Cork Views: My three Christmas wishes... peace, love, and understanding
I spend so long with my eyes squeezed shut and fingers in my ears shutting out mentions of Christmas, that December arrives without me noticing and suddenly the lights at The Lough’s crib are on, the Toy Show is over, and the boxes of Celebrations, Quality Street, and Roses are stacked dangerously high in supermarkets.
It is the 10th of December and there isn’t a present bought, or a ham ordered.
My pushback at the festive cheer is because I don’t want to hear about Christmas celebrations when the news is full of awful stories from all over the world. How can we celebrate in the face of such sadness?
My social media feed jars between people sharing Christmas recipes and news of murdered doctors, children, and aid workers in Gaza.
The harsh realities of the world make it difficult to fully embrace the joy of the season. How can we get into the ‘season of giving’ when there are so many who are wanting?
The three things I actually want for Christmas cannot be found in the centre aisle or wrapped nicely in a bow, but if delivered would bring immeasurable happiness, far beyond the 12 days of Christmas.
Families in Gaza are trying to survive another winter in tents while Israel drops bombs on them and starves them.
The US, EU and UK could give millions of people worldwide the most meaningful Christmas present if they stood up for the rights of Palestinians, stopped sending weapons to kill civilians, and pressurised Israel to end the killing in Gaza.
While moral political leadership is lacking, we must demonstrate our values of peace and compassion. We must continue to protest (every Saturday at 1pm on Grand Parade), boycott Israeli-linked goods, and services identified by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement, and donate to Gazan charities helping people on the ground.
I have just donated to the Gazan Soup Kitchen, which is feeding thousands of hungry Gazans from makeshift kitchens and shelters.
The founder of the kitchen, Mahmoud Almadhoun, was killed last week by an Israeli drone attack, leaving behind his wife and seven children, including a two-week-old baby.
Targeting Chef Mahmoud is an attempt to kill hope and resistance, and his charity could do with all the support it can get to counter the enforced starvation in the country.
The reality behind the headlines is that these are all human lives, just like ours - families seeking comfort and peace, struggling in impossible conditions.
Here at home, we have people facing challenges that should be unimaginable in a prosperous society.
Ireland is one of the most economically successful countries in the world, and yet we have almost 15,000 people living in emergency accommodation. These are not just numbers, these are real people with the same hopes and aspirations as anyone else.
On April 1, 2023, the eviction ban, introduced during the pandemic emergency, ended. At the time 11,988 were homeless, including 3,472 children.
Major homelessness experts, DePaul, Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust, all argued that the removal of the eviction ban would lead to more people being pushed into homelessness.
I vividly remember watching an interview with the then Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, justifying the government’s decision.
He explained that extending the eviction ban would further reduce the number of rental properties available long term, as it might prompt more landlords to exit the market.
And so here we are. The most recent homeless figures for October, 2024, show that there are now 14,966 people, including 4,645 children, in emergency accommodation. A record high. Surprise surprise.
There has been a 25% increase in overall homelessness figures and a 33% increase in child homelessness in just 19 months.
The stress and powerlessness that homelessness creates is insidious and damaging.
The best present those children could get this year is a home of their own and a childhood free from the trauma of homelessness.
Last week, Australia passed a law banning kids under-16 from accessing social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The ban, set to take effect in 2025, requires platforms to establish age verification systems, potentially using methods like credit card-linked app accounts. Companies that fail to comply face big fines.
Australian lawmakers have demonstrated real foresight and leadership, and decided that enabling children to grow and develop without the pressure and scrutiny of social media until they are 16 is a necessary measure to safeguard children’s wellbeing.
A similar law for Ireland would be a fantastic gift for Irish children (and their parents). The gift of a less stressful childhood.
There will be plenty of time for social media and phones after the age of sixteen but if we allow children to grow without the incessant noise of social media in their early formative teenage years, it would be a gift that would last a lifetime.
These three Christmas wishes are a desire for peace, safety, and well-being for all children.
Rather than feeling defeated by the world’s problems, and shutting out the bad news, let’s take meaningful actions to help those less fortunate than us this Christmas.
Even small gestures, like sharing information or speaking up for those without a voice, can contribute to real change.
For those that can afford to, donating a portion of your Christmas budget to a good cause can make this world a better place for all children -both near and far.
App?
