Although the Ukraine-Russia war and the Gaza war have dominated the news, other countries have been suffering violent conflicts recently. In this and other pieces, I highlight contemporary wars and other conflicts that are too often overlooked. The civil war that broke out in Sudan in 2023 still rages in the summer of 2024. The … Continue reading “The Single Largest Humanitarian Crisis on the Planet”: Sudan’s Fall into the Abyss
Apocalypse Imagined: The Urgent Message of “Nuclear War: A Scenario”
Among the recent signs of renewed attention in the United States to the threat from nuclear weapons, perhaps the most important is the book Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen.[1] Published in early 2024, the book was a New York Times best-seller for several weeks and the focus of a well-attended webinar organized by … Continue reading Apocalypse Imagined: The Urgent Message of “Nuclear War: A Scenario”
A Slim but Real Chance for Peace: Seeking a Diplomatic Solution to the Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin may be interested in pursuing a cease-fire in the Ukraine war, Reuters reported in late May. According to sources close to Putin, he is willing to stop the fighting and maintain the current frontlines between Ukrainian and Russian forces. As one source reportedly said, “Putin can fight for as long as … Continue reading A Slim but Real Chance for Peace: Seeking a Diplomatic Solution to the Ukraine War
Crackdown on Campus: The Harsh Response to Pro-Palestinian Protests
The Gaza war continues to make itself felt in the United States, most notably in a wave of protests and confrontations across American college and university campuses this spring. Campus protests on behalf of the Palestinians and in opposition to Israel grew dramatically last fall after the October 7 attacks and subsequent Israeli campaign against … Continue reading Crackdown on Campus: The Harsh Response to Pro-Palestinian Protests
“A Tragedy Beyond Words”: The Devastating Effects of the Gaza War
More than seven months after the October 7 terrorist attacks, the Israeli war in Gaza grinds on, with no clear end in sight. The war’s most likely near-term outcomes are a continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and possibly a wider war in the Middle East. An end to the war and efforts to remedy the … Continue reading “A Tragedy Beyond Words”: The Devastating Effects of the Gaza War
Are We Finally Waking Up? Signs of a New Awareness of the Nuclear Threat
Nuclear weapons have threatened humanity’s survival for almost 80 years. During the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the nuclear threat received substantial attention and inspired significant anti-nuclear activism, such as the June 1982 rally against nuclear weapons in New York City that drew roughly 1 million people.[1] In the 21st … Continue reading Are We Finally Waking Up? Signs of a New Awareness of the Nuclear Threat
Linked Threats to Humanity: How Nuclear Weapons and Climate Change Are Connected
Among the threats to human life, nuclear weapons and climate change pose dangers that set them apart from many others. Nuclear weapons and climate change not only can kill people but can radically alter the planet in devastating ways. They can both kill and hurt people in the present and change our world in ways … Continue reading Linked Threats to Humanity: How Nuclear Weapons and Climate Change Are Connected
A Stalemate Is the Best Option: The Future of the Ukraine War
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has now entered its third year. The war currently seems to be a stalemate. However, either the Russians or Ukrainians might have a break-through and rapidly gain ground, potentially leading to a crisis for the losing side. The risk also remains of the war escalating into a broader conflict between … Continue reading A Stalemate Is the Best Option: The Future of the Ukraine War
Ripples from Gaza: The Threat of a Wider Middle East War
The Gaza War has taken a terrible human toll within Israel and Palestine while also threatening to escalate into a larger regional war. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had violent repercussions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and the Red Sea. The recent strikes by the United States and its allies on Yemen are the latest … Continue reading Ripples from Gaza: The Threat of a Wider Middle East War
World Out of Balance: Reflections on Selective Concern about Violent Conflicts
I have periodically written about violent conflicts that are generally overlooked in the United States. In 2023, I reviewed Ethiopia’s recent civil war, the collapse of Haiti’s government, and Sudan’s civil strife.[1] Given that these bloody and tragic events have attracted comparatively little attention, I must ask: Why do some conflicts receive significantly more attention … Continue reading World Out of Balance: Reflections on Selective Concern about Violent Conflicts
Peacemaking for Life 