Balance

Nature is about harmony and balance. Left to itself nature would thrive, natural predators would ensure balance, the air would be cleaner, the waters purer and with less plastic. The planet would be cooler.

We are not.

Imbalance

We are not only bad for the planet, we are bad for each other, and appalling for the animal kingdom. We represent imbalance, disharmony, pollution and cruelty. Generally speaking.

Factually speaking this world is full of heroes fighting back. Factually speaking there are many more decent caring people than we know. Factually speaking the media and disinformation warps the truth of humanity for financial gain, or to serve the overblown ego.

We are being torn apart by lies, and those lies are hurting people who don’t deserve it.

Politicians

Are a massive part of the problem obviously. Yesterday President Biden agreed to allow US long range missiles to be used inside Russia, which will bring about retaliation. No one asked us. What will this do to Ukraine? Escalating conflict is not a path to peace. It just gets worse until both sides are too exhausted to continue.

What about the people?

Imagine if the Russian people didn’t want war, the Ukrainian people didn’t want war, the European and American, North Koreans, and Chinese people didn’t want war. How many millions would that be? Yet those millions won’t count.

Four or five men will be heard.

What if Russia had set up an EU style trading bloc instead? Bought its old union back together in harmony and mutual respect, and created success together.

The children

Adults are standing back watching children and other innocents, including animals, injured and dying, because our governments the world over are either causing the problem, talking a lot, or doing nothing.

Live Aid

Coming up 40 years ago two of our musical stars set up this concert to help starving people in Ethiopia. There is now controversy around this subject.

Apparently, together with the BBC’s Children in Need, it is patronising, gives the wrong impression of Africa, and has kept them in poverty. How can stepping up when you see need ever be patronising?

As far as I’m concerned the people who stepped up at that time had only one thought “save those innocents, save the children.”

I don’t watch Children in Need now, I’m thoroughly confused by it, I used to watch it to learn and understand.

It also supports children in the UK, they’re in great need too, but it doesn’t patronise them, nor has it held them back.

When it comes to patronising, our society has many problems, our rivers are polluted with sewage, as are our seas. There is no superiority here.

All anyone wanted to do during the Ethiopia famine was help.

Balance

Do we really want to live in a world where no one helps? Helping is not charity it is a divine duty.

Must we really live in a world where so few voices are heard and rhetoric is the voice of power?

If we want balance and harmony the silent majority need to speak up, and call out disinformation whenever and wherever it occurs. But of course…

Who enjoys spreading that more than the public?

No solution

Until each and every one of us learn to respect differences, avoid judgement, and not seek to be either superior or inferior, this world won’t change.

It’s as damaging to feel that your situation is the fault of others, as it is to think you’re better than anyone else. When you get to the stage where you want all the money in the world, you are truly lost and damned.

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven.

Jesus, if I recall correctly.

We’re due our first trillionaire soon. Will they be proud? The idea is nauseating. Sitting on more money than you can spend in several lifetimes whilst others die in poverty?

In fairness many of the rich do give more than we can imagine. We must respect that, even if they get tax breaks for charitable contributions the money is worth a great deal in the way of help and support.

All I can think of is that the more of us who are decent, kind, caring, and step up when needed the better.

But…

Over to us

Let’s keep writing.

We writers can share our worlds, add perspectives, redress the balance, research the truth.

We have the words to share our countries, our peoples, our traditions, hopes, dreams, attitudes.

We have the power to make each other real.

We must never give up observing the world, putting it into words, and trying to create change.

Understanding and connecting are powerful tools that can make launching a rocket much harder. Shared interests are more valuable than war.

Write for peace and respect.

Deb xx