Recently, I was given a different perspective on the role of extractive industries in developing countries and the reasons why they encounter conflicts with the local or native populations in the areas in which the work.

When an extractive industry enters a given area, say for the mining of mineral resources, it makes an agreement with the local populations of the area. In this agreement, there is some form for trade-off for the extractive industry being able to gain access…

The newest PeaceMedia resource, a video published by the United Nations on the star fruit industry in Indonesia, demonstrates the effect that oil and gas companies can have on a local population and environment.  As someone who is very interested in corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement, I find this particular video compelling. It speaks of the high expectations for wealth that extractive industries bring to areas, but it also talks about the effects that these companies…