Week 3: World's Biggest Problems

1. International Terrorism
• Through current events, people all around the world are aware of ISIS and the dangerous threats they send out. ISIS, a radical Islamic terrorist group, has carried out some of these threats in a surprising, violent, and horrific nature. The most recent has been the Paris bombings, which devastated and stunned people around the globe. In addition, people were horrified to learn the details of the gruesome beheadings of international hostages, such as journalists and aid workers, as well as civilians and soldiers.
• Solution

• ISIS has made numerous threats to the United States and many other countries in the European Union as well. The best thing, as of now, is to have a tireless effort in surveying ISIS through counter-terrorism intelligence efforts, in order to intercept their messages and figure out their members.
2. Climate Change
• Although there are some politicians who denounce that global warming exists, climate change is occuring at a rapid pace from a scientific perspective. It only seems like it's not occuring at all or slowly happening as we live our day-to-day lives. However, more and more ice polar ice caps are melting, which causes an increase in sea levels, which are causing more frequent typhoons, hurricanes, and monsoons, as well as seismic plate shiftings on our planet. Our climate is getting warmer as the years pass due to the increasing carbon dioxide emissions that the human race causes.
• Solution
• It is a politicallly social responsiblity of the governing nations that have a strong presence to lower their country's emissions. The First World countries, who are the richest and have access to the most resources, usually end up being the countries that emit the most carbon energy. The global environmental summits must continue but must push for a more aggressive and time-oriented implements.
3. A majority of Americans do not live a sustainable lifestyle
• In traveling parts of Europe and Asia, I've noticed a drastic difference in the way that the residents of these countries conserve. They definitely are more environmentally conscious with strict recyling laws, and the every day energy conserving habits that they have. Dorms in universities in Korea have key cards that you have to insert in an outlet in the wall for all electricity in the dorm to work. It is also the key to your door, so once you leave the room, everything gets shut down, which saves a lot of energy.
• Solution
• It is a social responsibility of everyone inhabiting this Earth to live a ecologically conscious lifestyle. Each little thing can make a difference, such as turning off the water in the shower while you shampoo and use soap and American dorms should develop similar outlets like Korean dorms.
4. Hunger
• There are hunger in many parts of the world, especially in less developed countries. However, hunger still is prevalent in first world countries as well. This is due to the gaps in socioeconimic statuses in both areas, ranging from wide gaps to small. 
• Solution
• Hunger is one of those big world problems that may never get fixed as these socioeconomic conditions will be present as long as societies are in working order. It is a depressing though but there can't be a perfect utopian condition that we would like to imagine where hunger wouldn't exist. Steps to help out would be to donate food towards the global societies, such as the American Red Cross.
5. Child Soldiers
• In war-stricken countries or countries that have uprisings and military conflict, it's become quite common for rebel militias to rise to power. However, these rebel militias are also quite violent and provides no aid to serve the country or region's problems, but rather love the power that they have to themselves. In destroying villages and committing murder, these rebel soldiers also kidnap young children and turn them into child soldiers, devoid of emotion and force them to carry weapons and use those weapons.
• Solution
• Because of the instability and violence in these regions, it is extremely difficult for outside nations to get involved and provide aid. A solution that would be difficult to reach would be for stronger and more powerful nations to provide inconspicuous aid to the regime that they deem to be the most stable, reasonable, and smart to help solve the crisis ongoing in the country and to abolish child soldiers.
6. Access to Healthcare in Poor Countries
• A problem that poverty-stricken countries face is that many of the population do not have access to proper healthcare. This may especially be a problem for the women and children in the country in terms of getting the proper medical treatment for pre-natal, birth, and post-natal care, as well as virus prevention and vaccine access that could be incredibly beneficial to children.
• Solution
• There are currently many international organizations that tirelessly work to provide healthcare aid to these countires, such as the American Red Cross, as well as other nonprofit organizations. The best solution to these would be to provide donations to these organizations to fund their efforts.
7. Human Sex Trafficking
• In many underdeveloped countries, human sex trafficking is prevalent as corrupt government officials can be bribed to look the other way and shady promises are made to young girls and children to lure them into these traps with the false promise of relocating to make more money. In reality, these girls and children are sold, and often traded to buyters in other countries for high sums of money. 
• Solution
• The governments in these countries must recognize that this is a huge problem and must take huge efforts to prohibit these trades. They must treat this as a national crime and put pressure to rid the present corruption.
8. Nuclear Power in North Korea
• It's unsettling to know that North Korea has nuclear power. This is so because the country is so volatile and unstable. Although they make ridiculous threats all the time, the new leader of the dictatorship, Kim Jong Un, has proved to have an unstable mindset. They have access to nuclear weapons that can cause geat amounts of destruction.
• Solution
• It's important for powerful countries, such as China, to put significant amounts of pressure on North Korea, in order to prevent them from doing harmful things.
9. Species Extinction
• It's clear with habitat loss and illegal poaching, certain animals are near extinction. Certain breeds are dying out which will destrupt the cycle of life.
• Solution
• Construction in those areas must stop encroaching on these species' habitats and destroying not only their homes, but also their source for food and water in order to let them survive. There must also be a more strict enforcement on poaching and hunting.
10. Increasing Reliance on Technology
• With the rapid technological changes, product innovation, and rise in the usage of technology overall, it's clear that the new generation will grow up accustomed to being constantly surrounded by technology. As part of the generation who is growing up being introduced to all these new technologies, we are constantly aware of how much it has become involved in our lives.
• Solution
• As a personal goal that everyone should keep for themselves, there should be certain parts of the day and week where there is a technology detox, so that more meaningful time can be spent for interpersonal communication.