It's hard to comprehend what is happening on a local, national and global scale at the moment. I am not sure I have felt this uncertain as to the stability of the world around me since the earthquake that shook Mexico City in 2017 and caused such meaningless loss of life. Epidemiologists have spoken in great detail on the problems with our modern way of life, and how we are primed for the pandemic that is our current COVID-19 outbreak. What once seemed like the storyline of a decade old Hollywood thriller is now, very sadly, the reality of our daily lives.
“In the 21st century, there are cameras everywhere, except where our food comes from, where our energy comes from, and where our waste goes.”
Our modern world, all the global supply chains, cheap international travel and more that we take so very much for granted are all now on the brink on coming to a sudden end. Yes, these modern conveniences will most probably return at a later date, when a large part of the global population who are currently infected recover and need tier modern life to be back to normal. Sadly, the reality is that between then and now, a large portion of our fellow citizens will be dead.
What will those of us who survive the COVID-19 outbreak do to re-set the balance? Will we return to business as usual? Will the convenience of two hour-same-day Amazon delivery, cheap international travel and eating animals ripped from their natural habitats and placed in cages in wet markets still be the way we live? Will this global pandemic, this seemingly catastrophic event force humanity to hit the pause button? Will it force us to reconsider how we live on this planet?
I hope so.