CLAUDIO SCHUFTAN
schuftan@gmail.com
After reading an exceptionally long list of emails I received the other night I fell into a pessimistic streak. I was thinking how the road to heaven is paved with good intentions. And this is what came out:
1.- So we organize, expose, rationalize, denounce, analyze, network, liberalize, accuse, mobilize, study, decentralize, communicate, prioritize, implement, point a finger at, develop, monitor, evaluate, (reanalyze), measure, research, publish, present, advocate, persuade, correspond, orient, contribute to a list server, meet, declare, assess, legislate, decree, (reorganize), define, negotiate, devolve, fund, train, invest, capacitate, (reorient), build, seek answers in the internet, strengthen, deliver services, educate, give credit to, (redefine), provide literacy, procrastinate, lose our temper, despair, dismiss, reform, impose conditionalities,…or throw money at…
2.- And then do all the above some more…
3.- But what does this really do to stop the relentless march towards pauperization, polarization, globalization, desperation, exploitation, conglomerization, monopolization, transnationalization, ‘IMFization’, depreciation, masculinization, centralization, global speculation, devaluation, degradation, privatization, depletion, erosion, deforestation, malnutrition, corruption, unfair competition, pollution, domination, oppression, repression, growing gaps, fundamentalism, authoritarian regimes, SAPs, mergers, ill-health, disempowerment, growing inequities, free market excesses and abuses, maldevelopment, social unrest, trade imbalances, displacements, refugees, tribalism, and nepotism?
4.- So who are we really failing, serving, fooling, satisfying, helping, cheating, speaking for, representing, defending, misleading, pleasing, empowering, condoning, letting get away with, supporting (by design and by default)?
Does anybody out there care to add to this list… or make it rhyme… or help me out of this terrible mood?
PS: Where has the big picture gone? And what are we doing about it?
Claudio Schuftan
Saigon, Vietnam.