Who says there’re no leaders?

Reading Johan Galtung’s article on Wikileaks –called “Weeklyleaks”- published by Roberto Savio in “Other news”, I was filled with hope while being confirmed in my conviction that we must all, to the extent possible, contribute to achieving the urgent changes that are capable of illuminating the horizons of mankind, which are today so dismal.

Let us reflect –“bit by bit”, as Piyayo described it- upon his analyses and proposals, which are so lucid, so comforting, and let us decide to unite our efforts, especially in cyberspace, to tear down the media walls and surmount any obstacles that oppose the radical changes that we must make without delay, to the benefit of our future generations.

We’re not willing to allow them to ignore leaders such as Johan Galtung, -to continue the great energy, media, military and economic powers are in so few hands- to force all mankind to follow the same path in the same system that provoked the serious democratic, ethical, social and environmental crises that we all now face.

Wikileaks have revealed a diplomacy of rumors, gossip, interests, pressure and influences. And Galtung asks, “Where are the positive ideas? Where are the ideas about how to convert challenges, such as climate change, into cooperation for mutual and equal benefit?”

There are about 2.000 nations in the world, and only 200 states, meaning that most states include many nations.

After reviewing state and nationalist alternatives, he describes a “sustainable system” which should protect a livable natural environment and satisfy the four basic human needs: survival, welfare, identity and freedom.

Since violence is the consequence of unresolved conflicts, the key to survival is conflict resolution.

The necessary resources are available to guarantee people’s welfare, meeting the essential material needs of food, housing, healthcare and education. The only problem is that their distribution is extremely unequal.

“A global identity”, he writes, “would require unity in diversity, welcoming a rich variety of cultural expressions while recognizing that their common goal is human happiness”.

Freedom means having options in one’s choice of cultures and structures. Freedom encourages the unlimited creativity of the human species…

Based on Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights[1] –the right to live in domestic and international structures that permit the exercise of human rights- Galtung proposes a World Federation, principally of regions and large states…

And he adds that governance in which national interests prevail at any price would not provide a solution nor promote this world federation.

“The diplomats of the Wikileaks documents belong to an era of the state system that we have to put behind us”. They must not continue to hide their incompetence behind veils of secrecy. Democracy means transparency, not “feudal games”.

And he concludes, “Wikileaks, thanks. May you become Weeklyleaks. We need you”.

There is no doubt about what we must do: return to the democratic principles that the globalizers replaced with those of the market; unite together, all different but bound by shared universal values, and “re-found” the United Nations to be able to build this world federation, this coordination that would put us on course and provide momentum, which today is the dream of so many who are aware that our present course is leading us to disaster. People like Johan Galtung are showing us the right path for the future. Let’s follow him.

---------------------------

[1] Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Bravo, Wikileaks!

“God, help me to tell the truth in the presence of the strong”.

Mahatma Gandhi

Of course this information should be disclosed!

The first article of the Constitution of UNESCO, a United Nations organization that I had the privilege of directing for several years, says that the “free flow of ideas by word and image” will be guaranteed. Freedom of expression, of information, of access.

Among the thousands of “classified” documents disclosed by Wikileaks, some reveal data concerning the U.S. armed forces from communications intended for the Pentagon. Others refer to “filtrations” of messages sent from different embassies to the U.S. State Department. And this knowledge alone has an incalculable value for, among others, improving diplomatic service and military intelligence. From now on, many people with think twice before sending such information. The “powers” will understand that they must proceed otherwise and that “State transparency” is much better than “State secrets”. Good political initiatives will not be destabilized; only the bad ones will. And this is a positive outcome. The communications media can help prevent absurdities, and cooperate in the right direction. Politics with a capital “P” will be the ultimate beneficiary.

But what no one can ensure is that these messages are indeed authentic. We don’t know whether they are true, especially some that obviously reflect very personal, superficial and anecdotal impressions.

If we are careful to use the term “alleged”, even with those who are known to have committed crimes or who have been accused of doing so, it would now be absurd to hastily reach conclusions based on the Wikileaks documents, without duly verifying their content.

To the extent that the leaks are found to be true, the competent authorities should undoubtedly take measures, some quite severe, and they should now be more carefully monitored by the general public, who will likewise be more vigilant.

What is really important is to support good journalism; journalism that accurately reflects events and knowledge based on criteria of total independence. And journalists who freely write and defend their opinions.

On the other hand, we need to bear in mind that the “news” always reflects something unusual and extraordinary. We must try to see the broad areas of reality that are not present in the news… because they are “normal”, “ordinary”, what’s customary. Seeing those who are invisible and not only those in the media spotlight is very important because (as I never cease to repeat) only if we have a profound knowledge of reality can we achieve a profound transformation of that reality.

In summary: it is very positive to have disclosed the Wikileaks information. It is very bad to have accepted all of it as true, without prior verification, especially on the part of those media that only publicize information that benefits them, which is often totally and blatantly manipulated to reflect the ideology of the media’s owners; and those who actively wail against journalistic transparency, with “sins” of omission and distortion…

We urgently need reliable news sources. These are becoming ever scarcer, due to the concentration of communications media in so few “hands”.

Long live Wikileaks!

And down with those who from their unyielding partisan perspectives are quick to draw the conclusions that best fit their purposes, with the same ease with which they shun objectivity.

Know and confirm, and put everything in context. Knowledge and good judgment. As T. S. Eliot asked over a century ago, “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”

These are the questions.