Horizons of Desperation: Gap between feasibility of addressing a problem and the necessity to address it
Keynote Speaker Richard Falk opened the Sixth Annual International Conference on Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Nonviolence and Peace on Feb. 22, 2012 at the Salt Lake City Public Library. Falk’s speech addressed the conference’s theme – Global Justice: Economic Globalization, Crisis and the Common Good.
According to Falk, there is a gap between when a problem can feasibly be addressed and when it becomes a necessity to address it to avoid certain catastrophe. There are two ways to address this gap. The negative one he calls “the Horizons of Desperation.”
“The Horizons of Desperation are expressed by insisting that the problems are not genuine,” says Falk.
The nature of the problem is invisible. It seems remote, and it would impinge on current comfort levels and economic status if the United States were to do anything about it. The Horizons of Desperation not only create extremes in religion and politics but also in escapism with an emphasis on apocalyptic visions of the world in movies and video games.
“The gap between feasibility and necessity can only be closed by an affirmative vision that does not at the present time seem viable,” says Falk. It is the lack of viability that is problematic.
At the present time, the world is state-centric, and the parts of the world are seen as greater than the whole.
“Without a stronger whole in global affairs, there can be no resolution,” says Falk.
There is hope in the history of the recent past. Since World War II, there have been a series of winning movements started by the weaker group. Falk pointed to Gandhi, the fall of the Soviet Union and apartheid as examples of the impossible happening.
The Barbara L. and Norman C. Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Rights Advocacy at the University of Utah is presenting the conference which runs through Feb. 24, 2012. Sessions start at 9:00 a.m. The schedule can be found here.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links have been updated. Check below for videos.
According to Falk, there is a gap between when a problem can feasibly be addressed and when it becomes a necessity to address it to avoid certain catastrophe. There are two ways to address this gap. The negative one he calls “the Horizons of Desperation.”
“The Horizons of Desperation are expressed by insisting that the problems are not genuine,” says Falk.
The nature of the problem is invisible. It seems remote, and it would impinge on current comfort levels and economic status if the United States were to do anything about it. The Horizons of Desperation not only create extremes in religion and politics but also in escapism with an emphasis on apocalyptic visions of the world in movies and video games.
“The gap between feasibility and necessity can only be closed by an affirmative vision that does not at the present time seem viable,” says Falk. It is the lack of viability that is problematic.
At the present time, the world is state-centric, and the parts of the world are seen as greater than the whole.
“Without a stronger whole in global affairs, there can be no resolution,” says Falk.
There is hope in the history of the recent past. Since World War II, there have been a series of winning movements started by the weaker group. Falk pointed to Gandhi, the fall of the Soviet Union and apartheid as examples of the impossible happening.
The Barbara L. and Norman C. Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Rights Advocacy at the University of Utah is presenting the conference which runs through Feb. 24, 2012. Sessions start at 9:00 a.m. The schedule can be found here.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links have been updated. Check below for videos.
Living well together
Other videos featuring Richard Falk on YouTube:
Professor Richard Falk 2: why global warming is different from past events.
Professor Richard Falk 3: political institutions and their ability to deal with global warming.
Professor Richard Falk 4: The positive way to deal with the global crisis.
Richard Falk 5: The impossible happens
Professor Richard Falk 2: why global warming is different from past events.
Professor Richard Falk 3: political institutions and their ability to deal with global warming.
Professor Richard Falk 4: The positive way to deal with the global crisis.
Richard Falk 5: The impossible happens