The pandemic should have alerted us to the fact we may be blind to potentially catastrophic risks that can be foreseen and prevented. So where are the determined efforts to find what else we are blind too before we discover those dangers the hard way? 1/

This NYT article on GPS infrastructure is a case in point. With more and more systems dependent on what is obviously a fragile infrastructure, will we really wait until there is a disaster before acting? If history is any guide -- probably. 2/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/23/opinion/gps-vulnerable-alternatives-navigation-critical-infrastructure.html?searchResultPosition=1

Or consider geomagnetic storms. A catastrophic storm is literally just a matter of time and with virtually everything we do reliant on infrastructure that could be damaged by such a storm, um, shouldn't we prepare? 3/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-studies-warn-of-cataclysmic-solar-superstorms/

Psychology and politics both lean against foresight and preparedness. Pushing back takes leadership that recognizes these forces - and is determined to overcome them.

A short piece I wrote for the Globe about why we weren't prepared for the pandemic. 4/ https://www.dangardner.ca/mnt/volume_tor1_01/www/spark/dangardner.ca/web/article/why-were-we-not-prepared

This is urgent. Now is the time to talk about this stuff. Not because black swans are imminent but because the pandemic should make us all aware of what's at stake. If we don't prepare better for catastrophic risks after getting walloped by one, we never will. 5/