Global issues

Explains why biotechnology is a relevant and volatile issue. Begins with a history of biotechnology and its effect on agriculture, medicine, and the environment. Equal space is devoted to discussing the efforts of human-rights advocates, animal-rights advocates, and environmentalists to create definitive governmental regulations for this budding industry.

Presents information on air and water pollution, acid rain, water shortages, and the importance of fresh drinking water, and includes case studies from around the world.

A comprehensive overview of pandemics and their influence on global health that examines major types of infectious agents and modes of transmission, worldwide pandemics and attempts to control them, recent outbreaks and methods of fighting them, and other related topics.

Examines the phenomenon of terrorism, or the intentional use of violence against civilians for a political purpose. The book reviews the history of terrorism, its causes, and its human and economic impact. Case studies, quotes, and media excerpts help to illuminate one of the most serious global security threats today.

Explains the different categories of refugees, the history and roots of the problem, and the responses around the world to influxes of refugees.

Explains some of the local and international conflicts that have occurred due to clashes between fundamentalists.

Reviews the history of the epidemic of AIDS and HIV, its impact, and the continuing efforts to combat it worldwide. The book includes sidebars and timelines that demonstrate how the epidemic has spread around the globe.

Shows how gender affects every aspect of one's life, that most societies discriminate against women, and that gender roles are changing.

Identifies the energy-related challenges of the early twenty-first century, looks at how the United States and other nations are responding to the problems, and provides a selection of related reference information, including case studies, primary source documents, biographies, statistics, and a chronology.