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Original photo by Leo on Unsplash

Why is there such an inevitability about war? 

Why is war seen as a solution and why do we treat it as though it’s normal, like it’s a natural disaster we can barely contain? Humanity has made countless mistakes in war and yet we refuse to learn from the catastrophes we create. In the words of those who say "Lest We Forget", never forget that every war is man-made. Every war is a choice. Why? Why do we choose war and in so doing, why do we choose to destroy peace? 

Peace never recovers from war. The legacy of war lives on for decades through trauma, displacement, disease, poverty, injury, grief, depression, fear, slavery and revenge. For millions of people, the trauma and violence never ends. War is the only life some people live.

What can we do? 

Apart from avoiding the bad news and trying to get on with our lives, we can always try to gain knowledge and understand why the world lives under an endless shadow of war. If you go on this journey, the answer you find will not be easy to take - but at the very least, you can be empowered by the knowledge that so many experts and activists, despite knowing war exists for a reason, spend their lives trying to make a difference and affect change.

If there was a dream we could turn to reality, world peace would be at the top of the list because of the far-reaching consequences war has all over the world. Armed with hope and knowledge rather than tanks and guns, people can make change happen. Maybe we can achieve something that right now seems impossible to imagine. If war exists for a reason, there must be a way to stop it. 

If war is created by humans, it can be stopped by humanity.

There are two invaluable sources of information if you want to learn more about war and why it dominates our lives.

COSTS OF WAR PROJECT 

Costs of War Project conducts and publishes research to facilitate debate about the ongoing consequences of the United States post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere; the costs of the U.S. global military footprint; and the domestic effects of U.S. military spending. Created in 2010 and housed at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs*, the Costs of War project builds on the work of over 60 scholars, experts, human rights advocates, and physicians from around the world. 

*The Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs is an interdisciplinary research center at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Its mission is to promote a just and peaceful world through research, teaching, and public engagement.

WORLD BEYOND WAR

World Beyond War was founded on January 1st, 2014, when co-founders David Hartsough and David Swanson set out to create a global movement to abolish the institution of war itself, not just the “war of the day.” If war is ever to be abolished, then it must be taken off the table as a viable option. Just as there is no such thing as “good” or necessary slavery, there is no such thing as a “good” or necessary war. Both institutions are abhorrent and never acceptable, no matter the circumstances. So, if we can’t use war to resolve international conflicts, what can we do? Finding a way to transition to a global security system that is supported by international law, diplomacy, collaboration, and human rights, and defending those things with nonviolent action rather than the threat of violence, is the heart of WBW.  Our work includes education that dispels myths, like “War is natural” or “We have always had war,” and shows people not only that war should be abolished, but also that it actually can be. Our work includes all variety of nonviolent activism that moves the world in the direction of ending all war.