What old posters can teach us about living through a pandemic

We’re all familiar with the “keep calm and carry on” posters which saw a revival in recent years. But there’s plenty more wisdom to be found leafing through some of the old posters from the world wars*.

The context is different, but careless talk still costs lives. Misinformation – whether shared maliciously or with the best of intentions – is the enemy. This isn't about espionage but it's still all about our national (and personal) security.

As an antidote to the frenetic hoarding of toilet paper and pasta, this poster promotes a frugal mindset that's mindful of how greed impacts others. We don't have ration cards, but perhaps we could behave as if we do.

Now that many shops are temporarily closed, self-sufficiency is suddenly back in vogue. If it’s broken, make do and mend. If you can, grow your own ‘victory garden’. Let's be honest, most of us won't manage to grow a cornucopia of home grown food, but all that gardening in the fresh air and exercise won't go to waste. And even if all you can manage is a potted plant on the window-ledge, there's a spark of joy in watching something to grow.

And finally, we are all in this together. (Clearly there was no social distancing rule when this poster was created, and look how happy they look about that!) Never before has it been more apparent that we are all connected, all part of a global community with each person's actions impacting the curve. Together as families, neighbourhoods, communities... and across nations and continents. By cooperating and working together, we can win.

Are you doing all you can? Stay at home, stay well.

(*It’s also worth noting there are some WW1 and WW2 propaganda posters which are by today's standards staggeringly offensive. I take comfort in the fact that they only remain relevant as archival evidence of how far we've come.)