There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
Antonio GuterresRead
As populations continue to increase, and the climate continues to deteriorate, and as people flock in ever increasing numbers to large, underdeveloped cities, the threat of multiple protracted mega-emergencies has become reality.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the challenges posed by population growth and climate change in urban areas.
Antonio Guterres warns about the escalating crises resulting from rapid urbanization, population increase, and climate deterioration. He emphasizes that these factors contribute to the emergence of mega-emergencies that could overwhelm societies and demands urgent attention and action to address these pressing issues.
In practice
In a conference on climate change, one could use this quote to stress the urgency of addressing urban environmental issues.
There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones.
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The world's problems transcend borders.
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We live in a quick-fix society where we need instant gratification for everything. Too fat? Get lipo-sucked. Stringy hair? Glue on extensions. Wrinkles and lines? Head to the beauty shop for a pot of the latest miracle skin stuff. It's all a beautiful Β£1 billion con foisted upon insecure women by canny cosmetic conglomerates.
One who returns to a place sees it with new eyes. Although the place may not have changed, the viewer inevitably has. For the first time things invisible before become suddenly visible.
Most people don't want to change. They're comfortable and set in their ways. But in order to change, you have to be able to agitate people at times. And I think that's something that's very necessary for us to improve as a country.
The Constitution they wrote was designed to protect the rights of white, male citizens. As there were no black Founding Fathers, there were no founding mothers - a great pity, on both counts. It is not too late to complete the work they left undone. Today, here, we should start to do so.
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