When we despair, let's not forget.

Like usual I have been following the news in 2011 and already it seems that this year is going to be a hard one for everyone. There was the massacre in Tucson, USA by a mentally unstable man who was kicked out of university because he was considered mentally unstable. Yet this unstable man was still allowed to buy a semi-automatic pistol with 30 round magazines. Although I’m not sure where he got his gun, I do know that be bought the bullets at, that’s right, Walmart. Much to my horror the reaction of a large section of the USA (although by no means the only reaction) has not been to call for stricter gun laws, a clamp down or a rethink on how and why guns are sold. Instead, the overwhelming tendency across the US has been for an increase in gun sales, with handguns and military style rifles leading this trend. The prevailing voice seems to be saying that more guns at the scene, not less, would have saved the situation. This skewed logic doesn’t make sense to me, and I find it shocking how gun culture has gripped the US. And don’t let those who say the increase in gun sails is because people want to protect themselves. High capacity magazines and military style tactical rifles are not used to protect yourself in urban America.

Australia has seen the “worst natural disaster in Australian history” over the last few weeks, with flooding hitting four states, and a fifth now being affected. After relentless drought there is suddenly too much water and the livelihoods of thousands of people has been destroyed. There has literally been millions of dollars in damage. Brazil too has been ravaged by our sweet mother nature with more than 600 dead as a result of violent floods and terrifying landslides. It remains to be seen what damage La Niña (or “Little Girl”) will cause next.

In the Middle East things are far from rosy. The latest so-called Peace Process has completely collapsed and rumors abound that Netanyahu is ruffling his feathers in anticipation of another conflict, either Gaza or Lebanon, in an effort to further derail and side line any movement towards concessions or compromise with more left leaning elements in the Israeli political spectrum. The continued illegal annexation and settlement of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem has picked up, making it every more unlikely that the Palestinians could have a capital there in the unlikely scenario that they get an independent state. The current Israeli government has become increasingly fascist continuing to further alienate non-Jewish citizens.

Furthermore, Israel refuses to deal with or work with Hamas on any issue, despite Hamas still being the fairly elected representatives of the Palestinian people. At the same time they still expect Hamas to police the Gaza strip and prevent other militant groups from firing rockets into Israel. Of course the world recoils in shock as Hamas brutally suppresses those groups that aren’t abiding by this latest cease-fire. But what choice do they have? Israel is looking for another excuse to bombard and attack the millions of prisoners in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas is afraid of more destruction brought about by Israel if they don’t stop the rockets. Let me be clear, I abhor the tactic of shooting rockets into civilian Israel. But I also want to be clear that this is nothing more than a fly buzzing in the eye of a dragon compared to Israel’s relentless abuse and human rights violations towards the Palestinian civilians of the Strip. Hamas, meanwhile, has become increasingly radicalized and the youth in Gaza are now facing oppression by two sides, by the ever increasing extremism of Hamas, and the prison (both physical and mental created by fear) imposed on them by Israel and the international community.

We move onto Tunisia, where the people have overthrown a terrible dictator. But here too I am afraid things are far from positive. Violence continues as the former prime-minister is now creating a so-called coalition government that is in fact almost the same as the previous government. Evidence is pointing to the fact that the military is, in fact, pulling the strings. Broadly pro-western and anti-Iranian, Tunisia will not be allowed to bring about real democracy because the cold hard truth is that this could result in a government based on or leaning towards Islamic principles. This possibility is, of course, unacceptable to the west. Just as it was in Algeria and Gaza. Besides this, brutal oppression of all opposition in Tunisia means that there are no democratic mechanisms in place for true democracy to flourish. The opposition parties are scattered and unorganized and quite likely unable to govern alone or to bring about any real lasting change.

The hypocrisy of the west becomes clear when you look at the support of pro-Western dictatorships, and the condemnation of democracies opposed to it. The case of Hamas’ democratically elected government (likely the most democratic election the Middle East has seen, including in Israel) being side-lined, embargoed and forced into retreat (and further radicalization) is a poignant example. The West flaunts democracy; we advertise it and push for it. Yet when people vote against the wishes of our governments, it suddenly becomes unimportant and a danger to our “western” society. Our governments become the autocrats, they impose their will over that of the sovereignty of people who have often struggled hard for freedom and human dignity. The principles of democracy are thrown out the window and we welcome totalitarianism and oppression. This is why the West does not, and will not, push for and support a true democratic movement in the Middle East or much of Africa. If they would the people would have the power and not Europe and America which is, of course, unacceptable.

Moving away from international politics, I read a heartbreaking article about child sex trafficking in the UK being on the rise with even younger victims targeted. It was this article which prompted me to write this, as it seemed like the final straw. The article summarized the main point of a new report called Puppet on a String. Its findings include the following (taken from the Guardian website):

·         Trafficking becoming more common and sexual exploitation more organized.

·         Grooming methods becoming more sophisticated as abusers use a range of technology – mobile phones, including texts and picture messages, Bluetooth technology, and the internet – to control and abuse children.

About the child sex trafficking, Anne Marie Carrie the head of Bernardo’s (the charity that wrote the report) said “wherever we have looked for exploitation, we have found it. But the real tragedy is we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg”. Reading the article left me horrified and a little bit hopeless for the state of the world.

Usually this would have been the end of my train of thought, and I would have gotten bogged down by my cynicism and despair. But over the last year I have been working on my attitude and have tried to focus not just on the negatives but to look further for the positives as well. Through countless conversations with a number of people, but especially my partner and friend, I have started to move away from that attitude. Let’s not just look at the problems, but at the ways people are working on addressing them, the ways in which people are fighting injustice and tyranny, and the ways people are dealing with the problems they face.

So let’s not forget the American people who banded together when a disgusting fringe group of religious nutters decided to protest outside the funeral for murdered 9 year old Christina Green; bikers and volunteers with huge angel wings joined force to shield mourners from placards and protestors. Hundreds of people condemned the group. As the country united in their condemnation, the fringe group backed down and didn’t show up.

Let’s not forget the thousands of rescue workers in Australia and Brazil doing their best to provide relief to those stuck in the natural disasters in those countries. Rescue workers battling rain to continue the relief efforts in Brazil and those working night in day to save those affected in Australia have literally saved lives.

Let us not forget the numerous grassroots NGOs, both Palestinian and Israeli, who are working tirelessly for a peaceful, sustainable and just solution to the conflict. Let us not forget the 20,000 people who marched against the oppressive and undemocratic principles of the Israeli government in Tel Aviv two days ago. And the thousands of Palestinians, Jews and internationals who partake in the weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion, the building of the illegal apartheid wall and Israel’s many other human rights violations. Let us not forget those brave Palestinian youth who wrote the Gaza’s Youth Manifesto for Change (look it up).

Let us not diminish the bravery and the courage of the Tunisian youth who ventured out onto the streets, who fought for their right to protest despite the autocratic government and the threat of violence by the police and the army. Who united as one in anger and despair over the widening gap between rich and poor, and the lack of job opportunities for all but the elite and the rich.

Let us not forget about the thousands of people around the world who actively work for social change, to bring about a better tomorrow for us and our planet. Let us not forget the social workers and those local NGOs that work tirelessly against the evil in our world, whether it’s sexual exploitation, hunger or environmental degradation. Let us not forget that when the little acts we all can do individually or in small groups combine they can move mountains and topple regimes. Let us not forget that when it comes to people, good overwhelmingly outweighs the bad. It is an unfortunate fact that power tends to corrupt, and it is up to us to show those that are in power that we will not stand for it, we will not let them ignore our needs and the needs of our brothers and sisters.

Sometimes I find it hard not to despair about the state of the world. Sometimes it's hard not to be crushed by the selfishness and hatred that is so widespread in society today. Sometimes it's hard not to lay down and cry because this damn world is so fucked up. And it is at those times that it is so important to get back up, hold your head up high and find those kind and beautiful voices, join forces with them and fight back. The voices of the good things in our world, the courage and selflessness, the love and understanding are so often overlooked. But together we can make those voices rise above the rest.