The expression “Peacekeeping” doesn’t mean retaining peace (as in “to keep it”). Peace is not something we can hold for one’s own purpose. In fact, it should not be kept at all, rather distributed across the world. Maybe the UN terminology should follow the Latin languages’ expression “Peace Maintenance”, or the classic Latin version “Custodes Pacis” (Peace Custody – Peace Care).
With the exception of some dreadful, but isolated, terrorist attacks, the so-called Western countries have been living in a golden age of peace and security. Our youngsters go to school every day without major safety concerns, their parents go to work no worried with their security, and we all go to the supermarket assuming the goods we need will be there for us to buy it.
However, all around our borders, that is not the case. Peace and security situations are degrading every day, people are being killed on the streets, and there’s no essential live support products on the shops. As a result, hordes of illegal migrants try to get into the western countries, seeking to escape war and famine. Religious violence plows all over Africa, the Middle East and Asia; and organized crime is using all opportunities to obtain profits, using every possible type of malware action in the book.
Peace is not something we should be concerned when bullets start flying. That will be too late for any feasible solution. Peace is something to be addressed when the first hate speech arises, when there’s no drinkable water on the pipes, or when disease strikes and there are no vaccines to stop it.
We (the westerners) must stop being selfishly comfortable in our little corner of the planet and start going out there, where the problems arise, to promote good living conditions, health care and distribute peace … and, guess what … compared with the “damage control” money spend in homeland, …, it’s not even expensive; in fact, it could be a profitable business too.
The North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) is probably one of the strongest contributors for the peaceful, and stable, environment Europe and North America live in. However, like any living system, if NATO doesn’t evolve and adapt, it will become irrelevant and perish. On the 14th of June 2021, all the Allied Heads of State will get together, at NATO HQ, for another NATO Summit. A Summit someone has already called the “gathering of democracies”, where a new North Atlantic Alliance’s Strategic Concept for the next decade will be discussed. Let us see what comes out of Brussels.
Let us hope that the UN, together with the regional organizations, can let the “peace dove” fly over the unrest places of planet Hearth.
#PKDay
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