Human development and poverty
Special Feature
COMMENTARY - TIME TO ACT
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Surprising as it might seem, healing, economics, communication media resources development, education, and politics are all interrelated and interconnected. We cannot have human development without observing the exploitation of millions of people around the world by an economic rationalist system, which seeks to take at the expense of giving back. The ethos of the world in which we live is based
on patriarchy, conflict, competition and war. REF1 In the past few thousand years, particularly since the development of agricultural settlements we have accepted that the only way to survive is by killing competing and exploiting. In the process, women are subjugated into submission and the whole process and ethos of our global culture is towards the eminence of materialism and masculinity at the expense of anything else. What this means is that the whole planet ,is here purely for our use, and domination. The Medical System REF2 In the medical system, patriarchy, authoritarianism, reductionism and manipulation with chemicals ( drugs) is the way that we seek to cure or basically, band aid disease. Inequity, poverty, malnutrition, ill-health, infection, are vicious circles, which support each other with impunity. Will we ever achieve, the so-called UN millennium goals (see Addendum) where we see education and health for all especially in the developing world. Or will we see cultural addictions, maintaining the subjugation of women and abuse of children, the use of child labour,and the use of child soldiers. In the developing World, disempowerment, ill-health and impoverishment prevent self development. ON our planet ,we have a situation where half the population can barely survive and where 5% or less own more than 90% of material wealth. Unless as doctors and health professionals and
nurses, we begin to take a more active part in stewardship of our
Global society and of the land, we can hardly call ourselves healers.
We cannot help but partake of the suffering in this world, which
we see constantly portrayed in the printed media and on the television
screens. The impact is greater for those in the health professions,
because the immediacy of symptomatology, impels us to seek for diagnosis,
causes and treatments This shadow side of humanity is also reflected
in ourselves as we seek to heal that which is within as well as
that which is without.REF3
The conspiracy gets worse when we realise that the World health organisation, in conjunction with the pharmaceutical industry wishes to stamp out the use of vitamins and supplements by health practitioners,in order, that they may be patented and sold purely by the pharmaceutical industry through the act of the Codex aliamentarius. As Doctors and Nurses and Health Professionals ,we are victims of a medical system which seems to have a mind and way of its own. The individual doctors are dedicated and hard-working and compassionate towards the patients, and yet the basic system as it is ,seems to override our basic human qualities for kindness and concern. The cultivation of fear, in our post 9-11 world, and the economic rationalist model which looks upon people as a mere numbers or collateral damage in a game for economic superiority is creating a culture which is anomic and alienated from itself, from humanity and from nature. We need to get back to the garden. We need to get back to the source and core of who we really are. When we see the burgeoning incidence, of cancer, cardiovascular disease, iatrogenic disease, infectious disease in the developing world, and depression, which is worldwide, we realise that basically medicine, is not doing its job. We doctors, are being hoodwinked by a pharmaceutical chemical and technological medical industry, which by its very nature is taking us over very much like the Industrial Revolution made slaves of the artisan. We are losing the art of medicine by becoming mere servants of the medical industry, which is becoming the high church and sole arbiter of life and death of millions of people. REF4 Socrates speech on "The Cause and Effect of Love" 419 B.C says. But souls which are pregnant - for there certainly are men who are more creative in their souls than in their bodies - conceive that which is proper for the soul to conceive or contain. And what are these conceptions? - wisdom and virtue in general. And such creators are poets and all artists who are deserving of the name inventor. But the greatest and fairest sort of wisdom by far is that which is concerned with the ordering of states and families, and which is called temperance and justice. Can we indeed, envisage a world, which is ordered, through temperance, Justice, wisdom, and virtue? Do values count in a world, in which there is no real set of universal values, by which to live. It requires a true sense of civilisation, a sense of tolerance and an all encompassing acceptance that other groups of people may have differing value systems, in order that we may begin to shift to new ways of looking at the human condition. Inequality in Socio-economic conditions, are preludes to marginalisation, exclusion and unemployment, which leads to suffering, depression, disease, wars and terrorism. There is an inextricable connection between deepening poverty, inequity, and over population. This in turn has irreversible effects on the living and non living environment. We do not realise how we quantify life rather than qualify life. Our Western science teaches us to look at people in terms of numbers in epidemiology and see wars in terms of collateral damage, and hospitals and casualties in terms of triage. This lack of sympathy, rapport, identity, leads to a distancing of our souls and our minds from the real disasters occurring around is, which should in fact, be wake-up calls. The growth of the Internet, and the new forms of communication gives a more personal touch to what is going on in the outside world. But at the same time, journalism, by its very nature is objective and cannot be seen to be too involved with the subject of observation. That job, is left to the commentators and the opinion makers. And in these days, opinion makers have a field day in creating opinions, which tend to follow the agendas of governments and the current economic system. Why is it that ordinary people, are so utterly manipulated by the media and political expediency? Why cannot there be an education system, which could allow people to, start thinking for themselves Why is the educational system, so mediaeval and archaic to the extent that we now have an epidemic of child suicide and child attention deficit disorder. The educational system has become so distorted, that children, who appear depressed are given antidepressants, and the attention deficit children are put on other drugs like Ritalin. Our future is dependent, not on the short term goals of politicians or feverish competition amongst Nations for scarce resources, but on the ability of the population at large to rear children, who will be happy, creative, resourceful and optimistic for the future. And yet, the world is ruled still, as if it were a multitude of mediaeval nation states, run by Kings, who have a great deal of control, once elected to office, and are surrounded by a bulwark of officers, armies and bureaucrats. They act like the ramparts and fortifications of the castle, which inures the King, president, or Prime Minister from any real understanding as to what is going on in the real world. If you listen to the news, the main stories are about how the powerful elite, share resources amongst themselves. The Kings and Queens are not representatives for the voice of the people. And yet with the development of the Internet, as the voice of the ordinary person is heard, there is becoming a decentralisation of power and expression. New ways of thinking are being expressed, which go against the Darwinian experience of survival of the fittest and Win lose. This is because people are beginning to think
in terms of creative expression ( especially seen on the Internet
) a universal philosophy of oneness, an understanding that life
is a reciprocally maintaining and symbiotic meshwork process and
relationship and that life and livingness and humanness are priorities,
when it comes to creating a livable and sustainable world for the
future. The infinite reaches of the universe are now accessible to us through telescopes which probe to the very limits of the known universe and people begin to realise that we live in an extra ordinarily, abundant universe and that we are much greater and more significant than we think we are when we see the vast spaces and the myriad stars of the universe reflected in our own hearts. How do deal with this dissonance between economics, which is the major religion of our globalised world, conventional religion which in order to have any semblance of universality has to resort to constant interfaith dialogues and the new spirituality and consciousness, called the new paradigm which sees everything is being interconnected and in the state of process in oneness?
The inconsistencies in world views are seen particularly in the way the world continually impedes progress towards the UN. Millennial goals. It is seen in the way than US military industrial complex spending at $650 billion for 2008 outstrips the rest of the world`s combined, defence spending by at least five to one with $40,000,000, being spent on novel bio viral warfare agents. It is seen in the way all the 50 American states,
have been broken down into a supply chain and an assembly-line to
supply the military industrial complex. This is why, almost every
member of Congress supported the 2008 defence appropriation Bill. It is seen in the way the war in Iraq is a giant
advertisements for US weapons systems. In the meantime, to advance the Alliance of Civilizations,
http://www.unaoc.org/repository/report.htm
the UN Secretary-General has established a High-level Group of eminent
personalities and tasked this Group with generating a report containing
an analysis of the rise in cross-cultural polarization and extremism
and a set of practical recommendations to counter this phenomenon. The Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe ( OSCE) has adopted the Alliance and, by treaty, politically
binds its member states to the initiative. The OSCE derives its power from:
The United Nations, is the administrator of the
initiative of the Alliance of Civilizations,
from possible conflict arising from the Middle
East, China, Pakistan, India and the threat of terrorism. However, closer look, shows that it seeks also
to deal with a term called, cross-cultural polarisation. Is this
not indeed, a euphemism, for the involvement of the military using
"dual-use" technology in law enforcement affairs in secular
society. Is this not the beginning of the establishment of Big Brother
as expressed in a Myriad local and global surveillance systems for
the everyday citizen, as predicted by George Orwell in the book
1984.REF8 REF9 In the meantime The World Bank has agreed to lend more than $20 billion each year for projects meant to improve the lives of the poor. This is a minuscule amounts compared with the amount of money, the world spends on killing and armaments. The money is only given with strict strings attached, and stringent impact evaluation. Often, evaluation has to be accompanied with economic profitable returns and the involvement of the private sector. The World Bank in its enormous amount of literature, constantly stresses the need for economic growth, above all else. This of course is very much tied in with the neo-Conservative Washington consensus model of economic rationalism, which is basically, our current world. Religion. This religion is controlled by a politically motivated, economically powerful global monetocrady. Although couched in complicated language of economics,
which according to Dr Hazel Henderson http://www.hazelhenderson.com/editorials/cuckoos_egg_in_nobel_prize_nest.html The combined effects of globalization, dwindling natural resources, lack of educational and economic prospects and the corruption of a large number of developing-world regimes have today left 3 billion people, roughly half the world's population, living on $2 a day or less. The overwhelming majority of child soldiers are drawn from this poor, uneducated, disenfranchised and marginalized segment of society. At any one time, there are more than 300,000 child soldiers serving with non state armed groups.(P.W. Singer's Children at War)
Globalisation on the free trade model of the neo-liberal Washington consensus economics is colliding with local cultures natural economic sovereignty, social customs and values, as well as traditional agriculture, indigenous rights and the protection of biodiversity and the environment. The fundamental issue is the very economic model underlying today's Globalisation of technology, trades and markets. The critics from many diverse perspectives agree that free trade doesn't account for social and environmental costs and cultural disruption in the price in traded goods and services will continue to cause more harm than good. The World Bank, the IMF, the US Government and
the WTO still refuse to recalculate prices and microeconomic indicators
including the GDP to include these social and environmental costs,
which contribute towards the deterioration of human life. Civil
society movement groups throughout the world are committed to the
idea of preserving human identity and enriching biological and cultural
diversity. Quote--Globalization" is obviously not a movement toward more democracy, peace, general welfare, wealth, and ecological sustainability, as its propagators are pretending everywhere. On the contrary, the opposite is true. Never in history are so many people dying from hunger and thirst, environmental destruction, and war, most of them women and children. Never in history have so many people been confined to poverty, income reduction, expulsion, expropriation, and extreme exploitation, again, most of them women and children. Never in history has technological progress led to such intense and threatening destruction of the environment globally. Never in history has the nuclear threat been so acute. Never in history have the political systems been changing so clearly in the direction of authoritarian, if not despotic rule in many parts of the world. And never in history has such a tiny minority on the globe been so incredibly rich and powerful.REF11 How can we act to change this unsavoury state of affairs in order to give the ordinary person and the ordinary citizen a voice and an expression of hope. How can ordinary people, truly create lives , which are full of hope and creativity for the future not only for themselves but for the future generations. In this deeply divided world, old embedded cultural archaic forms of thinking and forms of education, lobotomize the true self expression of infants, children and adults acclimatising them to ways of thinking, acting and perceiving, which are mere caricatures of the self actualised human being. There seems to be indeed a great divide, between the way of thinking of politicians, cultural elites, large companies and and the ordinary global citizen who wishes only for security, happiness, health and well-being. In their heart of hearts, every person wishes for this sense of wellness and security in their own lives. We all wish basically to survive, on a sustainable planet, and very few people realise that our future is at stake not because of potential or actual wars and conflicts that because of the ravaging of the living and non living resources of the total planet and climate change, which is currently at tipping point.
The new way of thinking, invokes new forms of education and the formation of new disciplines, in virtually all fields of human endeavour. It requires, an enormous Paradgm shift and vast change in consciousness, if we are to survive. Human development, out of poverty, whether this poverty be material or based on lack of quality of life, chronic disease, depression and unhappiness depends on the life sciences and the new science of consciousness taking a greater role in determining the future of humanity. Socio-economic factors, are but the base for the creation of our consciousness of well-being which is the birthright of every human being on the planet. Happy, contented creative self expressing human beings are much more capable of creating a sustainable economically successful human civilization than are people who are in hierarchic competing arginalizing exploiting and discriminating societies.
REF13
We also need to be aware of the many organisations in the world,
which are seeking for and creating world peace. These include at least two million organizations -- part of the earth's own immunological response, as executed collectively who are devoted to ways of creating a sustainable planet by looking at new forms of collective integration ,community sustainability, environmental sustainability, environmental conservation and the endless expression of a generosity on behalf of all humanity.REF14 In particular, we should be aware of the vast growth of a new spiritual wave, consisting of millions of people on the planet, who leaving traditional modes of institutionalised religion are devoting themselves to new ways of thinking and consciousness based on our inextricable connection with all of life and a basic philosophy of oneness, which transcends race, culture and creed. Arising out of this fertile ground of expression, and newness are a significant number organisations wishing to establish a transnational models of world democracy based on global governance and an overarching, international law based on human rights and human justice. The peoples of the world require our voices to
be heard and represented for example, by a world Parliament.REF15
The USA, Australia the United Kingdom, and Canada
have also started initiatives to have Departments of Peace or Ministries
for Peace to be established that would sit alongside existing government
Departments. REF16
http://www.mfp-dop.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=22 REF17
http://www.law.widener.edu/envisioning A "human political system" will need
to be developed. http://www.globalcitizensforpeace.com/subtopic/links.htm A human political system means one which organizes
goods and services in a manner consistent with the benefit of all
of humanity rather than simply for the benefit of a particular nation
or state as today's national political systems do. Without such
a "human" political system attempts to promote human development
will continue to founder upon the rock of national differences,
as has happened in the past, with governments putting national priorities
before human priorities.REF19
http://www.humanunion.info/ Humankind has reached a state of development in which old modes of thinking and behaving threaten to destroy our civilization. The old paradigm is not working for us individually or collectively. It is based upon the illusions of scarcity, separation, judgment and guilt .It is based on a philosophy of "no pain, no gain" and "stress for success" and guarantees the outcomes of: greed, inner poverty, competition and war .It creates the belief that there is not enough to go around and this belief system /inevitably lead to self- (and planetary-) destruction. Within our heart-of-hearts many of us recognize that the old paradigm has kept us disconnected from the living, breathing Universe -- and from one another. We feel a heart felt pull towards a new way of looking at life, shifting our perspectives and living in balance within a new paradigm.REF20
There appears to be on horizon of the 21st Century a major new paradigm which will touch every person on the planet. This paradigm seems to be a new religiousness or cosmology that is to change and transform thousand s of years of belief systems to bring us closer to the understanding of what we may call infinite intelligence, the life force, God, the Buddha State or enlightenment. Albert Einstein said that A human being is part of the whole, called by us "universe", limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons close to us.Our task must be to free ourselves from our prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all humanity and the whole of nature in its beauty. We create our own reality.. and have access to
the tremendous creative potential within. REF21
www.CommonPassion.org REF23
www.globalmarshallplan.org This new vision of reality gives us the opportunity to access the tremendous creative potential within and create our own reality. Often understanding occurs through an intuitive leap. This new paradigm is based upon the recognition that: the universe is abundant and that we are all interconnected and we each have within us the power to shift our current "reality." The new paradigm invites us to come from a sense and anticipation of completeness, to re-connect with our own personal power and to support one-another in our missions as we realize that "there is more to life than what we see;" and that the point of power is in the present moment At the present time the old paradigm is crumbling
.Although many are reacting with anxiety and fear many are deliberately
choosing to embrace a new perspective. Now is the time to act
http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2005/english/ch9/chap9_page4.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REF1 CAPITALIST PATRIARCHY
AND THE NEGATION OF MATRIARCHY THE STRUGGLE FOR A "DEEP"
ALTERNATIVE CLAUDIA VON WERLHOF REF2Human development
and poverty and the new integral medicine REF3 The Wounded Healer
Paul Levy REF4 Socrates speech
on "The Cause and Effect of Love" 419 B.C REF5 Ethics today must
create a moral impact capable of over-hauling the political system
Wolfgang Fischer REF6 THE VISION OF WHOLENESS
A Vision of Life's continuity by Wolfgang Fischer REF7 War and the Money
Economy, Why politicians (still) don't really want peace--- Wolfgang
Fischer REF8 Arming Big Brother:The
EU s Security Research Programme REF9 A Time, Times, and
a Half a Time Richard Peterson http://pineline.blogspot.com/ REF10
As Americans turn away quite
leisurely, keeping tuned to internet shopping and American Idol,
the foundations of democracy are being fatally corroded. Something
has changed profoundly that weakens us unprecedentedly: our democratic
traditions, independent judiciary and free press do their work today
in a context in which we are "at war" in a "long
war" - a war without end REF11 CAPITALIST PATRIARCHY
AND THE NEGATION OF MATRIARCHY THE STRUGGLE FOR A "DEEP"
ALTERNATIVE CLAUDIA VON WERLHOF REF12 STAND UP and SPEAK
OUT: October 17th, 2007 Day of global mobilization against poverty
and inequality. REF13 DIALOGUE Ram Varma
and Jonathan Stemer REF14 Blessed Unrest"
by Robert Sullivan REF15 Bridging the Globalization
Gap: Toward Global Parliament by Richard Falk and Andrew Strauss REF16 Global Alliance
for Ministries and Departments of Peace - A Vision for the Future
REF17 Envisioning a More
Democratic Global System:http://www.law.widener.edu/envisioning REF18 The importance
of establishing a participatory model of World Democracy or Global
Governance by Rob Wheeler REF19 Human development
and the need for a human political system: Lyndon Storey REF20 HAVE WE EVER REALLY
CONSIDERED ? GEORGE BESCH REF21 The Convergence
of Science, Spirituality and Peace by Joseph R. Giove, Executive
Director of www.CommonPassion.org REF22 WP1 is the first
installment of a Ten Year Global Peace Initiative, aimed at ending
war and establishing lasting peace for the entire human race http://www.worldpeaceone.com/WP12007/events.html
REF23 Global Marshall
Plan Initiative www.globalmarshallplan.org REF24 Transition to a
Sustainable Civilisation Authors: Dr. Michael Ellis and Dr. Pavel
Kasyanov The New Paradigm Journal in conjunction with The Global Citizens For Peace aims to create a platform which mobilises youth, talent and creativity in developing a more participatory and equal World? We need to get on side, some of the world's great innovators and social entrepreneurs who are creating a more equal and participatory world, and ask them to be on a panel, which would assess the great social and environmental and political achievements for societal well-being, environmental sustainability and international peace occurring in Australia and in the world at large We need your help, your vision and your participation to create this panel, a web site and a TV show, which will focus on these themes, thereby educating the public as to the best projects they can create for the well-being of all of Australian and Global society ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Addendum THE ICPD(
International Conference on Population and Development ))AND THE
MDGS (Millennium Development Goals) LINKAGES FOR POVERTY REDUCTION, MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for
development
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