The Lion's network is confirmation that global engagement is of great importance. Very few of the most serious problems facing us as individuals can be solved by applying "individual responsibility".  If that was the mosteffective way forward, most of us would be trouble and worry free by now.

 The political system in your country is NOT fully democratic in the modern sense of the word, and I don't care which country you live in.  Even here in New Zealand, where we have a form of proportional voting, the two main parties have successfully corrupted the system in their own favour. That's typical everywhere, but much worse in some countries. The USA which prides itself in "bringing democracy to the world", is not itself democratic, trapped by a very old outdated constitution (which was designed to prevent democracy)  and a two party system that refuses to modernize itself, preferring to turn a blind eye to corruption and misuse of political position, in order to share the spoils of power.

We can see the problem writ large in the failure of the United Nations to be effective in resolving global problems. The five permanent members actively prevent the United Nations from becoming an effective forum in order to "protect" their own wealth and power. Russia and the USA are particular villains here, but the other three are not innocent. Hence the United Nations becomes a barrier to progress, not a source of it.

Look at the collapse of discussions on world trade as a small example. If fair trade is to be possible, there must be RULES that apply to every nation without favour. Those rules must be enforceable by LAW and not by military power. There must be a willingness in each nation to set aside some national sovereignty  in order to achieve a common good. That political will doesn't exist. Poverty will persist for the many, while the few will use their power to maintain their unreasonable share of resources and wealth.  The millennium goals set in 2000 will not be achieved. The "end of poverty" is not possible while the powers capable of delivering that result choose not to engage. 

And so it is with global warming, the peak oil situation, the plight of refugees, the Hiv-aids worldwide epidemic, the selective prosecution of some political leaders for war crimes, and the failure to close down tax havens and to prosecute individuals for corporate crime.  There will be a resolution to these problems if we don't have the will to do it.  Short-term advantages for not acting now will produce long term costs, financial losses, economic collapse, epidemics, famine, and massive population declines are likely. "Not wanting to know" won't make the problem go away. 

This page might help

http://www.ate.co.nz/economics/createdbyus.html