Critical World Issues

Drugs have become a part of modern society in both their legal and illegal forms. This book asks the important questions about both medicinal drugs and drugs of abuse. Why do some people take drugs? How harmful and addictive are they? Why are antibiotics no longer working? Should all drugs be legalized in the future? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

The American Declaration of Independence notes that "all men are created equal," and many modern societies have tried to live up to this precept. Legislation has been passed in many countries that is intended to ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, age, disability, or any other distinguishing characteristic. This book explores the fundamental questions related to discrimination, including whether minority groups truly receive equal opportunities in education and employment. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

The term "capital punishment" refers to the practice of putting a convicted person to death as the penalty for committing a serious crime. The question of whether countries should execute their most notorious criminals has sparked a huge amount of debate. This book examines some fundamental questions surrounding the issue of capital punishment today. It provides a historical overview of capital punishment, examines countries where the death penalty is still permitted today, and explores the pros and cons of capital punishment. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

For thousands of years, human beings have had relationships with a variety of other animals. The at-times unequal interaction between humans and animals has led to the rise of an animal-rights movement. This book examines and addresses some basic questions about the issue of animal rights today, including: What are animal rights? Are animals the same as humans? Is it proper the way that animals are raised as food? And, are there alternatives to using animals in research? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Genetic engineering involves the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material. This allows modern scientists to shape characteristics of living things. This technology offers many positives, including the possibility of enabling people to live longer, or creating productive strains of grain or fruit that can feed greater numbers of people. However, some people are concerned about the Frankenstein-like possibility of abuse. This book describes genetic engineering as it is practiced today, and provides information about how genetic engineering can help the fight against sickness and famine. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Human rights are often taken for granted, but across the world people are still denied many basic rights: to have a home, an education, to be treated with dignity and be free to express religious or political beliefs. This book asks the fundamental questions about human rights today, including: What exactly are human rights? Why can it be so difficult to put them into practice? How do human rights affect our everyday lives? What can we do to defend human rights worldwide? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Terrorism is a global phenomenon that affects the everyday lives of many people. Terrorist attacks have been carried out people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Recent deadly attacks in Brussels, Belgium; San Bernardino, California; and Paris, France, have drawn international condemnation. This book examines the development of terrorism, from its earliest history to the present day. It attempts to define terrorism, provides information about the reasons some people resort to terrorism to achieve their political goals, and discusses efforts to prevent terrorist attacks. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

The international sale of military weapons, from assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades to more powerful weapons like missiles and tanks, is known as the arms trade. The arms trade provides both dangers and benefits to all parts of the world. This book examines some fundamental questions about the arms trade today. It discusses the legal and illegal forms of the arms trade, describes positive and negative aspects, and explores the future of weapons trafficking? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Euthanasia is defined as "the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease." The question of whether people should be allowed to choose the timing and manner of their own death has caused great controversy. This book examines some fundamental issues related to euthanasia and the practice of assisted suicide. It explains euthanasia in its various forms, provides information on the "right-to-die movement," and explores some alternatives to euthanasia. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

The term "genocide" was created in the 1940s to describe an action aimed at the destruction of an entire group of people, such as a nation, an ethnic group, or a race. However, genocide has occurred throughout human history, and unfortunately shows no sign of disappearing today. This book examines examples of genocide from around the world and asks important questions surrounding this most chilling of human crimes: Why do ordinary people participate in such inhuman atrocities? How can communities stop genocides from occurring? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Poverty affects millions of people, and the gap between rich and poor is growing. According to the United Nations, more than 1.3 billion people around the globe live in extreme poverty. This book asks what it means to be poor. If there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, why does poverty exist? How does it affect peoples' lives, health, and education? What can be done to bring an end to poverty? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Food technology affects every aspect of food production and the relationship humans have with food. This book examines the fundamental questions surrounding the issue of how we prepare and eat our food. What is food technology? How has buying and selling food changed? How big a problem is obesity? Who invented frozen foods? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Today, the United Nations has declared that the world is facing the greatest refugee crisis since the end of World War II, as nearly 60 million people have been forced to flee from their homes. The Syrian civil war has displaced millions of people, but conflicts in places like Libya, Iraq, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Chad, and other countries have also contributed greatly to the total. This book asks the vital questions about the plight of refugees. It discusses the events that causes refugees, provides an overview of the organizations and countries that offer them help, and explores things that can be done to help refugees return safely to their homes or begin new lives elsewhere. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Racism is a belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities that are specific to that race. This belief enables members of one race to distinguish themselves as superior to another race or races. Today, Racism affects the lives of millions of people in many different countries. This book discusses when and why racism began, explores how it feels to be a victim of racism, and suggests approaches for how society can tackle racism in the future. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, usually done before the unborn fetus reaches a certain age. The topic of terminating a pregnancy has raised many passionate arguments over the years. This book examines some fundamental questions surrounding the issue of abortion today. It addresses the rights of women and the need to protect the helpless unborn, explores the debate over when life begins, and provides information on the legality of abortion in various areas of the world today. The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Consumerism is the term given to the modern preoccupation with the acquisition of consumer goods. Due to today's globalized economic systems, how and what you buy has repercussions that impact people all over the world. This book examines the fundamental questions surrounding the issue of consumerism today, including: When did consumerism begin? Why do businesses advertise? Are children affected by consumerism? And how does consumerism affect poorer countries? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book examines the facts about the issue being covered, with information about arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special research projects, as well as a great variety of additional resources, invite the reader to engage with the issues that are currently shaping our world.