Position Paper On Military And The Media

RESTRICTED SANWC/98025125PE POSITION PAPER ON THE POTENTIAL INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF SOUTH AFRICA Appendix A: Bibliography INTRODUCTION 1.

South Africa, in the post-cold War era has also been plagued by a

variety of traditional and more contemporary human security concerns. These issues range from mass migration to diseases from poverty to arms proliferation. This is due to lack of democracy to the emergence of virulent ethnic nationalism and from environmental degradation to.1 2.

To define the national security, it is the ability to preserve the nation’s

physical integrity and territory; to maintain its economic relations on reasonable terms; to protect its nature, institutions and the governance from disruption from outside and also to.2 3.

South Africa lately is faced with lot of challenges wrt international

security of which that has an impact on national security. These include economy, health issues, terrorism, poverty as well as global warming. During my analysis I will focus on global warming and terrorism that has great impact on South Africa’s national security. AIM 4.

The aim of this position paper is to analyze the International security

issues and their influence on the National security of South Africa.

1 2

People Poverty and Peace, Human security in Southern Africa, 2005 Thinking about national Security, pg 4, par 3,1983

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SCOPE 5.

In order to reach the aim of this position paper the following scope

points will be addressed: a.

Global Warming and impact on economy

b.

Diseases

d.

Terrorism

e.

Conclusion

GLOBAL WARMING DESCRIPTION OF GLOBAL WARMING 6.

Global warming is an increase in the concentration of greenhouse

gasses in the atmosphere leading to an increase in the amount of infrared or thermal radiation near the surface. Most scientists agree that the enhanced greenhouse effect is leading to rising temperatures, referred to as global warming, and other changes in the atmospheric environment, known as climate change3. 7.

According to the American History Encyclopaedia, these Gases are

created through human industrial and agricultural practices (primarily carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and wood, as well as methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons) increase the heat-reflecting potential of the atmosphere, thereby raising the planet's average temperature. 8.

Global warming is also one of the security threats globally that has a

great impact also in South Africa. These impacts can be seen on: a.

The climate change which refers to any change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the average and/or the variability of its properties (e.g., temperature, precipitation), and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. The climate change has also been seen on changes of the sea levels. The sea levels are rising at a rate of

3

. http://www.eoe earth.org

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1.8mm per year for the past and this keeps on increasing. The results of these changes have been seen when Tsunami occurred few years ago whereby lot of people died because of floods. These drastic changes have been experienced globally. b.

South Africa has been involved in disaster relief management whereby the South African Air Force aircrafts were helping Mozambique when they were experiencing floods of which they were not used to. The sudden climate change brought the country some rainy seasons that brought them floods. Mozambique’s people were airlifted to safe places as they were left without houses. The SAAF aircrafts had to be serviced as they experienced water in their engines. To service those aircrafts, government had to spend money of which the government did not budget for, they did that in order to help people as well as helping in the region.

c.

South Africa recently experienced flood problem, whereby people in Gauteng Province were left without houses and some of the vehicles were swept away by floods. This is all because of the climate change that is experienced and is a real threat to the South African government and its people. Zambia also has experienced floods that they have never seen as the results their government will be seeking for help from the other countries and South Africa can be one of them.

d. Due to the global warming agriculture of South Africa has been affected. This has been caused by the drought that has been experienced which causes the loss of productivity to plants or farming products. This is also has been experienced when floods occur. During this period, farming product got swept away by rain and again the South African government had to help the farmers with funds to overcome their problem. The impact on the agricultural products that is caused by floods causes a lot of money RESTRICTED

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especially on the government. The government has to give help to the affected people as this brings lots of diseases because of the micro organism called E-coli that mix with water during the floods and this affects the plants or agricultural products. This is because of food security that poses a threat to the country after floods. e. Food security according to the World Resource Institute refers to the availability of food and ones access to it. Communities are considered food secured when they are affected by hunger or starvation. f. According to the World Resource Institute, millions of people globally lack food security due to poverty that is caused by the climate change due to global warming. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain food security due to the disruption of farm supplies and the food crisis in a relatively short time. This has become a complex topic standing at the intersection of many disciplines. g. The increasing rate of poverty due to food security has caused mass migration. People are leaving their countries seeking for the places to the nearest countries of which this has affected South Africa. South Africa is facing a problem whereby people from other countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast, Ethiopia have immigrated to South Africa due to poverty in their countries. South Africans recently were involved in xenophobic attacks which were caused by people complaining about the foreigners in South Africa that are being taken care of whereas themselves as South African citizens have no jobs and places to stay. This was a threat to other South Africans who could not be differentiated from foreigners due to their skin tone e.g. people from the northern part of South Africa are normally darker in complexion compared to people from other provinces in South Africa and they turned to be associated with foreigners. RESTRICTED

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IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY 9.

Global warming has a terrible impact in the economy of the country. In

South Africa, government looses funds due to the involvement in the disaster relieves. As I have mention in my statement wrt the SAAF aircrafts that have to be serviced, according to Col Botha from South African Air Force HQ, to service 1 x aircraft it cost the DoD R60-000, 00 of which that was not budgeted for. 10.

The people who are suffering from the diseases especially the

refugees should be taken to government hospitals and that becomes a burden to the government as they are suppose to be given medication in order to overcome their diseases. 11.

South Africa again will be loosing their agricultural resources which

could be exported and that could be the economy booster for the country. The other countries that are affected by climate change like Zambia will be loosing their agricultural resources that could have been exported to South Africa. This is the other situation that the South African government will be using funds to help the agricultural industry to overcome their problem of which that was not budgeted for. DISEASES 12.

The whole world including South Africa is faced with a biggest threat

that is HIV and Aids. Each country is spending lots of funds on the medication for the disease and lots of people are dying due to this. South African Defence force has also have the same problem of loosing members dying because of the disease. 13.

Some of the members cannot be deployed outside South Africa as they

are affected by the disease. The other members were deployed without having HIV but surprisingly, when coming back from the foreign deployments RESTRICTED

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especially in the African region they find themselves being positive on the HIV disease. This poses a threat even on the other members who are not affected by the disease as their partners coming back from the deployments not knowing their status and pass the disease to their partners. The people who are not working turned to be a burden to the government as they have to be supplied by medication as well as special grant. 14.

The other disease that affects most of the countries is Tuberculoses

and is increasing on daily bases. People are suffering on this because they do not have sufficient, safe and nutritious food that can meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. Some members coming to South Africa from outside countries affected by the disease spread the disease to South Africans. This again becomes a burden to the government as the people have to be cared for especially by medication. 15.

The other disease that is escalating is cholera. Recently, Limpopo

Province had a problem whereby they were facing with cases of cholera due to the people that migrated from Zimbabwe as well as water problems as Limpopo shares the river with Zimbabwe. This was a threat to South Africa as cholera victims were increasing and it was also spreading to other South African provinces like Gauteng. TERRORISM AND ITS IMPACT ON SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SECURITY 16.

Defining terrorism, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, it is

the symmetric use of terror, violent or destructive acts that are committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands. These kinds of acts are also intended at creating fear and are perpetrated for an ideological goal. According to United Nations Security Council Resolution of 1373, acts of terrorism are criminal acts.5

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Terrorism-wilkipedia

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The most common image of global terrorism is the one carried by a

small and secretive group in recent time such as the 9/11 incident, which left the world so amazed as the group was never even detected by intelligence agencies. 18.

The other incidents that are also raised security questions are, the

London underground bombing, 2002 Bali bombing and the most recent incident that shocked the world which is the Shrilanka incident that happened whilst the international cricket players were busy playing on the field. There was nothing of this nature that was suspected or detected especially whilst the international is in motion. 19.

Looking at these incidents and take into considerations that in 2010

South Africa will be hosting the soccer world cup, incidents of this nature are posing a threat as some of the countries that will be taking part in the games have experienced the incidents of this nature whilst international games are in process e.g. Shrilanka. CONCLUSION 20.

Looking at all the incidents wrt climate change that have taken place

globally, the conclusion is that, national security of South Africa is at risk. People lost their houses; vehicles and some lost their lives because of the heavy floods, and field fires that have killed the wild animals including the agricultural products. South Africa has been even involved in disaster relief’s projects some of the neighbouring countries have suffered because of the floods. 21.

Economy of South Africa is also in jeopardy as the agricultural

products have been affected by the global warming, meaning the export business is at risk as well as the water security that has posed threat. Due to this government has used funds that were not suppose to be used especially in helping refugees suffering from diseases like cholera that has been caused by water problem as well as dietary problems. RESTRICTED

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Terrorism is the worst security threat globally. Each country is fighting

against the terrorism as it posses threat to the international as well as national security. 23.

South Africa can see itself facing the incidents of terrorism as these

groups can try to prove their point to certain countries that will be taking part in 2010 soccer world cup. They can also try to show their anger to South Africa if she can have ties with countries that thy have problems with e.g. rivalry between United States of America with Arab countries as well as some of those groups fighting with communism.

(B.D. TSOKO) LEARNER JCSCP 8/2009: LT COL (Word Count : 2073)

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RESTRICTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1.

E/Terrorism-wilkipedia, encyclopedia, mnt.

2.

Global Warming, http: www.eoe art.org/article/global warming

Thinking about National Security, Harold Brown, 1983, Westview Press Inc, New York. 3.

Global Warming, http: www.global7greenhouse-warming.com

4.

People Poverty and Peace, human Security in Southern Africa, Hussein

Solomon and Jackie Cilliers, Monograph no 4,May 2005, Defence Security Studies 5.

SAAF Capability presentations, SAAF HQ, 19 March 2009

6.

Security Trends presentation, Jo-Ansie van Wyk, 18 March 2009

Terrorism presentation, Mrs Botha, 17 March 2009 7.

Terrorism presentation, Mrs. Botha, 17 March 2009

8.

Thinking about National Security, Harold Brown, 1983, Westview Press Inc,

New York

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