Iam 195 - Notes on Global Citizenship

Global diplomacy is the future of traditional diplomacy and I believe that if everyone acts as a global diplomat we can advocate for forward thinking ideas like universal basic income and borderless systems that will truly protect citizens in all 195 countries with safe food to eat, safe water to drink, safe air to breathe and give people the right to work by choice and not by force.

*********************************************************************

In contemplating this concept I am aware that we live in a time of great divisiveness. My proposals, herein put forth, are a road map to heal those divisions and point us towards a more cooperative world, a world in which citizens can achieve basic survival and contribute to the common good. I believe that by doing so individuals will be relieved of basic survival stressors and can then focus on breaking through the border that suffocates the self (and is therefore self limiting) and learn to open, accept and participate in a greater unified world. I outline below the concept in the form of a mission statement followed by a Global Citizenship Question and Answer. These are questions that we can all ask of ourselves as we, as a world community, search for a way through this current historical period which offers us mostly negative news and feelings towards our fellow citizens. I encourage each reader to consider these questions carefully and come up with his or her own answer to the concept presented. By doing so I feel that each will be better able to understand the mission proposed and that we will see that we have more in common than we believe and can start, as a world community, to tie loose ends together and create a better, unified, world.

*********************************************************************

"Iam 195 "

I am very proud of my human ethnicity and my global citizenship. My dream is that one day our countries of origin can simply be referred to as geographic coordinates and that in the near future we can truly celebrate equality and diversity on a global scale and yes, "I am a citizen of a world with 195 countries." And if we can all claim this as our birth right we can all say together that the world is our country.

1) Tell me something you love about your country?

I love that our world has 195 different cultural identities. These differences are what make us unique and instead of letting these differences divide us, they should be the ties that bind us.

2) What’s a common misconception about your country you want to clear up?

There is a common misconception I would like to clear up in regards to globalization. It is currently being used negatively for political propaganda to inflame nationalistic ideas that make citizens believe that their country and nationality are under threat. In reality, globalization is about global ethics, shared responsibility, mutuality, solidarity and global reciprocity.

3) Tell me someone famous or popular from your country that you think everyone should know about.

A great example is the philosopher Socrates. It is important that everyone knows that he was the very first global citizen. More than 2000 years ago he said, "I'm not Greek or Athenian. I am a citizen of the world."

4) What is the most noted custom in your country?

The Blue Helmet of the United Nations Peacekeepers is a symbol that helps guide us towards unity. The UN Peacekeepers help nurture peace by assisting societies in turning away from war and towards a safer, more stable and sustainable future.

5) Describe a historical landmark and its significance to the country.

Mount Everest is a significant landmark because of what it represents. With all 195 countries unanimously agreeing that it is the tallest mountain in our land, Mount Everest represents a historical consensus amongst the people of the world.