Posted on Saturday November 20th
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Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit 2010In its fourth year, the HC-APYLS has adopted the theme 'Citizens without Borders: Locating the Global Citizen'
About the Theme:
"We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community," so said President Franklin D. Roosevelt over half a century ago, at his fourth inauguration address. The concept of a global citizen is as relevant today as it was then, despite a radically different social milieu. The theme of this year's summit aims then to reconsider the figure of the global citizen and its definition, challenges and responsibilities in a contemporary context.
The concept of a global citizen is perhaps best summarised by philosopher Thomas Paine��s statement - "My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." The concepts of globalisation and cosmopolitanism are both key to being a global citizen, as is the creation of a unified international community that surpasses geographical boundaries. However, there is most certainly no unified global consensus on what the concept of a ��global citizen�� includes and precludes. From the vantage points of varying cultural and national interests, it can be subject to substantially different interpretations. Any discussion targeted at clarifying and reinforcing the concept hence requires a diverse array of views.
"Locating the global citizen" is thus an attempt to discover the global citizen's responsibilities as they are articulated by various cultures. Whether these responsibilities lie in the area of social conscience, environmental sustainability, cultural awareness, or economic interdependence, it is only by understanding and uncovering its various conceptions and interpretations, will this term become a fruitful and productive concept that is understood both at a global and a local level.
