Aimeé
As COVID-19 spreads across the earth, more and more governments are giving shelter-in-place orders or their equivalents to keep people in their homes. We all miss partying and passing on communicable diseases, but that’s no longer allowed. That means there’s virtually no tourism, few planes, and far fewer cars on the road. This has led to a downtick in pollution. While less pollution is good, it should be remembered that it’s coming at the cost of thousands of human lives and catastrophic economic collapse.
Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people aren’t remembering that and are instead celebrating earth’s “recovery,” by which they mean more visible fish:
Wow… Earth is recovering
– Air pollution is slowing down
– Water pollution is clearing up
– Natural wildlife returning homeCoronavirus is Earth’s vaccine
We’re the virus
— Tom (@ThomasSchuIz) March 17, 2020
nature has spoken: WE are the virus https://t.co/CFIeSNz6jy
— Nou Bwè Kleren. Nou Dur. (@NeutralJing) March 18, 2020
we are the virus and corona is the vaccine IF U THINK ABOUT IT https://t.co/XhgNLxKWjr
— nisha (@nishapillzz) March 17, 2020
It should be noted that the mayor’s office in Venice clarified that there aren’t actually more fish or that much less pollution in the canals at the moment—there just aren’t boats stirring up sediment and hiding them. That didn’t stop the images that purport an enormous ecological change from going viral, because truly…people are the virus. They have brain worms that make them sound like the villains in The Matrix.
— Michael (@bur_ry_mike) March 17, 2020
On the other hand, this insistence that WE are the virus has led to a new meme. People are dunking on the eco-fascists on Twitter, joking about the return of wildlife to our rivers, streets, and fountains. None of them are real, all of them are funny.
Silver linings, folks, that’s all we are looking for. And also “nature is healing, we are the virus” memes.
1.
As the city empties, our indigenous wildlife is coming down from the mountains around London. Nature will find a way. pic.twitter.com/bCIcU21CgK
— Kevin Cecil (@kevcecil) March 31, 2020
2.
now that we are all inside there are fewer cars on the road so ireland’s wildlife is coming back for the first time in five years. welcome home so beautiful pic.twitter.com/HdnMwuitY0
— sarah maria griff (@griffski) March 30, 2020
3.
Wildlife finally returning to Thames. Nature is healing pic.twitter.com/d6uBxSaIAx
— ruby (@roobeekeane) March 29, 2020
4.
Amazing to see the wildlife returning to London now everybody is staying at home! pic.twitter.com/KXX9dqzAdr
— will jennings (@willjennings80) March 21, 2020
5.
Because everyone in Italy is quarantined, the natural wildlife has returned to the water and forests ❤️ We are the virus pic.twitter.com/azYjG7WU3H
— Jules (@Julian_Epp) March 28, 2020
6.
Now that everyone is inside, the ducks have finally returned. Nature is healing, we are the virus pic.twitter.com/PTi1mO1iLp
— Rocean (@RoshanMcG) March 28, 2020
7.
with everyone on lockdown, the lime scooters are finally returning to the river. nature is healing, we are the virus. pic.twitter.com/I0IbCfiMnj
— ronnie mcdonnie (@taladorei) March 26, 2020
8.
Just been for a walk around Hartlepool and took these photos. Look closely. The wildlife is starting to return. The Earth is starting to heal. Maybe WE are the virus pic.twitter.com/GidzKEVKQU
— Alex Horton (@hortonhearsa_) March 22, 2020
9.
On a positive note, at least nature is returning to our cities. This is from Disneyland, Florida… pic.twitter.com/PH6uRltAEw
— Jonathan Sloman (!) (@SquidyUK) March 31, 2020
10.
Wildlife returning to New York. Nature is amazing❤️ pic.twitter.com/8CXa6yJ0JE
— Shαωη (@shawnovan_) March 29, 2020
