Global Problems
It is reported that billions of dollars are spent on space exploration projects every year. Some people believe that this money should be used to solve problems on Earth.
People are explorers by nature and space has always attracted them. But is it wise to spend so much money on space exploration projects when we have so many problems on Earth?
In my opinion, space exploration is very important to mankind. Firstly, satellites are used for radio, television, and other electronic communication. Satellite television provides us with a great number of channels, mobile phones facilitate communication, GPS that uses radio signals from satellites can show you your exact position on the Earth. Secondly, thanks to space equipment we can learn the weather forecast and predict different cataclysms. What is more, people have always dreamed of reaching other planets and finding other forms of life. So I think that the more money is spent on space exploration projects, the more people
On the other hand, a lot of people say that it is better to solve the problems on Earth first of all. Unfortunately, we face a great number of problems nowadays: environmental pollution, the greenhouse effect, global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, overpopulation and many others. People pollute lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. They destroy forests, kill rare animals, pick up herbs and flowers, envenom soil and make the air foul. The world’s population increases faster than the food supply. Each year millions of deaths occur from starvation, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
To conclude, I think we must solve problems on Earth first. To my mind, people can do without satellite television, but they will hardly be able to live without food, clean drinking water, fresh air or electricity.
Some people approve of multiculturalism. However, others have a negative attitude to it. The modern world can be called multicultural due to racial, cultural and ethnic diversity. Through the process of globalization and immigration modern society has become a mixture of different nations and cultures. However, different people have different attitude to multiculturalism.
Personally, I believe that multiculturalism supports the ideals of a democratic society in which every person is free and equal in dignity and rights. It leads to
But unfortunately, some people have a negative attitude to multiculturalism as they believe that it erodes social stability. People’s prejudices and fears may lead to racial discrimination, social conflicts and violence. I strongly feel that it is wrong to think that one’s own race or ethnic group is more important than others and that its culture is superior to the culture of other groups.
To conclude, people should be understanding and tolerant of multiculturalism because it helps us create a united and harmonious society where every member enjoys equal rights.
Our grandparents say their way of life was much more secure. However, young people have more life opportunities nowadays.
A lot of elderly people like talking about good old days and they often say that life in the past was much better than life today. But is it really so?
Personally, I think that modern life is more satisfying than the life in the past. Firstly, nowadays there are different technical devices that make our lives easier and save our time. Every day we use computers, laptops, i-Pods, digital tape recorders, GPS navigation systems and so on. The mobile phone and the Internet have made communication much easier. Secondly, travelling has become faster and more convenient. Thirdly, young people have more opportunities to receive good education and to find a well-paid job nowadays. In any city there are a lot of educational establishments and a great number of firms which need qualified specialists. Besides, there is a wide choice of entertainment in a big city.
However, modern life is full of dangers. The Internet causes addiction and the loss of social interaction. Technical progress harms the environment. People suffer from acid rains, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, the extinction of rare animals and plants and other calamities. Overpopulation is another reason for environmental problems as the more people there are on Earth, the more they pollute. Thousands of people are infected with AIDS and other incurable diseases every day. What is more, modern life is full of stress.
To sum up, modern life has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it is eventful and it gives us more life opportunities. On the other hand, it is rather dangerous and full of problems. Anyway, I prefer the excitement of the present.
Everybody knows that smoking is dangerous and it must be banned. However, more and more people smoke today. It is not a secret that smoking ruins people’s health. However, statistics show that millions of men, women, teenagers and even children practice smoking.
I have always wondered what makes people light up a cigarette. Smoking is extremely dangerous. Nicotine is a drug that causes addiction like heroin. Smoking causes a lot of serious diseases such as many forms of cancer, heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis and many others. People who smoke have yellow teeth, bad breath, dry skin and premature wrinkles. What is more, smokers do harm to the health of those people who surround them.
But in spite of all warnings, people continue smoking. Some of them say that they like the taste or smell of cigarettes or because it helps them steady their nerves and think. Others say that it helps them make friends and feel relaxed in a company of smoking people. For many children and teenagers smoking is the first step out of childhood. But I strongly feel that it is silly to begin smoking in order to show off.
To sum up, smoking shortens people’s lives. That is why there must be more restrictions, bans and anti-smoking advertising in every country. Smoking must be banned in public places, including offices, restaurants, bars and night clubs.
Our life is full of stress. Some people say that they feel stressed almost every day, while others think that it is possible to cope with stress and to relax.
There are a lot of stressful events in our lives. Losing a job, having difficulties at home or at work or just moving to a new flat may cause stress. Besides, we may feel stressed because of constant fatigue, physical and moral exhaustion and monotony. Some people say that it is impossible to avoid stress. But is it really so?
It is a well-known fact that stress may result in a real breakdown of health. That is why it is very important to try to avoid stress or at least to minimize it. In my opinion, one of the best ways to cope with stress is to keep a sense of humor in difficult situations. I think laughter is the best medicine for all diseases. Besides, if you feel depressed, you can try some relaxing hobbies such as yoga, swimming, bicycling, painting or gardening.
Of course, people react to stress in different ways. Some of us are more vulnerable to it than others. A lot of people don’t know how to cope with stress. They begin overeating, smoking, drinking, and even taking drugs. But junk food, cigarettes, sleeping pills and alcohol don’t help. On the contrary, they make things much worse. I believe that the best way to cope with stress is to forget about your problems, to take breaks and to be enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, stress is inevitable. It may have a negative influence on our physical and mental health. But sometimes stress helps us develop and makes us stronger. To my mind, the main thing is not to lose control and to stay positive.
A lot of people believe that it is impossible to get rid of poverty. Others say that poverty can be reduced. Nowadays millions of people live in poverty. They are deprived of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water. They also suffer from the lack of access to opportunities such as education, information, health care and employment.
I have always wondered if it is possible to get rid of poverty. I strongly feel that it is not fair that the rich live in luxurious houses and drive expensive cars, while the poor lack access to health services, suffer hunger and experience mental and physical health problems. All people are born equal. So why do they live in different conditions? To my mind, there must be more poverty reduction programs as well as institutions dedicated to tackling poverty. In politics, the fight against poverty must be regarded as the most important goal. Besides, developed nations ought to help developing countries.
However, it is not so easy to fight poverty. Poverty may be caused by different factors including geographic factors, unemployment, overpopulation, war, discrimination and many others. So if we want to reduce poverty, we must solve quite a lot of global problems first.
To sum up, the problem of poverty remains unsolved nowadays. In my view, governments must take some urgent measures to fight poverty because it often goes hand in hand with crime and it may destroy society. Anyway, poverty must be reduced for reasons of justice and security.
Most people are worried about the problem of overpopulation. Others think that the situation is not as terrible as it seems to be.
At the present time the earth accommodates more than 6 billion people. The world’s population is growing so fast because people live longer owing to better medical care and nutrition. Besides, more babies are born, especially in developing countries. But how can overpopulation threaten people’s life on Earth?
In my opinion, overpopulation makes the standard of living worse. The world’s population increases faster than the food supply. Each year millions of deaths occur from starvation, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. If the world’s population continuous growing, it will be very difficult to produce enough food and goods. More people need more water, minerals, shelter and clothes. Population growth is another reason for environmental problems as the more people there are on Earth, the more they pollute. They drive cars, throw away litter, cut down forests, use electricity, build roads and plants and deplete the planet’s resources.
On the other hand, in many European countries the average woman has only one child. In many big cities fertility rates are falling because some people think that it is rather expensive to have a child. Most young women dream of making a career. So they say they have much to lose by becoming mothers. As a result, families are getting smaller and smaller.
To sum up, the real situation is not so bad. To my mind, the problem of overpopulation can be solved if there is population control in some countries. Anyway, nobody knows what will happen to the human race in ten or twenty years.
Some people are convinced that the concept of pacifism may become reality, while others say it is a kind of Utopia. Humans have always been competing for better life. Pacifists believe that war and violence are always wrong. But is it really possible to create the world where nonviolence, love and patience rule or is it just a dream?
I strongly feel that since nuclear weapons appeared, people have understood that war cannot be used to settle confrontations. To my mind, the costs of war are so substantial that better ways of resolving disputes must be found. Fortunately, some countries have already adopted pacifism to conduct foreign policy. They reject war and stick to a neutral role. Some pacifists say it is necessary to establish a world government in order to prevent and control international aggression.
In theory, people are creating a “peace-loving” society. In practice, there are still some military conflicts and tension between different countries. Civilization is still far from establishing a world government. What is more, the modern world is not perfect enough to avert wars. But I’m convinced that nonviolent action is morally superior and more effective.
To conclude, everybody wants to live in a peaceful world. That is why people must reduce regional and international conflicts and avoid all attributes which could tend to war. I believe that international disputes can and must be peacefully resolved. All in all, any violence is morally wrong.
Some people say that gambling is just entertainment, while others are convinced that it ruins gamblers* lives.
For centuries people have spent a lot of money trying to beat the laws of probability. Some of us find gambling quite innocent. But most people believe that gambling is one of the worst temptations that exist in this world. This problem is taking on greater proportions as gambling, especially online gambling, becomes more popular.
I have always wondered what makes people risk their money or possessions. Of course, everybody hopes to gain an income. Some people even succeed in winning additional money or material goods. Others consider gambling to be a form of recreation. They enjoy gambling for the thrill of it, and they both have fun and earn a little money.
But while some people enjoy the entertainment value of a horse track or casino, others can become addicted to gambling which threatens their financial and family’s well-being. Many gamblers are possessed by the idea of getting rich quick. They often continue risking their money even after repeated losses. In my opinion, an addiction to gambling is like an addiction to any other thing. However, since it does not have any physical signs, most people discover that their relatives or friends are addicted only when it becomes too late. What is more, many people say that casinos contribute to crime because some gamblers resort to stealing.
To conclude, gambling must be banned or at least heavily controlled. Unfortunately, quitting gambling is just as hard as quitting smoking or taking drugs. I believe that gambling addicts must receive medical treatment. Otherwise they may ruin their lives and the lives of their nearest and dearest.
Some people say that in the modern world we are losing our sense of spirituality. Others are convinced that people still need faith. In the past faith played a central role in people’s daily lives. But the situation is quite different today. A lot of people never attend religious services of any kind and some of them say they have no religion at all. But what could have brought about such a dramatic break from tradition and how can it influence our way of life?
I have always wondered what role faith plays in our lives. In my opinion, faith can help people cope with difficult emotions or moral decisions. When everything goes wrong and you feel extremely unhappy, faith can help. I think that a person who believes in God has courage, hope, confidence, calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well. Faith helps people overcome all difficulties and remain optimistic whatever happens.
Unfortunately, scientific advances have made many people question their religious beliefs. The terrible events of the 20th century have also made others question the existence of God. A lot of people say that science is more important than religion because it tries to solve the problems connected with reducing pollution, protecting biological diversity, saving energy and natural recourses and many others. But I strongly feel that if we want to resolve the global crisis and to improve our cultural, social, economic and political systems, we need faith and spirituality.
To conclude, people need to change their attitudes, values and beliefs. Faith can help us become kinder, more generous and responsible. I believe that it will make our lives much happier.
Some people prefer to escape from boring reality from time to time. Others say that escapism cannot help them solve their problems.
People have always tried to escape from reality in one way or another. They try to forget about bad or boring things with the help of different activities and entertainment such as reading books, going to the theatre, travelling and so on. But does it help people change their lives for the better and what are the possible consequences of escapism?
To my mind, people escape from reality for different reasons. Some of them are dissatisfied with their lives and don’t know how to improve the situation. Others have dreams that they think will never come true because these people lack self-confidence and have low self-esteem. I strongly feel that if people are dissatisfied with their lives, they must do something. To forget about your problems and to solve them are two different things.
Nevertheless, some people prefer to follow the line of least resistance and never to take risks. If something goes wrong, they usually give up and never make one more attempt. They prefer to forget about all bad things that happened to them. Some philosophers say that escapism is not exclusively negative. It is just a different reality. But I believe that escapism is only for weak and indecisive people.
To sum up, those who escape from reality don’t want to accept themselves as they are. They often feel depressed and unhappy because they are unable or reluctant to connect with the world. I think it is better to face the reality and try to solve your problems and overcome difficulties. Anyway, it is impossible to escape from something all the time.
Some people say that capital punishment should be allowed, while others are convinced that it is unacceptable in a human society. Capital punishment has been used for a wide variety of offences since ancient times. Nowadays many countries have already abolished the death penalty, but it is still used for certain crimes in the USA, China, Japan and many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Personally, I am not sure if capital punishment should be allowed. To my mind, it is morally wrong to kill criminals, no matter what they have done. The death penalty runs counter to the principles of humanism. There is also a possibility that innocent people will be executed and that there will be no way of compensating them for such injustice. Opponents of the death penalty are convinced that it is needlessly cruel and that life imprisonment is a more rational alternative.
However, some people believe that capital punishment is morally right if it is used for punishing murderers. Firstly, capital punishment removes the most dangerous criminals from society and should prove much safer for the rest of us than long term or permanent incarceration. Secondly, the fear of death penalty may prevent many people from committing crimes. Besides, some people think that it is wrong to keep criminals in prison at the expense of taxes. The government would better spend more money on the old, the young and the sick rather than on murderers. But can we deprive a person of his or her life? Do we have the right to murder? I don’t think so.
To conclude, I believe that the death penalty removes our humanity. In the case of the worst criminals, this may be acceptable but it is more questionable in the case of less awful crimes.
The problem of xenophobia is discussed by many people nowadays. Some of them say that it is important to be tolerant, while others disagree with this point of view.
I have always wondered why some people have strong fear or dislike of those from other countries. The problem of xenophobia is very topical nowadays. It is especially widespread in large cities with multinational population.
Tolerance is a respectful attitude to people who differ from us. To my mind, it is prejudice to think that some races are superior and some of them are inferior. I strongly feel that it is primitive and silly to divide people into types and classes. In my opinion, we should treat another person as an equal.
However, in reality some people have a feeling of distrust and aversion to something or someone different and unusual. They are used to understanding those people who have the same traditions and who speak the same language as they do. And that is why people of other nations seem strange. Unfortunately, people’s intolerance may lead to racial discrimination, social conflicts and violence. So we must develop mutual understanding and respect. Besides, we should learn to make a compromise.
To conclude, tolerance is a very important element of our lives, culture and communication. It is another word for humanity, equality and fairness. Tolerance is very important if we want to have happy future and global security.
It seems that people of different nationalities will never understand each other. However, others believe that countries can work together to improve tolerance. Today we live in the world of racial, cultural and ethnic diversity. People differ in appearance, colour of skin, way of thinking, customs and behaviour. Every race has its own culture and its own beliefs. That is why there is often some misunderstanding between people of different nationalities. So the question arises if anything can be done in order to improve tolerance.
To my mind, governments can do much to improve tolerance. Some international conferences and meetings can be organized in order to discuss the most vital problems of people of different nationalities and to exchange experience. I think it is very important to work out educational programs for universities, colleges, schools and even kindergartens. We must teach children, teenagers and young people to be patient, respectful and tolerant. And of course we mustn’t forget that family upbringing is of great importance for any child, that’s why countries should think about special educational programs for parents.
However, many people say that some misunderstanding between people of different nationalities will always exist. Watching the latest news on TV we can always learn about military conflicts and racial strives. People are accustomed to cruelty and their behaviour becomes aggressive and uncontrollable. And if they feel angry and depressed, they want to find somebody to blame for their troubles. So they blame people of other nationalities and vent their anger and vexation on them. But I think that in spite of all this, we must co-exist peacefully.
To sum up, if there is tolerance among people, we shall live in harmony. But it will be possible only if we plunge into the culture, religion, traditions and language of other nations.
Disabled people are often considered to be miserable. However, some people believe that the disabled are much happier nowadays.
Most of us think that disabled people are extremely unhappy because they are confined to their homes and cannot perform the same functions that we do. But others are convinced that it is it just a stereotype.
To my mind, the lives of disabled people are easier nowadays. Firstly, in many European countries public buildings have ramps and toilets big enough for wheelchairs. Secondly, many companies are not allowed to refuse a person a job on the grounds that he or she has only one leg, or cannot speak. Thirdly, thanks to different things like the Para Olympics disabled people’s self-esteem has risen enormously. Today they have realized their ability to compete with everyone else. Finally, new technology works wonders. For instance, artificial limbs enable people to walk and run as fast as everyone else. Cars are adapted so that people can drive them with only one leg, or even no legs at all.
However, in many developing countries there are no facilities for disabled people. What is more, it is fashionable to be beautiful and healthy in modern society, so a handicapped person may become an outcast. Most disabled people suffer from loneliness and lack of communication. Some of them become burdens on their families because they are unemployed and depend on their relatives. But I think that many disabled people are very talented. They can work, support their families and contribute to society.
To conclude, I strongly feel that disabled people have rights just like everyone else. They are part of society and they must never be forgotten or left behind.
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