Today, the United Nations has declared that the world is facing the greatest refugee crisis since the end of World War II, as nearly 60 million people have been forced to flee from their homes. The Syrian civil war has displaced millions of people, but conflicts in places like Libya, Iraq, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Chad, and other countries have also contributed greatly to the total. This book asks the vital questions about the plight of refugees. It...

The term "capital punishment" refers to the practice of putting a convicted person to death as the penalty for committing a serious crime. The question of whether countries should execute their most notorious criminals has sparked a huge amount of debate. This book examines some fundamental questions surrounding the issue of capital punishment today. It provides a historical overview of capital punishment, examines countries where the death penalty...

Food technology affects every aspect of food production and the relationship humans have with food. This book examines the fundamental questions surrounding the issue of how we prepare and eat our food. What is food technology? How has buying and selling food changed? How big a problem is obesity? Who invented frozen foods? The Critical World Issues series explores some of the most controversial and newsworthy subjects in the modern world. Each book...

Racism is a belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities that are specific to that race. This belief enables members of one race to distinguish themselves as superior to another race or races. Today, Racism affects the lives of millions of people in many different countries. This book discusses when and why racism began, explores how it feels to be a victim of racism, and suggests approaches for how society can tackle...

Euthanasia is defined as "the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease." The question of whether people should be allowed to choose the timing and manner of their own death has caused great controversy. This book examines some fundamental issues related to euthanasia and the practice of assisted suicide. It explains euthanasia in its various forms, provides information on the "right-to-die movement," and...

The American Declaration of Independence notes that "all men are created equal," and many modern societies have tried to live up to this precept. Legislation has been passed in many countries that is intended to ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, age, disability, or any other distinguishing characteristic. This book explores the fundamental questions related to discrimination, including...

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, usually done before the unborn fetus reaches a certain age. The topic of terminating a pregnancy has raised many passionate arguments over the years. This book examines some fundamental questions surrounding the issue of abortion today. It addresses the rights of women and the need to protect the helpless unborn, explores the debate over when life begins, and provides information on the...

Genetic engineering involves the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material. This allows modern scientists to shape characteristics of living things. This technology offers many positives, including the possibility of enabling people to live longer, or creating productive strains of grain or fruit that can feed greater numbers of people. However, some people are concerned about the Frankenstein-like...