Almost everybody will agree with this: 2020 has been quite a terrible year. It caught all of us unguarded. The discovery of a new virus in a province in China changed the world stage scenery. Deeply concerning as it was for the first few months, we have all taken our time to process the whole encounter and adjust ourselves accordingly to the changes it has brought. The way we communicate, associate, work, shop, travel, and even eat, all have converted into new modes of doing things under restrictive environments amid quarantines and community lockdowns. New habits and rituals became part of our daily lives that will most likely stay for a few years until we reach a "new normal."
Could all have been averted? Maybe it is a bit too late to think about this with all the things that have transpired. But for many years there are experts in different fields of science that have been warning us about the inevitability of an incoming modern outbreak that might reach a pandemic level. Also, as many of us know, pandemics are not new. Different plagues claimed victims during ancient and historical times. The Spanish flu is one of the worst pandemics that the world ever faced. Today we are still plagued by HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Cholera, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and many other diseases that lay waste to many lives. And then we now have the Novel Coronavirus or Covid-19 as we know it. Experts are also studying other viruses that are hidden in ancient permafrosts that can also bring unprecedented disaster and destruction to humans.
One thing we can notice about the observations of the scientific community is that most pandemics are caused by disturbances in the natural world. The Novel Coronavirus is said to have originated in a wet market in the Chinese province of Wuhan, where they sell meat and items from exotic wildlife. Research about this remains inconclusive. But it tells us something. Viruses are found virtually everywhere, and mostly they are to be found in many species of animals in the wild. Should we let them on their own and do not encroach on their natural habitat, it could lessen the chances of transference of those deadly viruses' to us. Not to pose as an expert but it is almost as commonsensical as that.
Taking care of ourselves and our needs means taking care of the world we live in. Scientists and experts point out that the disturbances and destruction in nature caused in part the calamities that we face. As people convert lands and forests for agricultural or industrial use, the greater are the chances that we get to come into contact with different species that host pathogens lethal to us. We don't want to be jeremiad but imagine what will happen if those ancient permafrosts thaw and unleash those ancient viruses due to global heating.
This first modern pandemic, as has been said, changed the world we live in and the way we live our lives. We began working and studying at home. Buying things online is not just a trend anymore but a necessary precaution. Travel and transportation are done only if necessary and unavoidable. We choose to do our meetings online. Wearing masks is almost mandatory. The world became very restrictive and movements are limited.
The flaws in our systems are also exposed. We saw the unpreparedness and inability of many governments to contain the virus in their countries. Health care systems in many countries are also shown to be inadequate. We should keep in mind that aside from Covid-19 we are also battling many problems in our society. In many places, we are facing hunger, terrorism, natural disasters, racism, pollution, and crimes that the pandemic worsened. It will take tremendous effort and unity to overcome all of these and emerge from the trials we face.
But not everything is grim. We have seen the strength and nobility of the human spirit in many places that inspire hope in front of dark times. Many front-liners and essential workers sacrifice their own safety to bring a sense of normalcy by providing us their services despite the enormous risk. Many doctors and other health workers devote their time and effort, some even sacrificed their lives to take care of those unfortunate ones hit by the virus and many other medical conditions. Researchers found ways to hasten the production of the vaccine that can help us combat the deadly virus. Many responsible members of the police, firefighters, first-responders, and many other local forces help maintain stability, peace, and security amid the chaos that we have. We even hear or see news about some of them doing even the littlest things like helping the elderly, children, and many vulnerable parts of our society that helps us restore our faith in authorities. Yes, there are many cases of abuse and corruption in the police, but let us not forget that many of them are on our side and can aid us in times of our need. We learned how many of us should take care of each others' needs. The stories of neighborhoods providing help to needy ones, giving appreciation to essential workers in their community, responding to emergencies, and many inspired deeds warm our hearts and prompt us to do the same.
In our own way, we learned many lessons, too. Many of us learned the value of taking care of our health, not only physical but emotional and mental health as well. We learned the importance of friendship and connection despite the distance. As we jumble work, chores, and recreation, we find noble ways to manage our times and stress. We came close to our family and learned how much we should care for them and how much we need them in our lives. That change can happen anytime taught us the importance of preparedness and vigilance. That as we discover flaws in the systems that are supposed to help us but only worsen our condition, we continue to move forward, to stand united, and to bring about positive steps towards helping one another. Seeing how we tend to each others' needs is priceless. In these dark moments, we taught ourselves to appreciate every moment, every little thing that we have right now, and to hope that better days will come. This is to say that the pandemic brought about many lessons that can help us in many challenging circumstances we might face in the future.
Also, we should always remember the sacrifices of those health workers, essential workers, and those in front-line services that continuously giving their time and effort and putting their selves at risk to provide us with our needs. We should find ways to show our appreciation to them and that we are grateful for their services. Let us never forget those who sacrificed their lives during this bleak period while doing their duties, along with all those who lost theirs due to the virus.
Global leaders may have missed the warnings backed by much research and studies. Heeding the voice of reason and facts is invaluable and can save lives. For our part, it will be very helpful to remember all the many lessons this last year of the decade gave us. As we enter a new chapter in our history, we look forward to a better future ahead of us. Notwithstanding the many setbacks the pandemic caused, we still progress in many areas. It is important to remember why we need to keep on striving to improve and develop, in large scope such us in science and technology and in our personal lives. It is because the life of each of us is important and by continuing to progress we help create a better life for ourselves and for others. Let us also never forget the importance of kindness, that caring for each other is a great force that helped us continue in front of the hardship that we faced in 2020.
2020: An Unforgettable End of a Decade by Leandro Angelo Castro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Could all have been averted? Maybe it is a bit too late to think about this with all the things that have transpired. But for many years there are experts in different fields of science that have been warning us about the inevitability of an incoming modern outbreak that might reach a pandemic level. Also, as many of us know, pandemics are not new. Different plagues claimed victims during ancient and historical times. The Spanish flu is one of the worst pandemics that the world ever faced. Today we are still plagued by HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Cholera, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and many other diseases that lay waste to many lives. And then we now have the Novel Coronavirus or Covid-19 as we know it. Experts are also studying other viruses that are hidden in ancient permafrosts that can also bring unprecedented disaster and destruction to humans.
One thing we can notice about the observations of the scientific community is that most pandemics are caused by disturbances in the natural world. The Novel Coronavirus is said to have originated in a wet market in the Chinese province of Wuhan, where they sell meat and items from exotic wildlife. Research about this remains inconclusive. But it tells us something. Viruses are found virtually everywhere, and mostly they are to be found in many species of animals in the wild. Should we let them on their own and do not encroach on their natural habitat, it could lessen the chances of transference of those deadly viruses' to us. Not to pose as an expert but it is almost as commonsensical as that.
Taking care of ourselves and our needs means taking care of the world we live in. Scientists and experts point out that the disturbances and destruction in nature caused in part the calamities that we face. As people convert lands and forests for agricultural or industrial use, the greater are the chances that we get to come into contact with different species that host pathogens lethal to us. We don't want to be jeremiad but imagine what will happen if those ancient permafrosts thaw and unleash those ancient viruses due to global heating.
This first modern pandemic, as has been said, changed the world we live in and the way we live our lives. We began working and studying at home. Buying things online is not just a trend anymore but a necessary precaution. Travel and transportation are done only if necessary and unavoidable. We choose to do our meetings online. Wearing masks is almost mandatory. The world became very restrictive and movements are limited.
The flaws in our systems are also exposed. We saw the unpreparedness and inability of many governments to contain the virus in their countries. Health care systems in many countries are also shown to be inadequate. We should keep in mind that aside from Covid-19 we are also battling many problems in our society. In many places, we are facing hunger, terrorism, natural disasters, racism, pollution, and crimes that the pandemic worsened. It will take tremendous effort and unity to overcome all of these and emerge from the trials we face.
But not everything is grim. We have seen the strength and nobility of the human spirit in many places that inspire hope in front of dark times. Many front-liners and essential workers sacrifice their own safety to bring a sense of normalcy by providing us their services despite the enormous risk. Many doctors and other health workers devote their time and effort, some even sacrificed their lives to take care of those unfortunate ones hit by the virus and many other medical conditions. Researchers found ways to hasten the production of the vaccine that can help us combat the deadly virus. Many responsible members of the police, firefighters, first-responders, and many other local forces help maintain stability, peace, and security amid the chaos that we have. We even hear or see news about some of them doing even the littlest things like helping the elderly, children, and many vulnerable parts of our society that helps us restore our faith in authorities. Yes, there are many cases of abuse and corruption in the police, but let us not forget that many of them are on our side and can aid us in times of our need. We learned how many of us should take care of each others' needs. The stories of neighborhoods providing help to needy ones, giving appreciation to essential workers in their community, responding to emergencies, and many inspired deeds warm our hearts and prompt us to do the same.
In our own way, we learned many lessons, too. Many of us learned the value of taking care of our health, not only physical but emotional and mental health as well. We learned the importance of friendship and connection despite the distance. As we jumble work, chores, and recreation, we find noble ways to manage our times and stress. We came close to our family and learned how much we should care for them and how much we need them in our lives. That change can happen anytime taught us the importance of preparedness and vigilance. That as we discover flaws in the systems that are supposed to help us but only worsen our condition, we continue to move forward, to stand united, and to bring about positive steps towards helping one another. Seeing how we tend to each others' needs is priceless. In these dark moments, we taught ourselves to appreciate every moment, every little thing that we have right now, and to hope that better days will come. This is to say that the pandemic brought about many lessons that can help us in many challenging circumstances we might face in the future.
Also, we should always remember the sacrifices of those health workers, essential workers, and those in front-line services that continuously giving their time and effort and putting their selves at risk to provide us with our needs. We should find ways to show our appreciation to them and that we are grateful for their services. Let us never forget those who sacrificed their lives during this bleak period while doing their duties, along with all those who lost theirs due to the virus.
Global leaders may have missed the warnings backed by much research and studies. Heeding the voice of reason and facts is invaluable and can save lives. For our part, it will be very helpful to remember all the many lessons this last year of the decade gave us. As we enter a new chapter in our history, we look forward to a better future ahead of us. Notwithstanding the many setbacks the pandemic caused, we still progress in many areas. It is important to remember why we need to keep on striving to improve and develop, in large scope such us in science and technology and in our personal lives. It is because the life of each of us is important and by continuing to progress we help create a better life for ourselves and for others. Let us also never forget the importance of kindness, that caring for each other is a great force that helped us continue in front of the hardship that we faced in 2020.
Image by Farbsynthese on Prixabay.
2020: An Unforgettable End of a Decade by Leandro Angelo Castro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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