What it means to be a Global Citizen?

We each have our own opinions on what it means to be a citizen in our communities and our countries. However, we rarely think about what it means to be a Global Citizen. A Global Citizen is a recently emerging term that reminds us of the responsibilities we each have for our fellow human beings, human rights, striving for equality and our common interests. The key to bridging the gaps between worldwide communities is to educate people about ourselves and about the difference that we have as citizens of our communities. The organization I work for... Legacy International holds a summer program called the Global Youth Village every year focusing on educating youth around the globe what it means to be a Global Citizen. Our youth walk away with a fresh new perspective on life, people and what it means to build peace.

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Comment by Janos Abel on March 11, 2010 at 1:30am: We each may have our own opinions, but is not there one truth somewhere? A global citizen imply a ranked progression from fundamental to less important belonging and allegiances:
first we are all human beings,
then by accident of birth we are part of a nation or tribe,
finally by choice, hopefully, we adopt a faith that best explains the mysteries of being.

If we accept the first allegiance, we see all wars as civil wars and all conflicts as ones between siblings of one family. Such agreement in belonging is required for "bridging the gaps between worldwide communities". So if "We each [do] have our own opinions..." more work needs to be done that will lead to "shared convictions".

A lot more follows then from such shared understanding. For example, recognition of the fundamental importance of sharing the unevenly distributed natural resources (the oil riches of the Middle East, the mineral wealth of some other countries, the large expanses of natural beauty of some sparsely populated regions like New Zealand --- 4 million residents, etc.,) within the world wide family.

Yes, world citizenship includes agreeing on the importance of genuine world economic union facilitated by peaceful and equitable trade. Trade that is not vitiated by power politics.

Let us do some rigorous modelling, drawing on the competence of Systems Science, of a freely united world society at events like the Legacy International summer program. And have a follow through during the year to disseminate new thinking among those who could or did not participate in the once-a-year program.