EDITORIAL: The world needs sustainable peace, not empty rhetoric

Yesterday was the International Day of Peace decreed by the United Nations. Incidentally, it was held under the theme: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”. That linkage was not a coincidence. Today, there is no continent that has not got its own demons to fight it; from fratricidal wars, poverty and hunger to climate change challenges and discrimination. These are just a few of the 17 goals that came into effect at the beginning of the year, that, it is hoped, will restore some semblance of peace in the world. There is a widespread belief that most wars today are fueled by social inequalities, racism, xenophobia and religious intolerance. But what of the arms dealers and manufacturers? What about the so-called “world policemen” who see it fit to arm belligerent groups to fight proxy wars as we see today in the Middle East and Eastern Europe? As long as the world fails to take an honest stand to arrest the real issues of conflict, without falling prey to undue influences from those “policemen”, the guns will never fall silent. With one in seven people displaced today, the international community needs to do away with unnecessary rhetoric and get its hands dirty to beat the world back into shape. Every year world leaders converge in New York for the UN General Assembly to discuss world affairs, and right the wrongs. But they usually leave the Big Apple with more divergent views than they had before. The General Assembly should be more than just flexing muscles by the big boys but a real round table to make the world a better and sustainable place.

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EDITORIAL: The world needs sustainable peace, not empty rhetoric