Today's post is about one of the most exciting features of this blog: the global news gathering and editing service known as WorldPress.
Only a few years ago, if you wanted to know what the international media were saying about a major (or minor) news story, you had to (A) live in a major city; (B) go to the main library and search among the few international publications available; or (C) subscribe at significant expense to those publications that merited your interest.
Today, thanks to the founders and editors of WorldPress, the world's media is at your fingertips! Just a click on the WorldPress link (below, on the right-hand side) will take you to the major newspapers, magazines and news centers around the world -- an incredible wealth of relevant, professionally selected news articles from every corner of the world!
As we try to achieve what Robert Hanvey called "Perspective Consciousness" -- the understanding that we all have a local, national or cultural perspective through which we view (and often distort) reality -- WorldPress is an invaluable tool to develop our global awareness as global citizens.
WorldPress provides a never-ending supply of possibilities to enrich the lives of our students. What news stories are important in other parts of the world? How do they differ from our media's priorities? Why? What similarities and differences can students note between their local/national news coverage and other global perspectives? What are the implications of differences in perspective for foreign policy? For global peace?
Do you want to know what the Egyptian newspapers were saying about Secretary Clinton's visit? Or what "The People's Daily" in Beijing said about President Obama's visit? Perhaps what the Arab media has to say about the latest Middle East flare-up? Just click the WorldPress link and you will know!
IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE FRONT PAGE of the website you will find "In The Spotlight," a kind of "global front page" that gives you the main global stories and a summary of each article. Clicking on any entry will send you to the full article.
ON THE LEFT COLUMN you find a handy guide that gives you links, among others, to "World News," and "Features," (such as "Country Maps and Profiles", "Documents in the News," etc.)
The World News section is organized by region. Under that heading you also find "World Headlines" and "World Newspapers." Do you want to know what bloggers around the world are writing about? Just click "World Blogs" and you will find a carefully selected list, by region, of some of the most influential blogs in the planet.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE you will find "Today's World Headlines." You may want to compare these headlines to your local newspapers'. What differences do you see? Why?
Do you want to know what the global media are writing regarding a specific story or issue? Go to the UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PAGE, enter the topic and click on "Search." That's it!
Check out all the other features of WorldPress! Once you become familiar with this website, you are likely to insist on checking it before making up your mind on any issue of importance.
"Is my perspective on target?" Compare it with other global perspectives before you decide.
Enrich your life and have fun with WorldPress!
Until soon....
Showing posts with label perspective consciousness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perspective consciousness. Show all posts
November 22, 2009
August 17, 2009
WHAT MAKES IT GLOBAL? PART ll
In our last blog we introduced Robert Hanvey; let's now focus on what Hanvey called the 5 "Global Dimensions" that, if implemented in the classroom, will make our instruction "global."
(1) PERSPECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS. Most people go through their entire lives holding beliefs and opinions that they have never questioned. Neither do they stop to reflect on the fact that those beliefs and opinions -- that collectively form their "worldviews" -- are indeed part of their own personal, cultural and historical perspective.
My perspective on global warming, human rights, or any other global issue reflects my cultural/ historical conditioning, my personal experiences, and even my personality structure. It may very well be a valid perspective; Hanvey nudges us to realize that, no matter how solid we feel our perspective is "the right one," it is still one perspective among many possible valid perspectives about reality that people can rationally and logically hold. He doesn't want us to renounce our perspective; he simply wants us to acknowledge that it is one among many.
This simple, commonsense cognitive step is surprisingly difficult for many people to take, for it requires a measure of intellectual humility that we often don't want to embrace. There is comfort in complete, dogmatic certitude. Acknowledging that my perspective is not the only universally valid one requires intellectual strength and a degree of personal security.
We have often heard that "there are 2 sides to every story," and most people will give lip service to that assertion. The trick is to allow ourselves to go from lip service to an honest emotional and intellectual acceptance of its deep significance. Based on my own personal experience, cultural conditioning, personality structure, etc., I can comfortably hold a certain opinion or value. Hanvey invites us to acknowledge that if I had a different personal experience, cultural conditioning, or personality structure, I might hold a different opinion or value and be just as convinced of its intrinsic validity -- as indeed, many people do.
We must acknowledge that reality is affected by the perceiver. My perception is likely to be different from that of others -- especially if those others come from a different culture and a different historical context. This simple realization is at the core of the ability to become "globally aware." Without it, nothing else is possible. Intellectual humility and a strong logical foundation will enable us to open ourselves to the complex global reality.
(2) STATE OF THE PLANET AWARENESS. Sadly, in many societies and cultures around the world, the average person simply does not know what is happening on the planet; people live in their own personal, local, or national cocoons, insulated from the real world. Such individuals cannot be global citizens. We need to be acutely aware of what is happening in our global village -- particularly in our time, when events in one side of the world affect the entire planet.
Along with the many opportunities that our present reality brings us, we have very significant issues and problems that we must face and conquer, or risk a very uncertain future. These issues and problems are never simple; they offer very complex, intertwined and difficult challenges. Whether we talk about climate change, nuclear proliferation, threats to human rights, or any of the many significant challenges that we face today as a human species, we must become aware of what is happening in our neighborhood -- planet earth.
We ignore our problems at our great peril. Ignorance or passivity are likely to lead to disaster. If the majority of humans do not appear interested in becoming educated about our present challenges, those who do become the leaders of future humanity. Knowledge is, indeed, power. As our students acquire the basic knowledge to identify and define the major issues faced by humanity, they will also be building their leadership curriculum vitae and placing themselves in a position for future global leadership.
Naturally, as we set-out to learn about the very significant issues that we must face, Hanvey's earlier words about "perspective consciousness" must come to the fore. Without perspective consciousness, our attempts to understand our global issues is doomed to failure.
In our next blog we will continue to review Hanvey's list of 5 "global dimensions." Until soon, then.
(1) PERSPECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS. Most people go through their entire lives holding beliefs and opinions that they have never questioned. Neither do they stop to reflect on the fact that those beliefs and opinions -- that collectively form their "worldviews" -- are indeed part of their own personal, cultural and historical perspective.
My perspective on global warming, human rights, or any other global issue reflects my cultural/ historical conditioning, my personal experiences, and even my personality structure. It may very well be a valid perspective; Hanvey nudges us to realize that, no matter how solid we feel our perspective is "the right one," it is still one perspective among many possible valid perspectives about reality that people can rationally and logically hold. He doesn't want us to renounce our perspective; he simply wants us to acknowledge that it is one among many.
This simple, commonsense cognitive step is surprisingly difficult for many people to take, for it requires a measure of intellectual humility that we often don't want to embrace. There is comfort in complete, dogmatic certitude. Acknowledging that my perspective is not the only universally valid one requires intellectual strength and a degree of personal security.
We have often heard that "there are 2 sides to every story," and most people will give lip service to that assertion. The trick is to allow ourselves to go from lip service to an honest emotional and intellectual acceptance of its deep significance. Based on my own personal experience, cultural conditioning, personality structure, etc., I can comfortably hold a certain opinion or value. Hanvey invites us to acknowledge that if I had a different personal experience, cultural conditioning, or personality structure, I might hold a different opinion or value and be just as convinced of its intrinsic validity -- as indeed, many people do.
We must acknowledge that reality is affected by the perceiver. My perception is likely to be different from that of others -- especially if those others come from a different culture and a different historical context. This simple realization is at the core of the ability to become "globally aware." Without it, nothing else is possible. Intellectual humility and a strong logical foundation will enable us to open ourselves to the complex global reality.
(2) STATE OF THE PLANET AWARENESS. Sadly, in many societies and cultures around the world, the average person simply does not know what is happening on the planet; people live in their own personal, local, or national cocoons, insulated from the real world. Such individuals cannot be global citizens. We need to be acutely aware of what is happening in our global village -- particularly in our time, when events in one side of the world affect the entire planet.
Along with the many opportunities that our present reality brings us, we have very significant issues and problems that we must face and conquer, or risk a very uncertain future. These issues and problems are never simple; they offer very complex, intertwined and difficult challenges. Whether we talk about climate change, nuclear proliferation, threats to human rights, or any of the many significant challenges that we face today as a human species, we must become aware of what is happening in our neighborhood -- planet earth.
We ignore our problems at our great peril. Ignorance or passivity are likely to lead to disaster. If the majority of humans do not appear interested in becoming educated about our present challenges, those who do become the leaders of future humanity. Knowledge is, indeed, power. As our students acquire the basic knowledge to identify and define the major issues faced by humanity, they will also be building their leadership curriculum vitae and placing themselves in a position for future global leadership.
Naturally, as we set-out to learn about the very significant issues that we must face, Hanvey's earlier words about "perspective consciousness" must come to the fore. Without perspective consciousness, our attempts to understand our global issues is doomed to failure.
In our next blog we will continue to review Hanvey's list of 5 "global dimensions." Until soon, then.
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