Transcript Slide 1
The Threat of Terrorism
A major threat to global security today is
terrorism
, the unlawful use or threat of violence to cause fear and to advance political, religious, or ideological goals. Terrorists often intentionally target unarmed and unsuspecting citizens during their attacks.
Terrorism throughout History Terrorist Attacks
• Terrorism not modern phenomenon • Acts of terrorism far more common over last 200 years • Terrorism has been used to overthrow governments, fight for independence, or change society • Number of worldwide attacks has increased over past few decades • Violence of attacks also increased, with few regions of world spared • Latin America, illegal drug trade • England, Irish Republican Army • South Asia, Tamil Tigers The Middle East has become a focus of efforts against terrorist groups.
Terrorism in the Middle East
• Part of focus because of ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict; has history of Western colonial domination leading to resentment of West among some Arabs • Region home to radical Muslim organizations claiming Islam justifies terrorist attacks against innocent civilians • In fact terrorist actions contrary to Islamic law, condemned by most Muslims
Islamist Tactics
• 1980s, Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda used terrorist tactics against Israel, Western nations • Hamas seeks to destroy Israel, create Palestinian state • Hezbollah supported by Iran, has primary goal of destruction of Israel
Support
• Iran’s support of Hezbollah—state sponsored terrorism • Israel, United States, other nations consider Hezbollah terrorist organization • Other nations see it as legitimate resistance movement against Israel
Fighting Terrorism
New Legislation
• After al Qaeda attack September 11, 2001, U.S. government took many actions to prevent future terrorist attacks • Passed new legislation to strengthen international, domestic intelligence
Homeland Security
• Established after 9–11; focused on security of nation’s borders, transportation networks • Sought to find, cut off funding sources for terrorist networks
Military Action
• Used to pressure countries suspected of supporting terrorists • 2001, U.S.-led military campaign invaded Afghanistan, forced out Taliban government, which had supported, protected members of al Qaeda
Other Military Actions
• 2003, another U.S.-led invasion targeted Iraq, dictator Saddam Hussein • Some officials claimed Saddam possessed dangerous biological, chemical weapons, supported anti-American terrorist groups; this later found to be untrue
Similar Security Issues
• Other countries faced similar security issues • Bomb attacks on trains, buses in Madrid, London, Jerusalem spurred Spain, Great Britain, Israel to investigate ways to use technology to improve future security for transportation systems
Make Generalizations
How are countries working to prevent terrorism?
Answer(s):
strengthened intelligence services, increased security, military actions
Other Threats to Security
In addition to terrorist attacks, there are other threats to global security.
Dangerous Weapons
• Many countries possess
weapons of mass destruction
(WMDs), including – Biological weapons – Chemical weapons – Nuclear weapons • Can cause enormous amounts of destruction • Terrorist groups, governments seek to use for own purposes
Biological Weapons
• Made with organisms, toxins found in nature; easy, inexpensive to develop • Diseases, poisons like anthrax, plague, smallpox • 1972, more than 70 nations signed treaty prohibiting production, possession • Officials worry about biological attacks by terrorist groups
Other Weapons
Chemical Weapons
• Mustard gas, nerve gas use chemical toxins to kill, injure • Used in both world wars; used in Iran-Iraq war against Iraqi Kurds, 1980s; nerve gas sarin in Tokyo subway system, 1995
Nuclear Weapons
• Biggest threat to world in twenty-first century • During Cold War, U.S., Soviet Union, 60 other nations signed Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty, meant to stop spread of nuclear weapons
Today
• Nearly every nation in world has agreed to this treaty • At least eight countries known to possess nuclear weapons • Others believed trying to develop them
Addressing Nuclear Issues
Legitimate Use
• Difficult to control nuclear weapons • Nuclear technology can be used for legitimate purposes • International concern over development of nuclear weapons • Many countries making efforts to ensure nuclear technology used safely
Sanctions
• International Atomic Energy Agency monitors countries suspected of developing nuclear weapons • Countries have placed
sanctions
—economic penalties, on nations considered nuclear threats
Ethnic and Religious Conflicts
Multiple Threats
• High-tech weapons threat: have power to destroy, kill • Ethnic, religious conflicts threat: create willingness to destroy, kill
Tutsi, Hutu
• 1994, tensions between Tutsi, Hutu ethnic groups led to massacres in Rwanda • 1 million people killed, another 2 million became refugees
French, UN Troops
• Worked to maintain ceasefire in Rwanda until new government could establish order • 1998, some involved in the genocide convicted, executed
Darfur
• Early 2000s, similar situation in Darfur: Arab militias attacked African villagers • By 2006, 400,000 killed, 2 million fled to refugee camps
Security Summary •
Violence caused by ethnic, religious hatred significant threat to people around world
•
Nations face
– Risk of terrorist attacks – Use of weapons of mass destruction – Ethnic, religious conflict •
People around world working hard to protect public safety
Identify Problem and Solution
How are countries and international groups dealing with threats to world security?
Answer(s):
peacekeeping missions, imposing sanctions
Environment and Technology
Environment and Technology
Main Idea
People are working together to protect the environment and using science and technology to improve living conditions around the world.
Reading Focus
• What are people doing to protect the environment?
• What changes are recent advances in science and technology bringing to the world?
Protecting the Environment
How do we balance growth and development with practices that will help protect the resources and environments we all count on?
Resource Use
• Improved nutrition, medical treatment have led to dramatic increase in world’s population • 1 billion to over 6 billion since 1800 • Industrialization, development have placed great strain on world’s resources, environment • Major challenge: achieving
sustainable development
Sustainable Development
• Economic development that does not permanently damage resources • Try to balance need for development with protection of environment – Limit use of resources – Set aside areas where no development allowed
Forests
• In areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Amazon region of Brazil,
deforestation
—clearing of trees, taking place at rapid rate • Trees burned, cut down to dig mines, clear land for farming, ranching • Some species of animals, plants have become extinct as result
Deserts
• Sahel region of West Africa, people struggling with
desertification
—spread of desert-like land conditions • Caused partly by drought, partly by human activity • Trees cut for firewood, livestock overgraze land • Without plants, wind blows rich soil away; land becomes useless
Pollution
The global environment has been seriously affected by pollution. Human beings have always polluted their environments, but pollution did not become a serious issue until the Industrial Revolution.
Threat
• Revolution brought new industrial processes • Created waste products that harmed water, air, land • By 1960s, began to be threat to human survival
How To Fight
• Countries cannot agree on how best to fight pollution • One debate, issue of
global warming
• Rise in surface temperature of earth over time
Global Warming
• Could bring disastrous changes in Earth’s climate • Many scientists believe air pollution caused by human activity has caused global warming
Laws and Problems
Environmental Laws
• Some governments have taken legal action against pollution, global warming • Many nations do not have strict pollution controls in place • United States has passed many environmental laws but is one of largest polluters • Some fear strict emissions limits could harm economic development
Accidents
• Even with environmental laws in place, pollution, toxic waste can be released due to accidents at industrial facilities • 1984, toxic gas leak at Indian factory killed over 15,000, injured a half-million more • 1986, meltdown of Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nuclear plant sent deadly radiation into air over parts of Europe
Find the Main Idea
What environmental issues face the world today?
Answer(s):
pollution, global warming, deforestation, desertification
Science and Technology
Advances in science, technology have greatly changed world in
• • •
recent years New discoveries brought great benefits, raised new questions, challenges Space Exploration
– Data from satellites, space shuttle missions have given scientists new information about origins, development of stars, galaxies, planets – Other data helping scientists understand earth’s climate change
Development of new technologies from space experiments
– Scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses – Farther-flying golf balls
The Information Age
More Advances
• Other advances in science, technology have led to great changes in way we transmit, receive information • Exchange of information so important, some say this is Information Age
Instant Communication
• Space satellites transmit signals for cell phone, satellite television • Personal computers, Internet link people, educational institutions, businesses, governments; people work, shop, maintain friendships online
Digital Divide
• Not all areas of world have joined Information Age • Difference in access to Internet and other information and communications technologies called digital divide; obstacle many trying to overcome
Medicine and Genetic Engineering
• Great medical advances took place in years following World War II • Medicines, vaccines developed to prevent spread of contagious diseases, treat physical, mental illness; techniques developed to transplant organs • Advances in ultrasound, laser, and computer technology allow doctors to more easily treat human body
Genetics
• Developments in study of genes, heredity have led to rapid growth in
biotechnology
, use of biological research in industry • Some biotechnology companies manufacture vaccines to treat diseases
Altering Genetic Makeup
• Other biotechnology companies genetically modify food plants • Altering genetic makeup of plant, animal called
genetic engineering
• Plants can be hardier, more productive than conventional • Grown where other crops struggle
Modified Crops
Green Revolution
• Genetically modified plants part of
green revolution
• Attempt by agricultural scientists to increase world’s food production
Food Production
• Scientists developing new types of wheat, rice, other food crops • With enough water, fertilizer, pesticides, modified crops produce more than unmodified
Advocates
• Believe genetically modified crops can reduce pesticide use • Say farmers will make more money on crops
Concerns
• Genetically modified crops might have harmful effects on humans, environment • Could see possible reduction of genetic diversity
Human Genetics
Cloning
• Another use of genetic engineering being debated,
cloning
• Process of creating identical organisms from a cell of original organism
Possibilities, Questions
• Cloning offers possibilities for improving livestock, medical research • Presents serious moral, ethical, legal questions