November 11
reminds us of those that have given of themselves in the name of peace and a
time to reflect on progress towards global peace.
In 2012
there were 32 armed conflicts documented by the Uppsala department of peace and
conflict Prio Uppsala
, 41 are listed by Wikipedia. Wikipedia. The largest of these being the Syrian civil
war which took over 40,000 lives, the Mexican drug wars at 18,000 and the war
in Afghanistan at over 8000. In total
the armed conflicts taking some 100,000 lives
Two new conflicts were noted in 2012, Mali and the Central
African republic, with the civil unrest in Egypt making the list for 2013\
Canadians suffered less through 2012, the first year in a
decade with no deaths in Afghanistan and only 24 injured, all in not battle
situations. Canada listed as still being
active in fourteen armed forces missions, with some 1300 members on active
service overseas at the current time. Canadian
forces missions To those that continue to serve our countries in the
efforts of maintaining peace, our gratitude – it is perhaps the very efforts
that have led to a perception that such services are less necessary.
Within the country, we have lost four peace officers in 2013
and five in 2012. A tribute site for all
domestic peace officer deaths Officer Down provides
a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of domestic peace
service
Given the de-escalation in many of the current international
conflicts, perhaps 2012-2013 might become known as a time of relative peace, or
is it merely the calm before the storm? Peace is an international movement that has
advocates everywhere, irrespective of the rationale and desires of those in
power and seeking power.
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