INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND INTERDEPENDENCE

• United Nations

• 51 nations signed charter in 1945

• Goals:

• Promised to preserve world peace

• Cooperate in solving social and economic problems

• 193 member countries today

• World Health Organization

• Attempts to wipe out deadly diseases like smallpox and AIDS

INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• United Nations Security Council

• 15 member states, including five permanent members

• China, France, Russia, UK, and USA

• Ability to make permanent and binding decisions

INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• European Union

• Made up of 27 member states

• Formed in 1958

• Powers given by member states

• Common currency (Euro €)

• Ensures the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital

• Maintains common policies for trade and agriculture

INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Refugees

• Every year, hundreds of thousands of people leave poor and war-torn countries

• Where do these people belong?

• Drug Trade

• Poor farmers turn to drug crops

• Huge criminal enterprise

• Recent drug wars in Mexico have led to crackdowns

ISSUES OF GLOBAL CONCERN

• Terrorism

• The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes

• 1988 – plane bound for Lockerbie, Scotland was blown up

• 1998 – embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed

• Attacks on Sept. 11 led to War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq

• Is terrorism effective?

ISSUES OF GLOBAL CONCERN

• Environment

• 1984 – explosion at chemical plant in India kills 2100

• 1986 – Chernobyl nuclear plant explodes

• 1989 – Exxon Valdez oil spill

• 2010 – BP oil spill

• These accidents have lead to efforts to preserve our world

ISSUES OF GLOBAL CONCERN

HOMEWORK• 10 questions in multiple choice, true false, or completion form

• Make sure to write the question and the answer

• Put a star beside your top three