Global Futures Initiative

The Director-General also explicitly addresses individual and societal rights and duties. The most basic human right is the right to life, which is intimately connected to health. Meanwhile, below minimum conditions of well-being – which are both individual and communal responsibilities – people cannot exercise duties. The global responsibility of maintaining (at minimum) people’s lives and well-being therefore individual as well as collective and international efforts, both in daily living and in extraordinary circumstances like the Ebola outbreak and other local calamities.

Human nature remains radically social; by the same token, we are coming to realize that today’s problems cannot be addressed by any one sector alone. Dr. Chan rightly argues that “health is related to nutrition. Health is linked to environment. Health is also linked to water and sanitation. So, we need to think of a comprehensive, integrated approach to address the complex, multiple challenges the world is giving us.” Similarly, Pope Francis focuses on the need for sustainable and integral forms of development in Laudato Si’. In spite (or perhaps because) of atomizing forces in modern society, an ethic of global care is even more necessary than ever – especially toward the other or unknown.

Emmanuel Foro, S.J., is the dean at Hekima College in Nairobi, Kenya, where he also teaches fundamental theology, ecclesiology, and Ignatian spirituality.