Global Public Health and War Surname Professor Date Global Public Health and War Public health is essentially what the society does to assure its people of health and safety (Institute of Public Health, 1988). War is a significant anathema to public health and directly accounts for almost millions of deaths occurring annually throughout the world. Apart from bruising and injuring the public health, it destroys the societal infrastructure as well food and water supplies, adequate housing, access to good and adequate public health services and healthcare. It is therefore evident that it accounts for more deaths when it is compared to other hazards and catastrophes. War usually creates catastrophic long-term psychological …show more content…
These include radiological, nuclear, biological as well as chemical weapons. They pose the greatest threat to large populations of people. The nuclear bombs that were detonated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 for instance, were based on nuclear fission. Each of the bombs had an explosive force that is equivalent to about 15, 000 tons of TNT. The explosion killed and fatally wounded approximately 100,000 people. An additional number of people were also injured from the heat and radiation causing different illnesses. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union and the United States developed hydrogen bombs, also thermonuclear weapons that were similarly based on nuclear fission. These had an explosive capability that is similar to twenty million tons and more of TNT. An analysis of the medical consequences of these new weapons by medical organizations like the Physicians for Social Responsibility demonstrated that using them would cause millions of catastrophic global health problems similar to the worldwide radioactive fallout that caused numerous casualties from cancer deaths, as well as respiratory tract infections from the massive clouds of smoke that hang in the air. The debris also blocked and absorbed the sun’s rays and hence causing a ‘nuclear winter” that led to a consequent loss of crops and hence starvation (Barry & Victor, 1988). There are numerous nations that are known to have in their
If nuclear weapons are used in war sustainable life on this planet will be ended. Nuclear Weapons have only been used a few times in the history of this earth. The few times nuclear weapons were used the amount of damaged they caused was devastating. The first country to use nuclear weapons was the United States during World War II. On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima killing between 90,000 and 166,000. Then on August 6th, 1945 the second atomic bomb nicknamed “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki killing 60,000 – 80,000 people. These statistics show how devastating nuclear weapons were when they were used and how they can be if they are used again. This paper will examine the Dangerous effects of
The atomic bomb left a devastating aftermath in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of world war two. Both bombs killed thousands of innocent Japanese citizens, left radiation on the land and in the few survivors. According to the report of the general advisory committee the hydrogen bomb is more extreme: “a weapon whose energy release is 100 to 1000 times greater and whose destructive power in terms of area is 20 to 100 times greater than those of the present atomic bomb” (pp. 5), a weapon at this
With the start of World War II the race for the first atomic bomb started. With Germany under Hitler’s reign, the Nazis began separating uranium to form the first atomic bomb to control the world. The push for the United States build the first atomic bomb began with this knowledge. With the help of several scientists the United States succeeded in building the atomic bomb first. Two atomic bombs were used; a uranium bomb on Hiroshima and a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Along with the many deaths were six stages of A-bomb illness which includes acute stages, atomic bomb trauma, A-bomb radiation illness, radiation blood injury at lethal dosage, blood injuries, and secondary radiation illness. Seven unhealed scars were also an effect of the atomic bombs that includes keloids, A-bomb cataracts, leukemia, cancers, chromosome changes, exposure in utero and microcephaly, and genetic surveys. Regulations and guidance were set in place soon after the bombings to protect the people of the world based on the information that was gathered and it has changed over the years based on the new information that was learned. With the use of the atomic bombs in World War II, a lot of pain and suffering was caused, but a great deal of information was learned to help protect future generations from radiation.
War causes death, poverty, diseases, destruction, and many more devastating and unavoidable consequences. The government drafted men into military service, giving them no choice but to separate them from their daily lives, friends, and families. Soldiers fight in wars while putting their lives on the line and are only rewarded with physical or psychological injuries. Countries wage war against one another in order to resolve disputes and disagreements between them. Individuals, such as nurses, soldiers, and civilians undergo traumatic events when they are caught in the middle of a war. Although some may argue that war does not impact the self the most, based on the informational text, “War Escalates” by Paul Boye, the short story, “Where
While most people generally categorize war as a deathly arena consisting of gunfire, the stench of rotten corpses, and the cries of trauma of soldiers; war can be seen as a time for prosperity and growth in the medical profession. The lack of resources in battlefield hospitals, cause people to believe that treatment options are limited. However, history has shown that these limited resources provide an outlet for creativity and exploration, the seeds to advances in the medical profession. During the American Revolution, more casualties were due to illness as opposed to gunshot wounds, opening up the eyes of medical professionals that new ways for disease prevention were needed. Additionally, before World War II biomedical research was limited
The development of the atomic bomb and chemical warfare forever changed the way people saw the world. It was a landmark in time for which there was no turning back. The constant balancing of the nuclear super powers kept the whole of humankind on the brink of atomic Armageddon. Fear of nuclear winter and the uncertainty of radiation created its own form of a cultural epidemic in the United States. During these tense times in human history officials made controversial decisions such as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dangerous biological experiments and bombs tests were carried out in the name of the greater good and national defense. Some historians and scientists argue that the decisions and acts carried out by the U.S.
“During the American Revolution, more soldiers died from illness than from combat.” (Mnwelldir). When most people think of war, they think of the battles and combat, but what about the main reason of death amongst soldiers? Illness was responsible for killing the majority of the soldiers, yet the health problems of the American Revolution are commonly overlooked. The lack of medical knowledge plays a bigger role in the war than many even realize. As a leading cause of death, the medical issues of the American Revolution, such as the diseases in the war and how they were used as an advantage, the first forms of common practices today, the unsafe medical practices, and the outcome due to the lack of knowledge, needs more recognition.
Nuclear weapons have been a present factor in my lifetime, and in WWII the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused thousands of deaths. Nuclear weapons are the most destructive, inhumane weapons ever created. Both in the scale of the devastation that they cause, and in their uniquely persistent, genetically damaging radioactive fallout, they are not like any other weapon. A single nuclear bomb detonated over a city could kill millions of people. The use of tens or hundreds of nukes would disrupt the world's climate, causing lots of famine.(Arguments for nuclear abolition)
Within chapter three, Ramsbotham et al (2015) discusses several repercussions of war such as death, mortality as it relates to health and well-being, displacement of citizens, property or land damage, and the detrimental effects passed on to future generations. However, while death and health related repercussions are heart wrenching,
The nuclear bomb is an interesting phenomenon that has captured the fascination of scholars, academics, politicians, and the media to bring curiosity and fear together. The first and only use of nuclear weapons occurred in 1945 during the Second World War, wiping out over 200,000 Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear bombs, were now viewed as the number one threat that could potentially destroy our planet and the human race. Since 1945 nuclear weapons have since been a strong threat that has imposed a psychological anxiety for world leaders as this threat has expanded to fifty countries with the
Warfare has over the years been inherently destructive in regard to sustainable development. Those who have self-interest bridge the majority of the set laws. States decline to respect international law providing protection for the environment in the times of conflict, as well as cooperating in further development. Some decide to side on the side that they feel that benefits them most or oppresses their enemy. The application of weapons, the destruction of structures, fires, military transport movements and chemical spraying are a few of the examples of the destroying impact war may have on the environment. This paper shall examine the action and environment of war, and the impact of combat and death on the soldier, and provide important insight as to why soldiers fight and the long term effect of war on veterans.
As seen in World War II, the nuclear weapon engenders the havoc of humankind. Prior to its usage in wars, many scientists test the bomb on numerous places on earth, creating damage and radiation around these testing sites. Furthermore, death is the core outcome that arises from the usage of nuclear weapons. Sooner or later, the abuse of technology will harm the human race
“I have to bring to your notice a terrifying reality: with the development of nuclear weapons Man has acquired, for the first time in history, the technical means to destroy the whole of civilization in a single act.”- Joseph Rotblat. After the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, forcing Japan to surrender on the 14, people finally got to see the pure and utter destruction that a nuclear bomb had the potential of. Seeing this power, the United States and the USSR fought for supremacy in nuclear warfare in a competition called the Arms Race. Nobody, however, really understood how much a nuclear detonation could affect a society not only physically, but socially, politically and medically as well.
Even though nuclear power plants threaten the health and safety of many people, nuclear energy is being used in other ways as well, which may be even more dangerous. In 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in order to end World War II. This event was the only time a nuclear weapon was used in the history. During the first two to four months, approximately 90,000 to 166,000 people died as a result. Wilfred Burchett quoted, “When you arrive in Hiroshima, you can look around and for 25 and perhaps 30 square miles you can neither see hardly a building nor a standing human. All of them are collapsed on the ground.” Yet, having seen the destructive effects of nuclear weapons, the United States currently still owns more than 7000 nuclear weapons, in which half of them could be launched in less than ten minutes. Russia is believed to be a holder of the same number or more nuclear weapons as well. The United States and Russia are the two countries with the most nuclear weapons, but in total, the number adds up to around 19,000 worldwide. Many people do not give a thought about this dangerous situation, since these weapons are
This developed into a race to see which nation could build the first nuclear weapon. The weapon that the United States manufactured was first used on the Japanese at Hiroshima, and then two days later at Nagasaki. The potential of this weapon was frightening. Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970, the Atomic bomb was banned from use by all countries except the United States, Russia, China, France, and United Kingdom because of the global aftereffects of this terrifying weapon. Nuclear warfare produced the most heinous aftereffects of any previous type of warfare (Walker). The blast of a nuclear weapon is powerful. It may cause third degree thermal burns, produces enough pressure to bend heavy steel girders to a 90-degree angle, and turns the entire blast radius into a firestorm. The people who have survived the blast will still experience a lifetime of side effects. Some of these might be genetically linked to future generations. The intensity and brightness of the blast may cause symptoms like keloid formation and retinal blastoma in humans. The sediment, or fallout, from the mushroom-like cloud,produced by the explosion, will be highly radioactive. The nuclear blast and its consequential fallout will affect