COVID-19, a wake up call for humankind!

Excerpt 1- With the corona storm, the Sun seems to have finally set on the British Empire. Wuhan, the ground zero for the virus is completely devastated. With over 20,000 deaths, US enters the hardest and the saddest week in coronavirus emergency, the Americans consider it their Pearl Harbour moment, the tragic 9/11 moment. The European Union's single market is on the verge of a dramatic collapse as the fatal coronavirus pandemic continues to clench the bloc. Empty squares, chained parks, vacant avenues today define Athens, where luxury cars once queued up in traffic as motorbikes zoomed through the narrow gaps. Italy spiraled from a perfectly healthy country to near-collapse in 24 days as the coronavirus took seize. Spain comes to a standstill as it declares a state of emergency.

Excerpt 2- Otters are seen roaming freely in parks of Singapore. Geese were spotted crossing the Tarmac in Israel’s Tel-Aviv, as humans are no longer an impediment to them. As pollutant levels fell drastically in parts of Italy, Venice witnessed sparkling clear water in its canals and swans swimming in it. Dolphins have returned to their own spaces in Italy after 60 years. A study by the UN shows that with most aircrafts grounded and most vehicles parked due to the lockdown in large parts of the world, the ozone healing has accelerated. People in North India are reacting with awe at the sight of the Himalayas, which is now visible from more than 100 miles away due to the reduction in air pollutants in the wake of the shutdown.

The opposing outcomes on humankind and nature offer us some food for thought on the immense power of natural mechanisms to control humankind. It underlines the belief that biological systems, are naturally harmonious, and disorder is always the result of unnatural interference. The fact that human beings, who think themselves as the wittiest species on Earth are now caged like animals, only confirms this hypothesis that Nature is indeed supreme and has her own ways of taming us.

COVID-19, what is it?

The coronavirus, officially known at SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 seems to have spread from a species of horseshoe bat to another animal in a live animal market in Wuhan, China, allowing it to spread to humans. The SARS epidemic in 2003 jumped to humans from civet cats, sold in markets as pets and as a delicacy. MERS was transmitted to humans from camels in 2012. Avian influenza, Nipah virus, Ebola, HIV all of these and many other Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) originated in animals and were transmitted to humans through a phenomenon called zoonosis.

Is Mother Nature sending a message?

Mother Earth has been battered by hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and tsunamis as warnings. But, human beings ignored all the warnings. The result is now we are the biggest victims. The survival of the human race is in danger. This is a clear signal from Nature to respect her carrying capacity or face consequences as unprecedented as this.

Wildfires throughout Australia and Brazil—with the latter triggered by ranching and agribusiness interests—rising global temperatures brought on by fossil fuel extraction, and other extreme weather caused by the climate crisis are all to blame for a loss of "wild spaces.” This continued erosion has brought us unnervingly close to wildlife and enabled zoonosis. Nature is reminding us to modestly recognize, our equality and inter-dependency. 

Several theories on the cause of the pandemic

Far-right politicians, the world over, see the virus as a consequence of globalization; religious enthusiasts see it as punishment for our misdeeds.

Further, a classical theory in this regard would be “unnaturalness” that has long been used to explain all forms of dysfunction- an “unnatural” birth meant a baby born with some deformity; an “unnatural” death meant, a life cut short by murder or accident. Here, COVID-19 is the outcome of unnatural food habits- the indication is to the non-vegetarians.

A yet another interesting theory on coronavirus pandemic goes like this—“We cut the trees; we kill the animals or cage them and send them to markets. We disrupt ecosystems, and we shake viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host. Often, we are it.”

Some say, that it is nature’s mechanism to teach a hard lesson to those who had exploited Mother nature the most. True, if you take a closer look, the worst affected regions are also closer to the center of economic power: the cool industrialized north rather than the warmer developing south.

COVID-19 spread across the continents (source: www.vishnuvwxyz.com)

COVID-19 spread across the continents (source: www.vishnuvwxyz.com) 

Theories on possible solutions

The conventional wisdom suggests that the antidote is a return to natural systems. Likewise, the natural political solution to COVID-19 and similar future outbreaks is to limit the exposure to foreign agents i.e. close up the borders to keep out the disease.

One other theory suggests ‘respect for nature and harmony with it’ as a solution. They say- ‘ecosystems in their natural state are balanced, harmonious, and safe; problems arise when we interfere with them’.

Supporters of the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) opine that the coronavirus outbreak is nothing but nature’s message to humankind to Go Vegan and that Coronavirus is an anagram of “carnivorous.” Obey the laws of nature and flourish. Disobey and suffer.

Social distancing is the key phrase worldwide. Governments and corporates, the world over, are coming up with innovative ways to promote social distancing. The car conglomerate of Audi and Volkswagen has tweaked their logos on the brands’ social media accounts and recent posts. While Audi’s logo has separated its four rings, Volkswagen separated the V and W. This is not all. These testing times also call for maintaining basic health and hygiene, frequently washing hands, sanitization, and the use of masks.

What lies ahead- in the short and long run?

Lending a helping hand

We must not think that our hands are tied and we can’t contribute while staying indoors. Households can lend a financial helping hand to the underprivileged. In fact, each one of us can become active contributors- first and foremost, we can start by taking care of our family, by spending time with them. If you have old parents or grandparents at home, just sitting beside them and reading to them can be a bundle of joy. If you have children at home, spend time teaching them so that their learning and development do not stall because of the abrupt closure of schools.

We can begin with the simple act of paying our household staff even if they can’t come to work; we can contribute by supporting them, by providing them with essentials such as masks, handwash, sanitizers, home essentials, ration. Giving them their salaries won't make us poor, but it would certainly mean a lot to them and there is no better time for kindness than a crisis. But we may have to do more – to find out who are dependent on us for their daily living and how we depend on them for our comforts, and to redress their cash crises. Being willing to ask, enquire, empathize, organize and distribute is all it takes.

If you are a data analyst, you can help the Government by analyzing the data from different platforms about the lifecycle of this crisis and how the world can efficiently deal with it. If you are a doctor, you must be already working round the clock to save lives and tackle this microorganism. If you are an earning member, you can contribute to PM relief fund and other similar funds. If you are an influencer, this is the best time for you to start a community kitchen or a makeshift arrangement for the distribution of food packets and dry ration to the needy.

Humanity is alive and kicking. We just have to look within ourselves and kickstart our compassionate self. Let’s take a pause here to think about our less fortunate brethren and sistren- thousands of daily wage laborers, domestic help, cab drivers. As we hoard our kitchen cupboards with rice and flour, sugar and oil, we might want to pause to think about the farmer. They stand out there, seeds in their hands, and a prayer for rains on their lips, growing food for us.

Without a community that respects the services of workers, and chips in to support by way of demand where possible, subsidy where needed, lending where feasible, and charity without loss of self-respect, how would we protect the vulnerable? We will have to enter a period of accommodation in our daily lives: suppliers accommodating buyers; employees accommodating employers; lenders accommodating borrowers and so on. These adjustments are critical to staying afloat. 

Households with remarkably stable incomes, drawing government pensions; supported by NRI children; or working with the government departments and large MNCs; or in senior positions, facing lower risks of a pay cut and retrenchment have a larger responsibility today. They are a segment that enjoys stability and should contribute to their community by lending, donating, accommodating and adjusting.

Households that are well-off, with adequate and diverse sources of income and assets must spend and lend more, apart from extending their wealth in charity. They can begin and support local initiatives to feed the hungry; to house the poor; to offer subsidies to families impacted by unemployment.

If you are a student, don’t think that you are constrained by budget. Making a simple phone call to your house help or gardener to enquire about their health would perhaps make their day and restore their faith in humanity. Further, you can contribute a part of your pocket money as per your ability and willingness. Don’t forget that a 10-rupee contribution from a million will render 10 million.

Human race owes an apology to ecology

Humans, particularly those in positions of power, must now face the consequences of their appetite for illegal animal trades, exploitation of natural resources, and other profit-driven activities which lead to the destruction of habitats around the world. Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, there must be a renewed focus on protecting biodiversity and wildlife. Humankind must appreciate the interdependence with nature. And as we move towards a 10 billion population on this planet, we need to go into this future armed with nature as our strongest ally. This is the most appropriate moment to begin to see ourselves as being governed by biology and physics, and dependent on a habitable planet. Governments must think beyond a return to business as usual. Our conception of what is “normal” will have to change. We’ll need to invest in natural life-supporting systems such as a stable climate, fresh air, and clean water.

As we witness these testing times, let us resolve to turn this challenge into an opportunity and try to interpret the messages nature has been sending so that the Nature-Human complex can coexist in perfect harmony, so that we don’t have to witness the world in its knees ever again. So that children return to schools sooner than latter, employees return to work, industries kickstart their assembly lines, vibrance return to the busy streets sooner than later.