It’s the end of my trip to South Africa (SA) and am leaving with a new lesson in my Jesus-bag, my company and protection in every trip.
In 10 days I travelled across half of the country being exposed to an incredible multicolour society which include several Black tribal groups, Afrikaners (Dutches), Brits, Portoguese, Italians, Chinese, Maleys, Indians, Coloured of any type. How can all these people of different colours and origins leave together?
Connecting people across borders globalization is making the rest of the world progressively more similar to South African society. Observing SA is like giving a glance to our future. this sould make us think about it. SA is riven by conflicts across ethical groups developed along is rich and painful history.
In 1994 Nelson Madela made a miracle building a new country and reconnecting all South African peoples with hope in a better future together. the most progressive and inclusive consitution ever made was given to them. Mandela was right but hope is weakening while the new country struggles to emerge. Still, it’s the right direction.
This is a country of differences and conflicts. The richest in Africa but more than 20% of adult population is HIV positive. White still own the majority of coutnruy wealth while Blacks leave in township which are just one step higher than slam in real-estate rating. the other Blacks are in government or party members. 5 million tax payers and 13 million on the checque book of Welfare State. Is this sustainable?
By the way, politically correct is low year. You don’t talk about races. Despite insistently asking a coloured water about his family origins I was not able to get an answer different from ‘I’m South African and proud to be’ – and you know how insistent I can be with cute waters. I had to change my blackberry in a blueberry since blues don’t live in SA.
In Cape Town a visit Greater Good South Africa. I was welcomed by a group of smiling ladies determined as top class social enterpreneurs. they launched the Global Stock Exchange to create a global finacial market to provide capitals for social enterpreneurships in the world. the got the support of Rockefeller foundations and now they promote the idea wolrdwide leading our fellows Britis, French and the other Westerners.
They call it innovation from the South. they will even introduce me to someone in the North. can you believe it: The South is connecting the North???
Yes, it’s true. actually, south africa made me realized our europe is behind in addressing the future challenges of a globalizing society. The ’90 tought us thinking just in term of economy. As Fukuyama wrote, it was the end of history: democracy and market economy are the only path for development. we thought that every problem could be sorted out htough good goverannce and efficent markets. we were wrong!
Huntington came out with the clash of civilization. history was back and it was a scandal. irrational motivations lead human choices again, especially ethinicity and religion.
This is understood and oversteressed everywhere in South Africa. The country is facing these challenges while European sleave in their fortress treating the others – from other races and religions – has immigrant workers or charitable targets. The white are Europeans the others just guests.
Europe has an aging population, weakening economy, scelortic labour market. inovation is a threat, security is the gospel. Europe needs new blood but doesn’t want it if it of another colour!
It’s time for Europe to learn from coutnries like South Africa embracing all the colours which acutally have made its history. We could start with the flag. Let’s skip the non sense of a European flag. Europe is not a State and doesn’t need a flag. But the symbol of the European Union should be in every national flag of its member countries like the symbols of the emperor were in the family shields of aristocracy.
United into diversity is the motto of the European Union and I would like to find it in every flag in Europe.
Picture from www.metro.co.uk
Cosa fa VITA?
Da 30 anni VITA è la testata di riferimento dell’innovazione sociale, dell’attivismo civico e del Terzo settore. Siamo un’impresa sociale senza scopo di lucro: raccontiamo storie, promuoviamo campagne, interpelliamo le imprese, la politica e le istituzioni per promuovere i valori dell’interesse generale e del bene comune. Se riusciamo a farlo è grazie a chi decide di sostenerci.