Call to action: quashing future global catastrophes
There’s nothing like a global pandemic to highlight and worsen the divisions within our society.
Health inequality based on age, gender, race and geography is prevalent when looking at the effects of Covid-19 on an individual, and where economic stability is concerned, this pandemic has deepened the differences that exist; with accessibility to technology now a determinant of a child’s success in education, for example.
The extent to which the elected has power over the electorate is increasingly apparent, with apathy toward government decision making unavoidable. These fractures within our society have always existed, but yet they have not been as visible to all. They have been ignored, and arguably avoidable. All of those mentioned here are blindingly inescapable and merit discussion and consideration.
What could the elected have done that they have not? What can we do as individuals, and businesses, to regain influence over the post-pandemic* world we live in and more so, ensure we actually have a sustainable planet to live on? (*if there is such a world, perhaps I should say the ‘altered world’).
The disastrous implications Covid-19 has had on our society in the UK is a result of inaction by the Government combined with over confident decision making at an individual level.
Perhaps the two are inversely proportionate — if the Government acted in a way that seemed less ‘reactive’ (read: incompetent) then we would see individuals abiding by the rules and vice versa. I am hypothesising here. What we do know is that our elected officials across the globe, including our UK Government were briefed on a pandemic being a threat. Global risks are regularly assessed.
In the matrix above, ‘infectious diseases’ are considered a below average likelihood but above average impact. Look at the ramifications this relatively unlikely pandemic has had: countries locked down — signalling to our enemies that we fold when faced with biological threats; our economy in the UK being shattered — with national debt set to be higher than the borrowing accumulated during WW2; and healthcare systems overrun, with choices being made on which patients have the greatest chance of survival using some inhuman, point based triage system. The dealing of this pandemic — which I add has lasted a short 10 months so far — is far from sustainable. In this same risk assessment, ‘climate action failure’ is listed as a high likelihood and high impact.
Why are governments hesitant to act preemptively? One reason is short termism; the focus on getting political mandates hurried through the checks and balances in the elected period. Political parties look at what needs to be done rather than what can be done and prioritise securing the next election win rather than future proofing social care, education, environment and the economy. During a recent topical conversation with Perry Timms about decision making and sustainability (it so happens that to be the subject of this post), Perry mentioned the native Iroquois people of North America. Their “Seventh Generation Principle”, whereby they lead their lives in a way that should ensure the survivability of their descendants seven generations into the future, is astounding. ‘Long term’ planning within the UK Government and businesses speaks of ten, maybe twenty years… not even a generation. The Iroquois approach shows consciousness, awareness of surroundings and a commitment to living within their means. Could this ever be possible in our society nowadays? Fascinating to think and hope, nonetheless.
Decision making within large bureaucratic organisations is undoubtedly difficult. The UK Government has teams of people dedicated to just that — analysts inputting information into statistical models, and even with this abundance of expertise, there is uncertainty, ambiguity. People at the ‘top’ need to be guided by this input. Boris Johnson and his nearest and dearest cabinet members and scientists are the poster people for Covid-19 decision making. So as society divisions widen, they are blamed.
But when decisions on our liberties are made, responsibility then cascades down to us, as citizens. Do we listen to our elected representatives when our country is facing a time of strife? Or do we regain control of our fate and make decisions that oppose the guidance, rules and even law. There has been a bit of both in the UK during the Covid-19 induced lockdowns. What causes an individual to revolt? At an individual level, decision making may appear simpler, yet it is complex. The fields of psychology and neuroscience have hordes of research on the matter. Not being a trained Psychologist, and not being convinced that my first year University elective in the discipline offered much beyond an understanding of ‘Pavlov’s dog’, I shall not define how individuals are making decisions here in the UK. I shall again rather hypothesise, and in doing so pronounce that confirmation bias as well as overconfidence bias may be at play for the ‘rule breakers’. “The Government is rubbish, and so Coronavirus won’t affect me. What I am doing isn’t harming anybody…” may be some rationale. Individuals may be asymptomatic in cases, but no one is immune to Covid-19. And no one is above the rules.
I fear the chaos that would ensue in our world if another pandemic were to strike at a time where a climate emergency were declared. Imagine a time where there are water wars due to shortages, where the privilege we have in our Western Countries is irrelevant and we become prisoners of geography; and against this backdrop, another coronavirus spreads in the air.
I consider myself in a fortunate position compared to a lot of people, with access to tech so I can work remotely, a supportive partner and perfectly charismatic child who keeps me optimistic. But this virus doesn’t discriminate. And neither does climate change. Those more fortunate cannot think the world will forever be our playground. This includes our elected representatives, thrust into a position of power to act, not debate. And to safeguard our future, not to safeguard solely theirs. If we can all make decisions more consciously, we can reverse at best and stall at worst human made damage done to our planet.
In the words of UK broadcaster, natural historian and all around legend Sir David Attenborough, “the real threat is not to the survival of the planet, but to the survival of humanity.” Planet earth will find a new rhythm without us here. How easy, connected and flowing this rhythm with our planet is, is now up to us.
It may be difficult to think beyond tomorrow when everyday in lockdown feels like groundhog day! Yet, what bigger call to action — to avert devastating global catastrophe — do we all need than seeing the effects that just ten months of an infectious disease considered ‘below average likelihood’ can have? Decide consciously, act responsibly. We owe that to our next generation, let alone ourselves.
