UK's Hilary Benn: "Natural resources need not be sources of conflict"

"Natural resources need not be sources of conflict. Let them be sources of economic growth, community, partnership, and goodwill," said UK Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn on Thursday September 16th.

Speaking at a Wilton Park conference on Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace, Benn looked at the causes and the solutions for ongoing conflicts over water, timber, and minerals. He also introduced topical references to Iraq, Sudan, and Bangladesh.

Read the full text of Benn's speech "Beyond polarisation and platitudes - policies for environment, development, and sustainable peace: finding paths to environmental peace-making" here.