THE CASE FOR ABOLISHING ARMED FORCES AND DISMANTLING WEAPONS FACTORIES

By Promod Puri

War is humanity’s most tragic addiction — a ritual of destruction masked as a path to peace. The armed forces, in their offensive and defensive operations, leave behind a trail of death and devastation. Behind every missile launched and every bullet fired are human hands, yet the first casualty of war is human conscience.

Buildings teeming with life — seniors, parents, children, toddlers — become graves within seconds. A child’s frightened cry is silenced under the crushing weight of debris. Survivors stumble through the wreckage, dazed and bloodied, only to face a new reality as homeless refugees. The haunting echoes of shelling create lifelong scars, not just on people but on the very soul of a nation.

Even the birds know to seek refuge. Amid the bombed-out ruins, they flutter into the few remaining safe corners, looking up at a sky transformed into a battleground.

Take the Russia-Ukraine conflict — a stark example of how wars are often triggered by the whims of a single authority. A button pressed in a government chamber unleashes a deadly cascade: fighter jets scream across the skies, tanks roll through cities, and gunfire rains down on the innocent. We watch it all unfold live on our TV screens and phones, a tragic reality show of death and destruction — a grotesque display of “military heroism.”

The brutal nature of war eclipses any noble justification of self-defence or “just cause.” Its real legacy is broken lives, orphaned children, shattered cities, and a future defined by trauma.

World leaders talk and talk — summits, negotiations, peace talks — but without genuine commitment, war remains the fallback option. Why? Because there’s no trust in human nature. We fight wars to achieve peace — a contradiction so absurd it insults human intelligence.

Wars are crimes against humanity. They rob us of peace and security, irrespective of nationality, race, or religion. In this modern age, where we pride ourselves on intelligence, scientific progress, and technological prowess, war remains a dark relic of primitive instincts.

It’s time for a radical solution:

Dismantle all armed forces worldwide. No young man or woman should be forced into a profession that turns them into instruments of destruction.

Shut down all weapons manufacturing plants. The war industry, a trillion-dollar enterprise driven by profit, thrives on fueling both sides of every conflict. Let it collapse — humanity’s survival matters more than corporate profits.

This is not a utopian fantasy. It’s already happening. Twenty-four nations, including Costa Rica and Ireland, have demilitarized themselves some decades ago. These nations thrive without the looming shadow of military aggression or the burden of war machinery. They offer a peaceful blueprint for the rest of the world.

War is not a necessity. It’s a choice — a choice we can refuse. A future without war is possible, but it demands courage and a global commitment to peace over power. Let’s dismantle the machinery of war — for humanity, peace, and the planet.

Let us do it now — for ourselves and for future generations.