Dear John,

War is not only the leading cause of death, injury, and trauma on the planet—it is also a major contributor to climate change. From toxic military waste and war-driven deforestation to the massive carbon footprint of militaries, war and preparations for war are accelerating climate breakdown, polluting water and soil, and devastating ecosystems.

Join us for War and the Environment, a six-week online course starting March 24th, where you'll:
✅ Learn from leading experts at the intersection of war, peace, and sustainability
✅ Connect with a global community of changemakers
✅ Gain practical tools for action toward a more just and sustainable world

📌 Register and learn more here: https://worldbeyondwar.org/war-and-the-environment-an-online-course
🎥 Watch a short video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYeJnaMdjtA

🔹Why People Are Signing Up

Participants from around the world are joining this course for many reasons. Here are three:

🌍 Learn about the Environmental Costs of War

War has long devastated the environment, but contemporary conflicts are accelerating its impact. This course examines how war damages ecosystems, fuels climate breakdown, and creates long-term environmental crises across different contexts—including Palestine and Ukraine.

For example:

In Palestine: War has made the Gaza Strip nearly uninhabitable. Half of Gaza’s trees have been destroyed, 40% of agricultural land is unusable, and war-related debris—37 million tonnes of toxic waste—has contaminated soil and water.
In Ukraine: The war has caused an estimated $51 billion in environmental damage, with 2.4 million hectares of forest affected and 30% of land contaminated with explosives. Nearly 230 million tonnes of greenhouse gases have been released—the equivalent of 120 million cars’ annual emissions.

🎓 Connect with Leading Experts

This course features six renowned experts with extensive experience working at the intersection of war, peace, and environmental sustainability.

You’ll learn from:

Dr. Oseremen F. Irene – Professor, Head of Peace and Conflict Studies, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria; President of The Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace (GAMIP); and board member of World BEYOND War.

📺 Hear from Dr. Oseremen as he introduces the course (Watch here)

Kathi Futornick – Environmental consultant with 40+ years of experience, specializing in military site contamination; former college lecturer.

📺 Learn more from Kathi about her work and what to expect in the course (Watch here)

Pat Elder – One of the world’s leading experts on PFAS contamination and toxic military waste; board member of World BEYOND War.

📺 Watch Pat’s video insight into military pollution and the course (Watch here)

🔥 Making the Connections – and Taking Action

Beyond climate change, war is at the heart of many of the world’s biggest challenges. From nuclear threats and economic instability to forced displacement and humanitarian crises, militarism is not just a symptom but a major obstacle to solving these crises.

This course explores how war is deeply connected to these global challenges—and, more importantly, what can be done to influence change, large and small. Whether you're engaged in the anti-war movement, environmental activism, policy work, or education, this course provides the knowledge, tools, and connections to take meaningful action.

🚀 Join Us on This Transformative Journey

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a growing movement for peace and sustainability.

🔗 Sign up now: https://worldbeyondwar.org/war-and-the-environment-an-online-course

Looking forward to having you on board!

Best,
Phill

Phill Gittins, PhD
Education Director
World BEYOND War
[email protected]