May 31, 2020

 

A Brazilian German, Mr. Carlos Santos works for a global manufacturing leader of Synthetic Rubber and Styrenic Block Copolymers as a Senior Research Fellow.  He is to share the situation in Brazil and how the pandemic affects himself, his relatives and friends in his home Country, Brazil.  In addition, he will also introduce his views about the relationship between conscience and the pandemics.

 

Brazil is a large Country. It is the 5th in area, the 6th in population, the 8th in GDP but the 79th on Human Development Index, being considered a so-called “developing Country”. 

 

The current pandemic is a huge challenge for Brazil health workers.  To assist Brazil’s large population (210 million) spreading over more than 5.5 thousand cities, Brazil has a very complex health system structure. The more difficulty is its geographical challenges that they have to work in areas with large distances to cover 5.500 KM from North to South and 4.500 KM from West to East.  What’s worse is that some remote areas severely lack infrastructure.

 

By July 4, there are more than 1.5 million confirmed cases and close to 65,000 deaths with a sharply increasingly curve that no one in the Brazil can extrapolate. Nobody can tell how the pandemic will be, say, next month. Their biggest issue is the fact that there is no accurate data for the health authorities to apply effective polices. 

 

The uncertainty about the data causes a series of ideological disputing and opinions arguing, bringing stress over the entire population.  The daily debates are about the false paradox between “Economy” versus “Life”.  Most people and the Central Government want to back to work, while several city mayors of different political views want to lockdown entire regions. 

 

The last decision about locking down or liberating the economic activities was left to the 5,570 city majors. 

 

The two groups are now realizing that Economy and Life cannot be separated and must be considered together when defining the policies.  This situation is obviously chaotic and therefore, the population is under an extreme psychological pressure.

 

The day to day life of every Brazilian has changed dramatically in those days. During the pandemic period, more than 50 % of the population stay confined at home.  

 

Including Mr. Carlos Santos’ family members and friends, people are anxiety and worries by not knowing what would happen in the future. Unfortunately, this constant stress they are facing increases the risk to get infected.

 

In the last few months, the words “science” and “pandemic” have been used together.  Mr. Carlos Santos elaborates his thought about the correlation between “pandemic” and “conscience”, and, how we can use our conscience to inhibit the pandemic.  

 

Conscience is wiser than science. Only when they both unite, can we combat the pandemic.

 

The world is connected. Due to the pandemic, we now have realized this connection is strong and close among people and nations. Therefore, by everyone’s co-operation and conscience, it is possible to change the course of the pandemic. 

 

With diverse cultural experience, Mr. Carlos Santos realizes that most of cultures and religions assume that everyone has a conscience, which is an inner voice tells us about rightness or wrongness of our behaviors. However, it is our decision to choose between a right and wrong action. We must follow the wise suggestions of our conscience and use them to take the right decisions.  When we do wrong against our moral values, it will cause a feeling of remorse, deeply in our heart.  On the other hand, when we do good, say good words, nurture a good heart, take care of ourselves, help others, or do good for our body, we feel satisfaction and happiness. 

 

Science has proved that there is a correlation between the performance of our immune system with our physical and mental conditions. Therefore, by following our conscience, we will feel happier and relaxed and achieve a perfect balance between our body and mind. 

 

Good actions, good intentions and good qi (our inner energy) improve our health, including body and spirit. Consequently, our body cells regenerate fast, and immune system improve.

 

We must try to control our feelings, not to lose our temper, not to be worried or not to be anxious. Moreover, we should take simple but important actions like to wash hands frequently, to drink warm water, to be more alert and careful, to help others. And, above all, TO BE HAPPY.

 

Happiness will improve our immune system and avoid us being infected. By protecting ourselves, we are protecting the whole society. 

 

Therefore, by uniting our hearts and consciences, we will be doing our contribution to overcome the current situation, helping humanity to defeat the pandemic in all corners of the world, to have again a peaceful and colorful LIFE,   concludes Mr. Carlos Santos.