Resolving Conflict.

Misuse of natural resources can bring tragic results such as poverty,disturbance of a country, and war which takes away many lives.It is hard for a country to manage valuable natural resources. A large amount of money is at claim. To avoid conflict, a country must manage their resources and the money they provide correctly.

Instead of having money from the resource go to only a few people, a government can make the money benefit many people. The money can be used to build roads, bridges, wells, and schools. Children could receive a better education and this money could pay for vaccines and healthcare!

A country benefits when a natural resource is used locally. Factories can turn the resource into useful products and this lets people have more jobs to work. The government can create jobs, support farming, or help people start a business. It is helpful for a country to support many different types of businesses. This allows people to keep working if the price of a natural resource drops or the natural resource runs out. For example In Chile, about 40 percent of the country’s money comes from copper. However, the country also has strong fruit, wine, and fishing industries. It also uses payments from copper mining to pay for research that can lead to new businesses being created.

A big effort to support good use of natural resources makes peace. Companies can choose to do business in countries that use their natural resources wisely. Industries can agree to work only with countries that have fair policies. Workers should be paid a good amount of money. The country should make laws that require safe working conditions. For example children should be protected and they should not work in jobs that could harm them, they should have the opportunity to go to school. Businesses that buy natural resources should make sure that a country does not get a natural resource in a way that harms the environment.

Pollution also needs to be controlled. Water can be polluted when natural resources are taken from the earth. Air pollution occurs when natural resources are processed. Countries should make limits on pollution. A country should be honest about how it gets and uses its natural resources. This makes a country more likely to get the resource in a way that does not harm people or the environment. It can be required to report where the money from the resource is going. A country that is open with this information is more likely to use the money they get to help more people. The information allows others to decide if they want to do business in this country or not.

Some organizations such as the United Nations encourages countries to use natural resources wisely. Countries can refuse to do business with a nation that is using and selling natural resources in a way that harms the country’s people and environment.

Businesses all over the world can support the United Nations Global Compact. This calls for companies to support human rights, protect the environment, and reduce corruption.The United Nations can send in peace keeping groups to help countries control their natural resources.These peacekeepers work to stop groups from selling natural resources to support war.

Natural resources can bring hope to a country for a better future. A country must look for benefit that can support more than just a few people.A wise and fair use of natural resources prevents conflict from occurring and It brings peace a comfortable life to a country’s people.