To what extent should I embrace total citizenship?

Global citizens … being a Canadian citizen is more easily defined than that of a global citizen. Citizenship in Canada comes with its share of rights and responsibilities. Some rights include equal treatment before and under the law without discrimination and the right to participate in political activities. On the other hand some of the responsibilities include understanding and obeying Canadian laws or the responsibility to vote in an election. Yet when it comes to what is exactly meant by being a global citizen, opinions differ. The NGO of Oxfam describes a global citizen as someone who is aware of the wider world, respects and values diversity, is willing to act to help others, and accepts responsibility for his or her own actions. As citizens of the world we should act locally and think globally.
There is a significant amount of individuals that have made a point of taking a stand. Some have taken place in the past such as the abolishment of slavery in the early 19th century by William Wilberforce. Fortunately such efforts are still going on today; Wangari Maathai who has started an organization called the Green Belt Movement has been the driving force behind the planting of a substantial number of trees to fight deforestation and promote sustainable development. Civil society has also made such an impact. They have fought for what is just through non-violent and meaningful presentations. In the 1990’s, a successful campaigne changed Nike’s use of sweatshops, so that those workers would no longer be mistreated and abused. Then again, that put many out of work causing great hardship; it is believed that governments need to be more involved in partnership with organizations and individuals. In doing this, the hope is that a bad situation won’t go from one extreme to the other, where someone is working in a sweatshop for very little money to no job and complete poverty. With a combined effort the aspiration is for a balance to be found where sweatshop conditions are eliminated, wages are higher and jobs are kept. Together we can be active citizens, students, consumers, corporations, and individuals; to take the elements of globalization right around us to not only become aware and mindful, but impactful. Examples of this could be investing in fair trade, or organizations that promote positive prosperity for all. Or taking our right to freedom of speech and being the voice for those who aren’t able to let their voices be heard. We, as citizens, need to respond purposefully to globalization, having in mind that we can be influential; leaving a heartfelt impression on what is now and what is to come.