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? of the of the Institute] of the Tropic of Chaos The of the book “Tropic of Chaos” is Christian Parenti who is an is an outstanding author as well as journalist. Parenti’s work is usually published in the “Rail” and “the Nation” which are famous American magazines. He was awarded the Lange-Tailor Prize in 2009, and best Magazine Writing from the Society for Professional Journalists (Christian Parenti.com). Parenti’s book “the tropic of chaos” is the result of his immense research and hard work. It took him six long years to produce this outstanding work of art. Parenti travelled to various slums, countries that were at war and countries that were affected with scarcity of food and water shortages. In the book “Tropic of chaos,” the writer shows his concern of how climate change results in ruining our ecological civilization. The author discusses the region, which lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Parenti’s focus is on East Africa, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Brazil, Mexico. These regions according to him are: “a belt of economically and politically battered post-colonial states girding the planet’s mid-lattitudes”(Parenti, 9). He labels these countries as “Tropic of chaos” because these countries are facing what he calls a “Catastrophic convergence of poverty, violence and climate change” (Parenti, 5), which means that climate change is not only causing water and food scarcity but also giving birth to violence in the regions. According to the writer, these countries are too sensitive to shifts in weather changes because they rely on farming and fishing. The writer explains how that the Global North has reacted to this impending crisis with greater oppression and surveillance instead of finding friendly ways to reduce tensions. In short, between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn, we mostly find “most of the failed and semi failed states of the developing world.” (Parenti, 9). Hence, the crisis is taking a toll because the Global South is getting involved in warfare to attain there basic needs. The author begins his narrative by asking, “who is responsible for killing Ekaru Loruman?” Ekaru Loruman was from Kenya, belonged to a Turkana tribe, and was killed by a rival tribe for stealing cattle, or what the author explains as “the age old tradition of stock theft” (Democracy now). Moreover, the reason for these frequent killings is that the country is experiencing severe drought and the Turkana Pastoralists are forced to stealing cattle because their animals die due to scarcity of water, so they have to take laws in their own hands, as there are no proper government rules regarding this issue. Here, the author is pointing to an important issue of how the ugly U.S. policies have given rise to everyday violence in these countries. Moreover, the answer to all Parenti’s questions can be answered only if we go back in time when the British rules Africa. History tells us that British during their rule have adopted harsh methods to stop violence. Since that time the violence has never stopped. He gives examples of countries like Somalia, a failed state, which was attacked and demolished by Cold war. After the downfall of the Somalian government, the weapons were transferred to Kenya which resulted in more violence and killings in the form of cattle raids. Moreover, as Kenya does not run any support programs for farmers, this has given rise to more corruption because the farmers have only weapons to defend and protect themselves. The worst part is that when the Somalian refugees reach Kenya, most of the women are being raped and tortured and the sad part is that it is usually the brother who is ordered to rape her sister and if he denies he gets killed. In addition, when the refugees cross the border and reach Kenya they are unable to make a living because Kenyan government is unable to support millions of Somalians who are living in camps. Pakistan is another state, which is the victim of climate change, because as this country was divided in such a way that it was deprived of its rivers it has always faced the issue of water scarcity. Hence, Kashmir in the west is faced with war from India to Pakistan to Afghanistan because of the water flowing through the Kashmir Mountains. India also is affected by the weather changes because the water of the Indus River is slowed down escalating hostility between Pakistan and India. Similarly, he poses a question asking the reader, why countries like Afghanistan are so violent and underdeveloped? He answers this question by telling us that the Cold war imposed by the U.S. and Soviet Union resulted in scarcity of water and food. Hence, the writer further explains that climate change in Afghanistan is the cause of the unending war, which is raged there for more than a decade. This ongoing crisis has affected most of the crops in the region. Opium poppy is the only crop that grows because it uses only “one sixth of the water needed for wheat” (p.107). The Afghan farmers are producing more poppy as a means to combat climate change and Taliban defends them and as a result of Taliban’s support the farmers feel happy and fearless. Brazil according to Parenti is another example of a region severly affected by high temperatures and as a result experience a “brutal rhythm of drought and flooding” (p.159) and forcing farmers to leave the land to big cities where they are trapped in drugs and other illegal activities. Parenti goes on to explain how agricultural problems have compelled the Mexicans to leave their homeland for a better future, as the climate in the region has completely destroyed their fish industry. This condition is worsening the border politics as shown by the everyday hate speeches and dirty politics of the U.S. government. Thus, the weather changes do not cause famine and other problems in these regions, but the wrong capitalist activities and political repressions play a major role as well. Hence, climate change is not just about the rising temperatures, melting glaciers; or global warming, but it is also about failed states, violence, drug crimes, murder, discrimination, and chaos. Parenti says that there is enough carbon dioxide in the environment to destroy and destabilize our planet and that the United States has not taken the UN talks regarding climate change seriously. Obama government, Parenti says has failed to resolve the climate issue as well. People who voted Obama and those who are sensitive to climate issues must put pressure on him to work for these failed states and struggling nations. Additionally, he asserts that all the cold war strategies have failed previous and the World Bank and the IMF also have failed to mitigate corruption (Hamm). The IPCC collects and summarizes all the literature regarding climatology so that government might take measures to address the problem. Although, the inter-governmental panel for climate change (IPCC), has been wrongly attacked for its 2007 report for Forth assessment. According to the IPCC, the burning of the fossil fuels have resulted in increase of carbon dioxide to 280 parts per million(ppm) to 390 ppm today. Parenti says that although things will not change that fast but if effective measures are taken a lot of improvement can be made. Parenti is not a pessimist and recommends some useful ways to resolve the issue. For instance, he suggests that fossil fuels should be replaced with solar and other technologies. This strategy according to the writer will diminish pollution and prominence of carbon dioxide. Moreover, he recommends that taxes should be imposed on the well-off class, coal plants should be closed down and lastly everyone must think green. Moreover, the writer says that the countries in South can take measures to secure their borders against military interference by adapting “armed lifeboats” and can learn to live within the limits of the earth by using solar or wind made technologies in future and preventing Carbon emissions. The writer although has provided some remedies to cure climate change but has not mention how the problems will be resolved. For example, when he puts forth the idea of switching from coal to natural gas he does not mention the use of hydraulic fracturing to obtain the natural gas, which is even worse than the coal itself. In addition, the book at some point may not seem very persuasive, as at some places the narrative is very repetitive. For example when the writer says "The political economy of the world is unfair, and immigration is an increasingly challenging social issue that requires new policy--that is to say, climate adaptation based on social justice" (Parenti, p. 215)." These lines do not provide the reader to listen with concern rather it might infuriate some of the audiences. Moreover, although the writer asserts that we must adopt ways to end capitalism but the writer fails to discuss how to end war and the U.S attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, which is the main flaw in the book. This issue is important because the U.S. spends trillions of dollars in its military defense, an anti war movement must be carried out to end this terrorism of the U.S. To conclude, this book is an excellent read for everyone who is interested in weather changes and its adverse impact on the globe. Parenti’s well researched book serves as a wakeup call and a message to the Global North that they must realize the present crisis of the Global South because their future is linked to the prosperity of these underdeveloped nations. The writer forewarns us that due to climate changes, rich nations will be only able to survive in temperate zones and the poor states will not be able to exist. The writer illustrates the example of Bolivia, which is the only country who fought for their rights. All the failed states like Bolivia must stand up for themselves today and reject the wrong policies; they will make a difference very soon. Hence, it is high time that the nations lying between the Tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn should take effective measures to curb the problem. If people did not do anything time is near when the population will reduce to a very low percentage because of the ongoing killings in such states. The writer says that before time runs out we should do something to mend the climate issue, because one cannot rely on capitalism, because “capitalism either will resolve the crisis or demolish it.” Although, the book has a harsh message but it ends with a very positive note to move forward for a better future for our planet. Works Cited Cristian Parenti.com. "Bio | CHRISTIAN PARENTI .COM." Christian Parenti. word Press, n.d. Web. 4 June 2013. Democracy Now. "Book Excerpt: "Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence" By Christian Parenti." Democracy Now!. Democracynow.org, 29 June 2011. Web. 4 June 2013. . Parenti, Christian. “Tropic of Chaos: Climate change and new Geography of Violence” NewYork: Nation books,2011. Hamm, Theodore. "Inside the Tropic of Chaos: CHRISTIAN PARENTI with Theodore Hamm - The Brooklyn Rail." The Brooklyn Rail | An Independent Forum for Visual Arts, Culture, and Politics | JUNE 2013. The Brooklyn Rail, 11 July 2011. Web. 4 June 2013. Read More