When public order collapses, so does the weather forecast, and that has big implications for peacebuilding, according to a recent report on the importance of restoring meteorology systems in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

Water, energy, and demography – these were the themes of the most popular stories from last month. It seems natural resources and their consumption are on people’s minds.

The war in Darfur, which has in turns captivated the world’s attention and been ignored, is still on. In one of last month’s most-read articles, Brendan Bromwich writes that this is in part because of a flawed, simplified narrative about whether the conflict is primarily about politics or natural resources. It’s both, he writes, and without addressing this complexity, the peace process will not be successful.

The story of ECSP’s own John Thon Majok was the most read last month. The rising number of displaced people around the world is an immense tragedy, he writes, but refugees also depict the “maximum example of the human capacity to survive despite the greatest losses and assaults on human identity and dignity.” The concept of “refugee resilience” can help people see the strengths in those that survive such ordeals and give hope to those struggling through it.

Wildlife trafficking has exploded in recent years and now contributes significant funds to major criminal organizations and even terrorism. That puts it squarely in the realm of national security, according to a research project by the University of Texas, Austin. Cameron Lagrone and Josh Busby explain the connection in last month’s most popular post.

Psychological disorders following childbirth are incredibly common among women around the world, but are routinely ignored. It’s a “topic that has had to work hard to provide evidence about its fundamental importance,” said Jane Fisher at the Wilson Center. A Maternal Health Initiative panel on so-called perinatal common mental health disorders was the most popular story on the blog last month.

“The dynamics at play in Florida – massive infrastructure projects with unintended consequences, intensifying effects of environmental change, and political resistance – are a microcosm of what makes adjusting to climate change such a vexing societal challenge,” wrote Wilson Center Fellow Katrina Schwartz in April’s most popular post.

The Anthropocene is the idea that human activity is now so impactful and widespread, it shows up as a distinct phase in the geological record. This is a scary proposition in many ways, but it’s also an opportunity. True sustainability isn’t possible without humanity being able to understand and manage our interactions with the planet (and each other). Perhaps a new name for the modern era helps us get into that frame of mind.