By Fiona Joy Green
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As 2023 comes to a close on this year's Winter Solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year, I ponder the destruction and suffering of so many humans and other creatures living on this magical planet that is part of an infinite universe. The heaviness of the climate crisis and the raging wars across the globe - including but not limited to in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan - bring a need to sit with the discomfort and feelings of this reality.
We're in the midst of a climate and environmental crisis that is the greatest threat to our existence in our short history on this planet. It's impossible to buy our way out of its effects. Minimally, each of us can make small contributions to energy and resource use and wise consumption of plastics, goods and services.
The Geneva Academy notes 45 armed conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. There are 35 non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) taking place in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. Asia is experiencing 19 non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) involving 19 armed groups in Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Pakistan and The Philippines. India and Pakistan, and India and China are also taking place. Four out of seven conflicts in Europe include: Russia is currently occupying Crimea (Ukraine), Transdniestria (Moldova), as well as South Ossetia and Abkhazia (Georgia), while Armenia is occupying parts of Nagorno Karabakh (Azerbaijan). Europe is also the theatre of an international armed conflict (IAC) between Ukraine and Russia, and of two non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) in Ukraine opposing governmental forces with the self-proclaimed 'People's Republics' of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
I can only believe that the coming together of people from places of compassion and rationality will make positive change in the world. Violent conflicts must stop. Conversation and negotiation must prevail. WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.
VIOLENCE AND COLONIAL BEHAVIOUR AND RULE OF HUMANS AND THE PLANET WILL BE OUR COLLECTIVE DEATH.
Moving to the light of love, compassion, and respect - especially with those we disagree with - is the only sustainable way out of the darkness.
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