The 5 greatest problems facing hummanity in the 21st Century

if religion ever come close to what it became in "Hyperion - by Dan Simmons" then we're in BIG trouble...

Well, as of now it has caused most of the problems on our globe. If you look back most major conflicts can be attributed to religious differences.

ID....
Is it truly religion that is the problem or is the "men" who use it as a cover, cloak, and excuse, etc.?

regards
seekerof

Is it truly religion that is the problem or is the "men" who use it as a cover, cloak, and excuse, etc.?

A well put question Seekerof but if you notice I put organized religion. Religion in it's own right can do nothing but good. Religion should be informal and extremely personal. It is when rules and rankings are implemented that the whole system goes to sh*t.

everything else stems from it

1. Centralized control of resources - the fake war in Iraq has as much to do about water, if not more so, as to do with oil. Take a look at a map of the region....notice the river systems...remember that in the local dialect Iraq means "land of water".
Overpopulation is not a problem if there is distribution of resources. The birth rate numbers don't support it.
Better management, while obvious, is seldom implemented as a solution to problems. The wheel has been reinvented numerous times.....genetically altered foods being looked at as a panecea is a great example. Single cell life will mutate. Insect life will also mutate, which means we will as well.
So much to carry out on this central theme....scary.

I think the replies to this thread are a perfect example of what is the biggest problem now and what will continue to be so in the years to come: disinformation for the sake of political gain. How many people have listed overpopulation as a huge problem? too bad birth rates are not adequate to maintain the population in the long run in most countries, and only the third world countries have true long term risk of overpopulation. Yet you hear this constantly in all the various forms of propaganda. Close behind this example is the "global warming" farce. Sure, the climate is changing.....thats normal. However, mankind has nothing to do with that, in the slightest. One volcano destroys more ozone and creates more greenhouse gases than we have in the last 50 years, at the least. But boy it sure is a good political tool. Society is rampant with this complete idiocy, and I fear it will only spread as less and less people truly educate themselves in an objective manner. I mean, the people on this site are those who seek information, yet over half as still misinformed.....so where does that leave the majority group, the mindless sheople of the world? Its a scary thought.
that being said, beyond the misinformation bit....this risk is tied to the first, but that of a destabilization of global relations, most likely through a fundamentalist movement or power grab in a key country, ie US, UK, China, etc. The highest risk of this seems to me to be in the US, at the time being.
If those things dont get us, I think the problem of extra-terrestrial life will be the next best bet for causing things to go to hell. For one, once the truth comes out, as I think it must, in time, whatever lies behind the "alien" phenomenon is going to cause a great deal of unrest, fear, and anger on a global scale. Whether you think it is an extra-terrestial source, or of a terrestrial source, the truth coming out about either is sure to cause great unrest, and if the truth should be the existence of aliens, then be prepared for some massive shifts in the world, as well as a very high risk of many countries turning to a police state to maintain control. I dont see a pretty picture for the next hundred years, however you slice it.
Fourth, lets see....well, I think fourth is going to be largely immaterial beside the first three, because #1 has set the stage and will continue to set the stage until #2 or #3 brings chaos. But, should both of those storms be weathered, or slow in coming, I think #4 will be the attempts of mankind to control every aspect of nature. Be it genetic manipuation, weather control, or something else entirely, mankind will bring down a great crisis on itself, if the unrest and chaos of #2 or #3 dont cut it short. The danger is grave, and the potential cost to innocent lives far eclipses any war.
Fifth, I would rank the risk of a third world war. While I think the odds are signifigant, I think the risks of paradigm changes in the global society are not as severe. Any effects of a world war would be localized, and would be over shortly after the war is over. Even the risk of the misuse of nuclear weapons or chemical weapons is not as bad as some alternatives. Terrible, and hopefully they will never occur, but still, I think this world has seem more gruesome wars than we will ever truly realize, and yet we have, and will continue to, survive the horrors of warfare.
But thats just what I think....

1.War
2.Disease
3.Hate
4.Greed
5.NWO

And, thats in order.

-WD

Europe and America have extremely low birthrates. It seems Western society has become violently anti baby, anti family, people made to feel like trash for deciding to raise families instead of pursuing education and sucess. yet these anti child/no family morons dont think long term: no new babies, no one to care into old age, no one to work, rpdocues, ect.

Caucasians have the lowest birthrate of any ehtnic group in the world. Why is this? Economics? Education? or the anti family attitudes in Europe and the US and other western nations? The Asians, once very prolific, are also coming in close behind, with falling birthrates as well. Is it cultural, or something natural?

1. Neocons
2. Republicans (facists)
3. Cold war mentality of the neocons which is Us v. Them mentality. Before it was the US v. Communism. Now its the US v. the crazy Arabs which leads to the major buildup of...
4. The Military Industrial Complex
5. Pure capitalism (free trade) without regulation

[Edited on 21-8-2003 by Colonel]

Now you despise Capitalism too? Whoa... What exactly is your preference?

Just wondering...
P...
m...

1. Satan
2. Satan
3. Satan
4. Satan
5. Satan

www.cia.gov...

Check out this article Ocelot, its got it all!

AIDS will be a major problem not only in Africa but also in India, Southeast Asia, several countries formerly part of the Soviet Union, and possibly China.

Water shortages occurring in combination with other sources of tension�such as in the Middle East�will be the most worrisome.

Crime and Corruption Pay

Available data suggest that current annual revenues from illicit criminal activities include: $100-300 billion from narcotics trafficking; $10-12 billion from toxic and other hazardous waste dumping; $9 billion from automobile theft in the United States and Europe; $7 billion from alien smuggling; and as much as $1 billion from theft of intellectual property through pirating of videos, software, and other commodities.

Available estimates suggest that corruption costs about $500 billion�or about 1 percent of global GNP� in slower growth, reduced foreign investment, and lower profits. For example, the average cost of bribery to firms doing business in Russia is between 4 and 8 percent of annual revenue, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The rise of china
China's potential. Estimates of China beyond five years are fraught with unknowables. Some projections indicate that Chinese power will rise because of the growth of its economic and military capabilities. Other projections indicate that the array of political, social, and economic pressures will increasingly challenge the stability and legitimacy of the regime. Most assessments today argue that China will seek to avoid conflict in the region to promote stable economic growth and to ensure internal stability.

A strong China, others assert, would seek to adjust regional power arrangements to its advantage, risking conflict with neighbors and some powers external to the region. A weak China would increase prospects for criminality, narcotics trafficking, illegal migration, WMD proliferation, and widespread social instability.

1. Terrorism
2. AIDS
3. The Environment
4. Weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, etc..
5. Food shortage

1. people who think THEY KNOW whats wrong with the world.

2. people who think their opinions and views are facts, think the way they see things is the way things are or should be.

3. people who do nothing but blame bash and insult.

4. people who think THEIR way it THE way.

5. people who refuse to see a situation from any perspective but their own.



THESE are things that are easier to change than anything thats been listed so far but these are not easy by any means either.

Monkey

I can see where you are coming from, but the purpose of this is an academic essay, and for people to become futurist in their orientation is a useful challenge.

I may dislike the corruption and uselessness of the Bush administration, but I guarantee you that my dislike of the administration is not a problem for the 21st century at all, because that administration is itself just a mistake and a passing blip on the radar of significant events.

I support all the people that gave the topic thought.

oh so more hemming and hawing?

oh, nevermind!

i thought we were discussing this for a reason other than to create another thread. i thought we were trying to learn something here.

my mistake.

carry on. ignore my previous post.

[Edited on 21-8-2003 by ThePrankMonkey]

1. media ecology
2. the old boy's club's extradimensional controllers
3. the old boy's club
4. the frequency fence that is being put up to stop us from connecting to our higher selves/god
5. ego

Originally posted by m0rbid
Ocelot, so we get to do your homework now? j/k

Yes you DO!! No but seriously though, great answers from everybody. I knew you guys would like this topic.

How many people have listed overpopulation as a huge problem?

Hop a subway in Tokyo, and we'll see if you still think overpopulation isn't a problem.... What was the world's population last year? What is it this year? We're growing exponentially, and we're using more and more resources as we do so... I'd say it's a problem...

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