November 2009

“Peace is not just the absence of conflict,’ said former President Clinton speaking at the American University in Dubai, “it is the presence of opportunity and co-operation and a sense of justice and fairness and movement.” It’s far from a new thought, I remember it from graduate school many years ago. But when someone with the stature Bill Clinton has come to have says it, it ceases to be academic and begins to become real, and in context of his speech, makes the meaning that much more undeniable. “What leads people to suicide bombings?” He asked in the same speech, and then answered his own question. “They believe they have more to gain in the next world than in this one.” He went on to say that he saw this feeling as what he called the major danger in front of Palestinians and Israelis.
Whether Mr. Clinton’s thoughts help solve the Middle East crisis or some other crisis in is probably open to question. What is important is that these thoughts now become part of the diplomatic vocabulary and arsenal.

There’s a new campaign in rural India, “No loo? No, ‘I do’.” Young women and their mothers are insisting that a potential groom have a toilet or there will be no wedding. Getting people to have toilets has been an uphill battle and recent efforts have failed. Now that the campaign has reached the radio as well as TV serials, it is beginning to make an impact. One reason is due to the abortion of female fetuses. Though illegal, girls are seen as a drain since eventually they will need dowries. The result is there is now more male than females and many young women are feeling empowered. Add to that the experience of those women who have access to toilets. They no longer have to get up early to go relieve themselves in open fields, or use public toilets. The in house toilets by being more sanitary also prevents many chronic urinary tract and other infections.
We think of progress as something having large impact, like computers or the automobile. But often progress is in the nitty-gritty of small things which make a large difference, its minutia being all the more inspiring and powerful.