Brigadier Intekhab Hussain Shah (Retd)
Member Advisory Board Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad
Corona viruses are a large family that cause illness ranging from the common cold to severe respiratory diseases. It is transmitted from animals to humans but once infection begins in human it spreads through contact. There are several corona viruses known to be inhabiting in different animals yet have not infected humans. COVID-19 is the most recent to cause human infection. Common signs of COVID-19 infection are similar to the common cold including respiratory symptoms such as dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death. The COVID-19 infection is spread from one person to others via droplets produced from the respiratory system of infected people, often during coughing or sneezing. According to current data, time from exposure to onset of symptoms is usually between two and 14 days, with an average of five days. Two other recent corona virus outbreaks have been experienced. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) of 2012 was found to transmit from dromedary camels to humans. In 2002, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) was found to transmit from civet cats to humans. However, COVID-19 has caused wide spread panic and fear besides killing more than 25000 people worldwide. This virus has effected 190 countries on planet with varying intensity however, developed countries have suffered the most so far. The spread of the disease has sprouted many conspiracy theories circulating in media all over the world. Few worth noticing are:
In October 2019, Bill Gates and other world leaders (including Whitehouse officials), were part of an event called “Event 201.”Moreover, the event was held by John Hopkins Centre for Health Security. Well-known pharmaceutical giants and Pentagon leaders discussed the effects of a virus that could eliminate 60 million people in 18 months. In 3 months, the entire world has threatened which indicates that either some government or some giant pharmaceutical is involved in the outbreak of COVID-19.
Globalization in the name of salvation. Is the US responsible for the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19? Speculations and theories support the fact that the US will benefit from it most. Many writers believe that the United States has already found the cure of the virus and is waiting for the fattest bid.
Another popular claim is that Illuminati (a secret cult) has orchestrated this pandemic to accomplish one world order. This fraternity do not believe in any religion, ethnicity, geography and race but to bring one world order where population is remarkably reduced, resources are preserved and every aspect of life is controlled and regulated. Is Illuminati that strong and well emplaced all around and without involvement of some regime, could it be accomplished?
US targeted China with COVID 19 to cripple her economy and impede economic and military pursuits lest US’s single super power status is challenged. China successfully controlled the virus.
Israel has already prepared the vaccine and spread this virus into unfriendly countries and Muslim world in specific. Once pandemic spread is uncontrolled, Israel shall offer the vaccine on the condition that Israel is recognized while concept of greater Israel is also unfurl before the world.
There could be many more theories but what is surprising is human reflex defiant to accept that nature is recycling the climate of planet Earth. What is happening is due to human activities. Ozone is depleting, oceans are polluting, glaciers are melting, and forests are dwindling. It is interested to note that any creature on earth if eliminated shall cause serious repercussions but if human race is eliminated every creature shall flourish. Human of 20th century takes it for granted that his right on Earth is absolute thus he may devastate the planet. Nature has always grand and futuristic planes.
Instead of blaming and instigating conspiracy theories, objectively analyze the situation and reconsider your life style and industrial activities. Look at the effects of partial lock down on overall climatic improvements. Few such changes are:
In 2017, NASA announced that the ozone hole was the weakest since1988 because of warm stratospheric conditions. It was expected to recover around 2070. After the COVID-19 spread, the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica is continuing to recover fast and it is leading to changes in atmospheric circulation of the flow of air over Earth’s surface that causes winds. Latest observations indicate that ozone healing has increased largely after the decline in air traffic in the skies.
In China, where the virus was first detected, a sharp decline in pollution and greenhouse gases has been recorded as well. Social media users are sharing pictures of how decreases in industrial, transportation, and business activity since the corona virus outbreak has reduced levels of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over the country. ESA’s Sentinel-5P satellite shows that over the past six weeks, levels of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over cities and industrial clusters in Asia and Europe were markedly lower than in the same period last year.
In Venice, the often murky canals recently began to get clearer, with fish visible in the water below. Italy’s efforts to limit the corona virus meant an absence of boat traffic on the city’s famous waterways and the changes happened quickly. Industrial breakdown and reduction in wastes has positive effects on surrounding and water. Its long term effect shall be even beneficial as under surface water resources shall start purifying.
Social infrastructure has also been noted to be bullish. Parents are giving more time to the children, children have started knowing the emotions of their parents. Care, mutual respect, feeling about other’s miseries and helping poor is restoring. These trends could not be revived by any philosophy, religion, teaching or institution. Nature has done it just in days with an invisible micro-organism.
Three divine religions have similar ethical and moral values like prohibition of prostitution, gambling, early to bed and early to rise, mutual respect, offering rituals and many more. All such acts have either stopped or declining fast. It is ironic that France was first ever country to ban veil for Muslim women. Look at France, not women even men are wearing masks, hands in gloves, head covered in gears. Night clubs, Casinos and gambling resorts are closed, people sleep early. Everybody is praying, weeping, begging and seeking salvation.
Nature, the manager of unfathomable universe has changed the behavior of human with a small invisible creature.
What is the conclusion of this discourse? It is also one world order but not of a specific nation, cult, group of people, particular religion or ethnicity but of nature. Let me name this nature, Allah or God. When we call him nature, nobody contest even atheists do not object but when we name him with reference to faith, a clash starts. We do not fight when some call rice, chawal, Bhaat, but God cannot be accepted with different name and characteristics. Above discussed conspiracy theories are dying natural death as British PM and Prince have infected with COVID-19, Israeli PM is also reported to be infected. It is time that human must surrender before nature with the name he likes. Blame game should end and human brotherhood may prevail.
