Want to Help Prevent the Spread of H1N1 and Fear of Other Global Events?

Currently, the world is going through the anxiety of the H1N1 virus, which has been identified as an unusual viral strain and therefore one which the governments of the world are trying to be on the proactive side of preparations, to prevent what could occur, because this virus has been more resistant to treatments after infection. As part of the effort to make people aware and to be more cautious, the news media, in its ever increasing need to make news more dramatic, rather than merely narrative, turns this type of health caution into widespread fear and panic. The news media never takes responsibility for its actions, as they seem to step aside and say "they are only telling the news as they see it", as if some other force was adding the fear aspect to the story.

This is just one example of how we need to keep our perspective of how quickly and how we are fed filtered information about such events. We need to be no less cautious and prepared, but hold our reactions in perspective. The most important ingredient of any contagious illness is to not be around others. Technology has also made it not only possible, but normal, to be able to perform many jobs from our homes and yet that age old, ingrained need to "get to work on time, or else..." makes us go to work sick. In our age of enlightenment, we should know better, but most go to the workplace carrying the single reason why such things become epidemic. This is because we just do not take the time to think before we act.

It's all about perspective and thinking rather than emotional and quick reaction. Companies could raise the levels of awareness to workers by constant reinforcement, but as of yet, many have not made people feel comfortable or supportive enough to just stay home if they are ill.

As we ponder the amount of catastrophes and major events of our lives and relate them to fear and "end of days" theories, we need to keep a prospective on a couple of things. First, there are just more of us. As populations grow on the planet, this in of itself, will influence the effect of humans on the planet and events like global warming and pandemics. No matter what your degree of belief is about the truths or myths of global warming, there can be no doubt that the increasing amount of human beings on the planet will have a direct affect on how the planet reacts and behaves. Global temperature changes may be attributed to change, evolution and time, but every 'living thing' on the planet will have influence on it as well.

Secondly, advancements in technology and communication of information make us aware of events that occur anywhere on in the world, literally within minutes. When we hear something through the recycling, 24/7 news media, about any crisis in the world, it directly influences our emotions and reactions, which can then cause further related events that may not have occurred if that information was not known. Those related reactions can be of a positive or negative nature, but never-the-less, will be profoundly affected by the "knowing" and possible reactions.

Isaac Newton's "laws of motion" have caused the some to quote him as coining the phrase, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

If one applies these laws to human behavior, with today's exponentially increasing speed of communications, combined with population growth and emotional thinking, laws of physics may just not apply!