LOS ANGELES —Today, COVID-19 is devastating the world. It’s in the process of infecting many of us, killing some, shutting down our normal social relations, halting most international travel, and clobbering our economies and trade.“ No country will be safe from COVID-19 until all are. ”
“ On reflection, though, selfish national policies would be suicidal. Even in the short run, no country can achieve lasting COVID-19 security for itself by eliminating the disease within its borders. ” A country that develops a vaccine will surely put its own citizens first. Such prioritizing has already happened with respect to face masks: a few months ago, when those masks were scarce and some shipments from China reached Europe, scrambles and bidding wars ensued as countries sought to secure those supplies for themselves. Worse yet, countries that develop a vaccine may withhold it from political or economic rivals.On reflection, though, selfish national policies would be suicidal.
Just as no country can keep itself free of COVID-19 forever just by eliminating the virus within its borders, no country can protect itself against climate change just by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and reducing its own emissions of greenhouse gases. Atmospheric carbon dioxide, like COVID-19, does not respect political borders.
Kill us quickly, kill us slowly Why, then, haven’t we been galvanized to act against climate change and those other global threats, when we are being galvanized by the milder threat of COVID-19? The answer is obvious: COVID-19 catches our attention, by sickening or killing its victims quickly and unequivocally.
If the world’s peoples join together, under compulsion, to defeat COVID-19, they may learn a lesson. They may become motivated to join together, under compulsion, to combat climate change, resource depletion, and inequality. In that case, COVID-19 will have brought not only tragedy but also salvation, by finally setting the world’s peoples onto a sustainable course.
No People fighting over vaccine already.
Not likely, unfortunately. “The brief weeks of Rawlsian unity have given way to a bitter factional and cultural battle.”
Covid already began the change.
good luck with that.
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