Prayers for 2007

In 2006, the world was spared the astonishing series of natural disasters and terrorist attacks that shook us in the previous year but it was a year in which the prospects for worldpeace inched yet further away.

The US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq has been exposed as the folly many, including the Vatican, had warned it was.

If the objective really was to democratise Iraq a virtually unattainable notion from the start and thereby introduce democracy throughout the Arab world, then the US, through its own arrogance, ignorance and incompetence has failed in its mission. It has weakened its own position and perhaps fatally wounded the possibility of lasting peace in the region.

Likewise, the games of brinkmanship played between Israel and radical factions in Palestine and Lebanon are emasculating prospects of negotiations for an equitable and conciliatory settlement perhaps deliberately so on both sides.

All the while, North Korea and Iran have entered, or are planning to enter, the global nuclear club. Doubtlessly other countries whose peaceable credentials are at best dubious will take encouragement from the worlds impotence in the face of new nuclear powers, and endeavour to join the arms race.

We pray that in 2007 world leaders will find ways to see God in the faces of their adversaries, and conclude that the common goal of peace can be realised only through tolerance, dialogue and cooperation.

Many South Africans have benefited from a booming economy in 2006. Naturally it must be hoped that the economic upswing will be maintained. At the same time, however, the fruits of our flourishing economy have been harvested not by the poor, but mainly by those who already have abundant riches. Thus the wealth gap widens.

Poverty is a threat to peace. When there is no food on the table, people may resort to rash measures. Many crimes are committed out of desperation, and many young people join violent gangs as their only escape from poverty.

Many women engage in transactional sex in order to feed their families; and in the process many of them contract HIV. As they die and the government has failed to act resolutely to ensure they dont – a nation of Aids orphans is left behind, for many of whom acts of crime represent a real option for survival.

We pray that in 2007, government and civil society will amplify their efforts to eradicate poverty, a key component in the fight against crime. Specifically we pray that the government will revisit the concept of Basic Income Grants.

At the heart of such efforts is good governance. The government must be congratulated on getting many things right, and it must accept criticism for matters where it has failed, and act with accountability.

While the government is doing a competent job, the behaviour of several members of the African National Congress are cause for grave concern.

Acts of self-aggrandisement, often committed under the banner of Black Economic Empowerment, are not uncommonly regarded as being just rewards for occupying leading positions in the ruling party. The gravy train, which Nelson Mandela in 1994 pledged would not leave the station, must be stopped immediately.

Of paramount concern to all South Africans must be the campaign for the succession to President Thabo Mbeki.

Curiously it seems unclear to many people in the tripartite alliance why the many potent arguments against Jacob Zuma as president outweigh the qualities their candidate undoubtedly does have.

Even so, it is evident that the manner in which Zuma supporters are conducting their campaign represents a real threat to peace in South Africa, a country where political differences are not always addressed by means of negotiations.

We pray that in 2007 the ANC-led alliance will lay the groundwork for a consensual and wise presidential succession, setting aside personal ambition and peripheral matters of ideology in favour of what is best for South Africa.

And we pray also that in 2007 (and beyond) all our readers will be blessed with the peace of Our Lord.