War and peace

Abstract

'After a lifetime of war-watching, I see war as an endemic human disease, and governments the carriers.' Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998), US journalist and author.Conflict need not be a bad thing, but it can quickly spin out of control. With so much violence in the world we need to understand its causes and find ways to deal with it.'Violence just hurts those who are already hurt; instead of exposing the brutality of the oppressor, it justifies it,' noted Cesar Chavez, leader of the US United Farm Workers' union. Fights and upsetsbetween people and groups are a part of everyday life, at home, at work, with family, friends or colleagues. They occur because each of us has needs, beliefs and desires and works towards fulfilling them as best we can. Tensions result when the goals and aspirations ofone party clash with or contradict those of others.