Hon. Mitsuhei Murata, Our Correspondent in Japan,
Sends Holiday Message
Please allow me to send you my Season’s Greetings, inspired by the seriously worsening Corona crisis in Japan.
The current Covid-19 pandemic reflects the consequences of forgetting and neglecting the lesson of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident, namely the necessary shift of the economy, the seemingly top priority, to life. Under such circumstances, we learn that the “World Forum on Ethics ” will be held in Pontresina, Switzerland next October.
International civil society, by realizing this forum, seems to have conceived the point of view that the world is confronted by the crisis of civilization and that its true cause is the universally prevalent lack of ethics. This development is most significant.
In this context, the world badly needs the replacement of the current paternal civilization, based on power and domination, by a maternal civilization, based on ethics and solidarity, the dawning of which is already being felt by the increasingly important role women in society are now playing. Thanks to this development and by making “ethics” a factor in decision making, we can find hope for the future.
As Chinese ancient philosopher Laozi asserted, all evil deeds are detected and punished in the final end.
The law of history does not allow immorality to last indefinitely.
With warmest and highest regards,
Mitsuhei Murata
Former Japanese Ambassador to Switzerland