Letters | Coronavirus pandemic means the world needs more coordinated science and tech, not less

Coronavirus pandemic

Letters

Published: 7:30am, 21 Apr 2020

Why you can trust SCMP

In their opinion piece, “The coronavirus pandemic is nature’s wake-up call to humans who have lost their Way” (April 18), Lijia Zhang and Xia Chen write that “all these [pandemic and environmental] problems at home and abroad are proof that nature has been interfered with, as humans go against the natural order.” They also argue that: “This is a good time to revisit the philosophical aspects of Taoism.”

The idea of living in harmony with nature based on Taoism tends to be understood to mean environmentalism, agrarianism and anti-technology. The events most destructive of harmony with nature were arguably the first explosions of an atomic device in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945. Good or bad, human-introduced technology is part of nature’s dynamic force. An anti-technology argument stems from anti-speciesism rather than a reverence for nature.

Imagine nature without the human species. It would be an arena for the struggle for survival of the other species. Who knows, a dominant non-human species may emerge with its self-serving technology.

The Judeo-Christian notion of stewardship of nature is more ethically perspicuous and economically more feasible than a Taoist-style harmony with nature. Such stewardship includes ensuring the ecological balance of all species and minimising the polluting impact upon the natural environment of technological innovations introduced mainly for human benefit.

Environmental science and technology should be supported and encouraged to produce an enforceable global regimen for ecological health. The nationalistic exits from international organisations for collective, coordinated environmental control is a satanic plot to expedite the apocalypse.

Yeomin Yoon, professor, Finance and International Business, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey

Western rejection of mask-wearing all about the ego

Jaehoon Rhee in his statistical analysis of mask-wearing societies and global Covid-19 casualties (“Numbers from the East show face masks matter in Covid battle” April 18) shies away from a frontal attack on the developed countries facing the tragedy of high death tolls within short periods, when the new coronavirus is highly contagious, effective medicine has yet to be invented, and masks and self-isolation are the available, down-to-earth defensive approach.

Rather, it appears to be a question of ego among the leaders of many countries with out-of-control Covid-19 numbers.

Among them is the United States, led by a fearless, outspoken president who risks American lives by pleading a fake “save-business” environment, turning a blind eye to mounting infections and deaths to boost his ticket for re-election in November.

But the New York governor has just taken the city mayor’s mask orders further, and asked that all residents wear masks if they could not stay six feet apart. It is a slap in the face for President Donald Trump. Yet, it does not seem to have affected his base or chances at the ballet box, as supporters turned out in numbers in Texas and other states to protest against the coronavirus lockdowns. Trump is no stranger to holding the upper hand despite bankcruptcy proceedings.

Edmond Pang, Fanling

Restaurants can show more love for health care workers

There are many ways that shops and restaurants are showing their gratitude to health care workers in the US, for example, Krispy Kreme and some pizza and fast-food chains are offering free food, while others are sending care packages to homebound elders.

Why have there been so few shows of appreciation to our health care workers, from bakeries, restaurants, and noodle or coffee shops?

Chris Ma, Mid-Levels

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