Covid and an Environmental Awakening
First and foremost readers, we want to express our hope that you are safe and healthy and remain so throughout this pandemic. We are reminded daily by the news that we are in “uncharted territory” and the anxiety that comes with it can be overwhelming. We hope that you are successfully navigating this psychological drama as well.
Nature and wildlife has been our best family therapy as we grapple with the reality of this pandemic and we are spoiled to be able to live in a place like Tumaren durring these rather nerve-racking times. The giraffes and the other game are coming daily to the salt and their presence is reassuring, a reminder that human life is not the only life and that no matter what, life will continue.
With all the time and all the focus, our conversations have frequently speculated if a global pandemic like this one might be able to trigger a sea-change of attitude regarding the environment and biodiversity. At least there would be some kind of good news at the end of it all.
Might some people notice the cleaner air resulting from a stop to industry and expect their governments to do a better job maintaining a cleaner environment? Might some people even enjoy a bit more time with their families and wonder if the systems and work loads we build are not too excessive and demanding? Might the many people struggling to survive wonder if the few on top are not squeezing them a bit too hard? All ready many have wondered if a pandemic like this could prompt an end to capitalism as we know it. Seems like a stretch but this article is worth a read and a thought just the same. Yuval Harari in the book Sapiens makes many of the same points regarding societies paying redundant citizens just to exist as many are doing in the middle of this emergency.
Covid-19 like SARS before it, jumped ship from a wild animal (possibly a Pangolin, SARS from a Civet) to a human in a wet market in Wuhan China. This kind of animal to human transmission is referred to as a Zoonosis and since the SARS epidemic in 2003 there has been a great deal of scientific warnings about a Corona virus emerging again. David Quamman’s 2012 book Spillover is an excellent overview of Zoonotic diseases as well as a heedful warning about what could happen if these kind of diseases are not taken seriously. And here we are… Safe to assume that not many current politicians got around to reading Spillover.
Since it was established that the disease had come from a wild animal sold in a wet market, China has banned the sale of wildlife for consumption. How effective this ban can be will remain to be seen. If nothing else we might hope that there can be a respite to the persecution of our Pangolins that have been driven to the edge of extinction by Chinese consumption for food and witchcraft.
Is it possible that this is a learning moment? We hope it is - we can not continue to harm our world without jeopardizing our own survival. The scientists were right about the threat of a Corona Virus and they are also right about the threat from global climate change, deforestation and the loss of global biodiversity. Our politicians need to start listening to the scientists and in fact, wouldn’t it be nice if more politicians were scientists? Can make that change? At the least we can be hopeful.
James Christian