The world we live in:

While the world we live in has significant resources, these are not equally distributed. The world we live in has undergone significant change in the last millennium. It has undergone even more radical change in the last 200 years.

Once upon a time:

At one time, small communities tended to live in relative isolation from each other. During the 1800's and 1900's, this changed with European expansion throughout the world. Even then, many citizens in countries remained unaware of what was going on around the globe.

The modern world:

The advent of telecommunications and Internet technologies have changed all that. The Gulf War was beamed into the living rooms of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. In Australia we watched our troops leave for East Timor, and watched as the East Timorese welcomed their arrival. The term Global Village has been used to describe relationships today. It is not enough now to claim citizenship of one country and ignore the others around us.

The interconnectedness of natural processes and human activities emphasises why we need to develop a global perspective towards things today. As global citizens, we need to recognise that what we do CAN have a tremendous impact on our neighbours. If this action is positive, then so too is the impact. We need to be aware that in some cases, the impact we have can be negative.

A global community:

The problems of global poverty are linked to an unequal distribution of resources. While I have plenty, others will have less. We need to begin to think beyond our backyards to the impact that our actions have on the lives of others. If I buy popular shoes manufactured by cheap labour in third world countries, I get a bargain. The workers in that country do not. If I make a decision to buy only shoes manufactured by organisations that pay reasonable wages, I may pay more - but I am standing up for people in other countries and acting globally. The willingness to work for others in around the globe does result from a belief in basic human rights - that all people on this planet have equal rights to the resources that are found here.

We are One World:

While we are satisfied with the resources where we live, it is easy to forget that not all people in the world have the resources that may be found western countries.

The world we live in today is very interdependent. The decisions you and I make impact directly on countries in places like Africa and Asia. It is not enough to watch images of millions starving in places like Ethiopia and worry. Our actions and choices as consumers can have a direct impact on these areas. When we buy coffee from large corporations, the coffee beans may have been grown in areas where land has been taken from farmers who once grew food. While we enjoy a latte, their family no longer has the resources to produce the food they need to survive.

The Environment:

We have also realised that global problems are not limited to our own back yards. The issue of Global Warming is one that stems from the practices often found in industrialised countries. The effect of this on climate change and the hole in the Ozone Layer is one that effects all countries from the North Pole to the South.

We have presented here a number of organisations that have approached world issues from a global perspective. What they are saying is that every one on this planet must take responsibility for these issues. Those of us with the resources - be they financial, political or spiritual, need to recognise that it is only our collective interests that will finally make a difference. While these organisations have an international focus, they also have a local perspective.