Connect with us

Local

Imagine a World Without War – Overcoming Perceived Fears and Engaging in Dialogue

Hamdhan Shakeel

Published

2 years ago

on

It is 2 September 1945, the Allied powers have made a final stand against the fascist Axis powers, ending the great World War II which saw 70-85 million deaths. Humanity had endured more than enough loss for a single century. While things would instantly start to escalate between the East and West, imagine if things had been different. Imagine if President Harry S. Truman chose a different approach in dealing with the USSR.

The year is 2022, the world different yet familiar to what we see today. Germany was allowed to independently sort out itself, and restart their economic activities. There was no fall of Berlin wall as there was no wall at all dividing the people. In 1991 the USSR dissolved and formed 15 states including Russia.

Because President Harry S. Truman chose to respect the sovereignty of independent nations, the USSR also chose the same recourse. There was no cold war between the East and West. Each nation was allowed to freely grow and recover from the horrific losses from the World War II.

On 4 April 1949 when members of the Western Union and the U.S, Canada and Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland gathered, to they concluded that the USSR posed no inherent threat to the West as long as they respected each other’s sovereignty and security. And so, there was no NATO and no western military expansion into the East.

By 2022 China had become the world’s leading trade partner while the U.S was engaged in friendly yet competitive trade with China. India had become a technological hub as there were no Western forces pushing India to do their military biddings as a proxy in Asia. Instead, India rapidly engaged with various trade partners leading to a massive growth in technology and information, creating one of the strongest IT hubs in Asia. Russia maintained its role as the primary supplier of fuel to both the West and East, and created one of the strongest Space Exploration programs. Russia did not invade Ukraine, it had no reason to as there were no threats posed to Russia from any foreign military in Ukraine.

The combined resources of the West and East propelled a new age of innovation as military expansion and expenditure declined and the world welcomed a new age, one that was based on the concept of mutual understanding, respect and partnership.

This is what could have been possible, if the leaders of yesterday chose understanding and respect over aggression and military expansion. They allowed the prospect of fear to overcome their rationality, and turned-away the rare opportunity for world peace by quickly perceiving others as enemies, creating the current world order where it is one conflict after another. But the opportunity always remains, to initiate peace, to understand the woes of others, to respect the rights of others. The world needs brave leaders, who are willing to overcome fear, and initiate dialogue for peace.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Local

Nasheed to form new party

FI

Published

11 months ago

on

17/05/2023

By

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Continue Reading

Local

MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

FI

Published

11 months ago

on

17/05/2023

By

Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Continue Reading

Local

The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

FI

Published

1 year ago

on

15/01/2023

By

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.

Continue Reading

Trending