A remarkable event in the 70- year history of United Nations (UN) occurred on September 25, 2015. In a historical adoption, 193 member states agreed on a common goal to transform planet earth and make it sustainable. The resolution identified 17 goals christened as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) premised on 5 P’s – people, planet, partnership, peace, and prosperity. What lies at the heart of SDGs is the acknowledgment that the whole planet and its inhabitants are one unit and the recognition that the future of the globe depends upon how the 5 P’s interplay with each other. Human beings are the microchips that make the integrated universe. Even if one of these building blocks malfunctions, the circuit collapses.Mahatma Gandhi said, “When a person dies, a whole universe dies with him.” If the individual goal of prosperity is a strong aspiration, so should be the harmonious development of all inhabitants of this planet. If we ignore this crucial aspect, the inequality itself will consume all prospects of sustainability. It is imperative, therefore, that active people partnerships are built to ensure that the world attains freedom from subhuman conditions. Seen in this light, the UN’s enunciation of these goals to be achieved by 2030 is a revolutionary intent.
It challenges the privileged to think beyond themselves and embrace those suffering from marginalisation. Pope Francis, in his World Day of Peace message on January 1, 2015, said prophetically, “The globalisation of ‘indifference’ burdens the lives of people. It requires us to forge new worldwide ‘solidarity’ to give the needy new hope and help them advance with courage.” Every individual,group,and organisation must rise above their self-indulgences and come forward to protect the authentic human values and the climate which are nourishing elements. Failing that will lead to further division among societies and will inflict irreversible damage to future generations. If we look closely at SDGs, eight of the 17 goals revolve around quality education, ending poverty,empowerment of women and girls, security, inclusion; another eight around sanitation, energy, habitation, lifestyle and climate and the last one focuses on ‘working together’. Attainment of SDGs through thinking, design and monitoring requires expertise, technology, collaboration, funding and a nation’s resolve.But the conviction of individuals shaped by their intrinsic values will continue to hold a major say in achieving universal goals.The very fact that the SDGs are rooted in education – through the spirit of empathy, compassion and sharing – helps in value streaming in the people as a good strategy to move forward. The governments and those at the helm are not always the best lampposts to seek direction.Their vision gets blurred by their manifestos. Al Gore, the former Vice President of the US, said, albeit frustratingly, “If the President (of the US) does less, the American people will do more.”To overcome one’s silence in the wake of injustices is a great value in itself.