Signs of a better future give a new direction and hope

There is a gradual diffusion of a spirit of world solidarity arising spontaneously out of our disorganised and seemingly disintegrating society. It is fueled by the fundamental principle of the oneness of humanity and whatever the country, politics, religion, culture, gender or even age-old customs signs of this solidarity are emerging around the world.  It is worth examining these signs and understanding each of their implications. However, even more, important is their interactions because although each is powerful in their own right as they begin to show evidence of synchronicity their impact will grow exponentially.  At a time when despair is rampant and disunity strident these signs of a better future give a new direction and hope.

1. World Citizenship -  What is it? A global citizen is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it. What does it mean? They take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more equal, fair and sustainable.

This kind of citizen forms their own understanding of world events.

They reflect on their values and what's important to them.

Having reflected they take the important step of acting in the real world around them.

They are ready and prepared to challenge ignorance and intolerance in society.

Their involvement in local, national and global communities means they help shape a wider society than just their family.

They can consult with others, voice their own opinions while also listening to others.

They are convinced they have the power to act and influence the world around them.

“All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honour of one is the honour of all.
And whatever we do affects everything in the universe.”

Passed down from White Buffalo Calf Woman

    2.  Environmental Awareness – What is it?  Environmental awareness is an ideology that evokes the necessity and responsibility of humans to respect, protect, and preserve the natural world. What does it entail? It involves working for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment. It requires an understanding of how the global earth system works and how the impact of major changes on that environment impacts on the health of humans, animals, plants and even the quality of our air, water and soil.

“Treat the earth well: 

it was not given to you by your parents, 

it was loaned to you by your children. 

We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, 

we borrow it from our Children.”

 – Tribe Unknown

3.     Promotion of public health – What is it? It means building a better, healthier future for people all over the world.  It will mean working across all countries to contribute to achieving better health for everyone, everywhere. How is it achieved?  It means working together worldwide, as never before, striving to combat diseases – communicable diseases like influenza and HIV, and noncommunicable diseases like cancer and heart disease.  It will result in mothers and children not only surviving but thriving so they can look forward to a healthy old age. Ensuring the safety of the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink – and the medicines and vaccines we may need. 

One example of what can be achieved by a unified public health initiative is smallpox. It was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global immunization campaign led by the World Health Organization. Smallpox is transmitted from person to person via infective droplets during close contact with infected symptomatic people. Because of its highly infectious nature, smallpox was a devastating disease which killed a third of those it infected.  It was wiped off the face of the earth through vaccination carried out in a global campaign. We must not forget that an estimated 300 million people died from smallpox in the 20th century alone.  This was no small accomplishment.

Smallpox is not the only success. Rinderpest, a disease of livestock, has also been eradicated. This worldwide approach is now targeting more diseases with the same objective (poliomyelitis, yaws, dracunculiasis and malaria).  Knowing that such campaigns, which rely on cooperation across the face of the planet, can be such game-changers is a bright light in a dark world.

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” 

– Dakota

     4.  Concern for human rights - Historians are strangely in agreement that one of the great achievements of the twentieth century was the establishment of global standards for human rights along with international machinery to monitor human rights violations, to encourage compliance by governments with these standards, and to ensure that there is no safe haven for criminals who commit the gravest atrocities against their fellow human beings. The linchpins of this system are the U.N. Charter, adopted on June 26, 1945, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The Universal Declaration affirms in its preamble that it is intended to serve as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” Before the adoption of the U.N. Charter and the Universal Declaration governments had been tentative in recognizing that all human beings have certain inalienable rights; instead, the rights of individuals were viewed as primarily a domestic concern.

But these achievements, although steps forward, are not without limitations. Perhaps the most important drawback of the current system is how ineffective it has been in providing relief to human rights victims – and preventing them from becoming victims in the first place. The horrific truth is that every day countless human beings suffer gross human rights violations.  It highlights the fact that even worldwide charters and declarations shorn of sufficient power to implement protection of human rights will not suffice.

“For is it not your clear duty to restrain the tyranny of the oppressor, and to deal equitably with your subjects, that your high sense of justice may be fully demonstrated to all mankind? God hath committed into your hands the reins of the government of the people, that ye may rule with justice over them, safeguard the rights of the down-trodden, and punish the wrong-doers.”

Bahá'í writings

      5. Universal Education – What does it mean? It seeks to ensure that all have equal access to education, regardless of their social class, gender, ethnicity background or physical and mental disabilities.  Progress has been made on this goal however universal primary education has been a major problem for developing states as they do not have sufficient financial resources to build schools, provide books and other materials, and recruit, train, and pay teachers. The Sub-Saharan African region is the most affected region as 32 million African children are still uneducated. However, commentators noted that universal access to education remains an attainable goal by 2030. It is heartening to know this important goal, with long term dividends for us all and subsequent generations can be achieved.

“In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”

- Iroquois Maxim (circa 1700-1800)

          6.   Interfaith Activities - Means cooperative, constructive, and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions, spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels.  One early example of this was The Parliament of Religions opened on 11 September 1893 in Chicago.  It included Faiths such as Jain, Zen, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Bahá'í Faith among others.  Despite these efforts to break down barriers between religions just over two decades later World 1 would break out.  Along with the subsequent loss of life moral standards were severely challenged by the atrocities perpetrated under the veil of warfare.  If spiritual living is about trying to raise standards of behaviour both in personal life and community living, war seems ever to degrade the nobility of humanity.  

   Often religious prejudices can fuel the differences between people, across nations and inflame intolerance.  Interfaith education in schools has proven highly effective in engendering respect for all religions (and for those with none) and if carried out properly can inoculate a growing generation against the infection of “otherness” that permits injustice to be perpetrated.

"There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions. There will be no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions"

Hans Küng, a Professor of Ecumenical Theology and President of the Global Ethic Foundation. 

7.  Social Activities in localities -  There is a toxic mindset that incapacitates positive tackling of problems facing local communities.  Partly, it proceeds for the erroneous idea that change should only happen from the top down.  Governments, politicians, rulers, leaders of industry/finance/social services etc. are delegated responsibility which bypasses the individual initiative that could take action.  It was not always so.  

   Community living, especially in villages, used to be much more proactive.  In such close-knit communities’ personal connections meant the vulnerable were cared for, issues facing the community were discussed and tackled with greater or less success.  In a modern increasingly isolated way of life more young, old, ill are falling through the gaps of overstretched government services.  Thankfully, for most people, there is still a mental memory of a different way of living from a generation or so ago.  When individuals are not just allowed but encouraged to play their role in service to their local community a new mindset emerges.  Such empowerment can even be lifesaving.  It also inspires others to follow suit.

      It is important to recognize an unhealthy self-obsessed mindset is as unhealthy to each individual as it is to the society around them.  This habit of service to others is a recipe for a healthier citizen.  Every individual, and more specifically the junior youth, when encouraged into acts of service to their local community find their place both physically and mentally in a distracted materialistic world.  More importantly, they find they can, impact positively to make real changes to the community around them.  Instead of being caught up in the negative forces junior youth literally find their footing in service and are transformed.

Local efforts in the area of development seek to promote social and material well-being of people of all walks of life, whatever their beliefs or background. Such endeavours are motivated by the desire to serve humanity and contribute to constructive social change. Together they represent a growing process of learning concerned with the application of action along with knowledge accumulated in different fields of human endeavour, to social reality. Social action can be consolidated by the conviction that every population has the right and responsibility to mark out the path of its own progress. Indeed, every people and nation has to have a vital contribution to make in constructing a new society characterized by principles such as harmony, justice, and prosperity.

“And the honour and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world’s multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that by the confirming grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness and advantage to his fellow men? No, by the one true God, there is no greater bliss, no more complete delight. . ..”

Bahá'í writings

To be part of this wholesome transformation that is reflective of the oneness of humanity it is useful to contemplate your beginning, your life, your end and what you want your legacy will be. This American Indian saying nicely captures it.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. – Cherokee