A Weapon-Less World

I am now testing the extremes of Idealism here. I dream of a world which has NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND. I dream of a world where there may be no conflict. I dream of this ideal world as something which can be possible. It only takes ambition, bravery and complete recognition of the fact that such a world can exist.

Before any realist can jump on me, I would like to ask WHY NOT? People are seeing the devastating consequences that Wars can have on a physical structure of a nation and on an individual. People are able to experience the degeneration of a people's psyche during a war period. Weapons make the world more insecure. They cost so much, leading to diversion of priorities among governments all over the world.

Looking from the point of view of Wars, insecurity and financial drainage, Weapons and Arms trade are the most potent threats to peace in the world. More than dictators, more than ideologies, it is the presence of Arms and Weapons of Mass Destruction that fill people with fear. The economies of the west profit proarily on account of Arms sales all over the world. The United States and United Kingdom being the prime examples.

The US rebounded from a depression by entering the second world war. The world knows about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, but the real reason could be to boost the economy by Arms manufacturing and War participation. Even now, defence spending in the United states goes into the high billions, possibly trillions. The defence expenditure of the US for Iraq and Afghanistan alone comes to 1.5 trillion dollars, almost the GDP of India and most of the world.

When Weapons make people so insecure, why do governments everywhere boost defence spending and Arms trade? Weapons of Mass Destruction and other Army equipment are slow killers. They slowly drain away the economics of a nation, thus installing insecurity in the minds of the people socially and globally. The possibilities of a Weaponless world are great and people all over the world must believe that it CAN be done.

A weaponless world would mean no more wars. Weapons such as Swords, pistols and other items also are included in the weaponless world. No more Wars could mean no more mass killings of civilians in an instant. A weaponless world could mean in more open participation of several cultures in the global arena, not bound by Ideology or security concerns.

More importantly, finances will be directed to the people and some of their benefits. Agreed, defence spending may not occupy that high a number in the overall national budget. But, whatever number it occupies, those finances can be made available to schemes beneficial to the public. If 1.5 trillion dollars can be used in the reform of social security and healthcare in the United States, there could be a lot more breathing space for ordinary people.

In addition to eliminating costs of weapons, the money saved can be utilized into more peaceful ventures aimed at improving the efficiency within a democracy. Education, Environment, Child Welfare and other benefits can gain a lot with the elimination of weapons. The target for future democracy should be not the elimination of dictatorships, but elimination of weapons of any kind on this planet. Only then can real peace can be achieved.

It is a long drawn out process. As of now, in the backdrop of Terrorism and insurgency, you can frustrate them and hold them back with weapons. But, with the elimination of Weapons of all kinds, you are sure to defeat Terrorism, fanaticism, bitterness and more importantly insecurity and imbalances. It needs someone to come in front with this, because it CAN be done.