We ARE the world …..

Welcome to my blog

Global Citizen

– where you’ll find discussion, observation and analysis of issues facing people of the world today.

For years, I advocated the belief that events in a far flung Pakistani, Bulgarian or Zimbabwean village should matter to every citizen of the world for we are all intertwined in some way. Nowadays with the advent of the Internet age and common threats like climate change, more and more people ascribe to a similar view. Yet even as all our individual worlds have expanded with tools like Facebook and Twitter and the ease of digesting news in pithy sound bytes, we remain divorced from each others’ lives in disturbing ways that promote misunderstanding and conflict.I’m not sure if it’s coincidence, destiny or divine providence but the day I sat down to write this first little missive happened to be the same day of Michael Jackson’s memorial.

Like the media and public in general, I too put aside any concerns over allegations or suspicion about Jackson’s behaviour for the day to reminisce and rejoice in the artistic and social legacy this remarkable performer left behind. Jackson was prolific performer — a man who challenged the status quo, broke down barriers, loved the world, and asked the world to return the emotion.

One of Jackson’s recurring themes – love that goes beyond individual concerns – was one that always resonated with me. In fact, while I was never a Jacksonite (no studded gloves or Fedoras for me!!) it was those songs that made me a fan. (Though, I have to admit dancing around my parents living room desperately attempting to recreate the Thriller dance sequences on more occasions than I care to remember.)

Jackson’s musical entreaties were right. We are the world.

And we all do need to realize “that a change can only come, when we stand together as one.”

So follow his musical advice from “Man in the Mirror” – go take a look in the nearest mirror and tell me what you see.

“And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer, If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place, Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change”