By now, daily the Media convey the images of war coming from Russia and Ukraine or the Middle East. There are so many other wars in the world that are little talked about but which, day after day, continue to sow death and destruction.
The Cyber war, the war of disinformation and fake news, continues to be fought constantly. Even, NewsGuard identified more than 270 false narratives related to the war between Russia and Ukraine and discovered 644 sites that facilitated the spread of fake news. In this climate of fear and uncertainty, there are those who believe in peace and hope for disarmament.
The article written by researcher Enzo Risso, published in Il Domani, is really interesting because it highlights the many faces of peace loved by Italians.
Risso highlights that “56 conflicts are active in 2024, the highest number recorded since the end of World War II, according to the Institute for Economics & Peace (June 2024).” In addition, he explains that “recent research (November 2024) brings to light the multiplicity of peace visions that dwell in the country, making it possible to draw up a ranking of the different drives, pushes and counter-pushes.”
The numbers show that: “In first place is a dialogical and educational conception of peace (put forward by 22.7 percent), which places emphasis on dialogue, mutual understanding, education and promotion of human rights. In second place we find a processual and intimist view (14.2 percent), which speaks of peace in terms of an individual process (‘peace begins within ourselves’) and develops an approach similar to that advocated by the philosopher Spinoza: peace understood as a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition to benevolence, trust, and justice. In third place is a skeptical view (13.9 percent): those who consider peace a utopia, a beautiful but unattainable ideal because ‘conflict is the natural state of human relations.’ Of almost similar weight, but opposite predisposition, is the egalitarian view (12.1 percent). This segment believes peace is possible, but its realization is subject to the elimination of economic and social inequalities (‘true peace can exist only in a completely egalitarian society’).”
In the rest of Italy there are other minority positions and also a split. “Public opinion appears to be split in two on the real possibility of reaching a real and comprehensive peace today: 50 percent possibilistic, while 45 percent skeptical (the rest do not know).”
Pope Francis continues his appeals to call for peace. After the Angelus on the first Sunday of Advent, as reported by the vaticannews portal, he shouted “his repudiation for conflicts, of every kind and nature and their consequences,” saying, “War is a horror, war offends God and humanity, war spares no one, war is always a defeat, a defeat for all humanity.” The Holy Father also recalled what is happening in Lebanon and Syria.
The world is marked by suffering and worry. To make matters worse, artificial intelligence and new technologies are being exploited to kill humans, and this is unacceptable.
War is devastating and hatred continues to take over. Peace is a common, global good and a universal need. Men, women and children are being deprived of their dignity, identity, freedom and the greatest gift that can exist: life.
The Great Ones of the Earth must work to stop wars by focusing on dialogue and the rediscovery of values and engaging seriously. A world of peace is still possible and we must not lose hope.
No one can continue to remain indifferent in the face of so much horror because, just as Pope Francis said, Humanity at this moment appears defeated.
The article Too many wars and the need for peace comes from TheNewyorker.
