21st Century Debates
16 total works
The air we breathe is essential for our survival. But over the last 200 years, population growth and industrialization have begun to threaten our planet's life-giving atmosphere. This book looks at the problems of air pollution and examines various solutions to reduce the damage already caused, such as recycling, and using cleaner renewable forms of energy. Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.
Explores the debates surrounding air pollution, discussing its causes and prevention.
We live in a world of food mountains and famines, where some people suffer from obesity while millions die of hunger. This book examines this inequality and looks at the difficult decisions faced by governments and organizations and asks what we as individuals can do to help. "Food Supply" examines the development of agricultural technology, food distribution systems, food aid, global trading, differing global diets, GM foods and biotechnology. Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.
Examines the facts about population growth, its effects on the environment, and considers what lies ahead.
From beach resort package deals to African adventure holidays, more and more people are spending money on travel. Tourism has become one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries, creating enormous wealth but also causing serious environmental, cultural and economic problems in destination countries. As tourists increase in numbers and venture into ever more remote locations, such negative effects seem set to get worse - unless urgent action is taken. "Tourism" examines the most pressing issues affecting the industry. Can hotel owners and tour operators be persuaded to stop damaging fragile environments and traditional ways of life? Is it advisable for less developed countries to base their economies on tourism? And how can tourists themselves make more responsible, informed choices? Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.
Over the last fifty years the world's population has more than doubled. According to experts, our ever-increasing demands will eventually exhaust the earth's supplies of fuel, water and food. Other experts argue that, as our numbers rise, scientists will develop new ways to sustain the human race withour harming the environment. This book will discuss both views and look at whether enough is being done to address this issue for the future. It looks at how and why the population is growing so fast, the pressure on resources, the effect on wildlife and habitats, food distribution, living spaces and urbanization, migration and refugees and suggests ways of controlling growth.
"Waste, Recycling and Reuse" looks at the issues surrounding the waste problem and why it has grown over the past 50 years. It looks at issues from household rubbish to global warming and considers how we might reduce the waste we produce without lowering our standards of living. Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.
Our planet is largely covered in water, yet only 0.01 per cent is available for human use. This book looks at the problem of water scarcity, how we use and misuse this precious resource, and what can be done to conserve it, both now and in the future. While many of us take water for granted, over one billion people currently lack safe water and about 2.5 billion lack adequate sanitation. Over the next century, as the world's population continues to rise, and demand grows, water will increasingly become a life-and-death issue for the human race. Includes fact boxes, 'debate' suggestions to stimulate discussion and 'viewpoints' to show people's conflicting views on the subject.
In the more developed world, most people take mobility for granted. Rapid movement of people and goods is vital to the success of modern economies, and many of us cannot imagine life without cars, believing that they offer more freedom, privacy and comfort than any other form of transport. But, as Transportation shows, these apparent advantages come at an ever higher cost. As the number of motor vehicles on the world's roads rises, so do the pollutants they emit. These pollutants contribute to global warming, causing damaging climate change, and they affect human health. There is also the problem of increasing congestion. In the end, if the volume of traffic continues to grow, we will find ourselves completely gridlocked. In this timely book, Rob Bowden discusses the benefits and disadvantages of various forms of road, rail, air and sea transportation. Finally, he argues that we need to start making different transportation choices, for the sake of our communities, our health, and the future of our planet. Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.
We live in a world of food mountains and famines, where some people suffer from obesity while millions die of hunger. This book examines this inequality and considers possible solutions. It looks at the development of agricultural technology, food distribution systems, food aid, global trading, differing global diets, GM foods and biotechnology.
Over the last few decades, faster, more efficient communications technology, transport and financial systems have combined to make the world a much smaller place. "Globalisation" examines the far-reaching effects of these changes, and identifies the winners and losers in the new global era. While vast corporations in the developed world have gained enormous wealth and power, people living in less developed countries have often lost their livelihoods and seen their environments destroyed. Will the divide between the world's rich and poor inevitably get ever wider? Or will it be possible to harness the forces of globalisation so that they truly bring benefits for all? Opposing viewpoints are given throughout to provide opportunities for discussion and debate.