Week 3 World's Biggest Problems

In no particular order of importance:

1. It is a major problem that the media sells lies to the public.  I wish that we as American citizens and as people in general could trust what we see and hear in the national/world news and in product advertisements.   In particular, reality television shows, celebrity gossip, and product commercials are completely staged to convey false messages only to gain a certain reaction by the public and to lead the public's attention towards trivial drama and away from important national/world issues.  We need to wake up and pay attention to what is actually going on around us.

2. Overall health is a major concern in the world right now, especially in America.  More and more people are discovering issues with their health due to lack of proper diet, stress levels, etc.  Modern western medicine only seems to cover up symptoms and mask the underlying problems.  However, diet choices and mental/emotional clarity need to be prioritized to truly reverse illness and regain health.

3. There are several endangered species in the world, and we need to take action to stop this.  Destruction of wildlife habitats needs to end.

4. Pollution of air, water, and soil are major concerns caused by heavy metals, plastics, oil spills, and industrial waste.  Clean drinking water is becoming scarce, and industrial development pollutes our oceans, rivers, and seas with toxins.  Accumulation of waste impacts this issue greatly.  Better waste disposal methods needs to be implemented.  Recycle, recycle, recycle.

5. We need to reduce our water footprint (the amount of fresh water that we use daily) and make choices to conserve this vital resource.  The meat and dairy industry contributes immensely to this problem. 27% of the water footprint is related to the production of animal products while only 4% of this footprint is related to at-home water use.  According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) it can require up to 18,000 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger.  Wow.  Instead of cutting back on shower time, how about we just swap the hamburger at lunch for a delicious fruit smoothie?

6. Animal cruelty is a huge world problem.  Every day animals are enslaved, beaten, and killed for human consumption, clothing, enjoyment (such as state fairs and circuses), and lab studies.  Many people do not realize this harsh reality because it is kept quiet from the public.  Why would the media show it?  No animal or living being should be treated like property and have to go through such pain and agony. Sorry.


7. Deforestation is a major concern.  40% of all Rain forests have been cleared to raise cattle for the meat industry.  If we could all cut back on the consumption of meat, we could do a great service not only to our bodies but also to our rain forests and the amazing animals that naturally inhabit them.

8. Poverty and world hunger is a big problem.  Many people do not have financial security, and as a result they are living without shelter and without enough food.  I think more loan options, non-profit shelters, and food banks should be available to the public.

9. The importance weight that people put on their own and others' outward appearances is a major problem in our modern society.  Many young girls especially concern themselves with how they look; they are constantly comparing themselves to others which can be very unhealthy both mentally and physically.  Please, let's stop wondering if something about us is considered "weird" or "unpopular" and just live.

10. This may seem minute compared to other serious issues in the world, but I believe it is a concern that should be addressed.  I feel like the majority of people on this planet, my self included, worry about the most insignificant problems, fail to see silver linings, get consumed in negative thought, and cause undue and unnecessary stress to themselves.  Through this way of life, relationships are not easily formed, desired outcomes are not easily met, happiness is harder to find, and overall physical and mental health suffers.  No fun.  Let's be more positive and uplifting, yeah?