Global issues

An introduction to overpopulation that describes what it is, what causes it, and its affects on the world; and discusses possible solutions.

Experts predict that the acquisition of fresh water will soon supersede that of oil as a main source of international tension. The world's increasing population and industrialization are raising the level of pollutants and toxins, tainting water sources that could be used for consumption or agriculture.

Adoption and surrogate pregnancy are the two most realistic options currently available for millions of couples unable to have biological children. This text covers the ways in which adoption and surrogate pregnancy overlap and influence each other, the nuances that further complicate matters, and the controversies surrounding both issues.

Examining Muslim communities around the world, this new resource introduces readers to the history, traditions, and great diversity among them. --from publisher description.

Natural Disasters examines the types of natural hazards, their costs in human lives and economic impact, and national and international responses to them. Detailed case studies examine disasters in the United States, the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and tsunami of 2004-2005, water resource management in China, the 1984-1985 famine in Ethiopia, and the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia in 1985. The case studies also investigate strategies that governments and private agencies have adopted to predict, manage, and survive natural disasters.