War and the Wounded Earth

Nov 6, 2024 | Ellen Teague
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Though humanity has always counted its war casualties in terms of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and livelihoods, the environment has often remained the unpublicised victim of war. Water wells have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage. Destructive practices such as illegal mining and illegal logging thrive in conflict zones, further degrading the environment and fuelling instability.