If you had to list 15 problems facing this world...

[Fountain79]

What would you list?

Obvious example: Global Warming/Climate Change

[blue cat]

1. hunger

[islandmkl]

2. there seem to be more assholes than people...

[lonestarnot]

5. Now that would be a pucker problem.

[lonestarnot]

3. Education

[tekisui]

4. People.

[Terran]

6. Peak Oil #1; then global waming

Everything else is pretty much small potatoes compared to those two.

[jcla]

7. George Bush and Dick Cheney and Company!

[lpbk2713]

8. Hopelessness.

There has to be hope, as a starting point. Otherwise there is no use in trying anything else.

[Vincardog]

9. Corporate control of governments First and for most the USA

[CoffeeCat]

10. 1.) Child abuse

One in four females is sexually abused as a child. One in seven males is sexually abused
as a child.

Many children are also subject to physical abuse and emotional and psychological abuse.

Many children are neglected. Some of these children live in poverty, and some of them
are from affluent families. They are treated like object and the suffer greatly.

It feels like--if you make it through life with a somewhat functional family, and had
a good childhood--that you are in the minority.

Child abuse is epidemic, and it causes mental illness and robs society of untold human
potential.

[sweettater]

11. common deceny and

respect

[DogPoundPup]

12. Incivility

Corporate disregard for the Environment

Corporate Greed

Overpopulation

Education

[rpannier]

13. The obvious answer is Bush, republikkans, Bush, Rove, republikkans

But since your question is a serious one:

1. Unnatural climate change

2. Species depletion

3. Over population

4. Centralization of wealth

5. Ignorance of world events and how they effect you daily

6. Corruption of the political process worldwide

7. Apathetic media in the US (and other major nations) and it's willingness to ignore substantive issues in the name of covering Paris Hilton and runaway brides

8. Apathy of people in the more economically and politically powerful nations

9. The continued selling/believing of outdated memes: Free markets are the best solution, we need a CEO in the presidents chair, etc.

10. The ease with which history has been corrupted to benefit certain people.

11. The world has become an extremely complicated place and people continue to look for simple solutions to these problems (this probably could be linked to number 8)

12. The marginalization of certain groups of people in every country. The US vs Them mentality is pervasive worldwide and it poisons the entire world system. If someone is on 'our' side those sins are ignored as being understandable. (example: Mugabe apologists, Chinese gov't enablers, pat robertson apologists).
Every country has at least one group of people that are at the 'whipping boy' for all of socities problems.

13. Destruction of land and overuse of the land. (Destruction of rainforests, over grazing of land, improper agricultural methods on land management)

14. The rewarding of incompetance and sociopathic behavior, while ignoring and marginalizing people who know what they're talking about as "cranks" "-haters" "bleeding hearts" etc.
This is different than 12 because 12 references groups of people that aretargeted for being a member of a particular group. #14 refers to people who are targeted because they say unpopular things that are true.

15. The unwillingness of people who could do something about these problems because it might adversely affect them personally or financially.
Around the world there are people languishing in jail (or have been murdered) because they dared to stand up and say something critical of their government or of powerful, well connected people.
Yet, many people stand by and do nothing because it's inconvenient to say or do something.
Or, they're afraid what others may think of them

[Adsos Letter]

14. lack of sense of community

I know that sounds all Pollyanna-ish, but if those nations which have the resources to effect change could somehow curtail their nationalism/authoritarianism long enough to pull for human rights and the common good...well, a lot could be accomplished.

I know...it isn't Realpolitk, or even reality.

Still...it lies at the root of every other problem.