Week 15 E-reserves

Conserving Communities: 

In the Conserving Communities E-Reserve, the author explains how industrialization and globalization have contributed to the collapse of rural communities. There are now fewer people living and working on farms and producing agricultural products. I was surprised by how extreme the decline was. While globalization has impacted many communities around the world, I wouldn't have thought farming would be one of them. Berry argues that large corporations have focused more on profit than on the people residing on the land. I think this all really shows how dramatically these industries have changed over the years. This also explains why so many small rural communities have struggled to survive. Ultimately, this reading has made me better understand how large companies and globalization have severely impacted the countryside. 

Global to Local:

The Global to Local reading discusses how people can navigate the negative effects of economic globalization. The author explains the different alternatives and ways people can reshape outcomes. I found it fascinating how much power an individual can have in the economy. I never thought about the wide range of choices and freedom we have in our everyday decisions. The author also emphasizes the importance of supporting local businesses and fair trade, which made me realize how where I choose to shop can have a big impact on the community. This has made me think about and reconsider where I shop as a consumer myself. Global to Local allowed me to see how shopping can impact communities from a bigger perspective. I now fully understand that even a simple product can influence workers, the environment, and businesses.