GLOBAL SOCIAL ACTION22/04/21

When some folks suffer from a result of a disaster, we naturally have such feelings as sympathy, empathy, sorrow, anger and grief. No matter who and where we are, we share the same feelings. And those feelings become common values that unite us in times of need.

We take for granted our survival until we too are subjected to impending disaster. We become consciously aware of the source as survival is elevated in value and urgency. And this value unites us especially among the younger generation for their future is at stake. And our unity forms a social action in protest and support for a universal goal.

Some of the targeted issues of universal interests are related and overlapping.

So in simple terms, if Jane equally shares $10 with John, then they should have $5 each. But if John has a higher paying job, has a car and is much stronger than Jane, then it would be fair therefore if Jane has $7 and John $3. The former is Equality and the latter is Equity. The formula refers to fair prompts such as pay increase, job status and more opportunities for Jane to catch up with John.

Now for Diversity, the formula is not restricted to any one race, gender or culture, but to all especially those who are less visible and are often neglected in representation. And our universal goal is materialised by a global positive social action.

So what are the issues causing some of us to be left behind? Well apart from rugby, a Pacific male is only seen and heard of in crime statistics. That is racism and racism is a major reason why some folks are left behind. If the non-European male is stereotyped into crime categories, then the non-European female ticks a victim's box. Since both mom and dad are bound by demons of struggles, children are brought up in Poverty. And we all become subjects depended upon the institution of the state.

Under Colonisation, racism is applied to socialise non-European persons into social classes upholding Capitalism. The Pacific peoples are mainly socialised into lower socio-economic classes associated with crime. No matter how holy you are, you are born into crime in the lower socio-economic sector. It's a class attitude a social construct that is a target of our positive social action to unlearn and un-colonise ourselves from.

Instead of feeling trapped in the binds of an institutional structure of colonisation, we could move on and identify the real issues impacting upon our lives in the modern. And first among the social issues is Poverty.

For as long as capitalism exists, people will always be trapped by institutional attitudes of its structure. That is why Equity is practical and positive socialisation that attempts to un-colonise us into awareness of who we are and what we can do to better ourselves.

The issue of Climate Change is the most pressing one for the moment when melting ice and rising water elevate the awareness for human survival. Progress had developed renewable energy but also tapping into addiction. Our addiction for a certain product creates a demand that loads super tankers and container trucks with effects to pollution, congestion, obesity and diabetes. As if we are not killing ourselves from addiction, climate change is certainly an impending doom.

And so it follows the need to migrate for survival. Migration is a modern need resulting from Climate Change when tornadoes and flooding not only destroy homes but also wash away top soil required for farming. Victims of war are accumulated in refugee camps, sometimes find themselves locked in barbwire fence of their host country. Other travels seek better economic opportunities in other countries.

Our list so far contains Equity, Diversity, Climate Change, Poverty, Refugee, Migration and I'm going to add Addiction in here. Addiction is that bottomless pit where super tankers and container trucks carved their carbon footprint across the world and into your local neighbourhood while causing traffic congestion, pollution, diabetes and obesity.

All the above issues affect us no matter who we are or where we are. When we are concerned about our survival, we begin to be serious about the issues and value them with our lives. But then, we wait to see who makes the first move. Colonisation had taught us not to lead but to follow.

Many hopeful non-European potentials have tried, but were torn down and persecuted in the public arena. Colonisation is deeply rooted in our psyche and dependency is a way of survival. Individuals have learned to depend as locals depend on the state; the nation state depends upon advanced nations. And we are unconsciously waiting for China and USA to make the first move. This move shall be a great leap away from the binds of dependency.

So in simple terms, if Colonisation is cleaned from our psyche then the escalating consequences shall transform to positive action. And this should restore trade links of social economic progress from static links of colonisation.

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