http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/natural-resources Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:41:54 -0400 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:41:54 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1649/remote-sensing-satellites-as-a-solution-towards-anticipating-food-and-water-wars By David C. Harary - In December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognized the universal human right to food. Most recently in July 2010, the U.N. General Assembly adopted resolution 64/292 that recognized the human right to water as well. While food and water are of vital importance to the security of individual nations, over 700 million people lack adequate access to these basic resources.2 Alarmingly, anthropogenic induced climate change is expected to further undermine human security3 through a reduction of available food and water across particular geographic... Mon, 22 May 2017 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1649/remote-sensing-satellites-as-a-solution-towards-anticipating-food-and-water-wars http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil By David C. Harary - This paper evaluates the ethical dilemma coalition forces had to face when deciding to target and take out ISIL's primary source of revenue – oil. By gathering the impacts ISIL has had on the globe as well as the impacts aerial attacks could have on the MENA region; this paper was able to create a decision matrix that quantitatively weighs the options decision-makers had to limit further harm done on the region's society, environment, and economy. This paper serves as a baseline tool by which policymakers can quickly process the plusses and minuses of initiating attacks. Future research... Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1390/comparing-the-roots-of-conflict-in-europe-the-middle-east-and-africa By Jacob C. Potts - In public discourse, Africa and the Middle East have become synonymous with ethnic and religious conflict, whereas Europe is known as a bastion of peace and stability. But are areas known for their ‘high conflict’ truly more susceptible to regional conflict compared to the more 'peaceful' regions? Our findings indicate that the Middle East and North Africa are not as susceptible to the conflicts previously mentioned. We instead propose a more complex view of conflict, where ethnic and religious conflict occur in most regions and factors such as the Cold War in Europe and the existence... Fri, 15 Apr 2016 07:31 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1390/comparing-the-roots-of-conflict-in-europe-the-middle-east-and-africa http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1531/costs-and-benefits-of-nitrogen-and-phosphate-fertilizer-use-in-the-lake-erie-basin By David C. Harary - This paper explores both the positive and negative externalities associated with nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizer use. Using 57 scholarly journal articles, government reports, manuscripts, and news articles; a comprehensive review was made on the effects fertilizer use and eutrophication has on ecological, environmental, human health, and economic systems in the western Lake Erie Basin. Negative externalities associated with fertilizer use included species population decline; environmental degradation; increased risks on public health; increased water treatment and maintenance spending;... Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1531/costs-and-benefits-of-nitrogen-and-phosphate-fertilizer-use-in-the-lake-erie-basin http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future By A. Rachelle Foss - Alberta's resource power lies within the energy sector; in particular, the oil and gas industry. However, this same energy sector is contributing heavily to the destruction of the landscape and is contaminating the environment. This destructive pattern may seem unrelated to the province's economy, but a closer look shows that they are, in fact, closely connected. This is largely due to a failure by both the industry and political leaders to have a vision for the economic future. Although oil and gas royalties, paid to the province for the right to use crown land for capital gain, provide considerable... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada By Scott Sutherland - An important pipeline, called the Keystone Export Limited (XL) pipeline, connecting Alberta oil sands to refineries on the Texas gulf cost would hasten this process. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2025, more than $379 billion will be invested in oil sands development.[1] As a result, oil production is expected to more than double, to roughly 3.7 million barrels a day by 2021.[2] With the current debate surrounding the oil sands, this doubling of production will have major implications for Canada and the world. Based on a thorough analysis, I will demonstrate that further oil sands development... Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:14 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan By Karin Snyder - In the case of Japan, which lacks any significant fossil fuel reserves (Gasparatos & Gadda, 2009, pp. 4038-4048) some alternative forms of energy production have been implemented. Japan has implemented alternative energy options such as nuclear power, photovoltaic power, hydroelectric power, and other various energy alternatives and renewable resources. These alternatives have the potential to lessen climate change. Japan is becoming an example of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with alternative energy sources. Following the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government addressed... Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:47 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1483/india-and-nigeria-similar-colonial-legacies-vastly-different-trajectories-an-examination-of-the-differing-fates-of-two-former-british-colonies By Caroline Cohn - The nations of Nigeria and India both have exceptionally diverse populations, endured the deliberate divide-and-rule strategies executed by British colonizers who sought thereby to exacerbate existing differences, and experienced peaceful transfers from colonial rule to independence. Despite these key similarities in certain aspects of their colonial and decolonization experiences, India and Nigeria have had very different levels of success in their efforts to create and maintain politically stable nation-states. Today, India is distinguished from other post-colonial independent nations for its... Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1483/india-and-nigeria-similar-colonial-legacies-vastly-different-trajectories-an-examination-of-the-differing-fates-of-two-former-british-colonies http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1484/natural-resources-and-prolonged-conflict-the-case-of-sierra-leone By Nina Assadi - Why did Sierra Leone experience such a protracted civil war between 1991 and 2002? Sierra Leone has been beset with challenges since achieving independence from Britain in 1961, in particular its brutal civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of almost a third of the total population. Yet Sierra Leone is now one of the more stable countries in West Africa due to its recently re-established democratic government and increasingly transparent, peaceful, and credible elections since 1996 following a series of turbulent regime transitions. This has finally resulted... Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1484/natural-resources-and-prolonged-conflict-the-case-of-sierra-leone http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/958/selling-ourselves-short-a-discussion-of-water-markets-in-alberta By Derek N. Pluim - The issue of water management has become one of increasing importance. Any new policy regarding resource management must balance the needs of the environment, the municipalities, and industry. In an effort to reconcile these needs, this report reviews the best practices of water policy. Specifically, the reason for undertaking this report is to research policy options available to the Alberta government to provide a framework for improving the Water for Life strategy. One generalization that can be made across the spectrum of privatization models is that whenever a resource is labelled a commodity... Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:37 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/958/selling-ourselves-short-a-discussion-of-water-markets-in-alberta http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic By Niklas Witte - This article aims to investigate the effects of moderators such as culture, power dynamics and political factors on the negotiation behavior and processes displayed in a dyadic, geopolitical negotiation scenario by using a hybrid model of well-established negotiation frameworks. In addition, it evaluates if and to what extent media attention and (third-party) political coalitions influence this negotiation scenario and the resulting bilateral negotiation outcomes.The majority of existing negotiation research on the Barents Sea conflict focuses on agreements regulating the fishing industry only... Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:53 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/559/mining-in-latin-america-the-interplay-between-natural-resources-development-and-freedom By Juan M. Arellano - The extraction of non-renewable natural resources in the form of large-scale mining projects has intensified in recent years in Latin America. In fact, the World Bank and other international financial institutions have continued to encourage countries to commit to extractive industry growth as a development strategy (Campbell 2008). Not surprisingly the mining industry has responded accordingly and many developing countries – both with and without a mining tradition – have seen significant increases in mining investment coming from developed countries (Bebbington et al. 2008, 4). Canada... Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/559/mining-in-latin-america-the-interplay-between-natural-resources-development-and-freedom http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1106/the-north-pole-shall-we-race By Sofiya Kartalova - The territorial claims on the North Pole are the latest contentious grey area amongst world forces – Russia, Canada, the USA, Denmark and Norway. The events could have been the perfect opportunity for a lesson in puppet mastery on the international political stage conducted with precision and panache. Instead, the political leaders provided their fair share of immature tantrums and pointless boasting. They enjoyed being in the spotlight, boosting the national confidence by flexing their muscles in front of cameras and voters. And as ever the obliging media gladly followed suit and fitted... Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1106/the-north-pole-shall-we-race http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1109/transnational-waterstreams-in-the-middle-east By Onur Kara - Due to its direct connection with economic power, control of water resources has been a crucial issue for Middle Eastern states throughout their history. Human alteration of water streams can be traced back to around 3000 BC, when the Jawa Dam was constructed in what is now Jordan. However, those constructions were mainly used to control water levels and aid irrigation.3 The recognition of petroleum as a strategic raw material and the beginning of the “mega-dam” age in the early twentieth century has highlighted new aspects of this issue. As its importance has grown, examination of... Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1109/transnational-waterstreams-in-the-middle-east http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/321/the-water-crisis-a-quest-to-conserve-our-planets-most-precious-resource By Valerie D. Wade - What are our threats? Where do we stand at our current pace of waste and misuse of our precious resources? What are ways in which we can sustain our planet? Although I will focus on the global water crisis, you will soon see how all of the current threats against our planet are intimately intertwined. We’ve heard the old saying, “keeping your head above water,” which could mean just doing the minimum or barely surviving, but what if there is no water, literally, to keep your head above. Join me, form your own opinion, and keep an open mind. Our chances are dwindling if we are... Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:28 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/321/the-water-crisis-a-quest-to-conserve-our-planets-most-precious-resource http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1255/getting-it-right-searching-for-the-elusive-solution-in-the-niger-delta By James Davis - The Niger Delta conflict is one created and exacerbated by the oil and natural gas riches of the region. Great hydrocarbon wealth has been extracted over the past decades, yet Delta residents continue to live in underdeveloped and polluted circumstances. This situation has fueled widespread, and often violent, conflict within the region. While the Nigerian government has made attempts to resolve the conflict, most recently with the 2009 amnesty program, these attempts have repeatedly failed. This essay will discuss these failures, as well as present a set of initiatives for the Delta that, together... Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1255/getting-it-right-searching-for-the-elusive-solution-in-the-niger-delta http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1258/the-blue-counterrevolution-the-first-year-of-president-viktor-yanukovych By Yevgen Sautin - The initial 100 days of Viktor Yanukovych’s presidency appeared to be a complete departure from the Yushchenko presidency. While publicly reiterating his commitment to integration with the European Union and supporting transparency, freedom of the press, and democracy, Yanukovich has also seemingly positioned Ukraine firmly under Russia’s orbit. Viktor Yanukovich’s authoritarian tendencies combined with a sudden tilt towards Russia have galvanized the divided opposition, which has accused Yanukovich of outright treason. Amid all the fears of being a puppet of the Kremlin, Yanukovych... Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1258/the-blue-counterrevolution-the-first-year-of-president-viktor-yanukovych http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1306/aggressive-foreign-policy-as-an-instrument-for-the-legitimization-of-putins-regime-georgias-case By Vladimir Shlapentokh - The responsibility of Georgian President Michael Saakashvili for the war with Russia continued to be hotly debated in Georgia, Russia and the world several months after its end.1 Indeed, there are various views about Saakashvili's decision to attack South Ossetia. By the end of the war, the international community was inclined to recognize the adventurous actions of the Georgian president, but put most of the blame on Moscow for its disproportionate reaction, its bombardment of Georgian cities, its permission to South Ossetian forces to plunder Georgians villages and kill Georgians, as well as... Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1306/aggressive-foreign-policy-as-an-instrument-for-the-legitimization-of-putins-regime-georgias-case http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1309/human-rights-in-indonesia-the-consequences-of-discrepancies-in-domestic-versus-international-law By Antonia Sohns - "[A]n American transnational mining company called Freeport-McMoRan…operat[es] the largest gold mine on Earth, not in Africa but in the heart of West Papua" (Leith xv). FreeportMcMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. is the best known subsidiary of PT Freeport Indonesia, operating in West Papua, New Guinea. Freeport's operation there has resulted in the complete remodeling of the society and economy. West Papua is a province of Indonesia; it, along with Papua New Guinea, comprises the island of New Guinea. West Papua has a population of approximately 800,000 people, making it one of the smallest Indonesian... Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1309/human-rights-in-indonesia-the-consequences-of-discrepancies-in-domestic-versus-international-law http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1280/the-russian-government-and-gazprom By Philip Nahernak - Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly-formed Russian Federation faced a considerable economic downturn. During the post-Soviet economic collapse spanning from 1991 to 1998, Russian gross domestic product (GDP) fell from $509,381,640,192 to $270,953,119,744 (current US dollars).1 These figures represent a decline of $238,428,520,448 or approximately 46.8% of the total GDP. This proverbial collapse of the Russian economy was largely due to changing incentives within the Russian market as it evolved from communism to capitalism. Further economic troubles ensued in 1998, spurred by... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1280/the-russian-government-and-gazprom http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1295/china-africa-interaction-prospects-for-a-strategic-partnership By Farah Arbab - China’s emergence as a key player in Africa, the impact of its presence and its challenges to traditional Western pre-eminence in African economies are among the hallmarks of the changing economic scenario in the twenty-first century. Beijing’s present-day engagement in Africa is not new: it has its roots in policies pursued since the mid-1950s as well as in earlier historical precedents. Historically, China’s role in Africa has hinged on providing diplomatic and moral support to liberation struggles in that continent. It has also provided African countries with great assistance... Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1295/china-africa-interaction-prospects-for-a-strategic-partnership http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1296/country-of-contradictions-mexicos-transition-to-modernity By Lauren Herget - A country’s transition from Cold War-era third-world dependence into competitive, global autonomy is often a difficult and complicated process. Like many other developing nations today, Mexico is meeting its fair share of stumbling blocks on its way to democracy. Mexico’s fissured and conflicted present is thanks to a checkered past, rife with one-party politics and ethically dubious environmental policies. Although inching towards free-market capitalist democracy, Mexico still faces many struggles. But hope still remains for Mexico on the whole: Mexico’s recently elected president... Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1296/country-of-contradictions-mexicos-transition-to-modernity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1297/a-tale-of-two-countries-lessons-from-the-latin-quest-for-the-balance-of-equity-progress-and-freedom By Francis J. Pedraza - In 1917 foreign oil companies came to Venezuela to start drilling in the shallow waters of Lake Maracaibo.1 By 1928 Venezuela had emerged as the world’s top oil exporter, and this touched off a wider economic boom.2 Visionaries saw an opportunity to turn a profit outside the oil sector by laying the foundations of a modern economy. Standard Oil heir Nelson Rockefeller, for example, founded the International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) to channel venture capital into Venezuelan fishing, agriculture, and supermarkets.3 Local businessmen were invited to become shareholders to “teach... Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1297/a-tale-of-two-countries-lessons-from-the-latin-quest-for-the-balance-of-equity-progress-and-freedom