War never ends with a bang, but rather a whimper, not only for war torn soldiers but also for every day folk that find themselves in the fray. It is children, women and elderly who more than often the soft target. The bitter truth they have to swallow is that they are losing their homes, families, education and even childhood. Children who are raised under the shadow of war are raised on fear, post traumatic stress, and loose hope. They cannot play happily; they cannot study in tranquillity; they cannot even dream of things to come, for echoes of explosions and cries of death colour their every day.
One of the wars in history that had an influence thanks to is World War II (1939–1945). This war engaged most of the world’s nations and led to around 70 million deaths. Cities were reduced to rubble, economies collapsed and millions of people were turned into refugees. The Holocaust epitomized the horrors of war, when millions of Jews were slaughtered by order of the Nazi authority. World War II witnessed as well the first use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which demonstrated the devastating potential of modern warfare on human beings..
It’s really hard to stay safe in a time of war. But there are strategies civilians can use to defend themselves. One is to follow the advice of local authorities, reaching safe areas such as underground bunkers or evacuation centers and stocking up on food and clean water. And don’t forget education on emergency safety along with a family evacuation plan is so important, too. Today, in times of war, communication tools like mobile phones and radio can be lifesaving when it comes to getting vital information when it really counts.
But far more essential, is to prevent war itself. In order to end wars and remotely pressure peace amongst nations, not only the governments, international organizations and media but as well as the society has to go hand to hand. Schools need to develop peace education at the earliest stage. Interfaith and intercultural dialogue must be enhanced in order to avoid misunderstandings that may result in conflicts. Countries must exercise diplomacy and settle disputes in lawful ways and not with force. Furthermore, economic equity, social justice, and human rights are the indispensable bases upon which to attain peace.
War is devastating, but as long as we all work to keep it alive, the possibility of peace is also alive. We can achieve a world without war if we simply respect one another, work together, and if we cannot already tell – never give up the fight over what is right and what is wrong.
