Question

Whether liberating or alienating, we are still interdependent, and in a world of strangers it is they on whom we must rely. I trust the skill of people around the world when I buy my clothes, drive my car, and eat my food. I trust engineers, contractors, and inspectors when I cross a bridge, ride an elevator, or fly in an airplane. I trust I will receive fair treatment by such strangers as librarians, ambulance drivers, nurses or doctors, policemen or firemen.

They are there to serve strangers. Our territorial segmentation makes us strangers and our global integration makes us depend on and trust strangers often more than family and friends. We know we are linked globally because we have constructed communication and transportation links to tie us all together.

These networks empower us-our actions go far beyond the local to transform nature and culture virtually anywhere. The networks are so complex and shifting that we are rarely able to trace the extent and consequences of our actions.

What is Robert Sack saying?

Even though you live in Spain, how are you personally connected to the mining of minerals on the continent of Africa?

Answer 1

Robert sack wants to say that in this era of globalization, countries have become interdependent. Modernization and the need to access all the luxury of life have made countries of the world dependent on each other. When nations trade from eachother, they put their faith in eachother for buying goods. This mutual faith and trust have brought people of different countrues more close to each other. Information technology has brought cultures and traditions of each country on a global forum. In virtual world, we are just one click away from each other. We have become so dependent on each other that we do not even realize it and it's consequences.

Africa is very rich in many minerals and metals such as cobalt, gold, uranium, diamonds, oil and different gases. Many countries get their raw material from africa. If I live in spain, and I buy diamonds and glods of africa and put oil brought from the same country in my vehicles, I will fell personally connected to the continent of africa.