Global Events and Societal Impact: The 9/11 attacks marked a pivotal moment in
world history, leading to significant shifts in international relations, security
policies, and perceptions of danger. The event caused a "before and after" in how
nations interact and perceive threats, especially regarding terrorism and Islamic
extremism (, ).
Terrorism and Misinformation: Post-9/11, terrorism became a central vocabulary
in global discourse, influencing military actions like the war in Afghanistan and
shaping perceptions of Muslim communities. Misinformation spread on social
media about terrorist acts, often blaming Muslim immigrants, which fueled hate
crimes and violence against minority groups in Western countries (, , ).
Rise in Hate Crimes and Discrimination: Hate crimes against Muslim, Jewish,
Asian, and Latino communities have increased, especially during COVID-19 and
political tensions. Canada's hate crime rates have risen sharply from 2014 to 2024,
reflecting a global trend of rising intolerance and violence (, ).
International Conflicts and Politics: The Russia-Ukraine conflict, intensified by
the 2022 invasion, is viewed as a return to Cold War tensions, with global powers
involved in military and diplomatic responses. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian
conflict remains a source of violence and humanitarian crisis, with thousands of
casualties and persistent instability (, ).
Media and Journalism: The decline of traditional journalism due to social media
and tech giants like Google has reduced reliable news sources, complicating efforts
to combat misinformation. The importance of ethical journalism remains crucial
for providing truthful information and understanding world events (, ).
Technological and Environmental Issues: Advances in AI, especially processors
from companies like NVIDIA, drive technological growth but pose environmental
challenges, including high energy consumption and environmental pollution. The
AI boom is also linked to military applications, such as hypersonic rockets,
contributing to the arms race and global security concerns (, ).
Environmental and Plastic Pollution: Plastic pollution, especially single-use
plastics like straws, significantly harms ecosystems. Global efforts to regulate
plastics have faced resistance from oil-dependent countries, but grassroots
initiatives in places like Ghana show promising local action. Recycling remains
imperfect due to systemic flaws, emphasizing the need for reduction strategies
alongside recycling (, ).
International Cooperation and Challenges: Countries struggle to reach
agreements on plastic regulation and climate change due to conflicting economic
interests, especially among fossil fuel-dependent nations. Global treaties are under
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negotiation, but progress is slow, highlighting the complexity of balancing
economic growth with environmental sustainability (, ).
Military and Geopolitical Tensions: The development of advanced weaponry,
including hypersonic missiles, underscores the ongoing arms race. The Russia-
Ukraine war exemplifies how military conflicts are intertwined with technological
advancements and geopolitical strategies, with global repercussions (, ).
Media, Information, and Public Discourse: The decline of traditional journalism
and rise of social media complicate the dissemination of accurate information.
Ethical journalism and critical media literacy are essential to navigate
misinformation, especially during conflicts and crises (, ).
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