Clive Bibby: Somebody else’s problem

Recent commentaries from experienced international observers have been as you might expect, focused on foreign wars and particularly the plight of innocents caught up in the mayhem.

On a daily basis, the foreign correspondent reports occupy the headlines in MSM coverage of these horrific events and government responses to them - and perhaps unsurprisingly the viewing public appear comfortable that this is so.

I suppose it provides us with a cathartic outlet for our sense of guilt that we should be doing more in a situation where we are far removed from the front lines.

Although, given the reality of our limited ability to do more than we already are, shouldn’t we be asking the same question about what we can and should be doing for those who are suffering from problems that are fixable here at home.

And the answer must surely be YES!

I say that because inevitably, the more we concentrate our energies on foreign problems that are beyond our ability to even influence in a minute way, the more the problems here at home will remain unresolved and that is not as it should be.

So, there needs to be a balance in the way we view our long list of responsibilities we have towards our fellow human beings wherever they are.

That balance will only come when we begin to focus on the priority list of problems here at home and treat the troubles overseas as an important but lesser priority that really should be seen as someone else’s problem. 

I hasten to add, that shouldn’t mean we withdraw our human aid support from those in need overseas but it has to be in the context of a contribution that doesn’t detract from the effort that should be made at home where it will make an immediate difference.

The other reason we should be concentrating on local problems is because, by doing so, it reduces the opportunity for those radical groups, that have an agenda and loyalty more aligned to a foreign ideology, to disrupt the efforts already being made addressing the real needs of those in trouble here in Godzone.

The longer our Government and public are distracted from those important tasks, the longer it will take to fix the problems and that time lapse will mean the end for lives and businesses that could have been saved. That is not acceptable in anyone’s language.

These are our problems! When it comes to priority spending and aid, we should be sure that we have chosen well before rushing off attending to others where we have little influence. Dare l suggest that Climate Change is one that needs to be kept in perspective by doing what we can in mitigation but not running around like headless chooks crying “Henny Penny, the sky is falling”. Because, while the bulk of the modern World’s populations remain agnostic to that particular problem, our fate and theirs remain out of our hands.

It’s over to us.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.