A week ago, while doing the traditional sunday-afternoon newspaper reading, I came across an article that, somehow, gave meaning to all the pieces I have been gathering for a while now. It was called “Eloge de la métamorphose” by Edgar Morin, a prestigious french philosopher. In it, Mr. Morin sees the world’s current state through a different lens. He recalls how the dominant movements throughout history have always had their roots on minorities. Christianity, back in the times of the all-mighty Roman Empire, started up as a forbidden practice among slaves. Liberalism was an abstract idea in the minds of a few philosophers back when the “armadas” ruled our world.
Today, the next chapter of our story is being forged near you. It is still a whisper in the tongue of a few: clean energy, fair trade, social wealth, sustainable development … I am sure you have heard, even if by accident, about some of those. Yes, the ferraries, the skyscrapers, the multi-million dollar companies, they are still on the front covers; but, let me tell you something, their times are over. Something currently in the making is about to replace everything that you have ever known.
The mirage-like city of Dubai represents the pinnacle of the socio-economic western-based model that has prevailed in our world for more than a century now: capitalism or the art of eating up our planet and separating its peoples ever faster. “Dubai, nothing is further from nature than Dubai. But still, nothing depends on nature more than Dubai” -extract from “Home”, a beautiful documentary from Yann Arthus-Bertrand depicting our home planet, its menaces and hopes. Dubai needs loads of drinking water where there is only desert, Dubai drinks oil by the tons while the sun’s power bathing its lands is forgotten.
But don’t you worry son, I have seen good people, hordes of them, dedicating their lives to the betterment of your future. I have seen people building airports on top of a green island –Kansai-, blending it wonderfully with its natural environment, caring about their workers, about our soils and airs, about our rights and futures. I have seen good and now I have hope. Hope that you will inherit a breathable atmosphere and a green mantle to play with your schoolmates.
Remember the Columbuses, the Galileos, the Mandelas, The Mother Teresas, the Obamas … they all started from scratch and, armed with courage and determination, went on to change our world forever. Our time is now. It is my generation’s responsibility to fight for your generation’s future. And believe me, son, we are going to do this. We are going to learn from the mistakes of our past -the Dubais- and build on to your future -the Kansais-. Don’t you worry son, cause here we are, the Warriors of the Rainbow.