The craziest thing I learned today is that the last victims of World War I were killed in 2014, a century after that war started. How is that possible?

Well, the two victims were construction workers in Belgium who accidentally triggered an unexploded bomb that was buried beneath where they were working. During World War I, a tonne of explosives was fired for every square meter of territory on the front lines. To this day, France recovers about 900 tonnes of unexploded munitions every year. This means that the wars we fight today threaten not only us but also our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The question is: will their grandchildren suffer too?

Questions for Discussion

1. Is it important to learn about history and past wars? If so, why? What can we learn from them?
2. What makes a war justified?
3. Does the fact that munitions from World War I are still causing harm today change your view of the consequences of war?
4. Can you think of other examples where the effects of historical events are still felt today?