The recent global crisis caused by the novel coronavirus virus COVID-2019 heavily affected my life and my habits. As an international citizen living in Thailand, one of the many affected countries, our educational routine as well as extracurricular activities have been radically changed and/or suspended. Of course, many of us would argue that this crisis is beneficial to us students, as we can be relieved from this constant educational stress and are able to learn from home and take our time, but is it really that beneficial? Exams such as IB or IGCSE have been canceled, AP exams have been changed and are now online. Students are looking short term but not long term, and this is something we, as teenagers, should realize and correct.
The sole idea of being quarantined and not being able to go out is strange to most of us; the idea of our liberty, our freedom being taken away, or at least being limited, brings a sentiment of solitude, or even of sadness. Personally, the concept of being confined and being ''forced'' to stay at home isn't itself the issue, the problem is not being able to see other people; to not being able to physically communicate our passionate environmental message; To carry on the changes many of my colleagues at Grin Green International and WeSwear have been trying to spread.
Many would argue that as of today, the global environmental situation is recovering as a consequence of COVID-19, that the environment is detoxing itself. Of course, there is evidence that this pandemic ''helped'' the pollution to decrease, thanks to the limited amount of cars on the road and factories still running. Although we are seeing short term environmental benefits; what about the long run? When this crisis will be finished, are we really going to keep the same environmental situation? The problem is, our habits are still the same. Yes, as of today, we cannot go out. Yes, as of today, we aren't taking our cars. And, yes, as of today, factories aren't running, but when all this is going to be finished, everything will be back to what it was before.
As someone who cares about the environment, who tries his best to make a change, even if it is small, I believe that we should take a minute, and think about all these habits that we can change and that will have a positive impact on the environment. For example, when this pandemic subsides, or when the 'curve flattens', people will go to restaurants and use plastic straws, but what if you made the decision to use metal straws? Would it take a lot of effort? I would argue that no, it doesn't, yet it is a major issue that both kills ecosystems and wildlife.
My current quarantined predicament has given me time to think for myself, to be able to explore my passions, evaluate the ongoing social consequences of COVID, and how to apply the myriad environmental lessons the pandemic continues to teach; but what is the point of being successful in life and to pursue its passion if there is no future if the world we will live in will be too polluted for human life and other species to be maintained.
This environmental crisis has been here for years, yet society made it secondary, made it something that could be solved later. The population reacted quickly to the pandemic, from one day to the other, schools closed, malls closed, and people stayed at home, and yet, when we show the effects of human activity on the environment and even on ourselves, nothing is being done. Don't get me wrong, I am scared, I am scared of the situation we are in right now, but I am not scared of the virus itself, I am scared of the human nature, of society and the way it runs. We are all in this together, this is a situation that never happened in the modern world, and I am quite surprised by the cohesion and the support people have been giving to each other. But why does human solidarity only arise for this kind of situation? Is it because of the major coverage made by social media? Is it because of the unprecedented events and decisions made by governments around the world to limit the casualties? This brings tears to my eyes and makes me ask myself why isn't the environmental crisis taken as seriously as this pandemic. Nevertheless, this gave me a certain hope, hope that humanity can unite itself to find a solution. I am sure one day people will realize the threats ahead of us and will take the emergency to heart, but when will this be? This is my fear…