Is terrorist activity today reaching a point that it is number one on the world problems list?

Question

Aids, poverty, genocide, starvation, forest fires, floods, hurricanes,germ warefare, nuclear missiles, disease, terrorism, which is worse?

Answer 1

They are all serious, valid problems. I do think that some of those you listed such as genocide, starvation, germ warfare and nuclear missles could be tied in with terrorism in some instances.

I don't know if terrorism is the worst problem that faces the world today, but it certainnly is a growing problem and if it is allowed to continue to grow, it will probably one day (if it isn't already) be the biggest problem in the world. My reason for saying this is that it would only take one act of terrorism to kill millions of people (for instance if terrorists were to use germ warfare or get hold of a nuclear missle).

Answer 2

Paul, you ask a really great question. Terrorism has killed about 5,000 Americans in the last five years, yet we spent over $500 billion reacting to 9/11.

That same money could have been spent on more dangerous problems! Terrorism has a scary emotional impact, but statistically is less dangerous than being struck by lightning.

My vote for the number one issue is climate change. This issue has the potential to completely destroy some countries. For example, Bangladesh: 8th largest country, 3rd largest Muslim country. "Most parts of Bangladesh are within 10 metres above the sea level...". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh

If losing a homeland contributes to terrorism, think what 141 million refugees would mean.

Another country which could be completely wiped off the map (literally) is our friend and ally, the Netherlands "About half of its surface area is less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) above sea level, and large parts of it are actually below sea level" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands

For purely selfish reasons to care about climate change, consider the cost of building a dike around our port cities and Florida. Don't forget the risk of a DustBowl repeat in the midwest.

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For those of you here who suggest that all problems are equally bad, do you think we should spend all our money to save a few people? We need to spend the most money on the most serious problems.

Answer 3

you tell me.... AIDS= wear a condom. genocide= terrorist. starvation=should have went to college. forest fires=unless you are bigfoot???? what. hurricanes=move to south dakota. germ warfare=terrorist. nuclear missiles=bush is on it. disease=get a life. terrorism=terrorist. OR, take your family out for ice cream and get blown up by a car bomb. HELLO.... EINSTIEN.... SEE ANSWER FOR DISEASE

Answer 4

News media run stories that can capture your attention. These tend to be stories that are dramatic or sexy and which could possibly affect you.

Hence, breast cancer, which is sexy gets more funding then colon cancer.

Similarly, while starvation CAN be dramatic (especially for the millions who it affects), it isn't nearly as much so as men with guns and masks, so world hunger gets less funding than terrorism.

Not to put the blaim on the media. In this case, they are just giving the viewers what they want.

Answer 5

Looks like cardiovascular disease trumps every other cause of death.

What gave you the idea that anything could be more dangerous than death by natural causes? Millions of people in the world die evey day. There's no way the things you've mentioned could account for that.

Go here for a breakdown of various causes of death. Heart disease is number 1 in both industrialized and non-industrialized countries:

http://www.benbest.com/lifeext/causes.html

Answer 6

Terrorism holds a very low position in the list of threats in the real World. It just makes more headlines. More people die in car accidents in a single day than the ones that were killed in all terrorist attacks in history.

Answer 7

I am going to guess that the people feel what is worse, is the one that affects you the most.

I person in NO will say hurricanes and floods, a person with Aids will say Aids, someone who had a family member who died in the WTC will say terrorism.

The are all terrible.

Answer 8

Of all the problems that need to be "fixed", poverty and hunger and definitely the most prevalent. They are at the root of a mulititude of other problems. We, as Americans, are really, really paranoid about terrorism while we ignore other, more pressing matters at hand.

Answer 9

it seems to me it is the number one in the world... just watch the news or read the newspaper... thats why we're still in Iraq.... and Afghanistan....