Global Problems in the 21st Century

Issues: 1. Overpopulation People have more children in developing countries 7 Billion and growing (total in the world) Ideal for environment is less than 2 billion Population density: Average number of people living in an area of a specific size 2. Poverty/Food/Water Shortages Over 1 Billion live on $1 a day Billions do not have clean fresh water 3. Urbanization: Growth of cities Cities become overcrowded slums Cities cannot keep up with the need for housing, schools, or even basic health services

Other Issues… Destruction of the Environment Pollution Depletion of resources (forests) Conflict Terrorism Drug Trade Ethnic Cleansing Debt Repayment Developing nations have to spend much of their income repaying loans, and thus, cannot spend that money on much-needed services

 Reasons for conflict Ethnocentrism Racism Imperialism: Control by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country

 Developed world Definition: Rich countries that have well-organized industrial and agricultural systems. Developed nations also make use of advanced technologies and have strong educational systems. Examples: Western Europe, N. America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan 1 Billion of world population Stable Governments Largely middle class populations  Developing world Definition: Those countries in which large segments of the economy are relatively undeveloped and most people are poor. Examples: S. and C. America, Africa, Asia 6 billion people Unstable governments Prone to (more likely to get) global problems

 “Developed Nation." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, Web. 8 Sept  "Food, Famine, Overpopulation: 1980– Present (Visual)." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, Web. 8 Sept