The how and why of global peace

Kush
Indus International School
India

'Peace is more than simply the absence of war; it is the presence of justice'. Martin Luther King Jr.

'There is no way to peace, peace is the way'. Mahatma Gandhi.

It is commonly said that global peace will only exist when there is an absence of war. Well, I think global peace can only occur when many major and minor issues have been addressed. It is currently impossible to achieve global peace because of the following issues.

The unequal distribution of wealth brings poverty, a division between the rich and the poor and corrupted governance. I have lived in two less economically developed countries, India and Kenya. I have seen slums and unhygienic areas in both these countries. This shows how bad poverty is in the world. In India about 170 million people don't get good drinking water. Nearly 50 million children in the age group of six to 13 do not attend school. About 5.7 million people are living with HIV and are not given assistance because of poverty. When the distribution of wealth is unequal, crime and corruption are unavoidable. A lot of injustice and bribery also occurs as a result.

Terrorism is another cause of the destruction of peace. Terrorism, like the 9 /11 acts and the Mumbai blasts, has been happening in the world for many years. The main reason for this are fanatical beliefs due to religion, fundamentalism and intolerance towards each other.

Narcotic drug addiction leads to crime and smuggling, and creates illegal wealth. This indirectly leads to arms trading, wars, and ethnic violence, which eventually leads to the undermining of global peace.

Racism creates violence and may even lead to war. Major incidents of racism have occurred, for example, in South Africa and in India. Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi fought against racism through non-violence that ultimately led to freedom, independence, self-governance, peace and harmony in their countries.

The struggle for power by wealthy nations justifies arms races and large defence budgets. This causes inequality and an urge to dictate to other nations. This greatly affects global peace.

Environmental degradation creates disharmony and natural disasters. For example, the fight for fossil fuels, global warming, and tropical rainforest destruction will eventually lead to the mass extinction of animal and plant life. It is predicted that global warming will make fresh water scarce and will create wars for water.

How do we bring peace to the world?

Mahatma Gandhi said that peace is the way, but people tend to say that this is impossible to follow. I think peace is the way if people are united towards achieving individual peace. When there are disagreements between countries, or groups within the country, the international community should come forth and try to make peace through a number of ways. The United Nations is often the organisation that responds to conflicts. In a case of a natural disaster, they come to the aid of the victims. The United Nations was set up in 1945, in the aftermath of World War Two, when representatives of 51 countries drew up the United Nations Charter. When states become members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. It is the main means of harmonising the actions of nations. The United Nations is not a world government and it does not make laws. It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. At the UN, all states, large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems, have a voice and a vote in this process.

According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

• To maintain international peace and security
• To develop friendly relations among nations
• To cooperate in solving problems within countries
• To promote respect for fundamental human rights.

Through UN efforts, governments have concluded many multilateral agreements that make the world a safer, healthier place with greater opportunities and justice for all of us. This comprehensive body of international law, including human rights law, is one of the UN's greatest achievements.

The UN responses to conflicts have included various approaches. Economic sanctions have been important. Members of the UN can refuse to trade with certain nations which are aggressive, disrupting the peace of its people and/or neighbouring countries or those which disregard the human rights of their citizens. Examples include apartheid-era South Africa, and Iraq from 1990 to 2003 and the genocide in Darfur and Rwanda. Sanctions are intended to damage the economy and encourage the country to cooperate.

Sending peacekeeping forces is also another option. Peacekeeping forces, called the 'Blue Helmets' because of their unique headgear, are sometimes sent to countries to ensure that ceasefires hold and to protect civilians. There is currently a force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Peacekeepers are sometimes permitted to use force in self-defence.

Sending troops, which are authorised to use force is also another possible response. The UN has occasionally created their own army and have sent them to settle a conflict. These armies are made from troops that come from many countries.

In Kuwait in 1991, a UN force led by the USA, removed invading Iraqi troops in what is now called the First Gulf War. In Korea in the early 1950s, a UN force, also led by the USA, supported South Korea's military effort during the civil war. In Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, the UN authorised air strikes against Bosnian Serb military targets.

The international community can also play an important role in maintaining global conditions that make it likely that conflicts will not start in the future. International law and cooperation between nations will prevent conflicts starting, and help resolve disputes peacefully.

There are also other ways to help create peace. Major sporting events, for example, bring many nations together. The best-known examples of these are the Olympics, and the World Cups. These competitions unite all nations. They therefore contribute to creating peace between nations.

Scientists say that it is too late to stop global warming, but it is not too late to reduce it. By reducing global warming, we will ensure the future of coming generations. By growing more plants and helping our environment to remain clean we will reduce the risk of conflict.

The Red Cross/Crescent is another group that works side by side with the United Nations. They have done a marvelous job to come to the aid of many people in various conflicts and human or natural disasters. Individually we must support these groups in order to help maintain global peace.

Scientific research for warning systems for any natural disasters will help in evacuation, emergency preparedness and safety for humans and animals. This will help give advanced warning of major natural disasters, like tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, ozone depletion, volcanic eruptions and many more.

The economically developed countries must continue helping poor nations to overcome poverty related conflicts. For example, affordable AIDS medicine and cheaper educational grants and scholarships need to be supported. All nations could work together to eradicate drug usage and crime and create campaigns of awareness. This will ensure a better future for our next generations.

According to the author of Peace Within Our Grasp, Crandall R. Kline Jr., there are various rules needed for world peace. These can be stated as follows.

1. Nonviolence: No one has the right to kill anyone else. Groups of people have no more right to kill than individuals have. Governments have no right to kill anyone.
2. No Aggression: Lives and land are sacred. Nations have no right to invade another, kill the people or take their land.
3. Defence: A nation that has a non-repressive government has a right to defend itself from an invasion or revolution.
4. Guilt: The nation that initiates or supports an invasion, revolution or terrorism is the guilty party. If their army is on another nation's land, they are the guilty party.

In order to create global peace, we first need to start to have peace within our homes and then expand peace through out the world.

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