Loving Our Global Neighbours

The United Church of Canada launched a new appeal this week for contributions toward vaccine equality in the world. As we are at roughly 80% of eligible Canadians receiving first COVID vaccinations and nearing 40% for second we are seeing the light in the midst of the pandemic gloom. This is not the reality in many parts of the world and there is deep concern that the emergence of virus variants will be devastating. The UCC news release included these thoughts:

We know the COVID-19 crisis won’t end for anyone until it ends for everyone...

Our call to love our neighbours and leave no one behind has become more challenging in the face of the pandemic. While COVID immunization campaigns roll out in Canada and elsewhere, a humanitarian catastrophe is building where variants of the disease have taken hold...

People in many communities are experiencing mounting challenges to maintain a stable income, provide basic necessities, and ensure safe shelter for themselves and their families.Together we can make a difference. Your gifts are needed now more than ever...

Ruth and I will respond to the appeal and I have no doubt that many other United Church members will as well. This did cause me to consider the accumulation of vast amounts of wealth for some during the pandemic, creating even greater global inequity. Two of the world's wealthiest billionaires, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, are now vying with one another to be launched into space, an obscene vanity project. 

Amazon, Bezos' company, has not provided adequate compensation for its workers during the pandemic and there are many stories of drivers toiling from dawn to dusk without breaks. Somehow this is acceptable within the warped values of our society. Imagine the difference it would make if the billions these two are spending on space travel was directed toward global health and income security? It shouldn't surprise us that there is a petition with the heading Do not allow Jeff Bezos to return to Earth which has garnered thousands of signatures.

 I could grumble all day about the unfairness of it all, and I do believe that we must come to our senses regarding the rich getting richer. Instead I'll listen to the other J, Jesus, who invites us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Collectively we can make a difference. 

Here is the link to the UCC appeal:

https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/covid-19-global-response