This is a very good read from Doug. Highly recommended.
The pandemic affords us the opportunity to re-evaluate how society operates, even if only on a local scale but I can't see it being "a great leveller" as indicated by Arundhati Roy writing in the Financial Times (see the post.)
We absolutely have to rethink how things operate but too many are too entrenched in their current positions, too short-termist, to effectively turn society on its side and plan for a more sustainable and equal future.
The response to the virus has been nothing short of amazing, the rate at which governments and organisations have come together to get shit done has been staggering. It shows what we could achieve as a species if we really put our minds to it, if we put our pettiness, disagreements and greed behind us and worked for the benefit of all and the planet.
The virus is in our faces, it's here and now, demanding immediate action. Just imagine if the same sense of urgency was applied to other problems like climate change? But climate change is still a future threat, it's not killing people right now, the main impact will be in years to come. The prevailing short-termism gets in the way.
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Suddenly, reality has shifted once again: from the old normal to the new normal and now to the in-your-face, harsh reality that the virus has found its way into the one place you thought were safe; the sanctum has now become a prison.
A bit melodramatic perhaps, but this is what we and many others are now having to deal with.
Thanks Colin! :)