20/02/2017

Good Morning. Ten years ago, the United Nations assigned today, the 20th February, as the World Day of Social Justice. Its goal is to promote issues such as the eradication of poverty, the promotion of full employment and decent work, and gender equity. It’s well known that these are serious issues in the developing world. 
However, at the end of last month, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reported that nearly one in five children in the UK is living in poverty, and will experience much worse health and shorter life expectancy than children from wealthier families. 
“No person, I think, ever saw a herd of buffalo, of which a few were fat and the great majority lean. No person ever saw a flock of birds, of which two or three were swimming in grease, and the others all skin and bone,” said the nineteenth century political economist Henry George. What is it about us human beings that we allow such inequalities to exist? 
 From a Buddhist point of view, it all stems from one single tragic misunderstanding: that we think material progress and possessions will bring us happiness. This belief is so widespread and unquestioned that it invariably drowns out the small inner voice that says that perhaps we have enough already, and that real happiness comes from things like friendship, kindness and contentment. “There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed” said Mahatma Gandhi. If we can each find one small thing to do today to mark the World Day of Social Justice, the world will be a better place. Let’s pray that we can do this.