Title: State of the World 2005 - Redefining Global Security
Author: Various
Publisher: Worldwatch Institute, Washington,
ISBN No.: 0-393-32666-7
Year of Publication: 2005
Website: http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/sow/2005
The 2005 issue focuses on global security in the wider sense (i.e. not just militarily or terrorism-related) brings into stark focus those threats that most of us do not wish to face.
Some of the “non-militarist” threat to global security listed in the book include:- oil (the continued oil dependency and the impacts on climatic, as well as economic stability); water (worldwide 434 million people currently face water scarcity and this figure is set to rise); food (worldwide, nearly two billion people suffer from hunger and chronic nutrient deficiencies); infectious disease (HIV/Aids has become a major killer with an estimated 34-46 million people being infected); and youth unemployment (over 100 developing countries worldwide are experiencing a youth bulge where people aged from 15-29 years account for more than 40% of all adults).
There is so much in this book which stimulates introspection and reflection. The growing problem of environmental refugees is highlighted with an estimate of there now being over 30 million environmental refugees globally.
Worldwatch Institute President, Christopher Flavin, encapsulated many of the issues when he said, “…Poverty, disease and environmental decline are the true axis (sic) of evil. Unless these threats are recognised and responded to, the world runs the risk of being blindsided by the new forces of instability, just as the United States was surprised by the terrorist attacks of September 11..”
This book is an important information source on this key topic which has been sadly neglected for a long time. Highly recommended
AJH
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