Come together for United Action to Prevent Third World War

In recent days the Ukraine-Russia war has been changing in such ways that it starts looking more and more like a direct confrontation between Russia and the USA/NATO. This is because more and more destructive weapons have been supplied from the USA and other NATO member countries to Ukraine and in many cases such supplies also involve providing the technical expertise for using these weapons effectively. This is in addition to the supply of intelligence, satellite and other surveillance data. Now with increasing discussion of permitting use of supplied long range weapons for attacking deep into mainland or even heartland Russia, and with the likely Russian retaliation for this, the world has moved dangerously close to a direct confrontation between Russia and USA/NATO, and hence to World War 3 and nuclear war, with all its possibilities for destroying most life on earth.

At this critical juncture, some of the most respected elder statesman, diplomats, war-veterans, academics and peace activists of the world, particularly those based in western countries, should come forward for united action to try to prevent this very dangerous drift towards WW3.

They can issue appeals to the world’s top leaders and decision makers, particularly to the President of the USA and his most senior security, foreign affairs and defense officials. They can also address appeals to people making them aware of how dangerous the situation is. They can call for a peace movement involving several millions and millions of people to mobilize for demanding that their life should not be put to grave risk by actions leading to WW3, and that no one, no matter how powerful, has the right to create such extreme dangers for ordinary people who have elected their leaders to provide them and their children basic conditions of safety.

These elder statesman and renowned scholars known for their strong commitment to peace should also form delegations that will meet policy makers to discuss this most important issue with them and seek to impress upon them the importance of staying miles away from the most dangerous possibilities. After meeting policy makers the delegations of statesmen should report back to people what the policy makers have stated, and if any promises of safety have been made, there should be close monitoring to find out if these promises have been kept. If not, then the delegations should go back to policy makers regarding this, and keep on the pressure till some real remedial action is taken.

There should not be not just one appeal, or just one delegation. Instead the effort should be kept going till it is needed to prevent the most destructive possibilities.

In the course of these efforts several accompanying efforts, particularly by involving energetic youth and students, should be mobilized for taking these issues of safety and survival to as many people as possible so that more and more people become aware of the extreme dangers posed by wars and war escalations in times when such enormously destructive weapons are available that have the capacity to destroy all life on earth. In this way the overall efforts and movements for peace will also be strengthened and hence the benefits of this mobilization can be more durable.

The possibilities for this will increase further—and certainly efforts for this can be made—if the entire campaign inspires many people to devote their life to the cause of world peace and for preventing wars and conflicts. 

Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071.