The Economist-Shell essay writing contest 2004
Import workers or export jobs?
2/3 oceans
7 continents
1 large globe, divided
1 gallon of languages, peeled, shelled and chopped.
1 tablespoon spices and culture.
4 cups of religion.
1 teaspoon of colouring
Heat oceans in large pot over medium-high heat; add continents, globe and languages. Saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Mix in spices and culture. Stir for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce to low heat and simmer until continents are tender.
Garnish with an open heart and mind.
Every person has a different palate and specific preferences when it comes to food, but there are also many who cannot choose. Eating is a luxury for the world's large starving population. On the other hand, with the onset of capitalism, people in developed countries are empowered to make more choices. As Chuck Palahnuik mentions in Fight Club, walking into Starbucks allows the consumer to make many choices all at one time, "A tall Mocha Fruppacinno, skim milk, extra cocoa, on the go". Recipes, like people travel across continents, and different digestive systems either take to the cuisine or regurgitation occurs. The more obscure ones get shunned altogether, but there will always be adventurous individuals that are open to new experiences. We can't deny that one's cultural identity is closely linked to cuisine, and it doesn't matter if recipes are imported or exported, what matters most, is the acceptance of differences.
Since the invention of travel, man has been going places and setting up homes elsewhere, whether in pursuit of a better life, or fulfilling the inherent need to explore. Through the course of history, the world's population has reshuffled itself many times. The Americas, previously home to the native red Indians, boasts a population of descendants of Europeans and a steady community of Asians. In the same way, the Aborigines, the indigenous people of Australia had their identity diluted by the once British prisoners of wars exiled to their country, whose offspring then became citizens of the country by birth.
With increasing movement patterns in migration, developed countries should open their borders to migrant workers, as well as allow jobs to be outsourced to less developed countries. Given the different circumstances that govern individuals, some may choose to stay behind and continue their life at home with their families, or they could choose to pack their bags for greener pastures and higher wages to contribute to the tax pool of the host country.
There is no solution to stop the determined from moving across borders. What, perhaps could be done is to introduce legal channels for would-be immigrants to ensure a safe and secure move. At the same time, both successful and unhappy immigrants should share their experiences with people back home and speak up about the trials and tribulation that they had to overcome. Ideally, more needs to be done to improve living conditions at home to prevent the exodus of people to 'greener pastures'. With globalisation, it is impossible to shut out poorer nations, because they too, want a piece of the cake capitalism has baked.
The brain drain is inevitable. There will be many who will progress, but there will be an equal number left behind. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection proves the case in animals, and human beings. In reality, it is the survival of the fittest, if you're equipped with the skills, you'll find good employment regardless of country. And the Confucian thought indirectly reinforces this, the traditional Chinese examination system recruited men on the basis of merit, rather than of family or political connection. As the success in the examination was the basis of social status, if a student passed the provincial examination, his family status was raised to that of scholar gentry, receiving privilege and prestige. This is not entirely fair, given that the circumstances of the examinee are not taken into account. One from a wealthy influential family could afford the best books and hire the best tutors, whilst one from a less fortunate family probably has to work and keep late nights to keep abreast of school work. However, the brightest of scholars succeed regardless of circumstances, thus it is a fair gauge of a person's ability to perform. More can be done to alleviate the problem of losing highly skilled professionals to developed countries after benefiting from the resources of their own country. Bonds could be imposed for the professionals to serve for a certain number of years in his own country where he obtained his education, before making the move to practice elsewhere.
Britain's NHS has been sustained throughout by many Asian doctors and Caribbean nurses or doctors either born aboard or who are first generation Britons. Mr Blair gave an estimate of 25% of NHS professionals are overseas born. In the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13 states
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Like migratory birds, there is an impetus for certain species to move, and likewise there are legislations that protect the birds from harm, but it is impossible to create a foolproof system to protect every bird or stop them from moving. Some species create nuisances in other countries; the suspected culprits of the outbreak of bird flu in Singapore were migratory birds that spread their viruses to the local poultry.
Migration occurs because the migrant wants to move. As most developed countries face declining birth rates and growing aging populations, migration is the mitigating factor keeping populations in check. It is realistically not impossible to have open borders and existing welfare systems, hence the systems have to be revised to prevent immigrants from abusing the system or have citizens live off the fruits of the immigrants' labour.
With open borders, it is inevitable that identities will blur into each other and later generations would be left without a social solidarity. As a descendant of migrant grandparents from China, I am a western educated individual brought up with pedantic values, with a national identity and culture and a sense of global belonging. Your world is as big as you make it out to be, and through education, I believe it is possible to bridge divides and to prevent bigots from building walls around the impressionable young and old. In time to come, adjustments and changes can be made, for people to be more accepting of others and there will be a time when everyone can be a global citizen, without having to abandon his or her own traditional/ethnic practices and history. This may be naive thinking, but the world needs more positivity.
There is a danger that this will erode centuries old traditional practices and the very foundations of a culture. Education and upbringing will be the only ways to salvage cultural identity and place in society. Xenophobia and racism will pose severe barriers for migrants settling into new environments and the ignorance of another's culture can lead to undesirable circumstances, but with more exposure in the media and in schools about cultural education, it will slowly but almost surely eradicate stereotypes and negative feelings towards 'the (projected) other'.
Borders define each different nation, its people and their cultural identity. Globalisation has reached such a sophisticated level that these specific lines become nebulous and global citizens start to grow. Although globalisation will indirectly lead to the end of diversity, opening borders means giving people more opportunities, and their basic human right to have a choice of being wherever he or she wants to be. There will always still be the 'we' and 'the other', but these divides will slowly be addressed with socio-economic pursuits that take first place. To quote Mark Krikorian, " When we import a plastic toy from Malaysia, we import only the labour used to make it. When we import Malaysians, we import complete human beings, with all their dreams, preferences, their strengths and weaknesses." Some survive the differences better than others, and this is no utopia and to ensure that all migrants assimilate 100% into society is something impossible to expect.
With the increasing number of inter-racial and inter-cultural marriages, the new generations of children are also caught in the dilemma of their identity and local sense of belonging. It is the parents' discretion to decide how to raise their children and perhaps allow them to choose and find their own identity, culture and religion. With the global village, there will be a lot more suspicion, questioning and it's ultimately up to the individual to find the line that defines him or her. For some, there is an innate attraction to people who are different or 'exotic', and the offsprings of such relationships could either find themselves displaced in society and country, or have a healthy understanding of both his parents' differences.
For every fiercely involved person fighting his cause for the retention of borders or the opening of it, there is one who remains apathetic as long as he is not directly affected. Whether there is a sudden insurgence of immigrants or not, there will always be the less active who will take no stance or partake in the territorial claims. I am apolitical and naively believe that someday, in due time, differences can be resolved and people will be more accepting of each other and have mutual respect.
In the meantime, I am sure there are many out there who are grateful for their crop harvests and no unexpected natural disaster hitting their homes. And many who do not ask for much, except to put food on the table and each family member is in good health and spirits. For all the discontented people, whether seeking greener pastures by risking their lives or protecting their territorial boundaries whose fears of cultural dilution escalates with increasing migration, there will be those, like myself who are not adversely affected by the moves, and might perhaps encourage it.
