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Interdependency on Diverse Strategies to Overcome Problems
Humanity's long-term wellbeing is dependent on the incorporation of diverse and co-operative strategies: incorporating the sciences and religion as standard fare alongside the traditional political and economic methods. It is becoming clearer that integrated long term solutions are required and that many "quick fixes" actually create more problems than they solve. Such comments are coming being reflected from a range of fronts, including those battling against AIDS, to looking for solutions to overcome poverty, to finding peace. An editorial from the kaisernetwork comments that the AIDS battle has demonstrated the interdependency of the developed and developing nations. They comment that the battles against HIV/AIDS has taught us that "...programs launched by outsiders in poor countries are tough to implement, and that whatever can be done at home can be mutually beneficial and therefore a priority" (quoting Washington Post 25/8). Well known evangelical Rick Warren has returned from Toronto's 16th International AIDS conference with recommended multipronged strategies in the fight against AIDS. These include the Traditional ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, use Condoms). But also SLOW (Supply condoms, Limit number of partners, Offer needle exchanges to addicts, Wait for sex as long as possible) and STOP (Save Sex for marriage, Train men to treat women with respect, Offer nutrition and medication, Pledge yourself to one partner). The need for multi-pronged strategies has also been recognised by South Africa. In a media briefing on Monday, the Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena commented that South Africa needs a nation of scientists not only to be competitive in the world market but also to "...fight enemies such as poverty, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, maleria and tuberculosis and lifestyle-related illnesses such as malnutrition, obesity and diabetes." As well as "...to calculate and mitigate the effects of global warming, severe storms, over-fishing, pollution and a host of other problems." The recognition of the broad front of battles, and that we are in it for the long haul, and that we need diversity in strategies put these religious commentaries into a similar perspective. There is a lovely article from Pepperdine University Graphic that Diversity uncovers the true Almighty. Deepak Chopra has commented that there needs to be a long peace rather than a long war. Then there is an excellent commentary from the Japan Times covering Chief Rabbi David Rosen's contribution to the Kyoto's Eighth World Assembly of Religions for Peace. Rosen's comments that we should not dismiss people out-of-hand, that there are real factors that drive people to desparate measures. He also cautions us that when secular governments try to push religion out of politics, they send a message to that secular governments do not respect God, and that then justifies extremists' attacks against "ungodly" secular governments. Similarly, that we need to be aware that while there might be a proliferation of information, that information often fails to provide the full picture: it is missing the nuances or understanding of the complexity of the background. An example can be found within this website, there have been two articles so far that have lauded the reconcliation project in Iraq and the tribal chiefs' subsequent unanimous backing of a code of honour. But that did not cover the nuances or implications in terms of Iraqi culture, and this article from the Tehran Times does an excellent job of understanding the role of the tribal chiefs in Iraq, and makes it even more clearer why the reconciliation project is so important. |
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