Global Issues 3
One needs only to consider the COVID-19 crisis that began in 2020 to recognize that health factors, such as the quality of health care systems and the prevalence of disease, can have a significant impact on demographics. Clearly, from the map above, Africa as well as South and Southeast Asia face major health challenges. Match the country below to the subdimension under "Health" where that country ranks as the worst in the world for that subdimension. Does anything surprise you? Do you know the location of each of these countries?
"Infectious Diseases"- Lesotho" Health Outcomes"-Afghanistan "Health Systems"-Niger Substance Abuse"-United States "Non-Infectious Diseases"- Nauru
"Urbanization," a key dynamic in the movement of people worldwide, has been sparked by such factors as technological change, industrialization, and rural environmental decline. It is seen as an important factor in the demographic transition. Order the countries in the chart above from least urbanized (25.5%) to the most urbanized (91.6%).
(Least) 1. Afghanistan 2. India 3. China 4. Ireland 5. United States 6. Japan(Most)
The role of women has been seen as central to population control because women's empowerment tends to lead to smaller but healthier families. Clearly, even with a number of countries having missing data, the map above shows that women in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia face the most disparities and/or persecution. Match the country below to the main subdimension under "Gender Inequality and Integrity" where that country ranks as the worst in the world for that subdimension.
- Afghanistan: "Female Physical Integrity" - Chad: "Female/Male Educational Attainment" - Yemen: "Female/Male Economic Participation & Opportunity" and "Female/Male Political Empowerment" - China: "Female/Male Health & Survival"
China ranks as the worst in the world on three of the 14 "Air Quality" variables in the RCII (both aggregate variables and raw data variables). Select all the variables below where the country ranks last (score of 1).
- Nitrous Oxide (KT of CO2 Equivalent) - Methane Emissions (KT of CO2 Equivalent) - CO2 Emissions (KT)
As can be seen in the Country Profile drill down above, the United States ranks 114th in "Air Quality," 20th in "Water Quality," and 94th in "Land Quality." Look inside these three subdimensions and select all of the below that are true.
- The U.S ranks next to last in "CO2 Emissions" - 81.84% of Americans have access to sanitation
What are reasons why the U.S. didn't ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) until long after the treaty had gone into effect (select all that apply, there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
- The U.S. had concerns that ratifying the treaty could erode its national sovereignty -The U.S. was reluctant to expose itself to international criticism
How many countries voted against the UDHR in 1948?
0
How many species are at risk of extinction in the next decade?
1 million
Rank the following alternative energy sources according to how much they contribute to all alternative energy production (1 = the highest to 6 = the lowest)
1- Hyroelectricity 2- Wind Power 3- Biomas 4- Solar 5-Geothermal 6- Marine Engines
As can be seen in the bar chart above, Syria leads the world with over 6.5 million refugees. Four other countries after Syria have roughly one million or more refugees. Place these four in order from most refugees to least refugees. Do you know why these countries have so many refugees?
1. Afghanistan 2. South Sudan 3. Myanmar 4. Somalia
While the MDGs included 8 goals and 21 targets, the SDGs include:
17 goals and 169 targets
When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?
1948
The 2016 Paris Agreement, which focused on renewed efforts to set emissions reduction targets to be met by both developing and developed countries, was signed by __________ states.
195
At which of the following conferences was the UN's Environment Program (UNEP) created?
1972 Stockholm Conference
Which of the following environmental conferences first combined scientific issues with broader political, social, and economic issues?
1972 Stockholm Conference
When did the first World Climate Conference in Geneva take place?
1979
The U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1977. When did the US ratify the treaty?
1992
How much of the GLOBAL electricity supply comes from alternative energy sources?
20%
When was the Kyoto Protocol set to expire?
2012
How much of the world's food is generally wasted?
30%
Carbon dioxide represents the highest percentage of total greenhouse gases, accounting for ______________ of the total.
50%
What percentage of the world's population lives in cities?
50%
In 2014, the number of people living as refugees or internally displaced people worldwide was estimated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at:
55 million
How many unaccompanied minors entered the U.S. during the 2014 crisis?
60,000-80,000
As noted in the introduction to this lesson, the world's population is currently at about
7.7 billion people
How many countries abstained from voting on the UDHR in 1948?
8
According to the UN Population Division's 2015 analyses, what is the medium variant projection for the world's population by 2050:
9.7 billion people by 2050
Who was responsible for crafting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
A Group of UN experts under the guidance of the UN Secretary-General
What has been the demographic impact of HIV/AIDS on those countries most highly affected by the disease?
A decline in life expectancy at birth from 62 to 52 between 1995 and 2005
What change in thinking is linked to Agenda 21 (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
A growing recognition that developed countries should cut down on their wasteful consumption patterns A growing recognition that economic development strategies need to be in harmony with nature A growing recognition that developing countries should integrate the environment into their development strategies
What do we call the graphical representation of the proportions of persons in different age groups in a population?
A population pyramid
What are the reasons for Small Island States are particularly concerned with reducing carbon dioxide emissions (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
A rise of one meter in sea level could flood the Small Island States Rising sea levels could destroy their economies
What is the difference between a treaty and a declaration?
A treaty is a legally binding instrument whereas a declaration is a statement of principles
How much of the UNITED STATES electricity supply is generated by alternative energy sources?
About 15%
According to scientists, what is the maximum concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that the Earth could sustain?
About 390 parts per million
Which of the following are listed as part of the MDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Achieve universal primary education Reduce child mortality Combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Ensure environmental sustainability Promote gender equality and women's empowerment Develop a global partnership for development Improve maternal health
Where do you find the majority of countries identified as the most severely impacted by HIV/AIDS?
Africa
Which region of the world has 24 of the top 25 countries with the highest birth rate?
Africa
What is a carbon sink?
An area that absorbs carbon, such as forests, oceans, or croplands
Which of the following were the key outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit in 2002 (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
An implementation plan detailing a comprehensive program of action with quantifiable goals and targets A pledge by the world's leaders to commit fully to the goal of sustainable development The forming of nearly 300 voluntary partnerships between private sector and civil society organizations to support sustainable development
What is replacement fertility?
Approximately 2.1 births per woman
When did the world's population reach one billion people?
At the beginning of the 19th century
Why are some gases considered greenhouse gases (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Because they trap solar radiation in the atmosphere Because of their effect on the warming of the atmosphere
Which of the following are alternative energy sources (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Biomass Hydroelectricity Wind power
In the radar chart above, three of the most pivotal countries to global environmental concerns are shown across "Environmental Sustainability" and its four main subdimensions. Match the country to the color. How do you feel about how the U.S. stacks up?
Blue-China Orange-India Green-United States
Which of the following are sustainability projects covered in the report on 'The Future of Cities' (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Bricks made out of discarded plastic in Karachi, Pakistan A floating schoolhouse in Makoko, Nigeria, that allows kids to continue their schooling even during times of flooding A fog catcher to collect water from the air in Peru Water bottles turned into solar lightbulbs in Manila, Philippines The first smart city, Songdo, South Korea, with highly efficient infrastructure and a waste management system that carries trash and recyclables through underground tunnels to their processing facilities An electric rickshaw that residents in Santiago de Chile can ride for free
"Water Quality" issues are particularly acute in Africa. Which country ranks as the worst in the world on "Water Quality" in the 2020 RCII?
Burundi
By how much has the Earth's average temperature risen since 1900?
By 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit
The International Criminal Court: (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)
Can try cases involving crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide Is currently investigating cases involving defendants who come mostly from African states
First-generation rights are influenced by the philosophical tradition of ________________, whereas second-generation rights are influenced by the philosophical tradition of ________________:
Capitalism / socialism
Geoengineering is the planned manipulation of Earth's climate to counteract the effects of global warming. Geoengineering can be divided into two main categories:
Carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management
Africa has many of the countries where significant numbers of people lack access to drinking water and improved sanitation. In the table above, which countries stand out as clearly having the worst "Water Access"?
Chad, Burundi, Kenya
As noted in your reading, which of the following had the highest 2014 total carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy?
China
Which country has been known for its "one child policy"?
China
Which of the following countries is the leader in renewable energy investment?
China
While the longitudinal chart above shows that "Population Growth" patterns have been quite challenging in Lebanon and Syria because of the devastating civil war in Syria, with well over a million refugees being driven into tiny Lebanon, this variable in general helps us understand where a country stands in its "demographic transition." Countries with the highest population growth generally are in the earlier stages of the demographic transition, whereas countries with the lowest population growth or declining populations generally are in the latter stages. Using the RCII, match each country below to its population growth rate
China .32 Nigeria 2.53 Germany -.19 Russia -.16 Japan -.27 India 1.1 US .72
According to the UN's 2015 projections, the two countries with the largest populations will continue to see population growth, but where ___________ is projected to peak in size at 1.42 billion in 2030, _____________ is projected to soon overtake it, reaching an estimated 1.71 billion by the middle of the 21st century.
China / India
Which of the following are greenhouse gases (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Carbon dioxide Water vapor Methane Ozone
Which is correct about global warming and climate change
Climate change refers to the consequences of global warming on weather patterns over time Global warming refers to Earth's rising temperatures due to increased greenhouse gases
The analyst points to a 15-year, $10 billion U.S. effort in which country as a model for what's needed in Central America?
Colombia
Which of the following are actions individuals can take to help achieve the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Compost any food remains to reduce landfills Reduce, reuse, recycle Turn off the lights Buy products from companies that have sustainable practices Save water: avoid baths, take shorter showers Buy products from companies that have sustainable practices Ask your local and national authorities to engage in activities that don't harm people or the planet Unplug appliances
Which countries will continue to hold the largest share of the world's population?
Countries in Asia
The demographic transition model suggests that as societies industrialize and urbanize:
Death rates will fall, and when values shift from large to small families, fertility rates will decline
When is international Human Rights Day and why?
December 10, because that is when, in 1948, the UDHR was adopted
What do we call the "study of population change and characteristics"?
Demography
Sustainable development has been defined as (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Development that improves the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Sound environmental planning without sacrificing economic and social improvements
The video points to which country as having the highest homicide rates in the world?
El Salvador
The practice by countries that reduce their emissions below their allotted level to sell their "unused emissions" is called:
Emissions trading
Which of the following is a first-generation right?
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Which of the following is an example of second-generation rights?
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work
Why have emissions levels been falling during the COVID-19 shutdown (select all that apply; there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
Fewer planes are flying and that reduces carbon output Many factories and businesses the world over have had to close and carbon emissions have fallen as a consequence (nearly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions come from industry) Lockdowns have resulted in less travel (which is responsible for 25% of carbon emissions)
Which of the following are examples of geoengineering (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Finding ways to capture and safely store carbon dioxide Creating a planetary filter to reflect sunlight Changing ocean chemistry to increase their carbon absorption Manipulation of Earth's cloud cover
Which generation of human rights includes freedom of speech and assembly?
First
What can be done about species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Fly less Reduce deforestation in the tropics to zero Consume less meat
For how long has scientific research on carbon dioxide been conducted?
For about 150 years
While having high fertility rates and surging populations can be a challenge, especially for poorer developing countries, having large numbers of elderly citizens can also pose problems, such as not having enough working age people to support social security systems. Twelve countries have more than 20% of their populations over 65 years of age (all but one in Europe). Match the letter in the histogram to the country to find the world's seven oldest populations.
G: Japan 27.6 C,D,E: Finland(21.7), Greece (21.7), Portugal (22.0) A+B: Bulgaria (21), Germany (21.5) F: Italy (22.8)
Which of the following are empirically observable changes showing that our biosphere is changing (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Global sea level rose by about (17 centimeters) 6.7 inches in the past century The number of record-high temperature events in the U.S. has been increasing since the 1950s Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world
While _____________ is a term that refers to the concern that increased greenhouse gases increase the Earth's temperature, ______________ is the term that includes reference to changes in extremes of temperatures and precipitation.
Global warming / climate change
Who was responsible for crafting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Governments working together in the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Certain gases in the atmosphere - water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - can trap solar radiation and cause the atmosphere to warm. These are called:
Greenhouse gases
Who was instrumental in ensuring that the phrase "all men are created equal" was replaced with "all human beings are born free and equal"?
Hansa Mehta, India
The role of women in population control:
Has been seen as central because women's empowerment tends to lead to smaller but healthier families
U.S. support for international family planning programs:
Has shifted with changing administrations, with Republicans barring fertility control programs that include legal access to abortion, and Democrats supporting such programs
The moderator interviews an economic immigrant from Mexico who builds homes. How much more can he make in the U.S. than in Mexico?
He can make in a day what he would in a week in Mexico
Which uninhabited island in the South Pacific has been described as having the highest density of plastic waste in the world?
Henderson Island
The moderator interviews an 11-year old boy who fled to the U.S. by himself because of the extreme drug-gang violence in his country. What country was this boy from?
Honduras
Which of the following are human rights NGOs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Human Rights Watch Amnesty International
Universalism is represented by the idea that:
Human rights are accorded to everyone regardless of citizenship or status
Which of the following are direct drivers of species extinction (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Humans' growing appetite for meat and fish Overexploitation (e.g. overfishing) Land use change
One of the key outcomes of Rio+20 was a focus on building a green economy. A green economy is an economy that (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Improves human well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks Is low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive
What were some of the immediate effects of the COVID-19 shutdown on the environment (select all that apply; there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
In April 2020, the world cut its daily carbon dioxide emissions by 17 percent The amount of coal used in China's industries drastically decreased In China, levels of carbon dioxide went down 25% In New York City, levels of carbon dioxide went down 5-10%
During the week from April 4-9, the U.S. cut its carbon emissions by about one-third due to the pandemic shutdown. Where in the U.S. were the biggest pollution declines?
In California and Washington with plunges of more than 40%
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is located:
In The Hague
Which of the following are likely consequences of climate change (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Increased flooding Increased number of droughts Rapidly changing habitats and species extinction Growing number of climate refugees
As can be seen in the table above of "CO2 Emissions (KT)" (one of the variables under "Greenhouse Gas Emissions"), China and the United States rank #137 and #136 (i.e., the worst). Which four countries also rank in the bottom six on "CO2 Emissions (KT)"?
India, Russia, Japan, Germany
Which of the following are examples brought up by the U.S. State Department Report on the kinds of human rights violations found in specific countries (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and hospitals Use of torture and rape as weapons of war
Where first-generation rights are often associated with the rights of ________________ people, second and third-generation rights reflect the rights of ________________ people.
Individual / groups of
Only ten rivers in the world carry more than 90% of the world's plastic waste. Which of the following are among them (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Indus Mekong Nile Yangtze
The following factors show how globalization has helped in promoting human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Information technology has made it easier for human rights NGOs to communicate with their stakeholders and put greater pressure on governments to comply with human rights standards Due to advances in technology and gains in literacy and education, more people know about human rights
What action did the UN take in 2015 to push for greater environmental stewardship in its development agenda?
It adopted the Sustainable Development Goals
What do we mean by the term "replacement fertility"?
It is a term that describes the interaction between constant patterns of childbearing with constant mortality and migration to yield zero population change It is the rate at which one generation of parents is replacing itself in the next generation
What was the biggest limitation of the Copenhagen Accord (2009) which included provisions for limiting the average rise in global temperatures to 2 degree Celsius and a commitment by the developed nations to generate $100 billion in additional resources to aid developing countries?
It was not legally binding
The Paris Agreement was successful in as much as it built on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by, amongst others, both the United States and China. However, it has been criticized for (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Lacking mandatory cuts in emissions Having cuts that don't go deep enough
What regions hold what percentage of the world's population? The more developed countries (MDCs) hold _________________ of the world's population, whereas the less developed countries (LDCs) hold ______________ of the world's population.
Less than 20% / more than 80%
In what conflict in 2011 did the UN invoke the principle of R2P (Responsibility to Protect) as justification for military intervention?
Libya
Cultural relativism is based on the notion that (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Local traditions trump the rights in the UDHR The final authority in determining for the rights of a citizenry lies with the people and their government
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Looks at the return and reintegration for failed asylum seekers and others who do not have a right to remain Includes a focus on migrants' integration into new countries Seeks to help mitigate the adverse drivers that fuel migration Lays out guidelines for protecting migrants during the different stages of migration
What are some of the examples through which globalization challenges state sovereignty (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
MNCs can more easily move across borders and escape regulation by governments International organized crime has become so powerful in some places that it controls territory and large segments of a state's population International financial institutions can grant or withhold resources
What are some of the reasons why the world's population drastically increased over the past 70 years (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Major public health advances Reduced mortality rates Improved food production and distribution
In general:
Many LDCs have enacted policies to reduce population growth, while many MDCs have enacted policies to increase population growth
Population projections are not predictions but rather represent a calculation of future population size based on a set of assumptions or variants, including expected fertility rate. Which of the following variants project that the world's total population will surpass 9 Billion people by 2050 (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Medium Fertility Variant
What are megacities?
Metropolitan areas with more than 10 million people
In 2015, the UN's ___________________ expired and were replaced by the ____________________.
Millennium Development Goals / Sustainable Development Goals
Which of the following statements is true concerning urbanization?
More Developed Countries (MDCs) are more urbanized than Less Developed Countries (LDCs)
Which of the following is true about population and population growth (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in Asian countries Fertility rates in the least developed countries are declining but still very high
Why is plastic pollution such a big environmental problem (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Of the 9 billion tons of plastic produced since 1950, an estimated 60% still exists today If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050The fish humans eat has also often eaten plastic There are so many different types of plastic and it can be hard, or in some cases impossible, to recycle The material lasts much longer than a human lifetime and therefore its impact, too, lasts a lifetime Plastic is virtually indestructible and it doesn't break down easily Forty percent of all plastics are used only once before being discarded The fish humans eat has also often eaten plastic
What are reasons why in 2000 the UN General Assembly adopted the MDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Official development assistance from industrialized countries had declined since the 1992 Rio Summit Increasing concerns over globalization and emerging issues such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic A growing recognition that the world was failing to reach most of the goals set out in Agenda 21
Which of the following are correct statements about the world's population (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Over the next 30 years, the world's population is projected to increase by between 20% and 50%, or by between 1 Billion and 3.6 Billion people. The world has added one billion people since 2005The number of persons aged 80 or over is projected to triple by 2050, and by 2100 to increase to nearly seven times the number in 2017The world has added two billion people since 1993By 2050, India is projected to be the most populous country in the world. Projections of the world's population in 2050 vary between 8.7 Billion and 10.8 Billion people, depending on the fertility rate.
How is a country's population size (P) determined?
P= (+) births (-) deaths (+) in-migration (-) out-migration
Which of the following were contributing factors to the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011 (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Permanent changes to rain and windfall patterns brought on by global warming The 2006 draught that had forced large numbers of rural Syrians into already crowded cities Increasing scarcity of water and food sources
Which of the following are problems associated with megacities (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Pollution Overcrowding Aging infrastructure (e.g. mass transit and highways) Housing shortage
Those pointing out that we need to focus on the structural dimensions of social change, argue that:
Population growth, in particular high fertility, is a consequence rather than a cause of slow economic development
The Brundtland Commission's 1987 report "Our Common Future" identified: (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Poverty eradication as a necessary requirement for environmentally sustainable development A need for world-wide development strategies that recognized the limits of our ecosystem
Which of the following are common themes connecting all models of thought on the question of how to address population growth (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Poverty reduction Increasing sustainability of food production Improvement in water quality Improving the status of women
Which of the following are benefits of the African "Great Green Wall" (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Protects against soil erosion Tree roots hold water in soil The tree canopy increases moisture in the air and provides shade, reducing the need for watering Helps fight the effects of climate change Provides employment opportunities for local populations Reverses desertification
What activities are key to successful intervention by UN human rights workers (think about the example of what the OHCHR staff have been doing in Serbia). (Select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers.)
Providing legal assistance Making contacts with NGOs to make sure that everyone knows about international human rights standards Encouraging international organizations and local NGOs to put diplomatic and moral pressure on state governments Working with state governments at all levels to ensure that rights are protected
The concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), developed by the UN, shows the growing importance of human rights by (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Putting forward the idea that states have the responsibility to intervene in situations where a state fails to protect its population from e.g. genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes Stressing that states have the responsibility to protect their populations from e.g. genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes
Sustainable development involves: (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)
Reducing consumption Increasing efficiency Using renewable energies
What is the name of the idea that argues the international community has a responsibility to intervene in situations where a state fails to protect its population from genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes?
Responsibility to Protect
Which of the following countries was one of the first to ban plastic bags country-wide?
Rwanda
As noted in your reading, which of the following had the highest 2014 per capita carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy?
Saudi Arabia
Which of the following provides evidence that a warming planet is related to human behavior?
Scientists have shown a close relationship between global carbon dioxide levels and average global temperatures, while demonstrating that there has been an increase in atmospheric carbon due to the burning of fossil fuels
What was the role Eleanor Roosevelt played after her husband, President Roosevelt had died? (select all that apply; there may be one to four possible correct answers)
She became a member of the committee charged with drafting the UDHR She was invited to be part of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations
Where second-generation rights require a proactive government to act on behalf of its citizens, third-generation rights require ________________ (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Solidarity International cooperation
What are the main drivers of today's species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Species exploitation Climate Change Habitat transformation Pollution
Across the globe, urbanization has been caused by (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Technological developments, "pushing" people off the farm Environmental decline, such as the overgrazing of land
Which of the following is NOT true about the role of technology in human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Technology can't be used for positive and negative purposes at the same time Whether people live in developed or underdeveloped countries, technology has benefitted everyone equally
Sovereignty assumes:
That countries are self-governing, have territorial integrity, and self-determination
What is the main critique that developing states (LDCs) levy against industrial states (MDCs) over global environmental issues (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
That the average person in an industrialized country accounts for significantly more resource consumption than someone in a poorer country That the long history of MDC industrialization processes has been the greatest contributor to global environmental problems
Key "general tendencies" of international population movements in an age of globalization include (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
The "feminization" of migration, as women are an increasing part of workforces The increasing politicization of migration The involvement of an increasing number of countries, both as sending and receiving states Ongoing changes in where people go and where they come from
While NGOs do not have official membership status at the UN, they do have important influence through their close cooperation with _______________:
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Outside its focus on air, land, and water quality, the RCII has one stand-alone variable in its "Environmental Sustainability" subdimension, "Environmental Risk Exposure." From the map above you can clearly see that the African and Asian states generally do not do well on this variable. What is its definition (i.e., what is it trying to measure)?
The Environmental Risk Exposure indicator assesses hazards to human health posed by five environmental risk factors: unsafe water, unsafe sanitation, ambient particulate matter pollution, household air pollution from solid fuels, and ambient ozone pollution.
The 1997 agreement that contains legally binding emission targets for key greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, is:
The Kyoto Protocol
As discussed in the video, many of the immigrants coming into the United States are from:
The Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador), the world's deadliest countries outside war zones
Prior the creation of the UDHR, what document first mentions human rights?
The Preamble to the UN Charter
Which UN organ can authorize military action to enforce human rights?
The Security Council
The hypothetical example used to explain why groups of individuals might overexploit shared environmental resources even when they know that it could be against their long-term interests is known as:
The Tragedy of the Commons
Which are the ways in which the UN supports human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The UN promotes knowledge and public support through educating publics about human rights The UN helps implement human rights through economic development The UN helps implement human rights through enforcement activities such as peacekeeping The UN helps formulate international human rights standards through treaties and declarations
While negotiated independently of the 1992 Earth Summit, what legally-binding treaties are also associated with the conference in Rio de Janeiro (and sometimes referred to as the Rio Conventions)?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity
Which country accepts the largest total number of immigrants worldwide?
The United States
What is the name of the key human rights document of the post-WWII era?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
What were the concerns raised with the Kyoto Protocol (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The degree to which carbon sinks should count toward a country's effort to reduce global warming The U.S. never ratified it The fact that key developing countries (i.e., China and India) did not participate meaningfully (i.e., didn't face binding emissions targets) The vagueness on how emissions trading could achieve reductions The degree to which carbon sinks should count toward a country's effort to reduce global warming
Which of the following are correct statements about fertility rates (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The fertility rate in poorer (less or least developed) countries is higher, often significantly higher, than replacement level The fertility rate in more developed regions of the world is higher than the fertility rate in less developed regions. The fertility rate in more developed countries is below replacement and stands at about 1.67 per woman The fertility rate is a strong indicators of overall population growth The total fertility rate measures the average number of births per woman of childbearing age The fertility rate for the world as a whole is about 2.51 births per woman
What distinguishes the Brundtland Commission's definition of sustainable development from the one proposed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Wide Fund for Nature?
The former focuses on the well-being of humans while the latter extends the definition to the biosphere
Which of the following are points of criticism made against the SDGs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
The goals are presented as if in isolation and this could contribute to missing important connections that undermine the goal of sustainability The SDGs are internally inconsistent because they don't acknowledge that global poverty and ecological decline are tied to extreme wealth, inequality, and overconsumption There are too many goals and targets for them to be effective
What was the immediate context for why the UDHR was drafted (select all that apply; there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
The horror of over 50 million dead in WWII The terrible atrocities committed during WWII, such as the Holocaust
In his 1798 publication, Thomas Malthus argued that (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
The human desire to reproduce would lead to starvation, poverty and human misery The "positive checks" of famine, war, and epidemics would bring populations back under control
"Brain Drain" is (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
The loss of highly skilled persons, mostly from developing countries, as they migrate to, most often, developed countries Sometimes not entirely negative, as those who emigrate can sometimes return home with new skills or capital
Critics of the demographic transition model argue that:
The model applies the record of population change and development in Europe and North America as the universal standard
The President of the Republic of Ghana and the Prime Minister of Norway point out (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
The pandemic has utterly exposed fundamental weaknesses in our global system The pandemic has shown beyond doubt how the prevalence of poverty, weak health systems, lack of education, and above all sub-optimal global cooperation, is exacerbating the crisis
What makes tidal energy projects so attractive to the renewable energy sector?
The predictability of tidal waves allow for precise understanding of how much energy can be generated at any time
As discussed in the video, why is there so much violence in the Central American states? (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)
The prevalence of power drug gangs, with many members trained in the U.S. The prevalence of significant amounts of guns Legacies of the 1980s the civil wars and the lack of full reconciliation
What does the High Commissioner for Human Rights say started the civil war in Syria?
The severe human rights violations (torture of children) by the Syrian government
What apparent tension is part of the concept of sustainable development?
The tension between economic health, social health, and ecological health
Which of the following is NOT an explanation of what the UN Secretary-General means when he says: "the [corona]virus doesn't discriminate but its impacts do"?
The virus affects only older people living in residential care facilities
What do we know about species extinction (select all that apply; there are one to four possible correct answers)?
There have been five events leading to mass extinction in the history of the earth When a single event leads to a lot of species going extinct at the same time, this is called mass extinction We're now losing species at the fastest rate for millions of years Species extinction is part of the natural process Over the course of 3½ billion years of life on earth, 99% of all species have become extinct
Which of the following is NOT one of the explanations given by the UN Secretary-General for why people with disabilities are among the hardest hit by COVID-19?
They have well-resourced support networks
First-generation rights are also known as negative rights because:
They prohibit certain government action and are therefore based on the absence of government interference
What benefits can be gained from having green roofs (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
They serve as habitats for insects and birds They reduce the ambient temperature They save millions of gallons of storm water runoff because the water is absorbed by the soil and the plants
Which writer first proposed a negative relationship between human population growth and the supply of food and other resources?
Thomas Malthus
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is typically divided into ___________ generations, or categories:
Three
What are some of the ways in which MNCs can promote human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Through public private partnerships they can help develop the technology needed for the UN or NGOs to get more data on human rights issues They can use their access to markets around the world as a way of building networks based on real-time data exchanges, allowing the UN faster response time during emergencies
As discussed in the context of Uruguay, what is the role of a human rights rapporteur (select all that apply, there may be one to four possible correct answers)?
To ensure justice and compensation for survivors of human rights abuses To assess progress in discovering the truth about past atrocities committed in a country
What is one of the criticisms levied against the U.S.' involvement in the Syrian civil war?
U.S. led airstrikes have caused large-scale destruction and deaths of civilians but the U.S. does not take responsibility
What does "UN MDGs" stand for?
United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Match the term to its definition.
Urbanization: Grown in the size of cities, with an increasing percentage of the overall population Emigration: International migration out of a country Immigration: International migration into a country Refugee: A person who is outside their country of origin because of well-founded fears of being persecuted Internally Displace Persons: People displaced within their own countries
The Cornucopian perspective rests on the following ideas (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers):
Use of natural resources is best managed through market forces Population growth is positive as it increases economic productivity and capacity for economic progress Technological innovation can overcome problems of population growth
Which of the following are some of the ways through which celebrities can affect human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Using their celebrity status to raise awareness Acting as UN Goodwill Ambassadors Engaging in philanthropic behavior by giving money to human rights causes Founding Human Rights Organizations
Which of the following are examples through which technological innovations have been successfully used to promote human rights (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
When a solar-powered internet network allowed villages in Uganda to get access to crop information and thus to improve their yields and incomes When Egyptian protesters in 2011 used Twitter to publicize videos of police violence
The difference between a negative and a positive obligation imposed on states by human rights rests on ______________________:
Whether a government needs to act to ensure that rights are protected
The tension over sustainable development can be stated as:
Whether the focus should be on environmental conservation of living and nonliving resources or on enhancing economic growth and development
Which of the following are questions that remain unanswered even though the SDGs have been adopted (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Who will decide how much of the financial costs will be taken on by public and how much by private sources? Will MDCs carry a greater share of the financial obligations than LDCs? How should the roles and responsibilities of implementation be shared between developing and developed states?
The majority of the world's refugees and internally displaced people are:
Women and children
Which of the following countries are particularly highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for their egregious human rights violations (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Yemen
After the end of the Cold War, the UN created international criminal tribunals to prosecute individuals responsible for ethnic cleansing, genocidal violence and crimes against humanity in which of the following countries (select all that apply, there are one to four possible correct answers)?
Yugoslavia Rwanda
