Access to fresh water continues to decline due to population growth, pollution, wetland disappearance, etc. Will it cause increasing tensions? Will it be a catalyst for conflicts or will the sharing of this resource usher in a new era of cooperation among nations? Will people see such an essential resource as something to connect them and usher in an era peace?
2007-01-30 12:09:33 · 4 answers · asked by Sky Salad Clipper 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Well look at the scarcity of any resource throughout history as a precedent to predicate whether a shortage of water will lead to greater global unity and cooperation, or more conflict. Every shortage in history, of a natural resource, whether it was spices in 16th and 17th centuries, to the battle for oil today, had done nothing but produce strife among neighboring nations. Even the lust for luxury items like gold and diamonds, things that people can live without, have led to much human misery.
Now fresh water, which is an absolute necessity, will I think naturally bring about conflict between people, not cooperation, and given how essential it is to our survival, the blood that can potential be spilled over it will eclipse almost any other fight we have had over any other natural resource, including oil.
The only way I can see that we can avoid this conflict is if a technological break through comes about that allows for the quick, efficient, and most importantly, cheap cleansing of salt water that predominates most of our oceans, so that it is accessible to all nations’, even the nations that are impoverished. Without this pivotal break through terrible war will ensue.
2007-01-31 07:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by Lawrence Louis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, we'll replace it and find something else to argue, fight, and kill over. What is limited and rare and of use will always be something some people deem worth dying for. In the situation of water I believe the maritime law and other international treaties will be modified so that portions of water would be with held or contained or treated in order to limit the use or increase the use so that it becomes advantageous to one party more than the other............eventually bringing conflict once again.
2007-01-30 20:15:12 · answer #2 · answered by Truth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe between Canada and the US.
'cause, America have (on more than one occasion) tried to bully Canada with regards to Fresh water (Canada has the largest supply of fresh water in the world)
2007-01-30 20:45:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we have hydrogen technology water will replace oil as fuel also, so yes, water will be a source of conflict. Peace, no way, just something more to fight about.
2007-01-30 20:16:43 · answer #4 · answered by victorschool1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋