“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”

Frederick Buechner

The last few days have been horrific for the people in this country- Northern Ireland.

A violent and evil man brutally attacked another man and then more violent and evil men retaliated by being violent and evil back. And here lies the problem.

Violent and evil men are the problem, not race.

It will inevitably be women, children and the vulnerable who will be most adversely impacted by these acts of terror, as well as the environment. This is how it has always been and this is how it will continue, if we allow it.

The scenes of cars burning and thugs high jacking the streets are nothing new to people who were brought up during ‘the troubles’. The political issues may have changed, but the same core issues remain. Men being territorial terrorists and using aggression, force and violence to make their points and seize control of different areas, is what many of us had hoped was over. But the devil wears many masks and now those who have no humanity are citing immigration as their new enemy.

I believe it is all linked to our climate and the way we view our home and the other people we share it with, particularly those who we deem ‘different’ to us. Once you see the connections and links, you can’t unsee them.

The way we treat our environment and fellow human beings reflects us and who we are. While evil, cowardly, violent masked men roam the streets causing harm, it is essential that the rest of us do something to counteract their hatred. It is urgent that we reach out the hand of friendship to our neighbours and we are kind and compassionate with each other. Everything we do to make people feel safe in our communities at this time is important and cannot be underestimated.

Let your neighbours know that you are a safe person and that you care for them and their family’s wellbeing.

Speak up against hatred and do what is right. Your silence will only support their brutality.

The scenes unfolding in Belfast are a great example of what lies ahead in terms of the climate emergency. The crisis will inevitably lead to much higher rates of immigration and our streets should be safe places for all.

To counter hatred, we must act in ways that are aligned with love and to do that we must take actions to protect those being targeted and who are scared. Now is not the time to let masked thugs control the street, now is the time to show kinship and let the good, peaceful people reclaim the streets, neighbourhoods and communities. If we tolerate this, what message are we sending to the younger generations.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Marin Luther King

Today I knocked on the doors of my neighbours and let them know that I am here for them and that I do not support racist terrorists. Afterall, that is what I believe any decent, kind, good neighbour would do during terrible times.