Pre-ramble[sic]
The hundreds of trillions of Dollars equivalent spent by humanity on war during its brief occupation of planet Earth is mind-boggling. The cost of the damage done is incalculable. The number of human lives lost is unimaginable, how much brilliance is lost forever?
- Some sneer at my antiwar stance.
- Some sneer at my current screaming about one war, why not scream about them all?
- Some get annoyed at my anti-violence stance, what would you do if attacked?
- Fine, but how does all this nonsensical violence and preparation for violence affect you, on a scientific basis?
Ok.
Something happens and some people get all excited and declare war.
The government has no problem pulling trillions of dollars out of thin air, the aftermath being by far the most expensive part.
Yet.
They will turn around later and say Oh, but we cannot afford universal health care.
What absolute bollocks.
But war has driven innovation!
The space race created more. There is nothing wrong with competition, imagine if the same amount of money had not been wasted on war and had been invested in peacetime needs, food production, and free cheap, and non-polluting energy production. It all depends on what goal men set as being of value [and yes I intentionally wrote “men” which is historically accurate]. Personally, I am sick and tired of testosterone-driven lunacy, but that is for another day. [Read the WoW D-Kos diaries for a starter]
Right to the objective of my Diary.
A good reference and source organisation. [I suggest having a real dig around, there are also plenty of links to other papers and organisations]
Particularily
The first international Military Emissions Gap conference Military and Conflict GHG Emissions: From Understanding to Mitigation
Unexploded ordince
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) is a term used internationally to represent explosive devices that have not detonated as intended. These devices are usually military munitions such as landmines, grenades, bombs, etc., but it can also include explosives used in construction and land development projects. These explosive devices have been primed for action and deployed, but they did not detonate for different reasons (usually malfunction). These devices become an issue when they are located in an area that is deemed an unacceptable risk to the local population, structures, or current operations. UXO is a significant threat to local populations because most people do not realize its existence in their area. Buried UXO is also a significant contamination threat to the environment. The chemicals located within the UXO can leach into the soil and groundwater, which can then contaminate the local population’s drinking water. This is not a new threat. It has been around since the late 1800s, and it can be located anywhere from combat and former war zones, to inactive firing and test ranges. This is a threat that is present both domestically and internationally.
In Europe any major development in a major population centre may require CAT scanning for UXO from WW1 and 2 before planning permission is granted.
Some of the leftover ordinary military garbage causes instant removal from life
Landmines, which can be produced for as little as $1, do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Their use violates international human rights and humanitarian laws.
They not only cost lives and limbs, but also prevent communities from accessing land that could be used for farming or building hospitals and schools as well as essential services such as food, water, health care and humanitarian aid.
War leaves a toxic legacy that lasts long after the guns go quiet. Can we stop it?
The number of armed conflicts currently raging around the world is the greatest since the end of the Second World War. These wars can leave toxic environmental legacies and cause untold damage to human health.
One-quarter of the world’s population, or two billion people, live in countries experiencing war. They include Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Sudan, Haiti and the Sahel region in Northern Africa.
Violent conflict causes substantial environmental damage – polluting air, water and soil, and damaging human health over the long-term.
Chemical weapons and toxins are still being used in current wars. The United Nations last month formally adopted principles to protect the environment in armed conflict. Concrete action is now needed to implement them.
Insight: World's war on greenhouse gas emissions has a military blind spot
LONDON/WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - When it comes to taking stock of global emissions, there's an elephant in the room: the world's armed forces.
As temperatures hit new highs, scientists and environmental groups are stepping up pressure on the U.N. to force armies to disclose all their emissions and end a long-standing exemption that has kept some of their climate pollution off the books.
Among the world's biggest consumers of fuel, militaries account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2022 estimate by international experts.
The sheer waste of it all.
How many brilliant minds have been wasted or cut short for this genital waving madness,
This will not be my last diary on this subject.