Justice, politics
The 12 basic needs
Don’t do anything upon someone else that you would not do upon yourself! That’s the basic rule of the world of justice and all kinds of laws and regulations internationally. Although it sounds so simple, it has been embattled throughout the centuries! In relations, between two or more people, between nations and between all people worldwide in two great wars and now in the struggle about climate change, debtrelease and fair trade, and the right for clear drinking water and so on.
Looking to the whole world of justice, law and order, democracy, politics and international relations we can recognise that we ourselves as consumer/citizens are in fact the basis on which all systems are built! The world of justice has everything to do with people and their relations, and how people are working together in realising their lives, their ideas and their needs. It’s the “crossing” between people and between mind and matter.
Although the books with laws can fill a supertanker, the starting point is always our relation with one another in friendship AND in conflict, especially to be there before conflict starts! In small groups we know the rules, but in nationwide and worldwide networks we need written rules to live together and to work together. This year (2008) it’s even 60 years ago that we discussed this worldwide for the first time in the foundations of the UN Human Rights! What Jean Jacques Rousseau named in his book Du Contrat Social the “Social Contract” (published 1762) was made up in 1948 for the first time worldwide and we are now working towards version 2.0 by discussing all the items of globalisation today!
But in this century and from now on everybody is involved in all things that happen worldwide, so we can’t leave it to the paperwork and the politicians and judges only! In an economy of question and answer we have to ask the best possible questions to expect the best possible answers, also as citizens (consumers of democratic services) in a democratic world! Therefore we have to read about it, talk about it and to act when neccesary. When freedom of thought and speech is actual, or democratic principals or justice are at stake, or in all aspects of economic production, fair trade and quality control in the end (guarantees and hallmarks)
The best way to stay ahead of any problems or even conflicts is a good relation with our neighbour citizens, our politicians and all our producers. Direct contact when possible and via consumer organizations to let them make the best rules to work together or to help solving problems collectively. Reading the annual reports to know the trends must be the basis of our common knowledge.