The global spiral is a reference to the ongoing population boom and the negative impact it has on the world and society as a whole.  With population in effect growing exponentially it seems that there is no end in sight to the growth.  The effects on nature have been negative due to overpopulated cities expelling harmful pollutants into nearby streams and smoke in the air full of CFC's among other chemicals.  This has led to expansion of urban areas to accommodate the larger populace, in turn leading to deforestation issues and over consumption of natural resources.  With the improvements made to science and healthcare people are living longer lives and the populations continue to climb in many of the countries that have not directly addressed the concern of overpopulation yet. (Blij, 2005, pp. 92-96)  The rise of demand for resources due to the rise in people is only natural, however can only be sustained to a certain level.  It is unclear what that level is and when/if oil actually begins to run out more countries will be looking to alternative fuels due to the inherently costly nature of manufacturing synthetic oil, as shown by Nazi Germany in World War 2. (Becker, 1981) This could have either a positive or negative impact on the environment depending on many factors, mainly what methods are found to be suitable for the generation of power, as well as the time scale of when such changes can  begin to take place and overall take effect on a grand scale.

            These are all sources of potential and actual conflict which are in need of address.  While there are no answers to the issues at hand, there is room for dialogue.  The ties between issues are good points to attack when facilitating this dialogue, which is where ODR can become, and is becoming, a key player.  Climate change is such a large issue that it should not be addressed on the whole, because there is too much complexity.  Instead breaking down the larger issue into smaller ones will be necessary to gain any ground.  With this increasing population for instance, there are limitless potential conflict that could arise, such as disputes between neighbors over neighborhood code violations or international disputes over water rights.  If oil were to actually start to run out it would certainly provoke conflict, and the need for ODR would arise, hopefully before the need for soldiers. 

            The industry of conflict resolution will only continue to grow as our population increases.  One source of conflict involves international players squabbling over water rights and potential shipping lanes in a region which has not yet become ocean, due to the popularized views of progression regarding the melting of the northern ice cap (Blij, 2005).  With increased population there comes an increased competition for resources, natural and otherwise.  On the note of natural resources one of the most notable conflicts in the Middle East has hardened over the use of water tables.  More close to home it is easy to see how the competition for work has led to conflict.  People are willing to sacrifice much more now for their careers which lead them to have busy schedules.  When there are issues in the first circumstance, there is a concern that face to face meetings may end in violence.  Alternatively it may be necessary to build a common rapport and build relationship.  With the second matter it may prove to be useful to be able to conduct dispute resolution on the go, perhaps in a plane or at the office with a neighbor to settle matters of disagreement.

             As our population continues to grow, so will ODR.  With this growth comes environmental degradation, and increased conflict.  ODR will continue to be an effective means for dispute resolution, and will in fact increase in popularity due to its widespread applicability to diverse forms of conflict, as well as its ease of use and convenience.  Global spiral is indeed a frightening idea, however, one that will be confronted by ODR on all fronts.  In both business and personal matters it will continue to gain popularity.  At the local, state, and international levels the use of ODR can aide in the effective legislation and implementation of laws to curtail the effects of expanded growth of society.  Effective dialogue facilitated by ODR will become paramount in future decisions which will impact our environment.

Becker, D. P. (1981). The Role of Synthetic Fue lIn World War II Germany. Air University Review.

Blij, H. d. (2005). Why Geography Matters (92-96). Oxford University Press.

McMenamin, B. (1996). Environmental imperialism. Forbes V. 157:10, 124-132.