Five things you can do now to become a global citizen
Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes
I think some people are intimidated by the idea of becoming a global citizen (i.e. someone who is aware of what is going on in the world and is engaged in doing their small part to help make the world a better place) because it feels overwhelming. And I get it, global issues can definitely feel overwhelming. But let me tell you, it’s better to do what you can than to not do anything. That’s why I’ve outlined below what you can do now (not tomorrow, now!) to start on your path to becoming a global citizen.
1) Read Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes
I know this sounds self-serving, but it’s truly an excellent first step in helping you understand the systems and issues and how you want to plug into them. Being educated about the world is one of the most important first steps to being a global citizen. And most importantly, it’ll help you understand what you’re most passionate about. There are so many global maladies – climate change, war, child brides, infectious diseases, trafficking in persons, malnutrition, fair wages, and on and on – that it can feel overwhelming. But if you equip yourself with a basic understanding of these issues, then you can know what resonates most with you. Being a global citizen is important and you are more likely to do it and to continue to do it, if you spend that energy on something you’re really passionate about, so now’s the time to figure out what that is.
2) Read the news
Start reading the international section of your news source every day – or at least a few times a week. Even if you just read the headlines and not the full articles, it’ll still start giving you a sense of what’s going on in the world. In Annex 3 of Global, I have a list of news sources I find useful, but the good old New York Times is always a great starting point. By tracking current events, you’ll be able to place the issues that you find interesting in what’s going on in the world today. Atrocities? Rohingya. Conflict Resolution? Ethiopia and Eritrea. Revolution? Armenia. You’ll start to be able to track specific issues or countries and have a sense of what’s really going on. You can also choose a country you’ve always been curious about and learn more about that country through online research and then set Google updates for when it’s mentioned in the news. This can be helpful because often only really major events from around the world make it in US news sources, so if you’re interested in a specific country, it’s better to track that country rather than wait for it to show up.
3) Get involved locally
Because the United States is the most powerful country in the world, your choices matter and your choices start from within reach. Voting is such a key part of being a global citizen because the US government has such a huge impact in the world and that impact comes from our elected officials. Being a part of an advocacy effort is another local effort – you can work with friends or an established group to write letters to your representative, make phone calls, or volunteer with a local representative to ensure issues you find important are being paid attention to and receiving resources – whether this is at the community-level, nationally, or globally. Volunteering locally is another awesome way to start on the path to being a global citizen. Your community might not seem like the obvious first stop in being a global citizen, but it is — because “global” issues take place here in the US – child poverty, climate justice, fair wage fights, trafficking in persons, refugee resettlement, and on. So find opportunities in your community where you can spend your time helping to make someone’s life better. Because, really at the end of the day, that’s what it’s about – making an impact in people’s lives, emboldening humanity to care, using your time to create good in the world.
4) Shop responsibly
Make a concerted effort to buy fair labor goods. American consumer power is so strong and can make such an impact in making people’s lives around the world better. So many people work in horrible working conditions, have no worker’s rights and earn a nominal amount – and that’s not even including all of the people, even children, working in forced and slave labor around the world. A study on factory labor revealed that doubling factory workers’ salaries (giving them a living wage) would create only a two percent increase in retail prices, whereas most consumers would be willing to pay up to almost 30 percent more if they knew that the item that they were buying was produced under good conditions. For a ten-dollar H&M shirt, we’re talking about an additional 20 cents to help make the world a better place. This seems like a no-brainer to me! So how do you do this? Avoid stores that have a reputation for using slave labor or employing sweatshops to make their goods. Buy brands that you know use fair labor standards – you can Google “fair labor brands” to find lists. You can also shop at second hand or vintage stores where you’re not directly contributing to sweatshops. If you’re interested in labor issues and how the issue of work is a global issue, you can learn more in Chapter 9 of Global.
5) Pick an organization
Choose an organization or a couple of organizations that you think are doing good work and learn more. The annexes in Global list some cool organizations and you can also ask your family and friends which ones they respect or do some online research. You can focus on the organizations that work on issues you find most interesting – whether it’s humanitarian relief, human rights, environmental justice, health, advocacy, education, and on and on – there are tons of great organizations doing important work. Once you’ve picked your organization, follow their work. Sign up for updates, read their website – these organizations often have reporting written by their staff, so it’s a great way to learn about the issues from first-hand experience. If you have a few extra bucks (try skipping you Starbucks run one day!), you could even donate some money. Even $5 can make a big impact in someone’s life. I donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations that I really respect and, in case you’re looking for suggestions on organizations, here’s the list I’m donating to: Plan International, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Women for Women International, Population Services International, International Rescue Committee, Heifer International, Center for Civilians in Conflict, Promundo, International Crisis Group, Doctor’s Without Borders, and Malala Fund.
6) Travel
This one is a bonus suggestion. Traveling obviously takes time and money, so isn’t necessarily easy to do immediately. That being said, it is still so totally worth it. There are so many amazing places to discover in the world and traveling to them helps you have a better appreciation of different countries, cultures, issues, and histories. Experiencing a place first-hand can help you better understand how all of the countries in the world fit together into the puzzle that is the global world order. You can travel for fun or through a volunteer organization and do some good work while you’re on the road. Or, if you’re interested in actually living abroad, you can get a fellowship or even a job in a foreign country. Check out Annex One of Global for a long list of cool volunteer, fellowship and job suggestions. Seeing the world is exciting and rewarding. That being said, if you’re not interested in travel or if it’s too much to handle right now, you definitely never have to leave your hometown in order to be a global citizen and to make a positive impact in the world. Just do number one through five above and you’ll be well on your way!
Have any questions? Send me a message.
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