September 18th, 2011
Bangkok Agreement Asia Pacific Trade Agreement
Globalization, the challenges to equal opportunities for the disability movement
INTRODUCTION
Human communities worldwide have tended to move slowly to strengthening partnerships for a long time. Lately, however, the speed of movement appears to have accelerated considerably. For example, the invention of jet aircraft, the computer chip, and the availability of electronic mail (email), economic services telecommunications, enormous sea vessels, but fast, instantaneous financial transactions across national borders, seem to contribute to the movement for make the world more interdependent than ever. The production and provision of goods and service marks of transnational corporations (TNCs), such as Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Dulux paints, Gestetner Barclays Bank, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried chicken, Nandos, Dunlop, and Ford to name a few, are marketed throughout the world, all seem to contribute to the world a more symbiotic. The exchange of information and knowledge along with communication technology and financial products, ideas and cultures Now seems to flow more freely. And this seems to be the current trend and future.
Globalization certainly seems to be one of the highlights of the day century. Consequently, laws, economy and social commitments now appear to be worldwide. Professionals, politicians, intellectuals and journalists seem to treat global trends as expected and welcome in general. And for some of the world, globalization has become a slogan or buzzword and could mean get rid of the old ways of life and livelihoods and cultures hostile (Guinness, 2003).
However, the signs of globalization in recent decades are compared to last at least four important phases that others seem to have shrunk the world throughout history. Historically, globalization can be regarded as having been marked by;
- European travel cross-ocean discovery in 1492 to about 1565 (Guinness, 2003).
- Forced migration and displacement of Africans and Indians as slaves and indentured labor for the plantations in the West Indies.
- Migration human mass in the early 1930 in Europe and Asia to the Americas (Ingstad and Whyte 1995).
- The economic depression of the 1930s (Stiglitz, 2002).
Although each of these earlier episodes of globalization has experienced rapid growth in the global economy, Guinness (2003), states that tend to exert a heavy toll, especially in states less developed nation. In addressing the challenges and opportunities of globalization, now appears to be increasing global problems with positive and negative impacts of this phenomenon at the local, national and international events in all areas whether social, political or economic (Priestley, 2001). Of interest in this essay, is the field of disability and how globalization has impacted on the challenges and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Although Lauder, Brown, Dillabough and Halsey (2006) indicate that most researchers on globalization have tended to focus on particular aspects of globalization, however, appears to be multi-dimensional (Waters, 1995; Cheng, 2004). Therefore, perceptions of the phenomenon tends to vary and, consequently, the definitions of the word until now postulate appear "fuzzy". And indeed Lauder et al (2006) notes that there is no commonly accepted definition so far as it seems globalization is a process that never ends and can not be thought of as cyclical or evolutionarily progressing from simple to complex.
In fact, with a new generation of writers such as Brown and Lauder (1996), Schirato and Webb (2003), Stiglitz (2002), Burbules and Torres (2000) and Bottery (2004), to name a few, it seems that a lot of concepts that include technological globalization, globalization and the globalization of economic learning, globalization and the environment, globalization, demographics, globalization of America (Nye, 2002) globalization, cultural globalization politics (Bottery, 2004) emerged, advancing new ideas on the meaning of globalization. The list of the types of "globalization" seems endless and is underway, as the debate on the phenomenon continues to move forward. But according to Bottery (2004), some forms of globalization are most pressing in their immediate effects than others. This paper discusses and defines globalization from an overall perspective and also explores how the process of globalization has "pushed" in creating the challenges and opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide. Other terms such as "disability" enroll in the context of globalization is defined as the discussion develops.
What is globalization?
Although the term "planet" and "global" seems to have been in the use of English for more than four centuries, the noun form "Globalization" seems to be in common use until about 1960 (Guinness, 2003). According to Weekley (1967), in "An Etymological Dictionary Modern English ", the term" globalization "was first recognized in 1959, but remained inactive until mid- 1980 when its use increased dramatically in the academic language (Guinness, 2003). For some authors, the term seems to refer to the emergence of organizations corporations, whose decisions tend to shape and limit policy options in any particular nation-state may wish to take (Burbules and Torres, 2000). For other Moreover, globalization can mean the transition "from the wall and regional economies worldwide" free "trade and markets" (Lauder, et al 2006; .. 30). You can, however, for others it means the impact of global economic processes, including the production of goods and service standards, patterns of consumption and financial interdependence and "Footloose" capital flows (Brown and Lauder, 1996). For still others, globalization means the emergence of new global cultural forms, media, information and communication, which appear unconstrained by national borders (Held, 1991). Is perhaps the skeptics politics, where globalization can be seen as building a mental illness used by the state government for support for or opposition to the reform pumpkin resulting from the most powerful forces such as global trade competitions promoted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) or responses to structural adjustment programs (SAPs) demands of the Bretton Woods Institutes, World Bank and International Monetary Fund) (Brown, 1999): or obligations to comply with agreements or intergovernmental regional economic blocs (Held, 1991) and the European Union, the Treaty of American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), leaving the nation-state with no choice but to play along a set of rules global tax (Burbules and Torres, 2000) Guinness (2003, 3). posits that the nature of certain jobs tend to influence views of thinking about globalization. By example, Kofi Annan (former Secretary General of the United Nations) globalization can mean "the inclusion of the world", warehouses and other dictators, mentality, globalization can be perceived in the sense of a threat to national sovereignty of their nation states. While Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation, globalization may mean that connects the virtual world in cyberspace, a world wide web. Therefore, thousands of points of view on globalization emerged as the concept power across a wide range of intellectual interests, with some points of view on a final concept and vilify the other, praising him (Stiglitz, 2002).
The use and popularity of the term "globalization" may be in part due to its vagueness and its ability to assume different dimensions, depending the user and context. Held and Koenig-Archibugi (2003) and Schirato and Webb (2000: 1) agree and describe globalization as a word often used to designate the global power relations, practices and technologies that characterize and help bring into existence the modern world. Robertson (1992) defines globalization as a concept that refers both to the understanding of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole. Waters (2001), to coin its definition maintains that the way more appropriate to define globalization would predict what a fully globalized world seems to be in the future. Waters (2001) therefore displays globalization as characterized by a unique worldwide partnership with a single culture, where no territorial limits, in that status quo, seem to exist, in principle, to organize social life and culture and where you can have great respect for tolerance, diversity and individual choice. Waters (2001) also considers that the flow of trade and migration people and ideas across national boundaries and political, among themselves and, therefore, forcing to rationalize previously homogeneous cultures of others. Thus, globalization can be perceived SA process that simultaneously homogenizes and differentiates and thus "pluralize the world by recognizing the value of cultural niche "(Guinness, 2003, 2). From this position, therefore, water (2001) defines globalization as;
A process in which the limitations of geography in economic arrangements, social and cultural rights away, in which people become increasingly aware that they are receding and people act accordingly.
To some extent, the definition of Waters of globalization seems to agree with (2002, 9) Stiglitz description, where says globalization is fundamentally
the greater integration of countries and peoples of the world that has produced the enormous reduction costs of transport and communication, and the breakdown of artificial barriers to the flow of goods, services, knowledge capital, and people … across borders.
Waters (2001), globalization is not only a major historical process that greatly affects the culture, but also a focus of attention of modern culture and economy. He argues that globalization has a tendency to have problems from the middle levels of the periphery. For example, through the transmission continuing rapid "call" Western culture to outlying communities, and vice versa, globalization has also tended to introduce the themes, from peripheral to central levels. For example, the field of disability is discussed below, has taken seriously on the agenda of national institutions above, as the United Nations, International Labour Organization Bretton Woods Institute and the World Health Organization or the organizations that have merged with the already to run on existing boundaries. In this sense, I think the United Nations agenda 'of work on globalization is in response to the changing context internationally to promote disability cash-oriented development policies and strategies. Consequently, the United Nations goal through various weapons, such as World Bank, the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, to name a few, is to ensure that disability policies and strategies of globalization and the role of working to improve the health, welfare and rights of the poor and disadvantaged populations (World Health Organization, 2005).
Disability as a global concept: historical background and the definition of disability.
Disability is a socio-cultural problem that seemed to have remained in the periphery, but has now been brought to the center of most of the global agenda. It a term that is sometimes confused with two other terms "disability and impairment. The terms" disability "," deterioration "and" handicap "were often used interchangeably, but in an unclear and confusing, and may have tended to give poor guidance for policy makers, for political action, as well as for practical use. The terms used to be perceived from a medical and diagnostic (Shakespeare, 2006).
What is a disability?
Disability is a phenomenon that exists in all societies and tends to affect predictable proportions of each population (Metts, 2004). Although there are a number of definitions in use to describe disability, disability depends very much the context. And apparently, universal, apparently there is no agreed definition of disability until 1980. Historically, disability was on the one hand, seen as a medical condition with a health problem located within the individual. Therefore, some of the definitions tend to reflect this understanding that disability was a disease individual, ie a condition based on physiological deterioration, biological and intellectual of an individual (Shakespeare, 2006). The medical definitions gave rise to the idea that people were "objects" to be "treated", "change" or "better" and more "normal" (Wolfensburger, 1972). Medical definitions tend to perceive the disabled person as having to "fit" instead of how society should be transformed. They do not seem adequately explain the relationship between social conditions or expectations and the unique circumstances of an individual.
Disability can be viewed as a condition varied and complex, with a number of implications for social identity and behavior (Ingstad and Whyte 1995). Therefore, a growing awareness to articulate a definition of disability, which was consistent with human rights values, principles and practices that are needed. While some people with disabilities can have medical conditions that prevent it and may or may not require medical treatment, current knowledge, technology and collective resources and that its impairment physical or mental impairment does not necessarily prevent participation in community life. According to Rieser and Mason (1990), is the unwillingness of society to employ these means to the modification of itself that causes disability. However, it seems that at the heart of society is the respect for the values that the variation in cultures human and the recognition that people are different on several considerations, such as gender, race, class, sexuality and disability (Lauder et al, 2006; 29).
On the other hand, while the medical model appeared to be in vogue, which was challenged by disability activists who rebuilt disability as a social phenomenon (Shakespeare, 2006). The social model of disability appears to draw a clear distinction between impairment, disability and disability, because society tends to ignore the imperfections and deficiencies of the environment that tends to turn people off by his failure to recognize and adapt to differences. And also, through the barriers psychological and institutional housed people. Disability therefore appears to arise from a complex interaction between health conditions, the social context in which there and the individual. For some, disability is a relative term problems increasingly true or less disabling in different contexts.
In 1980, the Organization World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the terms disabilities, impairments and disabilities, and suggested a universal approach, more accurate and realistic at the same time their definitions and use Metts, 2004, 3). The World Health Organization made a clear distinction between "impairment", "disability" and "handicap". However, there is concern that the definition of the term "disability" and "handicap" can still be considered too physician-centered individual, and can not adequately clarify the interaction between social conditions or expectations and skills of the individual. Therefore, the need to separate and clarify the meaning of these terms. From the description, the term "disability" tends to summarize different functional limitations occurring on people anywhere in the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairments, medical conditions or mental illness. These limitations or illnesses may be permanent or temporary (United Nations, 1993).
The term "disability" tends to mean the loss or limitation opportunities to participate in community life on equal terms with others (Ingstad and Whyte 1995). You can describe the situation of the disabled person and its environment. The term emphasizes the interest in socially organized deficiencies in environmental activities, such as access to information, education communication technology, health services and prevent people with disabilities to participate on equal terms with others (Ingstad and Whyte 1995). Although the term is still used, its technical use, according to Stone (1997) discarded by the United Nations in 1993. During the 1970s there was a strong rejection among representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and professionals in the field of disability of the word at that time (Ingstad and Whyte 1995). The term "disability" can be defined as "any loss or abnormality of psychological structure, physiological or anatomical or function" (WHO, 1980). The distinction and clarification of the terms "disability" and "deterioration" and "handicap" seemed to settle the opinions about the models medical and social disability in opposition to each other. This seemed to pave the way for a new and acceptable disability apparently framed model along Rights Human. In light of the values of modern society was a model, attractive for advocates of equal rights and United Nations (Shakespeare, 2006).
In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly held its first Declaration of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Priestley, 2001). After the declaration, United Nations proclaimed 1981 as International Year of People with Disabilities and began the development of Global Action programs led to the adoption Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in 1994 (UN, 1993). As a result of the experience gained during 1983-1992 Decade of Persons with Disabilities, in implementing the Programmes of Action and the general discussions that took place, there was a deepening of knowledge and understanding about disability issues and the terminology used. At the same time, disability was more clearly defined (Priestley, 2001, Ingstad and Whyte 1995). (Although multi-cultural, yet seems to have problems in the definition of disability in a global context, for example, how could the imperfections of the body and mind is understood in different societies? Identity or how can a person be affected by culturally defined one's disability? (Ingstad and Whyte 1995). Therefore, according to Haddad (2001), the president of the Canadian Medical Association, the term disability, tend to have different meanings depending on context in which the term is used. However, for the purpose of this paper of the World Health Organization (WHO) functional definition of disability in question. The definition of the World Health Organization's disability falls within the model of the International Classification of Diseases and "because it is categorized the consequence of the disease, which includes a consideration of social contexts "and at the same time it captures aspects of Human Rights (Ingstad and Whyte, 1995, 5). According to this classification, disability is defined as "any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being "(Mett, 2004; 3)
However, many governments and organizations seem to have adapted to this definition and developed legislation to suit their own economic and social situations as evidenced by the definitions of the examples in the following countries. The Israeli Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Act of 1998 states that a person with a disability;
in the sense of "a person with a physical, emotional or mental including cognitive impairment, permanent or temporary, as a result of which is substantially limited a person's functioning in one or more of the major areas of life. (Wolfgang Preiser and Ostroff, 2003).
UK Disability Discrimination Act 1995 states that "a person has a disability … if you have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial adverse long term effects on their ability to lead a normal life with their daily activities. "(Department of Development International, 2000).
In Zimbabwe Act 1992 Disabled Persons, which was enacted after the war of political liberation "person with disabilities "means
a person with a physical disability, mental or sensory disabilities, including visual impairment, hearing or speech functional, which results in physical, cultural or social inhibition of participation to an equal level with other members of the society in the activities of businesses or fields of work are open to other members of society (Government of Zimbabwe, 1992).
Obviously, the few examples serve to show that the definition of disability appears to be framed along the individual circumstances and social contexts nation-states in particular, but also appears to involve empowerment of people with disabilities through the recognition over equal rights.
The global measure of disability
To measure the national population of regional and local disability, not to speak of the population world agrees with Metts (2004) almost impossible. Therefore, there is wide variation in estimated disability rates reported by developed countries and development (Thomas, 2005). Most of the United Nations, using estimates developed by the International Rehabilitation in the 1970 and the Program United Nations Development (1997) that about ten percent of any population is born with a disability or acquire one in your life (Disability World, 2003). This, however, seems to have changed over time because in the United States of America, Stone (1997, 4) notes the prevalence of disability is approximately Twenty percent of the population. In developing countries and elsewhere, especially in Africa, the percentage seems much lower than ten percent. The Zimbabwe between the censuses of 1997 Demographic Survey conducted by the Central Statistical Office stated that, from a population of about twelve million dollars, 218 421 were disabled people (Government of Zimbabwe, 1997). This figure is less than 2% of the population, but in developed countries, the percentages are higher. Table SINTEF then seems to give a sympnosis of the situation. This seems to be the trend worldwide. This is ironic, but it is not surprising, if the causes of disability should be discussed. (Unfortunately, this paper does not discuss these, as it would be a diversion from topic). However, globally, the United Nations that the leading causes of disability are disease (51.2% e), malnutrition (20%), accidents, war and trauma $ 15.6% and other causes and the aging of 13.2%. (Metts, 2004).
Apparently, the variation in the number of different countries may also depend largely on the definitions of disability used, which either increase or decrease disability groups and the difficulties in data collection procedures and the different assessment systems used in different countries. This may be a more likely reason of data collected by national governments in developing states are perceived by the organizations working on disability, and underestimate and downplay the extent of disability in their countries. However, for me, it seems that research data can be the representation of the actual situation on the ground despite the popular wisdom "Western" that the opposite may be true. The census figures collected by the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) is shown in the figure seem to vindicate this scenario representative. The report probably SINTEF reflects the correct perspectives to light that the world seems to be experiencing a demographic change and urban environments also become more sophisticated, more tend to be disabling, as they tend to erect barriers that limit or reduce human functioning, so that "the creation of" people with disabilities a sense (Harwood, Sayer and Hirschfield, 2004). (For example a person with mental health problems in African farms sophisticated activities can prove productive in terms of agricultural skills while if the same person you were taken to an urbanized environment would be useless, because the means of production in this situation are different and can present problems for the individual)
Developed countries
Developing countries
Country
Year
%
Country
Year
%
Canada
1991
14.7
Kenya
1989
0.7
Germany
1992
8.4
Namibia
1991
3.1
Italy
1994
5.0
Nigeria
1991
0.5
Netherlands
1986
11.6
Senegal
1988
1.1
Norway
1995
17.8
South Africa
1980
0.5
Sweden
1988
12.1
Zambia
1990
0.9
Spain
1986
15.0
Kenya
1989
0.7
United Kingdom
1991
12.2
Zimbabwe
1997
1.9
Table 1; Prevalence (%) of disability in selected countries (The Foundation for Scientific Research and Industrial Research, SINTEF, 2004).
Other investigations of the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) research in Zimbabwe seems to reinforce this claim, as he found higher rates of disability in urban than in rural areas, suggesting that "societies complex disability making sense "(Arne, Nhiwathiwa, Muderedzi, and Loeb, 2003).
In developed countries also appears to be greater hope of life due to improved medical technology and health care means more people reach old age and age-related disability experience (Harwood et al, 2004). Today, the demographics indicate that there are approximately more than half a billion people with disabilities worldwide. The Organization World Health predicts a huge increase in world population will increase dramatically between 2000 and 2050.and thus a proportional increase in the number global disability (Harwood et al, 2004). It is expected that during the period, the Indian subcontinent could be a population increase of approximately 120% China, 70%, sub-Saharan Africa, 257% and Burkina Faso, Congo, Liberia, Niger, Somalia, Palestine, Uganda, could have a combined increase of more 400%. (Harwood et al, 2004).
Disability in the global context
There is growing evidence that disability as a problem seems to have changed significantly in recent years on the periphery in the center of the international agenda of human rights (Mett, 2004, 1), and numerous literature that the agenda of disability policy has become a global policy issue (Barton & Oliver, 1987, Priestley 2001), and which has become a challenge for policy makers to draw development-oriented policies and strategies for social and economic programs for the disabled people. The process of globalization seems to be changing not only the population of people with disabilities but also their experience of disability. People with disabilities in the world seem to be empowering themselves to assert greater participation and equality in the global challenges that affect them. Such statements are not only about control over the lives of individuals, but also a greater influence on societies and economies in which they live (Swain, Finklestein, French and Oliver, 1993). Therefore, the celebration of International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP) declared in 1982 and commemorates the December 3 tends to focus on participation active people with disabilities in the planning of strategies and policies that affect their lives. The annual celebration of the day, with the slogan "Nothing about us without us ", seems to offer an opportunity to promote changes in attitudes towards people with disabilities to remove barriers to full participation in all aspects of life (Stone, 1997; Rowland, 2001, Swain et al 1993).
The declaration of 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (AII) disability higher on the international agenda of human rights (Priestley, 2001). A major outcome of the International Year of Disabled Persons was formation of the Global Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, General Assembly adopted at its 37th ordinary session in 1982, in its resolution 37/52 (UN, 1982). Later years were supposed to focus international attention on a particular area and create new links and opportunities (Swain et al. 1993).
In southern African countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, the motto has been "Disability is not inability" (Salmonsson, 2006). This slogan and motto tend to be based on the principle of participation and has been used by people with disability organizations throughout the year as part of the movement global disability to achieve full participation and equal opportunities for and with persons with disabilities (Watermeyer, Swartz, Lorenzo, Schneider and Priestley (2006). Therefore, to unravel the experience of disability from the social context of disability societies at local, national, and world seems impossible.
Therefore, the recognition of people with disabilities to improve their lives has been demonstrated by the United Nations, as is evident from the participation active people with disabilities in the ongoing development of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006), and the Standard Rules for Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (UNESCO, 1993). These agreements seem to have proven to be excellent examples of how the principle of full participation can be placed on the disabled practice and how it can contribute to the development of truly inclusive communities and a better future for all.
Establishment of the United Nations of the World Programme of Action led to the Framework for Action UNESCO World Conference on Education for All held in 1990 in Jomtien (Thailand), The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Special Needs Education (UNESCO, 1994) and the Dakar Framework on Education for All (UNESCO, 2002). To demonstrate the importance of the placement of disability worldwide, over one hundred and fifty-five countries around the world were represented by Heads government, international agencies, NGOs and professional bodies committed to recognize the education of all people with disabilities, attended the conference in Jomtien (Ndawi, 1997). The Dakar World Education Forum conference in April 2000 attracted over 1,100 participants of one hundred and four countries (UNESCO, 2002). Participants ranged from teachers to prime ministers, academics to policymakers, nongovernmental organizations the heads of major international organizations. Approval of the Dakar Framework for Action, Education for All (UNESCO, 2002). The Dakar conference was complemented by previous conferences that examined all issues related to the challenges and the empowerment of people with disabilities. These were namely Saharan Conference Education for All held in South Africa in 1999, Asia-Pacific Conference on Education for All, held in Bangkok in 2000, the Regional Conference Arab Education for All held in Cairo, the third inter-ministerial review of the E-9 Countries held in Recife, Brazil, Conference on Education for All in Europe and North America held in Warsaw, Poland in 2000 and the Regional Education for All by the Conference of the Americas, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2000 (UNESCO, 2002).
GLOBAL CHALLENGES disabilities to equal opportunities
It appears people with disabilities being questioned on four fronts, namely, poverty, war, access to education and work.
Poverty
With the agenda of disability policy have reached the highest levels of recognition, globalization appears to have built a universe that offers endless opportunities and new patterns of life for all, for example easy access to education, information and technology health and social services and so on. But, according to Ghai (2001), the paradox is that on the one hand, globalization emphasizes the economic power to improve the lives of humanity, but on the other, methodically marginalizes certain groups of people, particularly people with disabilities through the use of modern technology and removal of these individuals to participate in a contribution to gross national product of its Member States. And so, globalization seems to have created problems for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Moreover, the apparent disparity in economic, social and technological cooperation among nation-states difference has led to globalization seems to have a different meaning for people with disabilities and challenge differently in different communities (Ghai, 2001), with some richer communities than others. Poverty seems to be afflicting half a billion people with disabilities more or less in the world today, according Ghai (2001), more people with disabilities seem to be suffering on all continents, perhaps more than ever. Most of them are in the lower end of the socio-economic (Beresford, 1996; Frieden, 2002).
Consequently, people with disabilities have tended to be more vulnerable to failure to combat poverty, exclusion, stigma and lack of access to education and basic services. People with disabilities seem to experience more intensely poverty, but have fewer opportunities to escape it. A former president of the World Bank noted this and said that "unless people with disabilities enter the mainstream of development, it is impossible to cut poverty in half by 2015 … "(Richler, 2005, 37). Therefore, according to Beresford, 1996) the fight against global poverty is a key issue in the disability movement.
Wars and political turmoil
Another aspect that seems to defy the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities is war and political upheavals associated (Priestley, 2001). As Driedger (1987) observed, war and political turmoil has had adverse effects on the lives of people with disabilities and their rights grossly violated in times of war appear in any the world, effectively excluding them from participating in the social capacity and strengthening the capital of the affected nations. Priestley (1987) also points out that wars have led to millions of disabled refugees and displaced persons around the areas of tone of the war. Supposedly, in the middle of Africa, Middle East and Afghanistan and Central America, the war is perceived as a major cause of disability. Landmines have also contributed massively to cause disability of various kinds and therefore the achievement of peace has become a global problem of disability. The European Union's commitment to eradicating landmines worldwide seems to illustrate, but the United Nations role in this area seems "invisible".
In a speech to the parliament of the European Union, the Commissioner European Union Foreign Affairs said that one hundred forty-four countries have ratified the Mine Ban Treaty (Waldner, 2005). Numerous other Summits have been held to discuss reducing the number of people either killed or maimed by landmines. Waldner admitted that the annual number of victims of landmines has been reduced from 26 000 to less than 15 000 (Waldner, 2005). The World Organization of People with Disabilities (DPI, 1998) objected to this question at its Assembly 1998 World in Mexico City and a subsequent visit by the DPI World Council of Hiroshima, the site of the bomb atomic War Second, resulted in the International Peace Declaration by disability organizations globally.
However, war and political upheaval that, ironically, also had a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. In countries where there were revolutions, such as Vietnam, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Nicaragua, Ingstad and Whyte (1995) and Montero (1998), observed that people with disabilities, in the process were revered and "practically considered national heroes and given every opportunity to develop and strengthen their organizations, "and access to finance, education, employment and other services. Veterans the war seemed to experience disability in a positive manner quite different compared with the disabled before the revolution.
Work
For many people with disabilities, the demand for access to work can be seen as an important significant independent adult life and a crucial component in the struggle for equality. However, as Priestley (2001, 
states, people with disabilities worldwide "remain disproportionately unemployed, underemployed and underpaid … "This statement is reflected in, for example, in the center of the British Government's proposal to address the oppression of disabled people in the workplace (Barton and Oliver, 1997). The British government cut access to the scheme of work and disabled people's organizations fought decision stating that the right to work is a fundamental human right (Barton and Oliver, 1997). Such challenges to access to jobs for people with disabilities are have become common in many countries. Therefore, in 1983, the International Labour Organization adopted the Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons invalid) (ILO, 1983) to ensure equal opportunities and equal treatment of persons with disabilities in the workplace and social integration. However, despite of a worldwide effort to include people with disabilities in the workplace, locally, some are still excluded by their disabilities, as some tend not being able to produce goods or services to contribute to social and economic capital base. For this, Barton and Oliver (1997, 35) commented that this is so, " because in any society …….. Some products are valuable and others not, regardless of the efforts that go into its production. "
Education
Education occupies a unique position in modern society today because it tends to benefit both society and the individual as it is considered a good public (Psacharopoulos and Woodhall (1985). Advances in scientific knowledge and understanding seem to reinforce the optimism that society has of education (Lauder et al.2006). Education offers optimism to influence the welfare of people and the nation state, because according to Lauder et al. (2006), education is perceived most people as the means by which to improve the lives of individuals and understanding their place in the world.
. General market, therefore, as global trends and technologies continue to evolve in new ways, education tends to become commdified and free access to education also seems to be more important for everyone. However, disabled people seems to remain challenged in their quest to access the educational opportunities available. In their eagerness to acquire knowledge and skills needed in the changing world of work, Peters (1996) notes that unequal access to the results of the educational benefits of the lack of access work, which encourages further creation of an impoverished community. In some societies, such as Pakistan, disabled girl education children is not considered important (Shah, 1990). And from a personal standpoint, it seems that this view is that between religious communities in South Africa. Barriers to access to education challenge many people with disabilities and forced to rely on their families in many countries (Priestley, 2001). In addressing these issues, United Nations, through the various protocols such as the Salamanca Declaration, the Dakar Framework, the Jomtien Conference and others, search
Guarantee equal educational opportunities at all levels for children, youth and adults with disabilities in integrated settings, taking full account of individual differences and situations (World Summit for Social Development, Commitment 6, paragraph f, 1995). Therefore, at the national level, governments around the world have had to draft legislation and initiatives in accordance with the vision of the United Nations.
However, in most African States, policies and laws were absent and a concerted effort was made to put in place through the African Plan of Action Continental unions, which aims to implement priority activities in on disability during the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (1999-2009) (Secretariat of the African Decade, 2004). To create a fair society in Africa, the African Decade Secretariat facilitates the development of very progressive policies and legislation, which if properly used, can in periods drastically reform the social disadvantages experienced by all people with disabilities. For example, Ghana adopted a free basic education, compulsory and universal (FCUB) (Sawyerr 1997), an initiative in line with this vision of the United Nations. In Zimbabwe, the module Basic Education Assistance (BEAM) was initiated at both the same vision. U.S. Public Law 92-142 originally approved (PL 92-142) Law of Education for All Persons with Disabilities (Gearheart, Weishahn and Gearhart, 1982). Then in 1975, Congress enacted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that initiatives like "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) (Astoria 2007), were born. In the United Kingdom, the "Every Child Matters" Green Paper (The Stationery Office, 2003) is similar in principle to the idea States States.
Several nations have implemented similar place protocols to deal with equal educational opportunities for all people in their systems. To emphasize this, the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development includes specific commitments on equal opportunities in education opportunities for children and youth with disability. (World Summit for Social Development, 1995).
A personal reflection
It may be naive to the conclusion that globalization has only caused the problems experienced by people with disabilities, or that nothing can be done to improve equality of opportunity in their situations. In real essence, it seems, the less developed countries have not been able to integrate people with disabilities in the world economic and social development as quickly as others, partly because of their chosen policies and partly by factors beyond their control, such as imposing structural adjustment programs (SAPs), load debt caused by the Bretton Woods Institutions and the wars and conflicts. In my opinion, however, seems not nation-state, let alone the poorest, can afford afford to remain isolated from the initiatives to promote global economic and social capacity. All countries should aim to meet the needs and access to basic services for all citizens to reduce difficult situations and to enhance equal opportunities initiatives to improve its people's suffering people with disabilities. Self-organization of people with disability in groups seems to pose their values and voices, and is also a fundamental right that people with disabilities must continue the exercise. Through the principles of globalization, the international community should strive to invest in people with disabilities. In the economic field, investment in people with disabilities is justified as long as the resulting capital cost does not exceed the benefits. .
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this paper discusses the concepts of globalization and disability. The descriptions and definitions both terms were made. Within the concept of globalization, disability is discussed. Then a historical framework of disability in the global context, he suggested. Apparently, the definitions of disability vary between communities. The challenges faced by people with disabilities in their efforts to achieve full independence in the control of their lives and contribute to social and economic capacity were also highlighted. However, as globalization proceeds, the living conditions seem to improve significantly in virtually all countries. But that economic disparities between developed and less developed countries seem to have grown wider unrest and wars and politicians and the inability to escape poverty are matters of interest that seem to affect most people with disabilities. The number of citizens the world who are in poverty is worrying, let alone the population of people with disabilities.
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About the Author
Partson Musosa Phiri is a candidate for the Ed. D degree in Policy and Values at the University of Hull(UK).He also holds M.Ed. from the same University. Additionally, Partson M. Phiri also holds the following qualifications: B. Ed. (Planning and Policy)(U.Zim); Dip.Ed (Special Education); Cert.Ed. He won scholarships from the following bodies:. Canon Collins Education Trust for Southern Africa, Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme Wakeham Trust, All Saints Educational Trust
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