Goodbye, year of toxic politics

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

—Jeremiah 29:11

By Alex P. Vidal

BECAUSE of the general elections in May, 2019 can be considered to be the year of toxic politics.

Many friendships and family relationships have been ruined; the damage was almost irreparable.

Some neighbors have completely shut their doors to their hitherto “sparring partners” in supposed to be friendly and intellectual discussions only because of toxic politics.

Toxic politics has severely divided the nation to the point that some Filipinos have lost their identity and dignity and have become fanatical if not downright irrational in their social, spiritual, and political views.

We bid goodbye to 2019 with a heavy heart for those who have allowed their relationships to be damaged permanently by bitter and unpalatable political partisanships.

We are hopeful that 2020 will bring us not only economic prosperity, but spiritual growth and political maturity; that we will finally learn to rise above the ashes of disunity, destructive politics, envy, jealousy, cultural anachronism, paranoia, and antagonism.

Finally, we should be able to gain inroads in our pursuit for a quality leadership, quality life under a sound and safe environment, and quality co-existence with nature and the wildlife.

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World Vision has revealed several reasons to have hope in 2020 and let me share some of those which I fully and truthfully agree.

Hope is infectious, even healing. But in a world that’s often dark, what is there to be hopeful for? Here are some of the World Vision’s reasons to have hope in 2020 and may we pray they will come into reality:

—Extreme poverty is giving up ground. In the last 20 years, the number of children dying around the world from things they shouldn’t — from hunger and poverty and disease — has dropped from more than 30,000 a day to less than 15,000. And the number of people living in extreme poverty, those living on less than $1.90 a day, dropped by more than 1 billion.

Now the world’s nations have set an ambitious goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030, and we are joining them in this important work. With World Vision, every 60 seconds, a family gets water, a hungry child is fed, and a family gets the tools to overcome poverty.

—More mothers and children are surviving and thriving. Between 2000 and 2017, the rate of women dying in childbirth or from birth complications has dropped by 38%. Why? Better nutrition and access to quality healthcare are giving moms and their babies a healthier start. Improved water and sanitation prevent many diseases and boost children’s immune systems.

—Immunizations prevent 2–3 million deaths each year. More than 25 dangerous and debilitating diseases — including diarrhea, tetanus, measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and polio — can be stopped in their tracks by timely vaccinations. Taking immunizations to children in every corner of the world has likely saved more lives than any other health activity of the past 50 years.

—We can solve the global water crisis within our lifetimes. World Vision is the largest nongovernmental provider of clean water in the developing world, reaching one new person with clean water every 10 seconds and three more schools every day with clean water. They are increasing their impact and scope to reach everyone, everywhere they work by 2030. The sixth of 17 Sustainable Development Goals created by the U.N. also includes achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.

—Partnership with the U.N. and UNICEF to launch the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. Together, they are supporting the efforts of those seeking to prevent violence, protect childhood, and help make societies safe for children. By 2030, they hope to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence and torture against children.

—Innovative technology is transforming remote communities around the world. Mobile technology and other innovations allow humanitarian organizations to work better and smarter, improving efficiencies so more resources can help people in poverty and communities in crisis. World Vision is expanding its efforts to apply new methods and technologies for development work.

—Children like Constance are experiencing God’s love. World Vision is empowering local churches, schools, and parents to create engaging, faith-filled environments that help children and youth, like 11-year-old Constance from Kenya, explore their faith and experience Jesus’ love. “It felt so nice when the preacher said that we had been forgiven our sins,” says Constance. The sermon she heard that day made her realize she wanted to commit her life to serve Christ. She’s an active member of her Bible club, and now after participating in leadership training from World Vision, she talks to her peers about God and their faith journeys. She has grown in her own faith, as well as in her self-esteem.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)