With the proliferation of negative news of dissent, bickering left and right, criminal activities, oppression, discrimination... it seems that the world is hopeless and that just about everybody is concerned with their own survival only.
Recently I completed the second season of Dirty Money in Netflix. This documentary reveals the effects of the love of greed and money that drives corporations and individuals to do corrupt practices. For this season, there’s a total of five episodes. I am particularly struck by the third and fifth episodes. The third episode exposed the corrupt practices of the Kushner Group of Companies. They own a lot of apartments in New York City. There is a law that puts a cap on increase of rental fees. What the show disclosed was that the company had a way of dodging this law and still make hefty profits. It made the lives of the current tenants so miserable that they would voluntarily leave. There would be construction noises, molds, ceilings/walls falling off, water leaks and so on. There was one resident that had her ceiling collapse in her bedroom. Good thing, she was not home that time or else she would have been severely harmed. Eventually once the current tenants leave, the company would make renovations and take in new occupants or sell these units at a higher price. There was a concerned group that listened to the complaints and ultimately unveiled these illegal practices and even more. It was found out that these properties have received hundreds of health code violations and even worse, forged Certificates of Occupancy which is equivalent to a driver’s license in the real estate world. Because of this exposure, stricter laws were implemented for the protection of the residents. In addition, there are ongoing lawsuits filed awaiting trial.
Another story from the same episode followed a single Mom previously renting an apartment in another state. She was sued for breaking her lease after 3 years she had received written permission to do so. The problem was she misplaced that signed document. Unknown to her, fines were accumulating, and the company got legal permission to clear out her bank account. I teared up as she discovered this when withdrawing money and was so distraught on how she is going to support her children. Mind you they live from paycheque to paycheque and didn’t have enough to even get her own legal representation. Another concerned individual stepped in that opened the door for her to receive justice and uncovered similar stories of deceit from other helpless residents.
The fifth episode was described as the largest citizen suit filed against a business entity in the US. This time it is against the plastics manufacturing giant, Formosa. Environmental activist Diane Wilson for decades fought against this corporate giant. The documentary has shown the environmental violations of this corporation, the forging of documents and the turning of a blind eye by the government and its agencies. It showed how private citizens gathered bags and bags of plastic pellets from the river as evidence. It featured whistleblowers who participated in these fraudulent schemes while they were still employed with Formosa. They went along and followed management orders, fearing retribution. As a result of years of challenging this establishment and the growing support from the citizens, the federal lawsuit ended with a $50 million settlement.
These individuals, the unsung heroes in these episodes restore my faith in the good of humanity. They started just listening to the plight of the affected families then acted first in a small way until others came on board. They may have not realized in the beginning that it was just the tip of the iceberg that they were uncovering. I must imagine the times of despair, discouragement, frustration and even fear for their own lives as they continue on with their cause. They are fighting big corporations that can easily crush them and they are investing their own time and resources.
Good deeds do not have to be grand. It starts with a genuine concern for someone. It can be as simple as being there for a friend, with our presence bringing comfort. It can be small practical gestures of support to a neighbour/coworker who is struggling to have ends meet. It can be a domestic violence brought to light and just waiting for that one brave person to report it. I pray that wherever we are, we listen to that tug in our heart to respond to someone in need. That discernment is appointed and it is up to us to ignore or act on it.
If we are on the other end of the spectrum, currently experiencing injustice or hardship, take heart that we have a God who sees everything. The judgment may not come in this lifetime but definitely in the afterlife. Just as the stories above demonstrated that crimes can be exposed and punished, God will send ambassadors that help the plight of the oppressed. He is all knowing, sovereign and in control. Above all He cares and is never indifferent to the suffering of those that put their trust in Him. We look forward to that day when He will allow good to be fully restored in this world. In the meantime, let us persevere to do what's right and remain hopeful.
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