Scott D. Winnail

In the days before good ventilation, coal miners never entered a mine without a canary in a cage. Canaries sing constantly, and if the canary ceased singing (and passed out), it signaled immediate evacuation of the mine, due to buildup of deadly carbon monoxide and methane gases.

An EF-5 tornado barreled through Greensburg, Kansas on the night of May 4, 2007. The super cell cut a path 1.5 miles wide, totally destroying the town and killing ten people (Wikipedia, May 17, 2007).

The Roman Empire was the most powerful, far reaching, and longest-running empire of the last 2000 years. It once stretched from North Africa to Scotland, from the Atlantic well into Asia. It was centered in modern-day Europe and ended with the abdication of Francis II in 1806 – following nearly a millennium of rule in Europe.

France has been experiencing civil unrest that threatens the future of its political leaders. Germany recently faced labor strikes involving over 30,000 workers. Italy has just concluded a very rocky and divisive national election.

Natural resources often play powerful roles in global conflicts. In modern times, the most highly populated nations have often had the weakest economies, and thus have never been able to consume vast amounts of natural resources.