The BCG vaccine

Witnessing the latest developments in the world, I started to remember my medical education. One of the killer diseases which still haunts us and is part of a Millennium Development Goal is TB (tuberculosis). One way of preventing TB is by giving children the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine.

I ask you: what is the relationship between BCG, the global financial crisis and governments? The answer is, from a humanitarian point of view, BCG gains a new meaning. BCG represents the pillars of any society: B- Business, C- Civil Society (represented by organisations) and G- Government.

In the past, B and C were completely under the rule of G. Nowadays we have to look objectively and analytically at the relationship between B and G, a partnership which could exclude C altogether. In the western world, C acts as a watchdog, ensuring the relationship between B and G remains transparent and accountable. Sadly, I cannot say the same about developing countries, where B controls G, which in turn ignores C.

The absence of civil society from the table of power in the developing countries had deadly effects, some of which we can see now if we switch our TV sets on.

What we need is a structure based on stronger, empowered and engaged civil society organisations to prevent the bad relationship between B and G lead to mutilated or stillborn societies.

Surprise, Surprise

A place without a safe corridor, with severe shortages of food, malnourished children and society and family support lacks has been forgotten by governments and agencies. Where can you find it?

A place where members of parliament, ministers and other cabinet leaders are interconnected or even chosen from afar. Where is it?

A place where decision making is hesitant, fear paralyses initiatives and there is complacency in the way of thinking while people are dying from hunger, thirst and untreated illnesses. Where is that?

A place where dashed dreams, the culture of despair and the agony of bewilderment are at their peak. Where is such a place?

A place where the soaring prices of commodities, lack of cash, house security and absence of safety are eating away at the daily lives of people. Where?

A place where determined women fight for survival and try to rescue their communities single-handled. I know such a place. Do you?

A place where children refuse to die, struggling to see the bright sun in the blue sky for another day. Where could it be?

A place where smiling young boys and girls support their parents while listening to the daily symphony of the war machine. Have you guessed where it is?

Life goes on: singing birds, children playing, oceans of blood, agony of death, and rays of hope. Where is this? Only Somalia.

The price of oil

It seems to me oil has become more important than human dignity, more precious than human life and dearer to international governments’ heart than anything else. Over the last two decades, I have been observing the rocketing increase in “concern” felt by some states towards oil-rich states.

In my view, oil is not a sustainable driving force towards the future as 1. The supply will run out and more importantly 2. It is not environmentally friendly in the least! All our efforts should be concentrated on finding renewable and alternative sources of energy, instead of basing our complete strategy on oil.

Lately, the youth have been asking in different countries about moral values, promises and in effect, about the reality of Utopian dreams. Are they facts or fiction? Is everybody honest about their motives? The youth have been asking many such uncomfortable questions, wanting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I fear they haven’t seen the fast train approaching them, threatening to run them over.

I believe that if we keep on valuing other things more than humanity, we will reap the fruit of the tree of radicalism, extremism and stupid acts of terrorism.

I leave you to reflect on a verse from the Quran whose spirit can be found in other religions as well: “…who so slays a soul not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land, shall be as if he had slain mankind altogether; and whoso gives life to a soul, shall be as if he has given life to mankind altogether.” Chapter (5) sūrat l-māidah, verse (5:32)

Time for philia

According to my dictionary, “philia” is a feeling of care, compassion, respect and acknowledgement.  We should fill the whole universe with “philia”, instead of falling into the opposite direction - phobia.

Philia doesn’t just belong to religions; in my view each and every one of us has a role to play in the universe and help other creatures living with us on the planet.

A question has been raised regarding the differences between the quality and efficiency of aid delivered by Muslim organisations and Non-Muslim ones. My response to the question is:

• Aid isn’t exclusive to one race or one nation. Humanity should celebrate the diversity of excellence that meets the needs of the needy.
• If people who believe in different faiths based their community participation on their belief in God who asks them to spread only goodness and stop evil, nations would become stronger and humanity would thrive as a whole.

I believe there is a place for every organisation at the world humanitarian table.

Multiculturalism Part 2 – You are invited to the wedding

 If we want to create the greater society, we have to allow the mosaic of local cultures to shine through and marry each other. The cultures should complement each other and build a strong foundation to live happily ever after on. Trust is the cement for a good society infrastructure.

If cultures fail to get married, a greater society cannot be created and sustained. The concept of a Pluralistic society becomes void. My understanding of modernity, openness and democracy is that they allow many talents and cultures to develop on a fertile soil. The cultures enrich the dynamic civilisation of the 21st century.

Our culture is changing by the second with the power of social networking and it has become vital for cultures to stand united and marry. Let’s all join the wedding!

Multiculturalism Part 1 – Pick and Mix

Listening to people talking about culture, faiths and values and giving “precise” definitions makes one wonder how we can narrow an ocean. We cannot speak of one culture for one society. Even if, in a community, everyone is the same skin colour, has the same historical past and shares the same faith, we still cannot talk of one culture for all.

The diverse mosaic of the society is like a Pick and Mix sweet jar. It is given by the individuals who have inherited the culture and values from their ancestors and is reflected by the education they receive, the knowledge they gain, interactions at work and the way of thinking of their mothers, grandmothers etc.

In my view, culture is breastfed directly from the mother to the future citizen of the country.

The L Factor

On Friday morning I had a conversation in the office with my colleagues on the L Factor. I could see the astonishment on their faces and the rolling eyes. I told them to treat it as a multiple choice question on an exam paper: “Which word would you choose between the following: Learn, Lay, Listen, Look, Lead, LOL?”

I could hear muffled laughter and saw that the people were shying from answering my question. A girl on my right was the first to pick up her courage and answer. She said: “Learn”. The girl’s answer encouraged others to speak up and soon, 10 out of the 15 had said “ Learn”, two answered “Lead” and three persons said “LOL”. Only one out of the three explained why.

Like Lord Sugar on The Apprentice, I jokingly told 14 of them they were fired for not giving the answer I was looking for. The one I “hired” was the person who answered “LOL” and gave the right explanation. They were all stunned, thinking I was joking. Everybody wanted an explanation.

I believe “LOL” represents the philosophy of the culture belonging to this age. We are living in very diverse, dynamic and democratic times, led by the superpowers of Social Media and youth.

If we don’t understand this way of thinking, we cannot be a part of change because we would find ourselves left behind by history itself. Be part of the history in the making by LOL-ing your way into a new philosophy.