To all those who live under conflict or fear

To all those who live under conflict or fear

It is extremely hard for me to send you all seasonal greetings from England when I know in my heart that this is just another day for you either living under the terror of conflict, torture, rape, breaches of human rights or simply harassment. It is also hard to know that we here will be receiving presents and eating more food than one could ever imagine and you on the other hand do not have a meal today or what you have you give to your children. Mahatma Ghandi once said:

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of Bread” he also said a very inspiring comment for those who live under a cloud of terror or duress: “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind”.

So how does one even attempt to send a greeting to the people of Gaza, West Bank, Iraq, Afghanistan and all those distant lands that have succumbed to the excessive greed of the west? How does one apologise on behalf of United Nations and the international community for not standing up for you in your hour of need?

All I can do is what I always do: keep writing hard hitting articles, protesting, lobbying and taking part in TV and Radio discussions but I have to say much of what I do falls on deaf ears.

To all those sitting around a nice fire in the safety and comfort of your own homes I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. I hope you will all spend a few minutes to remember all those less fortunate and reflect on their suffering or levels of poverty.

To all those living under the cloud of conflict and suppression I sincerely hope that your day will come and that one day you also may enjoy the basic things in life that we take for granted. I hope that during this special period you remain safe from harm and that someone, here in the west, listens to your pain and suffering.

To all I wish you peace and sincerely hope that 2010 may change your life and bring you all that is important to you and your loved ones.

I would like to leave you with this message about magic:

Christmas is a special time of the year when everyone expects something magic to happen. Many people would say that magic does not exist but I believe it does.

Magic is kindness of our words that comforts those who cry. Magic is generosity of our action helping those in despair. Magic is sharing our happiness and sorrow with others. It is giving and receiving of the universal love. We often forget how powerful we are.

Merry Christmas and Magic New Year!





Peter Eyre – Middle East Consultant 23/12/2009