Globalization - how can we handle it?

Everyone talks about Globalization - regions grow together, trade exchanges shall be made easier, borders shall dissapear, travel and communications become easier. On the other hand negative effects do also rise up: Food and Oil Crisis, inflation and the loss of jobs. Also democratic procedures seem to be violated: The Lisbon Treaty was rejected by the Irish, though now officials in Brussel try to find ways for bypassing it. And in the United States rumours about a North American Union are underway; its suspected that negotations for this are made, without being visible for the public. Since the whole globalization process has become unavoidable, the question for me is: How can we as common people have a better influence on this, so that we can really benefit from. Or do we just adapt to the political decision process , being overrunned by this?