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An Uncertain Future: Law Enforcement, National Security and Climate Change

Climate change will have serious environmental, socio-economic and security consequences for both developed and developing nations alike. This report explores these consequences and demonstrates that they will present new challenges to governments trying to maintain domestic stability.(Chris Abbott, January 2008)

http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefing_papers/uncertainfuture.php

(Added: Thu Mar 27 2008   Hits: 36)

"Water Wars" a Myth, Say Experts

The world's future wars will be fought not over oil but water - an ominous prediction made by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the British ministry of defence and even by some officials of the World Bank. But experts and academics meeting at an international conference on water management in the Swedish capital are dismissing this prediction as unrealistic, far-fetched and nonsensical. (IPSNews, August 25, 2005)

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34467

(Added: Fri Sep 01 2006   Hits: 138)

Afghanistan's Environment in Transition [PDF -1.9MB]

by Ali Azimi and David McCauley Asian Development Bank South Asia Department December 2002 "As Afghanistan struggles to recover from decades of war and depravation, many urgent needs are competing for the attention of the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan (ITGA) and donor community. While at first thought it might seem that environmental issues are not a top priority, in fact they lie at the heart of current efforts to reestablish the basis for sustainable livelihoods for the country's people and a sound economic footing for broad-based development...."

http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2002/adb-afg-31dec.pdf

(Added: Mon Feb 28 2005   Modified: Fri Dec 16 2005   Hits: 145)

Assessing the Security Implications of Climate Change for West Africa: Country case studies of Ghana and Burkina Faso [pdf]

Prepared by Oli Brown and Alec Crawford, this report investigates the impacts of climate change on security in West Africa at the country level. It sets out scenarios for the future security implications of climate change and identifies particular flash point issues that domestic authorities and external actors should bear in mind when designing development programs (Oli Brown and Alec Crawford, iisd, 2008).

http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/security_implications_west_africa.pdf

(Added: Mon Apr 14 2008   Hits: 47)

Bulldozing Progress: Human Rights Abuse and Corruption in PNG's Large Scale Logging Industries

The logging industry in Papua New Guinea is dominated by a handful of Malaysian companies and is is synonymous with political corruption, police racketeering and the brutal repression of workers, women and those who question its ways. Its operations routinely destroy the food sources, water supplies and cultural property of those same communities. They provide a breeding ground for arms smuggling, corruption and violence across the country. In return, the industry generates no lasting economic benefit to forest communities, considerable long-term cost and a modest 5 per cent contribution to the national budget. A concerted international effort backed by credible enforcement agencies is now needed to reform the industry and restore the human and economic rights of PNG forest communities. (Australian Conservation Foundation, 2006)

http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res_ACF-CELCOR_full.pdf#search=%22Bulldozing%20%22

(Added: Mon Sep 11 2006   Hits: 244)

Conflict over natural resources at the community level in Nepal, including its relationship to armed conflict (pdf)

This report presents a detailed overview of community-level natural resource conflict in Nepal in the context of the armed insurgency presently being waged. It analyses the causes of conflict in Nepal and the rise of the Maoist insurgency, as well as the connections between conflict and land tenure, forest resources, water resources and biodiversity conservation. (J Schweithelm, R Kanaan, P Yonzon, USAID, May 2006)

http://www.forestconflict.com/documents/Nepal%20NatResConflictReport.pdf

(Added: Mon May 15 2006   Hits: 145)

Crude Awakening

The oil wealth of the Niger delta has been both a blessing and a curse. A blessing to the international oil companies and corrupt Nigerian politicians who have prospered from the petroleum reserves; a curse to the local people of the region who have suffered water and air pollution and seen little in the way of oil revenues. Unsurprisingly, this iniquitous situation has spawned conflict. In this article, from the Observer newspaper, writer Sebastian Junger heads to the region to investigate the rise of Ijaw tribal militias who are threatening to destroy oil infrastructure and, potentially, cause a global oil price shot.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,,2055426,00.html

(Added: Tue Apr 17 2007   Hits: 222)

Dangerous Liaisons (PDF 531 Kb)

Global Witness, December 2004. The continued relationship between Liberia's natural resource industries, arms trafficking and regional insecurity. A briefing document submitted by Global Witness to the UN Security Council.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security//////////////////////issues/liberia/2004/1208dliaisons.pdf

(Added: Mon Feb 21 2005   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 163)

Diamonds: Forever or For Good? - The Economic Impact of Diamonds in Southern Africa (pdf)

By Ralph Hazleton, Occasional Paper #3, Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) (2002). South Africa, Botswana and Namibia have been at the forefront of the campaign to halt conflict diamonds and to create a certification system which would assist in this. They, along with the diamond industry, have also been the most vocal champions of 'prosperity diamonds' and 'diamonds for development'. NGOs focusing on conflict diamonds have been accused of neglecting this side of the coin and of endangering the entire diamond industry. Partnership Africa Canada and other NGOs concerned about conflict diamonds, however, have avoided any talk of a diamond boycott, precisely because they understand that many jobs, and even entire national economies, are diamond-dependent. This study was undertaken in part to redress the balance, and in part to investigate the extent to which the positive claims for diamonds could be verified. It deals with the economic impact of diamonds. It does not deal with environmental issues or conflict diamonds in the region, which are the subjects of other studies.

http://action.web.ca/home/pac/attach/diamonds_3e.pdf

(Added: Mon Mar 31 2003   Modified: Mon Jun 13 2005   Hits: 283)

Earth: Too Small for War

This is an essay on war and the environment by George M. Woodwell of the prestigious Woods Hole Research Center. He writes "We do not have space or place or time or wealth to squander on war. It is time to get back to the important job of re-adjusting the human undertaking to fit on a small earth before that earth, the only human habitat, and all of civilization cascade into irreparable impoverishment and chaos. War can only speed the process and guarantee the product."

http://www.whrc.org/essays/oped-set04-2002.htm

(Added: Tue Feb 03 2004   Modified: Fri Nov 04 2005   Hits: 235)

Global Witness

Global Witness campaigns to achieve real change by challenging established thinking on seemingly intractable global issues. We work to highlight the link between the exploitation of natural resources and human rights abuses, particularly where the resources such as timber, diamonds and oil are used to fund and perpetuate conflict and corruption.

http://www.globalwitness.org/

(Added: Wed Mar 10 2004   Modified: Fri Jan 19 2007   Hits: 344)

Healing Our World: Wanting Peace Is Not Unpatriotic

By Jackie Alan Giuliano, Ph.D. Opening our minds and hearts to include the idea that a tree has rights and that a dolphin may be our neighbor can forever change our appreciation for life. But with an open heart and open mind comes a price. That price is the horror, shock, revulsion, and powerlessness that you will feel at the thought of the United States going to war - again - against the people of Iraq.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2002/2002-10-11g.asp

(Added: Mon Oct 14 2002   Modified: Wed Jun 07 2006   Hits: 217)

Human Rights and the Environment (pdf)

Earthjustice, April 6th, 2004. The "Human Rights and the Environment" report presents a review of recent developments and case studies in the area of human rights and the environment at the international, regional, and domestic levels. The report also provides a comprehensive list of domestic constitutional provisions relating to human rights and the environment. "Nations and legal systems around the world are working to establish and protect the right to a clean and healthy environment as a basic human right," said Marcello Mollo of Earthjustice, author of this year's report. "The UN Commission on Human Rights can, and should, advance the right to a healthy environment until it is seen as an international standard worthy of inclusion in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

http://www.earthjustice.org/news/documents/4-04/2004UNreport.pdf

(Added: Thu Apr 08 2004   Modified: Tue Dec 06 2005   Hits: 452)

Inside India's hidden war: Mineral rights are behind clashes between leftwing guerrillas and state-backed militias

Last month Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, described the rebels as "the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country". Entire villages have been emptied as tribal communities flee from the burnings, lootings and killings. The civil conflict has left more than 50,000 people camping under tarpaulin sheets without work or food along the roadsides of southern Chhattisgarh. (Randeep Ramesh, The Guardian, May 9, 2006)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,,1770612,00.html

(Added: Wed May 10 2006   Modified: Thu Jul 13 2006   Hits: 129)

Malaysia, environment and arms

Critical developments and troublesome trends in managing Malaysia's environment

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/15259/90351

(Added: Wed Apr 03 2002   Modified: Tue Jun 07 2005   Hits: 554)

No War No Warming

Campaign website bringing together the issue of Climate Change and the war in Iraq. Based in the USA.

http://nowarnowarming.org/index.php

(Added: Wed Oct 10 2007   Hits: 40)

Oil and Mining in Violent Places: Why voluntary codes for companies

Legally enforceable global standards are needed to stop oil and mining companies becoming complicit in atrocities in war zones because current voluntary codes on human rights are not strong enough (Global Witness, October 2007).

http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/580/en/oil_and_mining_in_violent_places

(Added: Thu Dec 20 2007   Hits: 82)

Post-Conflict Assessment Unit (PCAU)

A unit of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Post-Conflict Assessment Unit (PCAU) extends UNEP's work in areas of the world where the natural and human environment has been damaged as a direct or indirect consequence of conflict.

http://postconflict.unep.ch/

(Added: Thu Mar 27 2003   Modified: Tue Jun 07 2005   Hits: 254)

Regional Cooperation And The Role Of International Organizations And Regional Integration

Author(s): Schiff, M.; Winters, L. A. Produced by: Policy Research Working Papers, World Bank (2002). This paper examines the issue of regional cooperation among neighboring countries in the area of regional public goods. This public goods include water basins (e.g., lakes, rivers, underground water), infrastructure (e.g., roads, railways, dams), energy and the environment. The analysis focuses on developing countries and the potentially beneficial role that international organizations and regional integration may play in bringing the relevant countries to a cooperative equilibrium.

http://econ.worldbank.org/files/16727_wps2872.pdf

(Added: Mon Nov 25 2002   Modified: Mon Jun 13 2005   Hits: 247)

Rush and Ruin-The Devastating Mineral Trade in Southern Katanga, DRC (pdf)

Global Witness, September 2004. This Report Exposes the dynamics of the rush to exploit cobalt and copper in Katanga (south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)), and how the illicit trade in these minerals is contributing to the ruin of the DRC's economy, the environment and the livelihoods of thousands of Congolese people. There is currently a "cobalt rush" occurring in Katanga caused by record-high international cobalt prices but there is little indication this dramatic rise in trade has had any benefit to the DRC economy or the Katangan province.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/natres/minerals/2004/09rushruin.pdf

(Added: Thu Oct 07 2004   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 164)

TIERRAS: PROMOTING PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS TO LAND CONFLICTS IN ALTA VERAPAZ

This document is meant to act as part case study and part technical resource. Therefore, its structure and sub-sections are intended to give descriptions and analysis of the TIERRAS project, while also providing practical resources to use as starting points for assessments and integrated land conflict project design including: lessons learned, challenges, stakeholder testimonies and additional resources. It is recommended to read the document in its entirety once to capture how the project components link and complement each other, and then return to delve into specific sections of interest. (Mercy Corps).

http://www.mercycorps.org/files/file1179380953.pdf

(Added: Thu May 31 2007   Hits: 239)

To Cultivate Peace: Agriculture in a World of Conflict

In the post-Cold war era, armed conflicts are overwhelmingly located in poverty-stricken countries. Many of these conflicts claim alarming numbers of civilian casualties and spill over to into neighboring territories, involvong the international community in costly relief operations, often under hostile conditions. Agriculture is the dominant sector in most poor countries and is crucial for generating income. Strengthening agriculture is likely to pay large dividends in prosperity and peace.

http://www.prio.no/page/Publication_details/Staff_alpha_ALL/9429/38004.html

(Added: Sat May 08 1999   Modified: Wed Feb 14 2007   Hits: 371)

Understanding Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation (PDF 2013 KB)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2004. This document represents United Nations Environment Programme's response to the growing worldwide interest in further exploring the environment and security nexus and the contribution of timely and credible assessments to conflict prevention. Consultations in January 2004 enabled governments to identify as a priority the need for scientific assessments of the link between environment and conflict in order to promote conflict prevention and peace building. UNEP's mandate for this work is consistent with the broader UN goal of promoting peace and security, and follows from the Montevideo Programme III adopted by the Governing Council in 2001, in which UNEP was encouraged to promote "studies on the concept of security and the environment." As an initial step in the new global initiative, UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) organized a conference in conjunction with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., on "Environment, Conflict, and Cooperation: Scoping Gaps and Opportunities for Research and Policy Agendas" in December 2003. Researchers and policymakers from a variety of disciplines and continents gathered to discuss what role UNEP can take to further the understanding of the relationship between environment and conflict. The chapters in this document were presented at the meeting, and then revised according to the subsequent discussion. UNEP intends to continue its work on environment and conflict prevention, and the chapters presented here help to establish a foundation for this future work.

http://www.unep.org/PDF/ECC.pdf

(Added: Wed Jan 26 2005   Modified: Thu Jun 09 2005   Hits: 368)