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Prince Charles: ‘Coronavirus pandemic is a chance to reset the economy.’
Photo: Daily Mail
Executive Summary
‘Prince Charles made an impassioned speech at the World Economic Forum's virtual meeting yesterday, where he stressed the importance of using the outcome of the pandemic to reset the global economy. The royal spoke about the need to prioritise sustainable development without damaging the environment.
"We have a unique but rapidly shrinking window of opportunity to learn lessons and reset ourselves on a more sustainable path," he said, according to The Guardian. "We have a golden opportunity to seize something good from this crisis. Its unprecedented shockwaves may well make people more receptive to big visions of change."
Charles' speech was part of the launch for The Great Reset, a project involving the World Economic Forum and the Prince of Wales’s Sustainable Markets Initiative, which hopes to rebuild the economic and social system to be more sustainable.
The royal then set out a five-point plan of how to seize this opportunity which involved capturing the imagination and will of humanity, rebalancing investments to accelerate the green economy and redesigning systems and pathways to enforce carbon pricing.’
Pandemic is a chance to reset the global economy, says Prince Charles*
Prince of Wales unveils a five-point plan to stimulate sustainable economic growth- A report by Phillip Inman, economics editor of the Observer and an economics writer for the Guardian
‘The recovery from the coronavirus crisis represents an opportunity to reset the global economy and prioritise sustainable development without further damaging the planet, Prince Charles said at the opening of a World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual meeting.
Outlining a five-point plan to rebuild economies following a global recession, the 71-year-old prince said the pandemic was the result of a breakdown in the link between humanity and nature that could be corrected by recognising “the interdependence of all living things”.
The prince emphasised that the private sector would be the engine of recovery and was heartened by the pledges from business leaders to recognise the damage to the environment that would result from an unfettered dash for growth.
“We have a unique but rapidly shrinking window of opportunity to learn lessons and reset ourselves on a more sustainable path,” said Charles, who himself has recovered after suffering mild symptoms of Covid-19.
He said that the pandemic, which has forced governments worldwide to mothball their economies, had showed people that dramatic change was possible.
“We have a golden opportunity to seize something good from this crisis. Its unprecedented shockwaves may well make people more receptive to big visions of change,” he added.
The five points he outlined were:
- To capture the imagination and will of humanity – change will only happen if people really want it.
- The economic recovery must put the world on the path to sustainable employment, livelihoods and growth. Longstanding incentive structures that have had perverse effects on our planetary environment and nature herself must be reinvented
- Systems and pathways must be redesigned to advance net zero transitions globally. Carbon pricing can provide a critical pathway to a sustainable market.
- Science, technology and innovation need re-invigorating. Humanity is on the verge of catalytic breakthroughs that will alter our view of what is possible and profitable in the framework of a sustainable future.
- Investment must be rebalanced. Accelerating green investments can offer job opportunities in green energy, the circular and bio-economy, eco-tourism and green public infrastructure.
The WEF, which stages an influential annual gathering of business and political leaders at its annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, has come under fire from anti-poverty groups in recent years for failing to tackle climate change and executive pay.
Charles’s speech was part of a launch event for The Great Reset, a project involving the WEF and the Prince of Wales’s Sustainable Markets Initiative, aimed at rebuilding the economic and social system to be more sustainable.’
Great Reset | Prince Charles | ‘Coronavirus pandemic is a chance to reset the economy.’: Watch the Video
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Speaking at the same event, International Monetary Fund boss Kristalina Georgieva said the world economy faced a similar situation to the UK in the second world war. She urged global leaders to recognise the success of the 1942 Beveridge report, which put forward reforms to raise welfare and health standards across Britain, and was ready to be implemented when the war was over.
“The best memorial we can build to those who have lost their lives is a greener, smarter, fairer world.”
Photo: YouTube
“That led to a better country after the war and to a National Health Service that is saving so many lives today. We have to use all the strength we have to turn a page and have history be about the Great Reset and not the Great Reversal.” She added: “The best memorial we can build to those who have lost their lives is a greener, smarter, fairer world.”
Great Reset | Kristalina Georgieva | How will history judge this moment?: Watch the Video
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Conclusion
All said and done, I must admit, I was delighted to hear what Prince Charles or indeed, Kristalina Georgieva had to say about how we may reset the post-COVID-19 global economy.
However, to my mind, a very long-term academic-activist, nothing will change for the better and we will not succeed in building a better, kinder and more just world, if we do not take the following three steps first and foremost:
To reverse the current inhumane, unfair and unjust path we need a different model of education and we need a different economic value and economy. However, these are not possible to achieve so long as The Fraudulent Ideology reins supreme. Full stop. Carpe Diem!
And now a bit more from the GCGI Archives:
'We are an integral part of Nature, which we cherish, revere and preserve in all its magnificent beauty and diversity. We strive to live in harmony with
Nature locally and globally. We acknowledge the inherent value of all life, human and non-human, and treat all living beings with compassion and respect.'-Photo:bing.com
A Sure Path to build a Better World: How nature helps us feel good and do good
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
The Sweetness of Being Human: ‘We have all of us one human heart.’
Dear Mr. Johnson, your Covid-19 survival must become a force for good
Kindness to Heal the World- Kindness to Make the World Great Again
The healing power of ‘Dawn’ at this time of coronavirus crisis
Can there ever be a Compassionate Capitalism?
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A Celebration of Persian Storytelling, poetry, literature, and culture
Photo:kingorama.com
N.B. In July 2013 I posted a Blog ‘Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings’ on our GCGI website, highlighting and celebrating the beauty, the timeless wisdom and inspiring words and poetry of one of the greatest poets in Persian history, Ferdowsi (940–ca. 1019). Let me quote a passage or two from it:
‘Ferdowsi’s epic poem Shahnameh (“The Book of Kings”) is part myth, part history—it begins with the legend of the birth of the Persian nation and its tumultuous history. It contains magical birds, and superhuman heroes, and centuries-long battles. Written over 1,000 years ago, it was meant to protect Persian collective memory amidst a turbulent sea cultural storms. Originally written in couplets, the new translation and adaptation by Ahmad Sadri retells the mythological tales in prose format. The spectacular illustrations in this edition were created from elements culled from thousands of illuminated manuscripts, lithographs, and miniatures dating from the thirteenth through nineteenth centuries, each panel becoming a new work of art, an exquisite collage of traditional forms.
“After the enormous success of the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, as well as blockbusters such as 300 and Clash of the Titans, the time might be right for Persian mythology to find an audience in the west.
Iran's national epic, the Shahnameh, involves many of the same themes and motifs as popular works of fantasy: heroic quests, magical beasts, devilish monsters, passionate romances, fierce intrigues over power, and monumental conflicts fought across immense spans of time…
…’But New York–based artist Hamid Rahmanian's recent illustrated rendition with translator Ahmad Sadri of, Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings could change that. His images draw on thousands of carefully orchestrated elements from paintings, lithographs, and manuscript miniatures from Iran, Mughal India, and the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries, and convey scenes such as dreams and nightmares rarely if ever depicted in previous versions.
Rahmanian describes his process as akin to that of a movie editor splicing frames for a montage or a DJ blending tracks for a mash-up. Taking the visual elements out of their original context to produce new pictures also adds a new layer to their meaning. The images not only convey the Shahnameh's stories, they also bring traditions of literary illustration from distant places and times into intimate dialogue. The unique result is a fresh visual narration that makes the ancient text feel as if it flows seamlessly, like a finely edited film.’-Excerpts from Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings
Today I had an email from the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) with the following announcement, which took me back to the Blog I had posted in July 2013.
Shahnameh Comes to Life in the Dazzling Shadow Play: “Feathers of Fire”
A Celebration of Persian Storytelling, poetry, literature, and culture
Photo:kingorama.com
“Feathers of Fire” is a magnificent retelling of the forbidden love story of Zaul and Rudābeh from the epic Shahnameh.
‘While the world has been forced to slow down and people have been required to quarantine themselves, we have been reminded of the most basic components that give our lives meaning. Taking the time to reflect on the natural world and the importance of human bonds, the pandemic has in many ways given us time to appreciate how we are all connected and to see the beauty of the world around us. At the heart of our shared experience is culture, history, and the stories of humanity that have been told for millennia.
For Iranians and the diaspora, one story that is central to our shared identity is the 11th century epic by Ferdowsi, Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). Recollecting the heroic tales and fantastic legends of ancient Iran, Shahnameh is a true masterpiece, comprising over 50,000 couplets that were written over three decades by the renowned poet. More than a collection of stories, Shahnameh embodies a cornerstone of Iranian history and culture. It is regarded by many Iranians as a defining symbol of their identity and a guardian of the Persian language.
Rudabeh and Zal on their wedding day (Shahnameh illustration and design by Hamid Rahmanian).
Given its monumental status, it is no surprise that the epic has been celebrated, translated, and utilized in various art forms for centuries by Iranians and non-Iranians alike. Like the universal appeal of Greek heroes and traditions, Shahnameh’s incredible tales are compelling for the masses. But like Ferdowsi himself, one Iranian-American artist, Hamid Rahmanian–a Guggenheim fellowship-winning visual artist–has dedicated much of his labor to telling the story of Shahnameh to the widest audience possible.
Along with his wife, Melissa Hibbard, Rahmanian has created a variety of stunning work under the banner of “Kingorama,” which includes a recent translation of the epic, a pop-up book called Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King, an audiobook, and a cinematic shadow play, Feathers of Fire.
Translated and adapted by Ahmad Sadri, Rahmanian’s Shahnameh book is a breathtaking illustrated edition of the epic, with 500 pages of intricate and colorful illustrations by Rahmanian himself. A proper feast for the eyes, Rahmanian has conveyed the same splendor in his shadow play, which depicts the legendary story of forbidden lovers Zaul and Rudābeh from Ferdowsi’s saga. Their love gives birth to the mightiest hero of ancient Iran, Rostam, whose valor and repute is so grand that even his stallion’s name, Rakhsh, is legendary.
In Feathers of Fire, Rahmanian’s live-performance play combines traditional puppets, masks, and costumes, with the modernity of digital animation, to create an unforgettable visual spectacle in its most primal form, shadows. This masterful retelling of an ancient story is sure to captivate any audience, young and old. Now available to stream online, don’t miss the chance to experience what Francis Ford Coppola calls, “Fantastic, spectacular… cinematic wizardry.”
Watch from home, give it as a gift, and share it with friends and family. Now is the perfect opportunity to enjoy this truly unique vision, support Iranian-American artists, and share a beautiful part of our rich culture. The epic of Shahnameh transcends time and borders; it may be revered by Iranians, but it was Ferdowsi’s gift to humanity. At a time when we may feel isolated, there is solace in our shared stories and community.’
- This article was first published by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) on 28 May 2020.
- Watch Feathers of Fire Online
- Buy The New Shahnameh Book - The Epic | شاهنامه فردوسی
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Finding sanctuary in poetry during lockdown
Photo:georgetown.edu
Lawyers' poems deal with trials of delivering lockdown justice*
‘Collection published written by and dedicated to those who have kept the system going.’
‘I need to get a bookcase for the background of my Zoom
I need to get a bookcase for an intellectual room
I can’t appear in court with this background that I’ve got
That washing horse is far too close the Judge will see the lot.
That acute sensitivity about exposing domestic lives through remote working is one of the recurring themes in an anthology of legal lyrics published this week.
The frustrations of our confined lives have inspired a chorus of confessions, drawing on the sense that although lockdown is only 10 weeks old it feels like an eternity.
Some courts have adapted rapidly to remote working or have simply closed, but others still require lawyers, defendants, court staff and witnesses to appear for urgent cases.
The book is written by and dedicated to legal aid practitioners who have kept the justice system going. The verses reflect the predicament of millions who are working from home while coping with childcare, video conferencing and the pandemic.
Jon Whitfield QC of Doughty Street Chambers in London, who co-edited the collection Lockdown Lawyers said the 50-plus poems – including haikus, parodies and extended ballads – cover “falling revenue, falling ceilings, the fear of infection in dirty courts, police stations and prisons with no PPE, the despair of clients in custody or facing huge challenges with cases postponed indefinitely”.
Whitfield, who also sits as a judge in the court of protection and is a trustee of the Winchester poetry festival, said he asked himself: “How has the publicly funded legal system survived this pandemic at all, given it has endured 35 years of cuts whilst saddled with huge increases in expense and workload?
“However, as I pondered and read the contributions, I realised the answer is simple. It is the lawyers that work themselves to a standstill to keep a broken system going … Despite the endless worry of practice, multiplied by the pandemic they still find time to support each other, smile, be creative.”
Emma Trevett, a paralegal at the law firm Irwin Mitchell based in Bristol, came up with the idea after organising virtual events during the Covid-19 crisis that frequently ended with a poem being read.
“I sent out a message on Twitter calling for anonymous poetry from legal aid lawyers,” she said. “I was astounded by the response. Poems flooded in from around the country. I was surprised to find other lawyers that regularly wrote poetry and, that those who did not were excited to have a go.”
Contributors include judges, QCs, the Secret Barrister blogger, other barristers and solicitors and law centre staff. None of the poems are individually signed, allowing writers the freedom to express themselves anonymously. It is published by the Legal Action Group (LAG). Funds raised will be donated to the Law Centres Network.
COVID Limerick No 5
It’s all very well to do Zoom,
but it’s better to be in the room.
One misses the ‘tells’,
the ticks and the smells,
there’s a danger injustice will loom!’
* This article by Owen Bowcott, the Guardian's legal affairs correspondent was first published in The Guardian/Observer on Sunday 31 May 2020.
Photo: The Guardian
“Never Forgotten”*
‘Darkness follows the passing of the light,
Emotions peaked to almost eternal night
We persevere our senses heighten,
Gradually the pressure starts to lighten
Pushing through and pressing strong
Where there was one, we are together, an increasing throng.
The devastation, the chaos, it passes
The level of sacrifice not forgotten by the masses.’- *Guernica 37's Carl Buckley contributed to Lockdown Lawyers with a piece entitled "Never Forgotten”
‘Lockdown Lawyers is an anthology of poetry on how the COVID-19 crisis has hit legal aid lawyers and the provision of advice and advocacy. There are over 50 contributions from barristers, solicitors, advisers and some of their family members. The poems range from haiku to multi-page poems and touch upon crime, mental health, the lack of courts and how practitioners are coping working from home (or not).
Edited by Emma Trevett and Jon Whitfield QC, Lockdown Lawyers aims to mark what has been the most unusual and difficult of times, showing how despite the decades of cuts we as a sector have coped. It aims to raise a smile and most importantly, all proceeds to the book will be donated to Law Centres Network to continue their work for the most vulnerable people in society. Visit the website here and order your copy of Lockdown Lawyers.’
Related articles from the GCGI archives:
Finding sanctuary in poetry during lockdown
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
The Sweetness of Being Human: ‘We have all of us one human heart.’
- Is this the way to make America great again?
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- Way before there was Canada, there was Tahltan People. We need their wisdom now more than ever before