Shift Global Conflict Resolution Decisions to The Public Domain.. by Peace Dividend
Pitch
Most armed conflicts around the globe are about oil, gas, rare earth minerals, timber, precious gems, water. We can change that. We have to.
Description
Summary
Armed conflict is the source of the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. Resources are the primary cause of armed conflict.
If governments and others are serious about 'curbing' greenhouse gas emissions, then we must tackle resource distribution policies and practices.
There is a critical concern about this proposal which requires careful attention and consideration - can CEOs, boards of directors, NGO and non-profit directors and boards of directors, human rights organizations and The People be trusted to handle resource allocation and distribution any better than governments?
I think so. Governments are politically driven and heavily influenced by special interest groups. A coalition of all stakeholders as listed above, can work with greater transparency and more efficiently. I believe this to be true because I have worked in government and have participated in stakeholder meetings leading to decisions beneficial to the majority.
From The History of War www.ancient.eu/war/
"The word 'war' comes to English by the old High German language word 'Werran’ (to confuse or to cause confusion) through the Old English 'Werre' (meaning the same), and is a state of open and usually declared armed conflict between political entities such as sovereign states or between rival political or social factions within the same state. The Prussian military analyst Carl Von Clausewitz, in his book On War, calls it, “continuation of politics carried on by other means.” War is waged by political entities, nations or, earlier, city states in order to resolve political or territorial disputes and are carried out on the battlefield by armies comprised of soldiers of the contending nations or by mercenaries paid by a government to wage battle."
For too long war over resources has dominated world history and the perpetrators of war have gone unchecked. It is time for The People to determine how we allocate resources if global leadership truly wants humanity to survive climate change.
What actions do you propose?
Because markets (people) 'move' social agendas more efficiently than governments can, I propose that the problems of resource allocation and distribution be moved into the public domain with boards of directors of corporations, non-governmental organizations, human rights organizations and The People making decisions, instead of governments aligned with corporate interests.
The Mission of this organization would be to peacefully and cooperatively manage and allocate resources typically known to cause armed conflicts.
Realizing this proposal will be very controversial, the following outline of actions is to be considered a living documentation open for amendments.
- Gain support by stakeholders
- Identify legal ramifications
- Identify methodology to transition functions of military forces to peaceful and socially empowering functions
- Remove the ability of governments to wage war
- Develop policies and procedures for the 'new' resource "managers"
- Identify persons committed to the mission and assign them to positions in alignment with their skill sets.
- Develop management and allocation methodologies.
Who will take these actions?
CEOs, boards of directors, NGO and non-profit directors and boards of directors, human rights organizations and The People.
No longer will governments be called upon to resolve resource disputes.
It is imperative that the process of acquiring and allocating resources that typically cause armed conflict be moved to a more accountable venue with all stakeholders at the decision-making table.
One outcome of leaving resource management to governments and corporations is that gross violations of human rights occurs all too frequently. One of the most recent accounts of such abuses is described in this article.
Global Witness calls on Argentine government and Benetton to find environment defender Santiago Maldonado https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/global-witness-calls-argentine-government-and-benetton-find-environment-defender-santiago-maldonado/
Far too many environmental and social justice defenders have gone missing, been tortured, disappeared and murdered.
Where will these actions be taken?
Globally.
How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?
I don't have a calculator for that, though the reductions will be immense.
According to Counterpunch https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/04/the-pentagons-carbon-boot-print/
"Military analyst and critic Nick Turse wrote in 2010: “As an institution, the Pentagon runs on oil. Its jet fighters, bombers, tanks, Humvees, and other vehicles burn 75% of the fuel used by the Department of Defense. For example, B-52 bombers consume 47,000 gallons per mission, and when an F-16 fighter kicks in its afterburners, it burns through $300 worth of fuel in a minute…Thanks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Department of Defense has been consuming vast quantities of fuel. According to 2008 figures, for example, U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan used a staggering 90 million gallons per month.”
That's just the United States and conflicts have increased since that article.
What are other key benefits?
What are the proposal’s costs?
Costs are difficult to determine due to the multiple factors and actors involved.
But, the costs of armed conflict (trillions of dollars) will be dissolved by moving the dialog from the war arena to the boards of directors of corporations, non-governmental organizations and human rights organizations.
"If you can find money to kill people...you can find money to help people" ~ Tony Benn
Time line
Related proposals
References
Climate change and conflict www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962629807000856
Climate Change and War Frequency in Eastern China over the Last Millennium https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10745-007-9115-8
Deadly global climate change from nuclear war www.nucleardarkness.org/warconsequences/deadlyglobalclimatechange/
Nuclear weapons and climate change: A double whammy for the Marshall Islands thebulletin.org/nuclear-weapons-and-climate-change-double-whammy-marshall-islands10945
Krypton-85 & Climate caferadlab.com/thread-168-post-496.html#pid496
Pentagon Pollution, 7: The military assault on global climate climateandcapitalism.com/2015/02/08/pentagon-pollution-7-military-assault-global-climate/
The Pentagon, The Climate Elephant. The US Military Machine is the World’s Worst Polluter of Greenhouse Gas Emissions www.globalresearch.ca/the-pentagon-the-climate-elephant-2/5402505
Military greenhouse gas emissions: EPA should recognize environmental impact of protecting foreign oil, researchers urge https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100721121657.htm
Coming! Resource Wars https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2005/july-august/coming-resource-wars
Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2001-05-01/resource-wars-new-landscape-global-conflict
"Resource wars" ignite around the world https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1778-resource-wars-ignite-around-the-world/
The History of War http://www.ancient.eu/war/
By:
Peace Dividend
