Nearly every conflict in human history has been over a resource of some kind. Land, water, food, oil, mineral rights, timber, livestock, labor... something other than national pride or honor and glory is usually lurking around as subtext whenever man kills man on the field of battle. To avoid Flame Bait, please do not add any real life examples. The trope itself is a kind of Not Using the Z Word. Examples of No Blood for Phlebotinum include: