We live in extraordinary times; our world seems to be coming increasingly polemical. Looking at live news commentary of Donald trump’s attempted assassination seemed almost surreal. Extremism is part and parcel of life and indeed is very worrying. We must never become desensitised to the consequences of extremity. The plight of innocent children and vulnerable citizens in Gaza is horrendous. Recent escalation of brutal violence in Ukraine again highlights this reality. We may well be overwhelmed and humbly ask what we can do in order to change this complex culture.
Earlier in the summer, students at Trinity College in Dublin blockaded the library where the Book of Kells is displayed and set up an encampment of tents on the central lawn of the campus. They were protesting the College’s connections to Israel, in the light of the ongoing slaughter in Palestine. The students were particularly upset that Trinity had invested some of its considerable wealth in firms associated with the onslaught on Gaza, including an engineering firm, a bank, and an electricity company that developed a site on occupied land in the Golan Heights. All three firms are on the UN blacklist. They were all delivering healthy dividends to the university, however. The protest attracted a lot of attention, but it was admirably peaceful and the students were articulate and convincing in their argument that there is no need for Irish universities to make such investments. Within a few days of setting up camp, they prevailed. The administration of the college agreed to reconsider its investment policy and the students agreed to pack up their tents and end the blockade.
This is an example of a new kind of social activism called ‘divestment’. It uses the power of money to achieve just political change. The pop band Abba used to sing about how we live ‘in the rich man’s world’. Divestment tactics take that song literally and suggest that if we don’t invest our money in firms that are causing harm, those firms will fail. And more importantly, competing firms will be put on notice that they must avoid grave injustice in their pursuit of profit.
Of course, Christians understand this principle as a biblical teaching Jesus said where our money is, there we will find our hearts (Mt 6:21). If our heart is for justice, then we will be sure to invest our money in companies that are on the side of good. The place where this strategy has been most effective is inenvironmentalism. Since Pope Francis published his groundbreaking environmental letter, Laudato Si’ in 2015, there has been a concerted effort to remove investments from fossil fuel companies.
This is a global movement, but Christian Churches have been at the forefront of it including the Church of England, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, many Catholic religious orders and dioceses have gone through the process of ensuring their wealth is dedicated only towards the production of sustainable energy.
Speaking about the need for a collective response for the greater good, St. John Paul 11, once said ”Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” Together we are stronger. It is in the spirit of unity and common purpose; wonderful results are manifested. We are all blessed in the communities we live in. The temptation is often to give too much credence to the negative and forget the overwhelming positive good things that happen every day around us. These evenings, I witness many local volunteers maintaining, in a voluntary capacity, the beautiful town of Abbeyleix, Ireland’s tidiest town. This sense of volunteerism and contributing to our local environment is real and very positive. I pray that we all will error on the side of kindness and compassion. Do not be overwhelmed. In doing the little things well great things will follow!
A Prayer Confirming that All Things Will be Well
“[Jesus said to me] most reassuringly:
I am able to make everything well, and
I know how to make everything well, and
I wish to make everything well, and
I shall make everything well; and
You shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well.”
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