Cost of war – investing in peace.
First I want to say the what I have learned about this consciousness of war within me. We all ask what can I do? How can I change what is happening in the world? How do we stop the fighting? I have these thoughts as I watch the news, do you?
Scientists at the Institute of HeartMath research shows how we impact each other and the field environment. So, if I am not at peace within myself, I am unable to see peace outside of myself. I need to own my part in it.
Where am I holding onto angry thoughts and emotions towards others? Towards myself? Anger is the energy that stokes the fire of inspiration, it is not meant to be used how I see it being expressed, or how I have used it in the past. Staying in that energy we call anger, I am not at peace. I then influence the “field” environment with this same energy. Giving it more energy while draining my own energy.
Let’s take a look at some facts from the Global Peace Index:
“The economic impact of violence on the global economy in 2017 was $14.76 trillion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. This figure is equivalent to 12.4% of the world’s economic activity (gross world product) or $1,988 for every person. The economic impact of violence increased by 2% during 2017 due to a rise in the economic impact of conflict and increases in internal security spending, with the largest increases being in China, Russia and South Africa. Since 2012, the economic impact of violence has increased by 16%, corresponding with the start of the Syrian war and rising violence in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.”
“The 2018 Global Peace Index uniquely reveals that peacefulness has a considerable impact on macroeconomic performance. In the last 70 years, per capita growth has been three times higher in highly peaceful countries when compared to countries with low levels of peace. The difference is even stronger when looking at changes in peacefulness, with the report finding that per capita GDP growth has been seven times higher over the last decade in countries that improved in peacefulness versus those that deteriorated.”
Business Plan for Peace by Scilla Elworthy has many facts and figures of the cost of war and what it would take to invest in peace. One fact that astounded me is, the global yearly expenditure on war : $2 Trillion. The US spends on war : $1 Trillion.
Another fact: five of the world’s six largest arms sellers are the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council! This may account for the fact why it is so hard to have peaceful dialogues to put the guns down. These countries are United States, Russia, China, France and the UK.
We need a change of heart and mind if this world is to survive. I need to consistently look at my own thoughts and feelings. Asking “what am I feeding the field”? (Lynne McTaggart’s book the Field)
Albert Einstein “We have changed everything save our mode of thinking and thus we drift towards unparalleled catastrophes.”
Are you willing to shift into being the peace we want to see in the world? Stopping the war within. Investing your energy more often each day in peace.
