There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
Antonio GuterresRead
As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for inhumanity and social friction?
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the choice we have in how we perceive and handle migration, either positively or negatively.
Antonio Guterres presents a critical reflection on the global issue of migration, highlighting that it can either be seen as an opportunity for prosperity and unity among nations or as a cause of division and cruelty. This choice reflects our collective values and impacts not only the migrants themselves but also the societies that host them.
In practice
In a speech about global challenges, this quote can highlight the importance of cooperation for a positive outcome.
There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
As a global society, we have the technology, resources and the know-how to make a massive difference to living standards everywhere, including for refugees.
The world's problems transcend borders.
Humanitarian response, sustainable development, and sustaining peace are three sides of the same triangle.
The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
Syria has become the great tragedy of this century - a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.
What yesterday was still religion is no longer such today; and what today is atheism, tomorrow will be religion.
People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.
Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping?
I'm not saying abolish group work - I think there's a time and a place for people to come together and exchange ideas, but let's restore the respect we once had for solitude. And we need to be much more mindful of the way we come together.
What an immense mass of evil must result...from allowing men to assume the right of anticipating what may happen.
America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity - the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.
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