Opinion

What awaits humanity in coming decades is far worse than Covid

It helps give perspective to reflect that the Covid-19 pandemic is a first in human history in that it has paralysed economic activity across the globe, in poor and rich countries alike, in cities with populations of 20 million people and villages and hamlets with scarcely 100. It has house-bound the rich in their palatial homes with expansive gardens and the poor in their wood-plank corrugated iron shacks. Governments, whatever their political ideology, have a common priority, the elimination of something which can’t be seen, smelt, heard or touched but is able to enter a person like a ghost and kill them.

Governments passed legislation barring unnecessary journeys. Although this has caused some anguish benefits include cleaner air, a fall in the number of animals killed on the roads, a decline in the disruption of wildlife, less litter on roads, a dramatic drop in the emission of global warming gasses, less resources used and fewer things being thrown away. Many have acquired a greater appreciation of the natural world which may induce more positive behaviour towards it.

Confinement has given rise to innumerable community self-help groups. There has also been an almost universal awakening in regard to the level of peoples’ dependency on each other. National health services across the world that have been under-resourced for decades are now appreciated for their true value.

The demographic who are mostly dying from the virus has highlighted the deep levels of inequality in society and the negative consequences for all because of this. The virus will never be eliminated until the slums housing millions across the world are replaced with decent homes with people having easy access to public-funded health services and education. Contrary to what it says in the bible poverty need not always be with us. Structural poverty can be a thing of history if governments channel the vast sums they spend on armaments and war into eliminating poverty, if corporations paid a living wage and countries reformed their taxation system in favour of fairness.

What awaits humanity during the coming decades is far worse than Covid-19. This is the collapse of ecosystems due to climate breakdown, loss of biodiversity and our general ravaging of the planet.


If we regard the demise of the biosphere and structural injustices  in the same way we regard Covid-19 we may, relatively speaking, have a new world in the morning.

LAURENCE SPEIGHT


Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh

Aontú will not participate further in FF/FG government formation talks

AONTÚ is incredibly frustrated by the length of time it is taking to form a government and by the significant and damaging democratic deficit that is being allowed to continue for months and months. We stated that we would not add to this ever-ending government formation process. As a result, we have come back within a week with our position.

We believe that because of the current pandemic, every political party with a mandate has a responsibility to stretch themselves in order to provide a strong and stable government. We approached the process open to seeing if this was possible. We provided Fine Fáil and Fine Gael with a five-page document of key policies, priorities and reforms that we believe are necessary for a real government of change.

It is Aontú’s aim that the next government presses the reset button. We must ensure that the Ireland that emerges after the Covid-19 crisis recedes is an Ireland where we are really in this together.

However, we cannot sign a blank cheque. We have seen no evidence that either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael really seek to press the reset button. None of the objectives outlined in the Framework Document between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can be sustainably achieved unless tax injustice, Apple Tax or the overhang of our sovereign debt are dealt with. We cannot see any financial substance to the approach of these two parties.

While the mood music seems to have changed in relation to housing and health after the general election, the approach of FF and FG remains completely nebulous. We see no appetite for the dysfunctional housing, insurance and beef markets to be radically reformed.

 PEADAR TÓIBIN TD


Aontú leader, Baile Átha Cliath 2

Border down Irish Sea will harden over time

Boris Johnson has effectively drawn a border down the Irish Sea. The DUP, which has parted company with Johnson over the lockdown, no longer provides the British government’s majority. Instead, across Wales, the English Midlands, and the north of England, the Conservatives now hold by tiny majorities seats that contain major centres of Irish Catholic population, from Crewe to Consett and well beyond. So yes, a border down the Irish Sea. It will harden over time.

But like the centres of Irish Catholic population in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the North of Ireland, the Six Counties, call it what you will, has benefited enormously from the United Kingdom’s social democracy since 1945, eroded though that has been since the Budget of December 1976. Elsewhere in Ireland, there are still charges for visiting the doctor. It is now time to organise in order to secure economic equality and international peace through the democratic political control of the means to those ends, both within a united and independent Ireland, and within a united and independent Britain.

Prominent former members of the British parliament who had expressed these views on social media were invited to sign this letter, but they did not reply.

DAVID LINDSAY


Lanchester, Co Durham

Bring Sean Coyle back for a little bit of humour

While listening to The Nolan Show on Friday May 8, he was telling the wee lad about how a reporter is somehow inside you and you just know what you want to do in life and that the people like you.

Well Sean Coyle was very well liked on the BBC, in fact. I don’t know of anyone who was liked more by the public, but it didn’t help us or Sean.

Sean’s listeners were maybe of middle age or more. In the middle of this virus where we are locked down and chomping at the bit, it would be very inspiring to hear him again and he’d be a big help in cheering me up.

From morning to night it’s virus, virus, virus. That alone for older people is a virus within a virus.

We need a bit of humour on the radio even if it was only two or three times a week and some good singing like Marty Robbins. So get Sean back and he can humour us with his impersonation of Daniel O’Donnell, James Stewart, Gay Byrne and many more.

PETER CARRAGHER


Gilford, Co Down