Pandemic emphasizes global interconnections

Let us not use the coronavirus as an example for which we can use our collective strength to overcome the environment, but as a precursor to the environmental havoc our global economies have wreaked upon our planet. The current globalized economy has led to a situation where, by means of transportation, each nation can affect the total population in ways unimagined by our predecessors.

Our planet's population should take heed to the lessons learned from this pandemic and realize that the human species is vulnerable to the global situation both biologically and climatologically. People need to realize that even a slight increase in global temperatures will raise problems with our localized economies and health.

I am not using this disaster to advocate a one-world policy, but I do see the current situation as reflective of the power of an interconnected world. It is obvious our economy is global. And it should be obvious that our planet is interconnected biologically as well.

We should take the coronavirus as an indicator that we need to be more sensitive to the real impacts of the our pollution, consumption and fossil fuel use. I hope that we can interconnect our policies despite national agendas, local politics and regional philosophies.

Our victory over this disease should set a precedent for the continued fight against global temperature increase, sea level rise and ocean fisheries policies that continue to mire humanity in multinational competitive policies.

Willis Lambertson

Lake Barrington