Misinformation, unfortunately, remains high on this issue. This is happening because, even in similar cases of major crises, the framework of objective information has not been demarcated and there are no clear rules for the use and dissemination of news.
Freedom of speech is imperative in a democratic society, but it is time for the rights of the majority not to be undermined by ephemeral and dangerous minorities.
The aforementioned thoughts are food for thought to start a fruitful dialogue for creating a functional information framework.
The Greek State is making a great effort to provide free and large quantities of vaccines for our fellow citizens. The European Union is helping in this direction, but there are still great obstacles that clearly demonstrate the crisis that the vision of the founders of United Europe for all is going through.
The old continent is admittedly moving very slowly. Therefore, after returning to normalcy, we must deal with the mechanisms of the European governing bodies in a spirit of justice and cooperation.
But when asked if there is a vaccine for everyone, it is worth turning to third world countries, e.g. in Africa, where people are accustomed to living in a continuously very serious health environment and every year more than 5,500,000 children die due to basic deficiencies.
I am not referring to the other age groups. The figures are really bad. So aren’t the lives of all people worth the same? How much longer will this kind of discrimination continue?
The pandemic gave prominence to the problems that we occasionally swept under the rug for decades. It is therefore our duty to act with justice and solidarity. No one is better than the other.
We are all the same in the eyes of God. If we continue to do injustice, if we continue to consume more than we need, we will lose our humane sentiments and we will move away from the true Sun of Righteousness, Jesus Christ.
So let us not care only for the developed world. There is a saying in Greek; your house is in danger if your neighbor’s house is on fire. That is why let us not forget the word of the Gospel: “We are his offspring” (Acts 17:28), we are all children of the same, unique and true God.
*The article of Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia was originally published in Greek in Ta Nea Savvatokyriako newspaper (May 15-16)
