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Doctors examining an image of the blood vessels in a patient’s brain.

Unresolved Problems of theModern World

Issues facing the world community include technological and environmental change, distribution of resources, and global security.

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Unresolved Problems of theModern World

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

Technology Transforms Life

Environmental Challenges

Feeding a Growing Population

Economic Issues in the Developing World

SECTION 5 Seeking Global Security

SECTION 6 Defending Human Rights and Freedoms

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Section 1

Technology TransformsLife The rapid emergence of new technologies holds promises as well as challenges for people aroundthe world.

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A Revolution in Electronics

Technology Transforms Life

The Influence of Computers• Earliest use of computers was to solve complex

math problems• Today, powerful computers make billions of

computations per second• Computers used in space, transportation, business,

more

SECTION

1

Information Spreads in New Ways• Electronic technology permits instant communication

across planet- through cellular phones, fax machines, Internet

• Internet used to sell products, move information, send messages

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A Changing Workforce• Many white-collar workers telecommute• Television, radio, Internet provide instant

information to investors• Trading, banking, financial transactions can be

done electronically• Robots perform many manufacturing jobs;

workforces cut• Blue-collar jobs changing to high-tech in

technological economies• Technologically industrialized nations dominate

less-developed nations

SECTION

1

A Connected World

Continued . . .

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Cultures Converge• Mass media—television, radio, movies, music,

press—is expanding• Media spreads images, ideas, fashions around

world

continued A Connected World

SECTION

1

Old Ways Abandoned• Spread of ideas may change traditional cultures• Some fear media weakens personal ways of

interacting• Technology also used to document, preserve

traditions

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Technology and industrialization have created environmental challenges that affect the entire world.

Section 2

Environmental Challenges

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World Concern over the Environment

Environmental Challenges

The Greenhouse Effect• Greenhouse effect—global warming caused by

industrial pollution• Not all scientists agree this is cause of earth’s

warming climate • Industrialized nations have called for limits on

greenhouse gases• Developing countries resist limits that restrict

industrialization

SECTION

2

Air Pollution Varies• Air pollution a health hazard; U.S., European cities

try to clean air• Severe problem in many places, especially Asia

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Depletion of Natural Resources

Scarcity of Clean Water• Water pollution, scarcity cause 80% of illness in

developing nations• Nations that share water supplies must cooperate to

avoid conflicts• California has high demand for water, must

conserve

SECTION

2

Destruction of Rain Forests• Loss of tropical rain forests in developing countries

affects world• Forests maintain water quality; rain, oxygen cycles;

many species • Sustainable development—economic growth that

preserves environment

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A Growing Appetite for Energy

Energy Use and its Challenges• 80% earth’s energy supply nonrenewable;

developed countries use most• Use of nonrenewable energy has many negative

environmental effects

SECTION

2

Solutions for the 21st Century• Govt. action, better technology, inexpensive

renewable sources needed• Nations must agree on how to achieve sustainable

development

The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill• Oil spills foul water, shorelines, kill sea life• Exxon Valdez spill off Alaska caused serious

environmental problems

Section 3

Feeding a GrowingPopulation Population growth has put great pressure on the earth’s resources, including the food supply.

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Causes of World Hunger

The Role of Nature• Overpopulation—too many people for resources of

area to support• As too many people live on limited resources,

poverty, hunger go up• Climate changes major cause of hunger

- 1970s-80s African droughts caused poor harvests, famine, malnutrition

SECTION

3 Feeding a Growing Population

Government-Produced Famine• Wars disrupt food production, also delivery by relief

agencies• War, low export prices, high birth rates worsen

problems in Africa

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Revolutions in Food Production

Science Influences Agriculture• Green revolution—successful effort to increase

world food supply - uses fertilizers, pesticides, high-yield strains,

much irrigation• Many African nations do not have water supply to

use new seeds• Chemicals costly, clash with traditional methods,

harm environment• Biorevolution—altering genes for more

productive, resistant plants• May create disease-causing organisms, become

diseased easily

SECTION

3

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Other Solutions to Population Problems

Improving Economies• As country’s economy improves, birth rates fall• Women have fewer pregnancies as more

newborns survive- strong economies have better health care,

nutrition, child-care education• Families need fewer children to help support

family, elderly parents

SECTION

3

Continued . . .

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Limiting Population Growth• Lowering rate of population growth helps curb

overpopulation• Plans try family planning, reducing child mortality,

women’s rights• Strict policy may step on personal freedom, target

powerless groups

continued Other Solutions to Population Problems

SECTION

3

Improving Women’s Status• Most experts think protecting women’s rights key to

lower birth rate- higher status for women means lower birth rates

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Section 4

Economic Issues in theDeveloping World Developing nations face a set of economic challenges that must be resolved.

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Economic Issues in theDeveloping World

Economic Development• Less-developed countries—countries not fully

industrialized• Industrialized nations interested in LDCs for raw

materials, as markets• Factors necessary for economic development:

- investment capital—funds for building industries, infrastructure

- technology to make companies, workers more productive

- healthy, well-trained workers; qualified managers

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4

Providing International Aid

Continued . . .

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Roots of the Difficulties• Many believe imperialism, colonialism reason

LDCs not industrialized- after WW II, had underdeveloped economies,

weak political traditions• World Bank gives loans for large-scale

development projects• International Monetary Fund—emergency

loans in financial crisis

continued Providing International Aid

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4

Tense Relations• World Bank may fund projects that do not help

people of a country• IMF criticized for harsh financial condition upon

recipient nations

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Different Economic Approaches

Multinational corporations• Multinationals want cost of labor, materials low to

raise profits- often bring jobs, investment capital, technology

to LDCs- criticized for exploiting workers, harming

environment• LDCs want multinational companies to invest in

them, create jobs- offer favorable tax rates, work regulations

SECTION

4

Continued . . .

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Grassroots Development• Grassroots development—small, community-

based projects to help poor- raise standard of living but preserve local

customs• Microcredit—small loans to people to start small-

scale businesses

continued Different Economic Approaches

SECTION

4

Free Trade or Protectionism• Free trade—reduce trade barriers to stimulate

international commerce• Protectionists support tariffs to protect local

industries, products• Many LDCs adopt free trade; regional blocs may

give economic support

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Section 5

Seeking Global Security War, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction threaten the safety of people all over the world.

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Seeking Global Security

The Market for Weapons• Cold War conventional arms—non-nuclear—from

U.S., U.S.S.R., W. Europe• Mid-1980s, government-sponsored trade declines

considerably• Illegal market for weapons grows• Illegal arms often used in political, religious, ethnic

conflicts

Worldwide Arms Trade

SECTION

5

Protests Against Weapons Sales• Some people taking action against arms dealers

- Belgian protesters convince customs to seize unlicensed arms at fair

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Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Threat of Nuclear Weapons• Nuclear weapons threat to world peace• 170 nations sign Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons• Concern that some nations on verge of developing

nuclear weapons

SECTION

5

Biological and Chemical Weapons• Biological, chemical weapons easy to make, distribute

- more available to terrorists, LDCs• Biological or bioweapons can kill huge numbers,

spread by infection

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The War in Iraq

The Path to War• Many consider Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein

threat to world peace• 1980s uses chemical weapons to put down

rebellion• 1990 invaded Kuwait, pushed back by U.S.-led

coalition• U.S., others say Hussein developing weapons of

mass destruction• Hussein allows UN inspectors; many think not

fully cooperating• Security council divided over what to do next

SECTION

5

Continued . . .

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Operation Iraqi Freedom• U.S., British-led coalition invades Iraq; many

countries oppose• Some say wrong to attack to prevent future

problems• U.S., Britain say will not wait to be attacked• April 2003, Baghdad falls, Hussein regime

collapses

continued The War in Iraq

SECTION

5

The Struggle Continues• Work remains to rebuild Iraq; troops keep order;

WMD not found• Interim Iraqi government plans for constitution,

elections

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Section 6

Defending Human Rightsand Freedoms Human rights and freedoms have become a major international concern.

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Defending Human Rightsand Freedoms

Universal Declaration of Human Rights• Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted

by UN 1948- asserts all people free, equal- calls for basic civil liberties, political rights for all

• UN, independent groups see if countries meet human rights standards

• Serious violations of human rights occur around the world

The Struggle for Human Rights

SECTION

6

Continued . . .

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Political Dissent• Countries persecute people with different political

views than govt.

continued The Struggle for Human Rights

SECTION

6

Ethnic and Racial Conflicts• Ethnic, racial hatreds lead to genocide, persecution

of other groups

Religious Persecution• Rights violations over religion often have ethnic,

political links

Image

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Children at Risk

Children Vulnerable in Many Ways• Many children lack food, education, health care,

especially in LDCs• Many forced to work long hours, in danger, for little

or no pay• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for

basic rights:- health care, education, protection from abuse,

neglect• World Summit for Children adopts program for their

welfare

SECTION

6

Image

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Signs of Hope

Human Rights Successes• Greatest human rights successes in area of

political rights, freedom• Most Soviet bloc countries have democratic

elections, free speech• Apartheid ends in South Africa, multiracial

government elected

SECTION

6

Women’s Rights Addressed• Around world, women poorer, less access to social

benefits than men• UN adopts Convention to end discrimination, almost

100 nations sign• Beijing conference: leadership, property, population,

social issues Continued . . .

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Human Rights in the 21st Century• Much work still to be done to bring rights to

people everywhere• Important trends provide reasons for hope in

continued progress- more education gives people skills to exercise

rights, improve lives- communications networks help groups

investigate, report abuses- mass media makes people rapidly aware of

abuses

continued Signs of Hope

SECTION

6

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