The average American’s hourly wage increased 11.4% between 2001 and 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  American, computer specialist occupation’s wages also increased during this time period, despite heavy outsourcing and offshoring of software jobs.  This increase in wages is surprising because outsourcing and offshoring has put thousands of American software engineers out of work, which equates to more job competition and normally lower wages.  When companies have more workers to choose from, wages generally decrease.  However, the money companies save by outsourcing can be reinvested into employees, in this case worker’s wages increased.   The Bureau of Labor Statistics has collected industry’s annual, productivity rates for the last eighteen years.  According to the bureau’s data, productivity has generally increased in recent years, especially in the electronic, furniture, steel, automobile, chemical, and material industries.  The majority of stores and retailers have also increased their productivity.  The only industries, whose productivity drastically declined, were the textile and apparel industries.  This decrease in productivity is a direct result of globalization and offshoring.

Offshore manufacturing is increasing pollution rates in China.  A briefing, by the United States Energy Information Administration on environmental issues in China, proves globalization has increased pollution in China.  China is currently the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, only second to the United States (China: Environmental).  According to the United States Energy Information Administration, the Chinese percentage of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions is projected to increase from 12.7% to 17.8% by 2025 (China: Environmental).  This projection is directly proportional to increased industrialization caused by globalization in the form of offshoring.  American carbon dioxide emissions are not projected to decrease; this implies that Chinese emissions will drastically increase.  “Of the 39.7 quadrillion Btu of total primary energy consumed in China in 2001, 63.4% was coal, 25.8% was oil, 6.9% hydroelectricity, and 3.1% natural gas… the largest absolute gains in consumption were from the industrial sector.”  According to this statistic, only 6.9% of China’s energy output does not produce harmful gases.  This 6.9% of energy is mainly in the form of dams; however, dams can be more detrimental to the environment than carbon dioxide emissions.  All dams change watersheds and as a result alter wildlife.  Dams destroy natural ecosystems and wildlife diversity.  China has produced more dams than any other country in the world.  “Wang Shucheng, minister of water resources and chairman of the organization committee of the congress, said that over the past five decades, China has built up tens of thousands of reservoirs, with a total capacity of 460 billion cubic meters” (China Tops).  China now contains 85000 dams.  “A report released in 1998 by the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that of the ten most polluted cities in the world, seven can be found in China.” (China: Environmental).  Since
China does not enforce strong environmental restricts on factories, pollutants are freely escaping into the air.  Air pollutants generated by the combustion of coal cause the formation of acid rain.  Acid rain falls on approximately thirty percent of China’s total land area.  “Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees… and many sensitive forest soils.  In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures” (What).  The ecosystems affected by acid rain will require decades to recover, and many ecosystems may never become completely restored. 

How will globalization influence individual cultures?  Will a uniform culture form as a result of farther globalization?

            Technology, such as fiber optic cables, has figuratively made the world a smaller place.  Once isolated groups of people and cultures now have the ability to communicate and exchange ideas at an unprecedented rate.  Greater communication between cultures increases potential assimilation; strong aspects of one culture now have the ability to influence and change weaker aspects of other cultures.  For example, the American system of fast food has spread throughout the world.  This is because fast food is a great way to serve large numbers of people extremely quickly and cheaply.  Over the last decade fast food chains have started to gain acceptance world wide.

            Now my major question is if cultures keep on accepting the most dominant ideas, will a uniform culture eventually be created?  A uniform culture would not form in the next five years, however, one hundred years from now a dominate culture could potentially exist.  Humans always resist change at first; however, once people find something to be in their advantage, they adapt.  Therefore current cultures, which may not appear to be willing to change, may adapt over time.  Could cultural traditions be lost due to assimilation caused by globalization?  Is it a big deal if traditions are lost?  Many American traditions have been lost over the years, but important, well established traditions usually stay.  Acculturation caused by globalization could help people realize what is of most importance in their culture.  Will future generations be affected by acculturation more than current generations?  Older generations may be more resistant to assimilation than younger generations.  If this is true, a uniform culture could be more likely to emerge in decades to come.  If a uniform culture develops, could it minimize nationalism and conflict?  If the majority of the world’s population is part of one constantly evolving, conglomerate culture, there could conceivably be less conflict.  A world culture could work similarly to American culture.  There are many different cultures within the
United States; however, Americans generally get along with one another.  A world culture could connect everyone, but still allow individual cultures to exist.