The environmental impact of a war
War is a state of armed conflict
between societies. It is generally characterized by extreme collective
aggression, destruction, and usually high mortality. The set of techniques and
actions used to conduct war is known as warfare. There
exist many types of wars, for example, civil war, guerrillas war, religiuos
war, world war, etc. The
application of weapons, the destruction of structures and oil fields, fires,
military transport movements and chemical spraying are all examples of the
destroying impact war may have on the environment. Air, water and soil are
polluted, man and animal are killed, and numerous health affects occur among
those still living.
Main problems
Many women were raped as a tool of
intimidation, resulting in a rapid spread of sexually transmitted diseases such
as HIV-AIDS. The war has a devastating effect on the environment. National
parks housing endangered species are often affected for exploitation of
minerals and other resources. Refugees hunt wildlife for bush meat, either to
consume or sell it. Elephant populations in Africa have seriously declined as a
result of ivory poaching. Farmers burn parts of the forest to apply as
farmland, and corporate logging contributes to the access of poachers to bush
meat.
Water
Damage to sanitation structures by frequent
bombing, and damage to sewage treatment systems by power blackouts cause
pollution on the water. Two hundred blue plastic containers containing uranium
were stolen from a nuclear power plant located south of Baghdad. The
radioactive content of the barrels was dumped in rivers and the barrels were
rinsed out. Poor people applied the containers as storage facility for water,
oil and tomatoes, or sold them to others. Milk was transported to other regions
in the barrels, making it almost impossible to relocate them.
During the war, many dams and sewage water
treatment plants were targeted and destroyed.
Air
Oil trenches are burning, as was the case in
the Gulf War of 1991, resulting in air pollution. In Northern Iraq, a sulphur
plant burned for one month, contributing to air pollution. As fires continue
burning, groundwater applied as a drinking water source may be polluted.
In vivo inhalation studies and epidemiological
studies pointed out the impact of the dust cloud. Health effects from inhaling
dust included bronchial hyper reactivity, because of the high alkalinity of
dust particles. Other possible health effects include coughs, an increased risk
of asthma and a two-fold increase in the number of small-for-gestational-age
baby’s among pregnant women present in or nearby the Twin Towers at the time of
the attack.
Soil
Military movements and weapon application
result in land degradation. The destruction of military and industrial
machinery releases heavy metals and other harmful substances.
Bombs threaten much of the country’s wildlife.
One the world’s important migratory thoroughfare leads through Afghanistan. The
number of birds now flying this route has dropped by 85%. In the mountains many
large animals such as leopards found refuge, but much of the habitat is applied
as refuge for military forces now. Additionally, refugees capture leopards and
other large animals are and trade them for safe passage across the border.
Pollution from application of explosives
entered air, soil and water. One example is cyclonite, a toxic substance that
may cause cancer. Rocket propellants deposited perchlorates, which damage the
thyroid gland. Numerous landmines left behind in Afghan soils still cause the
deaths of men, women and children today.
The first impact of the atomic bombings was a
blinding light, accompanied by a giant wave of heat. Dry flammable materials
caught fire, and all men and animals within half a mile from the explosion
sites died instantly.
Campaign
“When you besiege a
city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not
destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them,
and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should
be besieged by you?” Deuteronomio 20:19
Give free conferences to teach everyone especially
children because they have innocent minds and we can teach them between what is
good and wrong.
We also want to create a video that shows the
damage that war makes in the environment and put a hashtag to make it viral.
Hand out brochures. And organize fairs in
public places where we can show people the consequences of wars in environment.
Taking little steps will show people to value life
will make a difference in the world.
Conclusion
War
is something that would result in devastating human and environmental consequences,
and set a dangerous precedent. So much innocent people are getting harmed with
things they are not asking for, little kids should not be born in a world like
this. Nowadays toddlers know how to use guns and they do not know what toys are,
most of them will not know many animals, plants or spaces of nature, thanks to
the war and the destruction that this brings. We hope in the future this could
change, and we can leaves all in peace and protecting our environment.
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