More articles

Education to Eradicate Poverty

My greetings to the Heads of State, delegations, international agencies, civil society organizations, and everyone participating in the 2017 High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which will discuss the...

The Internet, Education, and Power

It is no news that the Internet has become an indispensable tool in our daily routine. When we access it, those barriers that were previously insurmountable for the majority of citizens come down. However, I have warned that education is power, and...

A Solidary Global Agenda

Education, Sustainability, and Planetary Citizenship as levers for sustainable social development My greetings to the Heads of State, delegations, and all those participating in the High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social...

Education

Defense of All of Us

Source: A Reflection of Goodwill taken from the book “Jesus e a Cidadania do Espírito” [Jesus and the Citizenship of the Spirit], October, 2019.
Reprodução BV

Booker T. Washington

Renowned American educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)—first president of the legendary Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University), in Alabama State (USA), who dedicated himself to creating better conditions for the individual growth of former slaves and their descendants, as well as of indigenous people—wrote: “There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all.”

The relevance of this statement by someone who was an advisor to presidents of the United States speaks for itself due to his tireless efforts and courage. Not surprisingly, he became one of the greatest and most influential speakers of the black community in his country.

It is clear that such reflection currently applies to all human race—God’s Capital—as the untiring Dr. Washington undoubtedly and deeply wished. His Soul envisioned a future where racism, which I personally see as a social cancer, would no longer exist.

José de Paiva Netto is a writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), effective member of the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and of the Brazilian International Press Association (ABI-Inter). Affiliated to the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Writers of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Radio Broadcasters of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). He is also a member of the Academy of Letters of Central Brazil. He is an author of international reference in the concept and defense of the cause of Ecumenical Citizenship and Spirituality which, according to him, constitute “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul, the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition, the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Justice, Mercy, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Fraternal Love.”