Behind the corner

The horizon of this human and social season is becoming increasingly gloomy. We have a Christmas of assorted wars behind us (at least fifty conflicts underway, many of which have disappeared from the information radar).
We are cynically "getting used to" the disasters of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the atrocious conflict in Israel and Palestine, with the horrendous assault by Hamas on 7 October and with the thousands of helpless victims, including too many children and young people, in Gaza in rubble. And we continue to talk about armaments, with armaments races barely mentioned. Pope Francis' heartfelt appeals for a ceasefire, for truces, for peace negotiations seem not to be heard, as if the dial of history was turning towards the worst, with no escape.
But the bad atmosphere that is blowing is also bringing with it other issues that should be impressive.

President Sergio Mattarella spoke about it without hesitation and, addressing the diplomatic corps accredited in our country, stated that the world is being torn to pieces.
Furthermore, a globe already threatened by ecosystem failures that are compromising the Earth, even in the near future. On this front too, some steps forward (to be deciphered) were made at COP28 at the beginning of December, but many uncertainties remain.
But we are breathing something highly toxic in the sociopolitical climate that surrounds us, where it is no longer possible to fully fulfill those fundamental human rights which are shared in words, but are then trampled on in deeds, in gestures, in practices. Mattarella refers to the UN which risks impotence in the face of the precipitation of events, the logic of oppression, violence, exploitation, oppression... which cannot be stopped. Even the democratic form itself, although expressed in various ways, reveals serious and painful flaws. Democracies, nationalisms and fanaticisms impose themselves, with fake institutional formats that asphyxiate people's freedoms and dignities.

We are perhaps paying a huge price for an overall delay for not having supported voices, figures, appeals, starting with human rights, leaving these assumptions and beliefs a little on the margins, taking this heritage for granted and acquired. In reality it wasn't and isn't like that. We need to rebuild a huge portion of civil coexistence in the world.
Everyone should feel responsible for it. Otherwise the unknowns will be heavy and just around the corner.

Corrado Avagnina
NP January 2024