Global Q&A: ‘Do you feel following world news events impacts your life?’

Colombia

Walter Jarrin Uceda, 53, Chartered Accountant

World events do affect me, especially when the stock market in Europe, in the United States, and in Japan feels like a kind of economic earthquake; particularly because the currency is evaluated against the dollar and the euro. At least here in Colombia, all the prices slowly go up, but they aren’t in line with the basic salary. All of this is because of the bad economy of these nonindustrialized countries that leads us to a disastrous poverty. These events affect us all in Latin America. 

Bangalore, India

Kavitha G Singh, 36 years, Assistant Professor, Biochemistry

Yes, following world events definitely does have an impact on my life. I have a sense of mixed feelings. On the one hand, especially because I am from a science background, I am elated and take immense pleasure in reading about advances in science and technology, the variety of new inventions and innovations that are taking place. But also, reading [about] events of various bomb blasts, wars, and people suffering from a variety of new diseases and various lifestyle disorders saddens me. 

Maroochydore Australia

Kylie Blake, 32, Home Duties/Mother

I do feel that following world news does impact against my life. It puts the fear of God into you knowing what’s happening in the world today, I suppose.

Rotorua, New Zealand

Rob Beckett, 59, General Manager

Yes, it does. The reason being, because we are part of a global economy, whenever there is a recession it impacts on my current lifestyle because of the price of goods that may be essential or desirable to my well-being. For example, when the price of oil spikes, it means that I can’t afford to travel in my car very far.

Dubai, Arab United Emirates

Jeff Price, 39, Radio and TV Broadcaster

Yes, it totally impacts my life! Because I work in the media and I have to follow the stories. Most of the stories today are very negative, so I’m actually beginning to switch off!

Santa Brigida (Canary Islands) Spain

Bernardo Rivero, 52, Desk Officer

Yes some do, specifically the ones about war, or the ones about hunger in the world. There are other types of news that cause me feelings of anger, or even a sense of helplessness.

Manhattan, New York, USA

Bo Winnberg, 35, Retail Business

Well, I mean like we’re living in a global society, so everything gets closer; people are traveling all over the world, and we’re connected. … If an area is bad, you might not travel there; you might change plans; you might worry what happens there. I have family abroad, so I’m always checking the world news. If something happens to them, it affects me, ’cause I wonder what happens. If you see snowstorms in Europe, you’re like, do I know anybody that flies in Europe? Because I live in NY, al-Qaeda is almost wiped out, so that means you can breathe a little easier, somehow that makes you happier.

Haddarp, Sweden

Maria Andersson, 31, Accountant

Right now, since I’m pregnant, it doesn’t affect me at all. That is because I’m very tired in the evening and don’t look at it. I have noticed at work when others speak about things that happen in the world, I don’t understand any of it.

Puerto Montt, Chile

Rodrigo Ponce, 38, Salesman

Yes, it does affect me, especially now that we live in a globalized world; many of the decisions made in any place in the world can affect the lives of citizens from other parts of the world. For example, if there is a war in the Middle East, immediately the price of oil goes up. If there are speculations of stockbrokers, they affect the economy and produce crises that can affect everyone in different places. If a disease appears, it spreads rapidly throughout the world—for example, the avian flu. So we all are in danger. That is why these events do affect me.

Lima-Peru

Jorge Sifuentes, 58, Food Preservation Specialist

Yes, I think that affects my life and the lives of others. Due to the extent and growth of transnational food producers, there is enormous pressure to prevent the use of organic fertilizer and more to use transgenic (GMO) elements. They prevent the development of foods based on their nature; for example, the planting of transgenic soybeans, and yellow corn for the animals. Based on research of agricultural products, a group of people have attempted to rescue the natural processes, without success. In general, modernity has affected us a lot and continues to affect life in general.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Would it matter if giant Pandas became extinct?”