SOCIAL PROBLEMS
-The most striking problem of today’s world
-Problems of our country and our region
-causes of our conflicts and wars and their consequences
Drugs are very serious problem of today´s world. In the past people also took drugs, but it was case of individuals. At present drugs are easily available, because the illegal drug market is more and more profitable so dealers try to make profit of it.
We can divide drugs into three categories. We have hard, soft and legal drugs. All three types can cause addiction, illness, or even death. Hard drugs include heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, speed, opium and the typical Czech drug pervitin. Soft drugs are marijuana, sedatives or hashish. Legal drugs include tobacco and alcohol.
Many people don´t know that legal drugs can be as harmful as illegal ones. More and more teenagers are smokers. They think that it´s cool. They don´t realize that smoking causes cancer, breathing problems and allergies. They should know that cigarette smoking kills 2.5 million people every year.
Alcohol is drug as well. Alcoholism is one of the most common addictions. I know many people who have problem with alcohol. According to research, men usually drink alcohol with their friends; on the other hand women drink alcohol alone when they are at home. People usually start to drink alcohol because of problems at work, at home. They think that it´s solution, but it can´t help them.
People have different reasons for taking drugs. Young people sometimes have problems with their parents or friends. They may feel lonely or disappointed with their life, love, or with the world. They may think they cannot find another solution that taking drugs. However, drugs cannot solve their problems; they can only cause more difficulties. Some people just want to try it; they wonder what drugs make with them.
Drugs are very expensive, so the junkies very often steal, because they aren´t able to work. Thefts are only way for them how to get money.
There are special centers for addicted people, called K-centrum. They provide health services (treatment, HIV tests), counselling services and hygiene.
Racism has a long history. It exists since Ancient times when there were states with system of slavery. Slaves usually were members of different race who were captured in war. The masters of slaves thought that they are better than their slaves.
Racism was the worst in the 18th, 19th and 20th century. In the 18th and 19th century it was caused by colonialism. Black slaves were imported from Africa to the USA where they had to work at plantations. Their living conditions were terrible, they had no rights and they were treated as a property.
Before the Second World War the Jews were treated very badly by the Nazi Germany. It wasn’t just a case of Jews, but later all non-Germanic Nations should have been exterminated. It´s called the Holocaust.
In the 20th century there was a system called Apartheid in South Africa. Black people were separated from normal society and they had less right. It was abolished in the 90´s by Nelson Mandela who became the first black president there.
In my opinion nowadays situation is better than in the past. I think that contemporary society is more tolerant than hundred years ago.
Unemployment is problem of many countries. The least unemployment is usually in large cities where the seats of big companies are. People who live in the country have almost no chance to find a job there. The biggest unemployment is in the countries of the Third World. At present it´s very easy to lose a job. Companies go bankrupt or you aren´t educated enough. But to find a job isn´t easy for well educated people as well, because young people have no working experiences for example. If you are sacked, you have to register at Employment Office, which may offer you a new job. Sometimes you have to get a new qualification. The Employment Office offers specialized courses for people who would like to find a new job. For several months you get your unemployment grant.
Crime is quite big problem in large cities. It´s usually joined with taking drugs and alcoholism, because people who have these problems are aggressive and unsettled .We have different types of crimes which are differently severe. The worst one is murder or rape in my opinion. There are many reasons why to commit a crime. It can be lack of money, hate or madness. Criminalist are mostly found by the police, arrested, judged and put to prison or to detention center.
It is quite obvious that our world is going to be overcrowded. 2 billion people suffer from famine and every year many people die of hunger, mainly in the developing countries. This countries don´t have developed economy and it´s really big problem, because they have no chance to employ people. The countries of the Third world have many sources of income, but they don´t own them. They are in possession of the big corporation. Developed states are trying to help to supply money for food and the basic needs of the people but in my opinion it´s not solution. In these states is bad economic and political system which has to be repaired first of all.
Human rights are basic privileges that everybody should receive. They are universal, equal and inalienable. They should be held for every person against the state and society. Human rights include e.g.: the universal right to vote, freedom of speech, right to education, right to nationality, right to creed of religion, right to work connect with the right for fair wages. They are very often broken. For example in Muslim countries women are discriminated.
There are many religious sects all over the world for example the Jehovah witnesses, the Satanists, the Mormons… Some of them are very dangerous. Young people opened to everything can get easily into those sects. First comes love, care and understanding and then is member empty of own opinions and blindly obeys. Manipulation and emotional extortion are typical for sects. The leader of a sect promotes through the God his opinions and commands. Members obey without any protest, because they believe to the god.
On a black market it is traded with almost everything. The sale of human organs is relatively new. It´s very lucrative business, but also inhuman.
Terrorism is the greatest scare of the world. It seems that the general purpose of terrorism is to stimulate some kind of change from a particular government. The second reason for terrorism is religion. You can say that for example Islamic terrorists are crazy people who misuse religion for their own goals. For achieving their goals they use violent and fear. The most famous terroristic organizations are Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas or IRA. The Ku Klux Klan can be considered as a terroristic organization as well. Irish Republican Army is a left-wing, paramilitary organization striving for the independence of Northern Ireland. The most famous terrorist attack was on the 11th of September 2001. Al-Qaeda attacked the USA. Both buildings of the WTC crashed down after two aircrafts hit them. Also Pentagon and White House were endangered.
The most striking problem of our country is racism in my opinion. In the Czech Republic there live big gypsy minority. The most of them live in the Moravian-Silesian region. According to research in Ostrava there live about 10 000 Gypsies. Actually there live more of them, but they don´t report to their nationality. The Czech people don´t like them, because they don´t work and just draw social benefits. I think that these prejudices aren´t very good. I know just a few Gypsies who work. On the other hand one year ago my friends were beat up by a group of Gypsies.
Another serious problem of our region is unemployment. Our region is an industrial area, where industry has a long history. In the past there were built mines and steel works. At present local coal isn’t able to compete with cheap polish coal, so mines and steel works go bankrupt.
Wars have many causes. It can be territorial dispute or religion for example. A big threat is the World War III which would destroy the world, because many states own nukes. Wars bring death, chaos and diseases as well. On the other hand they help to boost the industry and to create new technologies. That´s the reason why many countries go into war.