ARE WE CUTTING WORLD PEACE INTO PIECES ?

There is something ascribed or acquired state of mind called mental peace. It provides calmness, stability and sustenance. Peace within, may or may not be dependent on a setting or locality around us or in work place.There is also a thing called favourable social condition. Last comes peace in international conditions or settings.

While peace at individual level can come with inner calm, walking in nature, feeling for harmony etc, social peace may be ensured by community harmony, living in a congenial setting with neighbours in a non-provocable or non- violent environment.

World Peace

World peace should denote absence of war or conflict, a state of tranquility and an effective desire to aspire truce or ceasing of all fires, emanating now from ballistic missiles and lethal drones.

In short, there should be no effort for causing hurt, hostility or violence.There should be least conflict and same can be ensured if people can facilitate goodwill, morality and mutual respect. Feeling of superiority will have to be set aside to make way for togetherness and giving space to a fellow friend, man or woman.

U.S.A. : A Contrasting OR Contradicting Situation ?

If we look at U.S.A. especially its current leader, the gigantic country has been mostly moving contrary to tenets of peace in world setting. A large number of heads of states in all the continents have lost power due to U.S. triggered developments. Inside the country too its not a smooth sailing situation with demonstrations being held every now and then, the latest being No King Protest involving seven million Americans in one day. It has been creating strife everywhere for eighty years. Several countries have not only listened to but have been also compelled to follow the dictates of U.S.A. If fellow feeling was to be taken cognisance of, world could have been a better place. It would not have been divided, sub divided and fragmented into Groups, such as, N.A.T.O., E.U., G-7, G-20, B.R.I.C.K.S., S.C.O., A.S.E.A.N., S.A.A.R.C., Q.U.A.D. etc.

And mind it ,U.S.A. not only pokes its nose in all such conglomerations but also manages to get membership and has its say, everywhere.

Many of its Presidents from Richard Nixon to George Bush to Donald Trump not only have ignited conflict but have also ensured regular supplies of arms and ammunitions directly or through a third party.To make matters worse, relatively new countries born out of supression and being victim of racialism, such as, Israel, are ever ready to strike at indicated targets throughout the year.U.S.A. also sees to it that post war repairs & restorations are also awarded to their firms.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was probably the first one to espouse and propagate peace together with truth and non violence. But contrary to popular belief he was not taken seriously or else a handful of disturbances would not have been recorded during the freedom struggle and his stand on the eve of independence may not have led to controversies. Two World wars would not have also taken place and Gandhi himself would have been conferred with Nobel Prize for peace either in his lifetime or posthumously.

Nobel Prize For Peace

A few did not deserve the recognition and acceptance through a Nobel Prize, yet they were considered. A few got it before they showed their act to the world, still a few were considered even when their efforts, instead of resolving a deep rooted crisis, saw to it that same is kept alive and issues linger on for posterity.

Gifting of Nobel Prize

World, unfortunately, also has seen current Nobel Peace Prize winner gifting her prize to one President who failed to qualify due to his acts of perpetrating a number of wars. But future political interest on the part of winner, perhaps, prevailed. The accepter described it “as a wonderful gesture of mutual respect”. For such a deviant act the Nobel Prize Committee needs to act to ensure sanctity and decorum.

Advent of Organised Violence Groups

Middle East or the Gulf region has been happy hunting ground for anti peace initiatives. Ever since Jews were settled next to Gaza Strip and West Bank, peace of Palestinians is gone. In addition, Islamic fundamentalism too emerged with setting up of Black September in 1969. One also kept on witnessing inhuman entities or peace disturbers, such as, Al Quaida, Talibans, Hezbollah, Hamas, Mosad, ISIS, Houthis, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jais-e-Muhammed and many others.Also focus, sometimes shifts to open war between two erstwhile friendly nations specializing in narco-terrorism.

Modus Operandi

When it comes to modus operandi, no longer face to face indoctrination may be necessary for recruitment of willing youngsters or for imparting field training. If whole world has become slave to Cell phones, normal Internet, Internet service directly from sattelite bypassing land based censorship, Text Messaging and Artificial Intelligence, why should such offenders and attackers lag behind ?

While investigating a recent fatal bomb blast in Delhi, it was discovered that training for nefarious acts, such as, bomb making, suicide bombing and planning an attack was being imparted by qualified engineers to practicing doctors through computer and videos.

Plight Of Venezuela, Greenland and Iran

Latest mega acts of forces inimical to peace are to kidnap a head of state and his spouse at the dead of night (after failure to declare one Juan Guaido as President unilaterally), to threaten a quiet autonomous country mostly having ice sheets and ice bergs and to interfere in internal affairs of another one, purely on suspicion. As all three have tremendous natural resources their not toeing the line of the super power in question, makes them vulnerable. Also every now and then ,Columbia , Cuba and Mexico are being threatened.

Greenland, an autonomous region under Denmark and having rich mineral resources is being threatened with aggression and subjugation for over a fortnight. As hard ice is melting gradually due to impact of climate change, new and short shipping routes are envisaged.

Unrest In Iran

Talking of Iran, protests against rapid rise in prices of essentials, substantial fall of local currency vis a vis U.S. Dollar and consequently high inflation have taken the shape of mass movement since December 28 in almost all the provinces. Over 5000 people have lost their lives and a large number of them have been detained. It is the deadliest unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Authorities are going ahead with execution of detenues as per their Islamic laws. As Trump has been commenting on deteriorating situation in a regular way and hinting at a possible attack, President of Iran has said that any U.S.strike would trigger a harsh response.Trump’s latest statement that it was time to look for new leadership in Iran, has further deteriorated the relationship between two countries.

Greenland Getting Tense Day By Day

NATO, the regional alliance of European nations seems to have woken up to prevent the act of uncalled for interference by U.S.A. in Greenland. But it is slow and lacks the requisite co-ordinated action against a fellow ally.

Lately, thousands have flooded Denmark streets in inclement weather to oppose Trump’s takeover plan. Demonstrations have been also organised in front of U.S. Consulate in Nuuk, capital of Greenland. Finnish President is the latest one to air his views. He is candid in saying that among allies, issues are best resolved through discussion, not through pressure.

Meanwhile Donald Trump has warned P.M.,Norway for not having considered his name for Nobel Peace Prize.Through a letter addressed to him,Trump has stated that considering his country’s decision, despite having stopped eight wars, he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace. World is not secure unless they have complete and total control of Greenland.

Several European leaders have issued sharp warnings following renewed remarks by Trump pertaining to Greenland. According to them any pressure on Denmark will tantamount to political coercion and a serious violation of diplomatic norms.

Soldiers, ships and aircrafts of Denmark, U.K., France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Netherland have assembled in an environment, no one can predict.

While France has opined that U.S. move will create a total new world order, the Chief of European Union has made it clear that Europe was united against the threats and tariffs to be declared by Donald Trump.

Though combined troops have begun joint exercises, getting adapted to extreme frozen conditions and winning confidence of 57,000 settlers used to isolation, are going to be up hill tasks.Operation Arctic Endurance launched by eight countries of Europe, however, looks determined to protect the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland.

Gaza Peace Board

Successive U.S. Presidents have ignored and encouraged Israeli tirade against Palestinians and naked use of arms and ammunitions in the Middle East. In retaliation to the 7th October 2023 episode leading to merciless killing of 1219 Israelis, large scale devastation was caused in Gaza strip and West Bank. Innocent adults and mal nourished children continue to suffer despite three Cease Fires in the recent past.

To apply balm to them in a typical Trump style a plan for Peace Board has been floated without any rhyme, reason and justification.

While Israel has considered the plan contrary to its policies, Pakistan, despite its involvement in all forms of terrorism, has given its willingness to join. India is not committing ostensibly in view of its interest in energy security and presence of 9 million strong Indian diaspora in the Middle East.

France appears aware but no commitment has been given by them. U.K. and Germany have felt its importance but are not giving their consent. President of European Commission is expected to discuss the matter with the member countries.Thus this plan of Trump too has been pushed to the backwaters.

TAILPIECE

When Trump Says He Is Not Obligated To Peace, Message Is Loud And Clear.

(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)