An international current affairs magazine has invited readers to contribute articles

entitles “Globalisation – good news or bad?” for its next issue. You decide to write
an article explaining your personal views on this topic.

Globalisation represents nowadays an irreversible phenomena. There is plenty of ongoing

discussion about it, together with several activist movements either pro or against its diffusion.

But can Globalisation really be considered harmful?

When I think about it, the things that come to my mind are mainly positive, and of that kind that I

could not imagine my life without them. Of course they do not come without their own side

effects, but what does? First of all, think about the Internet and all that its existence brought:

widespread, low-cost and ubiquitous culture and information, promptly available

communications, the possibility to virtually share experiences and, of course, it created

professions that did not exist before. Secondly, recall the advantages of being able to choose from

a vast range of options: choosing whether to eat Thai or Italian food anywhere in the world,

choose what brand to wear no matter where does its designer come from, choose which language

to learn without having to physically go abroad. Furthermore, think about how much education

and open-mindedness have gained from Globalisation. I do think all of these arguments (and there

would be much more) are enough to definitely identify Globalisation as a positive phenomena.

Then at this point some might argue back: “What about the loss of local culture, the loss of

identity, the threats against privacy and so forth?”. Well, what I believe is fairly simple:

Globalisation does not take away what local traditions, cultures and identities are, as it does not

take away freedom; it rather gives the amazing option to be able to choose. Then it is up to the

single individual to decide how to behave. As a matter of fact, sometimes Globalisation can even

enhance the local culture, as for what happened to Catalunya which is now claiming

independence. All in all, my one is just an opinion, but it is always better to look at the positive

aspects than at the negative ones.

Some bus services in your area are to be withdrawn, and the local council has
asked people to submit reports for the council website on the impact this will
have. You decide to submit a report on one bus service that is under
consideration. Your report should briefly describe the route and explain its
importance. You should also assess the role that a good transport system plays in
either urban or rural areas.

On January 25th the city of Milan announced that the bus line number 94 might be withdrawn in a

definitive way, due to several budget cuts and to the fact that “It does not represent a vital

connection for the areas covered by its route given the other means of transport available”, as

stated by the city mayor. Unfortunately, facts happen to be rather the opposite of what has been

claimed, given the importance of the neighbourhoods connected by the mentioned bus line and

the terrific amount of people who rely on it for several purposes, including studying, working and

touristic ones. The bus line 94, in fact, encompasses Milan city centre linking two vital railway

stations: Cadorna and Vigevano. Beyond that, it cuts the city right at its heart, being the only bus

line connecting these two extreme points to areas such as “Colonne”, “Francesco Sforza” and

Moscova. It is important to underline that in such neighbourhoods the following structures of

utter importance are present: Policlinico Maggiore di Milano (the city main hospital), the faculty of

medicine of the university of milan, the touristic areas of “Porta Ticinese” and “Corso Como”,

whereas many companies are situated too, and two other major universitiies with many

international students, namely Università Bocconi and Cattolica.

Given these information, it should be clear how vital this bus line is for many workers, students,

people in need of health assistance and tourists.

An efficient and effective public transport system has always contributed to make Milan a

cosmopolitan yet pleasant city to live in with admissible levels of traffic and pollution.

Withdrawing the bus number 94 would not only raise citziens’ protests and concern, but would
probably also contribute to increase the levels of traffic and pollution, as more people would be

forced to use their own car to get where they need, and might have a negative impact to the

number of international students attracted by the efficiency of Milan.