As 2020 draws to a close, the end of the strangest year I can remember is almost at an end. No doubt many will be glad to see the back of it as we head into a 2021 filled with more uncertainty than most starts to a new year. The one positive to come from 2021 was the COVID-19 vaccine; we owe the many scientists and related people a debt of gratitude for achieving such a momentous task in a relatively sort time. Two things (of many) that also took my attention in relation to this roll out of this vaccine within the UK and Ireland was:
- The suspected cyber-attack (according to IBM) on the supply cold chain, and
- The various conspiracy theorists and “influencers” looking to discourage vaccine uptake.
It does beg the question as to who would do such things and why? The release by IBM stated that whilst the source of the attack was unclear, the sophistication of the methods used indicated a nation state. Apparently phishing emails were sent out across six countries, which targeted organisations linked to the Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation Platform (CCEOP) of Gavi, the international vaccine alliance.
This was soon followed by the US's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) issuing an alert (linked to the IBM report) encouraging organisations associated with the storage and transport of a vaccine to be on guard for such a cyber-attack.
This certainly highlights the need for robust data and cyber-security; and the need for constant diligence with how we work in a digital space; especially with so many working from home and “e-commuting”. Most sites do practice “safety in the work place”, however it is probably time we also considered the safety of the data we work with as well, especially in a new age where more will probably be working from home and spending more time working with and transferring data and information across the net.
Equally as vexing as these “cyber hackers” are the disinformation spreaders who seem to wish to disrupt the uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccine. To what end? It is of course everyone’s choice as to whether or not they partake in a vaccine, however to actively spread mis and disinformation that may well end up costing lives is irresponsible in the extreme.
I am also curious as to why so many people readily take the advice/opinions of persons with no obvious background or experience in science and/or medicine over the many, many specialists and officials who do have such?? I would side with Simon Stevens (NHS England Chief Executive) when it comes to the health and medical advice coming from celebrities and influences; however, I am still curious as to why people so readily take their advice against that of reputable health professionals?
There are of course those who would point to a “government conspiracy” in relation to this Covid-19 pandemic; however, I’d say to these people to look at the level of competence that the sitting UK government has shown to the wider pandemic, to Brexit, and to tackling climate change and ask whether a government showing such a level of competence could really carry out a conspiracy on this global scale and magnitude?! And to what end?!? Same could be said for our neighbours across the Atlantic with their various issues that they have had to face over the last four years.
At a time when America is in turmoil, it seems quite a stretch that they would become embroiled in an international conspiracy; especially at a time when so many other direct and pressing issues were happening internally and being dealt with to a similar level of competence to that of the sitting UK government in relation to the wider pandemic, to Brexit, and to tackling climate change (as above) – I rest my case, however followers of QAnon may probably differ in opinion.
I would always take a similar view to Bertrand Russell in his “Russell’s teapot” analogy in that the burden of proof should fall upon the believer and not the non-believer… that and Occam’s razor in that people should lean towards the simplest explanation with the fewest assumptions until a weight of evidence suggests otherwise. It’s actuality this is how I see that we as Engineers should go about our professional work.
I believe that it was the Philosopher Karl Popper who coined the term “falsifiability” in relation to how much a belief, statement or theory is or can be contradicted by observation and/or evidence. Only problem with that is as highlighted by the Voltaire attributed quote in “Common sense is not so common”. Voltaire also had another quote that (sadly) has been realised over the last few years’ in that “Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities”.
Let’s hope that the more recent memories of the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t diminish the memory of the preceding atrocities that the would witnessed, and was witnessing prior to this pandemic (and the legacy that is still with us) – and I am not referring to Trump’s comb over.
We can only hope that we don’t see such things again as we go forward into 2021; and that we can and do find the will and strength to start coming back together – rather than to allow our differences to drive us further apart. At least, that’s my message and hope for 2021. We all need to be able to breath.
