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Texas' Global Consciousness

The modern era's advances in transportation and communication have created a "global consciousness." With modern air transportation, the entire world is only one airport away. Modern cable television gives people around-the-clock national and international news, reports on various sports, weather updates, instant information about the stock market and other valuable information. Fax machines and e-mail allow people to send instant messages anywhere in the world.

Our newest communications tool, the Internet, may eventually revolutionize our lives. People in all walks of life are becoming aware of what can be done on the Internet. Students, particularly, may benefit with instant information at their finger tips, as well as have the ability to communicate and collaborate with other students or educational institutions throughout the world.

Companies now conduct business throughout the international community and are part of a global economy . Globalization has its critics. Many people believe that the poor around the world will suffer because of low pay for their work and a lack of concern about their safety on the job. Some critics say that capitalists will exploit the entire world in their drive for new profits. Environmental concerns are also an important consideration as the world becomes more industrialized. Global warming and pollution are potential threats to our very existence.

Despite the globalization of information, Texas communities still need to educate their children about their political, economic and cultural history because we are all products of our local and state heritage. The challenge of history is for each person to learn about the past in order to understand its impact on the present. By using this knowledge, we can better plan for the future.

Additional Resources

bulletReflect more on Texas History & Culture at the Texas Council of the Humanities.
bulletLearn more about Pollution Prevention at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Study Guide Questions:

  1. How have recent advances in transportation and communication changed our lives?(7.20:E)
  2. Why are some people opposed to globalization?(7.20:E,F)
  3. Why is it important that we study local and state history?
  4. What ethnic or cultural events are held in your area that can help you understand the heritage of your community?(7.19:A,B)

Vocabulary

bilingual
certification
collaborate
consolidated
disbanded
exploit
garnered
globalization
mandated

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