Although the war between Ukraine and Russia has dominated the news, other countries have been suffering through their own violent conflicts in recent years. In this and other pieces, I highlight contemporary wars and other conflicts that are too often overlooked. Sudan faces a looming civil war. Having long been plagued by political instability and … Continue reading Overlooked Conflicts: Sudan on the Brink
Category: Peace Activism
A Cause of Prejudice at Home? The Dangers of Anti-China Attitudes
US-China relations have continued to deteriorate this year. Issues ranging from Taiwan, to the presence of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the United States, to TikTok’s China ties have elevated tensions between the two countries.[1]Tensions between the United States and China are dangerous not only because they increase the risk of international conflict but … Continue reading A Cause of Prejudice at Home? The Dangers of Anti-China Attitudes
The Logic of Escalation: Nuclear Threats in Belarus and South Korea
Twice this year, within the span of roughly a month, two powerful nations issued threats based on their nuclear weapons arsenals. The first was Russia, which is stationing nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus and training Belarusians in how to use them.[1] The second was the United States, which is sending a nuclear-armed submarine to South … Continue reading The Logic of Escalation: Nuclear Threats in Belarus and South Korea
A Mission That Has Gone on for Too Long: The US Military Presence in Syria
A US contractor was killed by a drone attack in northeastern Syria earlier this spring.[1] The drone, which US officials identified as of Iranian origin, also wounded several US troops. In response, the United States launched airstrikes against Iranian-linked forces in Syria, killing an undetermined number of people (estimates vary).[2] The Iran-linked militants retaliated with … Continue reading A Mission That Has Gone on for Too Long: The US Military Presence in Syria
Overlooked Conflicts: Anarchy and Agony in Haiti
Although the war between Ukraine and Russia has dominated the news, other countries have been suffering through their own violent conflicts in recent years. In this and future pieces, I will highlight contemporary wars and other conflicts that are too often overlooked. NOTE: This piece discusses sexual violence and other human rights violations. Haiti is … Continue reading Overlooked Conflicts: Anarchy and Agony in Haiti
Comprehending Horror through Animation: The Art of the Anti-War Animated Movie
Animation fascinates me. Like painters, animators can create images of stunning beauty. Being free from the limitations of human actors or physical locations, animators can also depart from strict realism and create images that are fantastical, metaphorical, or otherwise stylized. Animation’s stylization can allow animated films to deal with darker, more serious topics such as … Continue reading Comprehending Horror through Animation: The Art of the Anti-War Animated Movie
Act before We Reach “Midnight”: The Need to Seek a Cease-Fire in Ukraine
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently announced that they had adjusted their “Doomsday Clock,” a symbolic measure of threats to humanity, to 90 seconds to “midnight”—that is, global catastrophe. This current status is the closest to midnight the Doomsday Clock has been in its 75-odd-year history. This dire prediction, the Bulletin has explained, is … Continue reading Act before We Reach “Midnight”: The Need to Seek a Cease-Fire in Ukraine
Overlooked Conflicts: The Grisly Toll of Ethiopia’s Civil War
Although the war between Ukraine and Russia has dominated the news, other countries have been suffering through their own violent conflicts in recent years. In this and future pieces, I will highlight contemporary wars and other conflicts that are too often overlooked. NOTE: This piece discusses sexual violence and other human rights violations. Ethiopia has … Continue reading Overlooked Conflicts: The Grisly Toll of Ethiopia’s Civil War
The Need for Peacemakers: Two Urgent Dangers That Require a Response
Peacemaking is urgently needed today. Peacemaking is needed in response to a variety of ongoing violent conflicts in the world. I will highlight just two conflicts that my own country, the United States, is currently involved in and that demand particular attention from peacemakers. The first is the ongoing conflict with Russia over Ukraine. The … Continue reading The Need for Peacemakers: Two Urgent Dangers That Require a Response
Stepping Back from the Brink: The Cuban Missile Crisis and Lessons for Today
We are now 60 years away from the Cuban Missile Crisis. The October 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba was a moment when the world came perilously close to nuclear war. The episode’s extraordinary danger has understandably made the crisis the subject of much … Continue reading Stepping Back from the Brink: The Cuban Missile Crisis and Lessons for Today
Peacemaking for Life 