New Normal Conundrum

On New ways of doing things R Buckmister Fuller said “you never change things by fighting existing reality”.
Every situation that is a product of change creates a new normal for the people concerned. Today the world is talking about a New Normal in many respects with attendant responses by the human population in social, economic and political sectors. Every New Normal has a positive and negative response. This could be at individual, group, state, national or global community level.
COVID 19 New Normal in Nigeria is trailed by negative responses. Studies show that the term New Normal has been employed in relation to the first world war, financial crisis of 2007 – 2008, September 11 attacks, in the U.S., the aftermath of 2008 – 2012 Global recession and now COVID 19 Pandemic. COVID 19 Pandemic, has surely brought in a new socio-economic lifestyle and new tastes as well as new attitudes.
It is important to recall that the structural adjustment programme of 1985 – 1986 had its own New Normal too. One issue that trails every New Normal is conspiracy theories.
For example, a New World Order which began with the dismantling of Soviet Union came with a conspiracy theory that talks about a Unipolar world where there is a secretly emerging totalitarian world government.
This theory has since defined the trend of international relations especially among the big world powers. The doctrine of balance of power has intensified especially between the United States with their allies and Russian with their communists allies.
The New Normal here is driven by mutual suspicion in economic, trade and political relations among nations, big and small.
Indeed, the question is do we really have a unipolar world, is it a possibility? New Normal as aftermath of a social, economic, or political change phenomenon is a complex trend that comes with it a conundrum of inexplicable dimensions.
The 5G conspiracy theory borne out of these mutual suspicion among nations and technology giants came to the fore recently as COVID 19 showed its fangs of death a year ago. All sorts of finger pointing, were made in different directions and today the 5G phenomenon is at great risk of rejection by many countries.
The New Normal that have come to be in Covid 19 include the World Health Organisations approved protocols. Different countries have translated these protocols to suit their environment.
There are however common denominators which include social distancing, use of Face Mask and the contentious vaccination issues riddled with conspiracy theories.
New ways of communication and meetings have emerged which have posed serious challenges to the Telecommunication Industry. Zoom or virtual meetings have taken over Face-to-Face engagements. Many conferences now take place through virtual means. Commissioning of events by the presidency is now by virtual means as well as Executive Council Meetings.
This has great challenges to policy making and policy implementation. Indeed, many groups, Professional Associations and Unions have put on hold their conferences because of the limitations of virtual meetings.
Virtual meetings have stripped organizations the benefits of interaction. Meeting with direct mutual engagement and contacts have become rare trends.
In Europe and other parts of the world sports fans participate through virtual means of Webnar and Zoom. This has serious consequences on sports development.
Olympiads have been put on hold and Social distancing rules separating people from the excitement and euphoria associated with such sports has become the case in few global meets.
However, the reality of social distancing has come to stay and accepted in developed countries and half heartedly in Nigeria.
COVID-19 and Vaccination issues is one phenomenon that is yet to sit well in many countries including Nigeria.
While the United States which in recent time is the epicenter of COVID-19 prevalence has carried out millions of vaccination, many developed and underdeveloped countries are still suspicions of the W.H.O approved vaccines.
The Global best practice in vaccine use which is the conduct of clinical trials, have not stopped mutual suspicion among world citizens.
In Nigeria the recent supply of AstraZeneca Vaccine has raised so many commentaries in the public space. Some say the leaders should try it out first.
Today that has been done with President Buhari getting the first Jab. Next will be front line medical personnel and Governors in the various states of the Federation.
Will the average Nigerian agree to take the dual dozes of the vaccine in the presence of conspiracy theories? Some people do not agree that COVID 19 exists and those who are convinced that it exists have bought the theory that the vaccines are not safe, despite confirmed clinical trials.
What needs to be done today is to propagate, and cultivate a New future from the present New Normal which will encourage the right attitudes to modern ways of doing things and beliefs.
Accepting a New Normal is like learning to use the left hand at old age. It is difficult to get it right.
A New Future of diligently pursuing civilization is the way to go.