You're exactly right, the rise of the rest has created a huge demand on finite resources. China's market alone uses over half of the world's cement. The growing middle classes and their higher expectations for a Middle Class life (cars, T.V., houses, and so forth) will continue to expand until it can no longer be supported. To maintain stability at home states will have to secure access to needed materials, and that is where the clashes may very well be the future.

We can always hope that science and technology can stay one step ahead of the problem, but even in our country it is politically incorrect to invest in green energy technology, talk about water conservation, or even change the light bulbs we use. China and India don't want to hear our recommendations, since we built our economy through huge expenditures of energy.

Everyone focuses on oil, and while important, but I suspect there will be other resources that ultimately result in conflict such as territorial fights over fishing rights, etc.