Global Issues and Their Impact on the World
Global Issues – What Are They and How Do They Affect Us?
Students will explore a range of global issues during their individual orals, using extracts from both non-literary texts and literary works. The chosen work and text must have a clear connection to the global issue they choose to focus their discussion on.
Education, for example, has a proven impact on reducing poverty, lowering birth rates and boosting gender equality. But, as yet, many children lack access to even basic schooling.
1. Poverty
Poverty is an issue that affects people across the globe. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including lack of resources and financial means.
Poverty can lead to a lack of basic services, health care, education and other needs. It can also cause social injustices such as discrimination. The eradication of poverty is one of the most important global issues.
2. Hunger
Hunger is when a person lacks the calories needed to survive, known as malnourishment. It’s especially dangerous for children and expectant mothers as it can stunt their growth.
Hunger is caused by poverty, climate change and conflict. Poverty leaves people without savings to draw on when a crisis strikes, and when weather causes crop destruction, it can drive food prices up.
3. Water
Water is a vital resource, but billions don’t have enough. They may need to travel long distances or wait in lines for safe water and lack adequate sanitation, contributing to disease.
It’s also a driver of economic growth and conflict, as well as a key issue in climate change, population growth, food prices and terrorism. Gale In Context: Global Issues supports awareness and perspective on this global concern.
4. Climate Change
From straining food supplies to displacing people and wildlife, climate change impacts us all. But it affects some disproportionately: the poorest nations, which contribute least to climate pollution, are most vulnerable.
These people lack resources to shield themselves from heat waves and storms, food shortages, air pollution, rising food and water prices, zoonoses, and mental health risks. They also face the threat of conflict and climate migration.
5. Human Rights
Whether civil, political, economic or social in nature, human rights are fundamental to the dignity of every person. They are inalienable: no one can voluntarily give them up or allow others to take them away.
Their enactment in national and international law is one way to assert this. However, many people have sought a deeper foundation for them than legal enactment alone.
6. Refugees
In societies facing ageing populations and declining workforces, refugees provide a “demand dividend.” They fill jobs in key industries and boost productivity, wages and investment.
Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are complex people who can’t be defined solely by their legal status. Their impact on the world is profound. They’re rebuilding their lives, contributing to economies and building community. But this comes at a cost.
7. Women’s Rights
Women around the world still face violence, discrimination and barriers to achieving their rights. They are more at risk of sexual violence and exploitation during conflict.
In some countries, laws and policies limit women’s right to vote or run for office. They also often earn less than men.
Women’s rights organisations and movements are key to making real progress on these issues. They bring a unique perspective to politics.
8. Environment
Environment refers to any good, service or feature that benefits humans and society. These include any natural resources that satisfy people’s daily needs such as nourishment from living creatures and plants, fuel used for transportation and cooking, wind, oil, etc.
The global environment is facing serious problems such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. These are preventing essential health services and childhood education from being delivered, as well as making it difficult to achieve development goals.
9. Security
Security is protection from, or resilience against, harm. It refers to a person, dwelling, community, nation or system’s ability to resist a threat.
Many global issues require coordination and cooperation across multiple countries. This is a good thing, but it can also make some problems difficult to address because they are not fully in the control of any one country. These are called global challenges.
10. Democracy
Democracy is much more than a system of government. It cultivates active characters and encourages citizens to stand up for themselves.
While scholars disagree about what defines a democracy, they are generally in agreement that it must include freedom and respect for human rights. There are many ways to achieve this. The goal is to expand democracy and make it more inclusive.