Coming up, corona’s red, orange and green lists
During the lockdown, folks in quarantine have been prolific in writing, cooking, dancing, and singing. But I was numb as I assimilated the changes wrought in our lives post Covid-19, and came to terms with the fact that life will never be the same again. Never in the history of the world has a pandemic been so universal. It respects nothing -- nationality, religion, rich or poor.
It’s truly viral. They used to say that when America sneezed, the world caught a cold, but Covid-19 has given the world pneumonia. No one has been spared. Metaphors coalesce with the mundane as one realises that this virus has literally forced the world to shut down. While we may have rebooted, no one knows how many files have been corrupted beyond repair.
Since the beginning of time, the world’s major religions have held doomsday beliefs and Armageddon is staring at us. It isn’t a sci-fi film. If we are to avoid apocalypse, it’s time to walk the talk. What good are Mercedes and Lamborghinis or posh homes, centrally air-conditioned malls and sky-scrapers, if a tiny virus could take you out any day? Also, it would live forever in the air-conditioning plants, impacting thousands. What if we found a vaccine for this one, but there’s another one mutating somewhere? I’m hoping and praying for a miracle and a vaccine. But will it be the cure?
Corona has shown us the mirror. All our lives are interdependent and there is consensus on channeling resources into fostering a more egalitarian and sustainable society. Sustainability was always a desirable goal but not many practised it.
Seeing the skies turn blue, the Ganges cleanse itself, hearing birds sing and watching deer vaulting into city-squares during the shutdown has shown succinctly that our lifestyle choices were not sustainable. We can get by with much lesser: two square meals, clothes can be washed and worn, and homes that shelter. What counts above all is the health and well-being of those we love.
As the whole country is divvied up into red, orange and green zones, perhaps it’s time to draw up our own corona colourcoded lists. Couture and brands are on my red list, and making functional choices that are sustainable and kinder to the environment, man and beast, on my green list. Hygiene is green and non-negotiable for everyone because if anyone interacting with you is unwell, you will be too. It’s also green to share your surpluses, because in poverty will breed the viruses which can spread.
In food, nutrition and kindness should guide our choices, the likes of caviar (sturgeon roe), baby lamb and pâté de foie gra, should definitely be on everyone’s red list. The occasional farmed chicken or fish, in moderation, can stay on the orange list. Locally grown vegetables, fruits and grains are unequivocally green list.
Our choices impact demand, which in turn influences investment of resources into the areas that matter, such as education, healthcare, poverty alleviation and the environment and will going forward, hopefully enable a kinder, healthier world.
This is a world that needs decisive action, that will impact not just our lives, but of those whose lives and actions intersect with ours, which is effectively everyone because supply chains navigate the world. In the words of the famous song composed by Michael Jackson, “We are the world.” The world must come together as one to heal itself.
COUTURE AND BRANDS ARE ON MY RED LIST, WHILE HYGIENE IS GREEN AND NON-NEGOTIABLE