Despite advances in technology and security in the past 50 years, the world has become less secure than before. The advent of global terrorism and the spread and increase in weapons of mass destruction have affected our security, and ongoing revolts undermine the stability of various world governments (Kabba 2002). Added to these issues are environmental changes that have produced a record number of adverse events such as tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes that have devastated areas around the world (Kabba 2002). Moreover, poverty is increasing on a global level, with nearly half of the world's six billion people already under the $2/day poverty line and projections showing that by 2020, the population will increase to approximately 7.2 billion with 95% of the increase being in developing countries (Moore). Homelessness is increasing as well. In the United States, for example-the richest nation in the world-a minimum of 800,000 people are homeless, including 200,000 children in homeless families, and as Martha R. Burt (1) points out, "Homelessness in America is a 'revolving-door' crisis," with many people exiting it quickly but many more becoming homeless every day. The world's economy is shaky, too, and everyone is under the threat of economic disaster.
With the threats of global terrorism, poverty, and homelessness augmented by environmental threats such as hurricanes and earthquakes, security is at a minimum in the world. Add to that the fact that conditions change rapidly and often unexpectedly in a globalized economy and the possibility that the economy could fail at any time, and you have a world that is far less secure than in the past.
Burt, Martha R. "What Will It Take to End Homelessness?" September 2001. Urban Institute. ...