Dear Sir,

No magic bullets for our economy. No pill to drown the pain of a society lacerated with old sores. The only remedy is hope, which I know sounds a bit like when a doctor says, “it’s in God’s hands now”. But really hope has a real power which, even at the darkest hour, comes from hearts which can bend like an Oleander tree in an hurricane.

Nelson Mandela talked about this heart when referring to the human spirit, which he argued couldn’t be conquered by hatred or bigotry.

Philosophers have taught us about it, artists have written songs about it and now the human race thrusts between super structures too huge to overcome and the taste of unprecedented possibilities that seemingly lay outside of reach.

Technology was meant to make life better for everyone and it has, except everyone doesn’t benefit as thought.

In fact, after labour helped to build these mega corporations, their share of the proceeds has been downsized through technology, as profits climb to the pockets of the corporate elite.

Education, also meant to be a great equaliser, has done so only to the contempt of the educated, who now understand the deal and feel a greater frustration.

The world of information has become an open marketplace where events around the world are broadcast through multiple media formats.

Anything one needs to know can be found with just a little dig. Notwithstanding, the old saying “the blind leading the blind” is outmatched by “power blinds and absolute power absolutely blinds”.

We sit on a global powder keg where common expectations outstrip the yield of those in power.

The equation will get worse in countries that have had huge tracks of their natural reserves given away to multinationals and foreign powers.

In smaller jurisdictions, the anaesthesia of commodities and partying will wear off eventually, and will not be enough to deaden the neurosis from powerlessness, which fuels crime, rebellion and social blowback.

It would be good to broaden the areas and opportunities for entrepreneurship and ownership of industries because it will be the only recipe for a sustainable future.

So indeed there should be hope that through the maze the human spirit will prevail and light will sink in as power bends to wisdom. This should be a natural occurrence in a world pulling closer as space disappears.

Smaller jurisdictions should come to this understanding quicker, as the old song by reggae artist Peter Tosh sang, “Where you gonna run to”. (don’t press a man)

KHALID WASI