World News and Trends: Failed states threaten British security
Security in the UK feels threatened as unstable countries face decline.
An important U.K. report published by the Commission on National Security—a project sponsored by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)—called attention to weak states as major threats to Britain's security. The more-than-20 such states have a combined population of 880 million.
Somalia is at the top of the list. Drought, al-Qaeda influence and even piracy are major factors in making it a threat. In alphabetical order this list of potential failed states also includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria and Pakistan. Some are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, an arc of instability that poses security problems for not only Britain, but the United States and the entire Western world.
The IPPR report concluded that "weak, corrupt and failing states have become bigger security risks than strong states . . . They are the targets of transnational criminal networks which are expanding their drugs, arms and people trafficking" (Richard Norton-Taylor, "Weak States Are Major Threat to British Security, Report Warns," The Guardian, Nov. 27, 2008).
This report warns that "storm clouds are gathering [in the African arc of instability], creating profound and direct challenges to UK and wider international security" (ibid.). These little-governed or ungovernable areas of the globe warrant our attention as actual and potential sources of terrorist attacks. (Source: The Guardian [London].)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: March - April 2009
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
