PANDEM+onium

What you are about to read is my own particular view and experience of life. It is neither a scientific, anthropological or political thesis. It might sound silly, maybe shocking. Either way, this discussion does not intent to convince anyone to agree with it. The only outcome hoped for from the audience reading is, reflection and maybe analysis or constructive criticism of the content. You may or may not identify yourself with the context and may or may not, gather some insights from it. Any response is a positive response, if only laughter.

PANDEM+onium

Not long ago we were imagining how amazing it would be to have access to unlimited information, to able to visit other places, travel around the world, meet diverse people, acknowledge their varied cultures, taste exotic flavours even listen to unique music. To experience a life far beyond our imagination. Well, we no longer have to imagine as we have already reached that point. It’s called globalisation. This ongoing process has been fully accelerated over a few decades, moving towards its own collision against many contradictory ways of living. It is hard to say whether the globalisation benefits have overcome its prejudices along its way. Nevertheless, it is undeniable how globalisation has been a crucial instrument of worldwide development, be it in remote places or in the most accessible ones.

It is amazing what the power of one click on your internet browser can achieve to access information, be it via texts, images or sounds about almost everything and anything. In fact, it is no longer necessary to leave the comfort of your home to visit places across the world: museums; the bottom of the ocean; space, watching the sun disappearing around earth and so on. Information is priceless and is updated constantly. Every micro-second there is some new information being added online, printed, explored and shared somehow. Therefore, information speed has left human capacity of acknowledging it far behind. Despite all that, it has reached an average percentage of 60% of the entire world population via online connections so far. Although that might sound like a positive number, we are almost 8 billion of people living on Earth. That said, we are talking about approximately 3 billion people with no internet access whatsoever.

In contrast to that the average percentage of illiteracy is about 15% worldwide, which is a huge percentage still in numbers of people without basic education. Nevertheless, if the audience does not know how to acknowledge, understand and absorb the information, it becomes useless no matter the method of obtaining it, whether you have academic education or not. Besides, people tend to underestimate those who have not had a formal education, disregarding how life experience can be enrichingly instructive. Especially nowadays with the advance of technology and communication, heavily used by all generations and making information easily accessible. However, facts and fake stories have been blended into the same informative environment, deceiving and misleading great part of society, which now swing through perilous terrain with harmful consequences, some irreversible even.

A few decades ago, information was more accurate and factual than it is these days. Due to the multiple communication channels available, information travels through facts and fake news within a blink. The latter have used catchy methods, enchanting those who have immediate curiosity and maybe shallow goals, exploring the smooth surface and going with the flow. Even for those who question and investigate information and its sources and background, get confused by this pandemonium of data. That said, social media is a powerful tool initially used to connect people across the world. It has played an important part in society since its advance. However, it also has been used to spread vanity and fake news that have shaped the world we are living in: a world where the influencers are no longer those who won Nobel or Pulitzer Prizes, genius or philosophers, but those who have more "likes", "followers" and/or have shown "life savings" tutorials online.

As previously mentioned, information in old times was said to be more factual and accurate but was it really? In fact, media has always been a tool managed and manipulated by politics and corporations. Perhaps, due to the limited communication channels during old times, information was easier to control, and it was not acknowledged by most people. Whereas nowadays anyone can access information, but still not many understand it. As there are so many news channels for example, information may be twisted. Worldwide audiences are divided by conspiracies, fairy tales, fake news and social vanity. Thus, it becomes very hard to properly question and investigate the information available for intelligent and civilised discussion.

That division has been even more visible worldwide within many other social and political spheres. Looking back a couple of decades ago, when society had achieved and progressed so much relating equality, race, sexuality and so on, we are now facing going backwards with old issues rising to the surface again, almost like they have never moved forward. So many nations are now run by dictatorships and kleptocratic regimes “elected” by their own citizens´ free will, by people who may claim to be wise and well informed. Elections are not only based on votes bought through favours, but also for the false perception of the so-called rights ideologically preached. It is almost like their attitude should be mirrored by their followers, regardless of the laws applied. That saying: "everyone has the government they deserve", it is not quite fair, but not totally inaccurate.

Recently, according to unveiled information, the Covid19 pandemic had its starting point at the end of the year 2019 in China. This pandemic has had a long-lasting impact worldwide within healthcare, politics, economics, finance and environmental fields. Despite the conspiracy theories out there about its origins, motives, treatments, cures and so on, there are also some other points to be reflected on. There is no denying how devastating it has been through the loss of life and ever-increasing poverty. Nevertheless, Planet Earth breathed more freely for a few months and nature brought back a few specimens of flora and fauna that had been almost extinct for many years. Rivers flowed cleaner, green forest evolved, clearer skies, cleaner air. The climate seemed to be returning to balance. It took just a little while for Planet Earth to start healing itself. That shows how simple it could be to cohabitate with nature, sharing a mutually beneficial scheme, if was not for humankind’s selfishness and greed.

That is not all that we can observe during these sad and mad times. Before this current pandemic, globalisation had also shared new trends, behaviours and attitudes among different cultures, not always the best ones. Within a multicultural city those actions are more clearly and quickly noticeable than elsewhere. Previously it felt like our personal space far so big. We could choose to avoid eye contact, pretend to read a book and not interact with our surroundings. Our conversations could be dismissive such as sending the message "I’m not bothered" and so on. Now, our personal space is almost non-existent. People pass through, clash and bump, into you if you are standing in their way or on their personal spot. Magical words such as “please, thanks and sorry” seem to have left people´s vocabulary, as it has become more and more rare to hear them. I wondered if that fashion was something related to cosmopolitan centres, until I went back to my hometown and realised it is a global phenomenon.

Society has gone from one extreme to the other without adjustments and time goes by faster than we can cope with. What seems to be a trend among people nowadays is a general selfishness combined with intolerance, especially during this pandemic time. It is noticeable that in many instances common sense has long gone. Whist many people have lost their loved ones and colleagues, watching the numbers of death increasing sporadically, some oblivious protests have been running worldwide. There are some clusters who protest against the Covid19 vaccines, others against wearing masks, some calling this pandemic a hoax, many more spreading the idea of a governmental conspiracy, even calling it a higher plan to eliminate part of the world population. Whatever the background of those protests is, a lack of respect has been evident and shocking.

No matter who is right or wrong in this equation, respect is paramount in a civilised society. Free speech must be preserved and guaranteed for all and with it comes not only respect but rights and duties. People seem to misunderstand what freedom means and how it functions. An individual freedom can end when somebody else´s starts. This is a simpler way to explain its drawn imaginary invisible line. There were some protests claiming government has taken our freedoms away, an interesting observation considering the protesters were wandering and chanting freely. What exact sort of freedom were they talking about? People’s right to choose, accept, ignore and so on, I believe. I am reminded of the prevailing intolerance and objection to gay marriage. You could sum up by saying: "do not marry someone of your own sex then but respect those who do”. The same applies to those protesters.

Despite this whole PANDEM+onium we find ourselves immersed in, there have also been many good deeds with a more positive attitude towards others. Much of the media does not report the good in our lives as it seems it is not profitable according to their audience and sponsors. There are other strands of media that have been focused on promoting the good within us. During these difficult times there have been so many people helping those who are less fortunate, giving their time, care, attention, food, clothing and so on. Some people have even helped others to get along with their lives professionally and/or emotionally. Such actions make such a difference to people´s lives, not only for those in need, but also for those who have given support and time to others. Sometimes we think a small gesture might be insignificant but for those who need it, it can fact be a huge demonstration of care and compassion.

The saying "every bad thing happens for a good reason" may resonate in the current context. Despite all the undeniably tragic outcomes from Covid19, it has also given us time to think, adjust and evaluate our lives in ways we may have not previously imagined. Reviewing our principles and values can make us realise that life is a single blessing given to each of us to make the best of. Instead wondering who to blame for this pandemic, we must realise what really has been missing among us in society: love. Love is the one thing that will help us to overcome any challenges in life and open our minds to our surroundings. These difficult times have made many of us realise that though life is fragile and short, we can rethink what really does matter. Furthermore, it has shown love comes in many forms, be they individual or collective, from a loved one or from a stranger. So, this is the moment for us to revaluate when thoughts like: "I’m not bothered" or "I don’t care" cross our minds. We must be bothered, and we must care. Let´s follow the philosophy of ants: the effort of working together not only brings us closer but also makes us stronger and gives us the potential to achieve anything and everything. If we all care for each other and recognise that our differences can make us stronger if we work together, we will remain part of a unique cluster of kindness.

Humankind!

Leandro Bernardes 2021.