Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs(energy shortage and the pains of hunger) is a well known theory (in human psychology) with five modeled levels within a bottom-top pyramid. Importantly, the most fundamental aspect of all levels is the three basic needs; which include “food”, “shelter” and “clothing”. They are physiological in nature because man’s survival mechanism is dependent and focuses much on the essential biological requirements that support life for human sustainable existence. Food therefore, is an established basic survival need for man’s existence because biologically it supplies energy to man through some metabolic processes. This is utilised by man to maintain life and also utilised to walk, work and is expended in so many other biological activities (including reproduction). Without food, man will definitely go hungry, energy shortage and the pains of hunger may result in health related problems, which may further lead to death (an eventual termination of life).
As food supplies energy to man for sustainable existence, so is energy generated, produced and consumed in the society for various human activities that are essentially driven to sustainably support economic, commercial and social needs of a society. Without this the economy of the entire society may collapse. This brings to the fore the essence of an energy supply chain, one that is sustainably maintained seamlessly and also guarded jealously, all over the world without hiccups. Discussing a global energy shortage alongside the general pains of hunger being experienced by people in all locations of the global village becomes a worrisome issue. Without any ambiguity of facts and empirical data, human beings cannot function properly, in all aspects of human endeavours and societal activities, without adequate provision, sufficient supplies and effective accessible energy being readily available, for daily human activities at all times. It is the sustainable energy being consumed that drives all human activities, which further creates wealth through efforts the society puts into productivity. The biggest risk man may run in contemporary society is to go hungry without food, same thing applies to the global economy if it experiences energy shortage; as presently being observed due to the ongoing war in Iran, which has resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranians, a spot known to be an important international maritime gateway for the global energy supply route for oil vessels and natural gas tankers.
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Food crisis should be avoided in all parts of the globe by all means because, already, the impact of the tension in the Gulf has sent ripple effects in places like Philippines and Somalia, with acute shortages of energy and food respectively (which might spiral beyond human expectation, just the way the global village experienced the death pangs of COVID-19 that swept off human lives in many countries in 2020). The people of the world should not be subjected to these untold hardships, which have resulted from disputes between some other nations. The pains of hunger might escalate into a high rate of human mortality as already been feared, but should be put under serious control. The disagreement between Iran and the US should not be allowed to linger unnecessarily; especially now that the Pakistani President is brokering a peace truce that may save the world from unimaginable catastrophe. The leadership of these warring nations should tread with caution by strategically applying unusual wisdom that might save mankind from all forms of mortality threats, which include unguarded, sudden usage of nuke by any aggrieved party. Optimal international diplomacy is highly needed at a critical time like now, to be applied as negotiations go on; basically for provision of relief from hostilities to douse tensions of energy shortage and food scarcity from escalating further, globally.
Disputes are better settled amicably between warring factions, especially when the parties involved must have realised internally where they all got it wrong. There is no point trying to drag the entire global village into irreparable losses, when the entire costs are counted. Wisdom should now play a very critical role on the table where sensitive issues that bother on man’s sustainable existence in the planet earth are being treated. It is only those that lack wisdom that can unreasonably argue to a point of death, and behold, death is glaring before the entire humankind, with energy shortage and hopeless situation of hunger glaring before the entire world; with the issue of Hormuz closure lingering between the Iranians and the US. There is no doubt that the two sides must have learnt one important lesson or the other, with what has happened since 28 of February 2026; when the US-Israeli strikes hit Iran. Our pleading at this point in time is, “let peace reign supreme”. Word of wisdom teaches that “one tactically and strategically escapes from attacks, to live and fight another day”, until the scores are finally settled.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and all ensuing hostilities going on in that region should be wisely de-escalated, for energy supplies and food production hiccups to quench for now, until a lasting solution to the disagreement is finally realized. The energy supply value chain and the global food security ought to be sustainably protected first through a unanimous global resolution by all the economies of the world.
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