Retrospecively

Shortly I will be back with more present.

Philantrophic dreams

A few weeks ago I discovered splendid India. Never before I saw a country in which such a big contrast between prosperous citizens and the penniless people. It sounds like a cliché, but I truly did not expect to see kilometres of slums alongside long roads. How humiliating it must be - if you are sick and you are taken care of laying literally on the road. No trace of dignity when the rich organise their parties in the most expensive hotels just next to these slums.

Maybe it is therefore that many tourists return back to their countries wearing orange sari's, carrying a stray gaze in their eyes. India is one of the most literate places in the world- and book prices are astonishing cheap. Hence I found my escape from the painful reality in reading Gandhi's auto-biography, and learning in another about how a new generation of philantrophists now spends its time on social entrepreneuring in countries such as India. It made me think how high time it is for our societies to start developing lists of top philantrophists, instead of the longlists of how prosperous a small amount of people is. Philantrophy should become the new social criterion for wellbeing.

The holiday was a real break - nothing only learning about the Indian culture, but also enjoying beautiful beaches and drinking fresh coconut milk. But still I haven't forgotten about the slums, and wonder whether if it's fair to blame the rich in India for the poverty in their country instead of blaming myself.

The dog, the chain and me

Tonight I recollected a childhood memory. When going to walk with our dog Spun I used to handover leadership to her. She would take the chain in her mouth which I would tie up to my pants. She took me to places I would not visit normally - long walks through clumps of trees and over long stretches of grass. Spun and I had a strong confidence in each other - after a while she would drop the chain for more interesting experiences, being sure I would not walk away. When chaining her I would be confident she would not walk away. A confidence that should be reversed I considered when being young. I did not realise then how unfair and undemocratic leadership was limiting the potentials of the world, if not harming it. She died on the very first day I went to high-school.

And the need for such confidence is nothing special - but uncommon for leaders in general. Yesterday young people gathered for a European Youth Summit in Rome. We stood in the footsteps of grand leaders who created the foundations of a project uniting Europe fifty years ago. Presenting our thoughts for a future with more prosperity, security and dignity, and emphazising the indispensable need for a stable, sustainable and equal future for all.

European leaders showed confidence in the future leaders - showed willingness to listen to their youth, but did not make promises to turn-around the chain for once. They already promised the legacy of a yet not realized dream of a democratic world which is environmentally sustainable. But they also offered the legacy of a democtratic and quite stable Europe, whilst happily living in Peace and prosperity. Their promised legacy seems somewhat premature: it's like promising your grandchildren a legacy of honor but also financial debts. Promising but not yet convincing enough, and I hope that our current European leaders will show a true commitment the coming years to challenge the true problems we are facing together.

I believe that a commitment of showing confidence in the union, a commitment to living-up to the values and principles that were once settled and which we continue to build. A commitment for perspective, which does not end at our politically defined domains. This is what we should keep each other accountable for - as demonstration of accountability for values and principles enlarges the trust and believe in a future Europe.