The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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Pandora’s box is open. From its interior came all the evils like warsdiseases, lies, hatred, among other catastrophes. It will not be easy to close it in the Middle East, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs war to stay in power. He knows that, if he loses his position, he will have to face numerous accusations of corruption in court and will most likely be arrested.
The situation in Russia’s war against Ukraine is no different, where 70,000 Russian soldiers and an equal number of Ukrainians have already died, in addition to thousands of injuries on both sides. Vladimir Putin does not accept being defeated, as he knows that this will mean such humiliation, which will affect his image throughout the world. He would like to end the conflict, but does not know how to do so without being forced to return Ukraine’s conquered lands, which would be part of any agreement for peace negotiations. So, so far no solution in sight.
Both in Ukraine and in the Middle East, populations are subjected to collective punishment. The numbers are terrifying. Officially, under Israeli attacks, more than 41,200 Palestinians died in the Gaza Strip, thousands were injured and around half a million inhabitants left the territory, abandoning their homes and possessions.
The Lancet medical journal estimates that 186,000 or more deaths in Gaza can be attributed to the war, as there are still many Palestinians under the rubble. An unclassified US intelligence report estimates between 100,000 and 300,000 deaths in the current conflicts. This account does not include Lebanese civilians or military personnel from the armed forces of Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Russia.
We know that violence is an act of weakness. Faced with the old idea of what it means to be a leader, the new idea consists of achieving, at the cost of many efforts and against the strength of privileges, that leaders accept the obligation to lower their heads and respect their populations. They need to be made to understand that exhibitionism is pure vanity. We have to show them that dignity consists in surrendering and accounting for their evil acts.
Unfortunately, dictators cannot be removed from power by vote. In democracies, if a government is unpopular, opposing politicians can be elected with the promise of getting rid of them and their evils. Many pages have been written about how democracies die, but few teach how to end dictatorships.
A study conducted by an American researcher showed that it is necessary for 3.5% of the population to protest in order to change the regime in their country. Harvard political scientist Érica Chenoweth, who studies non-violent civil resistance movements, argues that opponents of the regime would have twice the chance of success if they were peaceful.
Violence reduces a movement’s support base, while many more people actively join in peaceful protests, which pose less risk, require less physical ability and no training.
The supposed invulnerability of dictatorships refers to the myth of the warrior Achilles, who, according to legend, could not be injured, attacked or killed. To make him immortal, his mother, the nymph Telís, had immersed him in the magical waters of the River Styx, one of those that bathes hell. Before immersing him, the nymph held him by one of his heels, the only part of his body that did not receive the protection of the river’s invulnerability, leaving him with that weak point.
The hero of Homer’s Iliads felt all powerful and fearlessly faced his enemies, who were unable to reach him. Until one day, at the Battle of Troy, informed about Achilles’ weak point, Paris, son of the king of Ethiopia, fired a poisoned bolt at his heel and killed him. What will be the weaknesses of Netanayou and Putin?
