Puheenvuoroja turvallisuudesta 3/2018

Many people comprehend safety as how secure you feel and what needs to be present around you [or your society] to help you achieve better living conditions. However, it is simply a small factor under the ideology of safety; war, peace, environmental issues such as global warming [climate change], human rights, etc. all go under this umbrella-term. It is a compact word with seemingly huge significance and indefinite definitions, which is usually why it is underestimated as a powerful word.

Among the possible varying definitions, one is the condition of being protected that may harm you, whereas another is to be free from any risks. But this does not mean it cannot have a deeper meaning to it; for some it is just a word, but for others it is a world they would give up everything to live in. Accordingly, it is the surroundings and situations on which a person states their perspective about security. For instance, one who has lived in a soothing and untroubled domain will most likely not think of safety as being a great part of a lifestyle, whereas one who has experienced survival in war-like conditions will categorize it as the beauty of life. Alternatively, it is funny how we, as humans, do not appreciate what we are blessed with until we lose it; we cannot recognize what we have unless we do not succeed in retaining it.

Subsequently, another consequence we all have in common is the fact that no one risks their security for someone else, except if it is a determination or if one wishes to be the voice of the helpless. This is not factually true, but observingly it is. Only a minority of people actually volunteer to provide aid to people stuck in war circumstances or generally have hardships with accommodating in their environment. A good example of this would be the refugee crisis that is one of the biggest problems we face nowadays. Knowingly, the majority is willing to stay out of this matter “for good” and are unnoticeably becoming inhumane by doing so. Even though they are capable of showing humanity by giving a secure place for the refugees to live in, they do not bother unless it is their turn to protest for their rights when they sense the bearing of affliction. These actions are unexplainably showing brutality among the people who can make a difference, but choose not to.

Organizations such as WISE do a lot for the people around them and generally try making the world a better place for everyone. However, without the help of ordinary people, this cannot be achieved. The constitutions are there for us to take inspirations from, not to take advantage of. As if no election can be concluded without votes, no planet can be saved without hopes.

​Laiba Ghumman, TET-trainee at WISE 09.10.-13.10.17
9B Ressu Comprehensive School