From Humiliation to Dignity: For a Future of Global Solidarity. The Coronavirus Pandemic as Opportunity in the Midst of Suffering

Where do we stand, as humankind? We have dug ourselves into a
multitude of perilous crises, both despite and because of what we call
progress or economic growth. In service of profit, we practice strategies
of development that shred our social fabric while simultaneously
plundering our planet, fuelling a toxic combination of sociocide and ecocide
that leads to intractable cycles of systemic humiliation. The coronavirus
pandemic is one manifestation of this dire predicament. At the same
time, there are also immense windows of opportunity waiting for us to
use. The pandemic reminds us that we can and must change: change
quickly and for the better. Unfortunately, instead of recognising the
depth of the crises at hand and grasping the historic opportunities to exit,
it seems that too many may choose to stay short-sighted and myopic.
Consequently, humanity risks missing a momentous opportunity that
could ultimately save countless generations of life on this planet. This
article offers reflections on the predicament we as humankind face, as
well as a way forward, a way that transforms debilitating humiliation
into life-giving dignity. Hopefully, it works as a wake-up call for us to
answer the following question together: How must we, humankind,
arrange our affairs on this planet so that dignified life will be possible
in the long term?