"Globalization" is a hot buzz word these days, but what does it mean for you and me? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, learning to be a global citizen. Also, how Star Trek conquered planet Earth. And the dark side of the global economy - the millions of people who are modern day slaves.

Thomas Friedman is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the New York Times and the author of "The Lexus and the Olive Tree." He tells Steve Paulson that examples of globalization are everywhere. Also, Jeff Greenwald is the author of "Future Perfect: How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth." He tells Jim Fleming that the crew of the Enterprise is seen on TV in 210 countries, and that each country views the series through its own cultural filter.

Kevin Bales is the world's leading expert on contemporary slavery. His book is "Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy." Bales tells Judith Strasser how the demands of the world market make it feasible and profitable to kidnap, beat and enslave third world workers.

Jacob Kitzman and David Mericle are high school students in Madison, Wisconsin who won an Internet competition called ThinkQuest. They designed a Web site about Cuba (http://hyperion.advanced.org/18355/). David and Jake tell Jim Fleming about the site, their research trip to Cuba, and their plans for further technological and education exchanges with Cuban students. (David and Jake traveled to Cuba with Global Exchange. In the interview it was suggested their assets had been frozen, which is not true. You can link to their web site for more information at www.globalexchange.org.) Also, Philosopher Anthony Appiah is the co-editor (with Henry Louis Gates) of "The Dictionary of Global Culture." He tells Steve Paulson that the global citizens of tomorrow need to be educated in a way that makes them open to other cultures, and explains the dizzying national allegiances of his own family.

Distribution dates:

• week of 05/16/99 - hour 1