By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ
Ahmedabad, May 13, 2020: The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) has called on religious leaders and faithful, from every faith from around the world to observe May 14 as a day of prayer, fasting and charitable works the good of all humanity and for an end to the pandemic COVID-19.
The pandemic has already resulted in death of over 250,000 people, the infection of almost 4 million, and the confinement to their homes and lockdown of two thirds of humanity .Even those who have not got the virus– like migrant laborers , daily wage earners , the unemployed and other poor – as we see in India, have been very severely affected.
Millions of them are still seen walking long distances to return to their native places. The sudden lockdown the night of 24/25 March and the total suspension of public transport has destroyed their livelihood; deaths due to fatigue and starvation are being reported from all over. Social media has been highlighting the plight of the least of our sisters and brothers.
On May 3, speaking before the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis said, “since prayer is a universal value, I have accepted the proposal of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity for believers of all religions to unite spiritually this 14 May for a day of prayer, fasting, and works of charity, to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic. Remember: 14 May, all believers together, believers of different traditions, to pray, fast, and perform works of charity”. Pope Francis went on to add, “I again express my closeness to all those who are ill from Covid-19, and to those who care for all those who, in any way, are suffering from the pandemic.”
Given the fact that Pope Francis is a very well accepted and admired religious leader in the world leader the global call for this ‘day of prayer’ has approval from several quarters.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced he will take part in an international day of prayer and fasting on 14 May to ask God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic. Guterres tweeted, “In difficult times, we must stand together for peace, humanity and solidarity. I join His Holiness Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb in their support for the Prayer for Humanity this 14 May – a moment for reflection, hope, and faith”
The HCHF is an independent body of religious leaders, educational scholars and cultural figures from across the world, dedicated to achieving the noble goals of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, during the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to the United Arab Emirates in February 2019, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The High Committee for Human Fraternity, which was established in September 2019 as a concrete response to the Document. The path-breaking document among other things, calls upon world leaders “to work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace; to intervene at the earliest opportunity to stop the shedding of innocent blood and bring an end to wars, conflicts, environmental decay and the moral and cultural decline that the world is presently experiencing.” . Further it also asked leaders and would-be influencers “to rediscover the values of peace, justice, goodness, beauty, human fraternity and coexistence in order to confirm the importance of these values as anchors of salvation for all, and to promote them everywhere.”
The Day of Prayer on May 14 is expected to be the largest gathering of humanity for one goal, with millions participating from all over and in every possible way. Being in the holy month of Ramzan, with millions of Muslims already praying and fasting, will certainly add to the fervor of the day.
The event will be accompanied by unprecedented media coverage, through the Committee’s social media accounts with hashtag #PrayForHumanity to allow people to interact and share their videos, photos and posts. There are several online initiatives planned in India too to observe the ‘day of prayer’ as appropriately as possible.
We need to join in too with our sisters and brothers throughout the world, praying for humanity:
“We come to you today
dear heavenly and loving Father
as your children, as one family:
with deep faith and a total surrender to your will
We come to you today
at a time when our world is gripped with the pandemic COVID-19
thousands have died everywhere and many more are affected;
fear and uncertainty rule the lives of many; and we still lack a scientific cure
We come to you today
trusting in your loving providence
fully assured that you care for all of us
and that you will protect us from every danger”
AMEN!
(Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights and peace activist/writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com)
Several modern economies such as India are what’s called “Monetarily Sovereign”. This means they issue their own currency. Unlike an individual, a household, or a private company, who have to earn income before spending it, monetarily sovereign governments are not financially constrained because they have the power to print money. Thus they can afford to hire anyone currently unemployed people without increasing taxes, cutting spending or “borrowing” in private bond markets. These countries can run deficits indefinitely. The school of macroeconomics that provides the theory that backs this up is called Modern Monetary Theory.
Sir, please read “Modern Monetary Theory” available on internet, for more information on money, full employment, etc.
A Universal Basic Income or Job Guarantee is a federally funded, locally administered program that offers anyone willing and able to work a community job at a socially inclusive minimum wage, say, Rs.10,000/- per month.
This eliminates involuntary unemployment, sets a floor price for labour below which we deem employment to be exploitative and ensures a minimum standard of living below which we deem people to be unable to fully participate in the economy.
Where will the money come from? Several modern economies such as India are what’s called “Monetarily Sovereign”. This means they issue their own currency. Unlike an individual, a household, or a private company, who have to earn income before spending it, these countries are not financially constrained because they print their own currency. Thus they can afford to hire anyone currently unemployed without increasing taxes, cutting spending or “borrowing” in private bond markets. These countries can run deficits indefinitely. The school of macroeconomics that provides the theory that backs this up is called Modern Monetary Theory. Please read “Modern Monetary Theory” for more information.
Once the money is printed and given as wages, it has to be used for productive purposes, i.e. increase wealth by producing goods and services. If the money is used for speculation or other unproductive purposes, it will cause inflation.
If the govt. pays Rs 10000 for one maid employed by a rich family, what will be amount to be budgeted for this one item alone ! When all these unemployed millions are given Rs 10000 each, govt will have no money for many other jobs. Of course they can print new notes and give. Ore taxes mean agitation by payers.
The idea behind “ basic wage and employment” seems to mean a minimum wage for the work. But first employment must be created so that they can work and wealth can be produced . What is the percentage of unemployment in India. All opposition parties are criticising the govt for this.