The wind and the light

A girl does her homework in Kandahar, Afghanistan
© Sayed Sarwar Amani/IRIN

(ES)

Just as the wind surrounds a mountain, and in every onslaught erodes it during millions of years until it disappears, the same happens with scientific-technological progress against the customs barrier.

Progress speed ahead, while the customs are adamant, rooted in society, remaining outside, and even opposite, to many of the achievements of recent decades.

Technological advances have changed and shall continue changing our world, but by themselves will not be able to address threats and challenges that we face.

Understanding others, managing change and conflict, motivating, respecting, reinforcing, trusting and accompanying are the way to true social progress. This will build a more egalitarian world respecting the customs and traditions of different peoples.

The progress of a society we have seen in recent years is not imposed or by military force, nor by force of law. If we really want to erode the mountain of customs, we need a stronger wind that will be able to change its shape in a few generations, but not make it disappear. And this is the wind of social progress, which depends on each and every one of us, because we are the only answer to the inequality that exists in this world and that is a source of endless conflict.

It is not erase customs and traditions of different peoples to adopt that of the Western world. This would be a serious mistake generating greater tensions. But rather, embrace diversity and strive to eradicate those practices that help maintain the privileged status quo of some at the expense of other sectors of society. Customs that undermine the dignity of human beings and animals that inhabit this planet.

Progress in science requires financial and human resources for its development, while social progress is fed with the courage of people. Brave men and women who face the traditions, prejudices, ignorance, clichés, lack of culture, superstitions, their own fears, despair, injustice or abuse of power, with the conviction of one who knows that we will never be truly free, nor have a decent life, as long as a single human being does not have the same opportunities as the rest. And all this with the most powerful and feared weapon of all human history: the thought.



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Looking through a prism.

(ES)

The way we look around determines the reaction of our surroundings.

We look at the sub-Saharan Africa with a mixture of pity and paternalism, result of post-colonial heritage. And Africa look at West with the anger and despair which feels someone that has been abandoned to their fate, which has been stripped of their dignity and no longer able to stand up and fight for their future, because without further opportunities is resigned to survive with the help they are given.

We look at the East with distrust and fear, and even with the arrogance of the West that humiliates and despises muslim people. And the East looks at the West with the rage of someone who feels humiliated, defeated a thousand times and unable to react. Remembers its past glory because the West prevented from building their future in peace.

We look at India, China and Brazil with admiration for its miraculous economic growth, but with contempt of traditional economic powers that refuse to lose its legitimacy in the capitalist world against those who consider "new rich". And the emerging powers are revealed, asking for step, and making their way into the free market by imposing their economic power, knowing that this escalation of unstoppable growth is not sustainable.

We saw in U.S. the advocate of democracy and freedom against the excesses of communism. And the United States reaffirm its role, even now that communism is nothing more than a mere memory in the history of the World. And in that role, according to its geostrategic interests, takes part with no control far and wide of the geography of the planet, causing the fracture of the countries in which deploys its military power.

We look at the state of Israel with incomprehension and anger because of the violence unleashed against the Palestinian people and the distrust that make us those who feel different for being the self-proclaimed people chosen by God. And Israel, to the historical mistrust, builds walls around, real and intangible, based on their economic and military power, and the legitimacy given by their allies.

The prism that we are imposed by our government is based on clichés that transmit media. And that is the prism of fear, mistrust, arrogance, paternalism, rage, contempt through which West look around.

We can tell our leaders that enough is enough of abuse and humiliation, and to the people who have suffered them, is necesary to tell them that their victims will not be forgotten, and that crimes against them will not remain unpunished. So human is the feeling of love as of hatred, but many of us love, and have the ability and responsibility to extend a conciliatory and generous hand to humiliated and oppressed peoples, while we will rise an open palm up as a sign of "Enough is enough".

Someone must take a step in this peaceful revolution on behalf of the underprivileged. Let us be the first.


Photo:© IRIN.

Is regrettable, but not surprising.

(ES)

According to 2010 data from the IMF, GDP (PPP) in millions of international dollars of EU was 15,150,667, compared to that of Liberia that was 1709. Since this is an indicator of living standards, we can conclude that living in EU is 8,865 times better than living in Liberia. Is regrettable, but not surprising.

According to UNHCR, May 3, 2011, in Liberia there are still 160,000 refugees from Cote d'Ivoire who fled the recent violence that took place in the country after the presidential election in November 2010. And still arriving at a rate of 250 refugees a day.
In Duekoue, west of Cote d'Ivoire, 27,000 people are crowded into a Catholic church. In 15 other locations west of the country also, thousands of refugees living with host families begin to run out of resources, and remain with only one meal a day.

In the words of the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, "Liberia is in a very difficult situation and has opened its borders to refugees. On a recent visit, I saw Liberians giving rice seeds to refugees. Liberia is in a complex situation of transition from war to peace and democracy and once again we see generosity. "

According to UNHCR, since the conflict began in Libya, have fled the violence more than 740,000 people, mainly to Tunisia (356 000) and Egypt (270,000).

To the shores of Italy and Malta have reached 12,360 refugees from Libya, less than half of those who crowded into a Catholic church in Duekoue.

The EU response is a proposal to amend the Schengen Treaty, strengthening the external borders and restricting the free movement between European States in exceptional circumstances.

The journey of those who flee violence is never without its dangers. Thousands die in the attempt, mostly women and children, the most vulnerable in any conflict. When NATO and the EU are accused for refusing aid and the terrible conditions in which it gives shelter to migrants from North Africa, I can only think that from the EU, the message they want to give African countries is very clear:
"We are only interested in your natural resources, which are the source of our wealth. We do not want you on our soil and we will do everything possible to dissuade you, although bombed your homes."

Liberia receives 4.5 times more refugees from Cote d'Ivoire than the EU from North Africa, but is 8,865 times poorer. An example of generosity and solidarity.

In the words of Guterres:

"One aspect of migrations that is often overlooked is the contribution of the nations that share borders with countries in conflict."
"Often these countries are already in poverty, insecurity and risk of further instability. They need international assistance to help them support the refugees and displaced populations. "
"The world has to show to Tunisia, Egypt and Liberia the same solidarity that these countries have shown toward the refugees."
"Is the answer to the most lucid Western world's interest, that revolutions succeed and affirm democratic societies."

I've never been a supporter of figures, because they reduce human life to a simple number. And no life, and no death, deserve to be remembered as one more number of a conflict.
If I had to summarize the feeling I get from European action in conflicts in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire, I can only think of two words: shame and indignation.

Here's another reason for outrage, and as Stéphane Hessel would say: Indignez-vous!


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The laws of empathy

(ES)

On January 8, 2011, the Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in a public ceremony in Tucson. In the attack, died of a gunshot Christina Green, a nine year old girl whose death shook U.S. society.

Days later, in a tribute to the victims, President Obama delivered a touching speech from which I extract some paragraphs in memory of the victims.

“We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -– but rather, how well we have loved -- and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better.

And that process -- that process of reflection, of making sure we align our values with our actions –- that, I believe, is what a tragedy like this requires.

For those who were harmed, those who were killed –- they are part of our family, an American family 300 million strong. We may not have known them personally, but surely we see ourselves in them. In George and Dot, in Dorwan and Mavy, we sense the abiding love we have for our own husbands, our own wives, our own life partners. Phyllis –- she’s our mom or our grandma; Gabe our brother or son. In Judge Roll, we recognize not only a man who prized his family and doing his job well, but also a man who embodied America’s fidelity to the law.

And in Gabby -- in Gabby, we see a reflection of our public-spiritedness; that desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating, sometimes contentious, but always necessary and never-ending process to form a more perfect union.

And in Christina -- in Christina we see all of our children. So curious, so trusting, so energetic, so full of magic. So deserving of our love. And so deserving of our good example”

Empathy is defined as the cognitive ability to perceive in a common context what another individual may feel, in other words, the mental and emotional identification of a subject with the mood of another.

If I were to describe the laws that determine the degree of empathy, I would say that there are two mainly:

1. The degree of empathy from one individual to another is inversely proportional to the geographic distance that separates them. The further away from each other, less capacity for empathy.
2. The degree of empathy from one individual to another is directly proportional to the existence of a common context. The more experiences shared between both, more capacity for empathy.

This video from MSF of April 2011, contains the testimony of a victim of violence in Cote d'Ivoire which describes how soldiers have entered firing at his house and have killed a 5-year girl of several gunshot in the neck.



We don't know this girl's name nor we have her picture, but without knowing her, I also see in her all of our children. I can not imagine how her life would be, but I am convinced that she has parents and siblings who loved her and enjoyed her laughter and games, and comforted her when she cried. Her absence is a black abyss in their hearts and mine.

All victims of violence in Cote d'Ivoire are part of our family. No matter if we share with them a common context or not, or whether they are our neighbors or live thousands of miles away.

The girl killed vilely in Cote de I'voire has had no posthumous tribute, no president of any nation in his speech has recalled her.

Do not forget them. Neither she, nor Christina, or the thousands of children who die in any conflict, because to forget innocent victims is like die slowly with them.

Let our values be truly aligned with our actions.


TAKE ACTION:

Click on this link and send the post to the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations (france@franceonu.org). We have a responsibility to protect the people of Cote d'Ivoire.



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Can you hear them crying?

(ES)

Crying in children is a response to pain, fear, sadness, frustration, confusion, anger, inability to express their feelings appropriately. In babies, it becomes a powerful and effective way to get attention from their parents. When we hear our children crying at night, we wake up and rush to comfort them, to ease their pain or fear. The fear of imaginary monsters that wake them up in the midst of darkness, heart pounding, desperately seeking a few soothing words to the ear, a hug to give them security that let them having sweet dreams again.

In the global world we live in, we often see that the action in some remote part of the planet has a reaction to thousands of miles, as if the Law of Action and Reaction ruled our destinies, and accelerating the effect of opposing forces that propagate through space in the media. That is the explanation we received when a Protestant pastor from Gainesville (FL) burns a copy of Quran and cause the death of 12 people in Afghanistan during protests against this action. So we are also told how a high-risk lending transactions in the mortgage market in the U.S. cause a global economic crisis. The same explanation as a devastating fires in Russia have led to escalating prices of basic food to famine condemn millions of people on other continents. Similarly, facing natural disasters anywhere in the world, almost immediately, international humanitarian aid is organized.

Effects that persist and effects that expire. Immediate reaction and delayed reaction. Physical laws do not explain why human being does not venture into the darkness that is the crisis of values ​​in this global world and is delivered without further ado to give comfort to the millions of children who suffer in silence, facing daily real monsters such as hunger, abuse, rape, lack of opportunities, loneliness, labor exploitation, street violence, HIV, sexual exploitation or uprooting.

Are not our children? Does the globalization and its consequences only affect them in the negative? Can you hear the crying of the girls raped in Haiti or Congo or Darfur? Can you hear the crying of the girls sold and prostituted? Can you hear the crying of child soldiers? Can you hear the crying of children orphaned by HIV? Can you hear the crying of street children? Can you hear the crying of children working in slavery? Can you hear the crying of children who can not go to school? Can you hear the crying of millions of children who now go to bed with empty stomach?

Are not our children?

Hopefully we will wake up in this dark night we live to give comfort to the millions of children who cry, to ease their suffering and to return them their lost dreams.