Global crisis, global cooperation
COVID19 has been smeared by Achilles’ heel of neoliberalism. Even if you have money right
now, you can't buy a mask. Even if you have money, you can't buy immunity, and you can’t
buy treatment. It’s quite fatal if there are people infected at health centers, hospitals or
pharmacies which were founded to provide health.
In Ancient Greek mythology, Achilles is a contradictory hero. He was an unrivaled warrior
and had a "steel body" that couldn’t be hurt by anything. This is because his mother, Tetis,
soaked Achilles’ entire body, who was a new born baby, in the River Stix of the Underworld.
However, he also had a fatal weakness. "Achilles heel" because the heel of the foot which
Tetis was holding Achilles' body immersed in the Stix River did not get water. Eventually, he
died because of a poisonous arrow in the heel.
So Achilles is a contradiction. On one hand, he had a dream, an ardent wish for a human body
that never gets sick and never dies. However, this is because of the individualism to make the
dream come true only with one’s own strength and neoliberalism methods are based on
individualism, which try to make dreams his or her power alone. Tetis tried to use her own
ability as a mermaid of the sea to make her own son immortal, but the very "self sufficiency"
was fatal to her son. This is why Achilles is being summoned for the global pandemic of the
coronavirus.
Neo-liberalism preached that health is self-preservation. Health became a product that money
could buy. In return for paying membership fees to the gym, they bought a "body" and paid
for their health at hospitals and pharmacies. Even the youth, a symbol of healthy appearance,
was something money could buy. They spent their time and money on themselves to sweat,
strengthen muscles and strengthen cardiopulmonary organs. Health is their responsibility and
their right and it was shouted all over the place. If you immerse yourself in the "Stix River" of
money, you could become an Achilles.
COVID19 inquires a neo-liberal Achilles' heel. Even if you have money right now, you can't
buy a mask. Even if you have money, you can't buy immunity and you cannot buy treatment.
It is rather fatal if there are people infected at health centers, hospitals or pharmacies which
were founded to provide health. No matter how hard you sweat, build muscles and strengthen
your heart and lungs, you can't stop the virus. Of course, if you are healthy and have no
underlying disease, chances are high that you will recover from the virus, but a long and
painful struggle period is inevitable. If the state does not intervene in the infection test and
leaves it to individual autonomy and the "invisible hand" of the market, the exponential
expansion of the infection is obvious.
... ellipsis...
Now, as seen by President Trump's declaration of banning the entering into Europe, he is now
pursuing "national guidance" beyond individual self-sufficiency. He has set up barriers to the
border and strictly controls people's access, saying only their health and safety are the top
priorities. Each country has its own role as a "Tetis" by banning exports of masks and medical
equipment and expanding the government's fiscal spending. The inherently limited World
Health Organization is losing steam in the midst of this. Dozens of countries are violating
international health rules in the wake of the incident and have not fulfilled their obligations to
avoid the outbreak. Global cooperation in coping with the global crisis is far away.
Looking back, since 1969, when international health rules were created, the world has made
great progress in cooperating to create a healthy body public globally. It was in 1979 that
smallpox was eradicated, which was so powerful that it infected 15 million people and killed
2 million people in 1967. But through the 1980s, when neo-liberalism began, governments cut
their health rights and health budgets significantly, reducing health aid and health services in
underdeveloped countries beginning to collapse. It has nothing to do with various infectious
diseases such as Ebola, SARS and MERS circling the world in the 21st century.
It is impossible to survive on an already united earth. If you dream of Achilles, you will face
his destiny. Health belongs to all of us in the global community that should be raised together.
