Petrushka: Proceedings of a Conference on Severe Epidemic Phytonotic Syndrome (SEPS)

The Petrushka group was established to consider what might be done to combat SEPS (Severe Epidemic Phytonotic Syndrome) if technology fails or exacerbates the condition. Whilst its origin is uncertain, SEPS seems to thrive on electromagnetic radiation of every kind. The meeting was therefore convened by post, participants made their way to Cape Cod by land and water, and had to rely on their own knowledge, since on-line resources were not accessible. Some who were invited did not arrive, so there are gaps in expertise that we could not supply. We did place one long call to an epidemiologist engaged in the technological fight against SEPS, because thoughts emerging from a total information blackout would surely have been inept. As it is, recommendations are tentative, since we do not know how far the plague has spread, or which societies and communities have been disabled. The competing priorities of medicine, public health, ecosystems and biology were discussed, but the group did not ultimately arbitrate among them. This is partly because the situation is in flux. It is possible also that, rather like old colonial powers, humans are incapable of envisaging a course of action in which they do not have the leading role.

Note: the meeting took place; the pandemic did not.