Climate Wars by Harald Welzer - Essay Example

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: A Review of ‘Climate Wars’ by Harald Welzer The book, ‘Climate Wars’ by Harald Welzer entails various issues on social, political, economic, cultural and ethnic changes taking place and their impact on the life of human being. Using the issue of climate change, Welzer explains how the problem of global warming can result in social-economic and political violence. Various issues have been considered by Welzer in this book most of which revolve around social injustices, ethnic cleansing, immigration, and violence. Though Welzer does not give elaborate ways of dealing with the rising problem in the twenty-first century, his explanation on the impact of climate is quite clear throughout the book. As the struggle over drinking water and resources necessary for human survival increases as a result of climate change issues, a lot of outbreak of mass violence, ethnic cleansing, wars and mass flow of refugees are likely to be observed. These are the issues most people including politician are not aware of and are likely to result in mass killing of people as explained by Welzer. While most of the observed genocide arose due to social problem, the issue of climate change will significantly lead to violence between different groups of people as they struggle for resources. Welzer revolves around the issue of violence in his book to explain the overall effect of climate change. Though the use of violence has been observed to be the source of freedom, laws and constitutions enjoyed in different countries; it is not good for the economic growth of a nation in the modern society. However, as said by Welzer, there is a lot of violence likely to be observed as individuals fight for resources due to global warming. He says: Conflict over basic materials such as water will become a major phenomenon in the future: it is estimated that at least 2 billion people will suffer from water shortages by the year 2050, and the gloomiest predictions set the figure as high as 7 billion (Welzer 50). In fact, already the violence noted by Welzer as a result of climate change is being observed in various states such as Chad over the control of Lake Chad. As things stand, there is no known authority or administration having the control over Lake Chad. While the early kind of violence was political in nature, the climate is likely to account for the high rate of violence in the future. The history of violence observed in Darfur arose due to an ecological problem. Individuals in the society are each fighting for survival as the resources become more scarce. In fact, the problem the current people are facing in the society is as a result of global warming as most come due to water shortages and famine. As said by Welzer, “There had been massacres in the earlier period too, but at least since 1984, when a disastrous famine hit the country, the history of violence has been closely bound up with ecological problems”(Welzer 35). With the issue of soil erosion and issues of lack of rainfall being experienced in various parts of Darfur, the northern region became inhabitable for livestock and the herdsmen had to fight for their survival in other parts of Darfur. The problem of the experienced soil erosion and lack of rainfall leading to famine came as a result of climate change. The problem arising from climate change though may not be visible to any politician is a major source of observed violence in the current century. Placing his concentration on climate, Welzer clearly shows how the issue of global warming and violence relate. With the issue of climate change increasing, the living condition of the people are affected as places becomes inhabitable and resources become scarce. Centering his argument on climate change and how it affect people’s living, Welzer explains the role of different countries and international bodies on it. Though there is no body which is solely responsible for climate change, there is a role each and every country should play towards it. He says, "There is no supernatural organization that can order sovereign states to emit lower amount of greenhouse gasses that they can think reasonable. The same is true with river pollution, dam construction or deforestation” (Welzer 88). The activities resulting to climate change as observed in the Welzer book will continue to be done due to lack of responsible organization. The theme of social injustice is explained in the book to in great extent as the rich country try to acquire the already scares resources from the poor. Though climate change and the issue of global warming is as a result of the activities carried out in the developed countries, most of the affected countries are the undeveloped with the majority of the population being poor. As said by Welzer, it seems the rich have lost a clear definition of some of the vital social things such as murder. He says, “It may be that murder is not defined as murder but regarded as a ‘special treatment', fulfilling a law of nature” (Welzer 58). Welzer tries to link the time of Holocaust with the kind of living likely to be acquired with climate change. The book depicts a society where individuals are more concerned with their living rather than that of others. As such, what affects the poor as a result of activities leading to global warming is not a concern to the rich. As Wezler argued, “Accidents such as Chernobyl may have consequences deeper and longer-lasting than those resulting from any planned action; perceived realities matter more than objectives realities for decision making” (Welzer 56). Using this, Welzer tries to explain how the people especially the rich are more concern with issues arising immediately from their action rather than those resulting from their accumulative action. The issue of climate change should not be considered as an accident. However, it is an issue which should be considered to result from the objective action of individuals. Welzer uses this point to explain further the social injustices various people engaged in as they carry out activities which will have advance effect on the living condition of people. Social action is not causal as people may take but rather recursive as explained by Welzer. Though most politician may not be aware, the problem of immigration observed in different parts of the world is as a result of climate change. Welzer clearly states the consequences of climate change and global warming and the effect of the rich country taking away resources from the poor. When the resources have been depleted from undeveloped countries such as Africa by developed countries such as the United States, they have no otherwise but to migrate to these countries to search for resources. The overall result of this lead to war and state of violence both in the developed countries and underdeveloped countries. The United States for example have to protect its boundaries from the immigrants. He says, “In response to the terror attacks of 11 September 2011, President Bush created a special office in the White house to develop a ‘National Strategy for Homeland Security' and took control of border" (Welzer 124). The politician seem not to be aware of the cause of these border and immigration problem and no one seem to attached them with the problem of climate change. The book also talks about the social role of individuals and society as a whole towards achieving a better tomorrow. The engagement of people and the kind of activities they are involved should be geared towards achieving a solution for climate change. Climate change should not be taken to be an issue left for an individual or a country but rather a collective issue. Involving everyone in the society in decision making and debate greater extent help in coming up with a solution. He says, “A further yardstick of the good society is the opportunities it offers for the participation, including immigration issues such as the right to asylum and the involvement of citizens in the debates and decision-making on questions of importance for the future" (Welzer 93). The society as such should emphasize on the social involvement of individuals in order to solve the climate change issue. Works Cited Welzer, Harald. Climate Wars: Why People Will Be Killed in the Twenty-First Century. 2012. Read More