by Mark G. Sullivan

Created on: September 13, 2009   Last Updated: September 16, 2009

Twenty-seven years ago, while gathering for a company meeting, an informal discussion was held as to the current state of world affairs. Those arriving early had the chance to offer their opinion. Surprisingly the discussion turned to the future availability of water in the United States. While most dismissed this as a non-issue, one person insisted this would be the cause for future conflicts.

"Water will become more valuable than oil" he insisted. None of those in attendance felt this would take place. One senior executive laughed, and then in his loud voice told the whole room, "No way this is going to happen. Living in the Midwest we have the Great Lakes that will keep us supplied for years,"

Fast forward to this past week, when during a conversation with an elderly woman, she asked this writer if water was going to be the reason for a future war. Her question came as a surprise, for we have had many wide-ranging discussions but never on this topic.

At first thought, the idea of a conflict over a resource that is readily available made little sense. However, this thought process might be the reason there is trouble on the horizon. For what we have plenty of, others will need for survival. The overall concern is when it comes time to share, will it be done with humanity in mind or will the ability to control those who have-not, be the driving force?

Looking around the world, water rationing is taking place in Africa, Yemen, Mexico, China, Australia, Chile, United States, and so on. No country will be spared of the coming crisis. The question then becomes, can this diverse group of people, most with different political and cultural views, overcome their beliefs to do what is right for all?

Unfortunately, it seems this will not be the case. The director-general of the United Nations Environment Program, Klaus Toepfer, stated in an interview published in 1999, that he is completely convinced there will be a conflict over natural resources, particularly water. "Everybody knows that we have an increase in population, but we do not have a corresponding increase in drinking water, so the result in the regional dimension is conflict." (1)

There is a belief that if the water source starts here, falls here, or runs through here, than I have the right to do whatever I want with it no matter the needs downstream. This idea actually is called, "The Harmon Doctrine," named after a U.S. Attorney General in the 1890's. At that time, he stated that Mexico had no right to

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