Things to Learn from Covid-19
By Wimar Witoelar
The Covid-19 pandemic has consumed months of downtime. But the time break provides opportunities to do new things or to learn about things.
The Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres opened the discussion at the energy summit by inviting attendees to sharpen the focus on the need to move away from fossil-based fuels to a clean energy future. “A future which protects mankind and the planet and promises wealth,” said Guterres.
Children learn to use computers in a better way, we can improve our work methods. We have time to think about serious things. Questions have a chance to be asked about the development process itself. As somebody who has done work with indigenous communities, we feel that the process of development needs involvement of the indigenous community in a meaningful way. The indigenous community is not only asked for approval in land usage, but they must be involved in oversight of the development process and its impact on development. When the project is completed, the indigenous community must monitor all consequences, because know the area.
For ages indigenous societies know how to live in harmony with nature and not create conflict. indigenous societies know how to protect the environment including rare species. The society needs to give their consent at the outset of development
The public needs to know how much energy the hydropower plant will provide, and their effect on forest and animal ecology.
Right after we learned of COVID it became apparent that we have a new set of rules to live by. One by one we learned the rules. It is totally up to us how well we know the rules and from the various sources.
The basics of COVID-19 are simple, as are the rules to stay safe. Number one: COVID-19 can hit anywhere and anytime and will not discriminate. It can eventually hit heads of government, celebrities, important people, anyone in any walk of life who does not heed the laws of nature. The laws of COVID are quite simple but not always followed. One is: use a mask. Two: give yourself space by social distancing. Three: wash your hands regularly.
These rules are simple but not everyone understands them or accepts them. At least two presidents exhibit degrees of non acceptance that are quite amazing. Resistance comes from both uneducated people as well as highly educated people. It can come from rural America or the seats of higher learning.
There are outsiders and insiders but COVID does not care. It will strike anyone who does not follow the protocols. As we follow updates every week or every day according to our wish, it becomes quite scary when you realize that anyone can become a victim.
The prognosis can be terrifying and confusing when bureaucrats and politicians confuse the issues. To optimize your personal survival, apply your own private rules of protocol. Worry about yourself and your close family, and leave public policy to public people. Do not worry about things that you cannot change, just take care of things that are within your control.
It is difficult to understand, in fact it is actually impossible to understand what governs the rules of COVID victims. Both highly advanced countries and not so advanced countries can perform very well in facing COVID. Best performers in the world include Iceland, Vietnam, New Zealand, and South Korea. These countries represent different types of culture, different social patterns, and different prosperity levels. Yet they have the particular qualities which can keep COVID out.
In Iceland, one contributing factor to their outstanding COVID performance is that their people are very analytical. This island of small population boasts the best laboratories in the world. One routinely collects samples to determine the genetic characteristics of sensitivity to certain diseases. So when demand is switched to COVID analysis, all they had to do was refine the research objectives
When they decide to collect blood samples for DNA analysis, it is done in a rational and matter-of-fact way. In the United States America COVID research has become a highly politicized subject. To wear or not to wear a mask has become a matter of political identity. In this most advanced and prosperous of nations in the world the major voice is that of President Donald Trump who on a regular basis announces his own ignorant interpretation. much to the suffering of the knowledgeable public, of scientists, of academics, of the responsible press. It might damage his chance for winning the elections. Although his motivation is based purely on political and ego biases but often it works on contradictions.
Several states in the United States were able to control COVID after a reasonable period. But unfortunately other states became impatient and prematurely discarded the protocols and moved back into a very self destroying lifestyle so that several states have to be closed again. And the figures of the number of victims and deaths are just zoomed out of control.
As a nation America has become a country which is not trusted by countries which are more successful in dealing with COVID. Western Europe is largely successful and now it does not allow visitors from the US to enter unless they go through a long process of adaptation. Travel between the United States and Western European countries has become quite minimal.
Boredom is part of dealing with COVID isolation. It can be avoided by going to the essentials. Understand the protocol. The protocols of COVID are deceptively simple. Make sure there's social distance between you and the next person. Wash your hands every time you can. And number wear a mask. Doing these in disciplined tempo preempts the feared COVID Pandemic
The rules of COVID protocols are metaphors of things that should improve your quality of life. Putting social distance between you and the next person is a metaphor in not being in a crowded space. Washing your hands represents cleanliness. If you follow these rules the results are bound to be noticeable.
COVID can be prevented if one lives a well regimented life of common sense Diseases come with over indulgence. And one thing we can learn with COVID is to use the time to be aware of these messages of life that can be used to improve daily quality.
COVID has awoken a desire for conscientious dining that connects consumers with local farmers. How is the region's tourism and hospitality industry responding?
As we struggle to adapt to a post-COVID world, Southeast Asia’s hospitality players are shifting gear to cater to the predicted change in demand. Buffets are being banished and menus trimmed, paving the way for farm-to-table offerings to emerge as a fashionable choice for the region’s conscientious diners.
Farm-to-table tourism is where hotels and restaurants connect with local farmers or grow produce on their property to provide guests with fresh and locally produced ingredients, while supporting neighbouring agricultural communities. Activities include cooking classes, helping farmers in the fields and munching on meals with ingredients sourced from a just few kilometres away. In the wake of COVID, people have become more aware of the environment, their local communities and new buzzwords in health and hygiene. “Farm-to-table promotes a new consciousness and delivers a fresh, healthier and tastier food experience,” a food analyst quotes. “Travellers can have comfort in knowing where their food came from.”
While the farm-to-table movement had been gaining momentum ahead of the coronavirus outbreak, experts predict its popularity will accelerate – good news for both the environment and Southeast Asia’s often impoverished farmers. “In the past five years, there has been a lot of interest in ecotourism, wellness, agri and adventure tourism,” says a major global management company. They predict post-Covid, tourist business will focus on these niches, which conforms with the social distancing measures that have become part of the new norm. And farm-to-table offerings sit firmly within the agritourism sector. We expect these areas to boom within the next five to 10 years,” he adds. “Coronavirus will drastically accelerate that rate.”
With Indonesia’s strong agricultural sector, many places are tapping into the region’s huge potential for fresh offerings “Twenty years ago, it was really cool for guests to get tomatoes flown in from overseas. But now people don’t care about that any more. It matters to know their tomatoes came from the property next door rather than from a distant place.
During the resort’s Covid-19 closure, it upped its game and created a sustainable farm. This includes free range chickens, and a range of vegetables and herbs. People who work on such projects say this combined with its foraging programme and working with local farmers will appeal to the new appetite for farm-to-table experiences.
I follow the COVID Protocol intensely. I know the figures for the capital where I live is not good, and I just celebrated my birthday, making me fit in the at-risk age group. I have long-standing medical problems and survive largely through medicines and faith. Now I deepen my faith by understanding of COVID. My statistical chance for survival is strengthened by an increased understanding.
COVID seems to make nature more beautiful. When you look South from Jakarta, on a clear day you can see the mountains in the distance. This was never possible in the pre-COVID haze. There is more. The sky takes on a clear blue color and birds now chirp in the backyard. COVID has diminished the carbon in the sky as the Paris protocol gives way to the COVID Protocol.
In a larger sense, COVID19 helps the mitigation of climate change. Plant ecology is assisted by a cleaner air supply and animals can follow adjustments in the environment. The new normal can be welcomed to stay and prepare for a permanent condition. One final example may be presented in the case of the PLBT, the Batang Toru Hydroelectric Project. This is a courageous application of run-of-the-river engineering, an efficient way to harness the run of the river to generate hydroelectric power. This would meet the targeted output for electrical power with no adverse effect to the territory and no displacement to animal life in the Batang Toru river watershed. The project would conserve carbon consumption in the amount of 1.6 million tons (the equivalent of the carbon stock of 12 million trees) per year.
A moderate measure of controversy was raised largely by activists who misinterpreted the implication of the project, and by a campaign of disinformation. When COVID stopped the project it also stopped the negative campaign. People not engaged in misrepresenting the project paused in their effort and impartial observers had a chance to voice their opinion. COVID encourages policies to be guided by science.
