Whether it’s the conflict in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, or recent actions against Iran, many are quick these days to cry “war crime”—though, generally, they only do so about actions taken by the side they personally find offensive. Frankly, the idea that only certain acts in war, with all of its murder and destruction, should be designated “crimes” is fundamentally odd. War is terribly destructive physically, mentally, and ecologically. In humanity’s attempt to “moralize” war, governments devise conventions and treaties banning what they believe to be the worst of war’s atrocities.

Readiness and preparedness are important aspects of many endeavors, whether business, military, government, or everyday life and livelihood. Are you ready for the unforeseen things that lie ahead?

We ready ourselves for many everyday things: for work or school, for taking exams, for having company for dinner, for going on trips, or for having a big event like a wedding. Being ready requires work and effort and attending to detailed preparations.

According to an extensive survey, 62 percent of all commercial honeybee colonies died between June 2024 and January 2025 (Science, June 30, 2025). This record-setting die-off followed the death of 55 percent of commercial colonies the previous winter. New research found that almost all the hives tested positive for viruses spread by the varroa mite, which has affected colonies worldwide since the 1980s.

The war in Ukraine has changed Europe, especially Eastern Europe. Nations that recently felt safe from conflict are now preparing for the inevitable. In the words of an Estonian official who oversees crisis preparedness, “It’s not a question of if [Russia] will attack. It is a question about when” (Politico, June 16, 2025).