Tit for tat, eye for eye… such emotional outbursts are quite common when it comes to war! The common man thinks the solution to all terrorist activities must be responded to on the same scale. Especially those who were affected by a bomb blast, a terror activity, or an unprovoked attack will feel so, and it is but natural. However, the cost of such attacks cannot be compensated by either money or revengeful retaliations. True that such heinous crimes will end in a large-scale disaster if not arrested in time. However, history has shown that the war is not a permanent solution. When the missiles and drones pitch fire on undisclosed targets, it is beyond doubt that there will be huge collateral damage besides the targeted spot. Tracing the flesh and blood of human bodies and animals amidst the rubble is pathetic. Leave alone the valuables that get destroyed in the attacks. We are daily hearing stories of one or other attack on the Gaza Strip or the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Thousands of multi-story buildings, passenger vehicles, and other properties are being reduced to rubble, rubbish, and ruins. Economic loss apart, we have witnessed the drastic destruction of the environment. War and armed conflict significantly degrade the environment through various means, including direct destruction of ecosystems, pollution from military activities, and the exploitation of natural resources. These impacts can lead to long-lasting consequences like food and water insecurity, biodiversity loss, and the displacement of populations. Construction of military bases may destroy forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity decline. The chemical weapons may affect water sources, soils, and air with hazardous substances. Flora and fauna will be destroyed, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Innocent civilians may be displaced. The overuse of fossil fuels by military aircraft will emit greenhouse gases. The military attacks mostly target fuel tanks and stations, which speed up the shrinking of fossil fuel stocks. When emotions flare up, there will be an excitement in favour of war. Politicians take mileage out of such mass psychology. Graphics in news media channels showed jaguars, missiles, and drones flying crisscross the TV screen, giving a feel of seeing war pictures of a possible 3^rd World War. Any such act might result in the escalation of the war situation and the ultimate decimation of the precious natural resources. Besides innocent lives, the ultimate victim would be the environment. We should not forget that a 3^rd World War would make the planet Earth a barren land (Picture courtesy: a representative picture from the Internet)