A la llum de la lluna

Ahir vespre, un dels voluntaris de Creu Roja Internacional va organitzar una festeta de comiat. Després de 9 mesos per aquestes contrades marxa a una nova missió: Afganistán. Ens vem aplegar dalt d'un turó (el de la foto), per contemplar l'eclipsi, xerrar, prendre quelcom. Una quinzena de persones, com sempre un grup ben internacional: Japó, Pakistan, França, Austràlia, Regne unit, Belgíca, Noruega, Samoa, Itàlia, Suïssa, Turquia,... El món humanitari és un xic particular. Sovint es diu que el tipus de gent que acaba fent aquestes feines són de tres tipus: "Missionary, Misfit and Mercenary". Crec que la teoria de les tres Ms es confirma prou per aquí Voinjama.

I el que m'incomoda una mica és veure com es parla del patiment de la gent amb una certa frivolitat (pe: amb un cubata a la mà). No m'hi acabo de trobar del tot a gust. Però és cert que de tant en tant ajuda a esbargir-se, poder parlar amb gent diversa,...

Sobre la mateixa temàtica, us ofereixo una perla altra cop de la Co. (Amb la Co ens vem conèixer aquí a Voinjama, abans que ella marxés destinada a Sudán)

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Ahem…I present: Some piece of poetry I guy I know at WHO (World Health Org) wrote:

Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet
– I’m off to join the development set.
My bags are packed, and I’ve had all my shots,
I have traveler’s checks and pills for the trots.

The Development Set is bright and noble,
Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;
Although we move with the better classes,
Our thoughts are always with the masses.

In Sheraton hotels in scattered nations,
We damn multinational corporations;
Injustice seems easy to protest
In such seething hotbeds of social rest.

We discuss malnutrition over steaks
And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.
Whether Asian floods or African drought,
We face each issue with open mouth.
…
When the talk gets deep and you’re feeling dumb
You can keep your shame to a minimum
To show that you, too, are intelligent
Smugly ask “Is it really development?”

Or say “Its fine in practice, but don’t you see;
It doesn’t work out in theory!”
A few may find this incomprehensible,
But most will admire you as deep and sensible.

Development Set homes are extremely chic
Full of carving, curios and draped with batik.
Eye level photographs subtly assure
The your host is at home with the great and the poor.

Enough of these verses – on with the mission!
Our task is as broad as the human condition!
Just pray God the biblical promise is true:
The poor ye shall always have with you.
(Voinjama-PakHill/Danisj/JRS)