Sarajevo, Bosnia

On June 28th 1914, a 19 year old Bosnian Serb student named Gavrilo Princip, a member of a revolutionary organization — the Black Hand Gang, shot and killed the Austro-Hungarian heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sofia. This became known as the Sarajevo Assassination. His purpose, to protest for a free Bosnia from then occupied Austrian rule.

In retaliation, the German government encouraged the Austria-Hungary leadership to retaliate against the assassination by threatening Serbia with invasion. Russia immediately stepped in by coming to the defence of Serbia, which escalated quickly for both France and Britain to honour their prior treaties with Russia with full military support. This led to a full mobilisation of over 65 million soldiers and civilian support over the following four years resulting in over 40 million casualties including up to 20 million deaths and 20 million wounded military personnel from across the world. This was known as the Great War / World War 1 which lasted between 1914-1918.

At a time of heightened escalation, the decisions of governments determine the actions that follow on the populations of those countries. Does Humankind learn from the lessons that history provides to us? The same incentives still remain for all who choose to profit from the effects and horrors of war by capitalizing on the opportunities it presents. For those who enjoy the sun when it is cold, will also complain about the sun when it becomes too hot. There remain those in positions of power that seek to encourage retaliation through the application of darkened manipulations by calling them, good intentions. This creates a place for evil to live and thrive within the hearts of all that deem these actions acceptable, even if many lives are taken to achieve these aims.