What lessons, if any can be drawn from history to inform how we deal with the Cornavirus pandemic and it's aftermath?
I don't feel qualified to contribute to the thread, but I will say the grim footage out of New York of the temporary mass burial for unclaimed victims, reminded me of the plague pits now under a car-park 300 yards from here.
Self-flagellation doesn't work. Not for me anyway.
What lessons can be drawn or which ones will be?
I think we'll "learn" all the wrong things, sadly.
Already mentioned it a lot, but the winter of 46/47. Same kind of sudden economic shutdown albeit for other reasons.
We will learn that we must forget any lessons about the past, and instead continue to devalue human life over profit.
Yet now you fill the skies where we watched a million sunsets with flame and contrails, paying no heed to the hard lessons the universe has tried to teach you. Are you a breath of life to invigorate a complacent world, covid-19, or an insidious cancer which must be excised?
It is every citizen's final duty to go into the tanks, and become one with all the people.
Quote from: PDH on April 10, 2020, 03:13:16 PM
We will learn that we must forget any lessons about the past, and instead continue to devalue human life over profit.
It's the only way
too profit. :)
The 2003 SARS lessons aren't very useful for the Coronavirus because the characteristics are different. Coronavirus is much more contagious for example.
Quote from: Monoriu on April 10, 2020, 05:27:45 PM
The 2003 SARS lessons aren't very useful for the Coronavirus because the characteristics are different. Coronavirus is much more contagious for example.
Well in the very short term, that's one lesson much of W.Europe hasn't learnt from E.Asia.
Quote from: mongers on April 10, 2020, 05:38:56 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on April 10, 2020, 05:27:45 PM
The 2003 SARS lessons aren't very useful for the Coronavirus because the characteristics are different. Coronavirus is much more contagious for example.
Well in the very short term, that's one lesson much of W.Europe hasn't learnt from E.Asia.
That sounds wrong on so many levels :lol: The general assumption is that Western Europe is superior to East Asia. We want to learn from you, not the other way round ;)
Quote from: Monoriu on April 10, 2020, 05:57:38 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 10, 2020, 05:38:56 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on April 10, 2020, 05:27:45 PM
The 2003 SARS lessons aren't very useful for the Coronavirus because the characteristics are different. Coronavirus is much more contagious for example.
Well in the very short term, that's one lesson much of W.Europe hasn't learnt from E.Asia.
That sounds wrong on so many levels :lol: The general assumption is that Western Europe is superior to East Asia. We want to learn from you, not the other way round ;)
Yeah, I don't buy it. You're the Middle Kingdom and we are mere gwai-lo.
Quote from: Monoriu on April 10, 2020, 05:57:38 PM
That sounds wrong on so many levels :lol: The general assumption is that Western Europe is superior to East Asia. We want to learn from you, not the other way round ;)
The current fad is to fetishize authoritarianism in the face of crisis. It does make sense in that context.
We'll probably learn about as much as from the 2008 crash. Boy, did that teach everyone a lesson! :)
Quote from: Syt on April 11, 2020, 12:23:57 AM
We'll probably learn about as much as from the 2008 crash. Boy, did that teach everyone a lesson! :)
Couldn't agree more! Not a single sub-prime crash since then! :yes:
More importantly, I think there are a number of lessons we can learn from this.
Maintain sufficient stockpiles at home, including cash, facemasks, rice, toilet paper, alcoholic wipes, bottles of ethanol, hand sanitisers, bleach, canned food, paper products, etc.
It is necessary to maintain a balanced stock and bond portfolio.
Wear facemasks.
Be more vigilant. This is the second time in 17 years that a new type of pneumonia virus hit us. There will be a third time. Each time, there is several weeks' of lead time. Use the time to get prepared.
Public health care is a good strategic investment. Global health care is an even better one.
Quote from: saskganesh on April 11, 2020, 10:23:21 AM
Public health care is a good strategic investment. Global health care is an even better one.
:yes:
Nation state don't just need to be proud of their military, they need to have healthcare the whole nation can take pride in.
Oh, just found a Game of Thrones angle to the question:
Quote
Dubrovnik residents look to the past to understand coronavirus lockdown
The streets of Dubrovnik, known as a location for the "Game of Thrones" series and host to 1 million tourists last year alone, have remained empty since early March when Croatia closed its borders to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.
Full article here:
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/FwDAp8NwIFY/dubrovnik-residents-look-to-the-past-to-understand-coronavirus-lockdown-idUSKCN21T0KZ (http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/worldNews/~3/FwDAp8NwIFY/dubrovnik-residents-look-to-the-past-to-understand-coronavirus-lockdown-idUSKCN21T0KZ)
Quote from: Monoriu on April 11, 2020, 02:49:45 AM
Be more vigilant. This is the second time in 17 years that a new type of pneumonia virus hit us. There will be a third time. Each time, there is several weeks' of lead time. Use the time to get prepared.
This is actually the third. SARS, MERS, now SARS-2.
Leading Spanish coronavirus virologist said on an interview that they estimate a new coronavirus making the jump every 5 years.
You might find this podcast interesting (it is!):
https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/blog/2020/231-from-cholera-to-coronavirus
Quote
231 | From Cholera to Coronavirus
March 28, 2020
David talks to the historian Richard Evans about the history of cholera epidemics in the 19th century and what they can teach us for today. How did contemporaries understand the spread of the disease? What impact did it have on growing demands for democracy? And who tended to get the blame - foreigners, doctors or politicians? Plus we discuss whether the political changes being driven by the current pandemic are likely to outlast the disease itself.
Quote from: Iormlund on April 11, 2020, 10:58:58 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on April 11, 2020, 02:49:45 AM
Be more vigilant. This is the second time in 17 years that a new type of pneumonia virus hit us. There will be a third time. Each time, there is several weeks' of lead time. Use the time to get prepared.
This is actually the third. SARS, MERS, now SARS-2.
Leading Spanish coronavirus virologist said on an interview that they estimate a new coronavirus making the jump every 5 years.
And if China starts enforcing common sense hygene laws in its markets?
Will this virus turn out to be the 'midwife' for any revolutions or wars?
We should remember to not trust China & add the USA to the list of untrustworthy nation.
Quote from: Syt on April 11, 2020, 12:23:57 AM
We'll probably learn about as much as from the 2008 crash. Boy, did that teach everyone a lesson! :)
Both Margin Call and The Big Short are excellent movies.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 15, 2020, 10:56:55 AM
We should remember to not trust China & add the USA to the list of untrustworthy nation.
Who is trustworthy? Denmark, maybe? :hmm:
Quote from: Eddie Teach on April 15, 2020, 12:34:41 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 15, 2020, 10:56:55 AM
We should remember to not trust China & add the USA to the list of untrustworthy nation.
Who is trustworthy? Denmark, maybe? :hmm:
Oh hell to the no.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on April 15, 2020, 12:34:41 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 15, 2020, 10:56:55 AM
We should remember to not trust China & add the USA to the list of untrustworthy nation.
Who is trustworthy? Denmark, maybe? :hmm:
The fact that people think nations are "untrustworthy" (and, by implication, trustworthy) is kinda cute, though childish.
I trust the Californian nation implicitly.
Thank you - we are an odd breed, but our culture and language sees us through.