Comprehensive Study Guide on Local, Global, and Planetary Networks

Understanding Local Networks: Networking and Linkages

  • Introduction to Networks and Linkages:

    • Schools can engage in linkages and networking activities with international, national, and local organizations within the community for mutual benefits and required assistance.
    • Linkage and networking are distinguished primarily by the degree of commitment between the partners involved.

  • Distinctions Between Linkage and Networking:

    • Linkage: The relationship between partner organizations is considered quite loose. It intends to serve members of both sides based on their respective needs, interests, and objectives. It creates bonds to solicit assistance, support, and purposeful activities.
    • Networking: The relationship is much stronger because groups and agencies share common objectives and beneficiaries. Networking involves extending the outreach of resources in various ways to increase program effectiveness.

  • Definitions of Networks:

    • A relationship structure where members can share resources with one another.
    • Composed of several institutions (a consortium), such as several colleges from different universities binding together for a common goal.
    • Members work together to attain common objectives, undertake innovative practices, and update members regarding breakthroughs in various disciplines.
    • Kinds of Networks:
      1. Human Network.
      2. Knowledge Network.
      3. Computer Network.

  • National and Local Linkages:

    • Established between universities and colleges offering identical degrees.
    • Allows for cross-enrollment for subjects needed for graduation.
    • Involves joint research conducted by two or three universities depending on their specific fields of expertise.

Social Networks and Family Relations

  • Categories of Social Networks:

    • Networks can be considered linkages if they connect one network to another, creating a larger network structure.
    • Family: The first sphere of our social network and the first group of individuals with whom we establish social relations. They ensure our survival after birth.
    • Peers: Individuals met through family (family friends, siblings' acquaintances, neighbors) or met independently (classmates, officemates, church mates). They provide help that may not be provided by the family.
    • Contacts: Individuals who provide things neither family nor friends provide. Examples include delivery boys, tindera (vendors), teachers, and doctors.

  • Family Relations (Based on the Family Code of the Philippines):

    1. Husband and Wife.
    2. Parents and children.
    3. Descendants and ascendants.
    4. Brothers and sisters, whether full or half-blood.

  • Rules for Family Relations under the Family Code:

    1. Family relations exist among the relatives mentioned even if they do not live together.
    2. Other relatives like cousins, nephews, nieces, and domestic helpers who grew up and are living with the family are considered members of the household but not members of the family.
    3. Illegitimate children are not included in these specific family relations because they have their own family.
    4. Adopted children are included as part of the family.
    5. Nephews, nieces, uncles, and aunts are not included because they have their own families.
    6. Relatives mentioned in the article include those of both the husband and wife.

  • Extended Notions of Family:

    • Ideas of family may include elements beyond legal stipulations, such as:
      • Pets.
      • Best friends.
      • The workplace, colleagues, and communities.
      • Schools and churches.

Strategic Analysis and Intuitive Thinking

  • Strategic Analysis:

    • Strategy: Derived from the Greek word "Strategia," meaning skills possessed by generals necessary to win battles.
    • Analysis: The careful study of each part of a whole to understand how each part and their relationships result in the world.
    • Definition: Involved examination and evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, environments, and resources. The purpose is to draw up a strategy from the results to achieve specific goals over time. This process utilizes Logic.

  • SWOT Analysis:

    • A simple but powerful tool for developing strategy.
    • Strengths (S): Internal factors; what you do well.
    • Weaknesses (W): Internal factors; where you need to improve.
    • Opportunities (O): External factors; things on the outside you can take advantage of.
    • Threats (T): External factors; things on the outside you must protect against.
    • Note: You have control over internal factors (S and W) but cannot change external factors (O and T).
    • Example Application: Choosing a college to enroll in, considering personal interest, available courses, school strengths/weaknesses, capacity to pay, and distance.

  • Intuitive Thinking:

    • A type of thinking that helps understand reality in the moment without logic or analysis.
    • It involves no language; it is entirely about signs and sensations.
    • It often goes against what is considered "rational" and relies on familiarity and experience.
    • Intuition: Knowledge that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation.
    • Hunches ("Kutob"): Generated by the unconscious mind rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge.
    • It is not a result of analysis but of quick, reflexive thinking to provide immediate responses.

Global Networks: Migration and Labor

  • Globalization:

    • Defined as the growing network of interconnections, diffusion, and exchange between people, goods, technology, and ideas across the world. It "shrinks" the feeling of distance, making the world feel like a single society.
    • It entails the movement of capital, free flow of goods/services, increased mobility of individuals, and expansion of multinational/transnational corporations.
    • Goals include worldwide interdependence and standardized income distribution through economic integration.

  • Four Main Types of Globalization:

    1. Embodied: Movement or migration of actual people (e.g., traveling or moving abroad).
    2. Agency-extended: Movement of agents or representatives of institutions (e.g., diplomats, MNC workers).
    3. Object-extended: Movement of physical goods, machinery, and commodities.
    4. Disembodied: The spread of words, ideas, knowledge, and information.

  • Key Dimensions of Globalization:

    1. Economic Globalization: International business, free trade agreements, and global financial transactions. Examples: Fast-food chains like McDonald's or Jollibee globalizing; Nike or Apple designing in one country and manufacturing in another.
    2. Sociocultural Globalization: Spread of ideas, values, languages, fashion, and pop culture. Examples: Explosion of J-pop/K-pop; spread of respiratory illnesses like SARS/MERS via travel; students studying abroad in the US, Europe, or Australia.
    3. Political Globalization: (Section mentioned but details truncated).

  • Migration:

    • Defined as the movement of people from one territory to another for permanent or temporary residence.
    • Estimates suggest approximately 20%20\% of the labor force in the Philippines wants to leave the country for jobs abroad.
    • Risks include illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

  • Categories and Factors of Migration:

    • Four Categories of Reasons: Environmental, Political, Cultural, Economic.
    • Push Factors (Motivation to leave due to difficulty):
      • Food shortages, war, flood, difficult living conditions, government persecution, unemployment, social unrest, poverty, lack of job opportunities, corruption, bad educational system.
    • Pull Factors (Motivation to move for desirable reasons):
      • Nicer climate, better food supply, freedom, affordable housing, good economic prospects, good weather, safe streets, good schools and hospitals, presence of family and friends, cultural amenities (cinemas, museums, theaters).

  • Types of Migration:

    1. Internal Migration: Looking for a new residence within one's own country, state, or continent.
    2. External Migration: Moving to a different country, state, or continent.
    3. Migration: Specifically leaving one country to move to another.
    4. Immigration: Moving into a new country.
    5. Forced Migration: Occurs when state or authorities force people to migrate for a reason.

Planetary Networks: Climate Change

  • Climate Change Definitions:

    • Also known as global warming; refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth.
    • Scientific consensus attributes this primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2CO_2) and greenhouse gases.
    • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change defines it as a "change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere."

  • Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of the sun's warmth in the lower atmosphere due to the atmosphere being more transparent to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted by the planet.

  • Environmental Degradation Issues:

    • Global Warming.
    • Climate Change.
    • Depletion of Ozone Layer.
    • Water Scarcity.
    • Loss of Biodiversity.
    • Toxic Materials.
    • Air Pollution.
    • Acid Rain.
    • Destruction of Forests.

  • Seven Observed Effects of Climate Change:

    1. Longer, More Intense Allergy Seasons: Warming temperatures extend pollen release periods (e.g., Northern US). This induces allergic asthma and symptoms in those previously unaffected.
    2. Nutritional Decline and Cost Increase in Food: Accumulated CO2CO_2 speeds up photosynthesis, causing plants to grow with more sugar but less calcium, protein, zinc, and vitamins. Droughts (notably starting in 20062006 in wheat-producing nations) cause food price spikes.
    3. Severe Heat Waves: Becoming more common and long-lasting; can be intense enough to melt roads.
    4. Wildfires: Causing billion-dollar destruction to landscapes, animals, and human health/life.
    5. Dangerous Hurricanes: Rising sea surface temperatures add water vapor and heat energy (perfect fuel) to the atmosphere, powering stronger storms.
    6. Mass Climate-Related Migration: Forced displacement due to drought, flooding, and disasters.
    7. Easier Disease Spread: Warmer temperatures, heat waves, and heavy rains allow disease-carrying insects (vectors) to live longer, reproduce in rain deposits, and move to previously cold areas. Waterborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) flourish in warmer waters.

  • Climate Change Statistics and Migration:

    • Achim Steiner (Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature) believes migration will be the most significant consequence of environmental degradation.
    • Approximately 250 million250\,\text{million} people are permanently displaced by climate-related phenomena (floods, droughts, famines).
    • In the past 1010 years, Asia has faced strong earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons resulting in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands left homeless.
    • Climate Refugees: People who migrate due to disaster rather than war or conflict.

  • Solutions to Climate Change:

    • Individual Actions: Reduce energy consumption, travel green, watch water use, reduce waste (Recycle, Reduce, Reuse), and plant trees.
    • Systemic Strategies: Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize vehicle proficiency, expand access to open travel (public transit), overhaul building protection/insulation, replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, and diminish deforestation.
    • Goal: Adoption of cleaner production technologies and changes in lifestyle to impact climate change.