Essay Example on 4 Global Threats: Globalization, Climate Change, War, Tech

Introduction

There is four main issue posing threats to the global environment at large. It includes globalization, climate change, civil war and inappropriate uses of technology.

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Globalization

It is the free movement of people, services and goods across the globe in an integrated manner. The history of globalization can be seen in three vital phases: The first phase is archaic globalization, proto-globalization and finally the modern globalization sequentially. Archaic globalization represents the early events as well as the developments until 1600. Furthermore, it explains the interactions between the communities and even states in specific geographical spread. Proto-globalization represents the period between 1600-1800, whereby it is characterized by the increase in trade links as well as the exchange of culture. Modern globalization represents a span from 1800-present

Globalization is becoming a serious threat to the world economy at large. It results in the fluctuation of prices; it is because only business with the best prices emerges the winner while others below the bar end up losing (Campbell,2010). The second problem attached to the globalization is job insecurity. It is because it results in the transfer of able skills from one country to another; the effect depends on the context of its application.

Globalization, at the same time, is becoming a serious point of concern to world politics at large. The collapse of USSR created a room for the United States control of the global system as well as international relations. Sometimes back, the US has been seen creating sanctions to some specific countries in the world such as Iran and Venezuela and thus

Sprouting to the political pressures. Due to that, power, as well as interest, has become common in interstate interactions. Developing countries thereafter has to accept and obey the directions provided by the developed countries. The developing countries are therefore known to participate less in the decision making process on their own political affairs.

Lastly, globalization is becoming a monster to the environment since there is a growing demand in different spheres, there is a higher demand for raw materials which in turn leads to the extraction of natural resources. It thereby results in the exhaustion of the raw materials in developing nations and loss of aesthetic value of the environment, e.g. quarrying (Jahana et al.2016).

Climate Change

It is merely the total change in the average weather patterns in a specific region over a long period of time. Climate change has become a critical point of concern due to its associated effects. It is attached to the changes in the rainfall patterns and the increase in planetary temperatures ( Timmer,2015). Countries around the world have pooled efforts on how to prevent the issue from escalating further. It has a direct implication for MDGs towards the attainment of the set goal. It results from the continuous increase in the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere whereby carbon dioxide has a higher percentage.

Basically, the economies of developing countries depend on agriculture in order to grow. Climate changes may thereby result in unpredictable rainfall and sometimes intensive rainfalls. It may affect the overall growth of the crops as well as animal rearing. Floods have been seen in the developing nations destroying crops and sometimes killing the livestock in large numbers. In that case, such effects tend to retard the entire economy of a developing country. Moreover, it may result in the rise of waterborne diseases and even malaria. The amount of money that could have been used in other sectors of production is preferably used in the treatment of diseases and in that case, it paralyses the economy of a country (Botkin et al.2015).

In some countries, climate change has led to the rise in the conflicts between countries or within the country for the fight for fertile grounds, water and limited resources. Reliable water is mainly a solace for most of the people in the developing countries whereby it can be utilized primarily for domestic use.

In developing countries, for instance, in eastern Africa, climate change has resulted in a lot of environmental effects such as the changes in species migration. For example, the movement of wildebeests in search of fresh pastures and water. It has resulted in the risk of pests and other diseases.

Civil War

It is a war between different organized groups in the same country. Civil wars have affected the normal way of lives in various spheres of the world. Some of the nations where civil wars have caused serious consequences includes Syria.

Civil war is directly impacting the economy of a developing country in different ways. It causes inflation, a state whereby prices of commodities shoots up while the purchasing value drops down. Majority of the population may not even be in a position to afford some of the prerequisite necessities. Secondly, it has been seen to result in the damage of the infrastructure in some parts of the country; it thereby inhibits the transportation of goods from the source to the market. Delays in conveying products is also a common outcome as a result of the damaged infrastructural network systems which may be caused by landmines or aerial bombardments (Maher,2018).

Lastly, civil war can result in an increase in foreign debt; since most of the people aren't engaging in the day to day economic activities, a country cannot generate much revenue. There is a need to seek external support to maintain normal operations in the country.Environmentally, civil war is a menace. People tend to care less on taking care of the environment and only concentrate on the basic requirements such as food and water.

Inappropriate Uses of Technology

The technology was initiated as a tool to simplify work for a human being. Its regarded as having sharp edges on both of its ends; it can be advantageous if well utilized, and at the same time, it is attached with a lot of adverse effects (Scruton et al.2012) . Technology has advanced from the past, and every time, new inventions are made as well as innovations.

Economically, inappropriate uses of technology may result in loses, thus lowering the economy of a country, e.g. through cyber-attacks. People could only be happy on the advancement of technology, but there are not in a position to look into the impacts on the environment. Damaged electronic appliances can be disposed of directly into the soil, disturbing the soil structure since they are non-biodegradable. The effect may not be felt quickly, but in the real sense, the damage is escalating and in the future.

Part 2 (Counterarguments)

Cultural Taboos

It represents the beliefs held by a particular community. Different societies have their own taboos which are unique from one place to another. There are categories of taboos characterized by various features. It is not a major point to dwell on as a treat to the global environment due to the following reasons; Cultural taboos do vary in all the places worldwide; thus it should not be taken as a general issue. Some of the taboos that exist in the developing countries give priority to the general protection of the environment and mitigating the human factors towards damaging the environment.

Secondly, cultural taboos do change as a result of the exposure to the contemporary world, among other factors. Usually, change is inevitable; the way people lead their lives is executed in a series of changes whereby if not well looked upon, it may result in tremendous consequences.Lastly, cultural taboos are not scientifically proven; hence, it is biased. There are no experiments to determine the facts which are attached to towards the global environment (In Wright et al.2010).

Conclusively, taboos are essential in a society since it can enhance togetherness and a sense of belonging to a particular community. Taboos may also guide the moral behaviours of people and provide a basis for guidance towards the protection of the environment. With the oneness in society, people can combine ideas on how to alleviate poverty and be self-dependent in all dimensions of life.

Energy Sources

It translates to the sources where valuable energy can be derived from directly or indirectly. There are usually two types of energy sources, namely renewable and non-renewable sources.

The energy sources cannot be perceived as a treat to the global environment since most of the people are relying on the renewable energy source in their healthy livelihoods. The renewable sources are safe to the environment, unlike the non-renewable, which may result in the emission of harmful substances to the environment. Secondly, the universal energy source in developing countries is known to constitute the solution to the ecology since it helps in the reduction of the greenhouse effect (In Sosa-Nunez et al.2017). Lastly, the energy sources have been scientifically proven to be reliable and thus no probability of causing any harm to creatures in their natural habitats.

Conclusion

Conclusively, ecologically friendly sources of energy should be used in order to combat the issue of climate change and global warming so as to attain millennium development goals. Renewable sources of energy cut off unnecessary costs and consequences to both the people in developing nations and the environment.

References

Botkin, D. B., Caswell, M. F., Estes, J. E., & Orio, A. A. (2014). Changing the Global Environment: Perspectives on Human Involvement. Saint Louis: Elsevier Science

Campbell, P. J., MacKinnon, A. S., & Stevens, C. (2010). An introduction to global studies.

In Sosa-Nunez, G., & In Atkins, E. (2017). Environment, climate change and international relations.

In Wright, P., In Stern, J., & In Phelan, M. (2012). Core Psychiatry E-Book.

Jahana, S., & United Nations Development Programme, (2016). Human development report 2016: Human development for everyone

Maher, D. (2018). Civil war and uncivil development: Economic globalisation and political violence in Colombia and beyond.

Scruton, R., Scruton, R., & ProQuest (Firm). (2012). How to think seriously about the planet: The case for an environmental conservatism. New York: Oxford University Press

Timmer, C. P. (2015). Food security and scarcity: Why ending hunger is so hard. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press