One Response to Raw materials: For a more ambitious EU »»

1. Dr David Hill
   Comment by Dr David Hill | 2011/03/11 at 13:18:08

   JeanD

   Well said. The acquisition and protection of natural resources will become a very big issue in this century and most probably over the next quarter of a century starts to really ‘kick in’. China controls 60% of ‘rare’ elements and conflict behind the scenes with the USA has already begun. We need them for high-technology products throughout the world and the military needs them (especially the USA).

   But this constant depletion of natural resources could well bring about a future nightmarish scenario. In this respect the USA’s most influential security institute (and thereby the worlds’) the National Intelligence Council (NIC), predicted in late 2009 that their is a probability that nuclear weapons would be used to defend borders and protect natural resources. Indeed, although the Middle-East has always been a powder-keg for conflict, the unprecedented and unparalleled depletion of the world’s energy resources will make this area, the centre for unimaginable conflict if we do not watch out. For the modern-world’s existence in human terms is so dependent on oil and gas supplies and where leading energy economists have said that it only takes as little as 12%-15% reduction at the most in oil supplies, to bring the world economy to an eventual standstill – the knock-on effect. Consequently conflict appears to be an inevitable fact if politicians do not get their heads around this global problem of possible human survival in the final analysis. Indeed, reduced oil and gas supplies over the next quarter of a century will be a far more devastating threat than the global financial crisis, as it cannot be fixed in time.

   It was the first time that the NIC had ever mentioned that nuclear weapons could well be used. Therefore it was a very important statement and our world’s leaders should take note, the EU included of course. There would be no winners in this scenario but where history has shown, it only takes one country to take the lead here and think that it can come off with limited damage. For as we know through history as well, some politicians never think it through and where the button had already been pushed.

   Dr. David Hill
   Executive Director
   World Innovation Foundation Charity
   Bern, Switzerland

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