LINKS TO GLOBALIZATION
Although child soldiers may seem like a recent outcome of globalization, the idea of using children to an advantage during times of war is an ancient concept. Children have been used in combat for hundreds of years, traced as far back as to the times of ancient Greece where young boys were trained in the ways of the military in order to fight for their states. Although globalization was not the first incentive of child soldiers, it is to be held responsible for the exploitation of children for use in war in today’s modern society. Globalization has led to an interconnected world through the widespread availability of the internet and social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Sites such as these allow for the quick spread of awareness on issues regarding social injustices, including the ongoing mistreatment of children through war crimes.
As a result of the increasing public knowledge of social injustices via social networking, the pressure on diplomats to increase foreign aid to be given has swelled dramatically. People from various corners of the world are now able to contribute to achieving social equality and stable economies in areas of the world that they have never even visited; technology has made making a difference into a task as simple as sharing a link on Facebook or donating money to an online fund. This power can be most recently observed through the Kony 2012 movement in 2012, a movement against infamous warlord, Joseph Kony in hopes of his arrest and ceasing the crimes of the LRA or Lord’s Resistance Army. On March 5th 2012, Invisible Children used the popular video sharing website, YouTube, to post a 30 minute video in order to spread the knowledge of child soldiers to millions of people across the world, with hopes of inspiring people to help end the tragedies of the LRA in Uganda. This positive use of social networking sparked an online revolution, a mission for change driven by the spread of knowledge and awareness through a simple, easily accessible video. This social aspect of globalization leaves infinite possibilities for people to connect and move toward change and revolt against child exploitation and cruel violations of human rights. However when the economic department of globalization is observed, it becomes evident that globalization can also work against the fight to end the struggle of child soldiers.
The market for goods from natural resources has created a need for a strong labor force, to gather and process the goods in order to export them to first world countries where demand for these products is high. Rebel groups are attracted to the wealth that is prevalent in these markets, and use child soldiers to acquire the supplies, forcing them into cheap labor. Within the past few decades, the demand for African diamonds has rocketed, and as a result, Rebel forces have put child soldiers to work, mining for the diamonds. In addition to having the children labor at the mines, rebel forces also use the children to invade Government operated mines, using the children’s young age and vulnerability to manipulate them into joining their side. This conflict of humanity continues to grow stronger due to the support of oblivious western buyers, who continue to bring Rebellion mined diamonds into the American market without being truly ware of the products origin or cruel history. This support and high demand from the west creates a situation where it is extremely profitable for rebel groups to continue mining diamonds, especially when none of the money is paid to the child soldiers for labor. The money that comes from the mines is directly used to finance war, directly supporting the rebel forces of Africa, and creating more and more support of the use of child soldiers. If we are able to stop the flow of conflict stones through our market it would dramatically suppress the Rebel forces, cutting off all profits and financial support they receive through exportation of diamonds.
As a result of the increasing public knowledge of social injustices via social networking, the pressure on diplomats to increase foreign aid to be given has swelled dramatically. People from various corners of the world are now able to contribute to achieving social equality and stable economies in areas of the world that they have never even visited; technology has made making a difference into a task as simple as sharing a link on Facebook or donating money to an online fund. This power can be most recently observed through the Kony 2012 movement in 2012, a movement against infamous warlord, Joseph Kony in hopes of his arrest and ceasing the crimes of the LRA or Lord’s Resistance Army. On March 5th 2012, Invisible Children used the popular video sharing website, YouTube, to post a 30 minute video in order to spread the knowledge of child soldiers to millions of people across the world, with hopes of inspiring people to help end the tragedies of the LRA in Uganda. This positive use of social networking sparked an online revolution, a mission for change driven by the spread of knowledge and awareness through a simple, easily accessible video. This social aspect of globalization leaves infinite possibilities for people to connect and move toward change and revolt against child exploitation and cruel violations of human rights. However when the economic department of globalization is observed, it becomes evident that globalization can also work against the fight to end the struggle of child soldiers.
The market for goods from natural resources has created a need for a strong labor force, to gather and process the goods in order to export them to first world countries where demand for these products is high. Rebel groups are attracted to the wealth that is prevalent in these markets, and use child soldiers to acquire the supplies, forcing them into cheap labor. Within the past few decades, the demand for African diamonds has rocketed, and as a result, Rebel forces have put child soldiers to work, mining for the diamonds. In addition to having the children labor at the mines, rebel forces also use the children to invade Government operated mines, using the children’s young age and vulnerability to manipulate them into joining their side. This conflict of humanity continues to grow stronger due to the support of oblivious western buyers, who continue to bring Rebellion mined diamonds into the American market without being truly ware of the products origin or cruel history. This support and high demand from the west creates a situation where it is extremely profitable for rebel groups to continue mining diamonds, especially when none of the money is paid to the child soldiers for labor. The money that comes from the mines is directly used to finance war, directly supporting the rebel forces of Africa, and creating more and more support of the use of child soldiers. If we are able to stop the flow of conflict stones through our market it would dramatically suppress the Rebel forces, cutting off all profits and financial support they receive through exportation of diamonds.