Travel alert on outbreak of bird flu

DISASTER experts from the Asia-Pacific region will meet in Brisbane today to discuss how to cope with a global outbreak of deadly bird flu, amid warnings that international travel would be virtually wiped out in a pandemic.

Health Minister Tony Abbott yesterday said overseas travel would almost cease for a "significant period" if avian flu broke out in the region.

"From the evidence and the incidence of bird flu that is out there at the moment, it is probably a bit early and irresponsible to be talking of widespread doom, destruction and death," Dr Haikerwal said. "People need to be able to get on with their lives without the prospect of some sort of ornithological Armageddon creating fear in the community."

"It is probably a bit early..."
I wonder when it is a good time to talk about widespread destruction. When it is actually happening? Or when there is time so that it can still be avoided or mitigated against? The real message here is, No one worry, no one panic, go on working, buying and spending, sleep.
It's prudent to remember that in 1918 when the Outbreak was well underway, people said Don't worry, don't panic. Of course, there are many people who want to hear that, and want to know that.

It's this kind of widespread denial that leads to tragedy. If populations stirred from their slumbers, they might notice the causes of these disases, the conditions in which these animals live and the slaughterhouses. And that our trips into fry pits like KFC and Burger King and MacDonalds largely fuel the demand for these bird food factories.

The diseases we are seeing are symptoms of an unhealthy eating habit (as coughing is a symptom in smokers). But they would have us sleep and continue our habits, rather than clean up the systems that make us and our environment sick.

There is a difference between worry, negativity and due diligence. We ought to be diligent, and conscious of our contributions, as consumers, to the world. We ought to face the negative influence of our actions. We, over and over, leave our worries to others, and they do the same in turn. It is because we live so carefree, that our cares will come back to us. And so we go, sleepwalking into the future.