Engendering Healthy and Sustainable Living through Cultural Transformation

“We live in a time of such confusion and rancor, with a culture that puts a premium on things that don’t last: money, fame, status, likes.”- Barack Obama. Let us not fool ourselves. We live in a world that caters to the rich and powerful. It is not asking too much to expect some amount of peace in our homes and communities. Unfortunately, this is not the situation for countless Jamaicans. Is it too much to expect that one’s home should be free from noise pollution as well as from other environmental factors? Sadly, noise pollution has become normalized in many parts of our country. The social problem is particularly chronic in urban spaces where there is an intersection of noise and entertainment leading to the nightmare of many well- thinking citizens. This state of lawlessness is pervasive throughout the society. It has become commonplace for many Jamaicans to experience daily loud, lewd and vulgar music bombarding their personal space. But on the other hand, we have all but abandoned the notion of personal space as the culture continues to evolve. The worst of the worst of the sub-culture has now become the dominant culture. There was a time in Jamaica where the elderly were respected and youngsters would not say certain things in the presence of elders. We can agree that was the golden age. All that has been said earlier speaks to the failure of the State. This failure of the State has fostered a culture of entitlement among the lawless in the society. Many owners of business places no longer apply to the Municipality for approval to build or modify their property. Once these owners acquire these residential homes they are converted or demolished to conduct business. No one cares. The notion of might is right prevails while the citizenry suffer most times silently. This situation was recently played out in the community of Richmond Park, St. Andrew. Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, said the Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) conducted an investigation into the development and found that no application had been submitted to the municipality for 11 WestLake Avenue. In late July, disgruntled residents of WestLake Avenue staged a protest at the intersection of WestLake and Montgomery Avenues, charging that their complaints about development breaches over the years have fallen on deaf ears at the KSAMC. The residents complained that houses were being totally demolished and businesses established, as in the case of the car mart on WestLake Avenue. It is something they believe is in breach of the laws governing residential areas. According to the residents, some of whom bought houses in the Richmond Park and Hagley Park areas in the 1970s, they have watched homes being sold and turned into cesspool business, apartment complexes, trucking businesses, garages and much more, killing the vibrancy of their communities and the spirit of home. It is a sad and unfair state of affairs. The situation is made worse when you have senior citizens who are struggling with ill health having to live through this nightmare day after day. Some communities are more organized than others and this also is part of the problem. However, the reality is commercialization of residential areas have gone unchecked for many years in Jamaica. Successive governments have failed in this area. There are instances of unexplained wealth used to purchase real estate and the Jamaican Government’s continued pussyfooting with legislation for the issuing of unexplained wealth orders (UWO) is concerning. Environmental Rights. All human beings depend on the environment in which we live. A safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is integral to the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation. We must also be mindful that there are some diseases that are triggered by environmental factors. Without a healthy environment, we are unable to fulfill our aspirations. We may not have access to even the minimum standards of human dignity. Like so many other Small Island Developing States, environmental protection is not a major issues for consideration. It is against such a background that so many instances of violations have escaped the authorities. Jamaica 2030 Vision. A significant part of the dilemma we face in this country is rooted in the high levels of corruption and the growing mistrust of government. This poisonous portion adds to fear and engender a culture of evil. Many have become fearful of speaking out. It is not uncommon, for example, for witnesses in criminal cases to be killed. The goodwill of the citizenry suffers in silence, while those who find creative ways to circumvent the law live comfortably. Yet, we speak of Jamaica’s 2030 Vision for making Jamaica the place of choice, to live, work, raise families and do business. Brain Drain. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations System and stands as the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. The IOM states that Jamaica is increasingly troubled by the emigration of a significant percentage of its highly trained and skilled professionals. Over the past several decades, close to a million Jamaicans have emigrated to the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. Recent approximations indicate that over 80 per cent of Jamaicans with tertiary level education and living outside of Jamaica were trained in Jamaica. In fact, it is often said that as many Jamaicans live abroad as those who remain on the island. This phenomenon has created what can be simplistically described as a "brain drain". The effects of this have been both economic and social. While it is difficult to estimate the exact economic cost of this "brain drain", it has been noted that the loss of skills has serious implications for the country's productive sector and its education policy. Inclusive Development . Governments oftentimes speak a lot about inclusive development. With inclusive development no one or no group should be left behind. For the United Nations (UN) inclusive development calls for securing social progress and resilience for all people and ensuring that it will be sustainable in the long run. It requires identifying who is being left behind by development processes and removing those underlying structural barriers that limit their inclusion. The UN adds that underpinning the renewed focus on inclusion and social justice is the realization that the benefits of social and economic progress have not been equitably shared. Inequalities pervade not only the economic, but also the social and environmental pillars of development. Differences in religion, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability and economic and migrant status are used to exclude and marginalize. Furthermore, climate change and recurring global economic, political, food and energy crises can quickly weaken or reverse achievements made in poverty reduction and human development. The UN argues that participation in political, civic and cultural activities is a major part of social life and crucial to promoting inclusion. Individuals and groups who are excluded from these processes have limited voice or power to affect the attitudes, norms, institutions and policies that drive social exclusion in the first place. Why then in many instances the model pursued runs counter to inclusive development? The USAID states that inclusive development is an equitable development approach built on the understanding that every individual and community, of all diverse identities and experiences, are instrumental in the transformation of their own societies. Their engagement throughout the entire development process leads to better outcomes. Development policy encompasses all political, economic and social measures to help improve living conditions in developing countries in a sustainable way. Enshrined in the 2030 Agenda is the principle that every person should reap the benefits of prosperity and enjoy minimum standards of well-being. This is captured in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are aimed at empowering all nations and people and all segments of society from poverty and hunger and to ensure, among other things, healthy lives and access to education, modern energy and information. Exclusion in all its forms breeds a culture of resentment. Development is oftentimes stymied by exclusionary practices. Exclusion also fosters a spirit of migration among the middle class and this is problematic for any society given the medium and long term consequences. It is therefore imperative that governments redouble their efforts regarding social, economic and political inclusion of all in their respective societies. Cultural Shift. Culture is not static. It is safe to say without fear of contradiction that the value system of our parents and indeed our grandparents differ vastly from that of ours. The logical conclusion to this narrative will attest to the fact that the values of our children are also different from ours. This cultural shift is not unique to any one country; however, it is problematic and solutions must be found. The abandonment of old fashion Christian based values have been thrown out and we have welcomed an alien hybrid culture that has taken roots and has strangled the value system of the past. Evidence of this is seen in the high homicide rates. It is also seen in the disruptive behaviours of our students who are unafraid to attack and abuse their teachers. This oppositional attitude is glorified in pop culture where the younger generation has their heroes and role models. We cannot discount the fact that the increasing incidences of commercialization and the blatant disregard for people’s personal homes may also lead mental health disorders. Is there a way out of this crisis? Is there an urgent need to re-socialize the society? At times there is a breeze of hopelessness and despair, do you feel it? Many older individuals are afraid of what the future holds. Many are afraid of growing old in a society where there is little or no respect for seniors. Unsurprisingly, the culture of disrespect also holds true for many who hold high offices in the society. Too many youngsters are unattached to positivity and this disconnect to societal values continue to create mayhem. Who will address the dysfunctional agents of socialization in the society? Should the citizenry accept this as the new normal and try to adjust? Is there a political price to be paid for this litany of social, economic and cultural woes in the society? Diversity remains an engine for growth and development. Is there the testicular fortitude to address the problems head on? However, all is not lost. Who will bell the cat? In the words of Robert A. Heinlein, a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot. 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 © #culture #socialization #sustainabledevelopment