Forest degradation is caused by dry weather and air pollution. They can wipe out an an ecosystem of even a biome, resulting in loss of habitat for animals.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is caused by emissions from human activities such as factories, cars, and burning. It can affect health of humans and animals and causes acid rain and smog.
Loss of Biodiversity
Loss of biodiversity is caused by habitat loss from forest fires, hunting, and mining. As human activities expand, animal lives are being sacrificed. It can cause extinctions of animal species.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is caused by chemicals and air pollution. Humans use many chemicals that are toxic for both environment and themselves. If the contaminated water is used on animals and humans, it can affect their health and develop diseases.
Waste Production
Lastly, waste production is another issue. Humans can produce many wastes everyday, and they are not all disposed correctly. Waste production can cause spread of diseases.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
Greece's Debt
Causes:
In order for companies to keep worker benefits, the workers were often paid around pensionable salary.
Some benefits also attributed to early retirement in Greece, but regardless many people retire before the given average.
Bad work culture and high unemployment rates
People not paying taxes or have avoided it
Bailout wasn’t used to balance or advance economy but was used to pay foreign debts
Effects:
Minor loss of exports for foreign countries
Higher interest rates
High unemployment rates are rising
Euro value drops
Strikes/Riots
The Great Recession in Spain
Causes:
World Financial Crisis in 2007-2008
Housing Bubble
Relaxed control on banks during housing bubble
Pre-existent huge trade deficit along with a higher than usual inflation
High unemployment rate
Effects:
Decrease in demand for Spanish products (Domestic & Foreign)
Decrease in revenue, increase in spendings
Increase in unemployment
Decrease spendings for public services such as: healthcare, education, etc.
Italy's Banking Crisis
Causes:
High unemployment rate
Companies not repaying their loans (Bad Loans)
Easier to fire workers
Companies not making enough to pay the bills
Effects:
Strikes/Riots
Decrease in Euro’s value
Increase in unemployment
Political shift/unrest
Created backup fund to bailout banks
Portugal
Causes:
Debt
Bad loans
Haven’t fully recovered from Great Recession (2 years ago)
Effects:
Potential exit from eurozone
Depreciation in euro value
Potential split of euro into two currency
Most companies may not withstand the crisis
SOCIAL ISSUES
Migration and Refugee Crisis
People from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere have been finding safety in Europe, escaping from poverty and conflict
Causes: More and more people are living under harsher conditions now and want to escape. Most escape to Southern Europe into countries like Greece or Italy, because it is closer.
Effects: Decreasing population in refugee-producing countries and increasing population in countries of the EU, especially Southern Europe
UK Referendum on EU Memership
Occurred June 23, 2016; UK leaves the EU, Brexit
Causes: The people no longer trust their leadership and the poor are tired of being treated unfairly. UK doesn’t like the government and how they are represented. Effects: The currency of UK(pounds) decreased from $1.50 to $1.19: the economy is going downhill.
Heightened Terrorism Threat
Attacks in Paris and bombing in Brussels; ISIS
Causes: Terrorist groups want to fight for their perceived justice in the world. They have a burning hate or desire to do something to change the world.
Effects: More people get hurt/get killed and more attacks/bombing occur; more people are in danger and some people are converted to be one of the terrorists
POLITICAL ISSUES
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Syrians are trying to escape war in their home country. In Syria, a civil war has begun in March 2011 and is still going on today. As the people move, they go to countries along the Mediterranean Sea. These countries include Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Greece Financial Crisis
Greece had a debt spike and the EU had to haul Greece out of it. Greece suddenly was not able to borrow money in the financial market, and started to head off into bankruptcy.
Italy's Earthquake
In the center of Italy, there is a fault between two plates: Around 250 people died in an earthquake that started in Saletta, Italy in August. In Italy, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit central Italy. Around 100 miles away is Rome.