Gobalisation 'the cause of problems'
By Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation 2011-05-09
Criminal cases and youth's unwanted behaviour problems are on the rise. Up to 266,010 drug cases were reported last year, 11.6 per cent higher than the previous year (2009), Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board has told the public, adding that the figure was the highest in eight years, and most of the offenders were youth aged 2024 years old. Moreover, 67,958 teenagers gave birth in 2009 up from 61,510 in 2006, according to Thailand's Child Watch Project.
"Globalisation has caused the problems in society," Dr Catherine Bernard, FounderPresidentDirector of Service and Research Institute on Family and Children (SERFAC) said yesterday in an interview with The Nation.
Globalisation had weakened society as international culture had engulfed good and unique Asian culture and materialism from western countries had caused family problems, in which families with different financial status were facing similar problems as parents focused on making money to their needs rather than giving their children's love and care. So, the weak culture and families were main causes of crimes and children's and youngsters' unwanted behaviour, she said.
Catherine said technology had come in globalisation era. Western countries had influenced more technological equipments to be used by people for 20 years, particularly in developing countries, like India, Thailand and Bangladesh. There was also higher cost of living. Thus, more women began to get into workforce. People in developing countries migrated to Europe and the US for better way of life.
"So, the globalisation process becomes faster and wider. Today, we live in a market economy and throw away society."
"Western countries are exposing values and way of life of eastern countries," said Catherine, adding that eastern children wanted western things, such as junk food due to influence of advertisements.
She said many children now grew up in violent family environment. So, they would be terrorists when they became adults.
Therefore, she urged people to go back to spiritual, religious, cultural and moral awareness, while governments should be strong enough to approve only what considered good for people, not focusing only on materialism. "The best way (to create more human society) is through family." Parents should change themselves, taking care of their children with care and love.
To seek new ways of addressing globalisation impact at the level of family, SERFAC will hold its silver jubilee conference, entitled "In Defense of the Family: Family, Children and Culture" on June1620 at Holiday Inn Hotel, Silom in Bangkok, where experts on family, children and culture will share their ideas.
Catherine said a statement would be issued at the end of the conference to be sent to the United Nations, governments and leadership groups. So, they could implement the statement's solutions on the issue. She hoped the UN would use its global influence to encourage the governments to practise following the statement.
The conference needed participation from representatives from the Thai government and state agencies, she added.
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