In the past there have been disastrous effects of war on humans, following the first and second World Wars, the Vietnam War and even the more recent Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003. There have also been many smaller scale or domestic ‘civil wars’ that have had catastrophic effects on human life. These have taken place in parts of Africa (such as Somalia, Sierra Leone, Angola and Sudan), Asia (for example the India/Pakistani conflict over Kashmir), the Middle East in Israel and Palestine, Central and Eastern Europe in the former Yugoslavia. The impact of war on human life includes death, injury, displacement, and malnutrition. But what about the impact of war on our environment?
Land pollution as a result of war…
This form of pollution has taken on many forms, the most damaging of which occurs
through the use of aerial bombing. Even the use of heavy machinery and military
waste contribute as forms of land pollution caused by war. In the Gulf War of
1991 we saw the disastrous effects of the ‘Scorched Earth Policy,’
which seriously damaged the already arid land of much of Kuwait. Another example
of land pollution as a result of war involves the use of insecticides and herbicides
during war. Many trees and much plant life are lost as a result of such combat.
Destruction of the land environment during war can also have a long term effect
on human life because the land cannot be cultivated and used to farm. In some
cases the land is inaccessible as a result of the use of landmines and other
unexploded ordnances.
Water pollution as a result of war …
Wars have also contributed to the pollution of our seas and oceans over the
years. Dumping of the chemical wastes from war has had huge effects on marine
life. An example can be seen in the pollution of the Persian Gulf area following
the Gulf War Oil spills of 1991. These spills have had detrimental effects on
the wildlife and ecosystems in the Persian Gulf area and in some cases contaminated
the fish, particularly of the coast of Saudi Arabia.
Impact of war on air quality . . .
War also affects the quality of our air; emissions from the use of tanks and
other military machinery and the use of air bombs leave chemicals and debris
in the air. Most television viewers have often seen images of mushroom clouds
after a bomb has been detonated in a war zone. The chemicals used in such bombs
affect both ground level and atmospheric levels of air pollution. One important
contributor to air pollution during war is the burning of oil and other natural
fuels such as coal and wood. In the past, such use of fossil fuels has contributed
to much of our current levels of air pollution. Bombing of oil refineries and
the use of depleted uranium ammunition in shell have had negative effects on
the air quality.
Impact of nuclear testing on the environment . . .
Nuclear weapons pose a terrible threat to the environment and human health.
The most harmful type of nuclear weapon that has ever been used is the A-bomb
that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, rushing the end of WWII.
However, the testing of nuclear weapons still persists. Countries such as the
US, France, India and Pakistan are still testing nuclear weapons despite the
1996 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The testing of nuclear weapons takes place on
land, in the sea and even underground. The world has yet to see and feel the
effects of the many underwater nuclear tests that have taken place in the past.
Here in the United States, until very recently, nuclear testing has taken place
under the Nevada desert, turning the area into a radioactive wasteland.
Impact of threatened nuclear power plants . . .
A Greenpeace press release highlighted the unexpected threat posed by nuclear power plants during war. According to the press release dated 04-16-96, nuclear power plants can be strategically targeted during war, having the same or even a worse impact than the actual use of nuclear weapons (Hoegelsberger, Heinz 1996, Greenpeace). “While the effect of war can be devastating to the society, human health and the environment, destroying nuclear power stations during war would irreversibly contaminate whole stretches of land over a long period of time.” (Hoegelsberger, 1996)