Lia Karras
Roots of War
Michael Klare
For this observation assignment, I attended Professor Michael Klare’s lecture, which took place at GCC on Friday. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I very much wanted to involve myself in something informative, yet not ranting, because the topic already evokes emotion, so it becomes hard to rely on facts if they are not carefully offered. If information on an important topic is presented in a peaceful manner, although the topic itself is harsh, we have more of a reason to come together and make an effort for peace. I knew that the topic, roots of war, is difficult and complex. However, It is important to understand the causes of conflict, and to recognize what it is that has been ‘worth’ fighting for. I wanted to gain a better understanding of this for myself so that I can also understand more ways to work for peace.
His lecture reinforced my understanding of peace movements and peace education. In order to resolve any conflict, we must recognize that is not an easy task, and there will not be an easy answer. We must find new ways to resolve conflict without force, and to humbly recognize our connection with earth, and be grateful to it as well. Our culture has subconsciously conformed to a way of life which is not sustainable. Peace education strives to alter this perception to see what is really important in life, so that we can maintain peace with each other, and with ourselves.
Maybe if more people were informed of what the heartbreaking and unnecessary outcome of war really brings, more people would be actively against it. We have become so used to the idea of war that it may seem it is the only option to accomplish what is wanted. Not only is this wrong, but the conflict itself is wrong as well.
The main point that Klare made was that the war is driven by competition over diminishing resources. He also stated that this is not something new, that in fact many wars in the past have resembled this motivation, and also that future wars will as well. This resource conflict must be addressed in order to speak to and prevent war. We must alter our relationship with our resources. The underlying assumption of unlimited consumerism is disastrous. With the ever-growing population, so grows our demand for resources, increasing the conflict.
We use oil as most of our energy source for the things we have come to know as basic needs: our cars which conveniently get us from place to place, our heat to keep us warm when it’s cold out side, and so on and so forth. The media portrays the idea that each family should have multiple cars and a large house a distance away from their neighbors. A lifestyle like this would need to use a lot of energy. This is an incredibly irrational way of life not only because many people do not have the means to it, but also because our world simply cannot sustain it.
The need for water is also becoming a problem. Only so much water comes from rain, and many places have already been suffering from water exhaustion because of global warming. The energy we use for the ever-growing consumer population pollutes the world, which causes a climate change, and so we need more resources, so war seems like a legitimate option to get what we need from others. The worse global warming becomes, the worse our resource conflict will be. It seems like a never-ending problem, and clearly the cycle needs to be broken. We need to eliminate our dependence on oil and other resources by finding other means of energy, and we also must completely change our relationship with resources in general. We cannot have peace if we have the mentality of always consuming more. It is essential that we completely re-envision our way of life, the “American” way of life.
When I try to think of a way to even begin to solve these issues, I remember Thoreau, and his insisting to simplify. He believed that it was important to connect with nature and to understand that a person really does not need much more than that. I think that we also need this kind of reminder. Petty material things cause unnecessary conflict, which can easily lead to violence. If we remember that all people are good at different things, we can come together and use all our intelligences, and see that maybe some technology does more harm than good. However, we are so deep in technological advances that I’m not sure how we could even take one step back.
The Earth Charter also helps to simplify the understanding of our connection with earth. How can we not want to take care of it and praise it for giving us life? The Earth Charter leads the way to a just, sustainable, and peaceful way of life for the future. It implies the shared responsibility between humans to care for the world in which we live. Every living creature deserves respect and care, as does the earth.
As I was listening to the brave and knowledgeable professor, I felt slightly disheartened by the world and by the ignorance of humanity. This challenge of the twenty-first century seems so much bigger than me, and I wonder how to find my place among people who really can make a difference. I wondered, where do I even begin? I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. But being afraid and sad does not help either. If I am brave, and I can learn to live the way I feel is good for the world, then I can show others the way as well. It will not be easy, I know this, but listening to lectures like this one is one way to become more aware and to get involved.
Seeing others from my generation come together with those from generations before me is quite inspiring and empowering. I can breathe a bit easier knowing that there are people who recognize the urgency of the situation as well. I strongly believe that there is hope for the world. We desperately need a social and political movement to impact the law. We the people need to harness the anarchist in all of us and let the government, and whoever is trying to insist violence, that we will not stand for it. War is not the answer. We need resource cooperation and energy efficiency around the world.