Problems in the World

There are just endless problems in our world that I can't name all of them.
Simply said, quoting one of my friend's lines: our world is fucked up.
So true.
But the sad thing is: people, including us, screwed things up.

Currently reading Angelina Jolie's Notes From My Travels: Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador.

There is a chance that this book was written by somebody on behalf of her.
But the fact that she went to these places herself, adopted a few kids and treats them like a family are proofs of her kindness.
And kindness and love need not to be proven and made known to the public.
The most important thing about the book is: no matter who wrote the book, it is humbling.
It saddens and motivates me at the same time.

It was written back in 2003, but I guess the problems it describes still exist in today's world.
People still starve, live in poverty, kill each other, and die of diseases that can be treated or prevented.
The reality that these problems of social injustice still exist in the 21st century saddens me.
The feeling that individuals are too insignificant and powerless to change anything,
the frustration and helplessness because I don't know what I can do to help even though I want to.
People are living in ways we can never imagine.
But exactly how different are we from them? Race? Color of our skin? Beliefs? Ability and intelligence? Fate?

We are the same, just human beings.
We all need food, shelter, clothes, medicine, love and affection.We all experience the same emotions and feelings; happiness, joy, sorrow, pain, frustration, hunger etc.
The only difference is: the place we are born.
It makes tremendous difference where we are born;
that I could be starving if I was born in Ethiopia,
that I could be a victim in civil wars, raped or mutilated,
that I could be experiencing the pain of losing loved ones,
that I could be illiterate and unable to write even my name,
like millions out there.

Esther smoking, when she was 9, just 9

Esther when she was 13, lived on the streets, got addicted to drugs and became a prostitute

Could have been you or me

At the same time, I am amazed by people's strength, strong will for survival.
If I were one of them, I am not sure if I can survive, physically or mentally.
I feel shameful for complaining about small things in my life.
I feel guilty for material possessions and the privilege life I have.
Maybe all that I have now is just out of pure luck that
I was born and raised in a normal, middle-class family,
living in this incredibly free though undemocratic place.
I am grateful for what I have.

Problems still exist in the world we're living in.
They don't disappear just because we don't hear it in the news anymore.
There are plenty of people still struggling out there.
We all struggle for matters large or small.
But if we focus too much on ourselves and care only a few around us,
this self-focus and negligence of others is pathetically arrogant and ignorant.

from Tumblr

One or two years ago, in an English class, we were asked to present a speech that inspires us.
Many others chose that 'Change' speech by Barack Obama, graduation speech, etc.
I chose Severn Suzuki's speech at the 1992 UN Earth Summit, when she was 12.
It still inspires me a lot. Please listen to her speech.

I should be doing some Christmas shopping now, as if the only trouble in the world is choosing what present to buy, avoid buying expensive but useless junk but end up still buying shit.
Should be in an innocently merry mood now, preparing for Christmas.
But now I just wanna stay home and finish the book.

Stay Hopeful & Loving,
N

P.S. All photos are works of Swedish photographer Per-Anders Petterson,
please visit his photography website at PerandersPettersson.com