At first glance, the relationship between Environment and Security appears an obvious one. With populations growing and resources dwindling, it stands to reason that a time must come when the two lines cross, and conflict results. Indeed, seen from this angle, the environmental perspective appears to offer a compelling insight into recent conflict and humanitarian drama: massive soil erosion, combined with drought in Ethiopia and there follows the familiar spectacle of thousands of emaciated Ethiopians moving into lands already maltreated by others, with inevitable conflict on the horizon. Note that Israel's water supply depends fundamentally on the hydrological resources of the West Bank, and the Jordan Valley and Israeli political intransigence takes on a new perspective. Read years of reports saying that the population pressure on Rwanda.s fragile resources is reaching breaking point, and the horrific genocide of 1994 takes on a different hue.
