Dear Editor,

As political leaders discuss solutions to reduce greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and maintain forest cover — thereby slowing or reversing climate change — there is an equally grave threat against our children. As populations increase, depleting the shared natural resources, aggression grows from one generation to the next because there is less to go around. The widening gap in lifestyles erodes hope, and countries will not be able to stop or contain the resulting violence. Morals will no longer be able to ‘control’ the masses.

The older and more mature one gets, the more one realises that people deceive each other and lie mainly for self-benefit. Denying the problems exist in the midst of a mountain of proof and selling short-term positive expectations only allow the problems to fester and take hold. Preparing our children to understand and deal with such large-scale problems requires us to teach them selflessness before individual accomplishments.

Parents and guardians must constantly talk and be role models to all children to help eliminate the distracting noise that surrounds them; do not leave it to their peers. The individual achievements of young musicians and sporting icons only foster the get-rich-quick thinking. The education system with its mostly written examinations and its celebration of passing grades and condemnation of failures only leads to a negative, “I am better than you” thinking in our children’s minds. Arranging our children into groups, and rewarding them accordingly, while building widely interchangeable successful teams, can drastically reduce gang hatred and help to develop the “no one is an island” thinking.

All mature adults should lead by example. Human beings ought to respect each other. This show of respect, or lack thereof, trickles down to the children. If walls are built the children will maintain them — from school team to political party rivalry. However, if a distinction is constantly made between a person or group and their actions or ideas, that distinction will be set in the minds of our children.

Selfishness will only create problems, which could take generations to correct. The walls must come down; respect and concern for each other must be of paramount importance.

Terrance Jennings

TAJ.AssociatesCoLtd@yahoo.com