A personal reflection – an open note to the community, the Government and to anyone who cares

“…how many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry? …how many deaths will it take ‘til he knows that too many people have died? ..the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.” Bob Dylan, 1963

We keep shouting about economic success and impressive figures. We boast about skyscrapers and flashy property developments. But behind the polished image and barcode smiles of this shiny new Mauritius, something uglier is festering in plain sight. We are quietly trading away pieces of our soul – and patting ourselves on the back as we do so.

When non-governmental organisations first sounded the alarm on animal welfare years ago, they also highlighted the slow death of institutions such as the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare. Tourists see it. We see it too, then look the other way. That same blind spot explains why we keep dying on our roads. Impatient, aggressive driving has turned our highways into killing fields, and we still weep when the victims are our own family and friends. Then there are the other silent killers: non-communicable diseases.

We love discussing la science de la vie – the wisdom of living well –, yet we treat it as optional. How many more road deaths must we mourn? How much suffering must animals endure? How many preventable illnesses must tear through our families before we finally say “enough”?

To borrow from Bob Dylan’s classic protest song Blowing in the Wind, we ask these questions every day, yet we keep waiting for someone else to answer them. The truth is, the answer isn’t blowing in the wind. It’s right here, in the air we breathe. It’s in how we treat each other on the roads. It’s in how we treat the voiceless animals that cross our paths. And it begins with how we treat ourselves.

Thankfully, the wind is starting to stir. I salute those who sacrifice and dedicate their precious time to tackling environmental issues, as well as the animal welfare groups and eco-activists working on the front line. They document abuse, rescue mistreated animals, find them homes, and push institutions that refuse to act. Thousands of ordinary Mauritians show the same quiet civic courage every day.

But a few brave souls cannot carry the whole nation. Laws alone won’t change hearts. Real change must begin within each of us. In the spirit of John F. Kennedy, it’s time we stop asking only what Mauritius can do for us and start asking what we can do for Mauritius – for its health, its compassion, and its moral climate. The responsibility looks back at us every morning in the mirror.

I’m also calling on Government and the private sector to do better. We need a proper overhaul of our school system. Put la science de la vie, emotional intelligence, and preventive healthcare on a par with mathematics. Stop turning schools into certificate factories and start raising responsible human beings.

Every time we get behind the wheel, we make a moral choice. Patience is not merely courtesy – it’s a public health issue. How we treat stray animals reveals the depth of our humanity. Looking after our own bodies through proper nutrition, exercise, and preventive measures is not selfish; it’s a civic duty. When we neglect ourselves, we burden others.

We need bolder steps: wellness clubs in every district, genuine community-led animal welfare programmes, and real support on the ground. Let’s create a national Civic Pride Honour Table – a public ranking of district councils by real results: progress in animal welfare, fewer road accidents, and improved community health. Let’s reward genuine activists and those who serve the less fortunate, not the loudest political supporters.

We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We can study and adapt what has worked in places such as Japan and Singapore, which modernised while preserving strong civic values. Bringing in advisors from these nations would be money well spent.

The waiting game is over. Stop waiting for the winds of change. Let’s be the wind.

Let’s come together to build a Mauritius we can proudly show the world – not with fine speeches, but with millions of small, daily choices: to drive better, to care more, and to live with greater respect for each other, for animals, and for ourselves.

The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind. The wind we decide to create.