| What is globalization? Different people from | | | | become more delicious and many more varieties |
| different aspects of life have different concepts | | | | of food are available in the market owing to |
| about globalization. Some view it as the | | | | globalization. But the fact remains that the food |
| movement of people, language, ideas, and | | | | sold in the market maybe unhealthy. In today's |
| products around the world (IMF, 2002). Others | | | | world, a lot of the food we eat are genetically |
| see it as the dominance of multinational | | | | modified or sprayed with pesticides. Kathleen |
| corporations and the destruction of cultural | | | | McAfee, 'Genetically Modified Morals' (McAfee, |
| identities. Some of these people feel globalization is | | | | 2003) seems to be unsurprised over the decline |
| a beneficial process (IMF, 2002), while others look | | | | of U.S. genetically modified food aid by |
| at it with suspension and hate. Whatever their | | | | south-African countries. She argues that modified |
| thoughts maybe, globalization is nothing new, be it | | | | crops are designed for dealing with pest problems |
| the use of the 'silk route' to trade products (Jing, | | | | and not food production. |
| 2004) or the spread of paper world wide; it has | | | | On the other hand, the world is witnessing a total |
| been here for centuries. | | | | globalization phenomenon known as 'the |
| The only thing that has changed is the speed with | | | | McDonalization of Society' according to socialist like |
| which it is taking place. The results and effects of | | | | George Ritzer. |
| modern globalization have become more visible | | | | Ritzer defines McDonaldization as a process in |
| than ever and like any other thing, globalization | | | | which the principles of fast food restaurants are |
| too has come in a package of good and bad | | | | coming to dominate society (Ritzer, reprinted, |
| things. The earth is no longer what it used to be. | | | | 1993:1). Today's world has seen a growing |
| The direct and indirect effects of globalization | | | | domination of delicatessens and fast foods. People |
| have had far-reaching results with very few | | | | everywhere flock to food courts thinking they |
| things left untouched. However, in a broad sense, | | | | had able to save time and money. But fast foods |
| the most noticeable and widely affected forms of | | | | are under attack for selling unhealthy food and |
| globalization have been the technological revolution, | | | | inducing people to overeat for profit. Such intake |
| the modification of food and food habits and | | | | of processed low nutrient food has led to wide |
| urbanization. In other words, the world is globalizing | | | | spread epidemic of obesity and health related |
| and the outcome is a much faster, fatter and a | | | | problems. If we continue this trend of |
| more fashionable earth. | | | | McDonaldization, we could end up in grave danger |
| Technological Revolution | | | | by putting our own bodies at risk. |
| One of the largest off-springs of globalization has | | | | Globalization Leading to Urbanization |
| been the technological revolution. Globalization of | | | | Global change has led to radical urbanization and |
| technology maybe regarded as the biggest boon | | | | the effects of urbanization have led to the |
| or the biggest threat to mankind depending on | | | | process of unifying the world at an alarming pace, |
| how the world uses it in the coming years. Even | | | | transporting fashion, music, products and cultural |
| though the matter is of a delicate nature, the | | | | trends to all corners of the globe. For example, |
| wide spread use of technology has put us in a | | | | the 'fashion gap' between countries like USA and |
| spot where very few would want to go back. | | | | Asian countries is not very wide compared to a |
| Computers, television, cars, electricity, fridges, | | | | few years back. One can now buy the latest |
| bottle openers, telephones, pilot pens, cash card, | | | | products, view the latest films or listen to the |
| etc have added so much luxury and value to a | | | | latest songs, be it in Nepal or in the United States. |
| person's life. The advent of internet has brought | | | | Lifestyles have changed but become almost the |
| people closer to each other. Information now | | | | same everywhere, as designer and strategist |
| travels at the speed of a click of a button and | | | | David Gensler puts it "Everything is about |
| along with it millions of ideas and innovations. | | | | information and speed. The trends are global. The |
| Modern technology has had hugely dramatic and | | | | consumption patterns are global" (Sharett, 2004). |
| drastic impacts on all fields. | | | | But in all this, cultures are being lost to |
| As one researcher from North-east regional | | | | modernization, lifestyles are becoming |
| forum rightly points out the impact of technology | | | | monotonous and sedentary and social values are |
| on education by stating, "Technology is not going | | | | being torn apart by globalization. Backed by trends |
| to fix the problems associated with schooling, but, | | | | and power of influence, Western ideals are falsely |
| at the same time, the problems that plague our | | | | established as universal, over-riding local traditions |
| educational system are not going to be remedied | | | | and cultures. Products and ideas are being misused |
| without the presence of technology" (USDE, | | | | without knowing their consequences. These |
| 2003). | | | | consequences and effects of urbanization have |
| Not surprisingly though, the innovation of new | | | | raised several and serious questions about |
| technologies has resulted in substitution and | | | | mankind's futures. |
| dematerialization. For instance the demand of | | | | While one can try to weigh the pros and cons of |
| copper wires in telecommunication in the 90's had | | | | globalization, the whole issue of globalization is |
| dropped to half of what it was in 1979 as it fell | | | | very complex. This makes it impossible to judge |
| prey to other advanced technologies (Black, | | | | and categories globalization at least for the |
| 1992). Technology, it is said makes the world a | | | | moment. Globalization has caused the world to |
| smaller and better place. But this is only half the | | | | change and some of these changes have been |
| truth. Technology has also made the world a | | | | good while other have not. Globalization in itself is |
| feared place. Fear of nuclear disasters, employees | | | | inevitable and people will always have different |
| being replaced by machines, increasing gap | | | | opinions on it because of its diversity. To |
| between rich and poor, addiction and dependence | | | | underestimate it and not take the right actions to |
| on machines, sedentary life styles, genetic food, | | | | curb 'unwanted globalization' could be disastrous. |
| etc are all negative effects of modern technology. | | | | One may therefore talk about globalization, not as |
| Altered Food and Food Habits | | | | a boon or a curse but as a necessity to mankind |
| The earth is becoming fatter. Modern day food | | | | for all-round world development. Globalization, thus |
| and food habits are causing severe health | | | | one may add, must be handled with care. |
| problems and obesity. No doubt, the food has | | | | |