Annelize Petres

MUNLEAI IV PUCE

Environment:Conflict and Cooperation

ARMED CONFLICT??? 25 deaths per year

Direct Violence

Structural Violence: slavery, economical explotation

Cultural Violence: gender, race

The implications of the scarcity of certain natural resources, of the mismanagement or depletion ofnatural resources and of the unequal access to natural resources as potential causes of conflicts need to be more systematically addressed by the United Nations system. (Kofi Annan 2003)

Conflict prevention x Conflict resolutionRole of the

UNReality

To think…How are the environment and (violent)

conflict linked?Which interests have my country in this

issue, what are the priorities?What can be discussed inside the General

Assembly?

Environmental factors play a key role in many conflicts, yet they are always interlinked withpolitical, economic, and socio-cultural factors.

Types of conflictsConflicts over the indirect use of natural

resourcesConflicts over the direct use of naturalResources - related to local and regional

resourcescarcityThe role of the environment in complexconflict ‘hot spots’ : Ex. Sudan

Conflicts over indirect use of natural resourcesGemstones, OIL, Narcotics

Conflict sustainers x Conflict starters

Conflicts over the direct use: Water Conflicts Conflicts over large-scale projects

Conflicts between different economic sectors Ex: use of water in flower production - Ecuador

International direct use conflicts: Palestina x Israel

UN Reports, Declarations and Resolutions that have Focused on the Environment and Conflict PreventionPrevention of armed conflict: Report of the

Secretary-GeneralEnvironment and security partnerships:

Conflicts andthe environmentThe Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence

andDevelopment We the Peoples’: The role of the United

Nations in the21st century, Report of the Secretary-General

Chalengesearly warning systems for environment-

related conflictsmethods to peacefully resolve resource

conflicts

Possible focus of the discussions – MUNLEAI IVInternal UN coordination - GuidelinesCodes of conduct for private companies – use

of water Norms for natural resource management –Transboundary freshwater regimesFinancial flows from world bank ex. (avoid

human rights violations of big projects etc…)

LinksCenter for Security Studies (2008). Linking

Environment and Conflict Prevention – The Role of the United Nations. Switzerland.

United Nations Environment Programme (2004) Understanding Environment, Conflict and Cooperation. Nairobi.

Scanlon, John (2004) Water as an Human Right? IUCN, Gland and Cambridge

Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means. Johan Galtung. United Nations Disaster Management Programme

Peace Education usesViolent Conflicts Post-conflict areasFormal education especially in USA and

nordic countries Focuses on human relationsWorks with themas related to: mediation,

human rights, tolerance, empathy, cultural identity, etc…

SimilaritiesSearch of solutions to the current reality of

the world/model of developmentEnvision of a more harmonic life, no-violence

(including no-structural violence)Deeper change in values, behaviour etc.Acts of aggression and violence to the

environment have consequences to human beings acts of violence and disrespect against human beings can also have consequences for the environment

Links to biodiversity conservationDamage of war\conflict – many are close or

are in areas of high biodiverstiy or biodiversity conservation areas

Natural ressources or environmental stress can be part of the causes of conflicts or accentuate them

Helps overcome conflict: PEACE PARKS - Peru x Ecuador Boarder - Cordillera del Cóndor Mountain Range and Biodiversity Conservation Corridor

HowAlready-exisiting Peace Education projects

and programsHelp promote new social relations, values,

perspectives resilience to conflict Search for solutions to poverty and

reconstruction after conflictOthers

Refugee-campsrefuge-areas are normally under pressure on

water resources, soil degradation and changes in flora and fauna

search for wood and water offers risks of violence (rape, death, etc) mainly to women and children, who are normally responsible for such activities. The search for construction materials is also a frequent source of conflict.

“(…) similar synergies need to be created between ESD and other „adjectival‟ educations such as peace education, gender education, HIV education, global education, consumer education, holistic education, citizenship education, health education and development education. During the remainder of the DESD, the creation of platforms and networks and the support of meetings that bring together key representatives from these SD-related types of education should be stimulated. The integrative possibilities of ESD need to be nurtured and strengthened.” (Unesco 2009).