Challenges of Contemporary Society PDF

Title: Challenges of Contemporary Society Subtitle: FWS 205 Topic 1 Date: August 2024 Objectives To explore and analyze positive developments as well as global challenges in contemporary society To explain the background and rationale for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) T...

Title: Challenges of Contemporary Society Subtitle: FWS 205 Topic 1 Date: August 2024 Objectives To explore and analyze positive developments as well as global challenges in contemporary society To explain the background and rationale for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through real-world examples and case studies, make connections between global challenges and how the SDGs can be applied effectively  FWS205 Topic 1 Introduction to Society and Social Integration in the UAE  Phases of Society Development  Hunting and gathering  Pastoral  Horticultural  Agrarian  Industrial  Post Industrial Analyze each of the above phase in terms: Housing / settlement Gender roles Education Health Ownership of resources Economic activities Nature of work Process of Society Development a. Strong Government / Good Governance - Strategic plan - Vision - Long term planning - Revenue Generation (Economic opportunity) b. Individual Contribution - Knowledge society - Civil Society Organization - Time and Knowledge Contribution - Microfinance Banking c. Social Integration: - A society for all of us - Social Inclusion - Social Exclusion - Social Cohesion - Social Participation Important Key terms of Social Integration Pluralism: Appreciating diversity Civil society organizations: An organization of professional volunteers to support the government in striving for a quality of life. Prudent: Be wise in spending money, time and resources Tolerance: The ability or willingness to accept the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with. Perspectives: People influence with their own opinion  Important Key terms of Social Integration Stereotyping: Mindset on certain things Occidentalization: Over westernized and loosing values Orientalization: Over eastern and loosing values Mediocre: Average results - it’s not going to take you high Meritocracy: Achieving the best Knowledge Society: everyone contributes in knowledge construction Time and Knowledge Contribution : Unconditional love/ gift Microfinance Banking: give loans on low interest for starting new small business. SOCIAL INTEGRATION All people have equal right to participate in social, economic, cultural and political activities. It aims to create society that is stable and safe for all, including the disadvantaged and vulnerable class. SOCIAL EXCLUSION Is understood as a condition that prevents social inclusion. This happens when certain groups or individuals, especially the under-priviledged (based on age, gender, ethnicity, culture, economic and social situations) are not given equal opportunities. POSTIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY Access to education Advancements in technology – nanotechnology, robotics (medicine, communications, defense, industrial, entertainment, journalism, etc.) Advancements in health sciences (public health policies, genetic engineering) Social progress (awareness of rights and social justice) Environmental efforts POSTIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY Indicator Life in pre-modern era Life in 21st Century Life expectancy in Europe/the world 36/30 81/72 % of people living in poverty 90% 10% Literacy 12% 87% Infant mortality (children dying before age 5) 43% 4% 10.00 AED 10.00 AED Costs not taken The cost of coffee does not into account take into account many hidden costs to communities are called and the environment EXTERNALITIES  Approx. 10.00 AED Image: John Smith, CC by 2.0 What are the hidden costs of coffee as it goes from farm to the cup?  More than half the total energy in the FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN is used to transport the food. CO2 is often not counted Starbucks coffee – 5,427 miles on average per cup Colombia (5,290 miles), Ethiopia (5,503 miles) and Sumatra (6,738 miles). SOCIAL COST: Child Labour SOCIAL COST: Lack of decent working conditions SOCIAL COST: Women face discrimination and lower wages ENVIRONMENTAL COST: Deforestation ECONOMIC IMPACT: Does the income enable farmers and their families to live with dignity?  Approx. 10.00 AED Less than 10 fils goes to the farmer Image: John Smith, CC by 2.0  3 Pillars of Sustainability SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY How do we create a Critical safe and just space human deprivations for humanity? Raworth 2017 CAN WE LIVE WITHIN THE DOUGHNUT? Creating Safe, Just, Thriving Spaces for Humanity Raworth 2017 Factors strengthening social sustainability Diversity Compassion Education Dignity Inclusion Resilience & agility Equity Infrastructure Trust Health & wellness Safety Technologies that Empathy strengthen communities Factors that weaken social sustainability Conflict Exclusion and marginalization Lack of social services Lack of resources Lack of infrastructure Gaps in health Challenges of planetary health Technologies that fragment communities Now brainstorm the major challenges in global society Exploring Global Challenges Group work: In your groups, skim these two readings and add to your list of global challenges and positive developments: 1. https://www.developmentaid.org/news- stream/post/147458/top-10-world-problems-and- their-solutions 2. https://www.gvi.co.uk/blog/critical-global-issues- what-are-the-worlds-biggest-problems-and-how- can-i-help/ KEY CHALLENGES: CLIMATE CHANGE Rising global temperatures Warmer oceans Shrinking icecaps Retreating glaciers Sea levels rising Decreasing snow cover Ocean acidification Loss of biodiversity Extreme weather events Desertification https://science.nasa.gov/climate- change/evidence/ KEY CHALLENGES: ECONOMIC INEQUALITY Gap between rich and poor widening Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer Global wealth distribution KEY CHALLENGES: POVERTY 712 million people, 1 in 11 people globally, live on less than $2.15 a day. Sub-Saharan Africa: highest rate of children living in extreme poverty - 40% in 2022. Nearly 90% of children living in extreme poverty reside in either sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. 1.1 billion people, including 566 million children, live in multidimensional poverty, accounting for just over 18% of the world’s population. Source: https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship- news-stories/global-poverty-facts KEY CHALLENGES: POLITICAL INSTABILITY Causes: 1. Economic factors 2. Corruption 3. Ethnic and religious tensions 4. Weak political institutions 5. External influence Examples:? KEY CHALLENGES: HEALTH CRISES Types of health crises: pandemics, epidemics, natural disasters, man- made disasters Causes: infectious diseases, climate change, pollution, socio-economic factors, lack of medical facilities and professional services POSTIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY Think what life was like for your parents and grandparents – how has life improved since then? United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals Background and Relevance SDGs adopted formally in 2015 by all UN member states 17 SDGs with 69 targets – cover wide range of issues – target is 2030 Universal call to end poverty, hunger, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity Goals are interconnected – achieving gender equality (SDG 5), can help reduce poverty (SDG 1) and improve health outcomes (SDG 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF361a019zA