Lower Priority Global Threats
ANSWER
Title: Reconsidering Priority: Two Lesser Global Threats
Opening Statement:
In our previous presentation on Threats to the Global Environment, we emphasized four significant threats that demand immediate attention at the UN General Assembly. However, it is essential to revisit the remaining threats on the list and provide a counterargument for why two of them, “Cultural Taboos” and “Inappropriate Uses of Technology,” were not included among our top priorities. While these threats are undoubtedly significant, our reasons for considering them lower in priority than the ones in our presentation stem from their indirect and contextual nature, which we will elaborate on below.
Cultural Taboos:
- Cultural Specificity: One reason for not prioritizing cultural taboos as a significant global issue is their inherent cultural specificity. Cultural norms and taboos vary widely across nations and regions, making it challenging to address them universally. What might be considered a taboo in one culture could be perfectly acceptable in another. As such, it is not easy to formulate a one-size-fits-all solution to mitigate their impact on the global environment.
- Resource Allocation: Addressing cultural taboos on a global scale would require significant resources in research and intervention efforts. These resources could be more effectively allocated to more pressing issues with broader, immediate consequences for the global environment, such as climate change or global health. Prioritizing cultural taboos may divert resources away from tackling more universally impactful challenges.
- Human Rights and Autonomy: While some cultural taboos may be harmful, addressing them raises complex questions about cultural autonomy and human rights. Intervening in cultural practices can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism. It is crucial to tread carefully and prioritize issues with a more direct and universally recognized impact on human well-being and the environment.
Inappropriate Uses of Technology:
- Mitigating Through Technological Advancement: One reason for not prioritizing inappropriate uses of technology is that many of the negative consequences associated with technology can be mitigated through technological advancement itself. As technology evolves, so do the solutions to its problems. Issues such as cybersecurity threats or misuse of personal data can be addressed through better technology and improved regulations.
- Relative Impact: While inappropriate uses of technology can have severe consequences, their impact is often relative to the level of technology adoption in a region. Highly technologically advanced nations may face more acute challenges in this regard. However, the global environment would benefit more from addressing climate change, which has a far-reaching impact regardless of technological advancement.
- Complex Regulatory Frameworks: Addressing inappropriate technology uses requires complex regulatory frameworks that vary from country to country. A unified global response is challenging due to differing legal systems and cultural norms. Focusing on threats with more straightforward and universally applicable solutions is a more pragmatic approach.
Conclusion Statements:
In conclusion, cultural taboos and inappropriate uses of technology are undoubtedly essential issues in the modern world. However, they were not included among our top priorities in the Assignment 3a presentation due to their inherent complexity, cultural specificity, and the potential for diverting resources from more pressing global threats. It is essential to recognize that prioritizing global issues is not a dismissal of their importance but rather a strategic approach to address the most urgent global environmental challenges.
QUESTION
Description
The information you provided in your presentation on Threats to the Global Environment has led to productive debates at the UN General Assembly! There are now questions about prioritizing the issues at hand. Some of the countries are challenging your recommendations and questioning your reasons for not including the issues they believe are priority.
From the initial eight global threats, there are four remaining threats that you did not choose in the list of major global issues. Review the list of topics and reflect on two that you did not use in last week’s assignment. Defend your reason for considering these topics lower in priority than the ones in your presentation.
Energy sources
Civil war
Globalization
Poor health of entire populations
Lack of educational opportunities
Cultural taboos
Inappropriate uses of technology
Climate change
The completed version of this assignment will consist of the following:
Select two threats from the list above that you did not use in your Assignment 3a presentation.
Create a minimum two-page document in which you outline a counterargument for the two threats you selected:
Write an opening statement describing the perception of each threat.
Write one paragraph for each threat (two paragraphs total) in which you give three reasons to explain why the threat is less of a priority to the global environment than the four you selected in Assignment 3a. Support your reasons with at least three credible sources.
A conclusion statement for each threat.
Cite at least three credible sources excluding Wikipedia, dictionaries, and encyclopedias for your assessment. A brief list of suggested resources has been provided at the end of the course guide.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
Examine the factors that account for why the growth in the world’s population can negatively affect the global society