Climate Change
Presently, the worldâs climate has been changing gradually. Climate Change
Presently, the worldâs climate has been changing gradually. The gradual change has led to a world crisis that sums up to deforestation, depletion of fresh water sources, soil erosion, chemical contamination, and loss of biodiversity. In the contemporary society, climate change has been real (Ramadhan 222). The magnitude of the climatic changes has been so diverse that it has become a world agenda to come up with means to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. Talk of climate change, today and the issue of global warming will come up. The climatic change is a problem that has been around the world for many years. Since the advent of globalization in the 19th century during British imperialism, climate change has been increasing gradually. Increased integration marked by excellent transport network and communication have simultaneously increased with climatic changes (Ramadhan 223). The following paper discusses the climatic changes and the new geography of violence. The paper will explore the violence related to cattle rustling among the Pokot community of East Africa.
Global warming presents a significant challenge to the world. According to EPA (21), global warming refers to the rise in the average temperature of the atmosphere and the large water bodies like seas. The global warming has been projected to be on the increase since the late 19th century. For instance, since the onset of the 20th century, the surface temperature is estimated to have risen by 0.8 °C. Two-thirds of the projected increase occurred since 1980. The change in one degree Fahrenheit in the temperature has resulted in significant changes in the worldâs environment. The global warming has been gradual but the resulting socio-economic effects have been swift. These changes in temperature have led to many concerns about the future of the world environment. Global warming has resulted in radical changes in the way of life (Ramadhan 225). The social changes and the natural environmental effects portray a discourse of collision between the social world and physical changes. The negative effects of global warming are worse in developing countries. An example is the depletion of the grazing grass and diminishing water points in Pokot region of Kenya. The changes have resulted to periodic fights between herders and inter-clan wars in the region.
In 2010, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pointed to 2005 as the warmest year. Scientists project that the global warming could increase by additional 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit in 21st century (EPA 26). However, this will happen if there are no actions taken to reduce the human activities that result to the warming. The ever-increasing rise in the average temperature has been associated with negative effects on the climatic patterns of the earth, which have and are already being experienced. For example, the changes in rain patterns in Pokot Region of Kenya results in inadequate vegetation for the cattle, herders have to move to the neighboring regions to search for pastures. In the process, there is scramble for the scarce resources that result to wars and cattle rustling.
Christian, in his book Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence makes a significant comparison of how climatic changes have become the recipe for geographic violence. Christian (10) makes a very meaningful confluence of climatic change and the geographic violence. The notion created in the book is that climatic change breeds violence. However, in revisiting the issue of the climatic change and its resulting violence specifically in Kenya West Pokot, a new dimension is created. The Pokots of Kenya own guns. The question arises on how global warming results in people owning guns that are not manufactured in the area.
Even though the principal argument could be that, the struggle to own the gun stems from the pressing needs brought by the climatic changes, issue of globalization cannot be ruled (William 4). The climatic change draws different events that are connected. Thus, it is logical that series of events that transcend climatic changes contribute to the geographical violence. For instance, the invasion of Africa during the colonial era opened up the region to the global society. As a result, the invasion in scramble for the scarce resources introduced new ideas and spread of technology to the Pokots. The new technology such as traveling means contributed to climatic changes through the effect of the greenhouse effect. The integration led to the increased trade. As a result, a Pokot man in remote East Africa has access to guns. A Pokot man finds it easy to raid cattle than breed his own due to the limited resources (William 5).
Similarly, in Afghanistan, the people find opium more adaptable to the climate compared to the wheat or other food crops. The goal is to ensure that the source of livelihood is safeguarded. The point of confluence in the cattle raids in East Africa and the planting of opium in the poor communities is the struggle to beat the effects of climatic changes. Violence in many parts of the world has been related to the fight for the limited resources. Even though Christian (10) basis his argument on the climatic changes, the key point that cannot be ruled out is the imperialism and the capitalist developments. Breakdown of violence witnessed in many parts of the world has been greatly associated with the capitalism movement in which profiting is the core driving point for the violence (Graham-Leigh 11). An example relates to violence experienced in Latin America dubbed neo-liberalism was a capitalistic economic development. The global warming and the climatic changes reduce the resources available to the impoverished societies. The changes significantly affect the poor nations. Citizens rise against each other and disintegrate due to the pressure of having to share limited natural resources (William 6). The limitation of resources brings the need to put boundaries to safeguard the diminishing natural resources. To achieve the boundary creation, militarization of communities and measures to secure contested boundaries become a cause of disagreement. The Pokot example as discussed by Christian is a classic example. The rich nations take advantage of the situations to increase the imperialistic and capitalist agendas. For instance, they sell guns to the affected communities in exchange of benefiting from resources.
The radical approaches to the defense of the diminishing natural resources presents the fact that the climate has changed, more boundaries have been drawn, and populations have increased. The case of Pokot presents an illustration of the violence that is taking place in different geographical regions. It is projected that by 2050, the world population will reach 9 billion. The climatic changes are also expected to rise if decisive measures are not taken (Ramadhan 224). The parameter of politics is supposed to keep changing. Thus, as the capitalism spread and climatic changes continue to take the toll of the natural resources, geographical violence are likely to keep on being witnessed.
Technological changes have been the key driver of globalization. The changes are also credited with the climatic changes. A suitable example is the over-reliance on a means of transport that relies on fossil fuel (Ramadhan 225). Despite the changes, natural resources remain to be the primary source of food for the growing world population. Food is an essential of life. All over the world, food is of a considerable concern and it becomes a significant threat in the event of a possibility that the food stores in any region are running out stock (Graham-Leigh 4). The advent of global warming, soil erosion and the environmental pollution have resulted in concerns about the food security, hence raising the question of âhow we might meet the needs of different geographic regions?â The worldâs population is predicted to hit nine billion by 2050, and 90% of the population will be in the parts of the world that are already experiencing environmental challenges and food scarcity (Ramadhan 224). The shortage of food brings the critical questions of whether to bake a pie, put fewer folks on the table or teach the communities better table manners. In order to find the answers to the questions, issue of sustainable global food security, the increasing population and new improved food production practices that enhance food production amidst the climate changes are raised. For the Pokots the pie will include solutions to the pasture issue and water for the livestock.
The effects of climatic changes are already being witnessed in the world (EPA 22). Christian (22) noted that Geographical violence has spread in many parts of the world. If measures are not taken to curb causes of global warming, the people around the globe will certainly face worse effects associated with the global warming (Christian 23). The key to baking the bigger pie relates to the capitalism dispensation and draws parallels with confluence of the environment and the changing human needs. The increasing human population and increased exploitation of natural resources (Graham-Leigh 7) exacerbate the climatic changes. The climatic changes and the resulting geographical violence are expected to prevail if viable solution to the climatic changes and the diminishing natural recourses is not found. Social, environmental challenges, economic and political crisis are expected to increase.
Christian (9) pays attention to the climate change and explores the historical issues that that have resulted in the new geographical violence. However, the current crisis being faced in Kenyaâs Pokot region cannot rule out the combination of capitalism and the climatic changes. The root causes of the geographical violence and social conflict should be understood on the different dimensions. Nevertheless, climate change serves as a driving force to the challenges. The fact is that the geographical crisis that Christian (14) points to is already being witnessed. The standard features of bloodshed, shortages of water, migration, failures of crops have become a blow to the social integration of the communities in the Pokot Region. The climatic changes bring many adverse effects (William 4).
The geographical violence can be addressed by exploring the key causes of the problem. The world failed to realize the problem before it reached the current alarming levels. Christian (13) argues that the current situation makes it difficult to achieve a change that will solve the problem. Christian (12) believes that the basis of change is depended on the support of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the emission of greenhouse gasses. For instance, shift from the use of coal to the usage of renewable natural gas (William 5). The change will solve the problem of carbon dioxide emission by hydrofracking reserves. Another proposal is to ensure that the significant economies procure goods based on bias. The move will result in goods produced using fossil fuels being eliminated from the market in favor of green suppliers. The two solutions as proposed by Christian (14) are viable to some extent. However, they may not achieve significant socio-economic changes in the remote geographical regions already experiencing violence. In addition, the arguments focus on the climatic issue only. The solutions fail to put into consideration the political, social and economic perspective that contributes to the geographical violence and climatic changes. The climatic changes and the geographical violence is fundamentally an economic, political and social problem. For the Pokots, the change will entail socio-cultural transformation. To abandon the nomadic life and embrace modern day livestock rearing practices.
To conclude, the effects of global warming are already being witnessed in different geographical areas. There is need for concerted effort to address the effects of global warming. The measures should be designed to address global challenges but tailored to meet the needs of people in the different geographical areas. The fight for water, grazing land and the erratic weather pattern are the short felt effects of climatic changes. The solution to the problems should address the political, economic and the social problems that face the communities. For instance, the issue of cattle rustling among the Pokot of East Africa is caused by social and economic factors and aggravated by climatic changes.
In the contemporary society, climate change has been real (Ramadhan 222). The magnitude of the climatic changes has been so diverse that it has become a world agenda to come up with means to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. Talk of climate change, today and the issue of global warming will come up. The climatic change is a problem that has been around the world for many years. Since the advent of globalization in the 19th century during British imperialism, climate change has been increasing gradually. Increased integration marked by excellent transport network and communication have simultaneously increased with climatic changes (Ramadhan 223). The following paper discusses the climatic changes and the new geography of violence. The paper will explore the violence related to cattle rustling among the Pokot community of East Africa.
Global warming presents a significant challenge to the world. According to EPA (21), global warming refers to the rise in the average temperature of the atmosphere and the large water bodies like seas. The global warming has been projected to be on the increase since the late 19th century. For instance, since the onset of the 20th century, the surface temperature is estimated to have risen by 0.8 °C. Two-thirds of the projected increase occurred since 1980. The change in one degree Fahrenheit in the temperature has resulted in significant changes in the worldâs environment. The global warming has been gradual but the resulting socio-economic effects have been swift. These changes in temperature have led to many concerns about the future of the world environment. Global warming has resulted in radical changes in the way of life (Ramadhan 225). The social changes and the natural environmental effects portray a discourse of collision between the social world and physical changes. The negative effects of global warming are worse in developing countries. An example is the depletion of the grazing grass and diminishing water points in Pokot region of Kenya. The changes have resulted to periodic fights between herders and inter-clan wars in the region.
In 2010, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pointed to 2005 as the warmest year. Scientists project that the global warming could increase by additional 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit in 21st century (EPA 26). However, this will happen if there are no actions taken to reduce the human activities that result to the warming. The ever-increasing rise in the average temperature has been associated with negative effects on the climatic patterns of the earth, which have and are already being experienced. For example, the changes in rain patterns in Pokot Region of Kenya results in inadequate vegetation for the cattle, herders have to move to the neighboring regions to search for pastures. In the process, there is scramble for the scarce resources that result to wars and cattle rustling.
Christian, in his book Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence makes a significant comparison of how climatic changes have become the recipe for geographic violence. Christian (10) makes a very meaningful confluence of climatic change and the geographic violence. The notion created in the book is that climatic change breeds violence. However, in revisiting the issue of the climatic change and its resulting violence specifically in Kenya West Pokot, a new dimension is created. The Pokots of Kenya own guns. The question arises on how global warming results in people owning guns that are not manufactured in the area.
Even though the principal argument could be that, the struggle to own the gun stems from the pressing needs brought by the climatic changes, issue of globalization cannot be ruled (William 4). The climatic change draws different events that are connected. Thus, it is logical that series of events that transcend climatic changes contribute to the geographical violence. For instance, the invasion of Africa during the colonial era opened up the region to the global society. As a result, the invasion in scramble for the scarce resources introduced new ideas and spread of technology to the Pokots. The new technology such as traveling means contributed to climatic changes through the effect of the greenhouse effect. The integration led to the increased trade. As a result, a Pokot man in remote East Africa has access to guns. A Pokot man finds it easy to raid cattle than breed his own due to the limited resources (William 5).
Similarly, in Afghanistan, the people find opium more adaptable to the climate compared to the wheat or other food crops. The goal is to ensure that the source of livelihood is safeguarded. The point of confluence in the cattle raids in East Africa and the planting of opium in the poor communities is the struggle to beat the effects of climatic changes. Violence in many parts of the world has been related to the fight for the limited resources. Even though Christian (10) basis his argument on the climatic changes, the key point that cannot be ruled out is the imperialism and the capitalist developments. Breakdown of violence witnessed in many parts of the world has been greatly associated with the capitalism movement in which profiting is the core driving point for the violence (Graham-Leigh 11). An example relates to violence experienced in Latin America dubbed neo-liberalism was a capitalistic economic development. The global warming and the climatic changes reduce the resources available to the impoverished societies. The changes significantly affect the poor nations. Citizens rise against each other and disintegrate due to the pressure of having to share limited natural resources (William 6). The limitation of resources brings the need to put boundaries to safeguard the diminishing natural resources. To achieve the boundary creation, militarization of communities and measures to secure contested boundaries become a cause of disagreement. The Pokot example as discussed by Christian is a classic example. The rich nations take advantage of the situations to increase the imperialistic and capitalist agendas. For instance, they sell guns to the affected communities in exchange of benefiting from resources.
The radical approaches to the defense of the diminishing natural resources presents the fact that the climate has changed, more boundaries have been drawn, and populations have increased. The case of Pokot presents an illustration of the violence that is taking place in different geographical regions. It is projected that by 2050, the world population will reach 9 billion. The climatic changes are also expected to rise if decisive measures are not taken (Ramadhan 224). The parameter of politics is supposed to keep changing. Thus, as the capitalism spread and climatic changes continue to take the toll of the natural resources, geographical violence are likely to keep on being witnessed.
Technological changes have been the key driver of globalization. The changes are also credited with the climatic changes. A suitable example is the over-reliance on a means of transport that relies on fossil fuel (Ramadhan 225). Despite the changes, natural resources remain to be the primary source of food for the growing world population. Food is an essential of life. All over the world, food is of a considerable concern and it becomes a significant threat in the event of a possibility that the food stores in any region are running out stock (Graham-Leigh 4). The advent of global warming, soil erosion and the environmental pollution have resulted in concerns about the food security, hence raising the question of âhow we might meet the needs of different geographic regions?â The worldâs population is predicted to hit nine billion by 2050, and 90% of the population will be in the parts of the world that are already experiencing environmental challenges and food scarcity (Ramadhan 224). The shortage of food brings the critical questions of whether to bake a pie, put fewer folks on the table or teach the communities better table manners. In order to find the answers to the questions, issue of sustainable global food security, the increasing population and new improved food production practices that enhance food production amidst the climate changes are raised. For the Pokots the pie will include solutions to the pasture issue and water for the livestock.
The effects of climatic changes are already being witnessed in the world (EPA 22). Christian (22) noted that Geographical violence has spread in many parts of the world. If measures are not taken to curb causes of global warming, the people around the globe will certainly face worse effects associated with the global warming (Christian 23). The key to baking the bigger pie relates to the capitalism dispensation and draws parallels with confluence of the environment and the changing human needs. The increasing human population and increased exploitation of natural resources (Graham-Leigh 7) exacerbate the climatic changes. The climatic changes and the resulting geographical violence are expected to prevail if viable solution to the climatic changes and the diminishing natural recourses is not found. Social, environmental challenges, economic and political crisis are expected to increase.
Christian (9) pays attention to the climate change and explores the historical issues that that have resulted in the new geographical violence. However, the current crisis being faced in Kenyaâs Pokot region cannot rule out the combination of capitalism and the climatic changes. The root causes of the geographical violence and social conflict should be understood on the different dimensions. Nevertheless, climate change serves as a driving force to the challenges. The fact is that the geographical crisis that Christian (14) points to is already being witnessed. The standard features of bloodshed, shortages of water, migration, failures of crops have become a blow to the social integration of the communities in the Pokot Region. The climatic changes bring many adverse effects (William 4).
The geographical violence can be addressed by exploring the key causes of the problem. The world failed to realize the problem before it reached the current alarming levels. Christian (13) argues that the current situation makes it difficult to achieve a change that will solve the problem. Christian (12) believes that the basis of change is depended on the support of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the emission of greenhouse gasses. For instance, shift from the use of coal to the usage of renewable natural gas (William 5). The change will solve the problem of carbon dioxide emission by hydrofracking reserves. Another proposal is to ensure that the significant economies procure goods based on bias. The move will result in goods produced using fossil fuels being eliminated from the market in favor of green suppliers. The two solutions as proposed by Christian (14) are viable to some extent. However, they may not achieve significant socio-economic changes in the remote geographical regions already experiencing violence. In addition, the arguments focus on the climatic issue only. The solutions fail to put into consideration the political, social and economic perspective that contributes to the geographical violence and climatic changes. The climatic changes and the geographical violence is fundamentally an economic, political and social problem. For the Pokots, the change will entail socio-cultural transformation. To abandon the nomadic life and embrace modern day livestock rearing practices.
To conclude, the effects of global warming are already being witnessed in different geographical areas. There is need for concerted effort to address the effects of global warming. The measures should be designed to address global challenges but tailored to meet the needs of people in the different geographical areas. The fight for water, grazing land and the erratic weather pattern are the short felt effects of climatic changes. The solution to the problems should address the political, economic and the social problems that face the communities. For instance, the issue of cattle rustling among the Pokot of East Africa is caused by social and economic factors and aggravated by climatic changes.
Works Cited
Christian, Parenti. Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence. New York: Nation Books, 2011. Print
EPA. Recent Climate Change: Atmosphere Changes. Climate Change Science Program. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2007. Print
Graham-Leigh, Elaine. ‘Review: Requiem for a Species Blaming Individuals Breeds Climate Pessimism – Climate & Capitalism’. Climate & Capitalism, 2011. Web.
Ramanathan, Carmichael, âGlobal and regional climate changes due to black carbon. Nature Geosciences 1.4. (2008). 221â227. Print.
William, Chris. ‘Review: Tropic Of Chaos: Climate Change And The New Geography Of Violence – Climate & Capitalism’. Climate & Capitalism, 2011. Web.