It seems like caring and respect for people and planet have been sidelined, while greed and aggression are taking centre stage.

I see little caring and respect for people and planet in the policies and legislation of our current coalition government here in Aotearoa NZ, with their focus on supporting corporations, undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and reducing environmental protection.

I see even less caring and respect from key global leaders, but plenty of aggression and greed.  In the USA, for example, this includes threatening to take over Greenland or even perhaps to annex its closest neighbour and ally Canada.

And let’s not get started on the antics of greedy, entitled, and interfering billionaires like Elon Musk.

“But that’s just the way of things,” someone said to me recently.  “Greed, aggression, and the desire for power – they are all just human nature.”

And that might be true. But it is also human nature to love.  And it is human nature to want to live in a peaceful community, where our children are safe and thriving.  Human nature encompasses it all, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.  Each of us decides, moment by moment, which parts of our human nature we choose to express.

So where have caring and respect for people and planet gone?

They haven’t gone anywhere, they’re still here.

Caring and respect are right here in each of us, in our families, our communities, our workplaces, and, although it is sadly sometimes hard to see, in our politicians.  All it takes is for us to choose to be caring, to choose to be respectful.  Even – or especially – when those we look to as leaders are choosing greed and aggression.

Let’s put caring and respect for people and planet back where they should be.  Centre stage.