Opposing viewpoints series (Unnumbered)

Collects twenty-six essays that provide varying perspectives on issues concerning Russia, debating the country's role in international politics, if it is moving toward democracy, the influence of Western culture, and its greatest challenges.

How great is the threat of bioterrorism? Bioterrorism poses a significant threat / Jason Pate and Gary Ackerman ; The threat of bioterrorism is exaggerated / Milton Leitenberg ; Bioterrorism threatens the U.S. food supply / Kevin Coleman ; Bioterrorism does not pose an increased threat to the U.S. food supply / Stan Cox ; Agroterrorism poses a significant economic threat to U.S. agriculture / Rocco Casagrande ; The economic impact of agroterrorism would probably be small / Richard D. Farmer -- What are the issues associated with biodefense research? The U.S. should pursue biodefense research / Rona Hirschberg, John La Montagne, and Anthony S. Fauci ; Biodefense research is cause for concern / Laura H. Kahn ; Flu preparedness and bioterrorism research are similar / Bioterrorism Watch ; Biodefense research has hurt other research areas / Barton Reppert ; Smallpox poses a significant threat to public health / Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ; The smallpox threat is exaggerated / George J. Annas -- How should the United States prepare for and protect against bioterrorism? Bioterrorism preparedness programs are necessary to protect public health / Charles A. Schable ; Bioterrorism preparedness programs do not protect public health / Hillel W. Cohen, Robert M. Gould, and Victor W. Sidel ; Mass vaccination would be necessary to protect against smallpox attack / Edward P. Richards, Katharine C. Rathbun, and Jay Gold ; Mass vaccination is unnecessary to protect against smallpox / Ira Longini and Elizabeth Halloran ; The United States is prepared to respond to bioterrorism / The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ; The United States is not prepared to respond to bioterrorism / Jeffrey Levi ... [et al.] -- What anti-bioterrorism laws and policies should the U.S. government have? Project Bioshield is necessary to keep America safe / George W. Bush ; Project Bioshield does not keep Americans any safer / Debora MacKenzie ; The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act helps protect against bioterrorism / Michael Mair, Beth Maldin, and Brad Smith ; The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act has troubling secrecy provisions / OMB Watch ; The anthrax vaccine is safe and protects military personnel / Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency ; The U.S. government should not force the anthrax vaccine on military personnel / Gary Null with James Feast.

Is eco-architecture beneficial to humans? The basics of green homes and communities / Bion Howard ; Eco-architecture is good for businesses / Rod F. Wille ; Eco-architecture can be risky for businesses / Frank Musica ; Eco-architecture can eliminate sick building syndrome / Stephen del Percio ; Sick building syndrome is due to job stress not building conditions / Alexi Marmot et al. -- How does eco-architecture impact the environment? Eco-architecture will help the environment / Jeffrey Kaye ; Eco-architecture's benefits to the environment are exaggerated / Jane Powell ; Large houses can be eco-friendly / Claire Anderson ; Large houses cannot be eco-friendly / Stan Cox ; Urban sprawl can be beneficial / Randall G. Holcombe ; Urban sprawl is not beneficial / Carl Pope -- How can eco-architecture be encouraged? Building green is becoming easier / Patrick W. Rollens ; Building green remains difficult / Auden Schendler ; Eco-architecture is becoming more attractive / Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne ; HOAs often ban eco-friendly practices as unaesthetic / Stan Cox ; The LEED rating system helps create greener buildings / Taryn Holowka ; The LEED rating system's effectiveness is dubious / Ted Smalley Bowen -- How is eco-architecture being implemented? More college campuses are building green / Timothy Egan ; School districts are learning the benefits of eco-architecture / Debra Lau Whelan ; Hospitals are going green to cut toxins / Laura Landro ; Greenwashing remains a challenge to the green building community / Philip Mattera ; Ephemeral structures are the ideal eco-architecture / Jo Scheer.

What do European Union member states want for their future? European Union members are divided in their vision of the future / Jeffrey Kopstein ; The European Union's future should be defined by the pursuit of six shared goals / Timothy Garton Ash ; Disagreement over the European Union constitution is a hopeful sign for democracy / Gary Younge ; Nationalism will always be more powerful than allegiance to the European Union / Patrick J. Buchanan ; The European Union needs to become more centralized and define its future / Charles Kupchan -- What countries should be members of the European Union? The European Union will continue to expand / Hans-Juergen Zahorka ; The European Union faces hurdles to continued expansion / The Economist ; Turkey should be allowed to join the European Union / Orhan Pamuk ; Turkey should not be allowed to join the European Union / Tom Spencer ; Great Britain should leave the European Union / Vernon Coleman ; Great Britain should remain in the European Union / Richard Laming -- Is the European Union succeeding globally? America can maintain global security on its own / Robert Kagan ; America needs the help of the European Union for global security / Ronald D. Asmus and Kenneth M. Pollack ; The economy of the European Union is not doing well / Richard W. Rahn ; The economy of the European Union is doing well / Olivier J. Blanchard ; Europe's employment practices hurt the European Union economy / Bruce Bartlett ; Europe's employment practices do not hurt the European Union economy / Thomas Geoghegan ; Airbus and other European companies get unfair advantages / Investor's Business Daily ; Airbus and other European companies are thriving fair and square / Floyd J. McKay -- What should the EU do about its diverse nationalities and languages? A European identity is compatible with national identity / Kyle James ; There is no European identity, only national identity / Daniel Hannan ; The European Union's many official languages create challenges / James Owen ; The European Union's many official languages are necessary / European Commission ; French should be the official language of the European Union / Dan Bilefsky.

Do certain drugs have a gateway effect? The theory that some drugs have a gateway effect is debatable / David J. Hanson ; Some drugs have a gateway effect / Kimberly R. Martin ; Little evidence exists of a causal gateway effect / Stephen Pudney ; The evidence for a gateway effect is inconclusive / Andrew R. Morral, Daniel F. McCaffrey, and Susan M. Paddock ; The meaning of the gateway drug theory is ambiguous / Jacob Sullum -- Are gateway drugs harmful? Marijuana use has many harmful effects / Office of National Drug Control Policy ; The harmful effects of marijuana are minimal / Paul Armentano ; Alcohol use is harmful / Albert S. Whiting ; There are many myths about the harms of alcohol use / David J. Hanson ; Tobacco use s addictive and harmful / National Institute on Drug Abuse ; Harms from tobacco use are overstated and distorted / Joe Jackson -- What is the relationship between gateway drugs and other drugs? Cigarette smoking among teens is a gateway to marijuana use / The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University ; Tobacco use is linked to cocaine and heroin use / Patrick Zickler ; Alcohol use is a gateway to marijuana use / Alyssa J. Myers and Marion O. Petty ; Evidence indicates that marijuana is a gateway to other illicit drug use / Joseph C. Gfroerer, Li-Tzy Wu, and Michael A. Penne ; Marijuana is not a gateway drug / Bruce Mirken -- What should society do about gateway drugs? Marijuana is not any more dangerous than alcohol and should be legalized / Ray Warren ; Marijuana has dangers but should be legalized / Rosie Boycott ; Marijuana is dangerous and should not be legalized / Antonio Maria Costa ; Tobacco use should be outlawed / John W. Whitehead ; The government imposes too many restrictions on the rights of smokers / Robert A. Levy ; Teens should be taught responsible alcohol use / Tony Newman ; The alcohols industry can help combat underage alcohol use / Joseph A. Califano, Jr.

What alternative transportation strategies are best? Ethanol will reduce America's dependence on crude oil / Brian Jennings ; The claimed benefits of ethanol are unfounded / John Stossel ; Hydrogen has significant promise as an alternative fuel / Daniel Sperling and Joan Ogden ; The promise of hydrogen as an alternative fuel is exaggerated / Joseph J. Romm ; Public transportation will reduce urban congestion / Lester Hoel ; Public transportation will not diminish Americans' love of cars / Joel Kotkin -- What transportation policies best protect national security? Privatizing airport security will better protect passengers / Anthony Gregory ; Privatization will not resolve airport security challenges / Paul C. Light ; The United States should maintain control of ports / The Nation ; Outsourcing port management will not threaten national security / The Washington Post ; The NAFTA superhighway threatens U.S. sovereignty and security / Kelly Taylor ; The NAFTA superhighway is an unsubstantiated rumor / Philip Dine -- What laws best protect driver safety? Seat belts reduce highway fatalities / Danielle E. Roeber ; Seat belt laws are unnecessary / Ted Balaker ; Motorcycle helmet laws save lives / Marian Moser Jones and Ronald Bayer ; Motorcycle helmet laws limit personal freedom / Jacob Sullum ; Laws banning cell phone use while driving are necessary / Joseph J. Hazewski ; Restrictions on elderly drivers are necessary / Anastasia Niedrich ; Restrictions on elderly drivers are unnecessary / Eli Lehrer -- What is the future of transportation? Maglev trains have significant benefits / Eric Russell ; Maglev trains are impractical and expensive / Los Angeles Times ; Space elevators will transport people and payloads into space / Keith Gerein ; Space elevator development faces serious challenges / The Economist ; Commercial space travel will become increasingly common / Katherine Mangu-Ward ; Flying cars may soon take to the air / Christopher McDougall.

Should everyone be allowed to vote? -- Should voting be mandatory? -- Should voting rights for women be expanded? -- How should global voting rights be expanded?.

Presents opposing viewpoints about prison issues. Includes critical thinking skill activities and a list of organizations to contact.

A collection of articles debating the economic, social, and political problems of Africa. Includes critical thinking activities.