UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said on the occasion of this Day : "The gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing. ... We must do more to empower individuals through decent work, support people through social protection, and ensure the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard."
What is our role as an educators and scientists to contribute to social justice and equality? Do we believe this goal is achievable or we speaking about UTOPIA?
https://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/
Dear Sylantyev,
Social justice is utopia. But every ideal is utopian too. Therefore we must take small steps towards the achievement of the ideal. One step is consciousness-raising, becoming aware of the ideal. If we as educators become aware of it and make others around us aware as well, we have taken a step toward achievement.
Our role, my friend, as educators and scientists, in contributing to social justice and equality, is to make both a reality and put them into practice.
Dear Ljubomir
Social justice is based on equal rights and collective solidarity
Social justice is association of economic and social base.
While we have poverty, ignorance and alienation, we will have violence;
And especially, if we do not have social justice as we have no justice!
The solution is to invest in children and youth with a moral education,
Investing in young people is the path to social justice
Everyone knows and say that social justice should be, but no one way of achieving it is still not introduced. As a result, we have what we have.
Dear Sylantyev,
Social justice is utopia. But every ideal is utopian too. Therefore we must take small steps towards the achievement of the ideal. One step is consciousness-raising, becoming aware of the ideal. If we as educators become aware of it and make others around us aware as well, we have taken a step toward achievement.
Dear Ljubomir,
With the present morality or the present cowardice (=backbone flexibility or compromising ability) as characteristic to general human (?) behaviour mankind is not going to arrive the necessary solidarity. Common examples of society are too much egoistic and individualistic.
Role of education would be enormous but number of brave and straightforward teachers is low. It is not worth being a teacher even less attracted being a brave and honest teacher.
Attitudes of surviving and building a carrier do not urge contradictions to vileness.
Dear Nelson,
I agree with you completely.
But the problem is what these small steps, about which you say, do not give the desired result. I mean a substantial part of the question due to gap, which is wide and growing. This result I mean. It is from this point of view this Ljubomir’s question particularly relevant and fundamental.
Honestly speaking as members of RG expect posting/sharing comments/advises what we can contribute in reality, absolutely nothing. Each person is from different country. What I feel is RG is meant for scientific communication/help not for Social work or discussions. It may be hard to read my post. Of course truth is always bitter. What ever mentioned by UN Secretary General are the policy matters there are hundreds of countries are members they have well organized committees, commissions, boards, councils etc.etc. Or in case financial matters IMF is there to help as per the norms. All can sit together and take actions. Rather if you are well concerned take practically action like once Bob Geldof conducted an excellent program live 8 live for collecting funds against African countries to waive their debts. I say that is services and I expected he would be nominated for Nobel peace prize of that year but gone to somebody else.
Yes, we, as the member of science communities of respective country can contribute a lot. Education and awareness can curb social injustice effectively.
@Jetty Ramadevi, I appreciate your views but sorry I am not agree with you that Rg is a waste of time.
@Ljubomir et al., I like this: 'We must do more to empower individuals through decent work, support people through social protection, and ensure the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard."
What is our role as an educators and scientists to contribute to social justice and equality?'
Without these IDEALS, life will lack meaning. But with these ideals, we just go on and on, believing and striving. One day when we are called home to heaven, we can leave behind a better earth :)
@Darasingh what I mean to say RG is meant for Research oriented programs and discussions reg. that. Exchanging ideas clearing problems encountered in research/work and to come out of them that was the reason anyway if it so offensive I edited that. Thanks.
Social justice between the rich and poor is a utopia. Every body and nations are in a race. Race towards power, excellence, position, etc. In this world where the common idea of "what a pity if you are weak" is widespread . So riches and power become indicators of success and the best tools not to be trampled. To excel is our ultimate goal (dream) in our life. In our struggle to succeed, others become the "sacrificial lamb". They are the less fortunate, the less privileged. In this present scenario, social justice cannot be achieved. Not in this world. Not in my lifetime.
But education for all is achievable. Rich and poor can be educated. Free Education is the key to achieve social justice.
Social justice is feasible!
Education could and/or should promote social justice!
Period!
I would support Nelson's and Miranda's comments and and example, as described by Ahed.
With regard to Utopia. Stars are out of our reach too. And I havent read anything on development of interstellar ships recently. But even so, stars show the right way where to go in the darkness.
I define justice in the context:
for a hungry man, food is justice;
for an unemployed, employment is justice;
for a homeless, shelter is justice.
Basically justice is a state of access to fundamental human rights in a humane way. And it is the education that is to ensure justice.It is the education that can make aware everyone about their rights and their duties associated with these rights.
Social justice is target. Education can be the main road to this target.
Education and science can definitely contribute to social justice, by creating literacy, sensibility, power to analyze, power to think, differentiate between right and wrong, weigh the possible and the feasible, all of which comes through training, education, literacy! As mentioned above, it may be the highway to social justice!!!
I agree with most it was said above, I think that social justice is an utopia concept, since human are not inborn equal. I do prefer complementary societal concept. Education plays an important role to raise societal consciousness for a better quality of life for all people, educated citizens are more sensitive to their rights and obligations towards their society. Consequently rich people are conscious of their obligations towards the poor, skilled and high educated people are more sensitive towards their obligations to raise societal consciousness of their citizens and people in running and management role are sensitive to their obligations to be more pragmatic towards their society's needs and uncorrupted, since corruption is understood as a societal cancer. And people in power ship level are more consciousness of their obligation to raise their country to more development, are aware of their citizens' equality face laws applications and justice for all to be educated, to be healthy, to have decent employment and to have a suitable home.
How to teach social justice, that is an issue! Education is the way to achieve the goal!
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/feb/17/how-to-teach-social-justice-resources-lesson-plans
The key to 'teach' social justice is in raising the consciousness through education. Instead of attempting a philosophical answer, I would like to say the following:
social sciences, in particular about one's own country, must be part of the curriculum, at all levels. A medical college in India has Gandhian thoughts-economy-philosophy of community service as part of their curriculum for students who are studying MBBS (MD, in western parlance). From the first year, the students are to adopt a family each from nearby villages and provide them comprehensive medical cover for the duration of their studies at the college hospital. The adopted family pays nothing while the student pays (one time contribution) just about 10 USD for their treatments. The process, as we can appreciate, produces a more socially conscious doctors who are not out to make money at everybody else's health.
We need to set up more such institutions so that every educated human feels responsible towards the society that educated him. The biggest challenge that we have today is that our children cannot think beyond their own bank accounts.
It is not possible to eradicate poverty unless poor people want to change their lives. Making education compulsory and free at least till school level is one of the good steps that some developing countries have taken. But unless a carefully designed social security umbrella is provided for the poor segments of the society, education will not spread. It is also important that the educational curriculum has a carefully designed element that cultivates a sense of social responsibility.
Ljubomir has asked a question that may draw tons of replies but translating the suggestions into reality - well, wish we academics had magic wands like Prof Dumbledore!!
Social justice between the rich and poor is very important issue. Every country is willing to have more power, to be richer than other countries; this is so far okay; however, what we see in politics is sometimes killing the sucessul of the others.
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