Reflection and social approach beyond the western borders

If the "Otium" allows a moment to reflect, it has become essential for most sociologists. In this way, the study of the social sciences often looks at current events. To think about your time allows you to take stock of yourself and the rest of the world. Many, despite the general annoyance, speak of the current confinement which is taking a global turn. Behind this isolation appreciated for some and unpleasant for others, daily life may not allow us to take the necessary step back to observe what is happening beyond our western borders. Between hunger, the aggression made by the police against the people, the closing of small improvised local trades and the lack of access to water, we are far from thinking about all these things when we hear the word "confinement", which for the most of us sounds mainly with " do shopping by the contactless drive", and "staying at home". Indeed, the southern countries, which includes millions of people, suffer from confinement because of the precarious situation of the developing countries. -In the huge slum of Dharavi in Mumbai, India, the locals speak: "We are dying of hunger", "It is better to kill people". Parents do not have the money to send their children to the hospital, because there is no more work and therefore more financial income. The inhabitants wonder what is the use of confinement, because they all take essential sanitary measures like cleaning their houses, covering their faces with masks or veils, taking baths frequently. -In Kisumu, Kenya, the third largest city in the country, the residents suffers from attacks by the police who don’t hesitate to use tear gas on improvised markets to enforce the curfew. A Kenyan woman denounces: "When we go to the market to buy things to sell, we are chased by the police with tear gas. We know there is a coronavirus but we are Kenyans, we eat from hand to mouth. Everyone in Western countries gets food distributed and can stay inside. " -In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the people of the working-class neighborhoods wonder how to survive if the economic and social environment suddenly stops, in this country where the lack of infrastructure is stronger than normal and contributes to the daily suffering of the less fortunate. -The Lima’s case, Peru: no more drops of water in taps and hydraulic supplies, preventing all vital or household needs, while Haitians in the capital Port-Au-Prince complain about the inaccessibility to water, which is only available twice a week, which leads residents to take a long walk to gain access. -On the streets of Kabul in Afghanistan, there is concern: "Hunger will kill people, not coronavirus”. Markets and shops are closed, causing famine. Throughout the world,and in particular on the so-called developing land areas such as South America, Central Asia or Africa, this confinement causes great financial difficulties which lead to major social problems: inaccessibility to food, water, health, , not to mention the violent assaults by the authorities and many other ills in these developing countries where it is already complicated to survive normally. The measures taken by the authorities which are supposed to "protect" civilization, on the contrary, worsen social problems, which could even dangerously cause death more than anything else. All this to say, dear readers, the reminder of social reflection on a global scale: unfortunately, the daily lifestyle and even the joys or misfortunes of this life, often make us forget that others suffer and that many are in worse situations than ours. Putting into perspective can help avoid bad thoughts or bad behavior, and can even develop the desire to help these people in distress, even in the simplest way possible, like a little charity from time to time for example. Let's think of the 25,000 people dying of hunger a day, a number far too abnormal in the 21st century and alarming that reflects global inequality . The almost military rationing behavior by some with the fear of corona becomes shameful. And maybe next time, in a moment of reflection, you will remember this article which may have given you a more open outlook on life and the world, which is unfortunately full of difficulty for three quarters of the planet.

Written by Zerrifi Anyssa

(A big thank you to the two History teachers who gave me the ideas to make this post, family if you go there;)