CoronaVirus, chapter 2:

If you just look at planet Earth and to humankind as an intelligent extraterrestrial life form would (or does), you would be shocked, not because of the coronavirus, but at Human stupidity per se.

This primitive species to which we belong has destroyed natural resources and the environment ever since its first few days of existence. Specially since the previous century, we have certainly not only reached, but quite overshot: the limits of growth.

A neoliberal globallisation brought us problems than can not possibly be solved, and I'm not talking about the coronavirus or other kinds of viruses, bacteria or diseases that are just waiting to happen. I am talking about the collapse of the industrial and human civilization, literally: natural resources, (irreversible) climate change, political chaos, social collapse, war, epidemies, hunger, uncontrollable migration, you name it.

The 'coronacrisis' is a very tiny problem compared to other events to come. 'Globallisation' is, in fact, over.

I have read many delirious comments on facebook: some suggest fascist measures as the only solutions. Keeping a distance of 2 meters while you're walking on the streets, not going alone, quarantines, coercive and authoritarian measures if you're coughing or sneezing, the washing of the hands 147 times a day, closing borders, not let children embrace their dying mother, etc etc. Perhaps one day accepting a chip inside your skull and a new world order should do the trick.

This is insane. And I have news for you: it doesn't and it will not work. Not in the sense of 'winning the war' against this 'evil being'. Humankind is actually fighting against itself. Saving our consumerist and chaotic way of life and accepting a dramatic change would imply the end of big corporations' power and the extinction of authoritarian political systems in countries such as Russia and China. Still, we put the 'market's dogma first and gladly prefer to forget human rights and the respect for individual rights and the environment are more important.

If I were an extraterrestrial being, I would undoubtedly say that the Human species does not deserve to survive. And now, after screwing mother nature to the limit, we behave like ants, trying to save our petty little life style. Do you think most people in this World care about humankind - their own species - at all? Do you think that, generally speaking, governments worry about health much more than staying in power or maintaining the system working? Do you think Madame Lagarde gives a toss about the epidemic when she didn 't worry at all about migrants drowning in the Mediterranean or the chaos in Greece? Have no doubt, you will pay the price, with your salary, your pensions and your rights.

Most people worry basically about their own life and the few around them and about returning to their 'normal lives' They don't give a shit about anything else.

Yes, the virus (and the flu) are dangerous for the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases. Serious precautions should be taken. But as far of the rest of us are concern, we are basically watching a panic epidemic because of a virus that CANNOT be controlled. We can manage to slow it down, take and accept reasonable measures, but that's it. You will probably be infected and so will I. Is it better to live in panic? For how long? Months? Years? These things are and will happen more and more frequently.

The ones who have little to lose will gradually accept fewer and fewer restrictions. The ones who have nothing will have nothing to lose (why obey authority then?) and European citizens will not accept it forever. Unemployed people with no right to move, to kiss, shake hands, etc. Do you think this will work for much longer? I assure you it won't.

You can use your time reading a lot of pseudo-technical science, or the thinking of right-winged radicals on facebook, but very few people will read about the sociological and political reasons behind this. Anthropocentrism is what the extraterrestrial being will witness. So do not bother for intelligent life forms on this planet. They simply do NOT exist.

René Gil Bakker Fonseca