32_problems_of_today.pdf

{issue} Problems of today Jacy Meyer (USA) Jacy Meyer Wars (USA)...

{issue} Problems of today Jacy Meyer (USA) Jacy Meyer Wars (USA) Conflicts are happening around the world. We are all familiar with the problems in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fighting between the government and militias is occurring in Somalia and innocent civilians are being killed in the fighting or are forced to leave their homes for safer areas. This past summer we saw fighting between Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East, the area constantly troubled by the long- term Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are different reasons for war: sometimes two groups are fighting for control of a country and sometimes their dispute is based on their religions. We’ve seen a rise in terrorist acts committed by people who believe they are defending their religion. The attacks in the US in September 2001 and in Britain in July 2005 are Did you oversleep today? Did you forget the right types of food) and two examples – but people in to do your homework or fail a test? Those starvation. Poor countries Indonesia, Spain, Israel and the also may not have a good Palestinian territories also have can seem like big problems in our lives, health care system, which suffered from terrorism. but people around the world often deal leads to a population that is with bigger issues, such as illiteracy, ill and has many diseases. Environment We see these problems in disease, hunger and war. many African countries like Environmental issues are Chad and Nigeria, as well as a concern for everyone. What are some of the countries like Iran are often in Central American countries Global warming is becoming problems facing people in accused of not granting rights like Guatemala, South a huge problem, and those other countries? Third World, to women and countries with American countries like Brazil, in the developed nations are or developing nations, is an indigenous population like Asian countries like Nepal, contributing to, and will be a term we use to describe Australia often have conflicts and countries closer to home greatly affected by, climate countries that aren’t as over the rights of the natives like Romania. change. Cutting down trees, developed as those in Europe, versus non-natives. Countries the United States, Canada, that have problems with human etc. These countries share rights include North Korea, characteristics of widespread Sudan and China. poverty, high birth rates, and undeveloped industry. Other Poverty problems include disease, hunger, lack of education, Poverty is a worldwide and human rights issues. problem that is the result of, and produces, many other Human rights problems. Countries with a poor educational system often Human rights are basic have poorer residents. People “privileges” that everyone living in poverty often commit should receive. Not being crimes to support themselves discriminated against because or their families, which leads of your race, gender or to unsafe cities. Poor people religion, and living free from don’t often have enough to torture are a few basic human eat, which leads to malnutrition Climate change can lead to more frequent floods as well as catastrophic rights. Primarily Muslim (getting sick from not eating droughts. 18 Bridge 06/2006–2007 too many cars on the roads, Problems at home companies that pollute the air and water with chemicals, What about some problems a consumer society that closer to home? All these produces too much waste, and issues can be seen here in the destruction of the ozone the Czech Republic, but on layer – all of this is of concern a smaller level. Air pollution for people, animals and plants is a concern in Prague and – and could soon affect the land pollution left over from way we live. The destruction mining in the northern regions of many forests, especially in is an ongoing problem. No South and Central American more mining also means no countries like Brazil and Costa more jobs for many people, Rica, means many animals and so unemployment is a huge insects are becoming extinct. problem in many areas of the Although everyone knows that water is the most precious natural Pollution is a major difficulty country. Air pollution causes resource on our planet (it covers about 70% of the Earth surface and in many large cities around the health problems, but we also life on Earth wouldn’t exist without it), we ignore this fact by polluting world, such as Los Angeles, contribute to our own health our rivers, lakes, and oceans. The pollution of rivers and streams California; Beijing, China; problems by eating bad food, with chemical contaminants has become one of the most serious environmental problems of the past century. Mexico City, Mexico, and New not exercising, and drinking Delhi, India. The Ivory Coast too much alcohol. We also is currently figuring out how see racial prejudice and Can we help? good decisions that could to clean up toxic waste that discrimination in the Czech affect your future. Take care was illegally dumped near its Republic, especially against So who is going to solve all of yourself by exercising and capital city. the Roma population and these problems? There is eating right. Treat everyone The United Nations people from Eastern European something all of us can do. with respect, and you’ll respect says 2006 was the sixth countries. Education could Help the environment by yourself more too! You can warmest year on record and also become a problem if the recycling and walking instead of also support organizations that weather changes can create government does not support driving a car. Take an interest assist countries around the devastating natural disasters higher education resources for in what the government is world. Greenpeace deals with like tornados and hurricanes. all students. doing to make sure they make ecological matters; Amnesty International with human rights; the World Health Organization helps people stay healthy, and the World Food Program works to stop hunger. Another problem troubling the Czech Republic is bribery, the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain some advantage. It affects many spheres of public life – from politics to everyday situations. Transparency International is an organization which tries to monitor and fight corruption in the CR and around the world. Y Vocabulary rise [raIz] - nárůst are a concern for everyone [k@n"s@:n] - jsou předmětem zájmu to oversleep [@Uv@"sli:p] - zaspat každého illiteracy [I"lIt(@)r@si] - negramotnost to contribute to [k@n"trIbju:t] widespread ["waIdsprEd] - přispět k (něčemu), mit podíl na - velmi rozšířený to be affected by ["fEktId] poverty ["pQv@ti] - chudoba - být ovlivněn (něčím) birth rate [b@:T reIt] - porodnost to pollute [p@"lu:t] - znečisťovat lack of [l&k] - nedostatek (něčeho) consumer society [k@n"sju:m@ issue ["ISu:] - záležitost, otázka s@"saIti] - konzumní společnost race [reIs] - rasa ozone layer ["@Uz@Un "leI@] gender ["dZEnd@] - pohlaví - ozonová vrstva torture ["tO:tS@] - týrání extinct [Ik"stINkt] - vyhynulý to accuse of [@"kju:z] - obvinit z is currently figuring out ["kVr(@)ntli indigenous population "fIg@rIN] - momentálně řeší [In"dIdZIn@s pQpjU"leIS(@)n] to dump [dVmp] - složit, vysypat - domorodé obyvatelstvo on record - který byl kdy zaznamenán to commit [k@"mIt] - spáchat left over from mining ["maInIN] - která to lead [li:d] - vést zůstala po těžbě starvation [stA:"veIS(@)n] - hladovění ongoing ["Qng@UIN] - trvalý health care system prejudice ["prEdZUdIs] - systém zdravotní péče - předpojatost, předsudek militia [mI"lIS@] - milice, domobrana to treat (sb.) [tri:t] - chovat se to occur [@"k@:] - odehrávat se, dojít (k někomu) Recent years have seen wars all around the world, for example in the dispute [dI"spju:t]- spor Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. Bridge 06/2006–2007 19