At least 40 people drowned this morning off Turkey when their boat capsized and sank while they were trying to cross to Greece. At least 244 people have died while trying to make it to Europe so far in 2016…
When you wake up to news like that day after day it is easy (and not entirely illogical) to feel overwhelmed, to want to shut down, to give in to despair. I struggle with these feelings and thoughts all the time. Where I find hope and strength is in the solidarity of ordinary people who faced with this reality day in and day out, in the midst of the worst economic downturn outside of a wartime, choose to work together, to not let the apparent impossibility of the task at hand stop them from doing the little bit that they can. And I find particular inspiration in the fact that these efforts are not guided by feelings of pity or charity, nor are they focused solely on addressing humanitarian needs. Solidarity groups and efforts in Greece, among many many similar efforts throughout the world, stand together with our fellow human beings who are forced to flee their homes and seek a better life somewhere else, not only in providing the basics of food, water, clothing, medical care, housing, but also in opposing the very actions and ideologies that create the conditions from which they need to flee and which profit from their deaths along the way. But most importantly, we stand together so that we can build a better world, one where dignity and freedom are paramount values and realities, where human needs supersede those of the banks and the states, a world where our children, ALL of our children, are safe, happy, well taken care of.
“Another world is not only possible, she’s on the way and, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe.”
I believe solidarity is the heartbeat of this world.