The news is so bad. War in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza. The pain and grief and loss are so immense that they are hard to fathom, especially from our safe and comfortable lives in Canada. We see the difference between our lives and those whose homes have been destroyed, whose families are missing or dead entirely, whose entire cities have been pulverized, who have fled with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and have nowhere safe to go.
We can gain a tiny piece of understanding from our experience with wildfire – the displacement, the fear, the helplessness and confusion – but it's only a fraction of what's going on elsewhere. We are in fact so safe here that some of us are inventing dangers like a fear of other people's gender.
So what do we do with the rage and helplessness we feel from here? Do we shut off the news and try to just get on with our lives? Do we write angry letters to our MPs and the Prime Minister? Do we demonstrate, join in the encampments in support of Palestine? How do we retain any subtlety and nuance in the face of emotions driving us to extreme ideas?
Expressions of solidarity are important. Staying informed is important, increasing our understanding of what's happening, what some of the roots of conflict are and how they are being used to whose benefit. With information and understanding we can potentially see the roots here too, and better generate healing instead of increasing conflict in our own communities. That information can also create helplessness,as we know more without any tools to help.
We also try to focus on one thing at a time, while still supporting others. You'll see more about Ireland in coming issues, expressing Brian's work over many decades.
There are many places that are flashpoints throughout the world. Those places all began as good places, just like our own. But through the sowing of division and distrust, they became the danger areas they are today.It's really important for us to take care of our own space, nurturing mutual care and support, so we don't become another war zone.
We have no answers.What are you doing? How are you coping? Do you know of actions that could be spread more widely? What information sources are you looking at?
We hope for you to respond – we'll add your resources and ideas to future newsletters in our “Solidarity” section.