Climate change = more violence?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100422/NEWS01/704239920#climate-change-more-violence

By James Pusey
WORLD-HERALD NEWS SERVICE

AMES, Iowa -- Two Iowa State University professors have published a research paper claiming that global warming would affect more than just sea levels and wildlife it could also make the planet a more violent place.

The work was done by Matt DeLisi, an associate professor of sociology and director of ISU’s criminal justice program, and Craig Anderson, a distinguished professor of psychology and director of ISU’s Center for the Study of Violence, who said part of their conclusion comes from what he calls the “heat hypothesis.”

“The basic idea ... is that in uncomfortably hot temperatures, people behave somewhat more aggressively than they normally would,” Anderson said.

By using data on U.S. yearly temperatures and the number of violent crimes that took place between 1950 and 2008, the researchers deduced that an increase of 8 degrees in the United States would result in more than 100,000 additional violent crimes nationwide.

However, the rising temperature isn’t the only reason global warming could increase violence, Anderson said. The researchers also conclude that some people who are already violence-prone could be pushed over the edge when environmental stress is applied to their lives.

Climate change also would increase food scarcity in parts of the world, and DeLisi said that could cause large groups of people to migrate elsewhere, causing increased violence between groups.

FULL story at link.