TryGOLD- Free

Devastating societies through war and drugs

Down To Earth|November 01, 2023
Generics giant Teva is top among drug firms found guilty of fuelling the US opioid crisis, agrees to pay $4.25 billion
- LATHA JISHNU
Devastating societies through war and drugs

ISRAEL'S SCORCHED earth policy in Gaza has left the world scouring for terms that capture the horror at the barbarism they are witnessing. Humanitarian organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appear to have struggled with their statements of condemnation as the relentless bombing of the small strip of land, which is home to 2.2 million Palestinians, left searing images of the dead and dying in a devastated landscape. Even academics were hard put to describe the holocaust unleashed by the Israeli government; some settled for genocide, as did the Colombian President.

An MSF official described as outrageous Israel's 24-hour notice to over one million people in Northern Gaza to leave their land, homes and hospitals. "Unprecedented" does not even cover the medical humanitarian impact of this order, the official said. ICRC described the situation in Gaza as "abhorrent" as residents scrambled for water and food while health facilities and medical personnel were targeted in the bombing of the world's most densely populated area.

A statement issued by Gaza's authorities after the Tel Aviv regime began a complete siege of Gaza in response to the Hamas attack described the action as "the dirtiest crime of collective punishment against defenceless civilians in modern history". Since half the population of Gaza are children, it did capture the true horror of the bombing. Al Jazeera news agency quoted an Israeli official saying it had dropped 6,000 bombs weighing 4,000 tonnes on Gaza in the first six days of its war, killing vast numbers of children.

The vocabulary of outrage indignation is patently limited for a catastrophe on this scale. Responses also depend on a nation's and an individual's moral compass and political ideology. Sensitivities can be sharpened by a familiarity with a situation.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DOWN TO EARTHView all
Recycling Innovation: How UFlex Is Setting Global Benchmarks
Down To Earth

Recycling Innovation: How UFlex Is Setting Global Benchmarks

India's first company to recycle PET, PE, and PP for food packaging

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
A NEW BUZZ
Down To Earth

A NEW BUZZ

Like many countries, India is in the middle of a pollinator crisis. In several states, farmers now rent honeybees to secure a decent harvest. In areas where agriculture is nearly impossible due to shortage of natural pollinators, people are manually carrying out nature's most critical operation. This artificial substitution of pollinators raises new concerns. A report by

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 01, 2025
Seed saviours
Down To Earth

Seed saviours

Seed banks managed by communities and non-profits are repositories of hundreds of indigenous climate-resilient crop varieties but need help in storage, technical aid and policy support to thrive

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
Perilous proposal
Down To Earth

Perilous proposal

Villages near Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve oppose plans to open yet another ecotourism zone in light of rising attacks by the big cats

time-read
4 mins  |
June 01, 2025
SOUR GOODNESS
Down To Earth

SOUR GOODNESS

Leaves of madhu soleng, an easy-to-grow weed, are a great souring agent

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
Down To Earth

Broken lifeline

ON MARCH 13, 2020, Government of India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) released the latest life expectancy data of the country.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
RESILIENT RURAL FUTURES
Down To Earth

RESILIENT RURAL FUTURES

Ambuja Foundation Tackles Climate Vulnerability Head On ...

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
Down To Earth

Sustainable cycles

Women in Himachal Pradesh switch from plastic sanitary pads to reusable menstrual hygiene products for better waste management

time-read
2 mins  |
June 01, 2025
Uniting the Ecosystem: Empowering Smallholder Farmers and Solving India's Water Crisis
Down To Earth

Uniting the Ecosystem: Empowering Smallholder Farmers and Solving India's Water Crisis

Smallholder farmers are key to solving India's water crisis, accounting for 86% of farming households. Agricultural consumption accounts for 75-90% of India's freshwater use.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025
WHO IS REALLY DEVELOPED
Down To Earth

WHO IS REALLY DEVELOPED

A new development metric ranks countries based on their living standards that can be scaled globally without breaking planetary limits

time-read
3 mins  |
June 01, 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more