YESTERDAY BEFORE COVID… TOMORROW AFTER COVID

The history of humanity is a long way traveled by the human community.

The confinement period of a very large majority of the world’s population is a time for societal reflection, in all countries…

How will we live together tomorrow?

There is now in the brief modern history of human society BEFORE and AFTER Covid-19.

We can “be born” several times:

After a serious accident / bereavement / loss of job / rape / mediated false accusation / very complex emergency operation / scandalous abandonment / divorce / or after a fearful and deadly pandemic…

The Covid-19 has shaken up all the benchmarks that humans had in their routine, their comfort, their hobbies, their whims of consumers eager to have everything, and immediately …

Today, we must reinvent our daily life, “reborn” and even invent another model of society for tomorrow. Which tracks will we choose? Tomorrow begins today to give birth to new behaviors. It is time to change our individual and collective attitude to live BETTER and spend LESS. It is possible !

 

The time has come to rethink our interaction with nature which has been so mistreated, soiled for several generations by earthlings that certain climatologists and / or environmentalists define as:

• ecological delinquency,
• the outrageous exploitation of land and seas
• pollution, shamelessly, of air, water, soil, food, the engines of plant, animal, and human life.

It’s time to have a fresh, simple, benevolent look to build a world that values mutual listening, solidarity, the sharing of goods and powers, wonder at what is beautiful… in short, living our human condition without being an addict consumer, without rudder for his life …

 

The smallest actions are sometimes the noblest… supporting those who are going to die… being present with those who require care (care of all kinds). Each person is THE life, just like OUR personal life…

 

A DAY FOR THE EARTH?

 

April 22, 1970

Thousands of American citizens, especially students, take to the streets to launch the first global alert: pollution, reckless exploitation of natural resources are poles apart from the scientists of the time … it is urgent to have the concern for the future of the planet.

The remarkable – and noticed – publication of the book by biologist Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, an alert – the first of this importance -, translated into the main languages ​​of the world, gives birth to an environmental movement which, during the years, takes importance, weight, in the thinking of citizens of all countries, from a handful of conscious scientists, at that time. Gaylord Nelson, a remarkably lucid politician, preoccupied with passionate form and recurrent with the problems of nature conservation makes the historic decision of his life: to put the environment on the political agendas.

At that time, the objective was to achieve citizen education on environmental issues. It begins with an appeal to all North American student leaders Students from 10,000 high schools and 2,000 faculties take to the streets of cities in the United States to demand concrete actions and measures to protect the planet before… it is too late. It was in 1970.

 

But beyond the demonstrations in the streets of big cities, American citizens are mobilizing to make small gestures for the planet: collecting waste, planting trees, gestures that seem insignificant …

 

2009

The UN recognizes the need to include in the world calendar, a day dedicated to the environment – EARTH DAY – considered as an important educational event to be celebrated all over the planet.

 

For years now, the youngest strata of the population have become the most active activists in global climate mobilization.

Today, more and more teams of researchers demonstrate that the Coronavirus pandemic is entirely linked to the global crisis of the planet. This is a rampant problem that we have been carrying with us since long before the decade of 1970…

We are altering the chemical structure of the atmosphere, the pH of the oceans, we are seriously reducing biodiversity, we are causing ultra-rapid erosion of the soil, we have polluted our buildings, schools, houses with asbestos, etc. , etc. for 50 years.

“Nature” is a system exploited outrageously by economic rules contrary to the laws of the living.

 

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22

This day should be used as an opportunity for reflection and education about the attitudes and habits of the human being. But beyond the deliberation of the forums which are organized on all sides, we must succeed in changing our routine anti-ecological habits, in rethinking our consumption choices and above all correcting our attitudes of sometimes delinquent relationships towards the planet.

 

2020

50 years after the “1st day of the Earth” organized in 1970, the public begins to perceive that nature is not a subject (object) but a system (living organism) managed by an awkward human intervention, often erroneous and sometimes perverse who says that the earth is abandoned to … a disaster.

 

THE REVOLUTION?

Some enthusiastic activists call for revolution. Is this the right path? What are the lessons of history?

In France, the first great revolution (1789) was started to abolish privileges (of the ruling class). Even today, many categories of citizens benefit from diverse and varied privileges in several public services and state or semi-public services …

 

• In France, the 2nd revolution (May 1968) arises as a revolt against socio-economic inequalities and for an unlimited freedom of expression and without taboo: “It is forbidden to prohibit” … which gives birth to a civilization d emancipation of morals built on individualism which allows and justifies the explosion of an unlimited development of consumption. Everything is “consumable”, we are free and without rules, since what prevails above all is the formula “I-me-me-my pleasure” …
• Globalism is the third revolution of another kind and another dimension. It is a question of erasing all the particularisms of states, regions, cultural specificities…

The goal is to facilitate world economic exchanges oriented, directed and controlled by a cartel of a few families, of a few financial groups who wish to impose a global uniformity which is favorable to a more profitable world economy for the international financiers.

This 3rd revolution is the fruit of a “political-financial sect” which concretizes the project of globalism under false appearances of well-being for all humanity.

Globalism is orchestrated by a small group and will be a new failure since it banishes well-being together, the active solidarity of all civil society, the sharing of powers of governments and decision-makers.

The solidarity put forward by the speeches is only a media slogan. It will never be materialized individually if there is no adequate pedagogy. It will never be achieved collectively if there is no support for organizations that work according to integral ecology.

 

∆        “In times of universal deception,

telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” George Orwell (1903-1950)

 

∆         “The best and the greatest revolution begins

by self-revolution,” Lanza Del Vasto (1901-1981)

 

Can the tax be a means for a beneficial societal change? The time has come to tax what is good for the planet and to overtax what is bad for the planet…

 

• For example, it would be necessary to reduce the tax burdens of companies that develop activities beneficial to the environment, invest in the circular economy, integral ecology. Organic farmers, recycling and composting companies, promoters of green energies, social activities of disinterested humanitarian aid, associations for helping poor families, the handicapped, educators commissioned for environmental prevention education, all organizations that act courageously to make up for the absence of a government structure (national or local), innovative municipalities and groups of citizens who value pollution-free areas, all deserve societal thanks, public encouragement.
• On the other hand, the governance of the states should be very incentive for the abandonment of all that is harmful to the planet and the health of the population such as pesticides, polluting detergents, models of motor vehicles that consume large amounts of petroleum fuels, the smoking in all its forms, the fast-food initiator of malnutrition pathologies, junk food distributed in communities (sugar, salt, colorings, additives … of all kinds) responsible for allergies, perverse immune reactions …
• Instead of punishing companies and repressing their managers, they should be corrected by high taxes, thus showing that their chosen path is harmful for all, for the health of the environment (which must be cleaned up with high costs) and for the health of the population (dizzying spending to correct the perverse effects of pollutants of all kinds).

 

A MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

 

After COVID-19, you need to change your individual and collective behavior. This is possible, provided that there is an ACTIVE Environmental Pedagogy Ministry, led by dedicated administrators to instill relevant civic social behavior.

1. Consuming like spoiled children who demand everything right away is the opposite of educating responsible citizens.
2. Behave like conquerors to whom everything is allowed to enjoy individually all that is suggested by expert advertising to create false needs (1) and / or objects or services harmful to the well-being of the community … must stop to bring happiness to the community and the survival of the planet.
3. Requiring always (and always more) administrations, governments, business owners without bringing anything in return is irrational and unrealistic and leads to collapse, a complete failure (2).

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1. 1. (1) Producing artificial snow to extend the season for skiers or to make up for the lack of snow due to weather changes, is this an essential necessity to satisfy a few thousand fans (and at what cost!) there were no other activities, other hobbies to choose throughout each season!
   2. (2) On January 20, 1961, John Kennedy, the new American President-elect, delivered one of his most famous speeches: “Do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” The formula was successful worldwide and surprised all commentators of the time. It will become the official motto of one of the most prestigious institutions of Harvard University, the Graduate School of Public Administration, founded in 1936 and known today as the John Fitzgerald Kennedy School of Government which welcomes 1100 American and foreign students every year to learn to govern the world, run businesses, manage NGOs in an approach free from old ideologies.

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The transformation of a country, a territory will only be successful if everyone participates fully, concretely, actively.

The quote borrowed from President Kennedy can be transposed to the level of a municipality: what does each citizen do to “improve”, “perfect” the collective life of his Municipality.

4. Living as consumers who want to satisfy all their wildest (and most useless) desires and desires by always demanding the lowest prices is to refuse to see that behind every object purchased there is a human being ( a man, a woman, sometimes a child) who participated in its manufacture and was often exploited. The most virulent (or caustic) of trade unionists seem to “forget” this aspect, and even often ignore even the concept of fair trade, whether it is North-South trade or national or local trade in products placed on the market. in total indifference as to their manufacture, their marketing, their value, their social cost, their human cost.
5. Stop having a daily behavior that certain environmental activists describe as “delinquent”: deposit its waste next to public trash cans, provided for this purpose, do not close the waste collectors, which causes the proliferation of flies and insects providers of collective contamination, this is a situation which can cause a very high cost in the health budget of the community.
6. Allow yourself by recklessness, daytime and sometimes nighttime noise pollution by backfiring motorized vehicles, devoid – voluntarily- of regulatory silencers, to satisfy your own ego to impress friends and girlfriends … is this a “behavior of living well” together” ?
7. Leaving automobile engines running during endless discussions with neighbors or friends or during endless phone calls: noise pollution, air pollution, consumption of polluting and exhaustible oil resources: an attitude neglect that concerns us all and continues to affect the quality of everyone’s environment.
8. Resign in front of dogs barking (day and night) while dog training helps to control this nuisance. Everyone has the right to an environment of calm and nocturnal silence for their rest, well-being, and health. Every dog ​​owner should receive a “citizen education” that respects his neighborhood. Seniors’ centers are particularly victims of this widespread type of nuisance.
9. Reduce the number and the luminous intensity of the municipal lampposts which unnecessarily illuminate the streets of the villages and the cities, while the inhabitants are in great majority in front of television and are by no means in the streets. The lighting produced by a high density of streetlights is a very high energy cost for cities and towns and a poor collective expense. In some countries, villages at the forefront of practical, real, and concrete ecology have reduced their number of lampposts and even eliminated night lighting after 11 p.m. These villages make their municipal choice an argument of “environmentally conscious village”. An example to follow !…
10. Repair as soon as possible the broken areas of the municipal road network. Failure to repair pavements dotted with “potholes” cause costs (sometimes high) for motorists (tires, suspension, etc.). The negligence to intervene of responsible people is badly accepted by the motorists who end up accusing the laxity of the municipalities, of collusion (collusion) with the garage owners or local body shops. The negligence of some creates criticism of others … which damages the harmony of the social life of a community.
11. Teaching the composting of all plant waste can be one of the first educational initiatives to be planned in all cities and municipalities. This priority should begin with the example of leaders. The composting project, well run by a competent team, should generate revenues that exceed expenses. The multiple examples that exist in many regions and many countries deserve to be multiplied in a large number of municipalities.
12. Develop a cleanliness and hygiene campaign for all citizens throughout the city so that the municipal slogan is quickly “Welcome to the CLEAN city of …: we offer you a healthy environment for your well-being and your stay in our city”. Streets, sidewalks, public places (parks, bus stops, surroundings of public buildings, proximity to school, swimming pool, stadium …) overgrown with cigarette butts, bags of sandwiches, plastic bottles or cans of beer, “Totoloto” cards, packaging of all kinds … resulting from unacceptable behavior have been cleaned by the citizens (like the village of Mawlinnong in India). Without an educational and permanent long-term campaign, nothing will change, and children continue to neglect collective hygiene like adults today.
13. Faced with the collective neglect of “good manners”, it is essential to teach the “citizen reflexes” that we should all have for the “good living together” of the community, such as picking up a waste in the street and put it in the nearest municipal trash can. It is a responsible attitude for everyone’s environmental health, which any citizen can easily put into practice today.
14. How to make a city clean? a clean village? pleasant to all? It is easy, it’s simple… if each resident does his part! Each inhabitant cleans in front of his house and the section of street which is in front of his house, up to the limit of the house of the neighbors on the right and on the left (as is traditionally done every Friday in many villages in Switzerland ) and as if by magic, the whole street becomes clean, for the great pleasure of all. This attitude is a behavioral rule adopted in certain regions of European countries. The participation of all the inhabitants – each doing its part – has the advantage of reducing the municipal budget devoted to the cleanliness of the streets and the hygiene of collective spaces.

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The budget thus saved, and the human resources can be transferred to:

1. The installation of citizen education pedagogical panels in the city’s strategic squares and crossroads to raise awareness among citizens on various priority themes will lead to a beneficial change in the behavior of residents. The city of Entroncamento shows us an interesting educational example.
2. Valuing the often-thankless repetitive manual work of certain officials in charge of hygiene is a social project which should hold the attention of all the Municipalities concerned with the most harmonious collective social life possible by promoting the most mundane tasks.
3. The challenge of chronic drought in our region, due to climatic changes gives birth to an innovative and promising project at the national level: to market a “reservoir” material for the recovery of winter and spring rainwater for later use of water during summer periods of drought (recovery of rainwater from the roofs of houses, buildings, municipal buildings, etc. in large capacity reservoirs allowing rational use of rehydration of dry land). Without an intelligent program for collecting and storing wastewater, we are headed straight for increasingly significant periods of chronic drought which will lead to a permanent desert! For the generation of today’s children who will become adults tomorrow, we must act now, create resilient forests of local species, not monopolies of very uncertain fast-growing species.

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15. Encourage citizen days that are adequately publicized (1) with the local population to – together – plant trees, windbreak hedges, allowing the presence of microclimates which stop the inevitable desertification when nature is abandoned.
16. Set up educational gardens in elementary schools to give rise to responsible attitudes in the daily lives of children when young people have become adults.Choose, for example, a year, 2 villages in Concelho to create a garden, 2 other villages the following year … after obtaining the agreement of an “organic animator” experienced in this activity.

Choisir, par exemple, une année, 2 villages du Concelho pour créer un jardin, 2 autres villages l’année suivante… après avoir obtenu l’accord d’un “animateur bio” expérimenté dans cette activité.

 

Obviously, you can’t do everything at the same time. Each year, choose a theme to prioritize / prioritize, the one that appears most urgent to materialize for the benefit of all.

There is no collective and individual change without collective and individual pedagogy.

It should undoubtedly be the first budget of the States, Regions, Municipalities rather than providing for ever increasing budgets for cleaning, decontamination to achieve a minimum of hygiene, a correction of civic incivility, of societal delinquency. which lead to a GARBAGE PLANET in all sectors of collective life.

 

A painful questioning

A questioning of the population has come to our ears on several occasions over the past several months … How many Municipal Councilors will visit the elderly alone in the villages of their Concelho, isolated in their house or sadly abandoned in a house for the elderly in their village ?

During the confinement period, we heard from people without sadly lonely “telephone visits” in their deadly isolation.

It was shocking to hear that elected officials rarely hear from our elders. Societal abandonment reflects a society in involution.

It is a questioning that arises in this period of isolation of the most fragile, the most vulnerable of human society, of which we are a part and for which we must be attentive and pay attention.,

 

(1) a discreet classified ad on the Municipalities website is totally ineffective in informing and motivating the population for citizen action. Other methods must be found. Which ones?

1. municipal vehicle fitted with loudspeaker which informs the public ??
2. written invitation from the Municipal Council to its citizens to go to such a place for such civic action (invitation in the mailboxes of residents) ??