How a Perfect Storm of Western Anxiety is Trumping Global Acts of Charity

Is fear preventing people in western nations from engaging with the real needs of people in need, especially those in the global south?

Evert-Jan Ouweneel, World Vision’s Senior Advisor Public Engagement on Faith and Development, believes western societies are caught in a “perfect storm” of anxiety — and it’s preventing acts of justice and charity on a global scale.

In a recent address at Eastern College, Melbourne, Taking a Prophetic Stand in a Perfect Storm, he said the western political agenda is in danger of being driven by fear arising from the actions of hackers and terrorists, climate change, pandemics and potential nuclear disasters. 

He said that while these issues must be addressed by international cooperation the impulse is to go the other way, with populist nationalism and calls for for self-protection policies.

Evert-Jan Ouweneel told Open House the planet is crying out for our help and we must resist the urge to huddle together in our own tribes.