Climate Change - Climate change is directly caused by human activity. The burning of fossil fuels like coal or oil has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These activities have caused a greenhouse effect which is effecting the Earth’s climate. Climate change can lead to an increase in droughts and floods, which can have an impact on a households food security. Developing nations feel the effects of climate change more harshly than other countries because of their farmers dependence on their crops for survival. Find a solution here.
Food Sustainability in Cuba - Currently Cuba imports 80% of the food it consumes; and still, it falls well short of what is needed to sustain a healthy population. Fresh produce is among the restricted items at market now. Many Cubans have already taken advantage of economic reforms allowing for home gardens to both feed one’s family, or to sell privately. Following the 14th Communist Congress in April 2011, Havana’s government plans to shed hundreds of thousands of state jobs — directing the newly unemployed to show initiative in the private sector via self-employment. Perhaps this is the impetus needed to motivate Cuba’s populace into further self-sustainability, and improved domestic nutrition. Find a solution here.
Forced Labor - The International Labor Organization estimates that there are more than 12 million people around the world who are ensnared in forced labor. The ILO defines forced labour as "Work or service exacted from a person under threat or penalty, which includes penal sanctions and the loss of rights and privileges, where the person has not offered him/herself voluntarily." Different from human smuggling, forced labor involves coercion, threat, force, or deception in the recruitment, transportation and harboring of persons. With the increasing migration toward urban areas in search of work and the ever increasing global economy, the opportunity for exploitation exists, especially for low-skilled and migrant women workers. Find a solution here.
Sustainable Agriculture in Palestine - Seeds marketed by international corporations in the West Bank are problematic in that the plants require irrigation, whilst water is a scarce resource in the area. At the same time, these seeds are licensed, requiring farmers to purchase new seeds every year at relatively high prices. Find a solution here.
Dams - In 2005, the HidroAysen Dam Project was proposed as a joint venture by Spanish energy corporation Endesa, S.A. and Chilean electric utility firm ColbĂșn S.A. The plan calls for the construction of five hydroelectric dams in Chile’s southern Patagonia region, with three dams intended to be built on the Pascua River and two on the Baker River. In addition to the five dams, the proposal calls for construction of 1,500 miles of high tension transmission lines through Patagonia’s ecologically sensitive forests and roadless terrain. At an estimated cost of cost of $3.2 billion, the stakes are high for investors, contractors, and energy utilities, and these groups have redoubled their public relations efforts to persuade the Chilean government and public in the face of objection. Find a solution here.
Indigenous Women & Poverty - Indigenous women in Chiapas are more susceptible to poverty. These women endure many obstacles. Overall, the indigenous population in Chiapas suffers from a lack of healthcare, unemployment and social injustice. These women are looked down upon because they are indigenous women, and it is very difficult for these indigenous women to buy land. Find a solution here.
Traditional Cooking Practices - Imagine having to cook your food in the living room of your home with an open pit barbeque grill. Now imagine the fumes filling the air, eyes, and lungs of your family. This is a reality for many people living in developing countries all over the world. The issue of indigenous cook-stoves is problematic on a multitude of levels. There are three main elements that are affected: the environment, health of the exposed, and child fuel gatherers. Find a solution here.
Community Sustainability - Community development and planning is essential for countries with growing populations in order to prepare the infrastructure to support the increasing demand on limited natural resources. In areas of China, the strain on community development is space in overpopulated urban centers. These cities cannot sustain the congestion from commuter vehicle traffic. In order to continue their growth, cities, like Dalian, China, have to find a way to reorganize the area and develop an effective rail-transit system to alleviate congestion. Urban Community Growth through Rail-Transit While urban communities are also an issue in India, rural communities are in need of sustainable development due to the issue of watershed areas, specifically in the Maharashtra region. Find a solution here.
Sustainable Tourism - Tourism is one of the world's important industries. It is a source of foreign exchange and vast employment worldwide. Sustainable tourism focuses on making a low impact on the environment and local cultures while helping to support local tourist industries and creating employment. The goal of sustainable tourism is to endorse sustainable development. Sustainable tourism focuses on natural environments as a large and growing part of the tourism industry. The purpose of sustainable tourism is to advocate for responsible tourism on issues such as environmental integrity, social justice, cultural awareness, and economic development. Sustainable tourism emphases on all stakeholders (government, nongovernment, profit, nonprofit, local communities, and ethnic groups) being responsible for achieving sustainable development while maintain environmental and social awareness and integrity. Find s solution here.
E-Waste - The proliferation of electronics, particularly mobile phones, in the global marketplace has created a problem, where consumers do not know how to discard of end-of-life products. This lack of knowledge impacts the environment and human health, especially if the devices being recycled are shipped and dumped in poorer countries. Find a solution here.
Sanitation - Although the world is on track to met part 7C of the Millennium Development Goals to halve the proportion of people without access to clean water, the amount of people without access to basic sanitation is expected to increase. The lack of access to basic sanitation not only has negative health consequences, but also risks the progress made in clean water provision. Find a solution here.
Fair Trade - Slave labor and low wages play a significant role in destroying livelihoods and perpetuating cycles of poverty in less developed nations. When we think about the ethical implications of development and sustainability, it is important to incorporate protecting human rights into overall development goals. As a global community we have to analyze the ethics of how we create economic growth and seek more egalitarian and just ways to expand wealth without hurting the environment and the poor. The Fair Trade movement offers an alternative system to current global business practices. Find a solution here.