Thoughts on a World in Disruption

As the year comes to an end, I have been thinking about our society, about the world we live in and what we want that world to look like. Even as we are all occupied with the busy final quarter of the year, we stop for a moment and look up.

Our world is continuously changing. Change is the only constant. And I am not referring to technical progress, but about changes in the economy and society.

Wherever we turn there are conflicts: Brexit is coming; conservatism is on the rise in Europe; in Brazil, many people are concerned about the new president that was elected; there’s a trade war between the two world’s biggest economies; and the Middle East political landscape is going through constant change.

Wherever you look, instead of bridges being built, walls are going up. The macro-environment is inexplicably and undeniably unpredictable.

Increasing polarization is perhaps the best way to describe it – either you’re right or left, in or out, pro or con. Matters are loaded with emotions and so it is almost impossible to have a conversation that is based on facts only. People forget what unites us, and facts and figures are losing their importance.

Change generates uncertainty. That’s only human. However, we should still live our lives according to the values that our mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and grandfathers were fighting for. Fear and hate cannot be allowed to defeat openness and diversity. In many parts of the world, freedom is by no means a guarantee. Too many people are afraid to speak up. Too many have been quiet too long.

As global citizens we not only have rights, we also have responsibilities and obligations. It’s very important to give, not only take. It is important to not look away or remain silent when someone is wronged. Homophobia, sexism, and racism happen every day, in the schoolyard, in the soccer stadium, and in the office. We can change that. Every single voice counts. It doesn’t always have to be on a big stage – mostly it starts on a small scale. Sometimes we just need to speak up.

My perfect world is open-minded, diverse, and free, where everybody can live their own way without infringing on the rights of other people. I am 100 percent for an open society and tolerance. I don’t tolerate people hurting other people’s rights. I don’t tolerate sexism, I don’t tolerate racism. It's up to us to decide what world we want to live in, what values we stand for.

Of course, every individual has the right to his or her own opinion, and sometimes we just have to accept that there are other points of view. Each of us is part of the whole and we have more things in common than that which divides us.