End Racism: Build Peace

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“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2021 global military spending reached $2.1 trillion, rising for its seventh year in a row. The world has not known sustained peace for quite a while. There are wars in every corner of the world. It is safe to say by now everyone is aware of the Russian Ukraine War which began in February. However, there is no need to look that far given in Jamaica there have been more than 1,100 murders thus far. The world is in a crisis. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. According to the UN achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race. The 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace is “End racism. Build peace.” Racism is a belief or ideology that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Racism is the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. There are variations of racism in which apartheid is the most extreme form. The UN adds, as conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, we have seen race-based discrimination at borders. As COVID-19 keeps attacking our communities, we have seen how certain racial groups have been hit much harder than others. As economies suffer, we have seen hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities. Give Peace a Chance As the international community marks peace day we are provided with a wonderful opportunity to redouble our efforts in arriving at solutions to end conflicts. Regardless of our station in life we all have a role to play in fostering peace. The UN argues that tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute to peace. We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice. We must talk to each other in order to accept our diversities, find peaceful solutions and share our hopes for a better world. Let us work together in building a world beyond racism. In the words of Mother Teresa, let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Happy Peace Day. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #FightRacism #PeaceDay

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