Sanjeev Dahal Class 9
World Peace in the 21st Century

Up to these technically sophisticated and complex days of 21st century, pinnacle of material and technological progress, mankind with human civilization has traveled a long way. No doubt we have traveled such a long way in physical development as we have the height of success difficult to measure on a scale. But mankind has lost some of the precious values of life and is on the way of losing it more. The ideals of brotherhood and co-existence seem to have no longer any meaning. We have ignored the greatness of peace and harmony in the past. And now we are suffering our deeds. We have already suffered a lot and are still to suffer. And this has compelled us to look back to the history, to the days when we used to loitre in the land of almighty like a free bird, the days we committed mistakes and deprived ourselves of the peaceful breathe. This retrospect acting as incentive has awakened man and led them towards the bright morning arrayed by peace. Laudable works are being done to establish peace and harmony in the world.

Of course man has progressed a lot and this progress is due to man's insatiable curiosity, his crave for perfection. But the progress is tainted by his selfishness, callousness and perversity. The height of man's conceit has challenged the zenith. Man gave a strong blow to brotherhood. Man's craze for power and progress seeded inside him and brewed up world wars. Yet fight between France and Germany for dominance and superiority brewed up 1st World War which had to end on the Treaty of Versailles.” But the loss of lives and property it caused was immense. The loss of humanity it caused was terrifying and never had such events occurred in history. Some people were serious and realised the importance of peace for betterment and prosperity of mankind and initiated establishment of an organisation to work for peace and that was known as the League of Nations.”

Later in history we find that after every war there has been effort to establish peace. This simply infers that peace is our basic need and war causes nothing but destruction. The League of Nation could not restrict man's temptation for disaster. Once again man's conceit and want for power in the figure of Hitler brewed up World War II. This was even worse. Germany, Italy and Japan were on one side and England, France, Russia and America on the other. Whoever won, the humanity was defeated badly. Everywhere man died and suffered. But in the span of time, man regretted, many people atoned for their past.

Man has already learned a lot from the experiences of the past. We have already had the dreadful and disgusting experiences of war in the past. With the establishment of UNO on 24th October 1945, after the World War II, we have not suffered other great wars. UNO was initiated with 50 member countries and now it has got 189 countries. This fact signifies people's despise against war and love for peace.

Today we have entered the 21st Century and with this a lot of changes have been seen on man's behavior and mentalities. Man has changed his mind to avoid war and adopt peace. Still, some of the technically strong countries have produced new and advanced nuclear weapons. Although the number of nuclear weapons has decreased in response to changes in the relationship among nuclear states, there are still tens of thousands of these remaining in the world. The attitude of nuclear states that nuclear weapons are necessary to maintain peace” has to be changed.

The nuclear weapon has not been used in wars since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but injuries have been inflicted in course of their development, test and manufacture. To stop this, the disarmament project was launched. It prohibited the countries from nuclear tests and manufacture of nuclear weapons. This project is still working and has to be continued for the sake of peace.

We can see and feel that the world is trying to spread peace in its every nook and corner. Many organizations like North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Central Treaty Organisation, Warsaw Pact, OSA, SAARC and NAM are working to bring peace in the world.

The twenty first century is trying its best to maintain peace and the organisations established for that specific purpose are working to get their objectives. The antagonists of peace sneak stealthily in the darkness and set procedures for wars which are not prominent. Besides the functioning of peace-keeping organisations, several wars are still going on. In Srilanka, a civil war is going between the government and Tamil Tigers. Because of this war, Srilanka's economy has been seriously suffering; now the Government is seeking help to defeat the Tamil Tigers.

The war between Talivan-Militia and Afghanistan is going on indicating a darker future. England had to send its soldiers for the rehabilitation of peace in Sieraleon and the soldiers had to involve in war causing a great loss to lives and property. When a car bomb exploded in Jakarta, many people lost their lives.

Bomb explosion in Srilanka, Colombo caused 4 people to die and 17 to be injured. Nine people died and many were injured in Maluku, Indonesia when a dreadful fight took place between the Muslim and Christians. Due to the firing at western coast and Gaza area by the Israeli security officers, 15 died and 523 were injured.

These are the reports very recent of destruction taken place in September 2000. So many other wars are going on in different places of the world resulting in chaos. What are the causes of all these wars and explosions? It is the responsibility of the whole world to find out a solution to all these and stop these wars at any cost.

American President Bill Clinton's act of withholding the proposal of "National Missile Defense System” is a laudable act towards securing peace and order in the world, otherwise such acts divide world into groups. The continued war in Lebanon ended and a government has been set up that will work for the development of the country and its people.

North Korea and South Korea which were once hostile to each other got united in Sydney Olympics and the united flag could be seen.

Thus, the world has experienced what tragedy the war brings. Most of our minds have already turned against the horror of war and are eager to welcome and preserve peace. The people of 21st Century prefer peace against war, ideal of brotherhood against groupism and love against hatred to transfigure the chaotic world to Utopia.

It can be concluded with this hope that the world wants peace and only peace. And let us all pledge to make that the 21st Century will be the Century of peace and work accordingly to achieve it.