Economics of Happiness (Part 1)

The Economics of Happiness argues that globalization creates conditions that undermine our personal and social well-being.

1. Globalization Makes Us Unhappy

Consider the following question: “Are you happy with your life?” 

The number of Americans who say, “Yes, I’m very happy with my life” peaks in 1956, and goes slowly but steadily downhill ever since . . . in that same fifty years we have gotten immeasurably richer.  We have three times as much stuff.  Somehow it hasn’t worked, because that same affluence tends to undermine community."
                                                      -Bill McKibben

Happiness is difficult to define and measure. What does happiness mean to you?

Another thing to consider is that as globalization has proceeded inequality has soared, both within and between countries: today, the richest 300 people on earth have the same wealth as the poorest 3 billion.  As the wealth gap increases, social cohesion and social health deteriorate, as a result psychological well-being also declines.  In sum, globalization is the economics of un-happiness.

Watch this short animated video to learn more about the startling scale of global inequality:

2. Globalization Breeds Insecurity
Corporate PR firms and advertising agencies deliberately manipulate and exploit natural human insecurities, feelings of inferiority, social comparison, greed, fear, envy, and shame.  In the name of expanding markets, corporations create new needs, dreams, expectations, and dissatisfactions.  They undermine the sense of "enough", and expose people everywhere to romanticized, glamorized images of affluent lifestyles and "perfect" bodies.

 Check out this video from Dove's self esteem ad campaign:

 Now, just for fun, take a look at this response ad from GreenPeace:

All of this is carefully designed to erode a secure sense of self in order to prepare people for an endless treadmill of consumption. One especially troubling aspect of the consumer culture is the commercialization of childhood.

Reaction Paragraph
“The average television viewer watching television for four-plus hours per day is hit with about twenty-five thousand commercials per year, and by age sixty-five, that number exceeds two million.  That would be twenty-five thousand annual repetitions of basically the same message: You will be happier if you buy something.”
                                                     -Jerry Mander, The Privatization of Consciousness

In 7-10 sentences, reflect on and discuss how media imagery and messaging affect your own sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

WTO Roleplay

WTO Roleplay Make-Up Assignment

In order to make-up this assignment you'll need to download the WTO Roleplay Roles and the WTO Roleplay notes documents from Jupiter grades.  Once you've done that, read through each of the different groups (stakeholders) that are in some way impacted by the WTO.  Take notes on how each of the stakeholders feels about the WTO.   

Note: You'll need to turn these notes in with your reaction paragraph to receive credit.

Reaction Paragraph
In class you learned about the functions and agreements of the WTO.  And through the role play, you learned about how the WTO impacts a variety of different groups, both human and non-human.  Given the evidence, what is your position on the WTO?  How do you feel about this organization? Write a reaction paragraph (7-10 sentences) that uses specific information from class to explain your position.

WTO

                                                         Why Trade Matters To Me

                                                                    Established 1995

                                           Looking Back at 20 Years of Multilateral Trade

Who is the World Trade Organization?
The WTO is a global organization that deals with the rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
Where is the WTO located?
Geneva, Switzerland
How many countries are members?
160 countries (as of June, 2014)

                                                                     WTO World Map

                                              Members            Members, dually represented with European Union
                                              Observers           Non Members         No official interaction with WTO

WTO’s Primary Functions
• Administering WTO Trade Agreements
• Forum for trade negotiations
• Handling trade disputes
• Monitoring national trade policies
• Technical assistance & training for developing countries
• Cooperation with other international organizations

WTO’s Governance Structure
The WTO has an unusual governance structure in two respects:
1) Each member country has 1 vote in decisions regarding trade rules.
2) New WTO rules are only implemented if unanimous agreement. This makes changing rules
    difficult.

WTO’s AGREEMENTS
At the heart of the system are the WTO’s agreements. These Agreements are the legal ground-rules for international commerce. The goal is to improve the welfare of the peoples of the member countries.

1) Help to remove or reduce barriers to international trade between member countries

2) Achieve global economic development through optimum utilization of world resources

3) Increase market share of developing countries through assistance in their development efforts

4) Follow a non-discriminatory policy for all member countries

5) Act as a mediator to settle disputes between member countries

Ancient Futures Part 3

Who or what is to blame for the decline of Ladakhi culture?

"The Case of Cultural Destruction"

This is a complicated crime: A culture that existed in relative peace and harmony for generations is in the process of being destroyed. Greed has replaced cooperation; pollution has replaced care for the earth; insecurity has replaced security; "look out for number one" has replaced family and community.  If this process continues it will destroy a viable, ecologically responsible culture.  The people there will be the big losers, but everyone in the world is harmed at least indirectly when we lose a culture like this.

That's the crime. But who or what is to blame? Let's look at the Defendants:

• U.S. and European Tourists (for thoughtlessly introducing Ladakh to Western materialism)
• The Indian Government (for promoting Ladakhi "development")
• The Ladakhis themselves (for their failure to resist cultural invasion)
• The Global Capitalist System (for being the economic motor that powers development and cultural invasion)
• "Modern" ideas (for teaching Ladakhis that their culture was inferior to so-called developed cultures)
• People in the United States (for unwittingly creating a model of development that spreads and negatively impacts other cultures around the globe)

Reaction Essay

It's obvious that there is plenty of blame to go around, that no one party is solely responsible for the cultural decline of Ladakh.  In a well developed essay, make your case and distribute the blame (think percentages).  Are all the defendants equally liable?  Are any "not guilty"?  The jury is eagerly awaiting your input, so they can make an informed decision.

Your essay should have a clear introduction that discusses what you're attempting to do, in other words (the purpose of the essay).  Then, within the body, assign percentages of blame to each of the defendants.  Make sure you provide the specific "whys" that explain the reasons for each defendant's guilt or innocence.  It is vital that you discuss the evidence that proves the defendants' guilt or innocence.

Finally, your concluding paragraph should serve as a recommendation answering the question: What can be done to stop the destruction of Ladakhi culture?

Essay Length: 11/2-2 pages

Ancient Futures: Part 2

Several years ago Ladakh began experiencing a cultural invasion, that some people call Westernization, modernization or development. Before you watch the second half of the film let's see if you can predict some of the consequences of these changes on traditional Ladakhi culture.

You'll need to download four documents from the class files (Effects Wheel, Sample Effects Wheel, Ladakh Situations & Ancient Futures Notes part 2). Choose one of the "Ladakh Situations" that have resulted from the Western cultural invasion: tourism; compulsory schooling; highway development; foreign movies; imports of inexpensive barley and wheat; or the arrival of new retail stores.  Use the effects wheel to document your predictions on how this situation might impact and change Ladakh's culture. Once you've completed your wheel, watch the second half of the film and take notes on which of your predictions came true. You should also list any additional consequences of Westernization that you notice.

Ancient Futures: Part 1

Where in the world is Ladakh?

Ladakh is located in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, squeezed between Pakistan and Tibet..  It is so high in the Himalayas that it is snowed under for eight months of the year.  In face, it's the highest place in the world where people live year-round.  It's roughly the size of England, but is home to only 130,000 people.

What To Watch For

As you watch the 2 film clips below, you're going to want to take notes* on as many aspects of Ladakhi culture as you can (download the Ancient Futures form from Jupiter grades).  Before you begin, ask yourself the question: What is culture?

Try to understand culture as a totality, it's everything human that is not strictly biological: habits, patterns and ways of thinking and behaving. It's what we can see, like clothing; what we can hear, like language and music; what we can taste, like food; but it's also the values and attitudes that give meaning to any particular cultural artifact.

In your notes, write about what you see, as well as what you learn from the film's narrator.

* notes and reaction essay will need to be turned in to get credit

Reaction Essay

Now, look back over your notes. What do you see as the key cultural elements that have sustained Ladakh for over 1,000 years.  Are there particular pieces of the culture that, if taken away, would make Ladakh stop being Ladakh, that would begin to erode the culture?

Would you call Ladakh a developed society, an underdeveloped society, a developing society? is it primitive, backward, advanced?  Support your assertions with specific evidence from the film.