In a recent video conference involving more than a hundred nations sharing their education and cultural initiatives with regard to Covid-19, the rep of a Western country suggested that aside from sharing individual projects, it would be helpful to present “the big idea” – what are you hoping to achieve.

To respond to that, it seems apropos to consider not only what the pandemic has caused, but “why?” – granting for a moment, that this phenomenon not only has capacity to act but a “purpose” as well.

Just by way of example, we refer to Dao – “earth’s mysterious generative force”, and its ability to provide food, water, shelter from Nothing.

The idea, arising from hunter- gatherers in awe of “nature’s way” later developed into a “spiritual way” – as a corrective to humans separating themselves from the natural way of pursuing food, shelter, sex, to “unnatural” desires like wealth, status, power – transforming what once were simple egalitarian societies into domineering and subjugating ones. “Lao Tzu’s critique represents a fundamental critique of modern capitalism.”

As humans pursued “unnatural” desires they also got in the way of nature, resulting in waste and destruction.
Farm too much, the earth is less productive. Plant only one crop and you invite pests. Build subdivisions on aquifers, and you pollute the drinking water. Create too much wealth for a few and you create social injustice and anger. Overfish and you kill the seas. Build too close to volcanoes and hundreds are killed in the eruptions. Deafness and blindness result from the pursuit of wealth and power putting humanity in danger. Ignore nature, you get a pandemic.

So many lives worldwide have been lost to the epidemic now, due to inadequate response and preparation – for fear of loss of profit, status and power.
In a world of technological extravagance, humans got floored by a virus from a bat? Seriously?

So what is the Big Idea here?

1. response to the pandemic would mean:
   ⁃ Re-think modern capitalism’s (liberal and state) single minded pursuit of profit.
   ⁃ Re-structure policy to expand the bottom line to include human and environmental health and well-being (people and planet before profit).
   ⁃ Re-balance economic, national and social security (we need a prosperous, secure. healthy state and people)
   ⁃ Re-tool capabilities to more effectively pursue independent foreign policy and build regional cooperation (stay connected, that way you are protected).
2. The lockdowns tell us we do not need that much, but we have a lot of catching up to do in services)
3. We apparently live in a conscious environment that reacts to human activity. Disrespect it, and you will have to pay the price.

Ganun dao.

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ernestoabella