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The more you look into international affairs, the more nauseous you become. The reason my focus is forever on the grassroots and not on the state is because at the macro level politics is an extremely unsavoury business. Up there, at the top, they are subservient to every possible malignant industry from arms manufacturing to gambling.

Up at the top, the men and women who rule over us seemingly have no choice but to throw their weight behind murderous regimes insistent on committing every kind of atrocity, subjugating entire civilian populations in the name of statesmanship. These the kind who will lecture us about what makes a people civilised, while enforcing inequalities which push the so-called uncivilised into destitution.

Those who care for humanity must expend their efforts at the grassroots level then, striving to make life better in their localities, focussing on improving the lot of individuals, families, communities and towns. This may be advocacy work or awareness raising. It may be poverty alleviation via food banks or soup kitchens. It may be a kind word to a neighbour, or a charitable donation to those in need.

We cannot affect change at the macro level. We have no hope of lobbing our parliamentarians to bring about momentous change in the world, for they already have the arms industry spending billions lobbying them day and night, petitioning them to licence exports to regimes which will carpet bomb entire neighbourhood in pursuit of peace. Who can argue with those who make it their mission to convince all of society that peacemakers are a threat to national security?

At that level, we have no influence at all. Only in our communities can we have any hope of bringing about positive change. To reconcile groups of people. To work to build peace and community spirit. To help our neighbours. An uphill battle when all of the forces of state and media stand against you, declaring you an enemy of the people. But still you tarry on, out of love for your neighbours and community, sowing seeds of peace wherever you go.

There is no bargaining with politicians who refuse to condemn what is wrong, siding with aggressors against the innocent, no matter how far they transgress international law. They are not servants of the people, but are instead subservient to the billionaire media moguls who alone have the power to make or break their careers. Don’t expect anything from them as far as bringing about widespread societal change.

That thankless task is left to the grassroots: the fabled third-sector, now tasked with all that should have been the responsibility of the state. Only individuals can bring about the change we need to see in society, focusing first on purifying their own hearts, them moving outwards to mend the hearts of all they encounter. These the foster carers, charity workers, healthcare professionals, school teachers, campaigners and considerate neighbour.

All of these these are like the seemingly insignificant streams and tributaries feeding the mighty river cutting through the valley to the sea. Be like flowing water in your community. Perhaps you will quench a dying thirst.