rational alternative?

Okay... I'm catching wise to what's going on here.  A writing assignment about a topic that on the surface may seem one-sided.  Can we creative alternative narratives based in reality.  Sigh... my first thought about that is "tortured logic".  But I'll give it the old 'college try'.

Like I said, a challenge for sure.

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