Global Water Resources and War

[Nick Pronsolino]

There is perhaps no greater threat to the industrialized world than that of dwindling fresh water supplies. With the world’s population set to grow an estimated 2.5 billion by the year 2025, already limited fresh water resources will further be strained as countries try to meet the needs of burgeoning population growth and a growing appetite for consumer goods in developing nations. The rapid depletion of the world’s fresh water supply is undermining world peace and the flexibility of nations to collaborate in a time of global crisis. The ability of countries to provide enough water for basic human services coupled with the ability to generate economic growth and a means of providing for that growth will prove to be the greatest challenge facing nations today. In facing this global crisis we should therefore focus on fixing and providing efficient water systems for all the world as a means of global security, first by recognizing access to potable water and proper sanitation as a human right, and second by limiting virtual water usage through effective means of education, applying real costs of virtual water to commodities, and incentivizing modifications in diet. Failure to do so will result in global resource wars. What do you think? How can we learn to better manage our natural resources so as to move beyond those conflicts of that escalate to war?

[William L Hallmark]

Thanks for posting this important message. Beyond War recognizes we are facing multiple crises which likely will lead to war over shortages. Nothing could be more certain to trigger war than a shortage of potable water. Beyond War seeks to shift our world view to recognize that the world is one integrated system and that we must address problems from that perspective if we are to survive. It is our belief that if we embrace this new world view we will readily address these issues, but as long as we look at the world as a we-they system, we will fail to respond to the need until it is too late.

[Bryan Corn]

Hopefully, dwindling resources will help more and more people realize the core value that we all share one tiny planet together. The facts that resources are finite and human population is exponentially increasing are something we cannot change any time soon but how we deal with the situation and our very attitudes about it are things that can change and will make all the difference in our future.

[Nick Pronsolino]

E.F Schumacher writes that our economic models should be based around the concept of eliminating that which causes tension and strife. So for example, Pakistan's current dilemma is that they are rapidly approaching bankruptcy over failed IMF loans that they cannot pay back. In trying to modernize their economy, Pakistan has opted to utilize the Indus River, of which it shares with its nemesis India, to grow cheap cotton for export to the west. In doing so Pakistan has angered India, who itself is rapidly drying up. As these two tense nations try to resolve military escalation in their countries they find water to be the underlying issue that creates a wedge in diplomacy. In short Pakistan and India may go to war again, (both have obtained nuclear arsenals since there last face-off) this time over cotton exports to the west for cheap t-shirts. While it is hopeful that dwindling resources may provide a window for educating the masses to realize the core value of sharing one tiny planet, it has the potential to escalate into an all out war for that very same reason. Therefore we must abolish an economic model that 1. sees resources as finite, and 2. begins to teach valuable lesson here in our school about the interconnectedness of our actions. We must begin to instill a real ability in our children to critically examine world resource management and the inextricable link to war. Failure to do so is the greatest threat facing our world today.

[Mora Rogers]

Hi, Nick --

Thanks for making this important connection between conflict over scarce resources (water being primary in that category, even though we often tend to focus more on oil) and war. If you haven't seen it yet, you might be interested in this discussion in the current events section of the forum: http://beyondwar.ning.com/forum/topics/climate-change-conflict. Conflict as a result of global warming is very likely to center around water rights issues, so I think the two are very closely linked.

Thanks!
Mora