Points of Action

Over the last five years we have seen more and more signs of a dark winter (bio-attack) or a summer snow event (nuclear-missile-strike). The weather may be changing faster than we think unless we make some radical changes over the few years.

Over the last five years we have seen more and more signs of a dark winter (bio-attack) or a summer snow event (nuclear-missile-strike). The weather may be changing faster than we think unless we make some radical changes over the few years. Judge for yourself a few highlighted indicators the government (http://www.cia.gov/) tracks;

1997

• North Korea, Iran, and Iraq are working diligently on their ballistic missile programs.
• Terrorists flying no national flag are acquiring chemical and biological weapons.
• Terrorist groups continue to seek nuclear power to destroy a major North American city.

1998

• The terrorist trend is increasing towards massive lethal attacks against civilians.
• The greatest single catalyst of terrorism over the last few years: Usama Bin Ladin.
• Bin Ladin is railing against Israel and the US military presence in Saudi Arabia.

1999

• The government cannot guarantee it is able to anticipate biological terrorist attacks.
• Missile development is accelerating in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan and India.
• The security of Russian weapons of mass destruction materials is in question.

2000

• Iraq’s conventional military remains one of the largest in the Middle East.
• Japan’s is building a satellite imaging system over its concern with North Korea.
• Vietnam has acquired aircraft from Russia due to China’s military buildup.

2001

• North Korea has a space launch vehicle that can deliver a deadly payload anywhere on earth.
• North Korean missile sales are altering the balance of power in the Middle East and Asia.
• Iran has the ability to deliver long-range rockets anywhere in North America.

2002

• The risk of nuclear war between India and Pakistan is unacceptably high.
• Between now and 2015 terrorist tactics will inflict massive casualties.
• Iraq will have the ability to deliver long-range rockets to North America by next year.

Conclusion
Common sense or the “good” within us says we will take all necessary precautions to protect life on this planet but the current reality indicates a different story that “evil” has found and is willing to use technology for death and mass destruction. Lets face the facts that technology is being used by fanatics as we use smart bombs on smart terrorists and begin to look for new ways to build smaller more efficient nuclear weapons. Do we have the wisdom to face the challenge of finding world peace without weapons of mass destruction or military actions? The suggestion here is that peace is something beyond what can be achieved by any traditional system or sovereign state and that war is not a general law nor does it promote human progress. Most people in the world want peace and yet last year alone there was at least forty one regions throughout the world that were involved in some form of armed conflict. If the facts are to be known; modern governments have killed 147 million people. Think of how many of the most gifted people have been exterminated by genocide or have been subjugated by wars of aggression, oppression, attrition, liberation, religion or race.

The terrorist attacks last year have underscored the violent nature of the current social and political reality of our planet. Choices need to be made now by our leaders in order to sustain human existence. There is no silver bullet or single strategy for fighting or ending terrorism but we have the opportunity to redefine and build effective peace institutions in conjunction with phasing out and even abolishing institutes of war. We need to force ourselves as individuals to actively participate in creating peace in the most fundamental ways by helping settle the conflicts or issues that generate terrorist groups and provide the socioeconomic needs of those who might join terrorist groups. If we don’t teach for peace now, someone will push the button and launch a nuclear missile attack and it may not be us.

By:

Doug Snedden
doug.snedden@sympatico.ca

Author: Doug Snedden

News Service: TheExperiment Network Submission