While the online newspaper The Times of Central Asia reports on a number of topics, many headlines focus on the interrelated issues of oil, water, and transportation links. Central Asia has vast oil and natural gas fields, especially in the Caspian Basin. Countries in this region also generate revenue from mineral extraction and cotton production, but these industries cause severe environmental degradation. Even the wealthiest of these countries is poor and faces water stress as well as economic (and therefore political) instability. For example, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which together have the region's largest supply of freshwater, have no way to move their water to market since, like other Central Asian countries, they have poor transportation and communications infrastructures.

If you were a private consultant hired by a North American oil company, what would you advise your management regarding investment in Central Asia?

In 2002, nearly four million Afghans were living as refugees in other countries, while roughly one and a half million people were internally displaced within Afghanistan. Iran, the destination of choice for most Afghans, has repatriated several tens of thousands of people, not all of whom go back willingly. On the border with Pakistan, thousands more wait for assistance and direction as they refuse to return to their villages but are denied entrance to another country. Others fled to the mountains but are not safe there either as the U.S.-led War on Terror continues to be fought in Afghanistan.

Imagine that you are forced to leave your home to escape violence. You must leave quickly and can take only what you can carry yourself. What would you take, and why? Who would you travel with? Where would you go?

A commonly seen bumper sticker in the U.S. reads "Free Tibet!" referring to China's control over the formerly independent area. Web sites by Tibetan exiles and the government of China present opposing views. Similarly, activists protesting China's control of Inner Mongolia state their arguments in a Free Southern Mongolia Web site that has a page on the history of Mongolia over the last 50 years.

From your review of these sites and the information in the text, which arguments do you favor? Explain your answer using information from these and other Web sites.