Written by Sobita Bharthi
It is clear that the recent corona virus outbreak, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, has
caused the destruction of millions of lives but also the economy of many countries, but could it be a lesson humanity needed to realize our mistakes? In the past couple of months there have been over 5 million cases of the virus and over 340,000 death- these numbers still growing. This widespread disease has caused more awareness of personal hygiene, like tutorials on washing your hands and the implementation of basic rules like covering your mouth when you cough.
While the lockdown has seized our daily lives preventing us from doing day to day activities like going to work or going to school, it has allowed families to spend more time with each other, making them realise the importance and strengthening familial bonds. This has specifically made a lot of parents spend quality time with their children. They now know the vitality of their presence at home and realize what they have been missing out on. An article by “The Washington Post” titled “Fatherhood is more visible than ever. But will dads working from home actually step up more?” beautifully explains the effects of the lockdown imposed on citizens of many countries worldwide leading to the conclusion that “The wall between work life and family life has crumbled. As a result, fatherhood is more visible than ever before.” Hopefully this pandemic teaches parents a valuable lesson on their conduct and
approach towards their children’s lives and proves the benefits of quality time spent
with their young ones.
Humanitarian work is also at its peak; from retired doctors going back to the frontline to help those affected to existing health-care officials working overtime, deprecating their own mental and physical health for others. Community kitchens in Kerala, India have supplied free food to the needy who are not able to feed themselves amidst the quarantine. Not only are celebrities and major organisations having virtual fundraisers but almost everyone with sufficient means has donated to various causes that are all aimed at mitigating the pandemic.
Although this virus has forced us humans to stay inside it has encouraged other
animals to roam free after years of hiding due to the busy crowds and pollution caused by humans. For centuries mankind has invaded animal habitats for our own need. However due to recent circumstances animals are seen returning to their homes all over the world and has given us a glimpse of what could have been if it wasn’t for selfish behaviour. Thanks to the lockdown, otters are seen roaming freely in Singapore thanks to the lockdown preventing
crowded pathways; coyotes and geese are running wild in the empty streets of San
Francisco; Deer are coming out of hiding in Sri Lanka freely grazing around not
scared of human contact.
Nature has slowly begun reclaiming its space that we snatched away from it. No
matter how far technology may expand, no matter how dominant we may seem; we
have to understand that we do not own this planet but much rather share it with the
million species co-existing with us.
Apart from that nitrogen and carbon emissions have been hugely cut down due to
the temporary discontinuation of factories which has led to much cleaner skies and
rivers. This pandemic has reduced carbon emissions from China by over 100 million
tons.
Oceans are much cleaner, Skies are less polluted and animals are happier all due to
the absence of human interaction, which makes us question our very role as a
species living in this planet. It’s about time we learn that our actions have
consequences, we must learn to co-exist or nature will fill extreme ways to reclaim its
space.
What has happened is in the past and cannot be changed but hopefully this pandemic acts as an eye-opener for us to use our conscience appropriately for the good of not just ourselves but the ecosystems that co-exist with us and the future generations that depend on us.
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