If we vote for these politicians or government leaders who are responsible for the deterioration of the global environment, we are as much responsible. We also share responsibility for the worsening economic situation of millions of people. The fact that we may be ignorant or know little about global economics does not exonerate us of responsibility.

The media, influding the Internet, bring us the news, our primary sources of information. The reality is that the mainstream of this information may present limited views of what is actually happening in the world. And how about the half-truths, sensationalized and biased reporting we have to contend with. We don’t have to believe or accept every news to be true.

Yet it's the same media that also play a vital role in precipitating positive change. For instance, a Daily News with a wide circulation can expose a corruption and crime by running a serialised story or follow up a lead about a significant event. Such stories, once taken seriously and formally investigated, can produce productive results for the community or the world in general. One specific event I have in mind was the international media exposure of the pre-1994 South African government’s injustices that helped bring down the apartheid regime. The rest is history. Even when demonstrators take to the streets they do so in part with the purpose of making their demands gain publicity, thereby putting pressure on government leaders, politicians, as well as corporate decision-makers.