Editor: Jan Weaver

422 Tucker Hall, MU Campus

Environmental Factors Leading to Conflict: Part 1

by Jan Weaver

Most outbreaks of violence are characterized in terms of the ethnic, racial or religious differences between the parties, and conflicts over things like land or water are seen as tangential to some more fundamental issue. But what if conflict is really rooted in scarcity of resources? This means that seeking peace by promoting tolerance and understanding - without dealing with the scarcity issue - is bound to fail. It also means that dealing with the scarcity issue may provide a quicker and more secure route to peace.

There are at least two ways that environmental scarcity can lead to violent conflict. The first could be characterized as need. Every living thing needs food, water and shelter. At a minimum, each human requires 1500 to 2000 Calories and 7.5 liters of water per day, and a place to sleep - at least a cardboard box. Of course few of us would be satisfied with this, even for a short period of time, plus a large number of us desire families for whom we must also provide these things. If we cannot get them directly, then we must have livelihoods from which we earn the means to buy them.

Without livelihoods, people cannot provide for themselves. Not only that, to the extent that meaning depends on what we do for a living, and on our ability to create and sustain a family, loss of livelihood deprives lives of meaning as well as of substance. It leaves us rootless and branchless, and vulnerable to all kinds of malicious mischief.

What do livelihoods depend on? Resources. The scarcity or unreliability of formerly reliable resources like land, water or fish leads to decreased economic and agricultural productivity leaving people in reduced circumstances, or worse, unemployed. This results in loss of confidence in institutions, whether governmental, social or religious; segmentation of society as people identify with "tribes", whether religious, ethnic or racial, whom they see as more likely to provide relief and protection; and migration to places perceived as having better opportunities. These three things interact to intensify each other, and soon all it takes is some political interest capitalizing on the loss of confidence in institutions, the "tribal" identification and/or fear of immigrants for dissatisfaction and fear to escalate into violence.

The violence, when it happens, is along tribal lines, and the goal is to evict or exterminate the competing tribe from the shared land. (Nothing says "resource scarcity" like calls to exterminate the other guy!) Tribes are spurred on by stories that demonize the other tribes and Edenic visions of how life will be when the other tribe is gone - usually an agricultural paradise (but not one where you actually have to engage in daily hard manual labor).

Because the world does not pay attention to the situation until it reaches this point, it looks like some long simmering ethnic or religious or racial tension has suddenly broken out. As a result, most of the focus is on solving the tribal tension and very little attention is paid to the resource scarcity and unreliability that led to the economic meltdown that produced the tribal tension.

And what leads to the scarcity and unreliability of resources? Two factors. Population growth causes scarcity directly as demand exceeds supply, and indirectly as it contributes to contamination or pollution of water and land. The other factor is what Garret Hardin characterized as the tragedy of the commons, the natural tendency of people to take advantage of a shared (and unregulated) resource to maximize their individual gain at the expense of the resource's ability to provide benefit for a larger group. This includes extracting as much short term value from a resource as possible - nutrients from land, fish from the ocean, water from a river, while ignoring the cycles of matter and energy that maintain the nutrients, fish and water over the long term.

How can viewing conflict this way help? By refocusing discussion on solutions that get at the underlying causes. If societies seek to prevent conflict, they absolutely have to limit population growth. The most effective long-term solution will be promoting women's rights to education, economic opportunity and justice, providing health care for children and some kind of security for the aged, and by making family planning and birth control available to those who desire it. Societies also need to focus on livelihoods (real ones - not make work) instead of wealth as a way out of poverty. Depending on commodity trade enriches the few at the expense of the many and of the environment, plus commodities are vulnerable to global fluctuation in demand, and if they are agricultural, to the weather.

Enacting (and enforcing) laws to protect the environment, restoring ecosystem processes and paying attention to local land use customs (which may be more sustainable) can help maintain the quantity and quality of resources for future generations. Shared resources need at least as much protection as privately held ones, perhaps even more.

Once the scarcity has triggered economic problems, a society has to focus on maintaining the integrity, accessibility and transparency of its institutions so that people do not lose confidence in them. It has to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for all tribes, fostering multi-stakeholder agreements to manage how resources are shared out. It has to work to keep people in place by providing needed services and opportunities and it needs to provide for migrants in the places they move to so they are not so disruptive of existing economies and cultures. Societies also have to actively respond to selfish political interests, competing in an open marketplace of ideas for the hearts and minds of the governed.

For more on this topic - visit www.envsec.org - the Environment and Security Initiative, a cooperative effort of UNDP, UNEP, OSCE, NATO, 11 European countries and the US. Part 2 next month.

BioRegional Quiz: What scarce resource is creating inter-state conflict for Missouri?

JOB OF THE MONTH: Administrator - Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz CA.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has been the premier non-profit grantmaking organization in the U.S. for organic farming research and nationally-recognized advocate for public policies that encourage the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices. Responsibilities: Database and Computer System Management (50%), General Accounting (25%), Office Functional Management (15%), Executive Meetings Management (10%) Skills: Significant knowledge of and experience with database information input and retrieval using an Access or other database software platform, Familiarity and experience with financial accounting software, particularly Quickbooks, and Excel spreadsheets. Compensation: $32,000 - $38,000 annual, plus benefits. Applicants should send a cover letter and résumé by e-mail to Jonathon Landeck at jonathon@ofrf.org. Full description at

http://www.ecoemploy.com/jobs/administrator.html

Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks

TIGER AWARENESS MONTH: Numerous events in October. Wildlife art exhibit, Cherry Street Artisan; Oct 5, 4 pm Lefever 106, MU - Brian Gratwicke from Save the Tiger Fund. Oct 14, 7:30 am Stankowski Field , MU - Run Walk 5K benefits to Tigers for Tigers. Oct 14 & 15, 2 pm Monsanto Aud, Life Sci Ctr, MU - Documentary Tigers of the Emerald Forest and kids' activities. Oct 19, Shakespeare's - Tiger Apprec. Day, 15% of bill to Tigers for Tigers. Oct 20, 3 pm Allen Aud A&S MU - Joel Sartore, Nat Geo, From Tigers to Tiger Beetles: saving endangered species is saving ourselves and 6-9 pm Cherry St. Artisan - Silent Auction. Oct 26, 7 pm Monsanto Aud, Life Sci Ctr. MU - Matthew Lewis WWF, WWF Tiger Conservation Program: A multi-pronged approach to saving tigers in the wild. http://tigers.missouri. ORIENTEERING TRAINING: Saturday Oct 7, noon - 5 pm. Rock Bridge MSP. Reservations Required - 573/449-7400

FALL COLOR HIKE: Saturday Oct 14, 1-4 pm. Rock Bridge MSP. Reservations required, call 573/449-7400.

INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION: Saturday Oct 14, TBA. wildonesmo@yahoo.com or call 882- 9909 ext 3257

TIGER TAILGATE RECYCLING: MU Home Games - Oct 21, Oct 28, Nov 25. Help before game handing out bags, during and after game emptying bins. Contact Brad (with Sustain Mizzou) at bjh427@mizzou.edu

CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY DAY WEBCAST: Wednesday Oct 25 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 194 GCB MU. Case studies of how Arizona State, Harvard, Grand Valley State, and Pima Community College are moving along the sustainability continuum. $9 fee for staff & faculty, students free. Contact WalkerJa@Missouri.edu for details.

GRASSLAND BIRD CONSERVATION: Thursday Oct 26, 4 pm 106 Lefevre, MU. Maiken Winter, Cornell

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE - Nov 4-5, MU Campus. Keynote Address Sat Nov 5, 8 am Lobby Life Sci Center - Jim Cain The Power of Play. Sessions on climate change, biofuels, karst, maps, Monteverde, religion, population, lead, field trips, plastics, evaluation, Mo science stds, birds, herps, outdoors, facilitation, grants, fundraising, play, Project WET, Project Learning Tree. Field trips on wastewater treatment and solid waste & recycling. Registraion ($80, students $30) includes Fri reception, Sat lunch & breaks. http://muconf.missouri.edu/eecampus2006/index.html

CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF PEAK OIL: Thursday Nov 9, 4 pm 106 Lefevre, MU Max Christian, U MD.

Organization Meetings and Contact Information

AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.

BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/

CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East

COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.

COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW

CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg

COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org

ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/

FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org

FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.

GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789, gbelt@coin.org or http://greenbelt.missouri.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off or buy gently used doors, windows, hardware, tools, cabinets, appliances, unopened paint, fixtures - Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Saturday 8:00 to 1:00 pm, 1906 Monroe St. Columbia

MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org

MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard

MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org

PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org

RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org

SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org

SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave

WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.

Answer to BioRegional Quiz - Missouri River, specifically the amount of water flowing in the river in the spring and the summer. Upstream states want to release more from their reservoirs in the spring - when it might flood Missouri fields, and less in the summer - leaving the river too low for barge traffic. For the current status of this issue, visit

http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/index.html

Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.