It is already five days, since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February. There seems to be no letting up, as the war continues to escalate. Everything seems to be going out of control; the entire world seems to be affected in some way or the other. When the US attacked Iran, President Donald Trump did so without the mandatory Congressional approval; he did not consult with the United Nations, and the US does not have the support of their traditional allies. Many are condemning the unjustifiable attacks on Iran. Spain has been outright in this condemnation with the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez referring to the attacks as “unjustifiable” and “dangerous”. In a televised nationwide address on 4 February, he said that Spain’s position was “no to the war” adding that “this is how humanity’s great disasters start … The world cannot solve its problems with conflicts and bombs.”

António Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, wasted no time in issuing a statement, unequivocally stating, “I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security. All Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter clearly prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

The United States/Israel axis has succeeded in killing the Supreme leader of Iran. On March 1,  the Iranian State Television reported that  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel airstrikes; also killed were Iran’s chief of army staff and defense minister and several other high ranking officials. Most of the world has condemned these murders stating that the US/Israel had no right to kill the head of State/ Government of another country. The world knows that this war on Iran, has nothing to do with the alleged nuclear weapons of Iran; it has everything do so with the Epstein files (a cover-up for Trump and the other big names); of the desperate need of the US to have oil from Iran to complement (and to thin) the crude oil they have robbed from Venezuela. Then, on the other hand, we have Netanyahu: his falling ratings in Israel, coupled with his war crimes against the Palestinian people! (For which is his a ‘wanted’ person in most parts of the world!)

The missiles attacks also destroyed a girl’s primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing around 150(mainly girl students) and wounding several others. UNESCO expressed deep alarm at the impact of the military attacks. It also noted that pupils in a place dedicated to learning are protected under international humanitarian law, and that “attacks against educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the right to education.”

Are the bullies of this world listening? Whose war is it, anyway? Several world leaders (not India) have condemned the attacks on Iran and the killing of their Supreme Leader and of innocent people.  Millions all over the world have come out on the streets, to protest, demanding that the war stops immediately! There is an outrage everywhere, as people rightly target the US and Israeli regimes and their military! Obviously, a good percentage of the media – controlled by the warmongers, will not highlight this reality (they are not reporting of how as a retaliatory measure, Iran has also destroyed several US bases in parts of the Middle East). There is enough of evidence and factual data, to show who the perpetrators of these terrible crimes against humanity are! There are cries for peace – underlining the painful reality, that in any war, the greatest victims, the people who suffer the most – are the poor, the vulnerable and marginalised; those who have to eke out a living; whose very existence is on their meagre daily earnings. Many of them have lost everything. Powerful nations (like Israel and the US) and their crony capitalist friends, unfortunately justify every attack, every bombing, and every killing! No one is looking at the consequences of war: of how reality irreversibly changes for the victims; how there is irreparable devastation and wanton destruction of both of life and property.

Endless debates have begun everywhere on this current war – and of who is winning! The plain truth is that no one is winning: our world is just becoming more insecure and unsafe! Thousands of travellers (particularly the international ones) are stranded everywhere! Several questions are being asked at every level: who decides whether any nation has the right to go to war, or attack the sovereignty of another nation? What about the role and responsibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)? The IAEA was established in 1957 – in the wake of what took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is an international organization that aims to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its use for military purposes; it serves as a global forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field. The IAEA’s work includes monitoring nuclear facilities, reporting on nuclear activities, ensuring safety, and fostering diplomacy. Why do nations, particularly the United States and Israel, not pay heed to these universal monitoring bodies? After the entire world said “Never Again!” post-World War II, and signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 – can the world’s people afford World War III?

Then there is the role of the arms and ammunition industry. President Dwight D. Eisenhower popularised the term ‘military- industrial complex’. In his farewell address on January 17, 1961, Eisenhower highlighted how the combination of a permanent military establishment and a large arms industry could lead to significant societal and political consequences. During his tenure as President, Eisenhower became increasingly convinced that corporate interests were beginning to monopolize national interests. This is exactly what is happening today. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) publishes annually a very objective and accurate data- base on military spending the world over and on the key corporations that make huge profits because of war. War, is a lucrative business!

Late Pope Francis minced no words in taking on the arms and ammunition industry saying that they promoted a ‘culture of death’ In September 2025, whilst addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress he stated unequivocally, “being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world… Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?” He answered it himself saying, “sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.” No one of course paid heed to his urgent plea!

In his path-breaking Encyclical (October 2020) ‘Fratelli Tutti’ (Brothers and Sisters All) he devoted an entire section titled ‘The injustice of war’ (#256-262). Among the several critical and urgent issues, which he raises, he states, “since conditions that favour the outbreak of wars are once again increasing, I can only reiterate “war is the negation of all rights and a dramatic assault on the environment. If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and peoples.  We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits. In view of this, it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a “just war”. Never again war! We are experiencing a “world war fought piecemeal”; since the destinies of countries are so closely interconnected on the global scene…Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil. With the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favour development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory solutions, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life.” These incisive statements from official Church teaching, is a call to immediate, substantial action!

Pope Leo XIV has been consistently bringing to the attention of world community the futility of war and why peace must be pursued and should triumph immediately.  On Sunday 1 March, during the Angelus message referring to the current war, he said, “stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering, and death, but only through reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue.” On 4 March, speaking informally to a group of journalists he said, “Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred. Hatred in the world is constantly increasing.”

Mahatma Gandhi once famously said, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” These words are so true today! In May 1969, in Montreal, Canada, Beatle John Lennon composed and sang the song together with Yoko Ono, ‘Give Peace a Chance’. It soon became an anthem of the anti-war movement during the 1970’s; thousands marched everywhere and sang

“All we are saying is give peace a chance

All we are saying is give peace a chance”

In the wake of the terrible war that has engulfed the world today,  we must not only sing song of peace and come out on the streets, but we all need to do all we can to Stop the War – IMMDIATELY!

March 5, 2026

(The author is an internationally renowned human rights, reconciliation and peace activist. He is also a prolific writer. Contact cedricprakash@gmail.com)  

Related:

India: Left at the forefront, opposition & people protests US-Israel attacks on Iran

Hegemony by might: Gaza, Iran and the failures of nuclear power politics

Iran war: from the Middle East to America, history shows you cannot assassinate your way to peace

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Most of the times when peace is spoken about as being a good thing, and when violence and war is spoken of with disapproval, friends, even seemingly peaceable ones, inform the spokesperson for peace, that he is being are naïve and idealistic.
During conversations, peace lovers are invariably told, “You don’t understand, ‘they’ (whoever they are), must be taught a lesson”. Apparently, the lesson should be imparted violently.

Violent reprisal is notjustifiable, yet these often-rational people become warriors from the safety of their homes, far away from the war zone. They believe within their hearts that violent retaliation and revenge is the right way to act, and say, “If ‘they’ kill forty, then ‘we’ should kill more than that”. “We should show them our strength”. The other thing they tell a peacenik is, “we didn’t start it. They started it”. Evidently, violent reprisal and bloodlust is justifiable to the armchair-in-front-of-the-TV warriors.

Supportingthe idea of war is an expression of patriotism. War mongeringpoliticians talk with immaturebelligerence (and this is accepted as the talk of a strong man), andtell citizens of the country that war and reprisal is the right thing to do, and, they tell the people, that war,and killing,is for the good of the country, and, that support for war, expresses patriotism. And,their patriotism is at stake if they don’t agree.

What these out-of-range war lovers, who follow the rhetoric of out-of-range politicians and hysterical, shrieking television anchors, don’t realise, is, that in war, people on both sides are injured, maimed, crippled, and die. And if they survive, they live a life that is damaged, physically and mentally.

Why do wars begin? It is usually because ‘Wars are good business’, according to Milo Minderbinder, Joseph Heller’s fictional character from the novel Catch 22.It is also because of the lust for powerand a show-of-power, by politicians,that could win electionsat the cost of human lives, property, the environment, civil liberties and human rights. In a politician’s lust for power, human lives do not matter. Politicians are masters of making speeches (that’s their job)that raise mass hysteria, and people become the puppets of politicians.
You fasten all the triggers/ For the others to fire/ Then you sit back and watch/ When the death count gets higher/ You hide in your mansion/ While the young people’s blood/
Flows out of their bodies/ And is buried in the mud.  Masters of War:Songwriter ~Bob Dylan

Wars are political tools – Wars are a collaboration between corporations that profit from war, and politicians (for all sorts of contracts, for reconstruction, for exploitation). It’s a collaboration of crony capitalists and politicians for electoral gains so that the collaboration can continue for as long as it can. It’s a collaboration between arms dealers and politicians. Arms dealers love wars because that’s how they sell their arms and ammunition. Wars are boom time for arms manufacturers (pardon the pun).
Come you masters of war/ You that build the big guns/ You that build the death planes/ You that build all the bombs/ You that hide behind walls/ You that hide behind desks/ I just want you to know/ I can see through your masks/ You that never done nothin’/ But build to destroy- Masters of War~songwriter Bob Dylan

Wars are profitable to politicians and business– Of the fourteen wars going on around the world, most of them are for mineral rights and oil, and some for real estate and expansion of property, of course some are also for the lust for power, and some–for sheer human cussedness (inhuman cussedness), such as Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Some wars begin when a nation does not want to do business with other powerful nations that want to exploit its oil resources, as is happening in Venezuela. Sometimes two nations do not see eye to eye on a piece of real estate, and they fight over it without caring about the people who live in that piece of real estate, in fact the people of these areas are trampled upon and punished for being centuries-old-inhabitants of the place, as is happening in Kashmir and Palestine.

The environment dies. People die- The use of weapons destroy structures and oil fields, fires breakout due to bombing. Military transport movements and the use of chemical weapons destroy the environment. Soil, water and air are polluted deliberately during war,and,as a by-product of war.
Rapid environmental degradation takes place in times of war due to damage to critical ecosystems. People struggle to survive. And, animals, plants and trees and insects that form the biodiversity of not just the area under attack, but of the whole ecosystem, are killed, and the health of inhabitants, human and other living and creatures, are affected. Habitats are destroyed. Cities and villages are destroyed, families are displaced,ecologies and economies are damaged. All living creatures become refugees. Displaced.

The biggest loss to war and violence, is the loss of humanity–The consequence of war is the creation of hatred, and,the loss of values. Human nature is at its worst when humans use all their talent and aptitude to eliminate other human beings. When human life is reduced to being the debris of war – to be incinerated or buried in the ground.If that is not the failure of human values. If that is not loss of humanity. What is?!!
War, huh, good god/ What is it good for/ Absolutely nothing, listen to me/ Oh, war, I despise/ ‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives/ War means tears to thousands of mothers eyes/ When their sons go to fight/ And lose their lives ~ War: Songwriters – Barret Strong / Norman Whitfield

Make war, not on terrorism, but on ignorance,Mr politician! Create a front that reaches primary education to the most far-flung areas. Make war on sickness, by strengthening primary health care. Challenge growing corporatisation and crony capitalistson a war footing. Confront growing inequality and fight for a more even distribution of wealth.Do battle on behalf of agriculture and the entry of GMO’s that are impoverishing our agriculture. And most importantly, wage war on environmental degradation and, stand up for tribal rights and our forests.

We must be peaceful. We must make peace with ourselves. Be clear headed, and make peacemaking our undertaking. And, instead of supporting war, peacefully and boldly, register our dissent to war instead of listening to and supporting cries for war.
… Peace will come/ And let it begin with me/ … We need peace/ And let it begin with me/ Oh, my own life is all I can hope to control/ Oh, let my life be lived for the good/ Good of my soul/ Let it bring/ Peace/ Sweet peace/ Peace will come/ And let it begin with me ~ Peace will Come: songwriter – Tom Paxton

Pratap Antony is a Passive activist. Active pacifist freelance thinker and writer on ecology and environment, social justice and pluralism, management ideas and issues and jazz and western classical music and Indian classical dance.

Courtesy: https://countercurrents.org/
 

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This Sunday, March 3, men and women across countries, cultures and demography will come together to support a citizen-led initiative and appeal for peace. The Global StandOut For Peace in South Asia is a show of solidarity across nationalities, time zones and borders.
 
The event was initially started by Indian and Pakistani nationals who want their countries to share good neighbourly relations and resolve issues through dialogue. The organizers have extended an open invitation to peace activists everywhere to join from wherever in the world they may be and raise their voice and awareness about the need for peace. The activists also will show solidarity against violence and bigotry of any kind.
 
As India and Pakistan continue their hostilities, there is also a rallying call across the globe to say no to war. Peace activists around the world have come together to address the rising tensions between the South Asian neighbours. They said that the tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have held the region hostage for too long.
 
In India, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata have registered their participation for the event. The 2020 Walk For The Future event will happen on March 2 at 4 pm at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Performers, artists, writers, actors, and directors from the city will be a part of the performance parade and speak about how there is no place for hate in a democracy. It will be a choreographed parade of over 1000 performers.
 
On March 3, Sunday, the event will be organized at Iran Society, Kolkata at 5 pm. Delhi will host two events on Sunday as well. Youth for Peace International will host one at Youth Alliance office in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi from 10 am to 6 pm. Artists Unite will host an event at Red Fort on the same day at 8 pm.
 
A meeting was held by Citizens Against War, a joint initiative by PIPFPD and Delhi Solidarity Group. It was joined by organisations, teachers, artists, professionals, young activists from Delhi’s urban groups, writers and academia, filmmakers, Trade unions, people’s movements representatives, and so on. They gave a call for a human chain for peace on March 4 at 3.30pm, from Connaught Place through Parliament Street (point of assembly Jantar Mantar corner on Sansad Marg).
 
They also vowed to hold a joint public meeting series between India, Kashmir and Pakistan to be initiated from the  March 11, in consultation with friends and organising from Kashmir add Pakistan, to initiate a people’s process for peace, as a regular programme. They also discussed to arrange a Skype call between three sets of panellists, one group being in Delhi, to be telecast live for the public.
 
A procession of around 150 people, comprising a number of civil society organisations, demonstrated in front of the Karachi Press Club on Feb 28, Thursday afternoon, urging both India and Pakistan to refrain from an armed clash and to replace the jingoistic threats with constructive dialogue and negotiations.
 
The StandOut will take place in various cities in the USA, UK, India and Pakistan so far. People in other places are welcome to join. Confirmed locations where the event will take place on Sunday include Washington, D.C. (Dupont Circle, 3 pm), Boston (MIT main entrance, 4:30 pm), London (Tavistock Square, 2 pm), New York (Peace Fountain, 110th Street, 2-3 pm), Dallas (Al Markaz restaurant, 12 noon), Michigan (22575, Ann Harbor Tri, Dearborn Heights, 6 pm), Lahore (Press Club at 4 pm), Delhi (Red Fort, 8 pm), Kolkata (Iran Society, 5 pm), Dublin (the Spire, 3 pm), Karachi, (Beach Luxury Hotel, 6 pm), Los Angeles, (Pasadena Public Library, 2:30- 4:30 pm), Providence, RI (Brown University, Faunce Steps, 12 noon – March 4).
 
Peace groups that are supporting the initiative include the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), Aman ki Asha and Aaghaz-e-Dosti. Other supporters include the South Asia Solidarity Group, Artists Unite, student organizations at MIT, Columbia University, George Washington University, SOAS (London), SAIS (John Hopkins University), Brown University and several human right advocates around the world, the release said.
 
The list is being updated and more information can be found here.
 
“Those who’d like to join an event but unable to do so for any reason are invited to get together with friends sometime on Sunday, 3 March. Carry signs of support in a public space or landmark, then take a picture and share it with the hashtags: #NoWar #SayNoToWar #iStandForPeace #iStandAgainstWar #PeaceInSouthAsia #GlobalStandOutForPeace. You are welcome to include slogans like “I am Indian and I stand with Pakistani peacemongers” or “I am Pakistani and I stand with Indian peacemongers,” they wrote in their release.
 

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