Two facts resonated last night from a lecture with Lyse
Doucete (BBC's Chief International Correspondent).
She mentioned a study that I have to find from a Harvard
academic to ensure that I have these numbers correct. This study reveals that
the annual worldwide violent death rate in WWII was 300/100,000. The annual worldwide
violent death rate at present is 1/100,000.
Measured worldwide, the world is a lot safer now than it was
at the close of WWII.
This does, though, reveal the importance of where one draws
the circle. Who is included and who is not. Statistics are measured over a
population. It’s important to understand who is included and who is excluded. One
half of Syria’s population of 22 million people is dead or displaced. Try and tell
Syrians that the world is a safer place. The people of Syria are enduring the
most violent and desperate period in their history.
Stats matter. But, know who is being included.
I am reminded that Saskatoon always competes for the title
of Murder Capital of Canada. I never felt threatened living there. What this
suggests is that my neighborhoods – my parts of the city were safe and
non-violent. More importantly, certain inner city neighborhoods are even more
violent than suggested by the stats.
The other thing that shone through for me is the scope of
the migrant crisis in Europe. On one hand, it’s much larger than I understood.
Germany, for instance, is intending to accept 800,000 refugees. The number of
people who are desperate to escape to the hope of Europe is staggering. On the other hand,
the scope of the crisis is often exaggerated for political ends. There are
perhaps 200 people attempting to gain Calais. This is described as “a swarm.”
The reality is that if you can limit migration to 200 people into Calais
(population 72,000) then this is an utterly irrelevant addition to the city. An
utterly irrelevant addition tax on services. An utterly irrelevant addition to crime rate.
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