Thanks NathanJ for that magic youtube clip.

'We are the world'. What a great thought. If only that sentiment and its message of inclusiveness could be the foundation of a universal 'mantra' and universal movement for world peace and harmony, of tolerance, understanding and determination to make the world a better place, to strive for non-one to be left behind, for no-one to live in fear, no-one to hunger, to be oppressed or under-valued.
Great also to see all those white, black, rainbow, tall, short, male, female participants shoulder to shoulder, immersing themselves in such a grand expression of solidarity for a cause bigger than any of us.

'How do we make the world a more peaceful place?'

This noble theme was almost lost, amid Covid and political machinations 'producing nothing'. At least, nothing really useful.

My take on the quest for world peace unfortunately involves an economic and mindset 'revolution in thought' - whereby all developed nations would adopt a prime objective and directive of applying a very healthy part of their total GDP to the development of all of those poorer, less developed nations and peoples of the world, with the ultimate purpose of genuine equality and equal opportunity for all of humanity.

A big ask, yes, but when we consider the resources applied - and being applied - to conflict, to the building of armaments and dog-eat-dog fighting for primacy, military, trade and territorial supremacy, and economic grandiosity (who needs more than one domicile, gold-plated plumbing, or so many bedrooms, bathrooms, overdone swimming pools, appliances, vehicles, their own golf course, and massive personal wealth) while so many have nothing but despair - could so much of these 'blown away' or overblown resources and efforts not be so much better applied to elevating humanity rather than dominating, suppressing, conquering or coercing?
(TBC)

Cont'd:

Think how much better it could have been for all those millions of refugees and displaced people if efforts had been made to develop industry and services in their strife-torn countries so they would have a chance at a reasonable quality of life, and opportunities for their children to have a better life - with education, security, human rights and equal rights.
Perhaps it still could be - albeit at some time in the future - if only such a universal humanitarian objective could be adopted by all of the major world powers (and the dysfunctional UN).

Perhaps there could even be a coordination with China on some or all of its various third world development ventures - as negotiated 'joint ventures' - and potentially thereby working to 'defuse' what hitherto has been viewed as a process towards 'world domination' by the CCP?

If only. But, 'we are the world' after all, and certainly many problems 'at home' have need of serious attention as a priority, in all of the world's developed nations - like gangs, drugs, homelessness, poverty and lack of opportunity.

But, can we be big enough to accept some pain and to share the burden, in the very best interests of humanity, the environment, biodiversity, and security in our shared finite, incredible, marvelous world?

Saltpetre,
So you are going to make the World a better place by distributing Money - virtually communism. Is China your ideal utopia? The Willing workers feed the nations. It takes more than money to lift the standard of living, which nations have done for years. Compare our indigenous communities that receive millions, and there are many still in poverty, except those that assume equality of responsibility to work.

The world will not be a better place until they have personal peace and desire to live in peace. Money and possessions are not the solution, attitudes are.

Josephus,

It's Not 'wealth re-distribution' as per Marxism or Communism, it's affording a greatly needed leg up to undeveloped and developing nations and peoples to give them a chance for a reasonable life, to obviate so much of the foundational causes of violence, social disruption, violent oppression, of warlords, gangs, dictatorship, societal dysfunction and disintegration, dog-eat-dog and pariah states, racism, intolerance, societal displacement, diaspora, and mass refugee flight from danger and to hopes of a better life.

Make life better 'at home', by removing as far as possible the vectors founding dis-advantage, and people will be able to thrive with minimal interference through self-sufficiency, retention of culture and ties to country, and hopefully beneficial democratic government.

China, as the CCP, rears as a threat to civilization as we know it, to individual freedoms and self-actualization, to democracy, and potentially to the peaceful pursuits of individual nations and peoples.

World War, or 'dilute' China's expansionism by 'joint venturing' in third world developmental endeavours, or by 'parallel' development ventures so as to 'dilute' China's influence in any and all regions - with concurrent demonstration of the virtues and values of partnerships with free democratic nations and their peoples.

If Australia was able to find a way to invest in development in West Papua, for example, with a large concomitant Australian workforce and associated Australian security services, thereby 'diluting' Indonesia's influence in the region - and hopefully restricting Indonesia's usual oppressive bullying tactics - the 'natives' could benefit enormously, and could lead a way for Aus to combine with PNG to induce Indonesia to leave the area peacefully. Maybe?

All nations retaining their integrity, albeit with a little less 'largess' in their individual shopping baskets, but with exponential growth in pride in their endeavours for the benefit of humanity at large and ultimately for peace and security, and the wellbeing of this our finite and vulnerable planet.

Salt[etre,

That reminds me, I've never read any 'Pollyanna' books or 'Anne of Green Gables', or 'Little House on the Prairie', or 'Kim', or even 'Pride and Prejudice'. Maybe ......

Nah.

Joe

Joe,

You disappoint me.
Pie in the Sky maybe, but you are aware of foreign aid?
Its purpose? Just feel-good, or genuine assistance?

Why the need to stop at token aid?
Is the world view so narrow that it cannot observe the drastic refugee and displaced peoples problem, the ongoing conflict in so many quarters (and for what real gain or 'resolution'), the lives shattered, the starvation of many, the deprivation and despair?
The global 'inequality'. Without end?

Maybe ok by those who have no 'Humanity', who look only for the next 'win' (at any cost to others), but should it be ok?

Narrow 'nationalistic' blinkers and self-interest offer only a perpetuation of 'difference', of conflict, and fundamentally of racism and racial intolerance.

I would hope for better, for the world to grow up and embrace a better way - for all our wellbeing. Do unto others?

Turning a blind eye to Chinese expansionism or to Indonesia's abuses in West Papua? Acceptable? Tolerance of the Intolerable?

The UN was established with noble and notable objectives. What has happened to those aspirations - is the intent flawed, or only the will and the practice?