Armed Conflict & Environment, Essay Example

South African International Conflict

History of Case

“Africa and the Great Lakes Region area is one of great devastation and one of great hope.  In the past 15 years Rwanda has worked diligently to rebuild after the genocide resulted in over 800.000 deaths of Tutsis and moderate Hutus within the short period of 100 days.” [1]“An Unlikely Reconciliation:  Africa’s Great Lakes Region”.  Rwanda is forever determined to reunite families and move the progress forward even after such devastation.  Rwanda President Kagame released 50,000 prisoners in an effort to reunite the populated nation.  Further development schemes are in place to rebuild homes and schools in order to get the country back to a normal functioning society as fast as possible.  Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana, who ministers to prison inmates in Rwanda, said “I believe that God blessed Rwanda through the genocide, because this horror has brought the different ethnic groups together like never before. We are a new nation, cleansed in blood.” [2]“An Unlikely Reconciliation:  Africa’s Great Lakes Region”

Armed Conflict

Travelling to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Goma we find that the genocide affected this area too.  In January 2009, amazingly two formerly opposing governments of Congo and Rwanda joined forces to fight the remainder of the Hutu rebels. This was perhaps the most advantageous political strategy they could ever had aspired, contrary to what many political entities thought might ever aspire considering their past relationship of animosity and violence.

The Lord’s  Resistance Army has been governed by Joseph Kony who has led them to the capture of over 20,000 children and others dead in the past 18 years in Southern Sudan, DRC and Uganda.  The leaders of these nations are continuously trying to work together to provide assistance to the citizens to fight off the resistance from the LRC.

Reasons for Conflict

There appear to be several opinions of potential reasons for such strain and conflict in these overlying regions but academic, statistical and political data suggest that competition for superpower political and ideological influence and competition for natural resources such and minerals and oil by multinational corporation are the main causes of such extreme conflict in the region.  Environmental resources need to be addressed in a proper sense in order to attempt to secure peace in a long termed position.

“Natural resource scarcity and environmental degradation can communicate a common message of pressure to conflict.  Degradation of land, soil, water, fish and agriculture highly contribute to ‘social turmoil’”as reported by T. Dixon. [3]“Thresholds of Turmoil”.

“Peace, security and constrained access are key to environmental control within the society.  Equitable access to environmental resource is also a key factor to promoting peace within the society.  Distrust, extremism and violence are highly prevalent in these nations and it will take time and patience to overcome these perceptions”.  Proper law laws for distribution of environmental resources will need to be implemented and maintained through a highly regulated democratic society and regime.

Humanitarian and Social Issues with Focus on Individual Rights

The inequities of division of labour and subjugation and marginalization are related to conflict of environmental resources and management.  Cultures that limit women’s access to resources in turn accept domestic violence as a norm of society and are more prone to repression and violent outbursts in the public arena. [4] “With respect to economic equality, the level of women’s participation in the labour force impacts a states likelihood to use military force to solve international conflict”. “Gendered Conflict”.

[5]“Some of the gravest violations of the right to life are massacres, the starvation of entire populations, and genocide. Genocide is commonly understood as the intentional extermination of a single ethnic, racial, or religious group. Killing group members, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, imposing measures to prevent birth, or forcibly transferring children are all ways to bring about the destruction of a group. Genocide is often regarded as the most offensive crime against humanity.” ”International Environmental Law Research Centre”.  [6]“Women and girls are often raped by soldiers or forced into prostitution. For a long time, the international community has failed to address the problem of sexual violence during armed conflict. Rather than simply killing off whole populations, government forces may carry out programs of torture.” ”International Environmental Law Research Centre”.  Torture can be either physical or psychological, and aims at the “humiliation or annihilation of the dignity of the person. Various lesser forms of political oppression are often enacted as well. Individuals who pose a threat to those in power or do not share their political views may be arbitrarily imprisoned, and either never brought to trial or subject to grossly unfair trial procedure.” [7]”Human Rights Violations”

Conclusion

Many peacekeeping and conflict-prevention initiatives have failed both to protect human rights and help the parties towards conflict resolution. International humanitarian law has been enacted to preserve humanity in all circumstances, even during conflicts. Though it is quite obvious these efforts have been quite unsuccessful in these regions of these countries.  Poverty reduction continues to be a major concern towards bringing peace to these areas. [8]”African Journal of Legal Studies”.

Making history, “ A leader of a Hutu militia that helped lead the genocide, businessman Georges Rutaganda, is found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, and sentenced to life in prison. He is the sixth person found guilty since the tribunal began hearings in Arusha, Tanzania.”[9] “Rwanda: Historical Chronology”.

References

Young & K. Heistein (2009) An Unlikely Reconciliation: Africa’s Great Lake Region< http://inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.JimsJournal&ContentRecord_id=d37a20bc-802a-23ad-4fef-606b938efae8&Region_id=&Issue_id=>accessed 16 August 2009.

Homer-Dixon, T. 1999’Thresholds of Turmoil: environmental scarcities and violent conflict’ Contested Grounds: Security and Conflict in the New Environmental Politics. Eds. Deudney, D. Albany State University: NY Press.

Caprioli, M. ‘Gendered Conflict’ Journal of Peace Research. 37(1)2000, p.61.

International Environmental Law Research Centre< www.ielrc.org/content/w0506.pdf>accessed 16 August 2009

M.Maiese Human Rights Violationshttp://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/human_rights_violations/accessed 16 August 2009.

Zorbas African Journal of Legal Studies<http://www.africalawinstitute.org/ajls/vol1/no1/zorbas.pdf >accessed 16 August 2009.

Rawanda: Historical Chronologyhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rwanda/etc/cron.htmlaccessed 16 August 2009.

[1] J. Young & K. Heistein (2009) An Unlikely Reconciliation: Africa’s Great Lake Region< http://inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.JimsJournal&ContentRecord_id=d37a20bc-802a-23ad-4fef-606b938efae8&Region_id=&Issue_id=>accessed 16 August 2009.

[2] J. Young & K. Heistein (2009) An Unlikely Reconciliation: Africa’s Great Lake Region< http://inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.JimsJournal&ContentRecord_id=d37a20bc-802a-23ad-4fef-606b938efae8&Region_id=&Issue_id=>accessed 16 August 2009.

[3] Homer-Dixon, T. 1999’Thresholds of Turmoil: environmental scarcities and violent conflict’ Contested Grounds: Security and Conflict in the New Environmental Politics. Eds. Deudney, D. Albany State University: NY Press.

[4] Caprioli, M. ‘Gendered Conflict’ Journal of Peace Research. 37(1)2000, p.61.

[5] International Environmental Law Research Centre< www.ielrc.org/content/w0506.pdf>accessed 16 August 2009

[6] International Environmental Law Research Centre< www.ielrc.org/content/w0506.pdf>accessed 16 August 2009.

[7] M.Maiese Human Rights Violationshttp://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/human_rights_violations/accessed 16 August 2009.

[8] E. Zorbas African Journal of Legal Studies<http://www.africalawinstitute.org/ajls/vol1/no1/zorbas.pdf >accessed 16 August 2009.

[9] Rwanda: Historical Chronologyhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rwanda/etc/cron.htmlaccessed 16 August 2009.