By M K George
Rome: The villain is supposedly Coronavirus, Covid-19, officially called SARS-CoV-2. The Delta variant has everyone on their toes. But, is the virus the real culprit or are deeper factors involved in the present crisis the world finds itself in?
Look at the range of issues bogging the world down. Let us begin with some of the richest, G7 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.
While Canada has reportedly been more peaceful, a world report in 2021 says, ‘Canada …grapples with serious human rights issues abroad relating to abuses by Canadian mining companies and the government’s failure to suspend arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen despite calls by the United Nations to refrain from providing arms and military support to the parties to the conflict.’
France faces serious issues of dealing with terrorism, growing economic crisis, political uncertainties as elections are due in 2022. The right wing seems getting bolder in the country.
Besides the economic fallout created by the virus, recent flash floods and huge losses of life and property throw up larger questions in Germany. Scientists are shocked by the intensity of the crisis. Along with Belgium the losses have been phenomenal and the shock, unbelievable.
Italy, plagued as she is by political vagaries now run on a patchwork coalition, faces an economic crisis and health emergencies, which are still not efficiently managed.
Japan faces not only serious climate change issues, but also a much-skewed demographic situation. Today one in four are over 65 years old. By 2035, it will be one in three. By 2060, two in five will be over 65.
Post Brexit, U K leadership has been negatively evaluated. According to some observers, U K is becoming a broken society. “Drug abuse, violent crime, teenage delinquency, family breakdown, welfare dependency, poor urban environments, educational failure, poverty, the loss of traditional values, teenage pregnancy, dysfunctional families, binge drinking, children who kill: all have been cited as proof that we have a broken society.”
Post Trump era, Joe Biden is struggling to get the U S vaccinated. The country grapples with issues of migration, an inequitable health care system, growing gun culture and a loss of world leadership.
Look at Asia: Poverty and misery are growing everywhere. India and Pakistan continue to have serious human rights violations. Afghanistan is a volcano, which could erupt any time. Myanmar is a slaughterhouse of human rights. China is celebrating as a growing economic power but the repressive autocracy is returning and human rights violations go even unreported. Philippines is a pathetic picture of governance. Indonesia is no better in any dimension. In short, look at any Asian country, there is very little to hope for.
Africa gives an image of doom — Poverty, civil wars, and wanton destruction of nature. Recall the recent riots in South Africa. Adverse impact of climate change, increasing water scarcity, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, desertification, low resilience to natural disasters, terrorism, and a serious failure of political leadership characterize Africa. The worst governed countries are reportedly, Nigeria, Mozambique, Mali, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Algeria, Ethiopia, and Malawi.
The Latin American countries are seeing some of the worst ecological and leadership crises in human history. Widespread corruption, lack of economic growth, political instability, insecurity, crime, drug trafficking, ecological destruction and lack of education are some of the major issues facing every other Latin American country. Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, Bolivia, and Guyana are some of the worst affected. And most importantly, the rapidly deteriorating quality of democracy in Latin America does not bode well for them.
Some of the Middle East countries give nightmares to all. Think of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestinian territories and the like. They give us a sense of brute inhumanity. Millions of internally displaced, (almost 80 million all across the world), those needing humanitarian assistance and women and children are scattered over these countries. Influence of ISIS and other radical groups still remain a threat all over.
Back to the question, is the virus the real villain? One hesitates to say yes. Isn’t the real villain lack of humanity and compassion? Isn’t it a lack of compassionate leadership? Isn’t it the wrong model of development we are following? Isn’t it the neglect of the Divine in human lives?
It is a sad reading of the world. There seems to be no hope. But can one really give up hope? The terrible scenario all across the world is also bestrewed with hope giving people and movements. Let us look at some of the prominent ones.
The presence of humanitarian organizations like Red Cross, OXFAM, Doctors without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, World Food Program, UN Agencies, Jesuit Refugee Service, other charitable organizations across the world, especially those working in war torn areas, are beacons of light.
Presence of compassionate leaders like Pope Francis, Dalai Lama, New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern, and even adolescents/youth such as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai give us hope.
But, the most important of all hope-promoting elements is the individual human being with a sense of compassion. You and me who bother to look at the world with compassion and give that little donation to those charitable organizations or volunteer for service; we are the real hope. Those of us who lend our hand to the migrant laborer around us, the homeless in the corner of the street, we are the candle lights of hope.
Let us carry hope within our hearts. Let us speak of compassion. Let us cry out for peace and justice. Remember, ‘a thousand shouts on the mountain will bring down an avalanche.’
(Father M K George is Jesuits’ new regional assistant for South Asia. He holds a doctorate in Education-Interdisciplinary – Sociology from the University of Pune.)