Globalization has proven that what happens in one area of the world invariably affects the whole planet. Right now in Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, and numerous other countries, people are experiencing severe droughts and flooding to an extent beyond anything they have ever witnessed before. Rising temperatures all over the world are causing malnourishment, starvation, and economic stagnation, especiall in already arid and dry landscapes. However, food crises are certainly not new; people have been battling against haphazard weather conditions for thousands of years. The rise in dramatic food crises is not any easier to accept, though. As a species, humans have an obligation and responsibility to help one another. Thus, it is imperative to prevent further global climate change and to remediate what damage has already been done in order to secure a life worth living for every individual on the planet.

Our first case study is focused in East Africa. Somalia is in an especially devastating predicament because of the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to recent conflicts. In addition, residing in Kenya are 320,625 refugees in addition to the 404,000 IDPs within Kenya, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR). As of January 2009, there were 242,000 Somali refugees in Kenya. Right now the UNCHR is trying to figure out how they can effectively feed the refugee population in Kenya because of the current drought. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 3.8 million people in Kenya need food. Environmental degradation has significantly contributed to the intensity of the drought. Instead of rural villages providing for themselves, they are forced to accept food from organizations such as the WFP because they have no alternative.

The question I am struggling with is how can the U.N. provide enough food in Kenya for both the rural communities and the refugee camps? Furthermore, increased fighting in Mogadishu, the capital of Somali, and a lack of rainfall have created an even greater influx of Somali refugees-50,000 to be exact-into Kenya. The UNHCR states, "The refugees are arriving at an overwhelming average rate of 6,400 a month, adding more pressure on the already overstretched facilities and resources in Dadaab camps in northern Kenya, which currently host three times the population they were designed to hold."

There is obviously something terribly frightening about these statistics. Moreover, it is evident that the rise in greenhouse gas emissions has not only had dire consequences in self-established communities, such as rural populations in Kenya, but also refugee populations.

Let us briefly turn our attention to Guatemala. The Vice President of Guatemala, Rafael Espada, recently expressed that "practically forty percent of children in Guatemala are suffering from malnutrition." The global economic downturn, another instance of globalization, has contributed to the food crisis in Guatemala. In addition, a severe drought, and hence global warming, has been blamed as a significant cause of this "public calamity" by Alvaro Colom, the President of Guatemala. As of now Guatemala does have a food supply, but if it were to lose its supply in the future due to continued global climate change, who knows what the repercussions would be? In many areas of the world the fear of future (or encroaching) food crises is very real. I am not implying that specifically in Guatemala an extreme food crisis is likely to occur. The fact that many outcomes of global climate change are unknown, or perhaps even unpredictable, is a serious problem. Will people fight for food, resulting in intensified refugee situations, such as in the case of Somalia and Kenya? How will the global economy transform due to increased environmental worries? What will happen to the already poor economic positions of underdeveloped countries such as Guatemala?

If you are motivated to do something, here are a couple suggestions. First, I could take the easy route and ask you to donate to the UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, et cetera. It is important to understand that, although funding is immensely important, there are alternatives for those of you who are not "Mr. Money Bags." The idea is that you can protect the environment, prevent severe food crises, and conserve resources by adhering to an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Simple things do make a difference. Eating more fruits and vegetables that are in season and eating local foods contribute to determining which resources are used in the production and manufacturing of food, which either protect or damage the environment. Essentially, follow "The Three R's": reduce, reuse, and recycle. For more information regarding refugee conditions around the world please visit www.unhcr.org. Remember, everything you decide to do has an impact on yourself, your community, and the world!