“It is not nice to fool with mother nature.”
In 1977 Chiffon margarine had a very popular ad which featured an often repeated phase “It is not nice to fool mother nature.” Of course the claim was that their margarine could not be distinguished from real butter.
I remembered this catchy ad this morning while reading the latest news about the reaction to the coronavirus. In just the time I have been doing my life dance, there has been a lot of progress in extending the life span of humans. Better access to food, amazing progress in medical science, and many other factors have contributed to this fact. We have not had a virus as virulent or deadly as the coronavirus since AIDS. Our reaction to the AIDS virus was also much different since it initially seemed to target a section of the population which was not valued by the larger society. HIV also was and is more difficult to transmit than the coronavirus.
We have made great strides in the last 80 years in polluting our air and water as well as destroying the ecological balance in many parts of the world.
In short we have lived as if we can make significant changes in some part of universe without affecting all parts of the system. We like to think that we and not mother nature are in charge. In other words we think we, like Chiffon margarine, can fool mother nature. Yet, mother nature will continue to remind us that we are not in charge; that we cannot prevent all illness all or events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires.
We also cannot ignore certain segments of the population without eventually all segments being affected.
We need to use the visit of the coronavirus to remind us humans:
We can build walls, play politics with tariffs, cry “American First” or in many other ways delude ourselves into thinking that we are self-sufficient and independent of each other and the environment, but mother nature will always let us know, despite the claims of Chiffon margarine, that systems are systems are systems. All part of the system affect all other parts. If we want some people to live longer we have to ensure that all people have access to quality health care and access to good housing, clean water, nutritious food, and a safe environment.
If we want to earth to continues to support this life dance we have to stop polluting the air, water, animals and the habitat of animals.
If we want to limit the death rate from new illness, we have to build a health care system which is able to respond in an efficient and equitable manner.
If we want to avoid the necessity of mother nature limiting the population of the world we may have to take responsibility for limiting the number of births in all parts of the world.
Catchy phrases such as that used by Chiffon margarine will not fool mother nature.
Written March 18, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
In 1977 Chiffon margarine had a very popular ad which featured an often repeated phase “It is not nice to fool mother nature.” Of course the claim was that their margarine could not be distinguished from real butter.
I remembered this catchy ad this morning while reading the latest news about the reaction to the coronavirus. In just the time I have been doing my life dance, there has been a lot of progress in extending the life span of humans. Better access to food, amazing progress in medical science, and many other factors have contributed to this fact. We have not had a virus as virulent or deadly as the coronavirus since AIDS. Our reaction to the AIDS virus was also much different since it initially seemed to target a section of the population which was not valued by the larger society. HIV also was and is more difficult to transmit than the coronavirus.
We have made great strides in the last 80 years in polluting our air and water as well as destroying the ecological balance in many parts of the world.
In short we have lived as if we can make significant changes in some part of universe without affecting all parts of the system. We like to think that we and not mother nature are in charge. In other words we think we, like Chiffon margarine, can fool mother nature. Yet, mother nature will continue to remind us that we are not in charge; that we cannot prevent all illness all or events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires.
We also cannot ignore certain segments of the population without eventually all segments being affected.
We need to use the visit of the coronavirus to remind us humans:
- We are a world economy. What affects one part of the economic system will eventually affect all parts.
- We cannot extend the life span of humans without supporting a health care system which quickly and efficiently responds to all who need care regardless of income, status, or other factors.
- We cannot treat the environments as if it exists outside of a total system.
- We cannot ignore or prevent the natural evolution of pathogens such as viruses.
We can build walls, play politics with tariffs, cry “American First” or in many other ways delude ourselves into thinking that we are self-sufficient and independent of each other and the environment, but mother nature will always let us know, despite the claims of Chiffon margarine, that systems are systems are systems. All part of the system affect all other parts. If we want some people to live longer we have to ensure that all people have access to quality health care and access to good housing, clean water, nutritious food, and a safe environment.
If we want to earth to continues to support this life dance we have to stop polluting the air, water, animals and the habitat of animals.
If we want to limit the death rate from new illness, we have to build a health care system which is able to respond in an efficient and equitable manner.
If we want to avoid the necessity of mother nature limiting the population of the world we may have to take responsibility for limiting the number of births in all parts of the world.
Catchy phrases such as that used by Chiffon margarine will not fool mother nature.
Written March 18, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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