Our Association's President on the Causes and Expected Consequences of the Pandemic

"I'm not an expert on the subject, so it is not my place to judge the appropriateness and effectiveness of the measures taken both domestically and internationally against the coronavirus pandemic. The health, environmental, and economic consequences are difficult to predict, although they will likely lead to drastic global changes. In my opinion, the least noticeable changes will occur in regions where the situation was already catastrophic, so the average person may not even notice the negative consequences there.

A few days ago, I returned home with my friend from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This country is notorious for the presence of life-threatening infections. Unfortunately, there is also a real issue with the unstable political system, ongoing war conflicts, and an economy built on weak foundations. Despite all these challenges, people try to survive, and despite severe shortcomings and what we would consider extreme features, the majority of the population is able to raise their children and, in many cases, provide them with an education. In this regard, we can certainly learn from the determination, resilience, and faith of the people living there.

We should not trivialize the pandemics of recent years. I am not only talking about COVID-19 but also the spread of SARS, H1N1, Ebola, and HIV. The diseases I just mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg. I am convinced that there are many more, often far more dangerous diseases, that spread across the Earth year by year, day by day. The only reason we do not live in constant fear is the lack of information and our ignorance. If we seriously consider the consequences of our current way of life, we do not need to be geniuses to realize that our current system is unsustainable.

We have turned the planet into a giant sewage reservoir and a massive garbage dump. We are spewing the most complex smoke into the atmosphere, which even ancient volcanoes could not have produced. We do not even consider light and noise pollution as significant threats because, in our view, other problems are much worse. Meanwhile, we are surprised that infections are arising in the filth. We import essential food items from thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of kilometers away, often with made-up controls because excessive caution would slow down economic growth. Millions of people travel across the world every year as tourists, guest workers, businessmen, or refugees fleeing from war and poverty. Until now, the main focus has been on economic efficiency. This is likely to end soon. We need to place our social structures on new foundations.

It is important to state that I do not proclaim the truth with the innocent wisdom of superiority. I have been, and still am, involved in international trade. I have visited many countries and continents, either for leisure, professional reasons, or to make a living. I am like a drug user who has already realized that it is time to change course. So perhaps I am more credible than someone who clings to change without having personally encountered the global challenges.

I believe it is time for "REAL GLOBALIZATION" and "HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT." Real globalization – unlike the current form of globalization – means not gaining material wealth or political and religious power by exploiting and oppressing others, but seeking cooperation points and reducing conflicts on Earth. In the long term, only that which benefits everyone is worthwhile. Some people profit from wars, others from stolen mineral resources, some from human trafficking, and others from fighting human trafficking. Yet, in the end, the economic and especially the moral losses far exceed the gains made by those involved.

It is our duty to harmonize the laws and economic mechanisms of states and political entities. It is our duty to support the local production of essential goods for people, thus reducing environmental burdens, people's vulnerabilities, and ensuring food security. This way, we can slow down, or even prevent, the spread of infections and poisons from becoming global problems.

It is our duty to make the health status of travelers (including mental health) verifiable and to monitor it. This will help reduce the spread of infections and improve the efficiency of filtering out brainwashed individuals and psychopaths who may pose a danger to our children.

Modern high-tech systems can help achieve the above goals.

Of course, with the attitudes of the 20th and 21st centuries, the new system could easily lead to abuses. Authoritarian regimes that control the entire human race could emerge if we do not place sufficient emphasis on "holistic development." Holistic development means that we do not prioritize any ideology, religion, military power, or the worship of money, but rather try to take all aspects into account when it comes to development. Real globalization would not eliminate the right to self-determination and independence, but it would expand it even further than the current system. The reign of money could finally end. This does not mean that we will no longer need money. Just as a car cannot operate without fuel, the current economy cannot function without money. Money is an important element of our economic life, but perhaps we will reach a point where it will no longer be the most important thing.

To summarize:

• We need to place our economic and social systems on new foundations.

• We need a much more self-sufficient system.

• We need to harmonize the laws and economic policies of countries and regions.

• Instead of exploiting each other, we need to build on cooperation.

• We need to make the movement of goods and people verifiable in a way that does not infringe upon the right to self-determination and independence, but actually enhances it.

• We need to develop holistically, meaning we cannot sacrifice important moral, natural, or other values just because they seem economically or politically beneficial in the short term.

I trust that once we move past the shock caused by the coronavirus, we will not sit back and continue where we left off. Let us take this as a warning and finally make the changes – if not for ourselves, then for the sake of our loved ones."

~ Dr. Péter Gergő Juhász