Public Health impact
of the conflict in Iraq

 
An end to a farewell to arms
As the world convulses around the war on Iraq, and the declared war on terror, the institutions that were established in the aftermath of the Second World War to protect world peace and public safety shudder and seem fragile. Suddenly the world seems a very unsafe place, and the prospects for all of us, whether in the rich or poor parts, seem that much more insecure. The attack on New York on September 11th, 2001 accustomed us to a scale of death which had seemed to be something from the past, but already the toll among Iraqi civilians is reaching the same order. The numbers, arithmetic and epidemiology of human aggression, conflict and externally-determined death are hard to measure accurately, and even harder to get our heads round.

Since world events took this turn two years ago, the Journal has tried to respond by providing a platform for views, arguments, evidence and experience. We would like to invite our readers to join us at this time to help reflect on how the human family might find its way through the morass in which we seem to be engulfed and which threatens public health on a global scale. Whatever our feelings about this situation, it is going to take real vision and leadership to get us out of this mess.

John R Ashton, Carlos Alvarez-Dardet
JECH Joint Editors

Please find below the web-only article:

Iraq: Time to focus our response
David A Barr and J Jaime Miranda
On behalf of the International Health Advocacy Group

The Editor welcomes comments on this article, and other views regarding public health and the conflict in Iraq
eLetters: SUBMIT A RESPONSE [Click here]

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  Click below to view photographs taken by Professor John Ashton of the peace demonstration
  which took place in New York on the 23 March 2003.

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