Just the other day I had a quick dash into my favourite corner shop; it’s just gone 6:45am but I must get some milk now because the boys must have their cereal before leaving for school.

The horror in my face as I found the milk refrigerator empty and the light turned off. The shopkeeper must have noticed my amazement and thought to himself, “Here’s an opportunity for some sport”. “There’s no milk today”, he said. “What do you mean no milk today”, I re-joined, “cows on strike?” At which point he busted into a full laughter and showed me the new refrigerator, apparently the old one’s faulty and due to be seen to sometime during the day.

My 2lt semi skimmed safely in hand, with a flush of shame I couldn’t help wondering about places today where my little ‘necessity’ is considered an immense luxury. Children in some deprived communities around the world, kids leaving in unbelievable poverty right in the middle of our ‘prosperous’ societies; the proverbial “standing knee deep in a river dying of thirst”. Makes you wonder sometime how this can be possible even in the west with today’s affluence and interconnectivity. That is a subject for another day.

Talking about poverty, conflict and disaster zones, Aleppo comes to mind. This ancient city has seen more than a fair share of war over the past 14 centuries has now been under one more time for about 4-5years. Innocent civilians pay the ultimate sacrifice on a daily basis, while the world simply looks the other way; again, who would have thought this possible in 2016.  Perhaps there is no simple solution to the problem in Syria, but that’s no reason to try half-heartedly. 

When are the powers going to get off their high horses and commit to a lasting peace; how much blood is enough and how much is unacceptable?  Just remember; not all Arabs are Muslims, not all Muslims are terrorist and not all terrorists are Islamic.

The children of Aleppo and other similar places round the world probably couldn’t give a hoot who’s right or who’s wrong, they just want their homes back, well whatever is left of it. Is that too much to ask?

We must give them a lasting peace for Christmas; please, let’s commit