Current World Issues


The following resources will help you in your exploration of the current world issues.

 Print Resources

The Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II (REF 909.82 ENC)
This four volume set explore the roots of war, various alliances and summit meetings, meant to forestall conflict and the background and events connected
with numerous specific conflicts in the second half of the 20th century.

Volume 1: Afghanistan - Burundi
Volume 2: Cambodia - Haiti
Volume 3: Hungary - North Korea
Volume 4: Palestine - Zimbabwe

 

 Online Databases

  CountryReports.Org
Provides an extensive overview on the countries of the world from their ancient history to modern day life, and much more.
     

  World Conflicts Today - Each World Conflicts Today report provides an overview and a detailed history of the conflict in addition to an account of the obstacles that stand in the way of its resolution and a consideration of the implications.
     
Student Resource Center Gold - Offers more than 1,100 full-text periodicals and newspapers, primary sources, creative works, and multimedia, including hours of video and audio clips and podcasts.  Hint: select Advanced Search to enter multiple keywords.

Opposing Viewpoints Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center is a one-stop source for information on today's hottest social issues and features viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites.


 Internet Sites

Index of Issues
offering both pro and con arguments

Multnomah County Library - Social Issues: www.multcolib.org/homework/sochc.html

University of Washington Libraries - Opposing Views: www.lib.washington.edu/mcnews/opposingviews/

Hot Topics
offering both pro and con arguments

Animal Rights (animal experimentation, factory farming, etc.): www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Animal_Welfare/Animal_Rights/

Gun Control: www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Gun_Control/

Death Penalty / Capitol punishment: www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Crime_and_Justice/Death_Penalty/

Environment (climate change, development, energy, genetic engineering, ozone depletion, pollution, waste and recycling, etc.) : www.dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Environment/

Euthanasia / Assisted suicide: http://www.euthanasia.com/

Global Warming: http://www.pomperaug.com/research/global_warming.htm

If you don't find what you're looking for in any of the sites above, try your 
own keyword search using the following tips...

 Internet Search Tips

  1. Type the URL (web site address) of a search directory/engine in the address box: ex: www.yahoo.com, or www.google.com, etc.
     
  2. (Be sure to type the address exactly the way you see it, including any uppercase letters and punctuation).
     
  3. Type in keyword(s). (If your keyword has two parts such as: "West Bank", be sure to put quotes around it so that the search engine only finds the Internet sites about the West Bank as opposed to all of the sites containing the word west plus all of the sites containing the word bank.
     
  4. If you would like to search for something specific about a the West Bank, try a combined keyword search by adding a comma, followed by a space and you other search term.  For instance; if I wanted to find out about the conflict in the West Bank between Israel and Palestine I would enter the following:
     

     "West Bank", conflict, Israel, Palestine
     

  5. Hit Enter on your keyboard, or click on Search, then scan the description of the "hits" (entries) and click on the links that sound best.
     
  6. Be sure to critically evaluate Internet sources.  UC Berkley Library's Evaluating Webpages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask is an excellent source to help you critique the quality of websites in the following areas:
  7. Remember: if you choose to use any information (text or graphics) found on the Internet, online databases, or print material, you must cite every resource you used.  Use the Works Cited Guide to access MLA format.
  8.  

Created by Liza Zandonella, Library Media Specialist.

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