Keeping Perspective
WWC - Coping with Coronavirus
IN THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES TO HELP EXPATS DEAL WITH CORONAVIRUS, PROACT SAM EXPLORES HOW EXPATS CAN PROTECT themselves AND EXPLOIT OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
Part 4 - Keeping Perspective
ProACT Sam takes stock of the hysteria that could arise in our world by looking at other significant global events.
GONE
The beautiful Greek island of Santorini was created by a massive volcanic eruption and subsequent tidal waves in the Mediterranean. It wiped out the dominant and advanced Minoan civilisation around 1100BC. The Minoans had dominated the eastern Mediterranean culture and economy for over a thousand years and were wiped out suddenly and dramatically as coastal cities and communities were swamped and destroyed in the Tsunami that followed. Now that was a disaster.
EXTINCTION
The Europeans arrived in Australia completely changing the communities and wildlife there, so much so, the native bird, the Dodo was driven to extinction in 1662. The Tasmanian Tiger fared a little better, lasting until 1936 before the last captive specimens died and the species became extinct. Modern humans may be different?
Tell that to the Chinese River Dolphins who lived up the Yangtze River until pollution destroyed their habitat and drove them to extinction in 2002. That was a consequence of human economic activity, while the African Black Rhino were hunted to extinction in 2011. A fine trophy in the cabinet of human success. Bumble Bees could be next. Unless Mother Nature fights back?
WORLD WAR CEE
Are we now in a world war with the corona virus? We don’t know. Corona is a type of common cold virus that visit humans seasonally and mutate to create new outbreaks year to year. Except corona is different from the usual seasonal ‘colds’.
It is a new virus that human society have no general immunity against, and it is more contagious than a normal winter cold or flu. For those that get a bad dose, it can cause problems which medical systems may not be able to cope with.
As with all diseases, people will die. So governments around the world have moved to a war footing to enable mankind to beat this silent enemy. The economy has effectively been closed. Recession, social and business change is inevitable. But the world will not end.
PERSPECTIVE
Over the last 20 years the rise of the internet and social media has seen an unprecedented flow of information. We are still learning how to cope with this new world. We have seen global scares and doomsday scenarios promoted by vested and self interests, governments and politicians, businesses and their PR machines.
Global warming will bring change. Storms, fires, earthquakes, tidal waves will continue to occur. As they always have throughout time. They could be Minoan bad, or this years’ Brexit news.
Brexit is change, but it was never going to close the economy down, cripple businesses built up over a lifetime, destroy sectors of the economy overnight and leave millions of people out of work and locked in their own homes. In this moment we may have a crisis but we should keep a perspective. While we have our family and food, life is good.
DESIDERATA
Happy Ever After Max Erhmann wrote his poem DESIDERATA in 1927, the time of the Great Wall Street financial crash. The translation of the word describes living happy ever after with dignity, honesty and a positive outlook. The poem implores us to consider the universe is unfolding as it should. Consider these days the opportunity around us. In our children’s eyes, our partners smile, the team effort. Today will pass. Change is inevitable. But it is still a beautiful world, urges Max; be cheerful, strive to be happy.
Download a copy of the poem from our website and read it with love to yourself, your family and your team.
Keep in touch
The team at ProAct Partnership have many years experience as and working with Expats across the world. If you have any concerns about how to protect your family, your business, assets or you simply would like to get in touch, please contact us. We will be happy to hear from you.
Listen to the podcast
Watch the vlog
Next
Part 5: Recession, Depression, Opportunity