European Union was a stupendous achievement
and a benchmark collective expression for humanity, of countries coming
together into common frame, best of democratic expressions and institutionalizing
egalitarian concerns. A progressive small step towards an awareness of earth as
single geographical entity, and humans as inhabitants, as responsible citizen and
guardian of all the species on fragile planet. A union like EU cannot really
happen in any other part of the world, much of the world is in varying degrees
of barbarism, border skirmishes, feudal control and poverty. Not that Europe epitomizes egalitarian
values, there are remnants of feudal institutions that undermine liberty, and ofcourse
all these progressive attempts trapped in neoliberal exploitative control that
surely works effectively in neocolonial framework of greed. Take for instance
the case of Nestle -a multinational company based in richer part of Europe. A report
in 2024 revealed that Nestlé added sugar to its baby food products (Cerelac and
Nido) sold in low- and middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin
America, while offering sugar-free versions in wealthier markets like Europe (Cerelac
sold in India reportedly contained nearly 3 grams of sugar per serving, despite
WHO guidelines advising against added sugars for infants under two due to risks
of obesity and chronic diseases). Nestlé exploited weaker regulations in
developing nations and poorer societies to prioritize profit over child health.
Extreme complacency led to irrelevance
of EU, arrogant leaders took common people for granted thus leading to severe
backlash and rise of extreme right and xenophobic consolidations. Democratic institutions
have weakened due to these complacency and arrogant incapacity of leaders to unequivocally assert values that are foundational to democracy and free society. Responsible citizenry
is being compromised by systems of control, the extreme ones filling up the
vacuum. Liberty and freedom are being bartered for juvenile claims of faith and
spurious sensitivities that degrade sensibilities. Europe in many ways was benchmark for human progress.
EU a collective triumph. Things have gone wrong too quickly. Not very ironically
USA under Trump has exposed the hypocrisy, incapacitated by self-serving
leaders/systems using common people as fodder for higher claims. NATO was a remnant
of dangerous past that found itself dismantled under Trump, simultaneously exposing parasitic
nature of European leadership and incapacity to face complexity of fast changing precariously placed world. They are incapacitated to present a strong purposeful
united front nor have the moral authority to unite people. EU military force replacing
NATO is a reactionary response. They need to push for reform of UN and a strong
multilateral UN force. Putin undoubtedly is authoritarian leader with psychopathic
tendencies but to blame him for all that is wrong is a limited view. Ukraine paid a heavy price for the arrogance and misplaced self-assured
belligerence of European leaders. It is time to call for unconditional truce and stop civilian casualties.
Russian attack on Ukraine led war cannot go on forever, nor can any side win. It
can only be prolonged with increasing dire consequences for humanity (not the least
of which is climate). It shouldn't be flash point that perils world. European leaders must actively engage to stop the war. Truce be called. Russia and Ukraine revert to pre-war
position. NATO dismantled. UN reformed and strengthened for military
intervention and peace keeping. Crime against humanity by Russia investigated in international court in a speedy manner and international warrant issued against war criminals so that they don't move freely around the world.
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AI created pic herein is of European
leaders as Elois from HG Wells Time Machine. Eloi (and Morlock) are extreme
evolutionary outcomes of social inequalities into distant future,
simplistic but evocative conjecture. Seemingly utopian, Eloi, are childlike frail
peaceful race as a product of centuries of complacency and self-indulgence
who are fed upon by Morlocks. Eloi speak simple melodious language and lack
curiosity or intellectual complexity, they live in perpetual ignorance, innocence and
playful distractions while all their basic needs are met by physical effort and
intelligence of burly Morlock. Time traveler mistakes Elois for masters of future
world but learns the grim reality that they are just raised as food by Morlocks
and are utterly incapable to survive without external aid.
