The Dark Side of Natural Resources Grasberg Gold Mine, West Papua Struggles over natural resources often lie at the heart of wars and civil strife. Huge mining and natural resource companies, including oil giants like Exxon Mobil and Shell, do not hesitate to use force or to support armed conflict in pursuit of their corporate interests. Shadowy resource traders, smugglers, corrupt local officials, arms dealers and mercenary companies all have a role to play in this bloody nexus of natural resources and conflict. NGOs like Global Witness, investigative journalists and UN expert panels have recently revealed some of these clandestine ties and spotlighted governments that give them comfort, in the North as well as the South. GPF has been especially interested in the role of the diamond trade in African conflicts, posted separately on our diamonds in conflict page. This page raises similar questions with respect to oil and natural gas, water, timber, minerals, and the broader issues of natural resources in conflict.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Documents UN reports and resolutions, as well as key NGO reports on the subject. These documents have helped raise awareness of linkage between natural resources and conflict, and catalyzed global action on the issue. Diamonds Information about "conflict diamonds," trade in diamonds that has fueled conflict in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. In Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone and Liberia, rebels have used the proceeds of illegal diamond sales to purchase weapons � deepening the intensity of conflicts. Oil and Natural Gas Oil extraction has often been the source of violent conflict, contrary to conventional wisdom that oil would foster prosperity and development. Links on this page illustrate how oil extraction has fostered military repression, human rights abuses by governments and TNCs, and international as well as civil conflict. Water Though water is a "renewable" resource, population growth and growing consumption per capita to puts pressure on world freshwater supplies. Water scarcity fosters communal conflict, and has important implications for interstate conflict as well, due to the transboundary flow of many waterways. Timber Revenue from timber has financed arms and fueled many conflicts. Also, displacement of indigenous populations by the logging industry has contributed to civil conflict. Minerals In addition to diamonds, the mining of cobalt, coltan, copper, and gold has fueled civil and interstate conflict. Mineral resources promote conflict by providing rebel groups with revenue to purchase arms, and by providing governments with the incentive and the resources to establish a repressive military presence in mineral producing regions. Other Articles, Analysis and General Debate General articles and analytical essays that help to clarify the concept of natural resource conflict. http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/docs/minindx.htm ===== Visit my daughter's homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/hana_hanifah7 _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi.4t.com *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Posting: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 7. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
