As we approach nearly a year since the attacks that sparked off a barrage of carnage, amounting to genocide, leaving behind a trail of destruction with no end in sight, the future looks much like – or worse than – the past.

We must continue to call for ceasefire and the evil strategy of genocide to end immediately. Let the charter that was signed in 1945 take immediate effect and do what it committed to do.

Can you imagine the effect the bombings, the missiles are causing to the environment; to the planet. It’s known that we have abused the Earth with a ton of atrocities with pollution, excessive burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, etc. Now, to these atrocities we have added warfare.

Warfare’s effects have always been there, bringing its horrible effects, however the warfare happening today is like the Earth has never seen. What will ultimately destroy us, the guns or the gases? Either way we are doomed.

So true are the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

Indeed, we are members of a global and international community; what happens over there effects what will happen over here. No one, from east to west, north to south will escape the deluge of climate change, famine, pandemics, and most deadly and destructive is war.

Do you remember that Sunday school song we sang as children? It went: “There’s no hiding place down here …” Truer words were never spoken or sung! Therefore we all have a duty to be mindful of what’s happening in the world.

I’ve long realised that I can’t save the world, I have like most of us, the desire to do so, but have neither the capacity nor tenacity. All hope is not lost, however. As my dear mother taught me: “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” That led me to believe that I can make a difference, so I questioned how I can even begin such an arduous task.

My dear Sister friend, Caroldey, quoted to me the African proverb of “How do you eat an Elephant? Well … one bite at a time.” Wise advice, let’s start with baby steps; a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Hence, we have to start with ourselves to make any kind of difference. We start off by having conviction, determination and consistency. We join up with like persons and we begin to start a campaign of awareness.

We must bring awareness of our cause for survival of the planet; survival of mankind and humanity in a civilised, loving and peaceful environment. Awareness is knowledge and knowledge is power – more powerful than the perils of war and destruction.

We understand that sometimes war is a necessary evil, but it must be done in accord with the rules of war referenced by the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, agreements ratified by 196 countries. The rules align with balance and justice.

I beg to ask, why are the rules not implemented and why is the silence of the majority of the 196 countries so deafening? What is being committed as we speak is aggressive and extortionate warfare certainly not in accord with documented and signed procedures. I concur that silence speaks volumes.

Islam forbids such aggressive warfare. “And fight in the way of God against those who fight against you but be not aggressive. Surely God loves not the aggressors.” (Koran, 2:190.)

Bermuda, we must pray for peace, we must not be silent on matters that affect us all. As we know, silence condones. Let our voices and our prayers be loudly heard, for immediate ceasefire where too many bombings and too much destruction is happening around the world. Senseless wars that will destroy us and Mother Earth together.

Bermuda let’s have a prayerful week for peace. Let’s take a moment to ask Allah to relieve the sufferings of all those around the world and for our own salvation.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam