Top Five Problems (In order of severity of the issue): it is hard to compare the severity of a problem like having clean water and having universal healthcare. However, my stance remains firm that the primary concern for the human race is an implementation of a Declaration of Human Rights because until we can agree and defend the most basic of human rights then implementation of any other solution seems impossible. From there the environment and clean water quickly follow considering our rights will be short lived if we don't have a planet... Or the essence of life; in clean water, to sustain ourselves. Once this foundation is set in order to ensure our society continues to grow and evolve socially, industrially and scientifically then educational standards would be required. Finally this can be rounded out by the implementation of universal healthcare as a part of the basic human rights package and to support the healthy future for our culture.
1) Universal human rights standards... A massive issue facing our generation (and the many before us) is that there is seemingly no universal standard and enforcement of human rights... Whatever their gender, race, or creed every person living on this earth should have a basic ability to live and that right should be defended. While I believe this is a widely agreed upon principal; the application is sporadic or political as both intentional and negligent genocidal patterns continue to occur.
2) Universal environmental standards... In order to add weight to the social costs of a free market economy; pollution, resource utilization and general sustainability practices must be enforced at a global level. This is evident in current arguments on climate change (or if you don't believe that then look at the rising sea levels, pollution levels, or deforestation). No matter what your belief we all have to agree that this planet and our ability to inhabit it for generations to come should be a goal.
3) Sustainable (available) clean water... Clean water supplies continue to broaden as an issue as water filtration standards decline in the western world and are non existent in some under developed countries. Rising sea levels are pouring salt into otherwise fresh water sources and the lack of environmental standards has led to increased levels of hormones and toxins in the existing fresh water supply.
4) Universal education standards... One of the major contributing factors to the ability of a majority faction to impose oppressive behaviors onto a lower class faction is education. This is a framework to the development of a culture or region and in some cases a weapon of oppression is to under educate and thereby perpetuate the lack of human rights.
5) Universal healthcare... Another driving force behind instability (aside from blatant violations of human right or the suppression of education on a culture) is the inability for a group of people to gain basic health care. It is taken for granted in developed countries that we can easily obtain simple antibiotics and have facilities like emergency rooms. However, in under developed countries there is a consistent concern of what 'western civilization' would consider all but eradicated sicknesses.
Top 5 Solutions (in order of difficulty to implement): Maybe it's good news that the solutions to the above issues that we face are almost exactly listed in the opposite order of 'ease to complete.' Implementing basic human rights and educational standards should be as easy as coming to the agreement across the existing United Nations on what those basic requirements are and enforcing budgetary allocations within those countries to install those fundamental educational principals. Universal environmental issues become only slightly more difficult because of the political and philosophical debate over what is / is not good for our environment. Clean water is a solution already underway; and oddly one that we've already somewhat solved for in water treatment facilities. However, it is required that the environmental standards on water be increased and implemented world wide; a dependency that makes it #2 on the difficulty scale. Most difficult to implement would be a universal healthcare system. Fortunately for our society there are best in class countries like France and Canada that seem to have solved for the debate on how to provide top tier health care for less and could share that knowledge on a global scale.
1) Universal healthcare... Solution: Another issue for our United Global Constitution that supplies basic rights for education and human rights has to apply a standard for health care. What is a minimum level of care that should be guaranteed to every man, woman and child on this earth and how do we balance the cost of providing it through the global economy.
2) Sustainable (available) clean water... Solution: Holy cow the global economy is paying for a lot at this point. However, how can we not afford to ensure as a basic human right that water (the essence of life) is available in a pure form for renewable consumption.
3) Universal environmental standards... Solution: Sustainability standards on our natural resources need to be agreed upon in the global community as well as commitments to increase pollution regulation and lower not just emissions but other environmentally hazardous practices as dictated by the scientific community.
4) Universal education standards... Solution: Similar to the human rights 'constitution;' a global economic plan must be instituted to supply a universal education standard to all peoples. Basic educational principals and higher level educational opportunities will help drive diverse and global solutions to existing and future problems and is an investment in the future of our human culture.
5) Universal human rights standards... Solution: Through facilities such as the United Nations a global standard needs to be agreed upon and a coalition of countries need to be establish to ensure enforcement of human rights standards.
