We need competent leadership and confidence in science if we want to save our planet for future generations. The United States, due to the management of its Government, is today adrift
These intense days have affected us all personally in very different ways. They have revealed the extraordinary goodness that exists in humanity, while highlighting the dangerous flaws inherent in our Government and our society. The lessons we have learned from our mistakes during this crisis should inspire the actions that we have to take now, decisions that will shape the future of our world as we move forward. Let us hope that the valuable lives that we have lost and the business successes that are the result of the effort that have been destroyed have not been entirely in vain.
Citizens around the world criticize their governments' response to the COVID-19 threat, and, although some reproaches are unfounded, much of it is justified. As an American, I can say with great regret that my country has failed the world in this endeavor by not being adequately prepared for the pandemic and by recklessly refusing to take command in a coordinated global response.
"The United States leads," former President Barack Obama once said in an interview. “We are the indispensable country. And when problems arise anywhere in the world, they don't call Beijing. They don't call Moscow. They call us. "
American presidents, regardless of their party, have always captained the global response to international crises. The United States has unparalleled capacity and resources, and over and above partisan divisions and in collaboration with other world leaders, we have historically always coordinated international efforts to respond to crises. Ebola, AIDS / HIV, H1N1, the coalition to defeat the Islamic State, and the Paris Climate Agreement are just a few examples.
However, now that our government is steered by a man who declares that "America First", many Americans, it seems, have renounced the extraordinary humanitarian spirit of our country and openly ignore our legacy of goodwill and global leadership. Crushed by months of false and misleading statements by the President and government officials in Washington DC, which worsened the lack of preparation and the late and incompetent medical response, we are effectively adrift in a crisis, and asking for medical supplies and help. to other countries. In the past we were the ones who provided help.
However, even if there is no effective, federally coordinated program by the current US president, several mighty mayors and governors across the United States have taken command of local relief efforts with considerable success. Furthermore, a number of private institutions, businesses and citizens contribute selflessly in an inspiring way. This is the American spirit of unity. This is what has always made America great.
In Spain, as in most countries of the world, we have seen similar heroic actions. Scientific and medical institutions work at the international level to advise their government on their national responses, and citizens adhere to extremely demanding regulations and take steps to protect themselves and their neighbors. Even the Spanish have suffered the dire consequences of the irresponsible policies of the American president. Spanish olive oil, cheese and wine producers have been imposed severe tariffs decided by our president to inflict extreme economic damage in retaliation for alleged irregularities in the aerospace sector, an issue unrelated to these exports of goods from essential consumption.
As we mourn our losses and pray for the millions of people around the world who suffer terrible health problems and the disastrous economic consequences of this appalling virus – many of which were preventable – we must strive to establish a new world order that serves and protects better to our planet. If we want to heal our society, we must ponder positive lessons from this tragic situation. For example, we start to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Not long ago we celebrated Earth Day and witnessed an unexpected blessing as a result of the pandemic: the environment has begun to heal.
Just look out the window to see that a United Nations resolution was not necessary to significantly reduce emissions into the atmosphere. Our clean air is due to the strict social distancing recommended by scientists and medical experts to protect us from covid-19. And mother nature has responded brilliantly.
As a counterpoint to those who flatly deny the climate crisis, this is immediate confirmation that the measures outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce emissions would quickly help mitigate the damage caused to our environment.
However, we need competent leadership and a firm trust in science to take the necessary steps to save our planet for future generations. Science and research are not hoaxes.
Furthermore, as teleworking or telecommuting has now been demonstrated to be feasible and effective, perhaps the Paris Climate Agreement could be amended to include the bold, even radical, measure of asking Member States to agree to put End non-essential travel on an intermittent basis and support the idea of working from home by following a global synchronized schedule, for example, one week per quarter. If we continue to provide our planet with a necessary rest, not only will recent environmental advances not be lost, but they will be sustained and multiplied.
We must work to regain trust in our leaders and unite to solve the problems of our world. The first critical step that Americans must take to restore the soul and spirit of our country, with the simultaneous goal of immediately changing our global agenda, is to elect former Vice President Joe Biden in November to occupy the White House.
Now is the time for the world to take action. It has never been more evident that cooperation and global goodwill are essential for our world to survive.
James Costos was the United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2013 to 2017.
This article was originally published on El Pais.
Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy.
