Global Challenges

Challenge: Gaining Rights and Equality for Women In Africa, small self-help associations developed among women In Chile, the fight for women’s rights was part of a movement against the dictatorship of Pinochet In South Korea, it was part of a democracy movement

The United Nations declared 1975 International Woman’s Year

But at the Beijing Conference in 1995, divisions emerged over inheritance Some wanted equal inheritance for daughters and sons But under Islamic law, sons receive twice the amount

And a Global Backlash Some felt feminism challenged traditional values

Challenge: Modernity’s Challenge to the World’s Religions Fundamentalism A militant piety in every major religious tradition Term derived from U.S.A. where religious conservatives were outraged by challenges to Bible Called for a return to the fundamentals of the faith

Hindu Fundamentalism Hindu nationalism A politicization of religion In increasingly popular Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Muslims were viewed as outsiders

Islamic Fundamentalism Against Western cultural intrusion Qu’ran and Sharia to provide guidance Jihad or struggle to please God

The Leading Figures of Islamic Fundamentalism Mawlana Mawdudi from India Sayyid Qutb from Egypt

In Sudan, adopted Quranic punishments Egyptian Islamic Jihad assassinated Sadat

In Iran (1979) and Afghanistan (1996), Islamic movements came to power

Challenge: Confronting Poverty and Inequality through Religion Liberation Theology a) A Christian social action movement in Latin America “Socially Engaged Buddhism” in Asia

Challenge: Protecting the Environment Impact of Human Population a) Quadrupling of world population in single century b) Impact of fossil fuels 1. Global warming 2. Diminished habitats

The Romantic Poets Environmentalism began in nineteenth century with the Romantic poets a) Denounced Industrial Revolution

Second-Wave of Environmentalism Began with Rachel Carson’s book – “Silent Spring” in 1962 a) Described the dangers of chemical pesticides on the environment and humans

Green Party German environmental movement that entered political arena a) Opposition to nuclear power

Chikpo Movement in India “Tree-hugging” movement In the 1970s, an organized resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India and came to be known as the Chipko movement The name of the movement came from the word “embrace”, as the villagers hugged trees, and prevented contractors’ from felling them

The North/South Divide Global South felt environmental initiatives would curtail needed industrial development a) U.S. refusal to sign Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions

A Challenge to Modernity Need for sustainability as opposed to endless growth