TESTING TIMES

Global production of
plastic (an extremely
lightweight material)
was 359 million
tonnes in 2018, up
from 1.5 million
tonnes in 1950, even
though it is widely
known that plastic
seriously harms
ecosystems, especially
oceans, marine life
and even drinking
water.
rule of law; (iii) addressed some of
the worst consequences of conflict
such as forced displacement; (iv)
built resilient societies through investment
in inclusive and sustainable
development; (v) addressed grievances
related to exclusion – from
access to power, natural resources,
security and justice; (vi) empowerment
of communities and inclusive
decision making for sustained
peace; (vii) supported sustainable
growth, created jobs, alleviated poverty
in indigenous areas; (viii) promoted
people – centered approach
for managing natural resources and
sharing of benefits derived from
them, and (ix) strengthened local
conflict resolution mechanisms,
while promoting peaceful, just and
inclusive societies.
Avoiding Pandemics and
the transition to a sustainable
world
We have had three pandemics
since 2000 – severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) in 2003, H1N1
(swine flu) in 2009 and now Covid-
19. Covid-19 and SARS spread from
China and swine flu from an intensive
pig farm in Mexico. In between,
we have had regional outbreaks of
bird flu from poultry, the Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
from camels, Ebola from monkeys
and pigs, Rift Valley Fever from livestock,
West Nile Fever from birds.
Zika from monkeys and Nipah from
bats. The root cause of all the above
diseases can be broadly put under
three baskets:-
First, nature destruction. Due to
deforestation and habitat loss, wild
animals and humans are now nearby,
leading to the spillover of animal
diseases into humans. Ebola, West
Nile virus, Nipah and Zika come
under this category. Similarly, livestock
is also coming in contact with
wildlife and transmitting pathogens
to people, like the Rift Valley virus.
Second, traditional culture. The
practice of eating exotic wildlife,
sometimes raw, is spreading novel
pathogens to human beings. Both
SARS and Covid-19 have their origins
in the pig farm of Mexico and
wildlife markets in China.
Third, intensive animal farms.
The industrial farming of animals,
by keeping animals very close to
each other and pumping them with
growth promoters like antibiotics
and steroids, is another cause. Bird
flu and swine flu both have their origin
in intensive animal farms.
The COVID-19 pandemic is unleashing
a human development crisis.
It is affecting health, economy
and broad social dimensions of development
and eroding gains that
accumulated over decades. Building
back a better future after the pandemic
is not a zero-sum game of environment
versus economy. Rather
its once – in – a generation chance
to set things right for health, economy,
peace, and security.
To combat the pandemic, our
efforts included the following:-
“Distancing” from wildlife and
reducing deforestation; strong social
protection for the poor and vulnerable
to ensure that they have enough
to eat, access clean drinking water
and sanitation, and strengthening
health systems, disease surveillance
and public health interventions with
vaccine;
For mitigating COVID-19 impacts
and boosting long-term
growth will include:-
Science-based decision making,
sound governance and a sense of responsibility
of individuals; promoting
and operationalizing the One
Health Approach; preparedness,
including via policies for reducing
risks of disease emergence such as
from land use and wildlife trade;
closing of critical knowledge gaps,
and engaging all sectors of society,
and everything we do during and
after this crisis (COVID-19) must
be with a strong focus on building
more equal, inclusive and sustainable
economies and societies that
are more resilient in the face of pandemics,
climate change, biodiversity
loss, pollution crisis, and the many
global challenges we face.
Avoiding single use of plastic.
Global production of plastic (an
extremely lightweight material) was
359 million tonnes in 2018, up from
1.5 million tonnes in 1950, even
though it is widely known that plastic
seriously harms ecosystems, especially
oceans, marine life and even
drinking water. More than 8 million
tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean
each year equals to dumping a garbage
truck of plastic every minute,
and recent estimates show that 14
million tonnes of micro-plastic already
resides on the ocean floor.
Fish and other species ingest and get
entangled in plastic, and the microparticles
can be ingested by humans
who consume fish or seafood. Plastic
particles also reach tap water in
many areas, more than 80 percent
of samples from five continents are
found to be contaminated with plastic
particles. Ingesting plastic particles
can have direct consequences on
human health, as it may cause cancer,
reproductive problems, asthma,
obesity and other health problems.
Though a few countries have already
witnessed a change in some social
norms, plastic bags are seen as offensive,
are charged for using them,
or are prohibited altogether.
Building sustainable and inclusive
cities and communities.
Cities and communities are negatively
affected by climate change,
loss of nature and pollution, hin-
Opinion Express July 2021 25