How do we live in an anxious world?

Yesterday, the price of oil products, particularly diesel, zoomed upwards, shocking most of us back into the reality that we are living in volatile times in an anxious world.

- THE VIEW FROM RIZAL DR. JUN YNARES

The major hike in pump prices is the primary indicator that we are not isolated from the recent developments in the Middle East, the world's chief source of petroleum products. The increase came on the heels of the unabated exchange of missiles between Israel and Iran, and the shocking stealth attack by US bombers on three Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend.

As we write this column, the Iranian government is yet to respond to an “ultimatum” of sorts issued by the US President. “Peace or tragedy” were the terms aired by the commander-in-chief of the world’s most powerful armed forces. Meanwhile, social media pundits have been actively exchanging views on the impact of these latest developments on the global economy, and the very fate of the world.

In the wake of these events, the question we have been getting from colleagues, readers, and family has been this: Can we just go on living our lives like nothing is happening in the rest of the world?

Others ask if these developments are too far from our country to affect us. Are these developments something we can ignore and just watch passively on cable television?

Based on experience, we do know that today, events in other parts of the world do affect us in many ways.