World on the Brink of Collapse

Modern warfare has made a quantum jump in lethality as its effects are no longer limited to loss of life and property. Rather, the wars these days affect every aspect of our lives, even making it difficult to breathe in fresh air. There is no gainsaying that if we allow the warring nations to experiment with their newly developed deadly weapons, we will lead this beautiful planet to destruction. So, it is time now for the entire world to raise its voice in unison to stop the ongoing conflicts, be it in Eastern Europe or the Middle East, at once. They should be asked to settle all disputes amicably through negotiations. The nations engaged in conflicts should be told in no uncertain terms either to respect global sentiments or to face punitive actions. They should be made to understand that no nation is powerful enough to force others to follow it blindly, irrespective of friendly ties between them. For instance, recently a couple of European nations have refused to join the US in the ongoing war against Iran. Similarly, the nations opposing war should have no links with the warring countries if they refuse to pay any heed to their requests by voluntarily surrendering strategic autonomy, at least for the time being. Overall, the message of zero tolerance against any kind of war should be delivered throughout the world to save this beautiful planet from being destroyed.

As a matter of fact, the world is already on the brink of collapse due to an invisible enemy called global warming, which is causing climate change. Deserts witnessing flood-like situations and wet areas going dry have now become a common phenomenon. To counter the huge threat, a commitment has been made to raise $1.3 trillion for climate finance by 2035 at the Belem Climate Summit in November 2025. But there is a big question mark on fulfilling the commitment, as global military spending was $2.5 trillion in 2025 itself, and going by the present trend, some nations, if given a chance, will like to spend more on war instead of combating climate change to ensure sustainable development. So, all diplomatic channels should be opened without any further delay to minimise the damage as much as possible by preventing the wars from continuing. Otherwise, the toxic cloud that engulfed Iran at the beginning of the month may be seen all over the world sooner, rather than later. Already, the famous fertile black soil of Ukraine has turned into a graveyard due to contamination by heavy metals.

Here, India's role becomes crucial. By not joining any blocs since Independence, the nation has carved out a niche for itself as a peace-loving country. But in the present situation, India is badly affected by the war mainly on two counts. Firstly, the country's energy security is threatened, and secondly, the lives of nine million strong Indian diaspora in the Middle East are in danger. So, without wasting any time, New Delhi should initiate a peace mission by propagating non-violence in this troubled time.