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10/24/2004:

"Global Warming Seen as Security Threat"

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rising sea levels force millions of Bangladeshis into India, fueling ethnic and religious tensions that end in bloody riots. In Africa, crops wither in the parched landscape of a once-lush nation, bringing strife to the countryside and leading city dwellers to clash with the army as they loot shops for food.

As Russian lawmakers ratified the Kyoto protocol on climate change on Friday after years of dithering, grim scenarios like these may have been on the minds of some.

A growing number of analysts argue that global warming linked to greenhouse gas emissions is not just a ``green issue.''

They argue it might eventually top terrorism on the global security agenda, provoking new conflicts and inflaming old ones.

``The biggest security problem from global warming would be forced migrations, the dislocation of people because of flooding or drought,'' said Steve Sawyer, climate policy adviser for environmental group Greenpeace.

``Or drastic ecosystem change could change the resource base and uproot rural people. Forced migrations of people almost always cause problems.''

Former Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson said earlier this year that global warming posed a greater long-term threat to humanity than terrorism because it could force hundreds of millions from their homes.

Full Article: Reuters