Global Issues PDF

10 m aturita / s o c i e t y GLOBAL ISSUES As we head into spring, it feels like time for a fresh start and to shake off the winter blues. But it’s also a time to reflect on the events of the last year or so – from the disaster in the Land of the Rising Sun to...

10 m aturita / s o c i e t y GLOBAL ISSUES As we head into spring, it feels like time for a fresh start and to shake off the winter blues. But it’s also a time to reflect on the events of the last year or so – from the disaster in the Land of the Rising Sun to Economic uncertainty A worldwide economic crisis first hit back in 2008. economic uncertainty around the world. There have been many events After a year of slight economic improvement, the world happening around the world that affect us all. now nervously watches the Euro in crisis. Germany and France have taken up leadership roles in the hope of Jacy Meyer (USA) saving the currency. A debt5 crisis in Greece, Ireland and Portugal and potential problems in Spain, Italy and Hungary are affecting countries across Europe. Emergency meetings are being held and agreements are being written. However, it will be difficult to get all the EU countries to agree on financial reform. Environmental disasters In March 2011 a massive underwater earthquake occurred1 off the eastern coast of Japan. This huge shift2 in the earth caused a gigantic tsunami which washed over part of the island of Honshu (Japan’s largest island), killing more than 15,000 people. Consequently3, nuclear reactors at the Fukushima power plant were severely damaged and radiation leaks4 caused damage to the environment not only in Japan, but also in other countries. The Fukushima drama once again raised the global question of nuclear safety. With the effects of the 1986 disaster in Chernobyl still present, experts and governments are now calling for tighter controls on nuclear power and agreements on common nuclear safety standards. Many people believe such safety standards should be agreed on in other energy sectors, too. 2012 | March | BRIDGE  upper INTERMEDIATE 11 Online piracy Consumerism Online piracy is a hot topic. Countries like the USA An inclination to buy ‘stuff’ is called have tried to protect copyrighted material consumerism. Many people believe online by creating new laws, closing file-sharing excessive17 consumerism promotes companies like Megaupload and arresting a ‘throwaway’ society, where things individuals. Internet companies like Google and are only used once, or are in fashion Wikipedia are opposed6 to piracy but protested for a short time. They believe against the US government’s proposed7 Stop this contributes18 to the Earth’s Online Piracy Act (SOPA) because they fear it environmental problems. Other people could be used to limit free speech. Groups like believe that consumerism is necessary Anonymous have a more liberal approach8. They to keep the economy working. believe people can share whatever they want, Over-production, processing19, and even if it is copyrighted material. In January 2012, the consumption20 of goods leads to the group made headlines by hacking a number of excessive exploitation21 of natural governmental and big business websites in protest against SOPA, and Megaupload being shut down. Global garbage resources (e.g. wood, fossil fuels, water), environmental degradation In response to Anonymous’ activities as well as As the world population expands (e.g. the deforestation of the Amazon other protests, the law was not passed for now. so does the amount of waste10 people rainforest) and creation of toxic Around the same time, the Anti-Counterfeiting produce. While there are countries byproducts from factories, while the use Trade Agreement (ACTA) was ratified by most or regions that have invested heavily of products themselves (e.g. cars) members of the European Union. The aim of the in modern waste-management creates pollutants and immense agreement is to coordinate globally the prevention technologies, innovative recycling and production of waste. Furthermore, of the sale of counterfeit (= copied) goods from waste reduction programs, others inequalities22 in consumption fashion to software. The signing of ACTA has led to have chronic problems with garbage. between the highest‑income23 and a series of protests, which caused the governments A few years ago, when the landfills11 the poorest countries highlight such of some countries to reconsider their support for in Naples12, Italy, were filled with trash issues as poverty and hunger, but the treaty… for now. beyond their capacity13 and people also, for example, the rise in obesity. started setting fire to piles of trash in In other words, we all have to pay for the streets, the waste was transported rising consumption levels, but some by train to Hamburg, Germany, a city more than others. with a high-tech waste-management system. Mexico City was less lucky than Naples. When the city closed its biggest dump14 in December 2011, nearby cities refused to accept its waste. We can only hope that the 70 million tonnes of waste buried at the dump doesn’t end up in one of the world’s oceans. The closure15 of the dump in Mexico has highlighted a global issue with serious consequences16 for health and the environment. let ’s pr ac tise Population TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE / GIVING OPINIONS growth I. Choose one of the issues discussed in the article and speak about it using II. Choose one statement and express your agreement / disagreement. Give reasons In October 2011 it was reported that the following points: and examples. the seven billionth person was born. Our planet is already struggling to support CAUSES PRESENT SITUATION A) I believe we should all be able to share the people who live here now. How will CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS files on the internet. we be able to feed, clothe and house Possible answer B) I believe my life would change a lot if all even more people? About 10,000 people Economic uncertainty: The banks are making huge file-sharing sites were closed. are born every hour! All these people put profits, while the world is in a global financial crisis – C) I believe some materials are more in need pressure on the earth’s natural resources9 people are angry that a few people and governments of censorship than others. have caused lots of us to live in financial difficulty. and they also produce waste. However, Possible answer: A) The internet was designed for free The consequences for most of us are job insecurity, experts believe that the problem is not speech, to communicate with people around the globe. lack of money and higher cost of living. Possible a lack of food, but how it is distributed It’s my personal expression and right. It is wrong for solutions are to monitor the banks, limit public across the globe. large companies to control the information we share. spending and control debt. Vocabulary 8 approach [@"pr@UtS] – přístup 16 consequence ["kQnsIkw(@)ns] – následek 9 resources [rI"sO;sIz] – zdroje, zásoby 17 excessive [Ik"sesIv] – nadměrný 1 to occur [@"k@;] – odehrát se 10 waste [weIst] – odpad 18 to contribute [k@n"trIbju;t] – přispívat 2 shift [SIft] – posun 11 landfill – zavážka (odpadu) 19 processing ["pr@UsesIN] – zpracování 3 consequently ["kQnsIkw(@)ntli] – následně 12 Naples ["neIp(@)lz] – Neapol 20 consumption [k@n"sVm(p)S(@)n] – spotřeba 4 leak [li;k] – únik 13 beyond their capacity [bI"jQnd] – přes limit 21 exploitation [eksplOI"teIS(@)n] – využívání 5 debt [det] – dluh 14 dump [dVmp] – skládka 22 inequality [InI"kwQlIti] – nerovnost 6 to oppose [@"p@Uz] – být / stavět se proti 15 closure ["kl@UZ@] – uzavírka, uzavření 23 income ["InkVm] – příjem 7 proposed [pr@"p@Uzd] – navržený BRIDGE | March | 2012