Stay safe - wash your hands,
practice social distancing, and follow informed medical advice - and be considerate towards those at risk or in
situations of vulnerability (including economic) while the COVID-19
pandemic is a problem.
This is a new, very
cut down series of posts based on some observations on matters that struck a
personal note: unlike the former “Gnwmythr’s News”, it is not
trying to convey key events.
Content Warning: the linked articles and their descriptions here may be
about violence, abuse, hate, and other problems.
My articles this week
include: friendships
at a time of stress; the importance
of political change being non-violent;
corporate
egregores; coping
with the pandemic.
This week: one woman is dead and others injured after
several dogs got
loose; one of the the problems
of the unrestrained power of police is shown when a man dresses as a police
officer and uses that power to commit a rape;
suggestions
on keeping houses safer (i.e., reduced, not eliminated, risk) from
bushfires while still having some vegetation;
closeness to a situation makes people less susceptible to fake news, so that may be less of a problem with the COVID-19
pandemic; 10% of the children affected
by last summer’s bushfires are Indigenous.
In the environmental
arena: the COVID-19
pandemic is a “window into future climate change threats”; after the worst
year in my nation for the environment in decades or longer, lessons
from the COVID-19 pandemic for the fight against the climate crisis; a tool to block climate-denying advertisers getting money; the trend back to commercial sail vessels; after years and several mass fish kills, the Darling is starting to flow into the Murray; a heatwave
in Antarctica; the world’s coral reefs
may have reached a tipping
point as far as bleaching goes . . . ; my nation’s air
emissions could be halved by measures to address the pandemic; “zero carbon”
pumps are helping Pakistan;
exploring
sustainable development in Indonesia.
On human and animal rights:
the remaining human rights needs of TGD (trans and gender diverse) people in Australia (and I point out that wanting surgery is valid, and those who want it should be able to get it); anti-LGBT hate groups are on the rise in the USA (thanks, in good part, to POTUS45’s bigotry); yet another article on the scientific FACT that sex is non-binary;
another Indigenous death in custody;
the EU’s Court of Justice has ruled that Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland broke the law over refugee quotas - but the EU as a whole is just watching as Hungary kills democracy;
India’s women seaweed divers;
another state has received a recommendation to implement assisted dying;
ideas on helping the homeless in Singapore;
concerns that the national redress scheme lets churches “get out of jail free”.
trafficking/slavery/child abuse matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Australia;
LGBTIQ+ matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Singapore (continued homophobia), UK, South and Central America; and
other matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Sierra Leone, Iraq.
the remaining human rights needs of TGD (trans and gender diverse) people in Australia (and I point out that wanting surgery is valid, and those who want it should be able to get it); anti-LGBT hate groups are on the rise in the USA (thanks, in good part, to POTUS45’s bigotry); yet another article on the scientific FACT that sex is non-binary;
another Indigenous death in custody;
the EU’s Court of Justice has ruled that Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland broke the law over refugee quotas - but the EU as a whole is just watching as Hungary kills democracy;
India’s women seaweed divers;
another state has received a recommendation to implement assisted dying;
ideas on helping the homeless in Singapore;
concerns that the national redress scheme lets churches “get out of jail free”.
trafficking/slavery/child abuse matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Australia;
LGBTIQ+ matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Singapore (continued homophobia), UK, South and Central America; and
other matters (good and bad) have occurred in: Sierra Leone, Iraq.
In the related human
rights arena of employment: guidelines
on a mentally healthy workplace.
In the governance,
politics, and society arena: the preventive
benefits of anti-corruption commissions, which
can change culture before a Royal Commission is necessary; the problem of unauthorised
access to sensitive personal information;
laws intended to stop erosion of super could result in people losing
life insurance.
Risks of atrocities
this week in: the latest Crisis
Watch.
On humanitarian
aid: a page for Give
Directly in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internationally: although misogynistic violent extremists in
Afghanistan are showing signs
of genuinely seeking a peace deal (in part because they cannot win
militarily), questions
about their credibility remain; the
goal of eradicating extreme poverty has been given
up; the
UN Security Council has met virtually - now to extent that to the General
Assembly; the resurgence
of far right extremism in Germany; an
examination shows autocracies lack
legitimacy; political weaknesses
have been exposed in Indonesia; Brazil’s
“president” is a danger
to Brazilians; Pakistan has eased the punishment of the murderers of a journalist; an
assessment of what would happen if Russia invaded the Baltic states; India’s push to modernise is threatening public
spaces and iconic buildings.
In Africa: an examination
of governance in Mali; Togo’s “implausible”
election result; “ECOWAS’ reputation
. . . is
facing strain as a growing number of West African leaders alter
rules to consolidate power and resist stepping down”; corruption and
ineptness is threatening South Sudan’s resources industry; the effect
of the political transition in Ethiopia - which has finally restored
internet in one region, but deferred an election - on the region; Guinea’s opposition has rejected
the constitutional referendum result; Algeria
has arrested
a journalist; low
voter turnout in Mali; the struggle against
East Africa’s locust plague; growing
tensions in Western Sahara; South Sudanese activists are looking to unify their nation.
On COVID-19 (seven
major risks to watch here,
and seven sins of thought to avoid here):
the worst crisis since World War Two; more thoughts on a post-COVID-19 world; a reminder of the need for emotional sharing and healing; an opinion that the level of trust in government, not the form of governance, will dictate how well nations deal with the pandemic (although there is some validity to this, as shown by the differences in response between East and West Africa over Ebola, it is democracy [when free of the current versions of populism] that is best set up to be inherently trusted, not dictatorships/authoritarian systems); more on violent extremist threats; the UN has launched a plan to make the world better as part of addressing the pandemic;
good stories of people coming together: here, parenting cues from a TV cartoon series; meditation; chalk messages on streets; automatic doors could help;
medical aspects: self care and mental wellbeing aspects; the value of developing an antibody test; those who fled war are at particular risk of being re-traumatised; healthcare workers are struggling to keep their families safe; a call for better, non-discriminatory examination of data on victims; expertise is political: there is a role for local wisdom; work on vaccines; as the USA urges people to wear masks outside, the efficacy of face masks, and an article on aerosols; physical isolation will need to continue after we have flattened the curve; some people are asymptomatic (although most actually have mild symptoms), and some are contagious before developing symptoms; 3D printing masks for health care workers;
resources: pragmatic perspective from Buddhism; looking after pets; restrictions; some concerns over video conferencing; how to manage risks when shopping in a (western style) supermarket;
on human rights aspects: the expected surge in domestic violence is happening (and hasn’t been helped by this stupidity in Malaysia); a petition to have a journalist jailed in Niger for reporting on the pandemic released; concerns about the slippery surveillance slope of starting to use drones; the risk of a “shock doctrine”; principles for protecting civil and political rights during the pandemic; risks to democracy and freedom; concerning calls for more precise information on the location of cases; faulty PPE imported from overseas has been seized; more on the Eastern European governments that are using the pandemic as an excuse to become more despotic - and China has been doing the same in Tibet; the USA has eased its homophobia on blood donations; a minority of idiots is causing at least one entire community to be tarred with the same brush; South Korea will allow absentee voting; DV shelters have closed; 40,000 retired health workers are returning to work - but Australia is still stopping refugee doctors helping; the risk of atrocities; abuse of Asian Americans in the USA; LGBTIQ+ elderly; rich nations urged to do more to help poorer nations;
Australia: overcrowding (from failure to address housing needs) in Indigenous communities is making them a particular risk; a petition for proper Parliamentary scrutiny; as a wage subsidy is finally announced - except for casuals, some people are gaining new jobs helping manage the effects of the pandemic; my home state has made the 2 person and not leaving the house rules enforceable, and boosted our health system; a woman has been charged for breaching the quarantine rules and coughing on two officers; calls for a halt to low level policing; renters will be protected for six months; “mental health, domestic violence and telehealth services [have been] given $1.1 billion coronavirus package boost”; warnings about the stock market as moves are taken to prevent foreign asset raids; the personal cost as the fragility of the system is revealed; the (concerning) use of police; fruit and veg prices will rise; inadequate staff, training and PPE at borders is not being helped by sh*ts STEALING; our stuffed up internet “system” is - unexpectedly - struggling; workers have been stood down for enforcing rules at borders; real estate agents have shown their true colours by suggesting renters use their super to pay rent; the person who campaigned against the ALP’s franking policy has now hypocritically reversed his stance; the need for a deal between media and digital/tech companies is now more urgent; childcare fees have been scrapped; our post-WW2 recovery is a clue to how we could recover now, after the pandemic; the challenges of co-parenting;
internationally: nations at high risk; the actions that should be taken on both sides of the USA-Iran divide; poor nations (such as Bangladesh, where 2 million people could die) are at particular risk; the egregious mendacity of POTUS45’s prattlings (at least he’s given up on reopening for Easter); a call to spend on infrastructure in the USA; a finance Minister in Europe has died by suicide over worry about the financial fallout from the pandemic; a Singaporean’s passport has been cancelled for breaching the rules; mass stupidity and ineptness in Israel; fears of violence in India (and I know similar violence has been occurring in Uganda); criticism of Mexico’s approach; a shortage of PPE in Northern Ireland has led to some nurses preparing letters about the problem in case they die, so their families can claim compensation; China is already trying to revise history, and is at risk of major upheaval; POTUS45 is now aiming to limit US deaths to 100,000 . . . ; financial aid in South Korea; call to release prisoners in South America - which Indonesia has begun - as well as banning foreigners and implementing physical distancing; Turkmenistan has stupidly banned the word “coronavirus”; the Philippines “Marcos-lite” dictator Duterte has extended his mass murder policy to include people allegedly infected with the virus; racism in Israel’s response - see also this; helping rough sleepers; the need for rent relief; more shopping areas are using floor markings to indicate required physical separations; Portugal is granting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants residency rights during the pandemic; food security is becoming a problem in Asia; Colombia will help the jobless; protection is lacking for Mexican farmworkers who are “feeding the US”; in the Pacific;
in Africa: Uganda has been abusing pandemic laws to target minorities; the strange calm in Lagos, Nigeria as millions in Africa enter lockdown; Africa’s crucial “internally displaced people” challenge; coronavirus myths in Africa; at times fatal police and military brutality; as the arms embargo is better enforced, fighting has resumed in Libya, but prisoners have been released; Zimbabweans fear starving to death in their homes - and hunger remains a problem in West Africa; health crisis in Burkina Faso; a “hold out” violent group in Sudan’s Darfur has accepted a ceasefire over COVID-19 pandemic concerns; a regional response; Niger’s prison release included an opposition leader; Egypt is boosting food reserves; unemployment could reach 50%; as debt relief is sought, an aid package has been approved; information via graffiti in Senegal;
globally: medical staff everywhere are facing PPE shortages; some rich people want their workers to put their lives at risk by going back to work; the pandemic could drive 11 million people into poverty; while growth rates are slowing, it is too early to think of returning to normality; a look at the world economy post-COVID-19; the impact fear of disease has on diplomacy; support for journalists; mass job losses are continuing; some funeral practices are changing; lockdowns are keeping some partners separated;
finally, the Hungarian doctor who discovered, in 1847, the importance of washing hands, and Ancient Greek ideas on leaders as healers.
the worst crisis since World War Two; more thoughts on a post-COVID-19 world; a reminder of the need for emotional sharing and healing; an opinion that the level of trust in government, not the form of governance, will dictate how well nations deal with the pandemic (although there is some validity to this, as shown by the differences in response between East and West Africa over Ebola, it is democracy [when free of the current versions of populism] that is best set up to be inherently trusted, not dictatorships/authoritarian systems); more on violent extremist threats; the UN has launched a plan to make the world better as part of addressing the pandemic;
good stories of people coming together: here, parenting cues from a TV cartoon series; meditation; chalk messages on streets; automatic doors could help;
medical aspects: self care and mental wellbeing aspects; the value of developing an antibody test; those who fled war are at particular risk of being re-traumatised; healthcare workers are struggling to keep their families safe; a call for better, non-discriminatory examination of data on victims; expertise is political: there is a role for local wisdom; work on vaccines; as the USA urges people to wear masks outside, the efficacy of face masks, and an article on aerosols; physical isolation will need to continue after we have flattened the curve; some people are asymptomatic (although most actually have mild symptoms), and some are contagious before developing symptoms; 3D printing masks for health care workers;
resources: pragmatic perspective from Buddhism; looking after pets; restrictions; some concerns over video conferencing; how to manage risks when shopping in a (western style) supermarket;
on human rights aspects: the expected surge in domestic violence is happening (and hasn’t been helped by this stupidity in Malaysia); a petition to have a journalist jailed in Niger for reporting on the pandemic released; concerns about the slippery surveillance slope of starting to use drones; the risk of a “shock doctrine”; principles for protecting civil and political rights during the pandemic; risks to democracy and freedom; concerning calls for more precise information on the location of cases; faulty PPE imported from overseas has been seized; more on the Eastern European governments that are using the pandemic as an excuse to become more despotic - and China has been doing the same in Tibet; the USA has eased its homophobia on blood donations; a minority of idiots is causing at least one entire community to be tarred with the same brush; South Korea will allow absentee voting; DV shelters have closed; 40,000 retired health workers are returning to work - but Australia is still stopping refugee doctors helping; the risk of atrocities; abuse of Asian Americans in the USA; LGBTIQ+ elderly; rich nations urged to do more to help poorer nations;
Australia: overcrowding (from failure to address housing needs) in Indigenous communities is making them a particular risk; a petition for proper Parliamentary scrutiny; as a wage subsidy is finally announced - except for casuals, some people are gaining new jobs helping manage the effects of the pandemic; my home state has made the 2 person and not leaving the house rules enforceable, and boosted our health system; a woman has been charged for breaching the quarantine rules and coughing on two officers; calls for a halt to low level policing; renters will be protected for six months; “mental health, domestic violence and telehealth services [have been] given $1.1 billion coronavirus package boost”; warnings about the stock market as moves are taken to prevent foreign asset raids; the personal cost as the fragility of the system is revealed; the (concerning) use of police; fruit and veg prices will rise; inadequate staff, training and PPE at borders is not being helped by sh*ts STEALING; our stuffed up internet “system” is - unexpectedly - struggling; workers have been stood down for enforcing rules at borders; real estate agents have shown their true colours by suggesting renters use their super to pay rent; the person who campaigned against the ALP’s franking policy has now hypocritically reversed his stance; the need for a deal between media and digital/tech companies is now more urgent; childcare fees have been scrapped; our post-WW2 recovery is a clue to how we could recover now, after the pandemic; the challenges of co-parenting;
internationally: nations at high risk; the actions that should be taken on both sides of the USA-Iran divide; poor nations (such as Bangladesh, where 2 million people could die) are at particular risk; the egregious mendacity of POTUS45’s prattlings (at least he’s given up on reopening for Easter); a call to spend on infrastructure in the USA; a finance Minister in Europe has died by suicide over worry about the financial fallout from the pandemic; a Singaporean’s passport has been cancelled for breaching the rules; mass stupidity and ineptness in Israel; fears of violence in India (and I know similar violence has been occurring in Uganda); criticism of Mexico’s approach; a shortage of PPE in Northern Ireland has led to some nurses preparing letters about the problem in case they die, so their families can claim compensation; China is already trying to revise history, and is at risk of major upheaval; POTUS45 is now aiming to limit US deaths to 100,000 . . . ; financial aid in South Korea; call to release prisoners in South America - which Indonesia has begun - as well as banning foreigners and implementing physical distancing; Turkmenistan has stupidly banned the word “coronavirus”; the Philippines “Marcos-lite” dictator Duterte has extended his mass murder policy to include people allegedly infected with the virus; racism in Israel’s response - see also this; helping rough sleepers; the need for rent relief; more shopping areas are using floor markings to indicate required physical separations; Portugal is granting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants residency rights during the pandemic; food security is becoming a problem in Asia; Colombia will help the jobless; protection is lacking for Mexican farmworkers who are “feeding the US”; in the Pacific;
in Africa: Uganda has been abusing pandemic laws to target minorities; the strange calm in Lagos, Nigeria as millions in Africa enter lockdown; Africa’s crucial “internally displaced people” challenge; coronavirus myths in Africa; at times fatal police and military brutality; as the arms embargo is better enforced, fighting has resumed in Libya, but prisoners have been released; Zimbabweans fear starving to death in their homes - and hunger remains a problem in West Africa; health crisis in Burkina Faso; a “hold out” violent group in Sudan’s Darfur has accepted a ceasefire over COVID-19 pandemic concerns; a regional response; Niger’s prison release included an opposition leader; Egypt is boosting food reserves; unemployment could reach 50%; as debt relief is sought, an aid package has been approved; information via graffiti in Senegal;
globally: medical staff everywhere are facing PPE shortages; some rich people want their workers to put their lives at risk by going back to work; the pandemic could drive 11 million people into poverty; while growth rates are slowing, it is too early to think of returning to normality; a look at the world economy post-COVID-19; the impact fear of disease has on diplomacy; support for journalists; mass job losses are continuing; some funeral practices are changing; lockdowns are keeping some partners separated;
finally, the Hungarian doctor who discovered, in 1847, the importance of washing hands, and Ancient Greek ideas on leaders as healers.
