Justice, Peace And Integrity Of Creation Prerequisite To Good Living -By Melissa Thomas

In the 1960s the world was confronted with the problem of revolution and the 1970s, with the ecological problems and now with the great passion for justice and peace. Injustice and violence has become one of the most discussed issues in our world today besides corruption, economic oppression, terrorism, banditry and the rest. This act of injustice and violence has become a bitter pill to swallow which people have suffered from and still continue to.

Throughout history, human sciences have revealed the fact that humans are social beings. Nobody is an island of his or herself on this planet we need each other and we ought to network for a good living. Contemporary globalization is inevitable and has made possible this rapprochement between humans.

With the modern development of mean of transportation and communication such as internet, the world has become a global village. One could have breakfast in Accra and have his/her dinner in Kigali or having dinner in Nairobi and following morning have breakfast in Madrid. Many people long for more just and peaceful society in today’s world, a world where there is so much injustice and so little of peace. Many want to bring about a more just and peaceful world but they are not sure how to go about it.

There are many ways to promote peace in our world of today but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves. Peace in itself is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy if peace. However, I so much belief that justice and peace and the integrity of creation are in no doubt prerequisites for good living and a just society.

Through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and what have you; one could instantly know what is happening in the remotest hamlet of the Congo equatorial forest. Media houses such as Aljazeera, CNN, NTA, Channels, TVC among others, make knowun current events as they happen. Which such advancement in transport and communication sectors, people get closer to each other, becomes interested and want to get involved in what is happening in the other parts of this planet earth.

The rapid advancement of mean of transport and communication has brought about progress and good living. However, you will agree with me that the more we technologically advance, the more our plannet earth suffers due to human negligence. When it comes to fostering values of justice, peace and integrity of creation, man’s “I don’t care attitude” stands as a hindrance to good living. Global terrorism, religious radicalism, political bickering, illegal mining among others, form our today’s challenge. It is high time we Change.

Humankind ought to change, referring to the words of late Wangari Maathai, founder of Green Belt Movement in Kenya and Nobel Prize Laureate who once said: “Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own-indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.” Wangari is totally right.

Today if we want a better world, justice, peace and integrity of Creation stand as prerequisites to good living. To sustain these ingredients, we need strong institutions, not strong individuals to re-call the words of the then President of the United States, Barack Obama during his visit to Ghana in July, 2009. Good living will not reach us on silver platter. We are to fight for it. Indeed, good living presupposes justice, peace and integrity of Creation. The choice is ours; to choose life or death.