Send Them Peace

Here is a fascinating interactive map, which helps to place Global Political Violence in perspective. A Legend or explanation is provided here below this screenshot, tracing from 1989 to 2014 ... Once on their page click, the "Play" button, as seen below at bottom left in this picture, to see the year by year progression.

It is striking to see how from year to year, certain regions/ countries display near-constant presence in the phenomenon of global violence.

If you quickly notice a large circle over Afghanistan and Pakistan, you have correctly identified a real problem area. The results look like this:

Conventional wisdom that suggests escalating violence however, is quite wrong. This Preface confirms that, as do several of the graphic items below.

Here is another perspective on this component of Global Violence. 

Current Headlines certainly attract attention. "That's their job," some would say. But historically, is our World getting more involved with war or less so? Or perhaps, no change? Have a look : (click on any of these images to enlarge as needed) 

Historical Perspective :

From a U.S. perspective ...

U.S. Casualties by War ...

In the past, did most of the deaths of soldiers fighting in the war result from bullets and canons? ... No, hardly. Here are Union side statistics:

Wars have always been associated with high rates of illness.

And on both sides of the U.S. Civil War conflict, Disease accounted for 76% of deaths.

How is "religion as a source of conflict" viewed? :

A clear relation between poverty and corruption seems inescapable. The lower the per capita income of a country, the higher its corruption score :

Why leaning towards restrictions on religions is a mistake ...

If you still had any questions about Syrian refugees that start with "why?" or "why now?" ...

Since these figures were published, the death rate has only increased. What was 60,000 reported below, is now upwards of 90,000 ...

More perspective on comparative conflict magnitudes (click to see more clearly) :

Reactions :

Information presented to the public globally, tends to be in a format that dramatizes events. The result is an odd protection of violent events from a balanced presentation. Unbalanced and shocking news, feeds a viewer appetite for violence as entertainment. A sure cure for boredom, some would say. When they announce: "the following video contains graphic elements, and viewer discretion is advised," ... everybody looks. The reports have increasingly taken on a cinematic quality, with news reporters evolving a "look," and a manner of hurried speech, as though barely having time to divulge their secrets to ignorant listeners. Through dress, and overall style, the networks aim whenever possible, at increasing the drama. They seek to be "stars" in their own right. Increasing the drama frequently presents unbalanced representations of world events and the "State of the World," where both good and bad are actually taking place. Fearmongering becomes a major contributor to public bias, misconception, and wrong perceptions. Wrong actions follow wrong perceptions.

Because there is also much good.

Let us remain hopeful that Violence is decreasing as suggested here :

There are of course other Global Risks besides War (click to see more clearly) :

So if "things are better, not worse," ... does that mean that SendThemPeace. com should quietly pack up The Challenge and forget about it?

Not at all. Especially since Human Rights Abuse can exist independent of the presence of war.

As long as there remain individuals in the world who are suffering,

Compassion needs to be sent their way.

Others may interpret this need as a need for financial resources, manpower, aid programs, better education, eradicating illnesses, technological advancement, deposing despots,... all are laudable. Here at SendThemPeac.com, we'll continue to combine the efforts of increasing numbers of diverse individuals, unified through their participation in The Challenge. Useless, or effective? Stay tuned.