Human Rights: International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights
This animation is discussing the case of a child from a lower socio economic group within the United States. She was unable to be educated as her family couldn’t afford to send her to a school. Given her country was a signatory to the Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights.
She speaks about the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, in this case for education.
There is this global tension around rights which underlies the struggle for power masked by powerlessness in both camps. There are those who seek power over others (as they seek to maintain power) and there are those who feel powerless as there is no response to their call for rights, who are seeking to equalise power by coming together so they are heard. In truth they are seeking to remove the feeling of powerlessness that catalyses the feeling of pain on some level which is a trigger to a sense of defenselessness and vulnerability. This is why struggles ensue people feel unsafe if they give up their struggles, so they are forced in speak up.
One good thing about the internet is the ability for information to travel the globe and for people to find answers to questions non-violently. It is important that we as a global civilisation learn how to resolve conflict without armed conflict or revolution. We have to work out what is fair what is not, very much modelled on the Rotary Four Way test, as a good measure:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
These are good principles from which to review what you are doing and why? If you follow this basic outline it should generate the results you want or at least start a process. Change takes time but it is worth doing it in a manner that serves the greater good and does not demonise the so-called ‘other’.
I like the animation it is a good way to convey what is often complex or can be boring to read.