Real Danger Ahead! Conflicts And Wars Instigated By Thirst And Hunger

It shall not be a conflict or war sparked by the quest for nuclear power; neither shall it be one fueled by one's desire or the desire of nations for political control. It shall simply be an issue of survival! The quest of man to secure his meal for the next day shall turn him against his neighbour and his society.

What lies ahead seems draconian and the center might no longer hold. Believe you me, I am not a doomsday prophet, neither am I a prophet of any kind. I say it based on evidential support. Evidence not written in books, but are felt every day, seen every time and displayed ignorantly. We need to discern and act, else, there will be gradual but total annihilation.

Rainfall patterns have changed, floods and tsunamis are commonplace, famine is prevalent, rivers and water bodies are drying up. Food prices are up and standard of living is very low. Worse of all, the intensity of the sun's rays are battering our skins, giving us no peace. The consequences to come shall be dire unless serious action is taken and NOW!

Climate change is real! Make no mistake about it. It is not an illusion, neither is it a gimmick designed by a bunch of people to throw dust into the eyes of others. A visit to my folks in Agavedzi, a coastal town on the Denu - Keta road in the Volta Region of Ghana, over the weekend left me sad. I wept bitterly as I stood by the seashore to have a feel of the breeze.

Guys, the sea is coming nearer and nearer to the houses along the coast. Rise in sea levels resulting from the melting of glaciers due to increased temperatures is gradually washing away coastlines and destroying abodes.

Worse of all, the hitherto busy beaches have become desolate. The fisher-folks are virtually out of work because fishing endeavours have become wild-goose-chase missions. The youth are unemployed and social vices are on the increase. Mind you, this situation is not peculiar to my hometown of Agavedzi, but to many coastal towns across Ghana and the globe. Something must be done.

Changing rainfall patterns resulting in droughts are causing food shortages, rise in prices of goods and services and low living standards. With this trend, conflicts and wars relating to the ability of man to get his next meal is not far. Water bodies are fast drying up and the availability of clean water has become a global concern. If care is not taken, thirst and hunger shall lead us into inhumane acts such as butchering our fellow men for survival. I hope it does not come to this, but HOPE without ACTION results to naught.

In my earlier article on climate change titled 'Hell on Earth? the realities of a changing climate', I elaborately explained climate change and presented the failure of the international system of providing real solutions despite the fact that the attention on climate change started far back in 1972 with the Environmental Conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Little progress has been made whilst the ravaging effects of climate change are rearing their ugly heads day-in, day-out.

How did we get here and what can be done? This double-barreled question seems important. Interestingly, the literature on how we got here and the solutions available are widely known. What is lacking now is the commitment on individual, societal, national, regional, continental and global levels.

When you and I cut down trees indiscriminately, allowing lots of carbon dioxide which should have been used by trees in the photosynthesis process to be in the atmosphere, when we go for cars with bad exhaust systems that release tonnes of carbon monoxides in the atmosphere, when we demand and actually buy charcoal, when our industrialization drives are not focused on clean energy but on old-fashioned energy sources which end up blowing into the stratosphere tonnes of greenhouse gases through factory chimneys et al, climate change is being brewed and that beer that is finally brewed becomes so bitter for our mouths to handle. You and I contribute to climate change every day. This must stop!

The ozone layer has been depleted and the cushion it hitherto gave us from the direct rays of the sun is no longer available. The sun's intensity is very high and the tropical belts of the world are sweltering with unbearable heat. Tropical skin diseases are the order of the day. My oh my! The situation is bad!

With imminent survival conflicts due to food and water shortages, there are serious implications for security and foreign policy.

Countries shall implement very strict immigration policies and their relations with others on the economic front shall see significant changes. Man must be prepared. Interestingly, what seems to be a calamitous situation lying ahead can actually be averted. It calls for serious ACTION from individuals, societies, nations, regional and continental blocs and the entire world.

Those cutting down trees to plant trees (which even did not happen) as witnessed in the SADA project in Ghana need serious re-orientation, more carefully-planned afforestation schemes have to be implemented, clean energy (solar, wind, biomass, waste-to-energy, tidal wave-to-energy) has to be vigorously pursued and developed for mass use, and monetary commitments by developed nations must be fulfilled. Today, I introduce the 'Plant a Tree a Week Project'. Let's save ourselves.

We may have faith that God will deliver us, but remember what James 2:17 says, 'Faith by itself if not accompanied by action is, dead'. Let's act with faith!

Paul Edem Kuenyefu, a Development Enthusiast is an Entrepreneur, Writer, Lay Preacher and Motivational Speaker. He is the author of 'TO THE ZENITH', a motivational piece.

Email: pedem99[at]gmail[dot]com