The World's 10 Biggest Problems

Hey everyone,

Today I am going to give you my list of what I believe to be the 10 biggest global issues at this current point in time.

#1. This problem mainly deals with the U.S, but it is also a problem that numerous other countries are facing and that is large numbers of unemployment. Although the unemployment has improved over the last couple of years, there are still 7.9 million Americans today that are jobless. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this trend is set to continue throughout the year, which simply is a huge problem for our nation.

Solution: Although it would be nearly impossible to completely eliminate unemployment across the country, we can limit it by continuing to support small business owners and corporations alike who supply the majority of the jobs in our country. The government could even implement numerous civil projects (such as building highways) that could provide thousands of jobs nationwide. These are just a couple simple solutions to the problem, but obviously there could be many ways of attacking this issue.

#2. Global Terrorism (ISIS): Over the past couple of years, ISIS has terrorized the world with multiple series of planned attacks, massacres, and gruesome propaganda. According to the New York Times, these attacks have been widespread and have affected the following areas: Paris, Cairo, Libya, Turkey, and even here at home in the U.S.. These sick human beings have wrongly massacred men, women, and children around the world for the sake of their radical beliefs, and they still remain one of the world's biggest problems today.

Solution: We choose to take action against ISIS, just as France did, with coordinated attacks, planned bombings, and possibly even troops. I would even suggest discussing this with the U.N. as measures need to be taken to prevent these wrongdoings. This is very controversial for many, but the U.S. has never been known to sit around when people are being wrongly killed, even those on their home-front.

#3. Rampant poverty across the globe: Poverty levels across the globe today are astounding as over 902 million people across the globe live on less than $1.90 a day, and over 80% of the world lives in less than $10 a day. Another eye-opening fact according to globalissues.com states that 1 in 2 children live in poverty, something that needs to be fixed.

Solution: Offer greater benefits towards non-profit organizations that help these people in need, as well as work with foreign nations to funnel goods and relief into their borders. We should also continue to support organizations who travel abroad, and perhaps provide tax-write offs for those who donate a certain amount of money to those said organizations.

#4. Racism and Religious Prejudice: In the world today, there is a whole of religious prejudice. This is especially true as Americas as both the Christian and Muslim communities are heavily persecuted for their beliefs. However, these beliefs (such as ISIS) have also cost many people their lives, and a war between Israel and Palestine as been going on for almost 1000 years due to different sets of religious beliefs.

Solution: There is no amount of money or planning that can truly fix this problem. It is on us as humans to foster a planet that is open to all types of beliefs and does not persecute. This will never fully happen due to human nature and the evil that constantly occurs, but it is definitely something we should strive towards.

#5. Global Financial Crisis: Currently, the United States is over 19 trillion in debt and counting. Last year, Greece went bankrupt and had to be bailed out by a coalition of European nations, and recently Puerto Rico has defaulted on over $150 million in loans. While it is not yet an all out crisis, nations going bankrupt certainly poses a huge problem to the rest of the globe.

Solution: Although many people would say offer more bailouts and financial aid, I am saying that we let capitalism run its course and leave the economy alone. If we just let the market run its course, it will over a long period of time, fix itself. Simply raising taxes and reducing spending as well as printing more money will simply send us into an inflationary spiral.

#6. Global Warming Crisis: It is certain that we are not treating the earth how it is supposed to be treated. Whether one believes in global warming or not, is has become clear that we need to search for alternatives to fossil fuels because it is harming our atmosphere, and in the case of BP we saw how it can harm the environment.

Solution: Governments worldwide should subsidize research into cleaner forms of usable and renewable energy, and we should increase the amount of wind turbines, solar panels, and water turbines in areas where they can be easily built, placed, and monitored.

#7. Drastic income inequality across the world: This comes to no surprise, but the income inequality across the globe is enormous. In fact, the overall GDP of over 41 countries is less than the wealth of the 7 richest people in the world (according to globalissues.com). Also, the top 20% of the wealthiest people in the world, own over 3/4 of the entire wealth on the planet. Clearly something is wrong.

Solution:Although there is no way to truly end this issue, a good start would be by working with foreign governments to create jobs, and subsidize certain industries that are crucial to their country as a way of getting large numbers of people working and on their feet.

#8. There still is not a cure for cancer: Cancer is the world's deadliest disease and has been for some time now. Millions of lives and families are affected each year by numerous types of cancer, including my own. This is global problem that is exactly the same for all nations as anyone could easily be subject to the disease.

Solution: We need to continue to support research and cancer treatments such as the cancer research here at Shands in Gainesville. Also, it is possible that the cure to cancer is out there yet not released mainly due to the fact that it would destroy a huge portion of the medical industry causing losses of millions of dollars. This situation in itself needs to be diffused because it could save millions of lives.

#9. Global human trafficking: Across the globe each year, many women, children, and even some men are sold as sex slaves, held captive, and forced to perform sexual acts on many people each day. According to equalitynow.com, 20.9 million women and children are trafficked each year, with 2 million of those being children. This a a disgusting act that needs to be put to rest.

Solution: Increase international surveillance on human trafficking. This could happen through increased awareness and funding all over the globe. This also needs to be an increased focus for organizations such as the CIA and FBI because human trafficking organizations are some of the largest illegal organizations in the world.

#10. Global Drug Trade: Global drug trade is definitely one of the largest problems we face today. Drugs are traded and acquired illegally in every nation worldwide, and it is a multi-billion dollar industry consisting of hundreds of millions of users worldwide. These drugs include marijuana, cocaine, meth, heroine, etc..

Solution: Increase border patrol across country borders (air, water, and land), as well as increased action from government organizations and special forces across the globe. Even bounties for large drug king-pins should be posted for those who successfully capture them.

Well, that concludes my pretty extensive list of world problems and some simple ideas that maybe help fix them. I hope you all found these interesting and maybe even found some of these problems on your own!

Until next time,

-Bryce