The Importance of Being A Global Citizen
Although some argue we should focus on the welfare of our own nation first, I believe identifying as a global citizen is crucial to the well-being of every nation because most issues are interconnected with other nations, and without solving them globally, no singular nation can thrive. To be a global citizen means that you are concerned with our global welfare above that of your own country. In my home country of America specifically, our global relations continue to create important relationships that benefit all nations, including our own.
One example of this is that no single nation can solve environmental issues without joining forces and considering how each nation can do its part. Many problems, such as climate change and pollution will not be solved without combining forces with other nations. Environmental obstacles are not bound to one nation; these problems continue to get worse for all of us because not all nations are focused on it proportionally. These environmental issues are affecting all of us on the globe and they will continue to persist if we do not solve them globally. The only thing we can do to make an impact is to create a plan for everyone to follow. By doing this, air quality and physical pollution will become manageable for each individual country.
In the same way, If a country is experiencing poverty and unrest, the citizens of that nation will immigrate to other nations, therefore affecting everyone. People have always immigrated and emigrated to different nations and being a national citizen disregards this movement. It is rare for a country’s issues, whether it be war or poverty, to affect only those in their country. Other countries will likely be impacted at some point, so by working as global citizens, we can work to solve all issues before so they don’t intensify and spread,
In other words, people are not bound to one country, making it impossible for one nation to ever truly has its own issues. In the modern world, travel has never been cheaper or more accessible. People can be dual citizens or nomads exploring the world. Being a national citizen forces the assumption that people stay in one country and that they cannot have multiple identities or residences. Due to this, problems that affect one country will never be bound to one country because the citizens are not bound to that country. It is necessary to think of ourselves as global citizens because humans are not nationally limited.
Arguably one of the most important topics to consider is that Covid cannot be solved in any one nation unless it is solved globally. While some countries have been able to lower their positivity rate by creating boundaries, I believe that this is not a permanent solution. Unless these countries plan to never open themselves up, which is not feasible for economic or social purposes, they will need to come up with a lasting solution. It will become necessary to find a global solution to benefit the world as well as themselves
It is important to think about this because Covid seems like a never-ending issue because of constant travel and global spread. People continue to travel during the pandemic, bringing the disease with them. One of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the virus is global vaccination. While national efforts to contain the pandemic can be helpful, if we can improve the global vaccination rates, our world can return to normal. Some countries may be doing better than others when it comes to Covid, but the problem will linger unless we work as global citizens.
Admittedly it is more of a challenge to tackle global issues first. It may seem overwhelming to try to solve other nations’ problems while still dealing with our own. This is why some people say we should focus on national issues primarily. This can be effective in some cases if countries isolate themselves or suppress other nation’s well beings for the benefit of themselves.
Nevertheless, long-term thinking is crucial here, and solving the issues permanently can only be done globally. Obstacles that nations face are almost always interconnected with other nations. While it may be possible to solve a problem temporarily by thinking nationally, the problem will likely persist in other places and come back to them.
In short, by working on these issues in a global setting we can actually see a change in each nation, and no part of the world will suffer disproportionally. All nations will eventually experience their own problems. If we can aid each other in these times of need by thinking as global citizens, we will be able to accept help in future scenarios.
Therefore, being a global citizen will not only benefit those all over the world, but it will greatly benefit our own nations as well. By working together globally to solve issues, we are able to help ourselves in the long run. It is crucial to form alliances with other nations and be aware of their issues to truly create long-term solutions.
