Freedom with Respect
Coronavirus continues to be a challenge for the world, but there is a way to safely respond which avoids lockdowns and minimises the impact of social distancing. The pages of this website explain how.
What’s the idea?
greenbandredband is a way for us to be free AND safe. By choosing green or red we can show each other what we believe and respect each other’s choices.
Why do we need it?
COVID-19 has directly or indirectly affected the lives of the majority of the world’s population. Throughout much of the world ‘social distancing’ and ‘lockdown’ have been adopted. These measures were designed to protect people from the harm that the virus could cause, but until vaccines or effective medicine are available to all who want them, the route out of lockdown and long term distancing is unclear. As more and more information has emerged about the risk to particular groups from the virus, there have been strong reactions. On one side there are those who resist any relaxation of restrictions while a potential threat to human health remains. On the other there are those who view Coronavirus as another of the multitude risks that exist in life, and who want an immediate return to pre-COVID-19 freedoms.
Both sides make some legitimate arguments but how can we find a solution that would satisfy everybody? greenbandredband is here to suggest a way. A very simple, very accessible way.
Freedom 101
Each of us wants to live freely. But in a society freedom comes with responsibility. When we act, we have to take account of the impact our actions will have on others. For society to function we each have to respect each other’s rights. We also have to appreciate that not everyone will take the same viewpoint that we do. In order to respect each other’s views we first have to know what they are. Open clear communication is the starting point. From there we can act in a manner which allows us each the maximum freedom possible without impinging on the freedom of others. The freedom to act as we want is always restricted to some degree by the obligation not to harm others.
How does it work?
The simplest of choices
Everyone chooses either green or red and makes their choice obvious to others. Those in low risk categories are more likely to choose green, while those who are vulnerable are more likely to choose red. The logos on this site are free to download and reproduce, and you can display them however you choose as long as you do it clearly. Or you can purchase a wrist band from this site. The proceeds from the bands sold on this site go to charity and all the logos and artwork are free to download and use for the purposes set out on the site. Alternatively get creative. Provided the communication is clear, the way you do it doesn’t matter.
Green banders can intermingle and go about their normal lives without restrictions on how they interact. Red banders will maintain social distance from each other.
It is very important to stress that green banders should show they respect the views and risk assessments of red banders by maintaining social distance from red banders.
Much more detail can be found on the FAQs page and in the British Medical Journal at https://bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3410/rr-2 and https://bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3702/rr-7. For a UK context see also https://steven-sieff.medium.com/are-there-any-alternatives-to-tier-5-46d00d6a4d73
In this way we can achieve a balance of freedom and restriction which maintains our right to choose and respects our right to not to be harmed. In the same way that you would not willingly infect anyone else with any other virus, anyone who knows that they have Coronavirus (tested positive) or has symptoms consistent with having it should isolate themselves for the recommended period to avoid infecting others. While it is true that spread of the virus amongst green banders may help promote ‘population immunity’ this is not the goal of the system. Rather this is a way for everyone to get the level of freedom and protection they require while Coronavirus continues to circulate in the world.
The faster and more widely greenbandredband is adopted, the more chance it has of being useful for everyone immediately. So please spread the word. Suggestions as to how are here.