Sense of interconnectedness sparks thinking as global citizens

May 06, 2016

By Anil Netto
A study carried out by the BBC World Service has shown that more than half of those polled in 18 countries see themselves as global citizens.

The trend is more noticeable in emerging economies or developing countries, where some 56 per cent see themselves as global citizens first. Improvements in technology and more affordable travel have fuelled a sense that we are all now living in a global village.

The situation is a bit clouded in developed nations, especially in those who have taken in a significant number of refugees.

But no one can argue that many of the problems we face today are global problems — from climate change to the spread of neoliberal economics that has worsened income inequality.

The adverse effects of so-called free trade agreements in the pipeline — in the case of the Pacific Rim, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and in the case of Europe, the Trans-Atlantic Partnership Agreement — will also be felt across national borders. These agreements, which promote the agenda of Big Business and transnational corporations, will have a huge impact on ordinary people, especially workers, farmers and small local businesses.

We are also familiar with the recurrent smog in Asean which creates health problems in a number of nations in the region.

Even corruption has spread across borders. Think of the Panama Papers, which have revealed how the fabulously wealthy have used offshore havens to stash their wealth. In Malaysia, we have seen how huge amounts of money have flowed illicitly out of the country over the last decade.

The questionable flow of funds from 1MDB is also the subject of high-level investigations in a string of countries, from Switzerland and Singapore to the United States.

Not surprisingly, many people, especially those in developing countries, are concerned with these issues as, in many cases, they will bear the brunt of these problems.

These global problems and issues require a global response from ordinary people everywhere who cannot just rely on national governments to solve these issues.

The growth of a global civil society movement for justice and peace is one step towards realising how interconnected we all are.

But long before this present consciousness emerged, the Church had felt a responsibility to reach out to the world, to spread the good news that another world is possible.

From Galilee and Jerusalem, the early apostles fanned out towards the east and the west, to spread their founder's message of hope that we may all be one and work towards a new kind of kingdom of justice and peace in accordance to the will of God. In a sense, these were among the first global citizens who felt a responsibility towards the rest of the world.

The present Bishop of Rome realises the gravity of many of the issues confronting the world and has urged Christians and others of goodwill to join hands in resolving them. It is not a moment too soon.

This is not to say national identity and local issues are not as important, but many global issues require us to think as global citizens if we are going to have any hope of resolving them.

But as a first step, we must continue to raise awareness of the issues that are confronting humanity. And then, we will need to work together towards overcoming the problems that are confronting humanity today, problems which will have severe implications for future generations.

So while we should be concerned about the local, we need to also think global.