War follows pandemic

We are a world at war, again. With another species, corona. And last night, our world plunged into war in Ukraine. War, like the virus, has been with humanity since ages. Senseless loss of life and livelihoods. Our hearts go out for people on the frontlines. Deeply shared empathy for citizens and soldiers, caught in the cross-fire of dictatorial leaders. Our makers have family and relations in the neighboring countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Belarus and Russia. No one is in harm’s way. The unfolding humanitarian crisis will affect millions of lives and we have to come together as a global community to help and be useful in the reconstruction.

War and reciprocal sanctions will hurt ordinary livelihoods across the world. In addition to increasing the volatility and uncertainty, war directs innovation and human attention.

It is not surprising that war follows pandemics — deep rooted divisions caused by localized response, nationalism, loss and recovery. And cascading effects from broken communications and broken trust from isolation. Wars followed pandemics a few times over the ages. Black swans are not that rare, after all.

The technological community needs to brace for folks and nations who will take advantage of the situation to unleash cyber terrorism and disrupt life. Power, fuel supplies and food supplies are likely to be affected; and the frail supply chains from the pandemic will be tested in a new envelope of operation. Brace for impact.

At desperate times like these, it is important to remember that the human spirit has prevailed and endured. Often, with a lot less. Relatively speaking, ie, from world war two times, we have better and open communication platforms (which we now know can be hijacked for misinformation), faster travel, we have innovation, global supply and manufacturing chains, and global human minds able to collaborate at distance and at scale; above all we have the sheer human perseverance that brought us from our beginnings as cavemen to today’s zoom. The bullies in those caves, like the belligerent dictators of today, eventually made way to intelligence and compassion. We have difficult months and a year ahead, yet, we shall overcome.

Sri