The blood on their hands...

The eerie silence from many countries towards the condoned genocide happening in Gaza says more than any word. Why the silence or the velvet-toned condemnation of the violence? Humanity is reaching its lowest point towards nature and its own kind.

From extreme weather, the pandemic, regional conflicts, and the rising cost of living, life is becoming unbearable for millions of people around the globe. Man-made tragedies? One can argue one way or another. It is known that complex political, economic, social, and military issues characterise conflicts, yet there are too many wars and fights currently happening, and some for too long already.

Conflict and power-grabbing practices sap away people’s concentration and focus from other more pressing issues, such as states snatching land or passing new laws or regulations. The promises from those elected or appointed to look after their citizens’ social and economic development disappear to give place to a high level of self-esteem and their logic of unlimited power over people’s destinies. The leaders representing their people’s and country’s interests enjoy and cherish their status quo and the authority that comes along. They are like little gods that, when they feel threatened, they push for oppression, aggression, or censorship.

Interestingly, and yet factually, it is men who are engaged in violence as ideologists, planners, developers, and the workforce. “The cultures and institutions that prepare for and deliver organised armed violence on behalf of the state or non-state armed groups are predominantly constructed by men, led by men, and filled with men”, says Hugo Slim, a researcher at the University of Oxford, on the topic of Masculinity and war – let’s talk about it.

Struggles, fights, and ethnic cleansing offensives are widespread all over the globe; certain regions have a higher volume of conflicts than others. Discriminatory government policies force segments of society to flee their countries or to take action against their governments.

There are currently at least forty-five military conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East. After beginning as a demonstration against the government in March 2011, the bloodshed in Syria has already lasted for 12 years, displacing almost 7 million people. Yemen's civil conflict began nine years ago. The series of ongoing persecutions and killings of the Muslim Rohingya people in Myanmar started in 2016. Their situation had gotten worse after the 9/11 tragedy in the United States due to the so-called ‘war on terrorism”. Afghanistan’s history is replete with wars and civil wars, including the Soviet-Afghan war, in addition to chronic poverty and natural disasters.

The all-embracing list of conflicts extends beyond the Middle East, where complex alliances may result in a variety of fighting scenarios. In Europe, Russia is warring against Ukraine and holding Crimea in Ukraine at the moment. Other conflicts and people displacements are also occurring in Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia. Conflicts are being caused by armed criminal groups in Colombia and Mexico.

One of the worst atrocities in South America is being committed against the indigenous people of Brazil, who are facing numerous challenges to their way of life due to multiple threats, including discrimination and denial of political and economic rights. Still in Brazil, the existence of armed ‘militias’, in Rio de Janeiro, which is made up of renegade police officers and drug dealers, terrorizes the population.

International organisations for peace and conflict studies are either weak or reluctant to settle the cases; lots of talks, meetings, and trips are like a chess game between leaders, governments, and institutions. Nothing happens! People lose their livelihoods and family members, while those who were supposed to look after their citizens and the country’s social and economic development continue enjoying their privileges and authority, never mind the blood on their hands.