Chpt 23, Maya Coffee Farms, and WP article

 Chpt 23:

In Chapter 23 of the Globalization Reader, Milanovic explores global economic stratification. He does this by examining how money and wealth have been distributed worldwide among all citizens. I learned a lot through this chapter, specifically how globalization can create "winners and losers". Between 1988 and 2008, the global middle class in developing countries faced different outcomes; some benefited while others didn't. This chapter also made me realize that global inequality is decreasing due to poorer countries attempting to reach the standard economic level. Even when global inequality is improving, it can still create ongoing problems, such as resource competition, increasing the chances of conflict. I noticed that the author had also emphasized the idea of "citizenship premium". Citizenship premium is where a person is born, which heavily affects their income and the opportunities they will be offered. This made me recognize that not everyone will be impacted by globalization equally. 

The Maya Coffee Farms:

After reading The Maya Coffee Farms, I learned that fair trade initiatives aid small farmers by securing equal prices and better access to global markets. Personally, I found it fascinating that the farmers in Guatemala had benefited from fair trade through high incomes and strong community organizations. The benefits had also allowed them to keep their land, enroll their children in school, and avoid poverty when coffee prices were at their lowest. Another thing I learned a lot about was fair trade's important limitations. I never knew that even if they raise prices, farmers still struggle with debt because the prices they put are not high enough to fully get them out of a crisis. I was disappointed to see that not all farmers have a say in many of the decision-making processes. This goes to show that power is still unbalanced in global markets. 

WP article:

In the Washington Post Article about the Cobalt Pipeline, I learned a lot about how the Democratic Republic of Congo is closely tied to global demand for batteries. I didn't know that the cobalt that we use in our everyday devices comes from the deep mines in the DRC. I found it eye-opening that the country was extremely rich in natural resources, yet those who mine cobalt work in dangerous conditions and are not part of the wealthy. These workers, including children, are working by hand and without proper safety equipment. They're also putting themselves at risk of tunnel collapses, injuries, and long-term post-health conditions from exposure to toxic chemicals. It's not just the workers who are facing these health risks; communities across the country are being affected by pollution, leading to birth defects. These cobalt pieces that workers are digging up are then sent to China to be manufactured and exported to big nations.