For several years now, I have repeated in exasperation: We can’t continue on this path of greed and destruction of the natural landscape. It is unsustainable. We need to STOP this. We need a thunderclap!
The other morning, my husband looked at me and said, “Well, Diane, you got your thunderclap.”
I winced. I certainly didn’t want this - a highly contagious virus spreading death and upheaval and immense sorrow around the world. What I did want was climate change to be recognized and greed to stop and more compassion, tolerance and kindness shared among ALL of us.
But here we are in this very troubling time. I find myself in disbelief and grief. I passionately plead to family and friends to be safe and just stay home. I readily admit, I am scared for all of us.
We are living in a crisis. But all crisis’ can provide deep insight into ourselves and our society if we take the time to reflect upon them. But will we? Will we take personal time to wonder why this virus showed up, why there was a pandemic and why so many had to die? Will we ask why so many recent floods and fires? Will we ask ourselves the very difficult question: Are we or any of our actions responsible for it?
I believe we will have the chance to change our ways and make this a better world if we choose to, but will we? I don’t have the answers to my own questions but as David Quammen said in his interview with Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee in the podcast, Shaking the Viral Tree, I am hopeful.
I encourage all of you to listen to this podcast. It is not only scientifically informative but also insightful about how we have landed in this pandemic and what we can do to help prevent more of them.
In these sad, scary times, I remain HOPEFUL! Be well everyone, stay safe and LOVE each other.
- Diane
