The year is 1945. World War II is nearing its final stages and Western powers are eager to put an end to the prolonged destruction the world has been subject to for the previous decade.
On August 6th and August 9th, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. At least 74,000 people died in the Nagasaki blast or from subsequent injuries. Some 140,000 people had died three days before in Hiroshima, in the world’s first nuclear attack.
The attack on Nagasaki destroyed about 30% of the city, flattening almost everything in the industrial district. Those who survived suffered horrific injuries, or radiation sickness.
Today, both Japanese cities are thriving and have restored their cities entirely and both have thriving economies.
War is evident throughout history, from problems facing the middle east today all the way to problems that faced Germany at the end of World War Two. Countries affected by war are broken with millions of displaced people. The first thing that occurs is usually a constitution. This is seen in the Human Rights Act proposed after the WW2. This guaranteed people rights after the war after the horrid conditions in which Nazis treated Jews was brought to light.
Force confrontation: German soldiers react to footage of concentration camps, 1945.
The image shows the faces of German prisoners of war, captured by Americans, watching a film about a concentration camp. This forced confrontation brought Germans face-to-face with the worst works of the Third Reich. It must be really hard to go through what they did and look back knowing that everything that happened to them, all of their friends who were killed or maimed was in the name of something horrific, something totally repugnant to their own values.
What could be done?
- Larger countries could adopt these war torn countries: This would ensure that the countries affected by war are allowed to be rebuilt and larger countries which run a budget surplus could help these countries develop and rebuild infrastructure. This would even benefit the country that has adopted the country as it would result in greater income for that country which could be reinvested into that countries economy. Remember how India used to be part of the British empire? Just look at how it has developed – maybe a similar strategy could be used for war-torn countries.
- Nationalized education service: They say education is the most powerful weapon a person can use to change the world. A controlled education service and national curriculum would ensure a well rounded education and will allow for people to work and have jobs. Indeed people from that country that have migrated to other countries may want to go back and help to rebuild the country as the people affected by the war may have similar cultures and norms and may be able to relate to them better and may have a better understanding of that society.
- Nationalized health service: A health service will play a prominent part for people affected by the war. A strong mental health service will ensure people affected by the trauma and atrocity of the war will be able to receive treatment. This will also ensure a healthier population meaning a better economy.
- Democracy: A strong sense of democracy will have to be prominent. Although the country may not be immediately be able to have elections it may have to be ruled for a few years by the country that has adopted it. This will ensure that the country is stable before it can have elections although the people should be able to vote in the country that has adopted it if this was to occur.
- Banking sector: A bank would have to be prominent. It may have to be government owned. This is to ensure that there is a secure place for people to store money. Also each person would have a savings account. This will ensure that living standards rise. Each person should have an investment banker to raise funds for them and there treatment. In the long run the benefits will outweigh the costs.
- Infrastructure (Government owned): Whilst building countries the country will have to have a strong infrastructure. These are railway networks and buildings. This will ensure that there will be jobs and people can travel around the country and out of it.
- Free Housing: This should be provided for people who are victims of war in that country. This will ensure that they are safe and houses should be built suited to the families needs.
- Businesses/ factories: Factories are prominent to ensure that people survive. water companies, electricity companies, and factories that make essentials will be needed. This would ensure that the economy of the country develops to a very high standard and this could potentially improve the economy.
- Schools/ universities: These will have to be rebuilt as well as entire campuses. This will ensure that people get a good education and these services should be provided for free by the government to ensure that society is meritocratic and everyone has a chance. Books and academic papers destroyed will have to be rebuilt.
Money given by governments to organisations in there own country to rebuild the country they have adopted will have to ensure that every penny is accounted for and what happens in those countries will have to be monitored closely to minimize corruption. Its not a perfect solution, but it’s a start.