We wondered about this one, in fact this is the first time on the Happy City blog that we’ve linked to a sermon from the pope! But you don’t have to be catholic to take on board this wise advice from Pope Francis: in the below TED talk he speaks to people of all faiths, and none. Connecting with others, he suggests, lies at the heart of how we should #InvestIn future prosperity and happiness for the whole world and seek a more equal global society.

“How wonderful would it be if “solidarity”, this beautiful and, at times, inconvenient word, were not simply reduced to social work. What if solidarity was the default attitude in political, economic and scientific choices, as well as in relationships among individuals, peoples and countries? Only by educating people to a true solidarity will we be able to overcome the “culture of waste” that Pope Francis speaks about. This culture of waste isn’t only food and goods but also the people who are cast aside by our techno-economic systems which, without even realising it, are now putting products at their core, instead of people.”

We agree. It is high time to change how and what we #InvestIn!

Imogen Smith – Happy City contributor