Due to current lockdowns, most human activities have come to a halt
KARACHI: While the world struggles in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, unprecedented living conditions have brought about a sudden realisation that humans are not at the forefront of nature. Evolution theory, introduced by Darwin, only proves that mankind was able to adapt to earth’s changing environment at a much faster rate. This does not mean that we reign supreme over other creatures.
For many centuries, man has separated himself from nature, believing that natural resources are purely there for unlimited consumption. What we fail to see is that we are the virus that is destroying nature, and perhaps the emergence and the consequent spread of Covid-19 is nature’s attempt to fight back.
Due to current lockdowns, most human activities have come to a halt. This has given nature time to recover from man-made disasters. The depletion of the ozone layer has reversed while a significant decrease in the carbon footprint of countries such as China and the US has been recorded. Pollution levels around the world have also drastically reduced. Lahore, in particular, has witnessed a 62% decrease in air pollution. The Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) released data which showed “a sharp drop in particulate matter (PM2.5) levels [in Lahore] since the lockdown began”.
It is important to acknowledge and recognise these changes internationally if we are to understand the signs that nature presents us with. Rethinking our place in nature will help us be more prepared for future challenges. We need to start believing that we are also subjected to nature’s destructive forces just like all other living creatures are.
Ghazala Siddique
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2020.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
