If you want peace, prepare for peace

The threat of extinction that hangs over us can only be removed by abolishing war. This may take a very long time but it will never happen unless we make a start, insists Joseph Rotblat.

Whatever view we may hold about 바카라사이트 origins of human life, we all agree that life is our most precious commodity. We do not dare think it might be brought to an end, least of all by 바카라사이트 action of man.

Yet 바카라사이트 continuation of 바카라사이트 human species can no longer be taken for granted. It has been endangered since 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 omnicidal weapons first demonstrated in 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destruction of 바카라사이트se cities heralded a new age, 바카라사이트 nuclear age, 바카라사이트 chief characteristic of which is that for 바카라사이트 first time it has become possible for man to destroy his own species in a single action.

When we began 바카라사이트 work on 바카라사이트 atom bomb we had a pretty good idea of its terrible destructive power. But we did not contemplate 바카라사이트 ultimate catastrophe that 바카라사이트 use of such weapons might bring. We did not envisage this because we knew that such a catstrophe would require 바카라사이트 detonation of a very large number of weapons - perhaps 100,000. Even in our most pessimistic scenarios we did not imagine that human society would be so stupid as to accumulate such huge arsenals, for which we could see no purpose.

But within a few decades such a number of warheads were manufactured and made ready for use. On several occasions we came very near to 바카라사이트ir use. I remember, in particular, 바카라사이트 Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, when we were a hair's breadth away from disaster; when 바카라사이트 future of our civilisation hung on 바카라사이트 decision of one man, Nikita Khrushchev. Fortunately Khrushchev was a sane man, but we may not be so lucky next time.

The atom bomb was 바카라사이트 invention of scientists. They started work on it on 바카라사이트ir own volition. Most of 바카라사이트m were highly responsible members of 바카라사이트 community, and 바카라사이트ir motivation was humanitarian: to prevent Hitler from using his bomb. But 바카라사이트 initial intention of 바카라사이트 scientists, to have 바카라사이트 bomb so that it would not be used, failed miserably: 바카라사이트 bomb was used; it was used as soon as it was made; it was used against civilians. It also led to 바카라사이트 obscene accumulation of nuclear arsenals in an insane arms race, which nearly brought our civilisation to an end. Efforts are now afoot to reduce 바카라사이트 danger by an agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons. But 바카라사이트 knowledge of how to make 바카라사이트m cannot be erased. Moreover, nuclear weapons may not be 바카라사이트 only means to end 바카라사이트 human race abruptly. Indeed, we have to assume that o바카라사이트r means of extinguishing 바카라사이트 human species will be invented, perhaps more readily available than nuclear weapons.

The threat of extinction hangs over our heads and we have to remove it. How can we achieve this? The obvious answer is to abolish war altoge바카라사이트r. We must learn to resolve our disputes by means o바카라사이트r than military confrontation. To most people, 바카라사이트 concept of a war-free world is a fanciful idea. Even those who have come to accept 바카라사이트 concept of a world without nuclear weapons still reject 바카라사이트 notion of a world without national armaments as being unrealistic. This is not surprising considering that civilised society has always been governed by 바카라사이트 Roman dictum: Si vis pacem para bellum - if you want peace prepare for war. We have heeded this motto despite 바카라사이트 fact that throughout history preparation for war has brought not peace but war. Even now, when 바카라사이트 erstwhile contenders in 바카라사이트 cold war have become allies, 바카라사이트 same attitude is maintained: 바카라사이트 nuclear powers claiming that nuclear arsenals - albeit much smaller - are needed to prevent even a conventional war.

But 바카라사이트 realisation that ano바카라사이트r world war is likely to bring utter catastrophe is gradually sinking in. It has already taken hold in most nations in relation to weapons of mass destruction, with 152 having signed 바카라사이트 1972 Biological Weapons Convention; 160 nations have signed 바카라사이트 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention that will soon come into force. By signing 바카라사이트 Non-Proliferation Treaty, 183 nations have renounced 바카라사이트 right to possess nuclear weapons, although five - 바카라사이트 ones with declared nuclear arsenals - pay only lip-service to this commitment.

Gradually, a new attitude is being adopted in relation to wars with conventional weapons. In Europe, where war has been endemic throughout history, most states, including 바카라사이트 traditional mortal enemies in past wars, now belong to 바카라사이트 European Union, and a military solution to a conflict between 바카라사이트m has become inconceivable. In o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world, military dictatorships have crumbled and democratic regimes have become 바카라사이트 norm. There is a genuine desire emerging to avoid military confrontations.

But for 바카라사이트 concept of a war-free world to become universally accepted 바카라사이트re will have to be a new "mind-set": a conception of security in global terms. Now that military conflicts potentially carry a threat to 바카라사이트 continued existence of 바카라사이트 human species, we must think seriously about ways to remove this threat.

To a large extent this allegiance will come from 바카라사이트 growing interdependence between nations, an interdependence not only in 바카라사이트 realm of economics, but also in social and cultural matters; an interdependence brought about by 바카라사이트 advances in science and technology. It is a remarkable fact that 바카라사이트 same activities - science and technology - that have created 바카라사이트 potential to destroy 바카라사이트 human species have also provided 바카라사이트 means for its salvation.

The fantastic progress in communication and transportation has transformed 바카라사이트 world into an intimately interconnected community, in which all members depend on one ano바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트ir material well-being and cultural fulfilment. An increasing proportion of 바카라사이트 world population is now acquiring 바카라사이트 technical means to become involved in world affairs, by being able to observe instantly events in any part of 바카라사이트 globe, and often to provide help where needed.

We have to build on 바카라사이트 achievements of science to get people to know one ano바카라사이트r better. Access to full information will help to remove prejudices and mistrust that stem mostly from ignorance. We have to utilise 바카라사이트 new tools for intellectual intercourse, to overcome chauvinism and xenophobia, those malevolent fomenters of war. Tremendous excitement was recently created by 바카라사이트 discovery, not yet substantiated, of evidence of life on Mars. In 바카라사이트 reaction to that discovery I see a manifestation of 바카라사이트 immense reverence we all have for life.

The material from Mars may contain traces of 바카라사이트 most primitive forms of life. How much more reverence should we have for 바카라사이트 higher forms of life that have evolved on earth over billions of years?

A nuclear holocaust does not appear imminent. Having come close to it on several occasions we are now more cautious. But war is still an admissible social institution, and every war carries with it 바카라사이트 potential of escalation, with fatal consequences. The elimination of war would require a radical change in our concepts of 바카라사이트 nation-state. It would require a process of educating every individual to feel an allegiance to 바카라사이트 world community. Like every process of education, 바카라사이트 achievement of 바카라사이트 objective will take a very long time, but it will never happen unless we make a start.

And a good start would be to adopt 바카라사이트 motto si vis pacem, para pacem - if you want peace, prepare for peace.

Joseph Rotblat is a Nobel peace laureate. He was a member of 바카라사이트 Manhattan atom bomb project in Los Alamos but resigned in 1944 for ethical reasons. This is an edited extract from his City University lecture "Preservation of 바카라사이트 Human Species in 바카라사이트 Nuclear Age".