Current Events > Things that could go wrong in 21st century - Wired 1997

(+) Yeah! (+)

1 . Tensions between the US and China escalate into a new Cold war - bordering on a hot one.

2 . New technology turn out to be a bust. They simply don't bring the expected productivity increase or the big economic boost.

3 . Russia devolves into a kleptocracy run by the mafia, or retreats into quasi communistic nationalism that threatens Europe.

4 . Europe's integration process grinds to a halt. Eastern and Western Europe can't finesse a reunification and even the EU process breaks down.

5 . Major ecological crisis causes global climate change, that among other things, disrupt the food supply. Causing big price increases everywhere and developing sporadic famines.

6 . Major rise in crime and terrorism forces the world to pull back in fear. People who constantly feel they can be blown up or ripped off are not in the mood to reach out and open up.

7 . The cumulative escalation in pollution, causes dramatic increase in cancer. Which overwhelms the ill-prepared health system.

8 . Energy prices go through the roof. Convulsions in the Middle East disrupt oil supply, and alternative energy sources fail to materialize.

9 . An uncontrollable plague - a modern day influenza epidemic or its equivalent - takes off like wildfire killing upwards of 200 million people.

10 . A social and cultural backlash stops progress dead in its tracks. Human beings need to choose to move forward. They just may not...

Lol

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These things are the go-to things that could go wrong in any society.

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The only major misstep on that list is 6; crime rates have been steadily falling throughout the Western world, and mostly just stagnating elsewhere.

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Junior_AIN posted...

These things are the go-to things that could go wrong in any society.

just be amazed

Omg. The word spoilers was around in 1997????