The second important choice we confront is between nationalist isolation and global solidarity. Both the epidemic itself and therefore the resulting depression are global problems. they will be solved effectively only by global cooperation. First and foremost, so as to defeat the virus we’d like to share information globally. That’s the large advantage of humans over viruses. A coronavirus in China and a coronavirus within the US cannot swap recommendations on the way to infect humans. But China can teach the US many valuable lessons about coronavirus and the way to affect it. What an Italian doctor discovers in Milan within the early morning might well save lives in Tehran by evening. When the United Kingdom government hesitates between several policies, it can get advice from the Koreans who have already faced an identical dilemma a month ago. except for this to happen, we’d like a spirit of worldwide co-operation and trust. Countries should be willing to share information openly and humbly seek advice, and will be ready to trust the info and therefore the insights they receive. We also need a worldwide effort to supply and distribute medical equipment, most notably testing kits and respiratory machines. Rather than every country trying to try it locally and hoarding whatever equipment it can get, a coordinated global effort could greatly accelerate production and confirm life-saving equipment is distributed more fairly. Even as countries nationalize key industries during a war, the human war against coronavirus may require us to “humanize” the crucial production lines. an upscale country with few coronavirus cases should be willing to send precious equipment to a poorer country with many cases, trusting that if and when it subsequently needs help, other countries will come to its assistance. We might consider an identical global effort to pool medical personnel. Countries currently less affected could send medical staff to the worst-hit regions of the planet, both so as to assist them in their hour of need, and so as to realize valuable experience. If afterward the main target of the epidemic shifts, help could start flowing within the other way. Global cooperation is vitally needed on the economic front too. Given the worldwide nature of the economy and of supply chains, if each government does its own thing in complete disregard of the others, the result is going to be chaos and a deepening crisis. we’d like a worldwide plan of action, and that we need it fast. Another requirement is reaching a worldwide agreement on travel. Suspending all international travel for months will cause tremendous hardships, and hamper the war against coronavirus. Countries got to cooperate so as to permit a minimum of a trickle of essential travelers to continue crossing borders: scientists, doctors, journalists, politicians, businesspeople. This will be done by reaching a worldwide agreement on the pre-screening of travelers by their home country. If you recognize that only carefully screened travelers were allowed on a plane, you’d be more willing to simply accept them into your country. Unfortunately, at the present countries hardly do any of those things. A collective paralysis has gripped the international community. There seem to be no adults within the room. One would have expected to ascertain already weeks ago an emergency meeting of worldwide leaders to return up with a standard plan of action. The G7 leaders managed to organize a videoconference only in the week, and it didn’t end in any such plan. In previous global crises — like the 2008 financial crisis and therefore the 2014 Ebola epidemic — the US assumed the role of worldwide leader. But the present US administration has abdicated the work of its leader. it’s made it very clear that it cares about the greatness of America much more than about the longer term of humanity. This administration has abandoned even its closest allies. When it banned all travel from the EU, it didn’t bother to offer the EU such a lot as an advance notice — including consult the EU that drastic measure. it’s scandalized Germany by allegedly offering $1bn to a German drug company to shop for monopoly rights to a replacement Covid-19 vaccine. albeit the present administration eventually changes tack and comes up with a worldwide plan of action, few would follow a pacesetter who never takes responsibility, who never admits mistakes, and who routinely takes all the credit for himself while leaving all the blame to others. If the void left by the US isn’t filled by other countries, not only will it’s much harder to prevent the present epidemic, but its legacy will still poison diplomacy for years to return. Yet every crisis is additionally a chance. We must hope that the present epidemic will help humankind realize the acute danger posed by global disunity. Humanity must make a choice. Will we travel down the route of disunity, or will we adopt the trail of worldwide solidarity? If we elect disunity, this may not only prolong the crisis, but will probably end in even worse catastrophes within the future. If we elect global solidarity, it’ll be a victory not only against the coronavirus, but against all future epidemics and crises which may assault humankind within the 21st century
