Blog 4- Global Citizen

Global Issues- Are you a global citizen? What does being a global citizen mean?

My honest opinion of Canadians is that we are not global citizens. It is my further understanding after having the opportunity to experience public transportation in central Europe as a single example of the promotion of global citizenship. To define global citizenship, I would look to countries with leaders that emanate and radiate the responsibility and advocacy for union for all, health for all, and environment protection for all. Those leaders that work to decrease the climate change impact (as we learned in our lectures while attending the United Nations in Vienna), promote stability and economic sustainability are the ambassadors of global citizenship.

I would have a very difficult time pinpointing just one example from this tour, rather many (from our passionate presenters, extremely accommodating public transit, and our instructors who have worked to expand our knowledge on various fronts). The several places we have toured have demonstrated the ways they are being global citizens. Examples can be drawn from the Ottakringer brewery, who recycles its malt to feed cattle, to Mr. Fritz at the winery who let us know how he advocates to protect vineyard landscape from being developed into villas. Additionally, the governments of each city we have been to have promoted the use of public transportation by offering extensive routes and availability, resulting in the  elimination for the need of use of a personal vehicle (decreasing climate change impact).

I believe that myself, along with other Canadians have an opportunity to improve their lifestyle choices to promote a collectivist objective and advocacy for our planet. Additionally, this should be rooted in the decisions our leaders are making providing a foundation and support for the population to make progress in these decisions, along with tying rewards (either financial or otherwise) to assist in motivating the population to create a global citizenship movement to raise the bar and make meaningful gains.

To my peers, what contribution can you make to increase Canadian positive impact on global citizenship? What would you consider to be meaningful motivation that governments can put in place to assist in propelling this change forward?

- Shafina & Kendra