Writing in the Catholic Times on the opinion page, a college professor asks the readers if they are familiar with the 'new poverty'? In the 1960s and 70s, Korea was a poor country but the people had hope. If they worked hard they would overcome the period of eating barley and wait for a new day; with difficulty, parents sent their children to college and found happiness.
Today, however, the 'new poverty' doesn't nurture a hope in the future. The poor young people see Korea as 'Hell Chosun' for no matter how hard they work and sacrifice they won't find a job, will not be able to marry and find a house. The future is far from bright.
Adam Smith in the Wealth of the Nations talks about the invisible hand in the market. A person's greed works for the good of all. He sanctifies the working of the market but it is not the way a Christian looks at the market. The market at times is inhuman with the laws of the jungle operating—survival of the fittest. An example is where knowledge of an area that is to develop, persons in the know and speculators with worldly shrewdness are ready to multiply their assets at the expense of the common good.
Recently we hear news of tenants using violence against owners. This is wrong but at the same time, a greater problem is the raising of rents at the descretion of the owners without any regulations. Presently there is no recognition of the blood sweat and tears of the small self-employed shop owner but only concern with the owners of the property.
We hear a lot about the raising of the minimum wage and the problems of the workers and the owners of these small businesses and forget the rents that are being paid to the owners of the buildings. Usually, the salary of workers should be sufficient to find a place to live but that is not the case. We need regulations and not allow the blind market to dictate direction.
Economy originally meant to govern the affairs of the world and help people. God wants us all to live decently. In the Old Testament, we have the concern for the weak: widows, children, foreigners and the alienated—the poor. They were the first concern of society. That was the reason for the year of Jubilee, a way of relieving the debts of all and give a new start.
Pope Francis in the Joy of the Gospel tells the Christians to be on guard against the dictatorship of neoliberalism in strong words. Money is the new capability. We ask for the grace of repentance so that our poor neighbors can live with hope in a just and equitable world. We don't want to see money as a solution to all our problems—market logic. We need to learn the path of love to face an uneasy future and not concentrate on filling our own pockets but desiring a world where more opportunities are given to the poor and the alienated.
From possession and consuming to temperance and sharing. The Catholic Times brings to the readers' attention the work needed to maintain a healthy environment. The article was triggered by the disturbance in the recycling of trash in Korea.
A few days after the collection of trash stopped society began to look at the containers for the separation of the trash differently. The trash disturbance began on April 1, when recycling collectors in Seoul and the metropolitan area refused to collect recyclable plastic bottles and waste vinyl. The primary cause of the disturbance was China's discontinuance last July of importing over half of the world's trash such as plastic, vinyl, fiber, metal because of their own environmental pollution.
In Korea, too, the export of recyclable trash has been blocked, the profits of collecting companies dropped sharply, and the recycling collection companies refused collection of recyclable trash free of charge. Only a few days after the vendors stopped collecting we had the piling up of trash.
There was always a problem because recycled trash and garbage was not all recycled. Among the recycled trash and garbage in Korea, only 59% was recycled or composted, 16% went to landfills. The firm belief that recycling through proper separation and distribution contributes to a better planet is a 'half-truth'.
Already, environmental groups and civil society have long sought to reduce waste. Examples are the "zero-waste" movement, which minimizes the amount of waste generated in daily life and recycles only what is necessary. In 1988 the Catholic Lay Council recommended that all the parishes become involved in the 'anabada' movement: A (saving), Na (sharing) Ba (exchanging), Da (reusing).
The Ministry of Environment's comprehensive measures is encouraging. The measures include refraining from excessive packaging, use of disposable cups at coffee shops and fast food stores, prohibition of free plastic bags at convenience stores and bakery shops, and use of umbrella plastic covers at public institutions.
The Church has for some years pushed the need to enjoy living uncomfortably.'Enjoying a certain amount of discomfort' movement reflects the appearance of a society of excessive consumption and pursues a simple and frugal life that specifically lives on the words of Jesus that "the poor are happy." The key to 'enjoying discomfort' is seeing the need and the joy that comes with the simple life.
"Christian spirituality purposes an alternative understanding of the quality of life, and encourages a prophetic and contemplative lifestyle one capable of deep enjoyment free of the obsession with consumption." (Laudation Si #222).
We need to make clear and conscious efforts to reduce waste. "Rather than looking for the next place to dump waste, advanced countries should bear the responsibility of cutting down on waste with sustainable practices." Sustainable living is the practice of reducing demand on natural resources by making sure that we try to replace what is used to the best of our ability. The article ends with a quote from a member of the social pastoral committee of the Seoul Diocese: "It is no longer a choice but a duty to live in a way that imposes a minimum burden on the natural ecosystem of God, the creature of God, and begin to enjoy a simpler life."
Fake news is a topic, prominent in many countries and Korea is no exception. It is a serious issue and one that will not disappear easily. The Catholic Newspaper Editing Committee met recently to discuss the issue and followed with a special article in the Catholic Times reflecting on what Pope Francis said in his message on World Communication Day.
"The term “fake news” has been the object of great discussion and debate. In general, it refers to the spreading of disinformation online or in the traditional media. It has to do with false information based on non-existent or distorted data meant to deceive and manipulate the reader. Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions, and serve economic interests.The effectiveness of fake news is primarily due to its ability to mimic real news, to seem plausible.
Secondly, this false but believable news is 'captious, inasmuch as it grasps people’s attention by appealing to stereotypes and common social prejudices, and exploiting instantaneous emotions like anxiety, contempt, anger, and frustration. The ability to spread such fake news often relies on a manipulative use of the social networks and the way they function. Untrue stories can spread so quickly that even authoritative denials fail to contain the damage."
What is the Korean church doing in this area? The Catholic Times has mentioned the topic often in articles and reports. The countermeasure against fake news is realizing the truth. Media literacy education is important but is there any organization within the church planning programs in media literacy education? They were not familiar with any, consequently, it is the work of the Catholic press to gather experts and set up measures to educate believers in literacy education.
This is not a one-time event but with a long-term goal. Many groups within the church which are not officially approved by the church are deceiving many in spreading the fake news through SNS.They damage and cause harm to the entire church. The church's official media should help the believers to identify this false information. Wrong facts, distortion, poor reporting of the news should also be included in the fake news category.
An editorial evaluates facts and suggests alternatives not theoretically but concretely. Often the content of the editorials was just a rehash of the articles. When embarrassing Catholic issues were mentioned in the secular press we have been passive and calm we concern ourselves only with countermeasures and results but skip the assessment and reasons for the situation.
Recently, the church has become quite diverse. One of the participants would like to propose fake news related planning in the second half of the year. Catholic newspapers should help believers identify fake news. For example, planned is training to identify false news, begin relevant seminars, and place the contents in the paper.
The pope ended his message with a paraphrase of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis and a good meditation on what the aim should be in reporting news.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Help us to recognize the evil latent in a communication that does not build communion.
Help us to remove the venom from our judgments.
Help us to speak about others as our brothers and sisters.
You are faithful and trustworthy; may our words be seeds of goodness for the world:
where there is shouting, let us practice listening;
where there is confusion, let us inspire harmony;
where there is ambiguity, let us bring clarity;
where there is exclusion, let us offer solidarity;
where there is sensationalism, let us use sobriety;
where there is superficiality, let us raise real questions;
where there is prejudice, let us awaken trust;
where there is hostility, let us bring respect;
where there is a falsehood, let us bring truth.
Amen.
We hear a lot about the 4th Industrial Revolution and where it will lead is everybody's guess. An article by a literary critic in the Catholic Peace Weekly wonders what it will mean for the Church. Korea has made the study of this new revolution a presidential committee—important for the future of the nation. What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
There are various answers. The first revolution was the mechanization of the steam engine; the second, electricity-oriented industrialization; the third, the computer and internet world of the latter half of the 20th century; the fourth artificial intelligence— information and communication technologies, machine autonomy. We have already seen how this is working in the world of today.
This will change our lives and the world. We will experience a new world, which the word revolution aptly describes. Whether it will be positive or negative is still being discussed. Many jobs will be lost, a fear that a few wealthy persons will monopolize the benefits, and the way we look upon humanity and human dignity will be shaken.
He mentions the bestselling author of Sapien (A Brief History of Humankind) and Homo Deus (A Brief History of Tomorrow) by Yuval Noah Harari, a bestseller also in Korea. Human beings become Gods. He quotes a passage from Homo Deus. "The next goal of humanity that has achieved unprecedented levels of prosperity, health, and peace will be immortality, happiness, and divinity. After reducing the mortality rate from hunger, disease, and violence, the task is to overcome aging and death itself. The next thing to do is to bring humanity out of the animal-level struggle for survival, to upgrade mankind to God, and to convert Homo sapiens to Homo Deus."
It is not difficult to connect this provocative and drastic insight of Harari with the fourth industrial revolution, especially with respect to the future and meaning of religion. Harari is quoted as saying: "Traditional religions may have been discarded, but new religions can replace them. In some cases, the existing religion adapts to the changing conditions and gains importance."
In the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, will people continue to seek religion? What is the role of the Church? The more information and communication technology expands and connects people to the cyberspace network, the more loneliness, and sense of alienation is felt by more people. Cyber relations are likely to flow into superficial pseudo-human relationships. There is also a possibility that not only personal relations but also social bonds and community characteristics are weakened.
The role of religion, especially the role of the church, may be found at this point. The pope spoke on video at the TED conference in Vancouver, Canada on April 25, 2017, on the theme of "revolution of tenderness." The Pope said: "How wonderful it would be if the growth of science and technological progress would invite equality, social cohesion, and engagement. When we are not only an "I" but a "You" a "We" the true revolution begins. We all need each other. "
A professor writes in the Catholic Peace Weekly about a problem in education. A survey made among elementary, middle, and high school teachers nationwide showed that almost 90 percent changed their attitude towards teaching from the past. When asked: What has changed? More than half want to go through a year without incidents. Nearly 30 percent of the teachers would not punish or scold a student for bad behavior or notify the parents.
One teacher confesses he is so afraid of the complaints of parents that he shivers and teaches like a machine. Another says he teaches as a way to make a living. Education within the country has entered a stage which will be difficult to change. Why has this happened?
Was it the teachers, students, parents, society? It is impossible to give an answer. In a way, they are all to blame and all victims. They all inflict pain and receive pain. In any event, since the teachers are responsible the blame rests with them.
As one educator said: teachers are not laborers who produce goods mechanically. They are artistic workers who empower students and consequently require a deep theoretical background and long academic training. If a teacher is like a machine and is only in teaching to make a living they should leave the profession.
Teaching is a holy profession a sacred work which must be approached with all sincerity. There is a four character idiom that indicates the nature of education in the Asian context. It's interesting and a meaningful example showing the relationship of teacher to student. It may be expressed with the tick tack expression in English.
When a chick is ready to hatch, it pecks (tick) with its yet immature beak on the inside shell of the egg. The mother hen hearing the sound pecks (tack) on the outer shell and lets the chick out. The chick inside will suffocate if it doesn't leave the egg within three hours so it pecks with all its might and with the help of the mother hen it is freed from the prison to be born into a new world. The work of a good teacher.
Herman Hesse says something similar in Demian. The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. "Who would be born must first destroy a world." Education is helping a student to come out into a new world with the help of teachers and others. The problem is that students do not want to break eggs and teachers give up in helping the students in breaking the egg. When the teachers give up trying to help the student break the egg they give up being teachers.
Education is not to fill a child's head with knowledge but to give them a desire for knowledge and wisdom. They are both on a journey in learning. They are both students. He finishes his article by quoting the words of Vinoba Bhave a devoted follower of Gandhi: "Do not be discouraged,let's continue doing good. If you do not give up you will soon harvest."
Life
is full of choices. We are born and die without a choice but in between,
for the most part, one choice after another. What are we going to eat,
wear, do, all depend on our choices? In a diocesan bulletin, the writer
gives us some thoughts to reflect on hoping to make us wiser.
There
are of course many areas of life that are not choices. Parents, name,
nationality, and genes are not our choice, artificially we have ways of
changing some of these realities but most opt to accept what is given
as our destiny. External good looks, healthy genes, family wealth may
not be what we preferred but accepted and at times
try to change.
She
mentions a well-known case, the Japanese entrepreneur, the founder of
National Panasonic, who was born with a sickly body, lived in childhood
poverty and only had a 4th-grade elementary school education. He lived a
satisfying life and before he died left humanity with some wise words.
"The
heavens have looked down favorably on me and have given me 3 big gifts.
I was born with a weak body, poor and uneducated. Since I had a sickly
body I took care of my health and lived to 94, being poor I was careful
with money, worked hard and became a wealthy man, I was uneducated everybody I met
became a teacher and I learned much. I give the heavens thanks for the
gifts I received."
It's
our attitude in life that makes all the difference. One person sees a
half-empty cup and is disappointed and another sees the half-full
portion and is thankful.
In
Korea, you hear a lot about the five blessings: longevity, wealth, health and peace, love of virtue and peaceful death. This is not the lot
of the majority of humanity. Life often is not fair but neither is it
all bad. We have the good and the bad. We accept the parts of life we
can't change and make the best of the situation we are in.
Looking
over life there are choices made for which we regret, but also many
things we look back with satisfaction. In life, we have times in which
we were unfairly treated and our insides were turned upside down, felt
lonely and burdened. The religion we choose out of the many that were
available has for the writer been a great consolation. She has always
felt that God was on her side.
Her
husband was brought up in a home where superstition was the belief of
choice. Although it came late in life the choice was the most excellent
of all his choices. Sadly many have been brought up in a Catholic home
but for various reasons never found value in what they received and have
quietly walked away from a great treasure.
Humanoid is a word that describes a robot that resembles a human. They can work in industry and have the capability of humans. They can walk, turn, jump, run, climb ladders. At present, the robots are on wheels but this will change in the near future, physically there will be little difference between them and humans. So begins the article on humanoids in the Kyeongyang magazine by a Korean university professor of computer technology.
As the whole area of robotics continues to develop there is a need to know the changes and how to solve the problems that will arise. An English drama 'The Humans' is showing the viewers the new situations we will face. They can golf better than a pro, perform surgeries better than doctors and behave better than mothers and fathers in the home, which gives rise to complications. In the drama, we find that the humanoids are better liked than the family members.
In the beginning, the robots were helpers and did what humans didn't want to do, however, the day is coming when they will do what humans want to do and do it better. We can tell ourselves we are emotional beings, creative, which the robots can't achieve. Sophia a humanoid developed by the Hanson Robotics company in Hong Kong has 62 different emotional expressions and in the future, their emotional expressions will vie with the best of actors and actresses. In method acting (the actor does not play the character but becomes the character), this may be easier for the humanoid.
In Japan, a robot has written their first novel. The technology is present to give life to a person who has died in a humanoid form with all his characteristics and with greater knowledge. This was shown recently in the Go contest where the robots easily beat the best human players. The robots are better at diagnosing diseases than doctors, this will be the case in every field.
On the horizon for some, the Robocalypse where machines take all the jobs. More the fear of losing all the jobs is the change that is coming. We have to have a plan for the future. Bill Gates has suggested the robots be taxed on income. With this income, we can take care of the elderly, education and welfare.
Rather than refute the very abstract post-humanism era, it would be better to talk about robots. What should robots be held to, what are they to be taught what are their areas of work? An American science fiction author Issac Asimov (1942) mentioned three laws that can be summarized: a robot may not injure a human being or allow a human being to come to harm. However, the way humans have developed ways of killing and injuring others the future is gloomy.
Sophia the robot from Hong Kong at the United Nations in an interview was asked what can the UN do for areas of the world where the internet and electricity have not entered. Sophia answered: 'Use artificial intelligence to bring to these areas efficiently energy and food." In the future, it will be difficult to find areas in which humans will do better than the computer.
Already in England, they are using software to judicate small cases of monetary litigation. Computers are neutral in their decisions. He concludes by wondering whether we will be 'worshipping' these humanoids with superior
intelligence and be submissive to them.
