”People need things. How can we help?”

This coronavirus pandemic has many aspects. The virus has confirmed the oneness of mankind – we are all in this together. To the surprise of some, it has shown that love for, and concern for, our fellow human beings is a fundamental consideration in our lives. This pandemic has challenged our material well-being, and has brought forth a spiritual response. At the same time, it has made obvious the need for more co-ordination and co-operation between nations.

One important response to the pandemic has been the way in which service to others is now being seen as the most important kind of work. The general population is openly showing its appreciation of many others who have often been taken for granted, such as carers, nurses, doctors, and ambulance staff. These people are potentially sacrificing their own lives by treating or caring for patients suffering from the virus, often without adequate personal protection. Literally hundreds of doctors, nurses, carers, hospital porters and so on have died during this outbreak – including retired people who had come back specially to offer their services during the emergency. People are now also beginning to appreciate the fact that shop workers, delivery drivers, food packers, farmers, growers, waste collectors and many others have essential roles which make life more bearable, or even possible, for the rest of us. At the same time, ordinary people are offering their own services in huge numbers: delivering food to people in isolation, providing comfort at the end of a telephone, making masks and gowns, volunteering at food banks, and in numerous other initiatives. We can take heart from this outpouring of concern for others.

Most countries have struggled to provide an immediate and effective response to all the different aspects of the pandemic. In the U.K., local groups of volunteers sprang into being long before the government-organised volunteer force could be implemented. The more developed countries have a strong government organisation to call on but many other countries do not have the administrative infrastructure that is common in Europe or in North America. In some places without local government capacity, the grass roots Bahá’í administration has been able to step in. We are hearing stories of places where the Local Spiritual Assembly (which is the elected Bahá’í body in any town, village or city) has organised a proper community response to a particular need. For example, in India, the unannounced, draconian, nature of the lockdown led many people to suddenly lose their livelihoods, and in many places, the Local Spiritual Assembly organised Bahá’ís to give migrant workers lifts back to their home villages (sometimes over a hundred miles away), and also organised food parcels for those who could not be transported in time. To Bahá’ís, service to others is a natural part of life. It is also part of the spiritual life: “Order your lives in accordance with the first principle of the divine teaching, which is love. Service to humanity is service to God.” And in another place in the Bahá’í Writings we read: “This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer.”

In the United States, young Bahá’ís, who have been used to organising themselves in acts of service to the community - which they have already been doing as part of the activities of the “Junior Youth Groups” they were in - have been responding to a wide variety of needs caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The photograph at the top shows some young Bahá’ís in Texas, with support from their mother, making masks which they are then distributing to their neighbours. Bahá’í youth in Chicago have been creating informative videos about health measures in the different languages commonly spoken in the community. They are also assisting families who face language barriers in accessing government services. Such barriers exist in many other areas, such as in Prince William County, Virginia, where many parents, without access to translators, had been unable to adequately access online school programmes for their children. “At first we thought that children missing classes was related to internet access, but we were wrong,” says a youth from one of the groups. “It was actually because the parents had no idea of what the school arrangements were.” These youth, having identified the families requiring additional assistance, are now holding regular online sessions to share the necessary information in various languages and to assist their peers with their
assignments.

Another example comes from Nicaragua. Even before concerns about the global outbreak were in the public consciousness, a Bahá’í-inspired community banking programme there took the initiative to implement measures for the safe handling of money and made arrangements for transactions to take place online and by telephone. “These banks are founded on the Bahá’í principles of service and care for the well-being of all,” says the programme’s national co-ordinator. “So, with the economic challenges and the evolving health crisis, we have not only been conscious of continuing vital services that support the economic life of the community, but also of ensuring that our operations do not put people at risk.” She continued: “We recognise that we are not just businesses looking to our own affairs but we are here to serve the common welfare.”

As so many parts of the world have introduced some form of lockdown, many of the enterprises generating income and providing services to society have been at a standstill, and it is thought that many may not survive in their present form. One of the results of the disease may therefore be a re-building and re-balancing of society, in which monetary, social and economic arrangements are subservient to the needs of the community, rather than being their masters. The underlying response should not be: ”People need things. How can we make money out of them?”, but rather: ”People need things. How can we help?”

Rising to the challenge

Most countries of the world are now threatened by a particularly virulent new disease – COVID 19. In many countries, strategies have been adopted to curb its spread which have had a severe impact on the lives of ordinary people. Shops have been shut, people are having to distance themselves from others, people cannot have visits even from close relatives, there are to be no meetings and no travelling. People have lost their jobs and their livelihoods. On the positive side, volunteers have mobilised in many places to help those in isolation or who are short of food (as discussed in my previous blog). Despite all the restrictions, sadly hundreds of deaths have been reported in some countries, thousands in others.

One of the less expected results of this sudden change in lifestyle has been the spiritual response of many people. Put bluntly: if human life on earth has a purpose, many of us now have extra time to give serious consideration to what it might be! At the same time, people who have been seriously ill with this virus, but who have survived it, often seem to be changed by the experience. We hear people saying that they have changed what they think is important, and that their job and their material possessions now mean less than family, human relationships and life itself. It is sad that people have had to suffer so much to come to that realisation.

A fundamental aspect of this spiritual response is consideration of the question of life after death. The human body ceases to function at some point – we die. We are all aware of this fact, although when we are younger it is easier to put off consideration of the matter until later. However, we are now suddenly faced with the possibility of losing our loved ones prematurely. Will we meet them again – in whatever time or place, or indeed in whatever form? If we decide that the answer is “No”, then what is the point of our existence as conscious and reflective beings? Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, gave a very positive and heart-warming response to the question of life after death: “Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter.” If we decide that the answer is “Yes”, then perhaps we need to get on with preparing ourselves for the life to come. In the same way that we grow limbs and eyes in the womb ready for life in this world, we need to grow our spiritual qualities ready for the next world. Bahá’u’lláh’s Son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, said: “That world beyond is a world of sanctity and radiance; therefore it is necessary that in this world he [the human being] should acquire these divine attributes. In that world there is need of spirituality, faith, assurance, the knowledge and love of God. These he must attain in this world so that after his ascension from the earthly to the heavenly Kingdom he shall find all that is needful in that life eternal ready for him.”

At the very time when people are looking for spiritual guidance, places of worship have been shut, in order to prevent possible transmission of the disease among the congregation. These congregations are simply no longer able to meet together. Luckily, however, this new coronavirus has hit the world at a point where many humans have access to information and communications technology. Things are possible now which were scarcely dreamed of even a few years ago. The Bahá’í community, like many other religious communities, is already broadcasting devotional programmes which people can receive on their computers, laptops and phones. Another development is the online gathering. Instead of holding a physical meeting in a central place each Bahá’í month, many Bahá’ís and their friends are using new technology to join together and say prayers (see picture above) and engage in conversation and consultation through their display screens. This is providing spiritual sustenance, including often to those who have been unable to physically meet all their fellow-believers for a while because of ill-health. Those who do not have online access at home can still be in contact by phone, letters and cards. No-one should feel forgotten. We all need to keep our spirits up and use prayer and/or meditation to develop our spiritual lives. Then we can see how to cheer others.

Everyone is finding life difficult during the current situation. But this is our opportunity to find the spiritual power in our inner selves. Can we rise to the challenge of carrying on with our lives, making the most of the opportunities we have, helping others and staying cheerful?  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was a wonderful example. He dedicated His life to serving others, especially the poor and sick, despite His own problems. For much of His life He was imprisoned, kept under house arrest, and suffered in many ways. He put it quite clearly, saying: “Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility.” This is the universal personal challenge of today.

Let it bring out the best in us

In many more countries now, governments are putting restrictions on people’s movements, to try to limit the spread of the coronavirus causing the disease COVID-19. Some are telling all shops to close, other than food shops and pharmacies. Some have closed schools, clubs and meeting places. Many have restricted travel. Large numbers of people are confined to their own homes. Hundreds of millions of people across many parts of the globe now have layers of worry in their lives – uncertain income, the collapse of businesses, plans ruined, and of course health concerns for themselves and their families.

But as human beings, we need to have a set of definite, positive goals to work towards. We can do little to stop the progress of the virus, except by staying away from other people and observing strict hygiene. This is where our community spirit should come to the fore. This community spirit should also prevent people from selfishly or mindlessly stockpiling things beyond their obvious needs. Of course, vulnerable and elderly people will have more need to stock up a certain amount, because they should not be exposed to possible infection by being frequently in shops. There is clearly an opportunity for those less at risk from the effects of COVID-19 to make arrangements for others, offering to obtain and deliver supplies to the vulnerable. Indeed, in many places this is already happening – as in the picture of the young boy above. Participation in such schemes will give the more healthy parts of the population a positive role in this crisis. Perhaps those who find that they have already overstocked for their own needs could donate the surplus to food banks, which are often running short of supplies, or they could offer their surpluses to needy neighbours. In many places there are organised groups to help with shopping, but we can all check that our friends and neighbours have what they need. This means actively keeping in touch by phone or internet with those who have had to isolate themselves, either because they have the coronavirus or because they have been told to do so for their own protection.

In some countries, the gathering of congregations for worship has been temporarily suspended. Bahá’ís in many countries were disappointed not to be able to gather for Naw Ruz (New Year), at the end of the fasting period. However, in the Bahá’í Writings it says: “This is worship: to serve mankind and to minister to the needs of the people. Service is prayer.” So we have plenty to do.

Every action of every government in trying to stop the spread of this new virus is concerned with the prevention of unnecessary suffering and death. This is motivated by the underlying human emotion of love for others. The lives of all the people under their care are being largely re-ordered out of basic human concern for the elderly and the more medically vulnerable. This motive has been spelt out very specifically in the Bahá’í Writings as a conscious thing: “Order your lives in accordance with the first principle of the divine teaching, which is love. Service to humanity is service to God.”

Unfortunately, a certain proportion of people who catch this disease will suffer from severe symptoms. For others it will be relatively mild, like having a cold. The following is a Bahá’í prayer for times such as these:
“O my Lord! Thou knowest that the people are encircled with pain and calamities and are environed with hardships and trouble. Every trial doth attack man and every dire adversity doth assail him like unto the assault of a serpent. There is no shelter and asylum for him except under the wing of Thy protection, preservation, guard and custody.

O Thou the Merciful One! O my Lord! Make Thy protection my armour, Thy preservation my shield, humbleness before the door of Thy oneness my guard, and Thy custody and defence my fortress and my abode. Preserve me from the suggestions of self and desire, and guard me from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.

Verily, Thou art the Protector, the Guardian, the Preserver, the Sufficer, and verily, Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful.”

Service to others, love for our fellow human beings, prayers for humankind. If it is possible for anything of worth to come out of this medical emergency, let it bring out the best in us.

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This posting is the second one on the coronavirus. The first, “We are all in this together”, was published in February, 2020, and talked about the oneness of mankind, the need for a unified world approach in combatting this virus, the need for freedom of information, and the need for world authorities.

Out of harm’s way

When I first became connected to Facebook, one of my younger Facebook friends had, as her Facebook picture, a sign which read: “I hurt myself, so that you can’t”. I do not know whether she was physically harming herself or not, but it seemed to be a defence against perceived hostility from others. A well-known recent case in Britain concerns a young girl called Molly Russell, who became depressed, and then immersed herself in self-harming and suicide chatrooms, and then sadly took her own life at the age of fourteen. These chat rooms have been allowed to flourish as places where people can encourage one another to do harm to themselves. Molly’s death was certainly not the first caused (or even partly caused) by these groups, but significantly, her father is now campaigning for the social media platforms to do more to remove these negative groups.

Why should people want to cut themselves and cause themselves physical pain? I never heard of this practice when I was young, but the idea seems to have spread from somewhere, and is now unfortunately commonplace. At this time, when many young people often do not seem to see a purpose in life, they sometimes seem lost, and unsure of their place in the world.

Bahá’ís understand that the body is the dwelling-place of the soul, and as such, it must be looked after. While the soul is connected to the material world, it needs the physical body as its means of learning. It is the soul which is our true essence, and it is the soul which should be growing towards perfection, towards what we call God. In the Bahá’í understanding, life does have a purpose. It is not just a meaningless maze of random fortune and misfortune. Our purpose on this earth is to make ourselves ready for the next world, which we can barely begin to imagine. Bahá’u’lláh explained that “the world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother.” Much of what we need to learn involves attributes or virtues, such as kindness, tolerance, love for others, honesty, trustworthiness and so on. These all involve looking outwards, which makes us far happier than retreating into ourselves, which often leads to a downward spiral. We each need to recognise our own worth as a person, and have a love for ourselves, as we are, whilst still realising that we need to make progress. Bahá’u’lláh said that one of the first things is “that man should know his own self and recognise that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement.”

People often feel vulnerable when they are growing up. They need a strong sense of self-worth, of purpose, of the difference they can make to the world. (We have recently had the example of the climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg, to show us what a fifteen year old can achieve!) Bahá’ís realised this need quite some time ago. Back in 2000 the world body of the Bahá’í Faith drew this to the attention of the Bahá’ís worldwide: “Among the young ones in the community are those known as junior youth, who fall between the ages of, say, 12 and 15. They represent a special group with special needs as they are somewhat in between childhood and youth when many changes are occurring within them. Creative attention must be devoted to involving them in programmes of activity…” Therefore Bahá’í communities offer junior youth groups for those aged from about 11 to 15, specifically designed to provide a space where they can discuss the issues they are grappling with, discover their identity and develop a sense of service to the community around them.

If someone has a strong sense of their own value as a person, they won’t be brought down by negative comments or bullying. They may well realise that the people making negative comments may simply be jealous, indeed they may be struggling with their own self-image and identity. We all need to realise why we are here, to take the opportunities which life gives us, move forward with confidence in our future and become the best we can possibly be. Then we will be out of harm’s way.

We are all in this together

A previously unknown strain of Coronavirus has appeared in the city of Wuhan in China, and seems to be spreading rapidly. It is known to have killed over 1,300 people so far. While the medical world is trying to learn how this particular virus works, how it spreads, and how to defeat it medically, the rest of us could also be learning from this outbreak: about what it means for humanity, and how the world should be organised, to be better prepared for unforeseen problems such as this.

One thing this outbreak apparently confirms is that mankind is biologically – and therefore essentially – one. Each type of virus is species-specific. A virus has a complex life-cycle, and generally can only function within creatures of one species. Occasionally, a virus does successfully transfer into another species, as happened here, but in most cases that jump is simply impossible – the virus cannot function. So the rapid spread of this new strain among human beings from various parts of the world confirms what scientists already knew – that, despite superficial differences in hair colour, skin colour and eye colour, we are all one species.

This consciousness of all mankind being one, and needing to unite to overcome all our problems and challenges, is central to Bahá’í thinking. Bahá’u’lláh’s Son, Abdu’l-Bahá, wrote an explanatory piece, “The Seven Candles of Unity” on how unity will develop amongst mankind. The “second candle”, He wrote, “is unity of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of which will erelong be witnessed.” Combatting the potentially world-wide spread of this new virus is potentially a world undertaking. But have we yet achieved unity of thought in the best way of combatting it? Different governments seem to be adopting different approaches. Are we now seeing signs that we must all work together, as one?

We have also now learned that excessive efforts to control news media, and even personal communication, led to the inability of doctors to even tell other doctors that there was a new virus to fight. Dr Li Wen-Liang and seven other people were forced to sign a statement that they would stop spreading “rumours” of a new disease. Dr Li has unfortunately now died from this virus, at the age of 33. In the eyes of local officials, the lid had to be put on the truth. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s “third candle” is “unity in freedom, which will surely come to pass.” One part of freedom has to be the freedom to express oneself (provided, of course, you are not making personal attacks on others).

The rapid spread of the new virus also shows how interconnected we now all are. It transpires that many hundreds of people from outside China were to be found in the city of Wuhan. Within a few weeks, cases of the virus have been confirmed in 28 countries, and suspected in another 12. People with the virus have been unwittingly taking it across the globe. In addition, there are now many cases of factories in various parts of the world which are short of component parts which are normally supplied from China. The extended New Year holiday, intended to slow the spread of the virus, has meant that the parts have not been manufactured or exported.

It is interesting to note that when Bahá’u’lláh wrote to many of the rulers of His time, one of the things which He recommended was that, instead of spending huge amounts on ever-increasing arsenals, governments should spend money on healing the sicknesses of mankind. The coronavirus story is showing us the need to have some form of world government. The World Health Organisation is having to beg governments for several million dollars which it badly needs, to spend on fighting this new, rapidly-spreading outbreak. As is the case with the need to prevent warfare and to restrict climate change, there is a necessity for a world government which will perceive the urgency of the situation, and act upon it.

In some ways, however inadequately, this new world crisis is pushing countries which previously had competing interests towards sharing information, and co-operating. We are all in this together. As Bahá’u’lláh put it: “This earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

Building peace after war

The Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the largest countries in Africa, has also had one of the unhappiest experiences in the last twenty years. Between 1998 and 2003, armies from nine other countries supported one side or the other in the second civil war, which caused the deaths of over five million people. The centre and east of the country are still unstable now. For a number of reasons, central government has been largely unable to achieve any progress. However, this is a country in which the Bahá’í community has gone from strength to strength. One of the most fundamental Bahá’í principles is the oneness of all mankind, transcending nationality, race, tribe, gender, language, religious affiliation and similar divisions. The Bahá’ís of the Congo have recently begun to organise meetings between representatives of the different villages and tribes, to see if they can replace hatred and distrust with co-operation and friendship. The biggest such meeting, in Kekenge, was broadcast live on local radio. Chiefs from about sixty villages in Kasai province, in the centre of the country, came together to discuss how to move forward, based on the Bahá’í principle of the oneness of humanity.

The Bahá’í thesis is that all human beings are essentially one family. This needs to be accepted as a starting point, together with the idea of moving forward spiritually, socially and economically. One of Bahá’u’lláh’s prayers begins: “O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household… Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home…” The gathering in Kasai province was over three days, during which understanding could begin to develop between the chiefs of hostile villages, which were at war with one another only a year ago.

The Bahá’í community does not believe that announcing lofty principles will necessarily, by itself, turn the world into a paradise. Various types of action are required, at various levels . Effort goes into building up the Bahá’í community itself, which now consists of several million people from widely different cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. By this very example, Bahá’ís are changing people’s concept of what is possible. Lambert Kashama, a leading administrative official in Kasai province, described what drew him to this conference: “During the period of tribal conflict that Kakenge and its surroundings experienced, I would see Baha’is from the two opposing tribes working together and coming to consult with me about what was to be done to restore peace. This is why I have come here today to understand more about these teachings.”

Bahá’ís also put effort into what are termed the “discourses in society” – discussion with interested parties on various issues. Bahá’ís try to contribute in discussions with government departments, inter-faith meetings, and especially global conferences, in the hope of influencing the thinking of policy-makers towards ideas of unity. The meetings with chiefs and others in rural parts of the (DR) Congo take this line of action to the grass roots, by talking to those literally on the front line.

It seems as if this approach, based on replacing people’s prejudices with a wider vision and higher principles, has worked. Jean-Baptiste Shamba, who is chief of the Nkinda Katenge village, decided at the conference that as soon as he returned to his community, he would gather every person whom he had previously seen as an enemy in order to make peace and seek mutual pardon. “Following these teachings,” he said at the conference, “I will reconcile the rancour that I have with my brothers. Our conflict was based on ignorance. Henceforth we will speak as friends for the good of our community.”

At another of these meetings, held in Bukavu, in the south of the country, twenty-six chiefs signed a statement which included these words: “We have seen that the world is evolving. We will no longer guide our people in darkness, now that the light has appeared through these teachings, which we shall never forget.”

One of the specific ideas introduced by the Bahá’ís in organising these meetings was that of the equality of the sexes. Many chiefs went back to their villages and called for a meeting of all the women, realising that this half of the population had to be involved if any lasting result were to be achieved. By involving the entire community in each village, there is a very realistic hope that in each region where this process has been set in motion, a lasting peace and prosperity will be built after a terrible war.

Onwards and upwards…

Recent events and current trends may have made many people feel despondent for the future, but, despite the wealth of problems, the world can still move forward. Yes, we have some underlying and pressing needs, too many to list them all here, but which include our treatment of the environment, the continuing wars, and various social problems.

Firstly, the climate change conference which took place recently in Madrid has not been seen as a great success. The world is still heading towards a temperature increase of 3°C above its pre-industrial levels. Whatever the results of the conference, there is general agreement that we need to curb, and even reverse, our current level of exploitation of fossil fuels. There is an increasing feeling among the world’s population that we all need to use less. Despite the comparative failure of the conference, we can still each individually work towards reducing global warming, perhaps by following the advice of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Who said: “Take from this world only to the measure of your needs, and forgo that which exceedeth them.”

Meanwhile, here in the United Kingdom, the country seems finally poised to leave the political and economic bloc of which it has been a member for over forty years. For many British people, leaving the European Union will be the realisation of a long-held ambition to renew their independence. But many others see it as a backward step, moving away from a close trading relationship and a collective identity with Europe. Whatever one’s views are on this particular bloc, what we really need is free trade and co-operation across the whole world. This would help to make all the countries of the world more equal in their income levels. We also need to recognise the oneness of the entire human race and, alongside this, the common origin of all the religions. Each of these three changes would by itself increase human happiness. As Bahá’u’lláh put it: “Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other.” Unity, brotherhood and equality are our future.

However, at the current time, people across the world are still suffering from the effects of war. Different ethnic, tribal, religious or political groups try to impose their will on others, or engage in what they see as necessary self-defence. Not only do the combatants suffer from the results of their actions, but so do the innocent, particularly the old people, the women and children. Death, injury, disability and deprivation all follow from these conflicts. What is really needed – as previously mentioned - is for all of mankind to be seen as one people, and for the whole earth to be seen as one country. Bahá’u’lláh said: “It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

On a more limited scale, one worrying factor in human life at the present time is the amount of crime and senseless violence which afflicts many areas, but especially the inner cities. The causes of this behaviour are complex and are endlessly debated by those seeking to understand it, but it ruins the lives of victims and their families, not to mention the perpetrators and their families. The real needs of society are to be found in a completely different direction from the self-centred behaviour of the criminal or the impulsive responses of those lacking in self-worth. Humanity needs more open-hearted friendship, more honesty, and for everyone to be included in useful employment. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who was Bahá’u’lláh’s Son, urged:  “Let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”

At a time when communication between individuals across the world is becoming easier than ever, and is rapidly developing new forms and new channels, new challenges are arising. On “social” media there seems to be an epidemic of anti-social content, with people being unpleasant about others and towards others. Meanwhile, vested interests, which wish to manipulate things in particular ways, circulate fake news, and then proceed to dismiss anything proven by honest and open journalism as being itself “fake”. What is really needed is for each person to have a positive view of their own worth, for each human being to have a positive view of the worth of every other person, and for everybody to have a positive view of those groups which are undervalued, such as racial, cultural or tribal minorities, those whose behaviour is outside the norm, and those who are disabled or disadvantaged in some way. We must always choose our words with care. According to Bahá’u’lláh, “One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world,” and again: “One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison.” When we put finger to keyboard or screen, we should aim to cheer and encourage others, not to denigrate and dismiss them.

At times, it can seem as if the negative forces which are leading to social disintegration and unhappiness are overwhelming. But the positive forces will win in the end. We can each make a difference. As individuals, it is our responsibility to make all our actions and words positive ones, so that these negative forces can be overcome. The power of example should not be underestimated. We must stand up and consciously work for the unity of humanity, so that the whole planet shares in a glorious future. We must be tirelessly helping to lead mankind onwards and upwards…