Our world is steadily shrinking. We hear that American jobs are trickling down to Third World countries where labor is astonishingly cheap. We understand that Third World countries are radically different from the United States economically.
But do we understand the desperation of people living in these countries? Do we feel a kinship with them, or do we only see the losses directly in front of us in America?
News sources simply do not have enough time or space to inform us about the dire economic situations and horrific living conditions in some parts of the world.
We are assaulted occasionally with disturbing television commercials requesting aid for dying children in these countries, but these brief clips do not offer a comprehensive picture. Usually, we do not think of the images of starving people until we see the next commercial.
Having a more complete understanding of the current global economic situation is imperative for many college students to operate successfully in the future.
We are much more connected than most of us realize. For example, poverty in developing nations has repercussions in the United States, such as the removal of American jobs to these countries.
Knowledge of the factors behind abject poverty, as well as knowledge of the tragic realities of living in abject poverty, can help in creating economic practices that offer the most advantages to everyone worldwide without oppressing any particular group.
Gaining this knowledge requires more effort than simply picking up the newspaper or turning on the television. There are opportunities to learn here at MSU, such as the World Food Day Teleconference on Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. Sponsored by the social work and human science departments, this teleconference will feature Urban Jonsson, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, who will cover the current food, water, health and education crises in sub-Saharan Africa.
A free lunch will be provided. Please make the effort to familiarize yourself with situations in other parts of the world.
Rebekah Falkner is a senior social work major.