By Scott Waide

The Paga hill story isn’t just about the demolition of houses and the displacement of families.

It is not about "stupid, uneducated people who should go back to their villages.” No. It’s about a global profit driven economic and political system that dictates that profits are far more important than human lives.

It’s about a small group of rich people who see dollar signs flashing on a prime location occupied by a group of people who, in the twisted minds of the rich, shouldn’t live there. It’s a story about the 1 percent forcing the 99 percent to lose their homes through means that appear “legal” but in fact reeks of thievery and corruption. It’s about the Cult of the Rich who are drawn by the insatiable desire for more. It’s about a triangular system of economics and politics where those at pinnacle dictate to those at the descending levels what to do.

The Cult of the Rich gives the illusion that one-day, you will get to the peak and if you want to get there fast, you have to be willing to trample on the rights of those who can’t defend themselves.

The Paga hill story tells the rest of us that we all should support the concept wealth, social welfare and good quality housing should be in the hands of a minority. A minority who own the banks, hospitals, construction companies and transportation. It is a minority who refuse to accept that there are other ways of doing business that makes it possible for a vast number ordinary people to become as wealthy and as powerful as the minority.

The minority believes that government legislation should be made to benefit big businesses and the wealthy. Of course, they’re the ones providing “jobs” and ease the unemployment problem.

The Paga Hill story is about short-term gains and life long hardship for a nation and people. It’s about unsustainable development, false hope and the illusion of growth that looks good on PowerPoint presentations.

How can I stand by and watch, as families like my own are dragged from their homes by armed police. How can I stand by as those who stand up for them are abused ridiculed?

I am Papua New Guinean and these are my people!

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                                 image via namorongblogspot.com