Winter 2021-2022
While COVID-19-related deaths have hit 28 million globally, WHO reports that there have been no deaths from the Omicron variant so far, despite its presence in at least 38 countries. Symptoms tend to be milder, though it is highly transmissible and reduces vaccine efficacy.
Two thirds of people in wealthier nations are now fully vaccinated, while less than one in 20 of those in developing nations have received a first dose of the vaccine.
WHO warns governments to be careful when cutting COVID-19 isolation periods. The virus becomes the third leading cause of death among Americans 85 and older, after heart disease and cancer and more than diabetes, Alzheimers and dementia.
The UK announces £1bn of bailout funding for businesses struggling to deal with the impact of the Omicron variant.
A small town in England is part of a trial blending hydrogen with natural gas to create energy in the hope of assisting a green revolution.
A massive volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga causes catastrophic damage.
Military rule is restored in Myanmar leading to widespread demonstrations.
Over 100,000 Russian troops are massed around three sides of the Ukrainian border as the possibility arises of Ukraine joining NATO, which would place a NATO country on the Russian border.
How can this be happening? There is a feeling of threat on so many levels. Each time one seems to abate, another is added. How can we respond without becoming part of the problem? Will we be reactive or will we call on our Zen training to see through all the noise to how we can act with grace and compassion and be useful?
This appears in the book, Digging in the Earth to Find the Blue Sky.
Sheila Ross is an artist, writer, graphic designer, and Zen student of Roshi Kennedy. She was senior designer at Fordham University, New York, where she founded the Fordham Interfaith Zen sitting group. Ross trained as a sculptor at St. Martin’s School of Art in London, participating in the Locked Room project, which led to the book The Locked Room: Four years that shook art education, 1969-73 (MIT Press, 2020). (sheilaross.co.uk)