Japan and Libya overshadow a major crisis

With the war in Libya and the tragedy in Japan grabbing all news headlines, the world seems to be overlooking a very grave situation that has been unfolding in Ivory Coast. In fact more than one million citizens have fled their homes in the African nation, a country that seems to be slowly drifting towards a full-scale civil war. This is the reality of the situation facing this West African country and its population. Many calls have been made so far urging dialogue between the opposing parties. Very little attention is being paid by the international community and media to this worsening humanitarian crisis, which is causing massive exodus of people, many of whom have crossed the border into neighboring countries like Liberia and Ghana. Reports from Ivory Coast confirm that the situation is dramatic and is not getting the appropriate attention from the International community, and the events occurring in the African Nation are still being under-reported. Huge lack of funding also contributes to the worsening of the humanitarian situation.

The seriousness of the situation comes basically from the sharp political division in the country that is inevitably leading to a civil war in Ivory Coast. People are fleeing in all directions running for their lives with very little in hand or even nothing at all! Therefore the needs are huge and range from food, drinking water, to blankets and mattresses.

Why is the international community and the United Nations overlooking this crisis! Is it because Ivory Coast is a poor country or because it has no oil or natural reserves? The answer to this sad query remains unknown but what is sure is that hundreds of thousands of people are suffering and are in a desperate need for help.

Many observers are expressing regrets over the brewing civil war in a country that has been known for decades as being the “benchmark” for political stability in western Africa. The emergency funding in response to the crisis is yet far from seeing the light. Unfortunately we will only witness another big human tragedy unless the decision makers decide to make a move and contribute to the halting of such a tragedy.

The horror of wars

Seeing the pictures from Libya and the massacre of civilians from many Arab countries, we can only recall the abhorrent effects of war, of violence on man by man, and by doing so, strengthen the urgency of an appeal for an end to the use of weapons and to create a space for dialogue in the conflicts that are currently raging in Libya, Ivory Coast and the Middle East .

Following the atrocities witnessed on TVs on a daily basis, one can only fear for the safety of the civilian population and have concerns for the unfolding situation in Libya which is constantly growing. At moments such as these, of greatest tension, international bodies and people in positions of responsibilities must use all diplomatic means at their disposal to give space to even the weakest signs of openness to dialogue. Both sides of the Libyan conflict need to be appealed for an end to the use of weapons and an immediate start of dialogue.

What is happening these days is a most grave offense against humanity, because it is the deliberate violence of man by man. It is the most abhorrent effect of war, any war, while we should be seeking life and peace. The abyss opened by men who, when driven by blind violence, deny their dignity and brotherhood with each other. Yes, wherever he is, on every continent, in every nation, man is the son and brother to all humanity. But this being the son and brother is not a given. Unfortunately, this is revealed by the death tolls themselves.

We must want it, we must say yes to good and no to evil. We must believe in love and life, and reject any false image of Glory, that betrays man. Therefore, in times like these, the real answer is to join hands as brothers, and say: with the strength of love we desire to walk together in Peace, in Libya, North Africa, The Middle East and throughout the world.

Japan: from the earthquake to the nuclear plant

Recently, at the troubled Japanese nuclear power plants, a group of heroes are generously risking their lives to save the lives of many others. Like the firefighters of New York city on September 11. As then, the generous love for others, even at the cost of one’s life, is the true light in the darkness of this tragedy. It shines a light on the path to follow. It is a direction for a brave journey for all mankind to follow.


For days, images of the tragedy in Japan continue to upset every human being and provoke questions. From the very outset they have evoked memories of the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami six years ago, which also caused a frightening number of victims, and even more: a sea of suffering and pain that calls for our compassion, our sympathy and our prayers.

But with the space of a few days the world's attention has shifted to the disaster at the nuclear power plant. The Japanese have shown that they can cope with earthquakes in an admirable way, constructing buildings capable of withstanding the strongest shocks. In other countries the same shock would have caused countless deaths.

Yet even Japan’s technical progress has revealed, in one sense, and unexpectedly a weak point. It only took the serious damage of one of the approximately fifty Japanese nuclear power plants to cause a new fear of death that is spreading around the world, in addition to the tsunami’s destruction. Nuclear power is a great natural resource which man tries to use for his benefit, but if he loses control of it, it can turn against him. And nobody knows better than the Japanese people the effects of energy released from a nuclear source turned against man.

The safety of nuclear power plants and radioactive waste storage will never be absolute. It is right and necessary to reflect again on the proper use of technological power, its risks and its human price. This crucial topic should never be overlooked from now on. 

The law of silence will end

The time of terrorism is off.

Today is the time of liberation from repression, starting from today people will have the right to think, to speak, to say no, to believe in their country and in their new future full of hope, love and mercy.

Yesterday, people were obliged to accept that “The Man” is always right, he can do everything because he has full authorities, he is the leader, the chief, no one can stop him and no one should ask him why!

Tomorrow, this “Man” will be obliged to recognize that he is wrong, he made a lot of mistakes, his acts were dishonest and corrupt and people have the right to stop him at any time and to ask him to go!!!

History will never forget despotism and cruelty.

Yesterday, was the time of manipulation.

Tomorrow, will be the time of truth.

Yesterday, was the witness of fear and discrimination.

Tomorrow, will be the witness of trust and fairness because dictatorship is false and tyranny is immoral.

Yesterday, nothing was possible, the dream was illusion and the silence was an obligation.

Tomorrow, nothing will be impossible, the dream will come true and the law of silence will end…

Innocents always pay the price

In revolutions, conflicts, wars, uprisings, always innocents end up paying the price of any outcome. For we have learnt historically that all great and major changes in the world only came after hundreds of thousands were killed and as many injured. Those “unknown” people who are only recognized and counted by numbers, and nobody knows them for they are ordinary people, sometimes less than ordinary. But nevertheless humanity and especially the “free world” owes them a lot.

Historically, the United States of America succeeded to put an end to slavery and became the great nation that we know today, only after a long and painful war that lasted four years (1861-1865) and cost the life of more than 500,000 Americans. The French revolution which started in 1789 met its target and toppled the royal reign after bloody street fights in Paris and after ten years of long Napoleon’s battles which resulted in over 1,000,000 innocent deaths.

In modern history and according to some sources as many as eighty million people have died between 1939 and 1945 (most of them civilians) to put an end to the biggest conflict in history which resulted in putting an end to Nazi and fascist regimes.

More recently in Egypt, the change to democracy and the end of the 30 years old regime has cost so far the Egyptian people a death toll of 500 people, while in Libya the ongoing fights have resulted so far in the loss of thousands of Libyan civilians (exact figures still unknown) and this number is rising on a daily basis.

Innocent blood seems to be the ultimate price that humanity is deemed to pay in order to straighten the course of governments, topple monarchies and to make historical changes. The question remains when or if humanity will reach a stage where such changes will ever occur peacefully and decently, preserving the dignity and the life of human beings.