In the midst of this global pandemic, while it is essential not to underestimate the gravity of this crisis, it is also important to try to keep a positive attitude. Raffaele Morelli, an Italian psychologist, analyzed some positive aspects of Covid-19, saying that “We wear masks, but the Earth is breathing”. In Italy, following the national lockdown, the level of air pollution significantly decreased, as seen in the diagram below.
These reductions of toxic emissions, alongside the decreased activity of several firms and industries, allowed several animals to return to places that are usually dominated by humans. In Venice, the water is crystal clear and in Cagliari, my native city, dolphins swim carelessly in the harbor. Even though we are stuck in our houses, all the other species keep on living, reminding us that we are not the supreme leaders of this world.
It feels a little disarming that it took a global pandemic to obtain these environmental improvements, knowing that scientists have long considered them a necessary step to fight climate change. However, reminding ourselves to keep a positive attitude, we can hope that this crisis will finally give us the opportunity to reflect upon our impact on Mother Earth. Even though everyone is craving to return to our normal life, I hope that we won’t. I hope we will be able to improve our life-style, becoming more aware and responsible. Small individual choices, such as taking public transportation instead of the car, can have a huge impact. Furthermore, the world of smart-working will drastically change our habits, hopefully diminishing useless and polluting business trips.
The time we are living in is disorienting, but I believe we can use it as an opportunity to reflect on ourselves and our society, hoping that soon we will be able to live our new, improved lives.