Prioritizing Life On Our Planet
In a world that allocates billions of dollars to the quest for extraterrestrial life, it is disheartening to acknowledge that additional trillions of dollars are spent on conflicts and wars, that claim millions of lives on our own planet. Responsible governance and redirection of these resources could address eradication of poverty, ensure education for all children, medical advancement, care for homeless people, rehabilitation of displaced people affected by wars and natural disasters, environmental conservation, safeguard humanity rights, preservation of art and culture and to deal with the current escalating mental health and climate crisis worldwide.
Searching for Life Beyond Earth:
Human beings have an innate curiosity about the mysteries of the universe, which compels us to explore distant planets in search of the potential for life. These scientific endeavors, however, come with a significant price tag, often reaching trillions of dollars. While the pursuit of knowledge is admirable, it is crucial to question the allocation of such vast resources when pressing issues on Earth remain unaddressed.
Devastating Cost of Wars:
Trillions of dollars are squandered in conflicts and wars that tear apart societies, claim innocent lives, human suffering, loss, trauma, infrastructure destruction, disabilities, displacement and catastrophic damage to the environment. Redirecting even a fraction of the military budget towards peaceful endeavors could be transformative.
Economic Solutions and Poverty Eradication:
Poverty remains a pressing issue, affecting billions of people worldwide. Redirection of funds towards poverty eradication initiatives, would empowers governments to improve access to clean water, healthcare, and food resources. Additionally, investment in sustainable economic solutions create jobs, stimulate growth, and provide essential services to vulnerable communities. Combined efforts can break the cycle of poverty and pave the way for sustainable development for all.
Healthcare and Medical Solutions:
Investing in healthcare infrastructure, medical research, and disease prevention programs would significantly improve global health outcomes especially after the learning and loss of lives humanity faced collectively during the worldwide spread of COVID. Healthcare access in underserved areas is even more essential as limited access to resources is responsible for the loss of millions of lives annually. Advancement in healthcare will create a disease free healthier societies worldwide.
Displaced People Rehabilitation:
In times of conflict, millions of innocent civilians are forcibly displaced. Redirecting funds towards their rehabilitation, including the provision of adequate housing, healthcare, rebuilding infrastructure destroyed, provision of medical aid for victims and post trauma care, focus on mental wellbeing would help rebuild lives shattered by conflict and alleviate the burden on communities affected.
Eradicating Injustice and Restoring Peace:
Redirected funds offer an opportunity to combat injustice and inequality head-on. By supporting initiatives that promote human rights, social justice, and peaceful conflict resolution, we can move closer to a world free from violence and discrimination.
Art and Culture Preservation
Art and culture are the essence of our shared humanity the richness of our collective global heritage. Redirecting a portion of the funds from space exploration and military budgets towards the preservation of art and culture can help safeguard these invaluable treasures for future generations. Investing in cultural preservation initiatives would involve conserving historical artifacts, restoring cultural sites, and supporting artists and artisans will keep the past alive, our heritage for the generations to come. By doing so, we can ensure that our history, traditions, and artistic expressions are protected.
It also presents opportunities for marginalized communities to participate in cultural activities, empowering them and enhancing their social cohesion.
Mental Health and Childcare:
Investing in mental health services and childcare programs is crucial for building a healthier and more resilient society. Redirecting funds is needed to tackle rising worldwide mental health issues . An exponential rise in numbers covering stress, rage, self-harm, domestic abuse, murders, drugs, human trafficking and suicide is seen yearly. One person dies every 40 seconds by committing suicide ( WHO 2019 stats), with suicides being twice higher among men than women. According to UN statistics 1-3 women worldwide have experienced domestic or some kind of physical abuse. 50 million victims of human trafficking and forced marriages – 27.6 Million human trafficking and 22 million in forced marriages ( US Department of State Statement 2023).
These number are alarming and the clock is ticking as a warning that untreated traumas to victims and mental illnesses in oppressor and abusers will lead to a dysfunctional society in upcoming years and leave lasting effects on the very fragile young generation.
Allocating resources towards childcare and adolescent programs can support working parents, ensuring that children receive quality care, protection from sex offenders and child abuse and are given a safe environment to blossom . For adolescents and youth counselling and support programs will assist them deal with exam stress and suicides, bullying, awareness and prevention of substance related addictions and sex education to prevent diseases and teenage pregnancies.
Mental health needs are currently so huge that they often pose as a burden on underfunded healthcare systems, these funds can improve quality of resources hired, advanced education for more numbers of medical staff and for an effective management system and implementation of the these initiatives and programs worldwide. Mentally healthy individuals in societies, foster peace, ensure less rage and stress levels, enabling emotional well-being, resilience and an opportunity to live a flourishing life.
World Economic Crisis and Geo-Politics:
Redirecting funds can also resolve current world economic crises and influence and advocacy in geopolitical conflicts. Investing in economic development programs, sustainable infrastructure projects can uplift struggling nations, promote global stability, and reduce conflicts born out of economic disparities. By addressing economic inequalities and fostering cooperation, we can work towards a more peaceful and equitable world.
Prioritizing Life on Earth and Mother Earth:
Rather than solely searching space for signs of extraterrestrial life, we must prioritize saving and improving life on Earth and protecting our planet. Allocating resources towards initiatives that address global climate issues caused by pollution, deforestation, dumping in Oceans, food waste, plastic pollution, water scarcity, ozone layer depletion, droughts, famines, melting ice caps, overfishing, climate change, carbon emissions and the list goes on.
Meaningful dialogue, responsible allocation of funds with measurable accountability is expected from all countries collectively to save the planet.
Let’s prioritize to make a difference to the lives of individuals, communities, and save our home planet, for ultimately when we preserve and cherish the gift of life on Earth and safeguarding the sacredness of Mother Nature, we ensure our existence as humanity.
A collective alignment to towards building a world that values life and our home planet is everyone’s responsibility, as we have to fix the problems we have created.
Investment in planet Earth and life on the planet is imperative, it is our duty as custodians to handover a healthy planet where peace prevails and rights to a healthy life is for all. It’s a call to our generation to be stellar role models to the next generation, for our actions serve as examples for them to follow.
What are we teaching the children of today by our conduct and governance as leaders and as individual global citizens?
Ann D’Silva
Image credit – Google
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