The venue of advocacy here will depend at least in part on the policies you decide are worth advocating. Even with hundreds of grassroots volunteers, it will be hard to ensure the fidelity of the message you are trying to communicate. It is hard at first blush to imagine how greater attention to pandemic preparedness could do harm, but it is not difficult that simply exhorting government to “do something” could have bad consequences.
Given the situation, it seems likely that governments preparing for future pandemics without clear guidance will prepare for a repeat of the pandemic that is already happening, rather than a different and worse one in future.
Once you select certain highly effective policy worth advocating (for example, an outbreak contingency fund), that’s the stage at which to determine the venue and the tactic. I’m not a bio expert, but it’s not difficult to imagine that once you identify a roster of potential policies, the most effective in expectation may involve, for example, lobbying Heathrow Airport Holdings or the Greater London Authority rather than Parliament.
I agree that exhorting government to just “do something” sounds clearly suboptimal, and possibly unhelpful.
Using the initial steps that I’ve taken thus far as a model, it’s involved speaking to existing biosecurity experts closely to work out precisely what to ask for (a process which is still ongoing).
Considering exactly who is the right group to lobby does indeed make sense, thank you for raising this.
The venue of advocacy here will depend at least in part on the policies you decide are worth advocating. Even with hundreds of grassroots volunteers, it will be hard to ensure the fidelity of the message you are trying to communicate. It is hard at first blush to imagine how greater attention to pandemic preparedness could do harm, but it is not difficult that simply exhorting government to “do something” could have bad consequences.
Given the situation, it seems likely that governments preparing for future pandemics without clear guidance will prepare for a repeat of the pandemic that is already happening, rather than a different and worse one in future.
Once you select certain highly effective policy worth advocating (for example, an outbreak contingency fund), that’s the stage at which to determine the venue and the tactic. I’m not a bio expert, but it’s not difficult to imagine that once you identify a roster of potential policies, the most effective in expectation may involve, for example, lobbying Heathrow Airport Holdings or the Greater London Authority rather than Parliament.
Thanks Matt, this is very much appreciated.
I agree that exhorting government to just “do something” sounds clearly suboptimal, and possibly unhelpful.
Using the initial steps that I’ve taken thus far as a model, it’s involved speaking to existing biosecurity experts closely to work out precisely what to ask for (a process which is still ongoing).
Considering exactly who is the right group to lobby does indeed make sense, thank you for raising this.