Humanitarian Intervention 101

The question that has most plagued the minds of all those people who have a conscience and a deep desire to see justice and the fruits of liberty for all the oppressed peoples of the world is: what is the most effective form of humanitarian intervention? How does one go about freeing the globe's dispossessed of the inequities under which they must labour?

Here is an interesting and informative video, consisting mostly of highlights from a feature-length film which will be out later this year, which delves deeply into these questions. As you can see it contrasts two alternative views of humanitarian intervention. One is patently ineffective , crippled by outmoded and unrealistic ideologies and therefore bound to play into the hands of the very people who benefit from the oppression and exploitation of the weak. The other approach clearly seems to be a far more effective and efficient form of interventionism, based on a pragmatic appraisal of matters and a serious engagement with all the parties involved.

The video also engages with the heart-rending and difficult process of deciding whether to pursue interventionist as opposed to isolationist policies. Clearly and succinctly, the point is made that as tempting as isolationism may be in an increasingly disordered and chaotic world, those values and principles that we hold most dear compel us to intervene to improve matters as best we can.

A poignant and informative look at where the west is today, as well as a powerful vision of the way forward. As the padre in the video prays "it is in giving we receive."


IZ