Global War cost reaches $14 Trillion

[Kao Boy]

More than $14 trillion (£8.9 trillion) was spent on international conflicts in the past year, according to a report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which found that Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan were responsible for a surge in war deaths.

The spending represents 13% of global GDP and is roughly the combined value of the economies of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Spain and Brazil.

Steve Killelea, IEP Chief Executive, said reducing conflict was one way to help the world's economic recovery.

“If global violence were to decrease by 10% uniformly, an additional $1.43 trillion would effectively be added to the world economy,” he said.

Published annually since 2008, the Global Peace Index uses 23 indicators and three key themes; “level of safety and security in society”, “the extent of domestic and international conflict” and finally “the degree of militarisation”.

This year saw overall levels of conflict unchanged. However, the picture was uneven around the world, with 86 nations seeing their peace index fall while 76 enjoyed increased peace.

The decline was mainly concentrated in the Middle East and Africa. Syriawas the most dangerous country closely followed by Iraq and Afghanistan. Libya recorded the biggest deterioration falling 13 places to 149th becoming the 14th least peaceful country whilst Ukraine recorded the second largest with around 6,000 recorded deaths since the start of the Civil War and 1 million people displaced.

The report also indicated how those killed in conflicts had risen more than 350 per cent so far this decade, from 49,000 in 2010 to 180,000 in 2014. This occurred amid a 61% increase in terror-related deaths in 2013 with 18,000 people killed. Most of these occurred in just five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria.

To conclude this, It makes me sad to read and hear, how unrest is spreading in the world like fire in the forest. Amidst the Ramadan, let's not benight the dream of global peace by spewing hatred towards each other and wish for peaceful world. I wish happy Ramadan to all my Indian and Pakistani friends and to everyone in Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

 

[Black Alloy]

Imagine if they could spend all that money on poverty, education etc?

 

[Jungibaaz]

Imagine if they could spend all that money on poverty, education etc?

That would fix absolute poverty or go some way in doing so, albeit for a time, though relative poverty wouldn't change much. But you're right, imagine if even a quarter was spent on the poor. Alas, human nature, ain't it wonderful?

 

[Black Alloy]

That would fix absolute poverty or go some way in doing so, albeit for a time, though relative poverty wouldn't change much. But you're right, imagine if even a quarter was spent on the poor. Alas, human nature, ain't it wonderful?

That's why we are a plague on the planet, every thing we touch turns to dust.

 

[Kao Boy]

This is something which is monitored by watch dogs, other funnelled to middle east of south America for gang war and target killings seems not to be included at it does in a highly coverted manner...

But I hope this Ramadan in middle East, may yield some sort of consensus on peace between local groups fighting each other...