COVID-19 and The Environment

As economies around the World begin to loosen restrictions due to the COVID-19
pandemic and people try to get back to "normal" maybe a new "normal" could be
adopted, one in which the Environment and Sustainability is placed above Economies.

As we have seen people around the World have been forced inside for the safety
of themselves and their communities. As a result major cities around the world have
seen their own environments improve. From improved air in New Delhi to clearer
water in Venice the Earth seems to be bouncing back from our consumption of resources.

Here is a beautifully wrought untitled poem by Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern,
whose leadership as New Zealand’s prime minister has been second to none.
She, too, wonders if the evidence of environmental healing we are seeing now
will be sustained, if populations will make lasting lifestyle changes post-pandemic:

"Rest now, e Papatūānuku ( Mother Earth )

Breathe easy and settle

Right here where you are

We’ll not move upon you

For awhile

We’ll stop, we’ll cease

We’ll slow down and stay home

Draw each other close and be kind

Kinder than we’ve ever been.

I wish we could say

we were doing it for you

as much as ourselves

But hei aha

We’re doing it anyway

It’s right. It’s time.

Time to return

Time to remember

Time to listen and forgive

Time to withhold judgment

Time to cry

Time to think

About others

Remove our shoes

Press hands to soil

Sift grains between fingers

Gentle palms

Time to plant

Time to wait

Time to notice

To whom we belong

For now it’s just you

And the wind

And the forests and the oceans

and the sky full of rain

Finally, it’s raining!

Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe

( Maori phrase meaning - “tears from the eyes of Ranginui drip down on you”

Ranginui is our sky father,

it is common to refer to rain as

the tears of Rangi for his beloved,

from whom he was separated

at the beginning of time

in order that there could be light in the world).

Embrace it

This sacrifice of solitude we have carved out for you

He iti noaiho - a small offering which is a treasure

People always said it wasn’t possible

To ground flights and stay home

and stop our habits of consumption

But it was

It always was.

We were just afraid of how much it was going to hurt

- and it IS hurting and it will hurt and continue to hurt

But not as much as you have been hurt.

So be still now

Wrap your hills around our absence

Loosen the concrete belt

cinched tight at your waist

- Rest.

- Breathe.

- Recover.

- Heal

And we will do the same."