‘On the other side’

Dear Editor:

April 22 is Earth Day. On this second Earth Day during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth reflecting on how we will live on the other side of the pandemic. To ask: what have we learned during COVID that we want to keep doing on the other side?

The pandemic has reduced the amount of air pollution, because of less travel. Will we return after COVID is over to travelling the way we used to, or will we live smaller lives?

The pandemic has people working from home, doing much less commuting to work, reducing our carbon footprint. Will we continue to work, at least a couple of days a week, from home when the pandemic is over?

The pandemic has many people growing gardens and developing patterns of life that involve living simpler lives, closer to the land. Will these changes in lifestyle become permanent, so that we are more rooted in the place where we live?

The pandemic has people out walking in their communities and neighbourhoods, really seeing what is outside their front doors, and connecting (socially distanced) with their neighbours. Will these neighbourhood connections continue to be built after COVID is over?

Smaller, simpler lives are not diminished lives; in fact, smaller, simpler lives can be rich and meaningful. This Earth Day we are invited to reflect on how we will live on the other side of the pandemic.

Peter Bush, Fergus