Global Citizenship - A Lesson in Empathy.

 

 

With each new technological advance the planet seems to become smaller.  Through satellite and Internet we have the ability to connect with people all over the world. This gives us a window into how people live in every corner of the globe. Chances are children will become aware of human rights issues without us even introducing the concept of global citizenship.

 

We are born empathetic, biologically wired to care for each other. When children learn about the difficulties people face in the world their first reaction is often the desire to help. This should be encouraged. Helping is a way to cope with the fear and sadness we feel for each other. The desire to shelter our children from the atrocities of the world is understandable but are we destroying our natural empathy by ignoring atrocities for the sake of our own comfort?

 

 

Humans create societies and governments that manage how we function and dictate what we deem important. If we are wired for empathy then why do so many people on earth suffer from oppression, discrimination, hunger and violence?

This question is difficult to answer and the reasons are complicated. Historically we have created a hierarchy based on race, gender, system of belief and economic status. We decide who is believed more deserving based on these factors. This creates a power structure that leads to the oppression of one or more groups. Keeping one group down allows the powerful to thrive. One of the most effective ways to control people is through access to food. Like all other animals on earth we need nourishment to survive.  Humans are able to control all food production and distribution on the planet.  Another way we control people is through access to education, without education people cannot rise up and demand fair treatment. By not educating people the only things they can discover about the world are the things the powerful teach them.

 

 

 

Most children in Canada have access to education and food. We also have medical care and freedoms many on earth do not enjoy. These factors help us  to recognize needs and create solutions to the problems of the less fortunate.

Clearly we see that our children have both the natural desire and the means to become effective global citizens.
We can prevent them from becoming apathetic adults by fostering empathy through the practice of caring for all their fellow human beings.

 

Over the next few weeks we will be exploring ways parents can lead their children into global citizenship. We have chosen 3 topics we feel are relevant in today’s world. 

Hunger, something tangible to most age groups.

 

 Access to education for global girls, it is recognized that many global issues are directly related to an uneducated female population. 

 

 

The treatment of LGBT youth, with a suicide rate 8 times higher than straight teenagers this issue is one our children have real power to impact change. LGBT youth often confide in peers first. Compassionate acceptance of each other can only lead to a happier future for the LGBT community.

 

 

 

 

In our next blog post we will explore age appropriate responses to children's questions about homosexuality, tools for standing up for their friends and ways they can get involved in helping with this issue on a global level.

 

 

 

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