"Everyday, everywhere, something's happening somewhere."
Tangled In Social Wires
With more than 550 million people on Facebook, 65 million tweets sent through Twitter each day, and 2 billion video views every day on YouTube (Curtis, 2013), it is self-evident that social media is now integrated as an essential component of our everyday lives. People are getting increasingly accustomed to networking through this highly interactive communication platform, so much to the extent that a concern on the negative impacts of social media has risen among scholars and researchers. Studies suggest that social media may be addictive, especially to users who constantly engage in these sites out of habit, for "fear of missing out" (FOMO) on the latest information and updates. The accessibility of social media on mobile phones serves as a form of convenience, but at the same time worsens society's over-reliance on social media. People tend to cling to their gadgets and devices for communication purposes, even on occasions when face-to-face communication is supposedly used to create social bonds. The irony is that social media may bring us closer to faraway people, yet further apart to closer people. It is high time people stepped out of the virtual reality of social media and started socializing, really.
Cultures On A Scale
Globalization is an inevitable phenomenon in today's interconnected world, where information and ideas can reach out to great numbers of people through mass migration, travel and online communication. From a cultural perspective, globalization in its outlook is the worldwide movement of ideas, attitudes and values across national borders towards integration (wiseGEEK, 2013). Cultural globalization is an issue that triggers both positive and negative responses from communities across the globe. Some contend that globalization eliminates cultural diversity as people succumb to homogenization and adopt a generic, uniform culture. Based on a more optimistic point of view, globalization helps level out cultural differences and increase mutual understanding to avoid cultural conflicts internationally (Vysotka, 1995). Cultural communities today face the challenge of keeping a healthy balance between benefiting from cultural integration and protecting the uniqueness of individual culture. As a vital component that contributes to the cultivation of culture, education should be designed to preserve original cultures while preparing learners to live in a globalized world.
Should Gender Matter In "Love"
Over the recent years, the previously shamed and suppressed social issue of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) rights has surfaced into the light as a worldwide movement with an increasing circle of support from people around the world. From pride parades to peaceful demonstrations, much effort has been made to raise awareness on equal rights and civility to the LGBT community. As a controversial social issue in various local contexts, legal recognition for same-sex marriages remains an unresolved matter in most countries. Traditional notions have often scoffed the idea of legalizing same-sex marriages, insisting that "marriage is an institution between one man and one woman" and that "gay sex is unnatural" (Bidstrup, 2000). LGBT supporters however, argue that the law should uphold constitutional rights of consenting adults regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, and allow them to love and marry whomever they wish. This social issue prompts us into thinking critically: should society give the green light to many individual liberties or should we stay with traditions that might foster social cohesion and social solidarity? (Sapp, n.d.)
Moving In A Green Way
Apart from mere development in technology and infrastructure, modern urbanization poses the challenge of creating environmentally sustainable "green" cities that last us to the distant future. Most people in cities spend a large amount of time travelling from place to place, hence a good transport system will not only increase efficiency, but greatly impact our environment as well. According to research, most air pollution and approximately 16.5% of greenhouse gas emissions are a result of the way we travel and use transport (Department of Transport, 2013). Sustainable transport should aim to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, while have long-term goals of utilizing renewable energy sources for future use. A wide range of transport measures should be implemented in cities for people to have a better choice in how they move from place to place. Roads should have routes favorable for pedestrians and cyclists, who contribute best in maintaining a sustainable form of transport within short distances. By enhancing its attraction and services, public transport systems which cut congestion should also be a common choice of transport in everyday life. When all transport systems in the country are made sustainable, a "green" reputation would most definitely be easier to achieve.
To Be Legally Drugged?
Marijuana as a legal drug is one of the highly debated issues today, especially in the United States where marijuana faces crossed destinies of legalization at the current moment. The reasons why this drug is still currently illegal is fairly understandable; marijuana contains known toxins and cancer-inducing chemicals, which can be stored in the human body for long periods of time, leading to health problems such as damaged brain cells, respiratory problems, acute memory loss and a lowered immune system (Public Sea Lion, 2012). It is feared that if marijuana were to be legal, problems on the overuse of such drugs would become uncontrollable with an increased number of marijuana smokers. On the other hand, support for legalized marijuana has increased 22% since the late 1990s (The New York Times, 2013) as people begin to make comparisons between legalization of the drug and other legalized substances such as tobacco and alcohol. Pro-marijuana parties claim that legalization of the drug would actually decrease crime and allow police officers to deal with other severe problems affecting the country instead of arresting non-harmful marijuana smokers. The government would be able to track the use of marijuana across the country, and impose tax on the distribution and sale of marijuana as a means of regulation. The controversy goes on and on. Should marijuana be legalized?
With more than 550 million people on Facebook, 65 million tweets sent through Twitter each day, and 2 billion video views every day on YouTube (Curtis, 2013), it is self-evident that social media is now integrated as an essential component of our everyday lives. People are getting increasingly accustomed to networking through this highly interactive communication platform, so much to the extent that a concern on the negative impacts of social media has risen among scholars and researchers. Studies suggest that social media may be addictive, especially to users who constantly engage in these sites out of habit, for "fear of missing out" (FOMO) on the latest information and updates. The accessibility of social media on mobile phones serves as a form of convenience, but at the same time worsens society's over-reliance on social media. People tend to cling to their gadgets and devices for communication purposes, even on occasions when face-to-face communication is supposedly used to create social bonds. The irony is that social media may bring us closer to faraway people, yet further apart to closer people. It is high time people stepped out of the virtual reality of social media and started socializing, really.
Cultures On A Scale
Globalization is an inevitable phenomenon in today's interconnected world, where information and ideas can reach out to great numbers of people through mass migration, travel and online communication. From a cultural perspective, globalization in its outlook is the worldwide movement of ideas, attitudes and values across national borders towards integration (wiseGEEK, 2013). Cultural globalization is an issue that triggers both positive and negative responses from communities across the globe. Some contend that globalization eliminates cultural diversity as people succumb to homogenization and adopt a generic, uniform culture. Based on a more optimistic point of view, globalization helps level out cultural differences and increase mutual understanding to avoid cultural conflicts internationally (Vysotka, 1995). Cultural communities today face the challenge of keeping a healthy balance between benefiting from cultural integration and protecting the uniqueness of individual culture. As a vital component that contributes to the cultivation of culture, education should be designed to preserve original cultures while preparing learners to live in a globalized world.
Should Gender Matter In "Love"
Over the recent years, the previously shamed and suppressed social issue of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) rights has surfaced into the light as a worldwide movement with an increasing circle of support from people around the world. From pride parades to peaceful demonstrations, much effort has been made to raise awareness on equal rights and civility to the LGBT community. As a controversial social issue in various local contexts, legal recognition for same-sex marriages remains an unresolved matter in most countries. Traditional notions have often scoffed the idea of legalizing same-sex marriages, insisting that "marriage is an institution between one man and one woman" and that "gay sex is unnatural" (Bidstrup, 2000). LGBT supporters however, argue that the law should uphold constitutional rights of consenting adults regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, and allow them to love and marry whomever they wish. This social issue prompts us into thinking critically: should society give the green light to many individual liberties or should we stay with traditions that might foster social cohesion and social solidarity? (Sapp, n.d.)
Moving In A Green Way
Apart from mere development in technology and infrastructure, modern urbanization poses the challenge of creating environmentally sustainable "green" cities that last us to the distant future. Most people in cities spend a large amount of time travelling from place to place, hence a good transport system will not only increase efficiency, but greatly impact our environment as well. According to research, most air pollution and approximately 16.5% of greenhouse gas emissions are a result of the way we travel and use transport (Department of Transport, 2013). Sustainable transport should aim to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, while have long-term goals of utilizing renewable energy sources for future use. A wide range of transport measures should be implemented in cities for people to have a better choice in how they move from place to place. Roads should have routes favorable for pedestrians and cyclists, who contribute best in maintaining a sustainable form of transport within short distances. By enhancing its attraction and services, public transport systems which cut congestion should also be a common choice of transport in everyday life. When all transport systems in the country are made sustainable, a "green" reputation would most definitely be easier to achieve.
To Be Legally Drugged?
Marijuana as a legal drug is one of the highly debated issues today, especially in the United States where marijuana faces crossed destinies of legalization at the current moment. The reasons why this drug is still currently illegal is fairly understandable; marijuana contains known toxins and cancer-inducing chemicals, which can be stored in the human body for long periods of time, leading to health problems such as damaged brain cells, respiratory problems, acute memory loss and a lowered immune system (Public Sea Lion, 2012). It is feared that if marijuana were to be legal, problems on the overuse of such drugs would become uncontrollable with an increased number of marijuana smokers. On the other hand, support for legalized marijuana has increased 22% since the late 1990s (The New York Times, 2013) as people begin to make comparisons between legalization of the drug and other legalized substances such as tobacco and alcohol. Pro-marijuana parties claim that legalization of the drug would actually decrease crime and allow police officers to deal with other severe problems affecting the country instead of arresting non-harmful marijuana smokers. The government would be able to track the use of marijuana across the country, and impose tax on the distribution and sale of marijuana as a means of regulation. The controversy goes on and on. Should marijuana be legalized?
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