Problem 1:
If you know anyone from or have relatives in Spain, then the youtube video below is likely what you saw on your Facebook feed yesterday:
A portion of this particular video was shot in the neighborhood of my girlfriend and her family. The worry, fear, and sadness that shot through my veins when I saw this video was unimaginable. It was a scene very reminiscent of the civil rights movement within the US during the 1960s - innocent people being beaten, threatened, and jailed for exercising their rights as free citizens.
Spain, which is considered a democratic nation, seemed to revert back to the once-known Franco military dictatorship era yesterday. The impetus behind this move was sparked by an independence referendum within the autonomous community of Catalonia. Catalonia has long desired independence from Spain, however increasing tensions with the rest of the country made this referendum likely to succeed with the majority vote towards independence.
The Spanish central government decided to make the referendum an illegal act. Was this justified? No, the citizens within Catalonia should have been able to exercise their right as free human beings to vote on a principle that was dear to their heart. Despite the outcome of the referendum, the blatant disregard for democracy by the central government was an act of political terrorism.
Problem 2:
I received an SMS text at ~2 am this morning outlining the events that transpired in Las Vegas, NV USA last night. If you haven't heard, 59 people were killed by gunfire at a country music concert. All of these people were innocent bystanders slain by a troubled man who ended his life after the shooting. Videos of the event can be seen here:
This was the most deadly mass killing within the USA to date.
Problem 3:
While at work, I was notified that a young woman crossing the street was struck by a car outside of our building. I scrambled to see the commotion. The woman laid ~3m in front of a large black truck in the middle of the street. Paramedics were quickly on the scene and did their best to put the woman onto a stretcher for transport to the hospital. In the meantime, the driver of the truck was being given a field sobriety test. The man, aged mid 50s and dressed in a button-up, pink tie, slacks and dress shoes, could not even walk a straight line. He was obviously intoxicated. The police officers on the scene handcuffed him, placed him in the back of the police car, and removed him from the scene. Two hours after the incident, I was told that the woman was 29 weeks pregnant and was transported to the local emergency room. Her current condition is unknown.
I witnessed all three of these incidents within the last 24h.
The Plea:
I am a biomedical scientist by trade. I am unaware of how to code programs, make microchips, or use the blockchain to create a verification system. I don't know how to create a platform where people can vote in the comfort of their own home on a mobile phone. I am unable to develop a smart-chip that can trace gun location and firing. I am completely ignorant to the idea of autonomous cars that can prevent drunk driving.
My plea is to the rest of you. The people who have the knowledge and expertise to accomplish these goals.
We as humans are on the brink of a technological revolution. While many will use this revolution for greed and power, I am calling to those that look for solutions to fix our uniquely human problems. It is you that can make the world better place for us and our children. Please help us. We need you and your ideas. Feel value in the fact that you can change humanity.
We may depend on it.