GLOBAL PROBLEMS
Humankind faces a lot of global problems today. Let’s look at some of them.
Wars and conflicts
There are several hot spots on the globe where armed conflicts are going on.
Afghanistan. After the Taliban government refused to hand over terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after September 11, 2001, attacks, the United States invaded Afghanistan. The Taliban leadership quickly lost control of the country and moved to southern Afghanistan and to Pakistan. From there, they have waged war against the Western-backed government in Kabul, international coalition troops, and Afghan national security forces. After more than a year of negotiations, the U.S. government and the Taliban signed a peace agreement on February 29, 2020, that sets a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
Syria. The conflict in Syria began as protests against President Assad’s regime in 2011 quickly escalated into a full-scale war between the Syrian government—backed by Russia and Iran—and anti-government rebel groups—backed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others in the region. The Islamic State began seizing control of territory in Syria in 2013. After a series of terrorist attacks coordinated by the Islamic State across Europe in 2015, the United States, the United Kingdom have conducted over eleven thousand air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. In December 2018, President Donald J. Trump decided to withdraw two thousand U.S. troops remaining in Syria. On January 16, 2019, an attack by the Islamic State killed at least nineteen people, including four Americans.
Ukraine. The crisis in eastern Ukraine between separatist forces and the Ukrainian military has by conservative estimates killed more than 10,300 people and injured nearly 24,000 since April 2014. Since February 2015, France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine have attempted to stop the violence through the Minsk Accords. The agreement includes provisions for a cease-fire, withdrawal of heavy weaponry, and full Ukrainian government control throughout the conflict zone. However, efforts to reach a satisfactory resolution have been unsuccessful.
Nagorno-Karabakh. The risk of military conflict is escalating in Nagorno-Karabakh, the border region claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan. In late September 2020, heavy fighting broke out along the border. More than one thousand soldiers and civilians have been killed, with hundreds more wounded on both sides. In early October 2020, Russia negotiated a cease-fire, which failed.Two additional cease-fires were negotiated by France in coordination with Russia and the United States. These cease-fires also failed almost immediately and fighting continued.
Vocabulary
airstrike – воздушный налет
armed conflict – вооруженный конфликт
border - граница
break out – вспыхнуть, разразиться
by conservative estimates – по скромным подсчетам
cease-fire – прекращение огня
civilian- гражданское лицо
claim- претендовать
full-scale -полномасштабный
heavy fighting – тяжелые бои
heavy weaponry – тяжелое вооружение
hot spot – горячая точка, зона эскалации конфликта
invade – вторгнуться, оккупировать
leadership - руководство
Minsk Accords – Минские соглашения
negotiations[nɪˌgəʊʃɪˈeɪʃənz]–переговоры
provisions - положения
rebel[ˈrɛbl] - повстанец
regime[reɪˈʒiːm] - режим
security forces – силы безопасности
soldier[ˈsəʊlʤə] - солдат
target–цель
timeline - сроки
troops - войска
violence[ˈvaɪələns] - насилие
wage war (against) – вести войну
withdraw[wɪðˈdrɔː] – вывести войска
wound[wuːnd]–ранить
Exercise 1.Word-building.
Verb to Noun
Refuse
invade
negotiate
govern
escalate
agree
resolve
fight
Exercise 2.Collocations.
a) Complete the Verb + Noun collocations (use the text)
withdraw _______
invade __________
conduct___________
wage ___________
sign _____________
seize _____________
coordinate_________
reach ______________
negotiate____________
b) Complete the Adjective + Noun collocations (use the text)
hot ____________
global ______________
peace ________________
full-scale________________
terrorist________________
air _____________________
conservative _______________________
heavy _____________________
military__________________________
Exercise 3.Grammar. Change into passive.
1. The United States invaded Afghanistan.
2. The Taliban leadership quickly lost control of the country.
3. Taliban have waged war against the Western-backed government.
4. The U.S. government and the Taliban signed a peace agreement on February 29, 2020.
5. The United States have conducted over eleven thousand air strikes against Islamic State.
6. In early October 2020, Russia negotiated a cease-fire.
Exercise 4.Vocabulary. Define in your own words:
hot spot_________________________________________________
armed conflict______________________________________________
coalition____________________________________________________
withdrawal__________________________________________________
separatist ____________________________________________________
border region________________________________________________
cease-fire__________________________________________________
Exercise 5.Discussion points.
1. What are the main hot spots in the world? Can you add to the list?
2. Who is involved in those conflicts (main players)?
3. What are the causes/history of the conflicts?
4. What is being done to resolve the conflicts?
5. In your opinion, what are the main reasons for wars?
6. Do you think war-free world is possible?