Do you remember all those disaster movies in the 1990s, like Deep Impact, Independence Day and Armageddon? In all of them, Earth faced existential threats from aliens, asteroids of meteors. In all of them, mankind is saved by science, ingenuity and technology. Inevitably, the United States takes the lead in challenging the threats. In Independence Day, the fictional US President gives a rousing flag waving speech urging everyone i.e. the world, to fight the alien invaders.

The real world context for these films is that America was then triumphant post-Cold War. The Soviet Union was gone and China was not the power it is now. It is also the period before anyone had heard of Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden.

Today in 2020, we face a threat that no one had anticipated: a virus. A worldwide pandemic that has taken thousands of lives. No country is immune. We have all have to adjust our lives to this new reality. Lockdowns, social distancing and constant hand washing have become part of our lives.

The depressing part of this crisis has been the lack of global leadership. Unlike those 1990s movies, there has been no global effort to fight the coronavirus. No rousing speech from the US President or even the UN Secretary-General. No other world leader has even risen to the occasion. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor could, if she wanted to, call for the EU to focus on a global coalition to combat the virus. All countries have turned inwards, concentrating on doing their own thing. A similar accusation can be levelled at the African Union and the Arab League.

Our very way of life has been threatened by Covid 19, and yet our political leaders have proved themselves lacking.

The one bright note is that experts, people who know things and have the expertise are the key. Populist politicians cannot and should not be relied on for medical expertise. If this crisis has shown us anything, it is that scientists and medical experts are people who will get us through this crisis. Politicians have agendas which may mean that public safety is NOT their top concern, especially if they are facing elections.

We will come through this, and hopefully we will learn many things. One of them will be that is that we need serious people to lead us. People who use slogans, tweets and easy soundbites are not enough. Real leaders plan ahead, prepare and inspire their people.