Elias Hakalehto, PhD,Adj. Prof.

Microbiologist, Biotechnologist

CEO, Finnoflag Oy

Vice President, InternationalSociety of Environmental Indicators

Fellow Member, InternationalSociety for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) (Japan)

Published 30th of November, 2021

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The flakiness of evidence for the evasion of COVID-19 has risen to unprecedented levels. We need new means to complement the old concepts and generalizations for the desired outcome. This campaign should base on rock-solid facts and perceptions. Instead, societies seemingly strive for "a return to normality", although there is no normal on the horizon. Groundless promises have nibbled away the credibility of the politicians and caused senseless riots in many countries—today, WHO designated the new emerging variant Omicron. Fortunately, the preparations for future pandemics have been started internationally, or at least discussions about these preparations.

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The common teachings of old-class microbiology have awkwardly been omitted. Why do we not have any "innate immunity" against ignorance as societies? Hardly any biological or epidemiological indication has led to determined action against the spread of viruses? Instead, many rules and regulations seem to be ordained against people. For example, why the complementary techniques for vaccinations have not been taken into use in societies? They could manifest the unique features of various areas. For example, the current weather conditions in Europe with the optimal temperatures for the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus seem to play a role. In support of vaccine development, passive immunization could give flexible short-term protection in addition to the active immunization by the vaccines. Complementation warrants legalizing the practically risk-free methods, such as using chicken egg yolk antibodies.  Equally well, there should be the active governmental promotion of protective hygiene enhancing techniques, such as ultraviolet c light.

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What are the social, political and economic consequences of countries running into havoc and going for closures and sanctions again? The new situations develop fast enough, but they are not wholly unpredictable but are often logical consequences of our previous doings or non-doings.

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In late October and early November, the press reported that Waterford, famous for its crystal industries, is the worst place in Ireland for pandemics. However, more than 99% of the 18+ citizens were double-vaccinated. This "Waterford lesson" supports the statement already in Summer 2020 by the US chief epidemiologist Anthony Fauci that even an 80% actual coverage for protection by the vaccines could be unreachable. - Why then put all the eggs into one basket? Besides masks and measures, we need additional means for instant reactivity against emerging variants and invariants. And for surface protection.

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In the current prolonged "under the volcano" situation, we need novel methods and tools for maintaining societies, their functionalities and survival—no jamming by tactful tampering of the straight roads or alleys for pseudo mastering the crisis.

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In the coming Winter, the severe conditions may condense in many countries. The Omicron variant is faster spreading than the delta one and may avoid the vaccination partially. It may cause milder illness than it. But with many mutations (about 50 total mutations and about 30 in the spike protein-coding sequences), it may provide a platform for novel anguish and danger, primarily if microbiological justified and timely counter-measures are not tuned and activated.

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The President of Finland, Mr Sauli Niinistö, proposed a " corona fist " almost two years ago to be established as a task force to prevent the spread of disease and support human values during the crisis. Indeed, as societies, we should target our heavy hits against the epidemics, not against citizens, animals or plants.

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Together with Mankind, many animal species suffer from human operations, such as destroyed living places, forests and seas. This engendering of the surrogated victims provokes zoonotic infections between animals and humans. COVID-19 is one of them

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Some species have caught the viral epidemics besides the human populations. For example, Tigers are near extinction as a result of human pressures. Many bat species are spreading the disease, but they are integral parts of their ecosystems. However, cutting the forests away to give space for mines in Africa has forced the bats to fly far, which has spread the viruses. Such was the case with the Ebola virus. However, the COVID-19 disease has not been spreading there as expected, although the latest Omicron variant is associated with South Africa. The high temperatures and the immunoprotection of the population, gained by malaria or helminths, or tuberculosis, and other endemic mechanisms may play a role in this African miracle.

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As the current pandemics is either directly resulting from or boosted by climate change, it threatens many species, especially in the Arctic. One sign of this endangered environment is pink "watermelon snow", which covers the frozen yards of many polar bears. Besides the crisis, the blooming of algae causes the colour change by the species Chlamydomonas nivalis.

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Similarly, any changes in the general immunity of populations, for example, can copiously magnify the effects of new waves of pandemic viruses or their accompanying bacteria or moulds.

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As discussed previously, we should utilize the means offered by plants and animals and the beneficial micro-organisms to proceed into the next phase of human existence and health security as in the process industries or ecosystem engineering. The time is right for novel health openings, business thinking and sustainable initiatives or energy production. As Jules Verne proposed in 1874 in his book "Mysterious island", hydrogen could fuel clean traffic and manufacturing and cities of the future. If the sails lack for that tailwind of our era, we will not achieve the haven. Otherwise, we could contemplate things endlessly at our own pace or from our perspective, but the reality is on the deterrent track with our fairest intentions. Therefore, determined acts are warranted.

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Our values of humanity and coexistence with balanced ecosystems are at stake. Thus, the sustainable operations that could prevail and increase between Earth and us will become economically valuable. Such a situation has formed in Tampere, Finland, as the tested mosaic of biorefinery technologies, biogas and sustainable electricity, and soil improvement agent manufacturing could be associated with the climate-friendly purification of the lake bottom deposits. See the former blogs. These sediments are the remnants of century-old industrial actions which thus could be converted into precious raw materials for:

- methane biogas and hydrogen for sustainable electricity and fuels,

- food or medical excipient grade lactic acid, mannitol and other chemicals,

- nutrient-rich organic fertilizers for returning the topsoil to areas where the soil fertility is lost, and

- cleaned up lake ecosystem in the vicinity of the ecological Hiedanranta suburb where the climate strain has been replaced by carbon-neutral and self-sufficient city living.

Their removal will help avoid respiratory strain from the aerosols and clouds of dust originating from the lake. In addition, such operations could become economically feasible if microbiological biotechnology is utilized. The value of healthy living is uncountable, and nowadays, the clean environment is raising the value of any housing. Besides or like the epidemic germs, we should not tolerate any other pollutant load either.

It remains to be seen what will happen in these crucial matters. At best, the Hiedanranta project could show how to treat thousands of corresponding organic and industrial deposits around the globe. Do we deter the development or determine it?

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