Week Two under our COVID19 rahui (I prefer that to the inaccurate 'lockdown' - when we are free to stroll out locally and make shopping expeditions for 'essential' supplies). We ventured out to the shops today for the first time. It was our local Super Value, a smaller supermarket, limited to 10 customers at a time. But no queues at 3pm when I ventured in (compared to the lines all along the entire frontage of each of the larger Pak n Save and Countdowns I checked out. Unnerving and eerie to see checkout operators with masks on.
I know the impacts of this reaction to COVID19 are hitting unevenly, I know those families who are already under strain will feel it more, and I know there is expected to be a rise in domestic violence. But, in light of a world facing the long-term, intertwined challenges of climate change and ecosystem destruction, the impact of some of the human measures taken in response show what can happen when there are fewer cars, fewer planes, and more people experiencing, noticing and enjoying their local neighbourhood. Families are spending more time together, and having to come up with creative and enjoyable ways of doing that; as well as relating in innovative ways with their neighbours from a distance; and there are neighbours finding out for the first time who may be lonely or vulnerable ones n their midst.
People are finding out that life is not about rushing, and filling every available space and time in their lives. Globally, in many places, air pollution, traffic congestion, noise and energy consumption is down. And I've just heard while typing this that New Zealand weekday energy use is down 15 percent, and a potential electricity shortage this winter has been averted - thanks to that lower electricity demand.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said we are in 'uncharted territory' when he announced the government's initial business support package on 25 March. But is there possibly a cloud with a silver lining on the horizon?
.
I know the impacts of this reaction to COVID19 are hitting unevenly, I know those families who are already under strain will feel it more, and I know there is expected to be a rise in domestic violence. But, in light of a world facing the long-term, intertwined challenges of climate change and ecosystem destruction, the impact of some of the human measures taken in response show what can happen when there are fewer cars, fewer planes, and more people experiencing, noticing and enjoying their local neighbourhood. Families are spending more time together, and having to come up with creative and enjoyable ways of doing that; as well as relating in innovative ways with their neighbours from a distance; and there are neighbours finding out for the first time who may be lonely or vulnerable ones n their midst.
People are finding out that life is not about rushing, and filling every available space and time in their lives. Globally, in many places, air pollution, traffic congestion, noise and energy consumption is down. And I've just heard while typing this that New Zealand weekday energy use is down 15 percent, and a potential electricity shortage this winter has been averted - thanks to that lower electricity demand.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said we are in 'uncharted territory' when he announced the government's initial business support package on 25 March. But is there possibly a cloud with a silver lining on the horizon?
.
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