COVID Cafe in the Park: Fear, Propaganda and Authoritarianism

This will be the first in a series of events dubbed the 'COVID Cafe' where we will discuss topics relevant to 2020 and our current moment in history.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt, crippling the global economy and taking many vulnerable lives. This induced a great deal of fear and uncertainty at all levels of society, from politicians and scientists down to our local neighbourhoods.

As the year has progressed, global events with unrelated causes (ex. The Murder of George Floyd, the Beirut explosion, election protests in Belraus etc) have functioned as feedback loops for greater uncertainty. There is a great sense of anxiety as the U.S. election approaches.

Let's explore the complex relationship between our internal state and the world as a whole. Some questions that might be worth considering:

What have we been afraid of over the last few months?

How does our consumption of information affect our emotional states?

How do powerful forces exploit our vulnerabilities for the purpose of control?

Can we enter into a new relationship with fear?

Are there any causes for hope going into the future?

How can we live meaningful lives during these uncertain times?

IF YOU FEEL SICK STAY AT HOME

Please respect other people if they choose to keep their distance and/or wear a mask. Since we are outdoors I won't enforce anything specific and will trust your personal judgement.

It is recommended that you bring some kind of chair or mat if you don't want to sit on grass or dirt.