“Never let a good crisis go to waste”
- By Chitra Andrade
- June 02, 2020
Change, Normalcy, Crisis
Covid 19 (and its socio-economic fallout) is a colossal crisis. But it’s also an opportunity we mustn’t waste—an opportunity to set the world right. In ordinary times “set the world right” would be laughably grandiose. But these are unprecedented times—when governments trade divisive ideologies for audacious goals, when the elderly are safe because the young and middle-aged put their lives on hold, when hospitals are built in days, and the unthinkable made commonplace overnight.
Expert-forecasts tell us that life will never be the same—we have to change the way we exist. And there’s our unparalleled opportunity! Social science research shows us that it’s easier changing our habits during times of upheaval. Imagine what would happen if the changes we make aren’t alternatives to the status quo but solutions to its problems.
We already see it happening. The lockdown has taught thousands of bosses that their employees can work from home. It has taught thousands of businesses that they can communicate effectively with stakeholders over Zoom. And as a result of these lessons we’ve discovered that the stress of long daily commutes is optional. We’ve discovered that there’s a simple way to reduce traffic emissions and that video calls can sometimes make round-trip flights unnecessary.
And we see the radical impact of this change in the canals of Venice that are finally running clear. The Himalayas are, for the first time in decades, visible to villages 200 kilometres away. Birds have finally returned to cities from which they were driven. Carbon emissions are dropping. The quality of air is rising. The planet is thriving because a portion of the global workforce began to work from home!
But there’s more to save than the environment. Over one billion people live in extreme poverty today because of inadequate planning, greed, corruption, and indifference.
Do you long to return to normality? Remember ‘normal’ is a world where profit is valued over the health of our people and planet. ‘Normal’ is a world in which there is enough food for everybody, but millions die of hunger anyway. ‘Normal’ is a world in which millions of children lose their lives to preventable diseases. ‘Normal’ is a world in which abuse is excused and equality a myth. It’s a world in which holding trade deals is more important than holding countries with oppressive regimes accountable.
So where do we go if not to ‘normal’?
We go to a place where we re-establish food-supply chains and eradicate global hunger. We go to a place where we create robust healthcare systems that will serve generations. We go to a place where we are self-reliant, sustainable, tolerant, and compassionate. And we begin this journey in 2020.
If you hesitate because you believe one person can't change anything, look around. This crisis demonstrates, unequivocally, that the actions of an individual can save or destroy nations. Whatever you decide, our reaction to this crisis will shape all of human history.
Chitra Andrade