“Climate change is a threat multiplier, especially for the poor and vulnerable. It is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of justice.” — Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General

It is fair to say that when the powerful refuse to change, it is always the powerless who pay the price. In this chaotic world, the cost in human lives no longer matters. An elite-captured society and a capitalism-centric economic system treat poor people as disposable, as though they have no right to live. Everyone knows how capitalism evolved: a few wealthy individuals came to dominate the majority. Inequality is rising, and poor and middle-class families can no longer meet their children’s basic needs.

Undoubtedly, the elite class dominates every sector—economic, political, religious, and social—while underprivileged people live in meager conditions and are excluded from meaningful participation. Pakistan is a case in point. We live in an era where the rich enjoy complete impunity while the poor are deprived. The recent incident in Swat is a stark reminder: a hapless family burned to death because disaster management was unprepared and leadership was inept.

One must wonder: helicopters arrive immediately........

© The Spine Times