We grew up in Colonial Africa as part of the privileged few.
The world was in chaos .
We were ashamed about poverty, racism, sexism, … about the rise of authoritarianism, … the conflicts in Africa, Asia, Middle East , the Cold War and the list goes on.
Class-based stereotyping was ripe and there was a massive gap between the rich and the poor.
Us humans were fragmented - blaming each other for having different beliefs and ideologies
And yet - the human species has continued to thrive and survive!
40 years on
- extreme poverty has improved
- infant mortality is down and
- The World Food Programme feeds some.
- We have millions of government and nonprofit programs, thousands of social innovators that play at the edges. Our low-income communities have become playgrounds for the well-intended and their ideas.
- Communication with mobile phones have made us more connected
- Billionaires have made giving pledges
We are becoming one - or are we ?
Conflicts and crisis such as climate change disrupts billions forcing people to flee their homes - leading to resentment by the host countries.
Class and racial strife continues.
10% of the world’s population controls 76% of the world’s wealth while 380 individuals controlled as much wealth as the bottom 50% of our people.
Those at the bottom are essentially slaves.
Is the growing socio-economic gap as dangerous to the health of the globe as climate change is?
The wealthy have the power to change the lives of others in an equitable way - but do they really have the desire?
Martin Luther King
But do we see that?
Mandela tried to build a colourful nation of collaboration in South Africa - and it’s now in tatters with the gap between the haves and have nots greater than ever!
Our greatest chance for change is to work together in a “network of mutuality”. But how do we do this?
By talking to each other!!!
It is the efforts of every one of us as we work together, helping ourselves and each other that will begin to close the economic gap but also the gap in social status as they rebuild their own pride in community, self, and culture.
People need that cloak of collaboration, connection and community
This is why the Voice in Australia is so important.
Giving a Voice to those that are so disadvantaged - where suicide , distress and social distress is rife ….
Giving a Voice to those that have a culture steeped in history and are an ingrained piece of our country’s DNA
How can we make Australia a beacon of light for the rest of the world
- where we are a melting pot of cultural fusion and mutual respect for each others differences and cultures
- where we don’t have poverty
- where education and health care is a right of every citizen
Why would anyone say no to giving people a Voice?
What am I missing?
Inspired by Mauricio Miller who is part of our I4J forum -
