I thought maybe I misheard Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday night when he blamed climate change for the terrorism that’s plaguing the planet.
Then he said it again the next day, on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”
Here’s part of what the Democratic presidential candidate said: “The reason is pretty obvious: If we are going to see an increase in drought and flood and extreme weather disturbances as a result of climate change, what that means is that peoples all over the world are going to be fighting over limited natural resources.”
Then he said: “If there is not enough water, if there is not enough land to grow your crops, then you’re going to see migrants of people fighting over land that will sustain them, and that will lead to international conflict.”
You know, many of us have had plenty of laughs courtesy the Republicans running for president. Sen. Sanders is not going to be outdone, apparently.
I get that he believes that Earth’s changing climate is caused greatly by human activity. What I don’t get is his linking it directly to terrorism.
The cause of terrorism comes from lunatics who think nothing of killing innocent people, of terrorizing civilized society to further some crackpot philosophical or political cause.
There might some link to climate change on the fringes of the terrorism plague. However, the issues are unique and separate. They might not be mutually exclusive.
Direct linkage? Come on, Sen. Sanders.
Climate change might or might not cause terrorism and war now. But it almost certainly will in the near future. Already: http://www.kgw.com/story/news/investigations/2015/08/28/drought-likely-adding-influx-oregon-residents/71282394/
If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would note that most middle-eastern terrorists have historically been funded by the Saudis, whom we fund by driving our cars. I would think: hm, if we drive our cars less perhaps that might slow (can’t stop, too damn late) climate change.* I might note that the UN conference on climate change is taking place in Paris next month. And I would, as they say, “follow the money.”
But, I’m not a conspiracy theorist. Because conspiracies don’t happen. Or, at least, they only happen in every single era of human history except this minuscule time and place that we happen to inhabit.
*Cars contribute only a fraction of greenhouse gases. I do understand this.