MODULE SIX

CREATING A JUST WORLD

The spread of globalization makes the people around the globe realize that every
nation-state has its own share of injustices as well as unhappiness. But these
citizens are striving to create and achieve a just world, where no man is left
behind, where every nation can taste a world of peace and prosperity, enjoying a
more livable global environment.

As a concluding part of this six-module instructional material, we assume that you

already understand ​the nature of the contemporary world and we inspire you to
free yourselves from the limited span of parochialism. In this module, we cover
three lessons. In Lesson 1, we discuss the underlying concepts of sustainable
development and its local version in the Mindanao region. In the next lesson, we
will tackle global food security. And in the concluding lesson, we will deliberate
how global interconnectedness will shape global citizenship. As students, you
need to understand how you can recognize your belongingness or membership
in humanity as a subjective domain of globalization.

These topics will help you as Mindanawan students internalize your role being
part of the global society, which you eventually carry with you wherever you may
be in the local or global arena. While colonization had already affected our norms
and ways of life that changed our political setup down to our social tapestry and
our entire mentality, like other developing colonized countries we strive to rise up
and make a mark on the globe and become an active member of the global
society.

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LESSON 1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Drivers and promoters of globalization have always emphasized the economic

benefits it brings to nations that open their borders to global flows of products.
This portion of the module will provide a discussion on how an interconnected
world can aid in the sustainable development and eventual promotion of food
security. ​As the world becomes smaller because of globalization, nations become
reachable and accessible. But can globalization really sustain the global
development and food security to every nation-state around the globe? In this
lesson, we will focus first on sustainable development and the discussions on
food security will follow in the succeeding section.

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Learning Outcomes
1. Differentiate stability from sustainability.
2. Enumerate the aspects of sustainability.
3. Develop appreciation and empathy to Mindanawans’ concrete version
of sustainable development.

What is sustainability?

We define the word sustainability, in a general sense, as the tendency to

continue, indefinitely, the economic, social or environmental activities or
processes. It can have varied meanings and nomenclature according to different
people but the most commonly cited definition is that of the ‘Bruntland’
Commission (or the United Nations World Commission on Environment and
Development 1987) as development that “meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It speaks
about something or an activity, which promises or envisions financial viability,
environmentally friendly, long-term outlook, or whether such activity or process
can be prolonged indeterminately.

How is sustainability different from stability?

Sustainability differs from stability in its subtlety. While sustainability

precedes stability, the reverse may not be feasible. Stability is only an offshoot of
sustainability, but not the latter from the former. If there is one element that
makes the two concepts different, then that is the idea of resiliency. No
man-made nor natural environmental challenges can shatter a resilient
environment, which is the ultimate objective of the Sustainable Development
Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals

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What do your students know about the global goals?
You may start with a diagnostic test using this link:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/25/sustainable-deve
lopment-summit-2015-quiz-global-goals and
https://blog.pwc.lu/sdg-the-killer-quiz/ Then, follow it with this vide on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-xdy1Jr2eg to give the students a gist of
SDG, as an extension of MDG: tracing from development of MDG to SDG

In 2015, leaders from the United Nations came up with an ambitious plan
to liberate the world from famine, poverty, conflict and devastating effects of
climate change. They adopted the following 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development with its 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Goal SUSTAINABLE
SUSTAINABLE OBJECTIVES
No. OUTCOMES
1 NO POVERTY End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2 ZERO HUNGER End hunger, achieve food security and improved
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
3 GOOD HEALTH AND Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
WELL-BEING all
4 QUALITY EDUCATION Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
and promote lifelong learning opportunities for
all.
5 GENDER EQUALITY Achieve gender equality and empower all
women and girls.
6 CLEAN WATER AND Ensure availability and sustainable management
SANITATION of water and sanitation for all.
7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable
ENERGY and modern energy for all.
8 DECENT WORK AND Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
ECONOMIC GROWTH economic growth, full and productive
employment, and decent work for all.
9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive
AND INFRASTRUCTURE and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation.
10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES Reduce inequality between and among
countries.
11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND Make cities and human settlements, inclusive,
COMMUNITIES safe, resilient, and sustainable.

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12 RESPONSIBLE Ensure sustainable consumption and production
CONSUMPTION AND patterns.
PRODUCTION
13 CLIMATE ACTION Take urgent action to combat climate change and
its impacts.
14 LIFE BELOW WATER Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas,
and marine resources for sustainable
development.
15 LIFE ON LAND Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of
terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and halt and
reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity
loss.
16 PEACE, JUSTICE AND Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
STRONG INSTITUTIONS sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable
and inclusive institutions at all levels.
17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE Strengthen the means for implementation and
GOALS revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development.

“No Plastic Bag Policy”: An Embryonic

Practice in some Cities of Mindanao on
Environmental Sustainability

Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos

City, and Koronadal City are the few cities in
Mindanao region, which have taken the initial
steps towards responding to the call for
worldwide participation addressing the
environmental sustainability. This is a proactive
initiative of these cities, anticipated to be

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imitated by the rest of the cities in the region. While this action can be one of the
cities’ best practices, it is hoped this can stand through time and will continue
forever in order for the next generations to benefit the beautiful consequences of
this responsible governmental action. Can you tell other cities or municipalities
practicing implementing the same policy? Does your own place observe the
same practice? For how long can the cities sustain their moves to conserve and
preserve the environment?

Mindanao for Sustainable Peace

“​Mindanao has the economic resources to help sustainable growth
happen.” Although, being also the second largest island in the Philippines, it has
long been undeveloped due to armed struggles or insurgencies, political frictions,
and related dislocation of substantial proportion of the population. The 5-month
Marawi Seige in 2017 was the biggest security crisis in years. Be that as may be,
the Philippine government has been striving to attain sustainable peace in
Mindanao as manifested in the series of talks and creation of the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by virtue of RA 6734 in 1989, which was
upgraded into Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao based on
the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in
2014. In this lesson, we focus on how such governmental action promotes the
achievement of SDG.
President Rodrigo Duterte, Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Murad Ebrahim, 
and other government and military officials show a document containing a signed 

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autonomy law during a ceremony in Manila, Philippines on August 6, 2018. ​Erik De 
Castro/Pool/Reuters 
source:https://www.google.com/search?q=BOL+signing+with+duterte&source=ln
ms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSn8TghL7iAhUBM94KHWFuAykQ_AUIEC
gD&biw=595&bih=672#imgrc=Ez-aDucYzyqgAM:

Lesson 2: Global Food Security

The illustration above simply puts emphasis on the importance of food

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among other basic necessities of humans. It is a globally vital resource for the
survival of all mankind no matter what race, nationality, religious affiliation, or
1
educational achievement they may be coming from around the world . Like
Hunger Games, citizens of every nation-state must be triumphant in achieving
food security through the collaborative efforts of each country’s leaders. If hunger
is not properly addressed, then chaos and deteriorating quality of life is sure to
happen as in the case inciting the 1789 French Revolution (like Hunger Games’
medieval reliance) and the 2019 Venezuelan food crisis, to cite a few. This part of
the module will deal on global food security seeking to attain the following
learning outcomes.

Learning Outcomes
1. Define global food security
2. Develop consciousness about trends/practices in local farm industry
detrimental to global food security

Food Security

“When all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food
to maintain a healthy and active life,” then there exists food security, declared by
The World Food Summit of 1996. Every household in every nation across the
globe needs food not only for the time being but every day, through the next
years. In order to maintain food security, there is a need to integrate a degree of
resiliency from the debilitating effects of climate change, economic instability, or
insurgencies, among others. Food security entails food stability, which indicates
unwavering supply of food throughout time. It also means food access that
suggests “affordability and allocation of food, as well as the preferences of
individuals and households. Another aspect of food security is food availability
that talks about food supply via “production, distribution, and exchange”.

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However, nowadays, food security can be affected by global water crisis, climate
change, land degradation and greedy land deals. “Water table reserves are
falling in many countries (including Northern China, the US, and India) due to
widespread over-pumping and irrigation. Also, rising global temperatures are
beginning to have a ripple effect on crop yields, forest resources, water supplies
and altering the balance of nature. Meanwhile, intensive farming leads to a
vicious cycle of exhaustion of soil fertility and decline of agricultural yields. Also,
Corporations and Governments buying rights to millions of acres of agricultural
land in developing countries to secure their own long-term food supplies”.

Philippine Agriculture is the Key to Food Security

In the Philippines, agriculture holds the vital responsibility towards the

attainment of the nation’s sustainable development. “Agriculture is key to four
identified priority areas: sustainable agriculture and food systems; challenges of
social inclusion; good governance of extractive and land resources; and
redefining the role of business for sustainable development.” The pillars of
sustainable development include economic, social and environmental
sustainability. Consequently, biotechnology paves the generation of Genetically
Modified seeds for fast growing, climate-change resistant, and high yielding crops
deemed to answer the production problem of the farmers.
 
 
 
 
 
Genetically Modified (GM) Food and Food Security

The advent of commercialized foods like Genetically Modified (GM) seeds

gave impetus to fast and high-yielding crops like maize or corn. I remember one

Module VI: Creating a Just World 9

farmer in Bukidnon sharing a story of gripe about his recent corn farming
experience. He observed that newly-introduced commercial corn seeds are
yielding high but it produces sterile seeds that is why he cannot save some seeds
out of their harvest that will be used for next planting season. What most farmers
do these days is rely and buy on commercially-available seeds. This is called
“terminator seeds”. With this situation, what do you think will happen to the
farmers’ economic status now that crops are genetically modified? Will the
farmers gain more and eventually be alleviated from poverty? Will GM foods
help in food security problem of the country?

Transforming Agri into Suburbs: Giving up Farming for Housing

During my doctorate study at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, I used
to travel to CDO by bus from my hometown, Mati City, via Buda, Davao City. For
over four years of travel I have observed mushrooming constructions of new
housing units/villages especially along the road from Mintal to Buda. This is my
concrete observation of the world getting bigger and bigger as it creates more
houses, buildings, or facilities by scraping and
flattening high mountains and putting up
establishments here and there. I remember a former
student of mine who is already a professional
teacher, who offered me a lot for sale. He was giving
me a hint that some rice farmers in Banay-banay,
Davao Oriental were already starting to sell their rice
fields and willing it to be converted into house lots.
Banay-banay is a proud producer of the
Banay-banay rice, a variant that is one of the best
qualities in the country. Have you noticed similar scenarios in your locality? Can
you cite a few? What do you think will happen to our local agricultural industry?

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Farming: Getting Unattractive to Farmers’ Children

A study on cassava contract farmers was conducted in Bukidnon,

Northern Mindanao. The interview with the key informants revealed that most of
the children (of working age) of these farmers do not like working in their farms
anymore. This may be due to the reason that their farmer parents tried their vey
best to send their children to school using their farm income so that they will have
a better chance at landing better jobs elsewhere other than farming. The study
also found that farmers are already aging. So, what do you think will happen to
the farms when these ageing farmers retire? Who will take over the farm
activities?

Lesson 3: Global Citizenship

Learning Outcomes

1. Articulate a personal definition of global citizenship

2. Appreciate the ethical obligations of a global citizen
3. Identify how global citizenship can be applied to the social issues affecting

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1
 Mindanao

Introduction
The modern students, including the previous ones, must be aware and should
have been cognizant to recognize their membership in human society, not only in
the local context but also in the global spectrum. In this lesson, we dispense the
subjective domain of globalization. Here, students are taught that as humans we
share in the benefits of “global standards” and market imports as well as the
pains of global inequality by introducing the concepts of global civil society and
global citizenship (Carter, 2013 and Davies, 2006).

Cosmopolitanism, as Backgrounder of Global Citizenship

“I am a citizen of the world.” This famous declaration by Socrates already gave

an idea of a global community back in the ancient periods. This came from the
concept of cosmopolitanism, which denotes citizen of the cosmos or world
citizenship. As a theory adapted by the ancient Stoics, cosmopolitanism
emphasizes that men predominantly reside not only in ‘local political community’
but also in ‘great human community’. The former being acquired by virtue of birth,
the latter is exemplified as manifestations observing universal moral laws in
humanity’s speech and reason. However, cosmopolitanism only became
apparent during the advent of travel and communication technology, which
facilitated the growing interconnectedness among different citizens in the world
whether in politics, socio-cultural and economic circles, giving impetus to the
concept ‘global citizenship.’

The Global Civil Society

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The advent of technology and
the rise of new centers of
authority have paved the
creation of global civil society.
Because of modern
connectivity, citizens around the
globe are already a tap and a
click away from each other
notwithstanding their
geographic distances. A civil
society is an organization who accommodates voluntary member citizens
collectively bounded with the uniform interests and actions. Civil society employs
all legitimate tools and tactics, which range from dialogue and coalition-building
on specific projects and policies, through non-violent confrontations and protests,
when indispensable.

Definition of Global Citizenship

Global citizenship pertains to a person’s

regional or national identity, having the
special rights and duties prescribed in a
nation’s government enumerated below:
a) Respects multiculturalism.
b) Realizes that unity and cooperation
are the basic features of global citizens.
c) Is aware that his/her actions affect the world around him/her.
d) Behaves respectively and acts in an emphatic way.
e) Has teamwork spirit.

Module VI: Creating a Just World 1

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 f) Helps other people and appropriates cooperation.
g) Takes the responsibility of global issues concerned with his/her society.
h) Knows his/her duties and rights very well.
i) Acts as an active member of the society for the sake of improving it.
j) Understands that all parts of the world are interconnected.
k) Behaves ethically in all situations.

The green and gold tourism

Poverty has been, strikingly, among the social issues around the globe. Locally,
Mindanao houses the poorest provinces. However, despite this social condition
among Mindanawans, efforts have been made to address this situation. For
example, the State Universities and Colleges in Mindanao have forged
agreement for citizen engagement with the World Bank in their participation in the
so-called network of Knowledge for Development Community (KDCs). Another
way of promoting inclusive and sustainable growth is the advancement of
eco-adventure and cultural tourism dubbed as “green and gold tourism”.

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References

Barthwal-Datta, M. (2014). ​Food security in Asia: Challenges, policies and

implications​. International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Claudio and Abinales. (2018). The Contemporary World. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc.

Dela Paz, C. (2017, February 2). Retrieved from

https://www.rappler.com/business/160106-tan-caktiong-sti-agriculture-educ
ation-philippnes

Dupa, H.J. 2019. Restructuring The Market: The Case Of Small Cassava
Farmers In Bukidnon, Philippines. Unpublished Dissertation, Xavier
University-Ateneo de Cagayan

George, R. (2011). Globalisation. The essentials. ​NY: John Wiley & Sons.​

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Glasius, M. 2001. ‘Introducing Global Civil Society’. https://www. Research gate.
net/publication/297399712

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