It’s Not Fair!
by Sara Forrest, Commission Member
It’s Not Fair!
This was a regular cry when my sisters and I were growing up. However life did not develop to be fair. Any wildlife programme shows that predators, at the top of the food chain, have the advantage. I learnt that as I grew up and matured.
Humans have evolved and are very diverse. That enabled us to become the earth’s apex predator. However over the millennia we have evolved and developed ‘Rules of Law’ to protect the weaker, more vulnerable people and constrain the power of the strongest. This rule is country specific and the UN and specific Treaties govern international relationships. Those Rules are so important.
Sadly the growth in popularity of right leaning influencers and the gaps between ‘the super powers’ and other states, including the UK, is now wide enough for the USA, Russia and China to act with impunity to the detriment of the whole world. Their vetoes in the UN Security Council enable them to transgress against what most people across the world consider to be lawful, ethical behaviour.
I am so grateful for the European leaders who are restricting their engagement in the Iran war in favour of maintaining their ability to supporting Ukraine. And for their support of the established ‘Rule of Law’.
A friend who attended a conference session on Women’s Rights in Dublin 3 years ago told me how shocked she was that women from every continent and country were increasingly angry about the growth of the right and the increase in anti women sentiment in their countries. This being in spite of the fact that women everywhere are more likely live in poverty, poor health and to be subject to violence and force. They tend to be less powerful than men.
Recent programmes on BBC have shown how Big Tech choses algorithms that promote engagement ,clicks and profit. Their systems amplify negative messages and spread hate and mis-information quickly. Iran has shut down their internet to reduce the risk of an uprising. Think of recent riots protesting about asylum seekers which were based on factually incorrect posts.
Court cases in America are challenging the design of social media platforms for this reason. But the Big Tech firms have greater resources to fight and appeal than the claimants. In the States the companies are not liable for the third party content they carry which is why our On-Line Safety Laws have also been the cause of diatribes and economic threats against our democratically elected Government. I pray that Big Tech can be held to account in the same way as other publishers.
I am also praying that countries who share the similar principles can work together and improve the power of the UN to censor the hate – filled State behaviours that we see all too often in the News. And take action to deter such behaviours through effective sanctions.
🙏 That aggressors can be held to account for the environmental damage Wars do – how much extra carbon producing concrete will need to be manufactured to rebuild the millions of homes smashed? Or the less efficient heating that has to be used when power infrastructure is deliberately targeted? I suspect that money is a stronger motivator for them than human rights.
🙏 That the voices everywhere saying ‘enough is enough’ and ‘that’s not right’ are heard more loudly.
🙏 That Religious leaders will advocate for the women, children and other vulnerable groups who bear the brunt of the damage of War and injustice.
At Easter we celebrate that Jesus loved us and died for us. Let us pray that the ‘Men of War’ will recognise the wishes of the majority of men and women across the world, who want to live in peaceful co-existence in which dialogue resolves conflict before it escalates.
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