Humanism: what does it mean?

 Bring back a humanist approach

Modern global relations are increasingly marked by force and extremism, echoing past nationalist conflicts that marginalized citizens and prioritized elite interests. Despite progress made since World War II in human rights and international law, these values are now under threat, replaced by instability, selfishness, and disregard for cooperation. A renewed humanism, emphasizing solidarity, dignity, and respect for all life, including nature and future generations, is essential to address these challenges. This humanism also calls for ethical use of technology and education fostering critical and ethical thinking to ensure a balanced and sustainable future.

Resurgence of force and extremism: Current international and national politics show a return to aggressive nationalism and elite-driven conflicts, sidelining citizens' rights and dignity.

Erosion of post-war human rights progress: The advances made through the UN and international law in the last eight decades are increasingly ignored, leading to instability and selfish interests dominating global relations.

New humanism for the future: This approach extends beyond human freedom and progress to include respect for all living beings, environmental protection, ethical resource use, and responsible AI application.

Multilateral cooperation and ethical education: Strengthening international organizations, promoting universal ethical values, and fostering critical, ethical education are vital to prevent civilizational decline and ensure sustainable coexistence.

A New Green Deal

Economic growth cannot be achieved at any cost. In today’s world, the impact of production on environment must be part of the calculations. Growth that deteriorates the environment, that increases the CO2 emissions, that is artificially supported to keep quiet some sectors of the electorate – the EU agricultural policy is the best example of distorted and wasteful growth, and we are talking about billions of euros every year  – all that should be considered negative growth and accounted for as such. 

Almost 30 years ago, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) came up with the concept of human development. This model was much more inclusive than the old notion of economic growth. It included more than just the production of additional goods and services. It was an approach designed to add to the response to the basic needs of a population other essential dimensions that would bring social peace, equality of opportunities and people’s creativity and dignity. And gradually, it also incorporated the judicious use of natural resources and the environmental dimensions. We tried to resume it under the designation of sustainable growth, but it was more than that. There was a strong human security aspect in it as well as a resource sustainability dimension.

In many countries, lots of people have been brought out of poverty during the last three decades as well. But the environmental dimension was kept aside, not considered when planning and opening new economic avenues. And if we travel to India or China, we can immediately understand the costs those societies have to pay for not paying attention to the natural context.

The problem is that natural phenomena do not respect national borders. What starts as a national problem ends up by being an international issue. That’s what the Paris Climate Conference of 2015 tried to put on the table. Global matters require concerted international efforts. 

In terms of urgency, it is obvious too many of us that economic expansion cannot bring additional CO2 on a net basis. There is a need to mitigate and to compensate. These two words should guide the way we look at the production, distribution and consumption of goods in the future. The new economy should be about proximity, mitigation, compensation and substitution. These areas offer immense opportunities, both in terms of business and jobs. They allow us to put GDP in the shelf where history keeps the past events and imagine a new Green Deal. That’s the one of the most immediate challenges.   

A new deal in international affairs

It would be unfair to live in the centre of the European Union and have a pessimistic view about the future of mankind. But it would also be unreasonable not to accept that for many, in many parts of the world, daily life is a gigantic challenge, a crushing trial. The point is to find a balance between our prosperity and the dramas many have to go through. In my opinion, the first step towards such balance is the one that recognises that walls and barriers will not keep their problems away from us. What keeps our safety and way of life is a value-based approach towards international cooperation and mutual respect. That should be the message the leaders should take as their key policy line.

Women's Rights

The International Women’s Day is above all about the rights of women and girls, their full recognition and the equality of opportunities and rewards between both genders. It can be said with flowers, and nice words, but the important point is very clear: this is a struggle that is far from being won. It must be fought every day, as well as on this special calendar date. It is, in many ways and for extremely important reasons, the most important task of our times.

Making the distinction between humanitarian and development aid

At present, with the refugee crises and the displacements of people in many countries, the humanitarian funding needs are exceptionally high. Several donor countries have markedly increased their contributions during the last few months. Among them, the European Commission and some EU countries, as well as the US, have shown leadership. They are again among the top contributors to humanitarian assistance.

The challenge is to finance the humanitarian response without cutting the aid development budgets. These should be seen as two different strands within the international cooperation finances. But the fact of the matter is that in several countries the humanitarian resources are generated these days by diverting development money to meet immediate requirements. The development assistance resources for 2016 will be seriously affected, if this trend is not reversed. 

Human Development Report 2015

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched today its 2015 edition of the Human Development Report.

This is an annual compilation of data and indexes that has become during the last 25 years a major reference document to compare how each country of the world is doing in terms of addressing social and human progress.  Each edition contains also a state-of-the-art reflection about a critical dimension of human development. This year´s theme is about work. As it has been the case with past reflections, the texts included in the report do raise quite a number of innovative approaches to work, jobs and human dignity.