Social issues are alarmingly on the rise in modern contemporary society and are considered to affect most society members. A society develops social problems when there is a difference in opinions regarding religious issues, ethnic issues, cultural practices, and political issues. Social issues vary from society to society and threaten values such as law and order, stability, and institutions’ social cohesion. However, social issues are distinguished from common problems by the extent to which they are perceived and recommended actions to deal with them. Social issues have long been a bone of contention, and arguments on the same have brought controversies. It is no different from the society that Lisa Simpson lives in, encompassed by multiple social issues. However, to a large extent, individual characters can contribute to the success of a society by seeking social justice and upholding a noble cause such as Lisa Simpson.
Climate change and global warming affect the living conditions due to an increase in global temperatures and changes in weather patterns. Global warming is caused by the accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere as humans power modern lives. Rising temperatures cause the melting of glaciers and sea ice, which increases ocean water level. Consequently, habitats are lost through the vanishing of ice, exposing species to extinction. For example, the Adelie penguin population in Antarctica has reduced by more than ninety percent due to habitat loss. Irregular precipitations of both snow and rain have contributed to the desertification of some areas due to drought. Severe drought increases drinking water shortages, wildfires, and loss of wildlife habitat. While reporting on Springfield, Lisa sees an apocalyptic future where people drink soap due to the environment’s destruction. She compiles a report and presents her classmates’ findings, warning them of a dark future if the destruction persists. Besides, Lisa volunteers to sleep to Springfield’s oldest redwood tree to prevent it from being cut down to expand new business by the rich Texan.
Animal abuse is the intentional harming of an animal to assert human dominance. According to research, animals are abused every minute, with abuse ranging from exploitation, neglect, and human predation. Reasoning animals to cruelty includes the desire to make money, disregard animal feelings and emotions, and view animals as objects. Society has been accustomed to condoning animal cruelty by turning a blind eye indifferently. This is contributed by the fact that animal abuse happens behind closed doors and in factory farms. Animal neglect is caused by ignorance, where a person does not possess the knowledge and skill to care for an animal properly. In Springfield, animals are seen as lesser beings that do not require to be treated with affection. Lisa is taunted by her family when she becomes a vegetarian. Additionally, Lisa is filled with grief when she abandons a dying dog in the shelter, which forces her to go back and rescue all the animals from euthanasia. Together with Bart, they raise funds to build the Lisa Simpson Home for Abandoned Animals.