WHAT DOES ‘GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP’ MEAN? 17 CONSIDER NEW PERSPECTIVES
Not everyone agrees on a definition of what a ‘global citizen’ is. Does it mean taking action only on global issues, or are local ones just as important? Is it as important as your national citizenship? Here are some perspectives for you to consider when deciding what you feel being a global citizen means to you.
No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline.
Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary-General)
You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better place for all. This is what I’d really like to ask our young leaders. We will try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand over to you. But it is [up] to you. You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.
Ban Ki-moon (former UN Secretary-General)
There is no global anthem. No global currency. No certificate of global citizenship. We pledge allegiance to one flag and that flag is the American flag.
Donald Trump (45th US President)
During bad circumstances, which is the human inheritance, you must decide not to be reduced. You have your humanity, and you must not allow anything to reduce that. We are obliged to know we are global citizens. Disasters remind us we are world citizens, whether we like it or not.
Maya Angelou (poet, writer and civil rights activist)
