"Bit early for cannibalism," Roger commented. "Or is it a habit to eat human flesh in these parts?"
—John Christopher, No Blade of Grass (1956)
When food runs low, for whatever reason, people do whatever they can to get more. Almost everything will be sacrificed to reach this goal as need increases. Those who have food will similarly stop at little to keep it. Nothing good is expected to come from this equation. And things get worse from there.
Food shortages and climate change: (National Geographic) A warming climate alters agricultural patterns and more besides.
Famine: (Wikipedia): The problem that ignites all fuses.
Undernutrition: (Merck) Symptoms and consequences of starvation.
Riots, instability spread as food prices skyrocket: (CNN) Lack of food can lead to widespread violence.
Riots and rebellion (Wikipedia): Social unrest turns ugly.
Understanding Riots: (Cato Institute) Analysis of riots of all types, how they occur and why.
State of Emergency: (Wikipedia) The governmental response to civil disorder, with history and possibilities. As national governments ceased to exist with Zero Hour's destruction of communications and transportation, local governments on the city and county level are all that remain, if even that.
Mass Murder: (Wikipedia) Local forces engaging in massacres is one possible outcome of civil disorder (examples here).
Cannibalism: (Wikipedia) Just in case you forgot about it. Rumors will make it a "reality" even if it isn't.
Societal Collapse: (Wikipedia) Broad look at historical examples.
Barter: (Wikipedia) The new global economy (a more technical description is here).
Epidemics and pandemics: (Wikipedia) Malnutrition, no medicine, warfare, filth, and insects make disease breakouts inevitable.
Skin Cancer: (Medicinenet) Good overview of the problem and how to prevent it. An increase in ultraviolet B from the Sun occurs after Zero Hour until the Sun's violent stage ends.
Global warming and severe storms: (Science Daily) Report on links between warmer climate and violent weather outbreaks.
Global Warming and Extreme Weather: (Environmental Defense Fund) Major effects predicted with a warming climate: hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, floods, and heat waves.
Alaska and global warming: (USA Today) Short- and long-term consequences of a warmer world. Alaska is used as an example, as the situation there is deteriorating faster at present than elsewhere.
Last updated 06/04/2010
