odespinner

Nobody’s safe until everyone’s safe is the mantra being adopted by some leading nations in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

It might seem logical to apply this concern for the world’s wellbeing to a fairer distribution of the world’s wealth. Nobody’s well off until everybody’s well off.

Boris Johnson was caught saying in an unguarded moment that greed was the motivating factor leading to the UK’s vaccination success. Not the collaborative efforts of research scientists, not the long hours worked by hospital staff – greed, or put another way the profit motive.

Whilst research needs funding and medical staff require payment, the co-ordinated efforts of research institutes and the National Health Service in the UK is not a vindication of capitalism and greed.

Finding a better way to fight global pandemics is crucial and greed is not the answer. Collaboration and sharing resources have to be at the top of the list.