A world without wars – The Malta Independent
Now that we’re at the start of a new year… assuming that a change in the annual calendar really counts as some sort of marker… it makes sense to review what was the year’s biggest threat source that passed. This can help to strengthen the understanding of how it can best be combated. Even so, such a review still needs to be done with its feet on the ground. For calculations will not always be made in good faith by all those involved.
For me, indeed for all of us, of course the greatest threat to our society… to all humanity… has once again become that of war. The challenge of how to meet this threat can hardly be taken by Malta, which is another banal, obvious statement. However it would be useful if we, like everyone else, recognized it how can the origins of war arise because, it seems, they can be building under the surface close to us without us noticing what is going on.
Then the spasms of war unexpectedly burst to the surface, leading to widespread destruction. Against this eventuality, smaller nations can only provide a protection and warning service. As a neutral, their word can hopefully in delicate moments, give rise to ideas of compromise.
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CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE
A rhetorical flowering that has opened up a lot in recent years has been the desire expressed by politicians to stay close to the people. I admit that I was one of those who a long time ago made a big contribution to put this rhetoric in the forefront. And it really took off as it is used by everyone. Government, Opposition as well as o[rajnlimhuxsejkunulawie[edulanqasl-ie[orilkolljifta[rukemmiridujibqg[uqribit-thassibtieghek!
Dak li nibża’ ħafna minn dak li nara u nisma’ madwaru hu li ċ-ċittadini li nippreferu nibqgħu qrib biex jispiċċaw ikunu dawk li jinzertaw huma l-canvassers tal-ministri u figuri ewlenin tal-Oppożizzjoni, kif ukoll il-familji tagħhom.
Wieħed ma jistax jgħid li mhumiex parti mill-poplu. Huma. Imma r-referenza li tkun qrib iċ-ċittadini suppost għandha konnotazzjoni ħafna aktar wiesgħa… jekk niftakar tajjeb.
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DRITTIJIET UMANI
Għal żmien twil emmint fid-duttrina (li nsejħilha Gaullista) li tkeċċi l-indħil fl-affarijiet interni ta’ pajjiżi barranin. Li huwa dak li jitlob ir-rispett tas-sovranità nazzjonali. B’kuntrast ma’ din il-pożizzjoni matul l-aħħar deċennji, ġew żviluppati kunċetti dwar id-drittijiet tal-bniedem li wara li daħlu fil-prattika tad-diplomazija u tal-liġi internazzjonali biex jillimitaw il-limiti tas-sovranità.
Nifhem u naqbel b’mod ġenerali mal-kunċetti tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem u l-ħtieġa li niżgura li jiġu rispettati. Madankollu nara wkoll il-possibbiltà li dawn jintużaw bħala għodda mill-poteri aktar b’saħħithom kontra dawk iżgħar. Jew saħansitra għal ċerti poteri ewlenin biex jużaw kontra sħabhom filwaqt li d- dnubiet taʼ ħaddieħor jidhru li jiġu injorati. Dan huwa dak li jiġri pereżempju dwar ċerti prattiki Iżraeljani skjerati kontra l-poplu Palestinjan.
Min-naħa l-oħra, huwa diffiċli li ma tiġġudikax u ma tikkundannax approċċi li qed jiġu implimentati bl-aktar mod bla wiċċ. Bħad-deċiżjonijiet tat-Taliban fl-Afganistan li jeskludu lin-nisa mill-edukazzjoni. Jew id-deċiżjonijiet barbari tal-gvern Iranjan li jikkastiga, saħansitra jesegwixxi, lid-dimostranti kontra l-obbligu li n-nisa jgħattu wiċċhom u rashom.
02 ta’ Jannar 2022