From Horror to Hope
Barry S. Levy
Abstract
From Horror to Hope: Recognizing and Preventing the Health Impacts of War presents how war causes illness, injury, and death and what can be done to prevent these health impacts. Written by a public health physician who has studied these issues for 40 years, it describes injuries and assaults, malnutrition, communicable diseases, mental disorders, adverse impacts on reproductive health, and noncommunicable diseases. The book focuses on the impacts of war on the health and human rights of civilians, especially women, children, displaced persons, and other vulnerable populations. It also covers the impact of war on military personnel. The book explores human rights, ethics, and international humanitarian law. It examines the international arms trade, types of weapons, and international treaties and conventions. It documents the impacts of war on the environment. It reviews challenges in documenting health impacts of war. It describes the roles of health professionals and others in preventing war and promoting peace. Each chapter is followed by a profile of an inspiring health professional who has addressed the health impacts of war. From Horror to Hope is especially timely because of the heightened risks for war: the rise of nationalism, increased availability of weapons, massive displacement of people, and climate change. It is also timely because of heightened reasons for hope: more disputes being settled nonviolently, increased recognition of gender-based violence, progress in addressing war-related mental disorders, new treaties restricting the arms trade and nuclear weapons, and the imperative that civilians must be protected during war.