Precis on "The Coming Resource Wars"

Precis on “The Coming Resource Wars”

Through the act of argumentum ad metum, Michael Klare wrote “The Coming Resource Wars” in order to bring awareness through fear. The article is a slap in the face reminder that while we are destroying our Earth, we are destroying the future of humanity. Klare discusses how the lack of resources in the future will lead to violent chaos. He uses Darfur as an example of a place in which the lack of resources is already taking place today, leading to violent wars. He uses British Defense Secretary John Reid’s address as a constant source of information. Klare reminds his audience that while developed worlds will be greatly affected by the climate change (2012??), it is the developing worlds that will have an even harder time, seeing that they are already dealing with a lack of resources. Klare indicates how the usage of military and defense will be the solution for most politicians, and that will be a mistake. It shouldn’t be surprising to believe that developed worlds will turn to their strength when in chaos for resources, it seems sadly that our motto has always been fight war with war. Klare points out that so far American and British policymakers are ignoring the fact that international conflicts may be linked with environmental issues rather than solely ideological differences. Klares argument makes complete sense when we think about the current struggle with the Middle East; in the end it did all come down to oil and weapons. As each day goes by, countries’ slowly exceed their carrying capacity and sooner or later there will be major chaos. According to John Reid, one of the biggest worries is the weak countries’ lack of ability to handle the rapid loss of resources. While we are all aware of the death that will come in toll from climate change: with droughts, famine, etc., we are forgetting about the violence that will occur between the survivors. Klare concludes that our only hope of surviving these catastrophes is by reducing out emissions of greenhouse gases and working with other worlds to slow down the process of climate change, wishful thinking.

I think Klare is pitching his article mostly to the people whose “heads are in the sand.” Numerous times in his article he is mentioning developed countries and how their governments are ignoring the current signs of climate change. It makes sense for the developing countries to have more signs of awareness, seeing that climate change is currently affecting them as we speak. Klare is trying to bring awareness in the scariest way possible. He is focusing on the people who are not completely oblivious to the situation, but who feel that they cannot do anything to prevent the process of climate change. While reading Klares article, I was already aware of the chaos that would take place due to the lack of resources, but if I told my Hummer driving neighbor, I am sure he would have no clue. Klare is focusing on his rich, oblivious audience who doesn’t find their destruction to the environment as a big deal.

It is obvious that Klares’ main objection is to bring awareness. The sudden green movement that is seen in the new movies and the new interest of actors does not play much on the idea of human wars for resources. Klare brings up what is happening with international wars, and illustrating an alternative motive for these constant struggles, lack of resources. A big chunk of this article talks about third world countries and how they will have to deal with the hardest aspects of climate change. Klare brings a little hope within his article, in that he uses Reid, a topnotch man, as a constant reminder that the big man in social status is finally becoming aware of the environmental situation. Klare comes to the conclusion that the only resolution to this situation, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Obama) instead of fight for oil (Iraq).

Overall, the thesis of this piece is that people need to wake up and prepare themselves because the food and water we so easily have available to us, may not be there in the near future. And the cars we are killing the atmosphere with, may end up being the cause of our destruction.

By Melly Bahai