Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Do Hot, Dry Conditions Cause More African Civil Wars?

From Discover Magazine:

We’ve covered industries and species that climate change will affect, but is more war the next side effect of a warming world? A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ties warmer temperatures to higher incidence of civil wars in Africa. The scientists warn that the continent could see 54 percent more armed conflict—and almost 400,000 more war deaths—by 2030 if climate projections prove true.

Read more ....

My Comment: Warmer temperatures will also mean longer growing periods (definitely in the Northern Hemisphere), and less use of energy to heat one's homes.

Food and its scarcity has always been (justifiably) linked to conflict and war. But in Africa's case, conflict and war has always been the "normal" state of affairs for as long as I can remember. It is easy for governments and their supporters to point to external reasons for their problems (i.e. global warming), but from where I stand, it appears that in Africa's case many of their problems are of their own making.

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