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We will now be studying opinions and theories regarding whether or not it is morally justifiable to go to war.
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The reasons countries go to war.
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Identify 6 reasons countries go to war
Give an example of a war which indicates more than one motive of going to war.
Give an opinion on whether it is ever okay to kill people.

War based on the reassertion of national independence for people with a common language, history, religion or heritage.
“Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Fuerhrer”
There is a logical necessity for homogeneity in nationalism, whether it be ethnic, racial, religious, cultural or linguistic – in times of war the perceived danger from the ‘other’ is heightened.
After 9/11 even Muslim residents of the US became suspects

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Sometimes countries go to war to protect their lands and people from aggression or to protect people in other lands from evil dictators.

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War declared as a measure of selfdefence due to a fear of attack or a threat to the countries vital interests.

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The need and sometimes greed for more resources has long been a significant cause of war. – more land, water or mineral resources such as oil have reckoned to be the root cause of a quarter of wars in recent years.
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Fighting was fuelled by the countries vast mineral wealth with all sides taking advantage to plunder the country's resources such as gold.

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The Crusades were a series of military campaigns against the
Muslims of the Middle
East-fighting to gain control of Jerusalem – lasted nearly 200 years.
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Some wars are fought for religious reasons. Holy wars are fought in the name of God by armies who believe they have
God on their side.

Are wars the result of only one reason?
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An example:
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Take what you know about the war in
Iraq and list the reasons why you believe the war started.
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You may do this task with those sitting next to you.
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You have 4minutes

WMD’s – to protect
America (the West) from possible attack.
To secure the Iraqi oil fields
– prior to the invasion 63 companies were fighting for oil contracts – after the invasion Exxon, Shell and BP got majority share (after meeting with Bush prior to the invasion)
Possible reasons war on
Iraq was declared.
Saddam Hussein was a threat- larger risk leaving him in power.
Saddam had threatened US interests in the past
– firing missiles at
Saudi Arabia and
Israel

-Albert Camus

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In a short paragraph describe, with reasons when you think it is okay to go to war.
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Do you think it is ever okay to kill another human being? Why?

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Page 80
Pink books
Make a list of the costs of war
Outline an example of the environment being damaged by war
Explain how starvation can be the result of war
When do you think it is acceptable to go to war? Give reasons
‘War does more damage to the morals of men than to their property
and persons.’ – Desiderius Erasmus. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer