Economic Reasons Changing the Environment and Culture

From the articles that we have read and the discussion we had this week, I have learned how World Economy and Industrialization affects the lives of people in different places. Every country is moving towards development and urbanization. But there many consequences that follow when we go through the actual process of development.
In the article, The Kayapo Resistance, the Kayapo people faces the harsh realities of such progress when Brazilian people invade their land. They not only suffer losing their lands and environmental benefits to these people but even their culture and traditions are in jeopardy. The government is trying to build dams for hydroelectricity. These are the infrastructures for development but they have been adversely affecting the lives of Kayapo people. The waters of river are being polluted and the forests are shrinking. The environmental condition is degrading with invasion of development.
In another article, Cocaine and the Economic Deterioration of Bolivia, the villagers of Pocona suffered because of the increasing market for Cocaine. They had the traditional habits of chewing Coca leaves but now they can't even afford some. Americans have decreased their consumption of alcohol for drugs and cocaine while Pocona people are drinking more alcohol in order to replace the traditional Coca. The villagers are first attracted to the industries with the temptation to earn more money but they have to go through so many problems. They don't earn enough money and the villagers suffer with hunger. The young men who work to make pasta have to deal with the chemicals that cripple their limbs making them impaired and maimed. They also get venereal diseases. The world economy has only decreased the value of their currency “pesos”. The local diet has become unbalanced and spoiled the traditional organization.
People from other countries have gone through similar problems. My country, Nepal I s also suffering from these crisis. The world economy has greatly influenced people towards urbanization. The capital city, Kathmandu, has so many industries and vehicles that it is badly suffering from pollution. People from different villages leave their families behind and go to the city in hopes of earning money. The population is dramatically increasing in the capital as the emigration number is going up. The Bagmati river which was supposed to be holy is being treated as a dumping site for garbage. The river had become so polluted that its color has become brownish black and it stinks very bad. With the increasing popularity for global industries the trees of the forests are being chopped off to get raw materials.
Not only the environmental aspect is changing but also the traditional values are getting modified. The new generation are into Western fashion and food. They wear pants, t-shirts, skirts , sweat shirts and other western dresses. The traditional clothes like gunyo cholo are hardly worn. Though saris and kurta suruwals are worn in special occassions. The people in the cities are into fast food like pizza, fries and burgers. Eating typical meal like rice, dal and curry is no longer preferred. The lifestyle of Western countries are influencing these young generations who are quickly losing their traditions and culture.From the articles that we have read and the discussion we had this week, I have learned how World Economy and Industrialization affects the lives of people in different places. Every country is moving towards development and urbanization. But there many consequences that follow when we go through the actual process of development.
In the article, The Kayapo Resistance, the Kayapo people faces the harsh realities of such progress when Brazilian people invade their land. They not only suffer losing their lands and environmental benefits to these people but even their culture and traditions are in jeopardy. The government is trying to build dams for hydroelectricity. These are the infrastructures for development but they have been adversely affecting the lives of Kayapo people. The waters of river are being polluted and the forests are shrinking. The environmental condition is degrading with invasion of development.
In another article, Cocaine and the Economic Deterioration of Bolivia, the villagers of Pocona suffered because of the increasing market for Cocaine. They had the traditional habits of chewing Coca leaves but now they can't even afford some. Americans have decreased their consumption of alcohol for drugs and cocaine while Pocona people are drinking more alcohol in order to replace the traditional Coca. The villagers are first attracted to the industries with the temptation to earn more money but they have to go through so many problems. They don't earn enough money and the villagers suffer with hunger. The young men who work to make pasta have to deal with the chemicals that cripple their limbs making them impaired and maimed. They also get venereal diseases. The world economy has only decreased the value of their currency “pesos”. The local diet has become unbalanced and spoiled the traditional organization.
People from other countries have gone through similar problems. My country, Nepal I s also suffering from these crisis. The world economy has greatly influenced people towards urbanization. The capital city, Kathmandu, has so many industries and vehicles that it is badly suffering from pollution. People from different villages leave their families behind and go to the city in hopes of earning money. The population is dramatically increasing in the capital as the emigration number is going up. The Bagmati river which was supposed to be holy is being treated as a dumping site for garbage. The river had become so polluted that its color has become brownish black and it stinks very bad. With the increasing popularity for global industries the trees of the forests are being chopped off to get raw materials.
Not only the environmental aspect is changing but also the traditional values are getting modified. The new generation are into Western fashion and food. They wear pants, t-shirts, skirts , sweat shirts and other western dresses. The traditional clothes like gunyo cholo are hardly worn. Though saris and kurta suruwals are worn in special occasions. The people in the cities are into fast food like pizza, fries and burgers. Eating typical meal like rice, dal and curry is no longer preferred. The lifestyle of Western countries are influencing these young generations who are quickly losing their traditions and culture.

Superstitions

Superstitions are mere beliefs about something that people believe in without any valid reasoning or real facts. People have different kinds of superstitions about many things in their life. A superstition could be something we think about or happens in everyday life. They are related to luck, prophecy and supernatural beings and they exist in every culture.
The article “Baseball Magic” by George Gmelch talks about different kinds of superstitions followed by the baseball players. I was not expecting so many numbers of superstitions in a sport game. When something good happens in a game, the player repeats the same pattern of activities he did that day like eating a the same meal, wearing their lucky shoes, swinging a bat three times, adjusting the cap before every hit, wearing a charmed pendant, not shaving and wearing a lucky numbered jersey.
In my country too we have numerous superstitions. I personally don't believe in any of them but since I grew up in such society it is indeed hard to ignore some of the superstitions. One the superstition I follow till this day is whenever someone touches my neck I have to blow the person's hand. According what my parents used to say if I don't do that my tonsils will swell. When I think about it I don't believe it but since I had habit of doing that since I was a kid I just have natural impulse to blow the person's hand. I have a feeling of uneasiness and discomfort until and unless I do it. The other superstition is when a black cat crosses your path I am not supposed to walk that way or at least wait for someone to pass before me so that I won't carry a bad luck. But if I spit before the cat completely crosses the path then I won't carry the bad luck. These are two superstitions I don't believe in but still I end up blowing and spitting in such circumstances.
There are some superstitions that my mother follows. It is something that we should or should not do in a particular day of a week. She never goes shopping and neither lets me go shopping on Monday because it is said that any clothes bought on Monday won't be lasting or good. And if we are traveling on Tuesday we should come back on Saturday. Also we are not supposed to return home on the ninth day of our travel. My mother never showers on Thursday because married women are not supposed to do that else something bad will happen to their husbands.
My mother always scolds me when I whistle at night because whistling at night is supposed to bring thieves in the house. Also being to excited about something is not good in my culture. If someone is going to buy me something I should have high expectations. If someone is coming home after long time I should be too happy about it either. It is said that being to excited brings bad luck and is hazardous to that person.
People have different way of reacting to superstitions. Some think its ridiculous some take it seriously. Some are amazed while others are scared. Though science and technology have been so advanced it is funny that superstitions still survives.