A week has passed since the tornado struck Puerto Varas. And now that the situation has been contained, we are beginning to see more clearly the tornado that also shook our emotions that Sunday afternoon.
We cannot ignore the fact that our daily lives are susceptible to such sudden transformations. One day it was an earthquake, another a volcano, a social uprising, a pandemic… today, a tornado. “Equilibrium tends toward chaos,” part of the natural entropy of our dynamic and sensitive social system.
I have the feeling that when the upheaval affects a structural level of society, when we have to go out into the street and look each other in the eye, that's when that emotional tornado is unleashed.
And it is at that moment that our most primal animal instinct awakens, the one in which we recognize each other as human beings, and the desire to help our species survive emerges with sudden force. Almost without realizing it, a metanarrative arises that we shouldn't overlook: we are a community.
Last Monday, at Mercado Vecinos, we weren't entirely sure how to best support this emergency . But the community quickly made it clear; the direction became obvious. Our WhatsApp groups activated among producers and consumers, information began circulating to coordinate aid, and in no time, we had the products and a handful of neighbors ready to go out and distribute sandwiches and coffee to the volunteers, workers, and public officials who were helping to rebuild Puerto Varas.
It was really exciting…
From the neighbors, for the neighbors.
All we can offer is a huge THANK YOU! ❤️
I hope we don't have to face new emergencies before we decide to build systems of life that are less vulnerable to crisis. I'm referring, for example, to ensuring that the supply of essential products for our daily lives isn't jeopardized every time something unexpected happens.
The key? Local markets, local markets, local markets.
Know the origin of your products; find out who makes them, how they make them, and where they make them.
A warm hug to all the neighbors. See you online!
Sincerely,
Neighbor Juanito
Equilibrium tends towards chaos ☔️
