These are disturbing times. Stock markets are now in panic with most having lost over 10% in recent weeks. European and the North American politicians have failed spectacularly to address any of the credit crunch problems effectively. Economic growth is meagre, unemployment is rising and now there are youths and criminals looting various streets of Britain. One has to wonder where we are heading.

There are of course lots of connections, a plethora of reasons. To my mind, the common thread is that of self-interest and greed. Sociologists may have good explanations for the disaffected youth of today (some of the youth). Some will point to the greed of the super rich who are equally as disconnected from the rest of society. The behaviour of some our politicians, some journalists and some police as well as some “role models”. In the same way, the actions and practices of some well-known corporations fail “to be decent”. To some it will be the breakdown of the family unit, the lack of community connections and a general “I want it now” disposable society. History has some lessons to teach us, unfortunately similar scenarios that appear to lack confidence and strong leadership can create a vacuum into which some fairly unsavoury characters have stepped.

This is the time for a calm head and a clear mind. It is not the time for panic and fear.

Clearly we do need to reflect on what sort of society we really want to live in and work towards creating that. Later this month, the Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial will be unveiled in Washington. Few people have spoken as powerfully and his words seem just as apt today.

We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.