How to Prevent the Next Darfur

The violence in the Darfur region of Sudan stems less from ethnic difference and more from a deteriorating environment and a battle over resources, most notably water, argues Alex Perry for “Time.” Perry calls Darfur “the world’s worst man-made disaster,” with the UN reporting that fighting in the region has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million more. Scientists have long predicted that the world’s poorest nations will suffer most from diminishing water supplies and other consequences of climate change, and drought already exacerbates political problems in Somalia and Zimbabwe. Military intervention by world powers is only a first step in soothing conflicts throughout Africa, according to Perry. Practical land-use, water-management and population-control measures, as well as immediate reduction of carbon emissions by the world’s wealthiest nations, could reduce poverty and ensure global security. – YaleGlobal