We can’t deny that times has changed dramatically, looking at the USA. And those changes are impacting globally not only politics and economy but also the NGO world. The coup from above by wealthy people promoting a clear white fascistoid Christian ideology and voted in by a majority of those who went to cast their vote in the USA is a threat to all, NGOs are standing for in the world.
Ceasing the work of UNAIDS, threatening international courts, leaving what tries to keep countries together in health and human rights, spells also the end of a government by the people for the people. In a world so connected, the “America first” ideology becomes a synonym for a rule determined to ignore all developments in international law, shared values, human rights and human dignity. This is a coup which is not different to those in any African country – only this time not from those suppressed or marginalised. One can only hope that the legal structures of the USA hold tight.
Elon Musk, showing the typical signs of high intelligence and madness at the same time, is more than halfway already in a position through his Starlink to switch on / off the world as he pleases. This creates another danger of note.
Disruptions are good and necessary at times, but when the balance costs lives and threaten entire social contracts without a fair and feasible alternative, it becomes a very dangerous game. The prospect of trade wars, the cutting off of weaker states – with or without the threat of violence – enters then also the realm of NGOs trying often to fill the gaps left by governments. They are part of the social and political fabric of countries. There is a clear line between forging new and enhanced structures serving societies and humanity, or bullying people into submission under political power and wealth without end.
We can’t deny that when times change so dramatically, there are also opportunities. Disruption creates and partly forces new pathways of thinking and action. And this applies in the current situation, specially to Europe and Africa.
The times when we can rely on the USA are gone, and we don’t have to go into detail about China and its politics. The natural partners and neighbours are Europe and Africa. And even if we still have to continue looking into the past, there is the urgent need to look at a joined future. Africa will become a powerhouse of economy and consume in the future, and we have to prepare for it: Europeans have to understand that only importing workers into Europe will not be the solution. Africans have to understand that the role they will have to play means serious soul-searching and the ceasing of asking for hand-outs. The economic sector and NGOs together should drive development on all necessary levels, supported by those in political power.
The current drama holds the opportunity for Europe to revisit with whom it really wants to walk into the future socially and economically on the long term run. It does not mean to abandon relationships with the USA and China, but it means to balance it much more and to realise, that Africa offers 54 countries to partner with. And there are all different in so many ways, as is European countries’ history with them.
Africa has without doubt its own challenges – and there are many. Climate change will add complications to those, and hard and structured work is needed to counter them all. The way forward will not be easy, because it will mean to change the mindset of many on both continents. We have to start working on it now. We owe it to the next generations in Africa and Europe.
Filed under: Africa, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, "America first", Africa, europe, future, Musk, news, NGO, partnership, politics, trade, unaids, usa
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