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How caring for the poor and sick is selfish (in a good way)

When carefully examined, we find that most fear is irrational. Legitimate fear is a good thing, however, because it pushes us to eliminate actual dangers to our well-being. During the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear armageddon was very real.
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When carefully examined, we find that most fear is irrational. Legitimate fear is a good thing, however, because it pushes us to eliminate actual dangers to our well-being.

During the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear armageddon was very real. Many of us took up the task of changing the global atmosphere by choosing to see the people on the other side of the Iron Curtain as our neigbours. Through our collective efforts, the world changed for the better.

It is inspiring today to see the determination of young people around the world to reduce the threat of climate crisis. There is no reason to doubt the positive impact their efforts will have in assuring the survival of our planet, as long as we take heed.

The fear of a global pandemic is often sensationalized in the media, especially in movies and television dramas. The threat is actually very real. We have seen it happen many times in history, from the Black Death in the 14th century, to the smallpox pandemic in the Americas after the arrival of Europeans, to the global influenza pandemic of 1918 and the list goes on.

We are very fortunate today that advances in science have given us a much better understanding of disease, including the treatment and prevention. Other global changes, however, have actually created avenues for pandemics to occur. This is not fear mongering; it is an honest analysis of our situation.

The good news is that just like nuclear non-proliferation and solving the climate crisis, the solution is in our collective hands.

Due to the ease of air travel, the world has figuratively grown smaller. A disease that is a factor in any part of the world is a threat to all of us. The idea that one can wall build walls and create quarantines is as ridiculous as it is preposterous. It is necessary to take precautions but the most effective solution is to prevent the growth of diseases in at-risk populations.

Where are epidemics and pandemics likely to gain a foothold? In places where health conditions are poor and people's immune systems are compromised. In other words, in places where sanitation is poor and people are living in poverty.

The worst conditions tend to exist in regions where people are fleeing military conflict. Refugee camps have large numbers of people living in a small space with few resources. Groups like the United Nations and the Red Cross/Red Crescent do their best to serve these people. They are quite adept at setting up and running camps, but they are often strapped for resources, especially as the number of people in the camps swells, and the weather turns poor. These locations then become breeding grounds of disease and all it takes is an aid worker or diplomat returning home to spread a virus.

Understanding the problem and the risk, the first step in the solution comes clear. It is necessary to see that international organizations running refugee camps have all the resources they need.

This makes the second step more obvious, though the follow-through is much more challenging. We need to create conditions where there are fewer refugees by reducing the incidence of armed conflict around the world. This will not be achieved by greater military spending, but by more effective development projects. It is clearly a complex and long term endeavor, but it is possible.

It may seem that greater security at our borders and airports will save us, but in reality, its effectiveness is limited. When we treat those fleeing conflict zones with the human dignity we all deserve, the likelihood of a pandemic is almost eliminated, and our rational fears are greatly alleviated.

In other words, when we create conditions where all people can thrive no matter where they live, life becomes better and safer for all of us.

Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com