| "Scientists and economists have been offered | | | | - Oil spills into sea - at least 6 million barrels of oil |
| $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the | | | | leaked into sea causing largest ever oil slick - |
| world's largest oil companies to undermine a major | | | | devastated local bird, mammal, fish populations - |
| climate change report due to be published today." | | | | prawn fisheries decimated |
| recorded Ian Sample, science correspondent at | | | | - Landmines and other UXO, eg cluster bombs - 1.6 |
| Guardian in his report dated Friday February 2, 2007. | | | | million landmines laid by Iraqi forces in Kuwait; approx |
| "Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute | | | | 5% of bombs do not explode on impact (higher % in |
| (AEI), an Exxon Mobil-funded think-tank with close | | | | desert) - many people killed/ injuries |
| links to the US Federal administration, offered the | | | | - Depleted Uranium (DU) - super-dense metal used in |
| payments for articles that emphasize the | | | | armour piercing weapons - approx 290 tonnes spread |
| shortcomings of a report from the UN's | | | | across Gulf - source of low-level radioactivity and |
| Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). | | | | toxicity |
| Travel expenses and additional payments were also | | | | - Damage to desert ecology - obvious bomb |
| offered", he continued. | | | | damage, but also movements of armoured vehicles |
| By the by, the UN report was written by international | | | | broke up fragile soil surface - approx 50% of |
| experts and is widely regarded as the most | | | | Kuwait's land area damaged |
| comprehensive review yet of climate change science. | | | | References: UNEP (2003); Additional info from: New |
| On September 19th 2006, Rep. Henry Waxman | | | | Scientist (2003); Friends of the Earth (2003); Medact |
| (D-CA), ranking member on the Government Reform | | | | (2002) |
| Committee, has just released a series of emails from | | | | Besides, the following figures will give you a better |
| the Department of Commerce that suggest that | | | | insight as to what armed conflict between |
| Bush officials "tried to suppress a federal scientist | | | | governments has and can do to this earth, |
| from discussing the link between global warming and | | | | - Oil consumption by military forces |
| hurricanes" In a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos | | | | - USA - 133 million barrels in 2005 |
| Gutierrez, Waxman details how CNBC requested an | | | | - 2% of total USA oil consumption |
| interview with NOAA scientist Tom Knutson in | | | | - similar to Sweden's total consumption |
| October 2005 -- one month after Hurricane Katrina -- | | | | - only 2 out of 56 African countries consume more oil |
| "to discuss whether global warming is contributing to | | | | than US military |
| the number or intensity of hurricanes." | | | | - true figure could be as much as double due to |
| I mean, whom are we kidding by doing all this? | | | | accounting errors overseas |
| None but ourselves. Just for a moment, let us forget | | | | UK - 7 million barrels in 2004 |
| about everyone else in this world. How much more | | | | - 1% of total UK oil consumption |
| does it require to state, masking the truth is only | | | | - similar to Namibia's total consumption |
| going to kill you, your living parents, children, grand | | | | Emissions of CO2 from military forces |
| children, and everyone and anyone you hold near and | | | | - USA - ~60Mt in 2005 |
| dear to you, enough to care about. | | | | - 1% of total USA emissions |
| We are all partners in default, within the process of | | | | - similar to Finland's total emissions |
| global warming. The Governments responsible should | | | | - UK - ~5Mt in 2005 |
| realize that, our unsustainable practices are part and | | | | - 1% of total UK emissions |
| parcel of our daily lives. But we ought to know this | | | | - similar to Senegal's total emissions |
| fact, that in the absence of some decisive measures | | | | Large military forces are making a significant |
| on our part, the true cost of our actions will be borne | | | | contribution to the depletion of oil resources and to |
| by our own succeeding generations, even starting | | | | climate change - both are likely to increase the risk of |
| with ours. As the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon | | | | conflict which military forces are claimed to be there |
| advices, "That would be an unconscionable legacy; | | | | to prevent! |
| one which we must all join hands to avert. As it | | | | Climate change could increase the risk of conflict, |
| stands, the damage already inflicted on our | | | | especially in developing countries: |
| ecosystem will take decades, perhaps centuries, to | | | | - Water shortages will increase with rising |
| reverse, if we act now." | | | | temperatures (and with population increases) - |
| Effect of War on the Environment: | | | | number of people living in "water-stressed" areas |
| Dr Stuart Parkinson. Executive Director, Scientists for | | | | expected to rise from 1.7 billion in 2000 to 5 billion in |
| Global Responsibility (SGR), analyzed the relationship | | | | 2025 |
| between war and environment extremely well. | | | | - Sea-level rise and increased storminess will increase |
| We all have to agree to three basic truths. | | | | risk of flood damage, especially to heavily populated |
| - Environmental Resources are one of the primary | | | | coastal areas - tens of millions more people are likely |
| causes of War and Conflict | | | | to be affected by 2080s |
| - War and Conflict, in turn causes Environmental | | | | - Disruption to agriculture is likely |
| Pollution hindering Sustainability. | | | | - Together these factors could lead to a large |
| - Lack of sustainability creates strain on | | | | increase in numbers of "environmental refugees" |
| Environmental Resources, leading to war and conflict, | | | | References: Military consumption/ CO2 emissions |
| to gain access to scarce resources. This is a cyclical | | | | figures estimated by SGR based data from DESC |
| process, one causing the other, and in turn leading to | | | | (2006) & MoD (2006). Additional info from: IPCC |
| the extinction of every perceivable living being on | | | | (2001), Karbuz (2006), UNEP (2007) |
| earth. | | | | Bottom-line: |
| To analyze how environment influences Conflict/War, | | | | It is one thing to know the facts as above and |
| and how that in turn affects Sustainability, let us go | | | | recognize the truth that "what we are doing is |
| through the following truths: | | | | wrong". Every Government, and every military |
| - The 1960s saw the peak of new oil reserves. The | | | | corporation, need to just not recognize the damage |
| Association for Study of Peak Oil & Gas (ASPO) | | | | they are doing to this world. They need to accept |
| argues that the peak of annual production will occur | | | | responsibility. Continuos censorship of the truth, will |
| within the next few years (or has possibly just | | | | only push the truth further away, and draw |
| occurred), with global demand exceeding production | | | | destruction of this world closer. |
| soon after. Prices are likely to quickly rise, and the | | | | The government can do a lot of things to make |
| current price shocks are merely early indication of | | | | things right, and ensure Sustainability. For starters, |
| that. | | | | they can reduce consumption of fossil fuels, |
| - Whatever global oil reserves remain, they are | | | | especially oil, and execute and just not lay down |
| concentrated in small areas - eg Middle East states | | | | policies and measures to support changes, as |
| that hold 65% of reserves - though there is growing | | | | eco-taxes, carbon trading, regulation, R&D |
| concern that they have exaggerated the size of their | | | | support etc. The UN Framework Convention on |
| reserves. | | | | Climate Change can be strengthened, especially |
| - Domestic consumption far exceeding domestic | | | | binding targets on the biggest emitters (the largest |
| production in most major countries | | | | being the USA) based on "Contraction and |
| - Projected growth in consumption is huge | | | | Convergence" principles. Global flow of small weapons |
| - With the oil supply concentrated in a politically | | | | to poorer countries can be stemmed, since their |
| unstable region of the world and the possibility of | | | | environmental resources are already under stress and |
| demand exceeding supply in the near future - | | | | hence conflict is bound to occur. This can be done by |
| economic problems are likely, increasing the possibility | | | | strengthening of UN program of action on eradicating |
| of conflict. | | | | illegal small arms, having every country agree a UN |
| - We urgently need to move away from our high | | | | arms trade treaty. USA, which has highest levels of |
| dependence on oil - even President George W. Bush | | | | small arms in private hands and is world's largest arms |
| has acknowledged the need to break "the oil | | | | exporter, is resisting these efforts. Another great |
| addiction" in his 2006 and 2007 State of the Union | | | | effort every government can take, is reduce |
| addresses | | | | dependence on military forces as a way of dealing |
| References: Energy Information Administration | | | | with international problems. This will also help reduce |
| (2006); ASPO (2006); Nur (2006); Wikipedia (2007b); | | | | their carbon emissions! |
| The White House (2007) | | | | The first step to Sustainability, needs to be |
| Now let us perceive what war/conflict does to the | | | | acceptance...acceptance of the responsibility of such |
| environment: | | | | ensuing catastrophe, following the current trends of |
| During the 1991 Gulf War: | | | | Military action and governmental Denials. The power |
| - Oil well fires - more than 600 wells set ablaze, some | | | | of corporations, especially military corporations, with |
| burning for 9 months - smoke blocked sun - | | | | their ability to lobby for favorable policies needs to |
| temperature fell by 10C; approx 1000 people died | | | | be curbed. Denial is merely cheating oneself, and |
| due to acrid smoke; 300 million tonnes CO2 released | | | | cheating the world; though the truth still remains. |
| contributing to climate change | | | | Governments and Military corporations need to ask |
| - Oil polluted groundwater - 60 million barrels leaked | | | | themselves: "Can we live with the truth, that we |
| into ground poisoning 40% of groundwater (Kuwait | | | | have destroyed the world? |
| has less water per head than any other country) | | | | |