World's Biggest Problems Week 3

World's Biggest Problems ­ Week 3 

1.    Long term stability of regional (terrorists) hotspots

v  Problem:​ ​ ​What domestic conditions would cause a citizen of one country to commit a terrorist attack against another country? T​he regimes of terrorist hotspots are human rights abusers. No other factor is such a reliable predictor of terrorist activity. ​They do not treat their minorities as equal citizens while opposing foreign military intervention. 

➢ Solution:​  Although the promotion of economic development and democratic reform are worthwhile goals in and of themselves, and should figure prominently in US foreign policy, a more efficacious counterterrorism policy might be the promotion of human rights, the enhancement of civil rights and political integration for minority groups, and a more selective application of the use of force abroad.

2.     Immigration (Migrant and Refugee)

v  Problem:​ People are fleeing areas plagued by warfare, famine, disease, poverty, instability and persecution, however, the host countries who pay the cost of medical, housing, food and other expenses, are breaking the backs of the taxpayers who must foot the bill.

➢ Solution:​ ​Stop the bleeding until there is an effective plan of immigration reform. We cannot pursue a comprehensive approach that would have us do every reform idea all at once ­ much like Obamacare, (and we know how that has turned out).

  

3.    ​World War (Nuclear Proliferation and potential threat of nuclear terrorism)

v  Problem:​  ​The global community has become interdependent, with the constant movement of people, ideas and goods; we have walked through a door that cannot be re­entered.

                      ➢ Solution:​ ​Our approaches to national and international security must be in keeping                              with the reality in which we live. ​But I would emphasize at the outset that, while                                  much of our work must begin locally and regionally, we must not forget to think                                  globally, because ultimately the existence of a nuclear threat anywhere is a threat                                  everywhere, and as a global community, we will win or lose this battle together.

4.     Overpopulation

          v  Problem:  ​ Once human population exceeds the carrying capacity, we have reached an                        undesirable overpopulation condition as it creates a depletion in natural resources and a                        degradation of the environment, as well as a rise in unemployment and the equilibrium price                will change based on supply and demand.

Ø  Solution: Education – sex education and family planning, as well as information on efficient birth control.

5.     Sustainability

v  Problem: Resource scarcity in conjunction with an ever-growing population is still            proving to be a major unsolved global challenge that should require more attention.

Ø  Solution: Education is the best way to support and nurture a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

6.     Freshwater Crisis

v  Problem: As human populations grow, so will the problem of clean freshwater                  availability. One-fifth of the world’s population live in areas of water scarcity.

Ø  Solution: Improvements in the efficiency of water use and water conservation through better planning, management and technologies.

7.     Great Pacific Garbage Patch

v  Problem: We are increasingly filling our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants        (plastic). Moreover, once pollutants enter our ecosystems, they invariably pollute our         food.

Ø  Solution: In my Oceanography class last semester we discussed possible solutions, many which would take billions of dollars and many thousands of year.  It seems after all the research and discussions, regulations and pleading the only thing left is to persuade people to stop littering in the first place. We must close the gap – prevent any more plastic from reaching the oceans in the first place. Giving incentives to stop throwing this stuff away.

8.    ​Fiscal Crisis

v  Problem:​ A global financial meltdown would affect the livelihoods of everyone. In fact, the global financial bubble has burst. It reflects the greatest regulatory failure in history.

Ø  Solution: If I knew the solution to this problem, I would be rich! Most economists seem to agree that tax cuts do provide a stimulus to the economy. It provides more flexibility to those who want to save more or spend more, they can.

9.    ​Energy

v  Problem:​ In considering the US alone, we’ve caused earthquakes while fracking for natural gas, blasted tops off mountains, and while trying to turn non-renewable resources into energy; we have released toxic gases in to the atmosphere, driving climate change and creating a hazardous environment. 

Ø  Solution: Regulating fracking, mining, drilling and their ozone depleting emissions was a great start, but now we must find renewable resources – solar and wind power.

10.   ​Emerging Infectious Diseases                            

❖ Problem:  Emerging infectious diseases represent an ongoing global threat. New ​diseases have been identified or have re‐emerged while others have developed resistance to medication used to treat the disease.  

➢ Solution: I am not sure we can stamp out every disease, but we need to stay ahead of the next one. At best we can be aggressively vigilant, invest in ongoing research and use countermeasures such as vaccines, drugs and prompt diagnostics.