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The Encyclopedia
of World Problems
& Human Potential

The rapidly changing state of the world makes planning in the face of complex interconnected problems a formidable challenge. Our ability to conceive adequate solutions and strategies is often undermined by our lack of understanding of the nature of problems in their wider context.  The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential offers a radically different perspective to associations, policy-makers, social researchers and those concerned with development strategy.  By clarifying the ways in which problems reinforce and sustain each other, the Encyclopedia shifts the level of attention from isolated problems to problem cycles, and thus to sustainable strategy cycles. This allows for a more holistic understanding of the environment in which global problems and strategies are situated.  

SELECTED PROBLEMS


  • Experimental visualization of narrower problems

    Environmental hazards from metals

    Nature:

    Metals have been used for centuries and are fundamental to major industries, yet some have the potential to damage human health and disturb the balance of environmental systems if they are allowed to reach excessive concentrations in air, water, soil, or food.

    Only a few metals are important environmentally: those most likely to cause concern include copper, cadmium, mercury, tin, lead, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, cobalt and nickel. In addition, the metalloids (including antimony, arsenic and selenium), which have some metallic properties, may cause environmental problems; uranium, plutonium and other actinides also have metallic properties, and are a cause for concern.

    A metal is regarded as toxic if it injures the growth or metabolism of cells when it is present above a given concentration. Almost all metals are toxic at high concentrations, and some are severe poisons even at very low concentrations. Copper, for example, is a micronutrient, a necessary constituent of all organisms, but if the copper intake is increased above the proper level, it becomes highly toxic. Like copper, each metal has an optimum range of concentration, in excess of which the element is toxic. The toxicity of a metal depends on its route of administration and the chemical compound with which it is bound. The combining of a metal with an organic compound may either increase or decrease its toxic effects on cells. On the other hand, the combination of a metal with sulphur to form a sulphide results in a less toxic compound than the corresponding hydroxide or oxide, because the sulphide is less soluble in body fluids than the oxide. Toxicity generally results: when an excessive concentration is presented to an organism over a prolonged period of time; when the metal is presented in an unusual biochemical form; or when the metal is presented to an organism by way of an unusual route of intake. Less well understood, but perhaps of equal significance, are the carcinogenic and teratogenic properties of some metals.

    Broader Problems:
    Health hazards of environmental pollution
    Environmental hazards of industrialization
    Narrower Problems:
    Cobalt as a pollutant
    Nickel as a pollutant
    Cadmium as a pollutant
    Mercury as a pollutant
    Vanadium as a pollutant
    Selenium as a pollutant
    Selenium as a pollutant
    Beryllium as a health hazard
    Manganese as a health hazard
    Lead as an environmental pollutant

  • Experimental visualization of narrower problems

    Communism

    Nature:

    An economic, social and political system theoretically based on common property and an equal distribution of income and wealth, communism may be seen as temporary or part of an evolutionary process, or as inherently repressive and a menace which can only be avoided if the system is prevented democratically or otherwise from obtaining power. Many opponents of the system see no alternative to the latter interpretation.

    Broader Problems:
    Socialism
    Socialism
    Ideological conflict
    Narrower Problems:
    Political imprisonment
    Political imprisonment
    Political imprisonment
    Revolutionary communism
    Communist economic imperialism
    Ideological schism in communism
    Communist political imperialism
    Suppression of private enterprise
    Suppression of private enterprise
    Contradictions in communist systems
    Contradictions in communist systems
    Denial of democracy in communist systems
    Denial of human rights in communist systems
    Denial of freedom of thought in communist systems
    Communist opposition to international organizations
    Denial of right to national self-determination in communist systems

  • Experimental visualization of narrower problems

    Lack of skilled manpower in rural areas

    Nature:

    The people of small rural towns are unequipped to meet the needs of their town's future. The people of such communities may be willing to engage in the community's restoration but they are hampered by their narrow range of practical skills.

    Broader Problems:
    Lack of skilled workers
    Lack of skilled workers
    Narrower Problems:
    Farm-bound labour force
    Inadequate animal husbandry
    Underdeveloped farming skills
    Inexperienced financial autonomy
    Inadequate supply of skilled plumbers
    Inadequate small-town business skills
    Small resident professional workforce
    Outmoded functional skills in rural communities
    Inadequate management skills in rural communities
    Unavailability of trained teachers in rural areas
    Reluctance of professionals to take country positions
    Limited availability of technical expertise in remote communities
    Lack of training in construction techniques in mountainous conditions

  • Experimental visualization of narrower problems

    Erosion of biological diversity

    Nature:

    The variety of natural life forms, whether eco-regions, habitats, species or gene pools, is being endangered by human activity. This biodiversity ensures the regeneration of harvested resources and the maintenance of ecological processes, whether as a vital part of world heritage or for its own sake. It also provides resources for the development and improvement of domesticated crops and livestock, for recreation and tourism, and for research and education.

    At the broadest level, biodiversity loss is driven by economic systems and policies that fail to value properly the environment and its resources, legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable exploitation, and inequity in ownership and access to natural resources, including the benefits from their use. While some species are under direct threat, for example from hunting, poaching and illegal trade, the major threats come from changes in land use leading to the destruction, alteration or fragmentation of habitats.

    Broader Problems:
    Global crisis
    Global crisis
    Natural environment degradation
    Reduction of diversity through policy
    Irreversible depletion of natural capital
    Environmental stress of natural systems
    Narrower Problems:
    Loss of freshwater biodiversity
    Loss of urban biodiversity
    Vulnerability of food chains
    Loss of domestic biodiversity
    Loss of indigenous biodiversity
    Extinction of rainforest species
    Extinction of rainforest species
    Loss of terrestrial biodiversity
    Loss of agricultural biodiversity
    Loss of agricultural biodiversity
    Loss of cross-border biodiversity
    Loss of cross-border biodiversity
    Lack of information on biodiversity
    Lack of information on biodiversity
    Lack of information on biodiversity
    Erosion of marine biological diversity
    Loss of biodiversity through pollution
    Vulnerability of world genetic resources
    Decreasing diversity of biological species
    Exploitation of forest biological resources
    Erosion of biodiversity through cultivation
    Lack of integrated management of biodiversity
    Loss of biodiversity during complex emergencies
    Loss of biodiversity during complex emergencies
    Loss of biodiversity during complex emergencies
    Loss of biodiversity during complex emergencies
    Biodiversity loss through rapid environmental change
    Biodiversity loss through rapid environmental change
    Erosion of biodiversity through the release of genetically modified species

  • Experimental visualization of narrower problems

    Chronic illness

    Nature:

    A chronic illness usually develops slowly, lasts for an indefinite period of time, can deteriorate overall health and usually requires intervention to resolve.  Many chronic diseases are uncertain in prognosis. Cure is problematic or impossible, so treatment concentrates in making the patient comfortable or relieving pain. Sometimes patients suffer from multiple diseases; and the side effects of medical treatments can lead to additional chronicity. Long-time use of drugs, routine monitoring and crisis requiring hospitalization make chronic diseases expensive. The extent to which patients succumb to the various effects of chronic disease depends upon numerous factors, in particular their psycho-social support, financial status, childhood experiences, sense of humour and determination to push on.

    Broader Problems:
    Intractable diseases
    Lifestyle disease
    Narrower Problems:
    Dementia
    Diabetes insipidus
    Chronic enteritis
    Rheumatoid arthritis
    Psoriasis
    Lymphedema
    Fibromyalgia
    Arachnoiditis
    Chronic fatigue syndrome
    Chronic fatigue syndrome
    Cystic fibrosis
    Chronic gastritis
    Chronic hepatitis
    Werlhof's disease
    Multiple sclerosis
    Chronic bronchitis
    Chronic pelvic pain
    Chronic brucellosis
    Malignant neoplasms
    Maternal malnutrition
    Chronic mononucleosis
    Chronic mononucleosis
    Chronic renal failure
    Cardiac insufficiency
    Essential hypertension
    Essential hypertension
    Chronic urinary infection
    Valvular diseases of heart
    Valvular diseases of heart
    Chronic glomerulonephritis
    Chronic bleeding disorders
    Chronic diarrhoea in horses
    Chronic diarrhoea in horses
    Chronic diarrhoea in horses
    Chronic pseudo-obstruction syndrome
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    Acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
    Acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
    Acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
    Asthma
    Human birth defects
    Autoimmune disease
    Inflammatory diseases
    Inflammatory diseases
    Parkinson's disease
    Chronic musculoskeletal aching

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.
 

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

www.uia.org