After the Pandemic

During this time of global upheaval, as many are forced to take a pause from their “normal” lives, I have seen people express their hope that, after we mourn our losses, this time of isolation will bring about positive change, in ourselves, and in the societies in which we live. How do you hope the world will change as a result of this upheaval?

After the pandemic, I hope:

that we have universal health care
that we acknowledge that all jobs are important, and deserve good pay and benefits, including jobs previously thought to be less prestigious, like grocery store workers, delivery drivers, and people who pick up our garbage
that we develop a system of voluntary cooperative housing for like-minded people, available to everyone regardless of income, so that no one has to go through an emergency without friends they can count on living next door
that we learn we don’t need more things, we need people

that time spent in isolation will help us heal on an individual level so we are at peace with ourselves
that we all discover what is most important to us and be able to live our lives from that foundation going forward
that we have a 3 or 4 day work week (without a reduction in pay or benefits), because we all deserve to have time to have a life instead of just a job

that we realize how feeding ourselves is so fundamental and sacred that we find ways to stop wasting food
that we realize we need to source our food mostly from smaller, local farmers; that transporting food long distances is neither sustainable nor secure
that everyone has access to land where they can grow some of their own food to help themselves in times of economic insecurity
that we transform our lawns, the US’s biggest crop, that is of no benefit to us or the environment, into edible landscaping and wildlife habitat
that we learn to grow our food in easier and more sustainable ways, such as with permaculture
that we become grateful for the luxuries we may have taken for granted: heat, electricity, running water. That we understand where they come from and at what cost to the planet, so we find ways to reduce that cost.

that we appreciate our ability to go outside and realize how healing it is to spend time in Nature
that it becomes a crime for corporations to harm the planet by putting profit before people
that we realize that toilet paper comes from trees, and find more sustainable alternatives
that as we see pollution lessen as so many of us stay home, we realize we have the power to halt climate change
that when we heal ourselves, we can heal the planet.

- Theresa Berrie, 4/12/2020, Wisconsin, USA

We learn we don’t need more things, we need people.

We become grateful for the luxuries we may have taken for granted.

We transform our lawns, the US’s biggest crop that is of no benefit to us or the environment, into edible landscaping and wildlife habitat.

Don’t we all hope this devastating disruption leads to positive change? What do you hope for?

We realize how feeding ourselves is so fundamental and sacred that we find ways to stop wasting food.

We realize we need to source our food mostly from smaller, local farmers (like at this farmer's market); that transporting food long distances is neither sustainable nor secure.

We appreciate our ability to go outside and realize how healing it is to spend time in Nature.