Cost of War

iwonder highlights for the month of February include Untold Acts of War, The Long Road to War, How to Start a Revolution, Can Art Stop a Bullet, Cost of War, Songs of War: Music as a Weapon, Refugee and For Sama. As the conflict in Ukraine gets set to tip into its second year with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24th, this month iwonder pulls together a collection of documentaries and series looking at the causes, consequences, and conclusions of conflicts throughout history. New to iwonder in February, Untold Arctic Wars and The Long Road to War look at the early 20th century roots of more recent European wars, while How to Start a Revolution looks at the life’s work of Gene Sharp and his role in inciting nonviolent political change and the fight for freedom from oppression. In this month’s iwonder What Top five, each film looks at something different thing to emerge from war, from the tragic displacement of refugees to the development of music and art as tools of both healing and hurt. Untold Arctic Wars #History #Discovery #Remembrance Launches 23rd February In the first ever documentary series to reveal the role of the Arctic nations in WWII, discover the importance of the region in the most globalised war to date, along with echoes of places and events resurfacing through Russia’s Ukraine invasion. Against the backdrop of the stunning yet unforgiving Arctic circle, follow divers as they locate sunken German aircraft wrecks, archaeologists as they investigate hidden mass graves, and historians as they track down secret coastal fortresses. Through never-before-seen colourised archive footage, high-end CGI and animated maps, unearth the ground-breaking events that took place in the icy Nordic battlefields. The Long Road to War #Geopolitics #WWI #Europe Launches 23rd February At one time, The Great War was the bloodiest conflict ever to take place. Using rare archive footage and expert interviews, this series revisits the dramatic chain of events that started the war and explains how the causes of WWI have triggered every major contemporary conflict since, up to today, when Europe once again finds itself divided. How to Start a Revolution #Freedom Fighters #Non-Violence #Liberation Launches 23rd February One man’s ideas continue to inspire, mobilise and unite protestors, giving them the tools to topple authoritarian regimes. Quiet, unassuming, and softly spoken, the late Professor Gene Sharp is celebrated by revolutionaries and feared by dictators. So what are his ideas, how have they spread, and how are they actually used on the ground? With exclusive footage and unprecedented access, this film shows how Nobel Peace Prize nominee Gene’s controversial book ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’ has been used against dictatorships. We see how the book’s 198 strategic ‘weapons’ of non-violent direct action have brought dramatic results, and why it has become the standard manual for anyone wanting to start a revolution. With revealing footage filmed covertly in Egypt and Syria, it explores how social media can now be used to threaten dictators. This is the inspirational story of the power of people to change their world, the modern revolution, and the man behind it all. iwonder When 24th February 2022 A year ago on this date, Russian President Vladmir Putin launched his “special military operation”, and his thinly veiled attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government and seize control of a neighbouring sovereign nation. Fierce resistance at home in the Ukraine was soon backed by economic and financial sanctions and humanitarian and military aid, all of which have been instrumental in the effort to combat Russian aggression, but has seen the devasting war continue to claim lives and cause ripples around the world. Every time a new milestone in the conflict is reached there are fewer winners, with February 2023 marking a grave marker in a conflict that continues to show few signs of abating. iwonder Who Gene Sharp The subject of How to Start a Revolution, new to iwonder this February, Gene Sharp (1928-2018) was the world’s foremost expert on non-violent revolution. In a lifetime of academic work, he established non-violent action and people power as successful instruments for political change. Sharp argued that the major unresolved political problems of our time – dictatorships, genocide, war and social oppression – require us to rethink politics. He maintained throughout his life that pragmatic, strategically planned, non-violent struggle can be highly effective in ending oppression. His 1993 book ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’ has inspired non-violent protests around the world. Simple to translate and easy to smuggle across borders, this book has become one of the seminal works for democracy activists across the world, translated into more than 34 languages reaching every continent. iwonder What Born out of Conflict There is no more violent agent of change than war, leaving loss and devastation in its path, while leading to new ways of thinking, methods of survival, and blueprints for the future. This month’s iwonder What Top Five looks at some of the things born out of conflict, from human tragedies and global shockwaves, through to the desire to inspire hope and change in times of interminable darkness. 1) Can Art Stop a Bullet #Culture #Freedom #Creativity Launches 23rd February New to iwonder this February, this film examines the stories behind the most iconic artworks to be born out of conflict, exploring the role of art in achieving change in times of crisis. Meeting leading artists who have depicted war, this is a journey encompassing people, places and events from every continent. Hiroshima survivors share their testimonies, as well as Iranian musicians, Indigenous Australian artists and photographers of the Civil War in Northern Ireland. Art has never been in a more powerful position to bring an end to global crises. At a time of assaults on human rights, social justice and free speech, the voices of journalists and artists are under threat. Drawing on iconic works that have shaken the world, this film reaches from our past to our collective future. 2) Cost of War #Economics #Society #Aftermath