"A human being is limited in time and space. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison. By widening our circle of compassion".
Albert Einstein

We cannot live only for ourselves. We are not Robinson Crusoes on this earth. We are who we are because we live in the family and society we live in. We need to give something back. It is fundamental for our own happiness. And for the happiness of those around us.

This is solidarity. Giving something of ourselves. And not just money. But things that are intrinsically priceless. Our time. Our efforts. Our kindness. Ourselves.

Of course we don't have the time. We're hassled. We're too busy. So we give money. There's already a lot of good in that. But we need to give more. Money has a definite value. If we give money only, we tend to depersonalise solidarity. But each person who is suffering is unique. And needs unique solidarity.

You can buy so much with money. But there are lots of things you cannot buy with money. You cannot buy compassion. You cannot buy understanding. You cannot buy empathy. You cannot buy companionship. You cannot buy a hug. You cannot buy a smile. These are all actually little things. But you would be surprised how little it takes to make someone's day.

Let's give money. But let's do more. We need to increase solidarity. We need to double grace. May I suggest a few initiatives government and civil society might take to do this?

Adopt a charity. Publish a list of all institutions that are helping people in need. And let as many of us as possible adopt an institution. Guide people to the less well known institutions. Give them practical help. Visit. Invite. Empathise. Hug people who are suffering.

Open a solidarity account. Have institutions and organisations declare how many hours each of us dedicate in practical help. Give some advantages to people according to their 'solidarity balance'. Some time off work in return? Encourage people to brag about their solidarity balance!

Business-charity partnership. Give a tax break to companies that partner a charity and dedicate human resources to this partnership. Some businesses are already investing in solidarity. They're giving something back. Why not make it a business way of life with government doing its bit to encourage?

Double contributions. Government has a budget of Lm850 million a year. Why not dedicate Lm2 or Lm3 million to double the money collected by campaigns like L-Istrina and so many others?

Choose a charity in your tax return. We pay taxes but only have a very indirect control on what those taxes are spent upon. Why not have a percentage - one per cent perhaps - of our income tax go directly to a charity we choose in our tax return?

Solidarity awards. Let's have an award for the best solidarity ideas and initiatives. Let's keep looking for new ways to make this world a happier place. Let's surprise ourselves with solidarity inventions. We cannot remove the competitive spirit a lot of people have. But we can harness that competitive spirit to do a lot of good.

To those who would tell me that this is an idealistic tall order, I reply: let us shoot for the moon. If we succeed, it will be bliss. If we don't we would still land among the stars.

I do not think this is much. It is really only a little. But those who need our 'little', need that 'little' a lot.

"There is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness, and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much."
Mother Teresa

eddiea@onvol.net