A Game Of Bones

Pooja Krishna H A, reporting from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), elaborates on the conflicts in today’s world.

‘Is this the man of thousand thrones

Who strewed our earth with hostile bones’

-Ode to Napolean Bonaparte, by Lord Byron

There are conflicts in every direction one turns. In the midst of all the wars and battles, 192 countries have pledged to uphold the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) proposed by the United Nations Organization, the primary one being Goal number 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Why would an international organization declare peace to be a developmental goal? Well, there seems to be a lack of the same.

First, let us look at some of the major conflicts in the world.

1. The Israel-Palestine Conflict: This conflict first came into existence in the 19th century, when Jews fleeing anti-semitic Russia took shelter in Palestine. The conflict intensified when the Palestinians expressed opposition to the League of Nations’ promise to the Jews to create a homeland in Palestine, called Israel. Throughout the conflict, Israel has fought with Palestine, Egypt, Syria, and other Arab countries, and is currently fighting with the same for the occupation of the Gaza Strip.

2. The Syrian Civil War: The country erupted into a civil war, fighting the government forces for control over the cities, towns, and the countryside. The conflict has turned uglier over the years, with biological and chemical weapons being utilized in the fight. When last checked, the death toll stood above 250,000 people, and the immigration count was well over 4.5 million. The Syrian Civil War has also resulted in tension between the USA and the Russian Federation, as the latter has extended its support to the government of Syria, and it is the USA that the refugees migrate to; thus, causing an imbalance in the American economy.

3. The Mexican Drug War: Mexico is infamous for two things: drugs and human trafficking. The Mexican conflict is not between the government and the public; it is between the cartels of Mexico. This affects the innocent public adversely. Fights break out practically every week, with thousands of vigilante groups being formed across the nation. Death tolls have risen dramatically in 22 of Mexico’s states. This conflict has also come to be known as the second deadliest war of 2016.

These wars and conflicts that plague the world disrupt peaceful existence and affect everyone in the world. The solution to this? Implementing SDG number 17 – Partnerships To Achieve Goals.

Yes, people. All the countries must form partnerships with each other. If even one of the Goals is to be achieved, be it the eradication of poverty and hunger, the protection of life under water and on land, or the building of safe and resilient cities. But, the scenario today? Each country is either fighting within itself or fighting with what it considers it archenemy. Be it India and Pakistan, USA and Russia, or Afghanistan and the rest of the world; no one is ready to come to a consensus. No one is ready to just calm down and look at possible solutions to the conflict. In the end, the innocent are the ones affected.

There’s this saying in English that, perhaps, everyone is aware of; ‘It takes two to tango.’ No one country or party can be blamed for starting a war. It takes two or more parties to fight each other.

It can also be interpreted in a positive way. This saying only emphasizes the importance of mutual effort to reach a middle ground. It is not enough for just one country to decide that it wants to stop fighting. Both parties involved must reach that conclusion.

The only solution to this problem is to modify the countries’ foreign policies, which the people in power are not prepared to do. So, one can safely say that an impasse has been reached; a paradox: everyone wants peace, but no one is prepared to stop the war.

In short, it is a game of bones, in which everyone is forced to play – the rich and the poor; the powerful and the weak; the brave and the meek.