Are you one of those people who came across the newest viral video on the internet? It is doubtful to make such a wild assertion that Iran is going to launch a strategic war against New Zealand! Well, it is completely outrageous. Let’s explore this absurdity in more detail and see that it is a work of fiction.
In the sections, we will learn how geographical, historical, and political factors eliminate this rumor as having no basis at all. We will also look at how fake news and misinformation contribute to the expansion of such outrageous theories.
Why would Iran and New Zealand fight?
Let’s start with the obvious: geography. Iran lies in the Middle East while on the other hand New Zealand is an individual island continent situated in the southern hemisphere of the world. They are worlds apart by thousands of square miles of ocean. In terms of the organization of armed forces it is incredible even to think about a military confrontation between them. It’s as if they were planning a war between Mars and Pluto!
Also, geopolitical interests between Iran and New Zealand are most dissimilar. Iran identifies mostly with the Middle Eastern concerns, like its nuclear program, or relations with Israel. New Zealand, on the other hand, seems less concerned with some of these matters as coverages of climate change, trade and regional security in the Pacific region. So once again, it’s similar to comparing apples to oranges, or even more like comparing oil to kiwi fruit.
A Look at the Historical Relationship: A Peaceful Past
Iran and New Zealand have not had very active diplomatic relations in the past Simply because of this Iran needs to try and build good relations with New Zealand. Even in the past, the nations have not had any issues or conflicts which would be considered as a major dispute. However, there have been few intergroup conflicts, more so they have been competing harmoniously most of the time. It is like two families who have a rather distant relationship and who nevertheless nod at each other when meeting at a wedding for example.
The Misinformation and False Information’s Role
Thus, where did this ridiculous hearsay come from? Perhaps, that is the consequence of fake news and fake stories that one can come across on social networks. Nowadays, fake news can spread faster than ever and that’s the reason folks should be more careful, as this can cause panic. This is like passing a message down the phone where before it gets to the last person, it has been twisted so much.
Of course, one main villain belongs to click bates and sensational titles. These attention-catching strategies can make people fall for the headline without realizing that perhaps there are other absurd things said at the same.” It is with such shock that a rumor once in circulation can circulate and become a fire within no short time due to social media feeds that tend to amplify the negative with the notion that such content garners engagement.
You therefore have to remember always that not all the things you read on the internet are actually true. They mainly influence the spread of a given information through sharing or believing the information without confirming the authenticity of the circulated information from different sources.
Debunking the Myth: Facts and Figures
To debunk this ridiculous rumor, let’s look at some hard facts:
Military Power: Iran do have a large army, but it’s a conventional army mainly used for regional protection and defiance. New Zealand has a comparatively small defense force whose primary roles are to participated in UN peace support operations and rescue operations. While debating, people were comparing Mubarak to Joseph Kony: Joseph Kony like a heavyweight boxing champion is more superior to Mubarak like a long distance runner.
Economic Ties: Currently, there is very little trade between the two countries investing in each other’s economy. Currently the bilateral trade between Iran and New Zealand is very limited. It is as good as looking for an egg when the hen has hidden the egg among many others.
Diplomatic Relations: The diplomatic relations between Iran and New Zealand remain limited since there is no Iranian embassy in New Zealand while New Zealand has No embassy in Iran, and the representatives are an Iranian charge d’affaires based in Ozbian and a New Zealand ambassador accompanied by two other officials based in Jakarta. There has been no particular breakthrough or tensions in diplomacy. The moment has come and gone and you didn’t even register it, kind of like two ships passing in the night.
From these facts one can understand the information that this war of Iran and New Zealand never existed. That is a consequence of misleading information and no critical analysis.
 The Importance of Critical Thinking
There is nothing as important as having a critical mind towards information especially in today’s world of social media. Sources add considerable value in that before forwarding or accepting any particular message or information, one should check if it is real or fake. Stop mimicking what people say, do you have a brain in your head?
When reading information, check who created it, what facts they use, and the general environment. Never fall for the scapegoating, the use of emotional language and conspiracy theories in headers. Let us recall that it is an old adage that extraordinary claims do warrant extraordinary evidence.
It means that having good critical Thinking abilities we are able to avoid being deceived and make right decisions. We should not be fooled by these silly rumors, let’s stay specific and think about real-life concerns.
 Conclusion
The example of Iran going to war with New Zealand is one of the best examples of every type of mis-information age. This is a good lesson one should learn of critical evaluation of information as well as the need to check information that one receives before acting on the same. We should also bear in mind this calls for critical interpretation of information lest we be swayed by rumors that are in most cases misleading.
Instead of writing such nonsense let’s focus on important issues that meet us in everyday life. The world has numerous problems, which wait for their solution, and these are global problems and include climate change, poverty, inequality, etc. Instead let us devote ourselves to becoming fit to tackle these pertinent problems and help in creating a brighter future not only for ourselves but for the world as well.
