December is the last month of the year. In this month, many people have the tendency to think of other people more than in other months. In December, we hear the sounds of the Salvation Army's ring. People put some coins in the Salvation Army's bucket or purchase Christmas seals. We are also inclined to help the indigent, but this situation is only in December.


As the world became more international, people thought that we would meet and communicate profoundly with other people at least more than in past times. However, this was unable to be realized. As the spaces and opportunities for people to go and act among each other increase, the friendly feelings between people decrease. It is an irony. However, recently, people are trying to change this situation. They try by themselves to be more worldly wise and open. In these circumstances, there are two representative concepts.


The first thing is "Free Hugs". This movement is already famous in Korean society. You probably already know it. In fact, one man began to spread it among many people in Australia in 2004. He thought that he could assist people mentally. So, he chose a special method-that is a warm hug. As soon as he thought of the method, he went out, and started to give people who did not know him a warm hug on the road. At first, people considered him a strange person. However, his warm hug changed people's cold attitude toward him. This hugging movement became well known around the world (including Korea) through an internet site called www.youtube.com. His friend took videos and then uploaded to the site. Other countries' people reacted to it. They started to be hugging people. In Korea, this movement is happening in the same way.


Another concept is "Ubuntu". Have you ever heard about it? Probably not. Many people have not heard of it. If so, what is it? According to the English dictionary, it is explained as love between human beings. It is originally from the Bantu tribe's traditional vocabulary and expresses a type of thought among African people, which basically means "I am because you are." - We have to live together since we cannot live alone in society.


Some famous people have used this concept. A representative man is Desmond Mpilo Tutu. He is a South African, who took the Nobel Peace Prize by admitting to an endeavor against racism in 1984, and has emphasized this Bantu concept to the whole world.


▲ Bill Clinton
Recently, Bill Clinton, a former the United States President, is supporting the concept positively and ardently in the international society. He is saying that society has improved thanks to this concept. When he officially visited England last September, he emphasized it in front of many audiences. He has raised money to improve the natural environment and protect against awful diseases by spreading Ubuntu. Presently, this concept is becoming transplanted in many countries. For example, many American people are going to Africa to help Africans who are needy because Ubuntu has affected them.


Ubuntu has also affected other foreigners. There are many travelers and university students, who go to the continent to help the Africans and donate a lot of money for the indigent. It fills their barren and dry hearts. In this meaningful movement, many celebrities are joining organizations, and the Ubuntu Educational Fund was established in the country. These movements will continue to last for a very long time.


There were many bad news headlines in 2006 in the international community. For example, there have been continuous conflict between Islam and Catholic, the nuclear test in North Korea, and so on. People are finding it more difficult to feel warmth in the human condition. People now probably hope to spread these kinds of positive movements and move other places because they can make the whole world warm and abounding with love. In December, let us hug other people thinking "Ubuntu". Small gestures can make the world full of warmth and caring. It is a kind of warm Butterfly Effect.

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