In anticipation of the Affordable World Security Conference William R. Polk's series of articles will provide a 'reader friendly' and insightful overview of conditions, developments and activities that are subtly but powerful affecting our daily lives.

Read more about the guide and browse its chapter below.

From climate change to food and water supply to natural disasters, the natural environment is critical to human security.

Climate change | Tornadoes or “twisters” | Hurricane, typhoon and cyclone | Drought | Dust Storms | Floods | Wildfires | El Niño and La Niña | Food grain | Dams and reservoirs | Glaciers  | Ice Reserves in the North and South Poles | The intertwined water problems of India and Pakistan | Trees | Aquifers | Conflicts over water | The carbon issue

Natural resources, interdependence and the struggle for everyday stability in life are important to every citizen of every country.

Major international resources | Acquisition of resources | International trade | Debt | Borrowing | Manufacturing | The world financial order | Jobs and unemployment

Seven billion people with growing needs and dreams require healthcare, education, and freedom from domination.

Land and the new colonialism | Population size | Population characteristics | Health | Education & training | Problems of leisure time

Communication, transportation, and energy have tied the world together, and more innovation will help build a better future.

Changing forms of communications | The automobile | The airplane and world travel | Rail and alternative methods of travel | Generation of power | New forms of power

National defense is an important policy area to understand costs, trade-offs and priorities in security.

The arms trade | The cost and utility of military security | The cost of wars | The residual costs of wars | Insurgency and counterinsurgency | Flash points in international affairs