We all know that low immunity; a weakened physical state, can pave the way for sickness. What if we applied that same concept to Coronavirus sweeping the globe? We might think of modern times as a period of the gradual depletion of our reserves. Greed, self interest, war, racism, mass migration and inhospitable climates. It doesn’t seem so strange that this has happened now – following wave after wave of social division. And crucially, at a time where global, systemic change was needed to fight climate change. We see in nature an organismic drive towards health – but a flower will not flower without sunlight or decent soil, and a child depends on her environment, the family, for psychological and physical health. So, thinking of our planet as another organism, we can extend the theory that we cannot be healthy if it isn’t. This is a holistic view of humanity and our World as a coherent whole, where we might acknowledge our dependence and fragility as Earth’s inhabitants. 

You can look back a long way to see the deterioration of the planet’s health, but in just the last three years we have watched Britain being torn apart by its deep divisions over Brexit, and America headed by a man with a total disregard for truth or scientific reason. Both movements have legitimised bigoted views, dividing people over immigration in Europe as well as sexuality and women’s rights in the US. People have been increasingly turning on each other, particularly online, emboldened by remote communication. Real communication has suffered, community has suffered. The media has capitalised on the differences between us, stoking the fire, driving us further apart.

Meanwhile as Greta Thunberg pointed out “our house is on fire”. And she is right. She has inspired a generation, but sadly not the generation in power. After much hand wringing precisely nothing has changed over climate change, except that Boris came into power to preside over the monumental sidetrack that is Brexit, while the house continues to burn.

And then Coronavirus arrived. It arrived in China, no less, the largest polluter of our planet’s nations, as if attacking the planet’s weak spot. The virus recognises no borders, and has travelled like we do, across continents. Now the World is grinding to a halt, like one giant, weakened sufferer of the virus; unable to go on, choking to a standstill. And as we grind to a halt, trying to slow the spread of this awful new disease, attempting to protect the vulnerable and prevent our health systems crumpling, we might also notice that during this brief hiatus the planet can take a breath. Thousands of flights are being cancelled. People are working from home. The virus has forced us to change our plans, change our habits and adapt life to a new priority; staying healthy, or slowing the rapid spread of Covid 19.

But this is also an opportunity. We must not miss it in the desperate scrabble to get through the dark times ahead.

Perhaps as we face the inevitably awful weeks to come, we can remember what we have in common. We all, regardless of colour, religion, or political persuasion, face the same threat. We, or our loved ones, could be killed by this virus. It is an opportunity to watch divisions evaporate, as our shared humanity comes back into focus. We have had to wait for our leaders to take essential decisions about closing schools, cancelling events and closing borders, but the success of containing the virus depends on everybody taking responsibility for themselves and doing their part. The same can be said of the need to change behaviours to affect climate change.

Just as the virus itself disregarded national borders, we might be well reminded that coastlines and frontiers are only nominal dividing lines. They are sketches on a map, they do not really define one set of people from another. We are one people, and we need to look after each other in these frightening times. One people, with one homeland to look after. Earth. So in a few months when this is over, and life returns to normal, we shouldn’t look to re-book all those flights, pumping carbon emissions back into the atmosphere. Consider some of the changes we’ve made in these weeks and months of coronavirus lockdown as having been made at exactly the right time, for reasons the planet knew best.

I only hope our leaders notice the possibility of widespread change at short notice and maintain it. The health of our planet and our future here depends on it.