Refer to:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/us/er-doctor-coronavirus-help-death-by-suicide-trnd/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8258519/New-York-City-EMT-23-commits-suicide-three-months-job-working-COVID-19-hotspots.html
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
April 29 (W), 2020 Tragedies along combating the novel virus
Refer to:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/us/er-doctor-coronavirus-help-death-by-suicide-trnd/index.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8258519/New-York-City-EMT-23-commits-suicide-three-months-job-working-COVID-19-hotspots.html
April 29 (W), 2020 Undid, and undoing the anti-virus efforts?
WASHINGTON — Amid the growing coronavirus cases and the impact on the nation's food supply chains, an executive order was enacted on April 28, Tuesday to instruct the meat processing plants staying open.
"An estimated 6,500 are sick or have been exposed while working near someone who tested positive, and 20 food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died of the virus, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said on April 28, Tuesday.
The order uses the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to try to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork, and other meat on supermarket shelves. Unions fired back, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.
More than 20 meatpacking plants have closed temporarily under pressure from local authorities and their own workers because of the virus, including two of the nation’s largest, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Others have slowed production as workers have fallen ill or stayed home to avoid getting sick.
Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency,” the order states."
As a result, industry leaders have warned that consumers could see meat shortages in a matter of days. Tyson Foods Inc. TSN, +5.22% , one of the world’s largest food companies, ran a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and other newspapers Sunday warning, “The food supply chain is breaking.”
Refer to:
"An estimated 6,500 are sick or have been exposed while working near someone who tested positive, and 20 food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died of the virus, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million food and retail workers, said on April 28, Tuesday.
The order uses the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to try to prevent a shortage of chicken, pork, and other meat on supermarket shelves. Unions fired back, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.
More than 20 meatpacking plants have closed temporarily under pressure from local authorities and their own workers because of the virus, including two of the nation’s largest, one in Iowa and one in South Dakota. Others have slowed production as workers have fallen ill or stayed home to avoid getting sick.
Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency,” the order states."
Refer to:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-issues-executive-order-for-meat-processing-plants-to-remain-open-amid-pandemic-2020-04-28
-----------------------------------
Note:
Do you know who owns the Smithfield Foods Company behind the screen?
Why did the Defense Production Act classify meat processing as critical infrastructure, but let the 80% of the frontline health caregivers, personnel, staff running the risk of their lives to take care of the patients and themselves with desperately needed medical materials and personal protective gears?
----------------------------------------
April 28 (T), 2020
VP Pence triggered a storm of controversy on Tuesday, April 28 by failing to wear a face mask on a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s facilities in Minnesota.
"Pence leads the US government’s coronavirus taskforce though he is typically overshadowed by his president, or medical experts, at the group’s regular press briefings.
Video from a journalist pool camera at the Mayo Clinic showed Pence visiting the facility and 10 people in the area around Pence, including a patient, wearing masks. Pence was not wearing one.
On its website, the Mayo Clinic advises: “Mayo Clinic is requiring all patients, visitors, and staff to wear a face-covering or mask to slow the spread of Covid-19.”
In response to widespread online condemnation of Pence’s decision not to wear a mask, the Mayo Clinic tweeted that it had informed Pence of its mask policy before his arrival. The tweet was later deleted.
The Democratic senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii criticized Pence for not wearing a mask, saying the vice-president was “setting a dangerous example” by not covering his face." More details, please refer to: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/28/mike-pence-face-mask-mayo-clinic-visit-coronavirus
----------------------------------------
Some research data show the effects of Masks vs. No-Masks
Refer to:
https://www.maskssavelives.org/?fbclid=IwAR2EWVFPLugSKDgu8w-aXQ34Dj-glOu-Co6YlBjdyYRSOAPnClvER6AMr1s
-------------------------------------
"How the face mask became the world's most coveted commodity"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/face-masks-coveted-commodity-coronavirus-pandemic
In the previous posts, I shared my observations regarding upon being informed the novel coronavirus' existence (in January), most of the countries along the west rim of the Pacific Ocean, the very first action was to make the facial masks available. Masks! Masks! Masks, not toilet papers.
I recorded a couple of episodes of my awkward and uneasy sentiment with N95 masks (my sister mailed me from Tawain) in my bags while dared not to wear one when in public. It was not a way of showing in public with a mask on in this midwest area during March. Later, we realized, mainly, toilet papers were abundant, while facial masks, never appeared anywhere.
During early March, there were controversies regarding the effectiveness of the facial masks which also masked the problems of the unavailability or shortage of the facial masks desperately needed by the frontline health caregivers and staff.
Later, in April, people switched gears toward different questions, such as "How much protection do the facial masks offer?" The Mayo Clinic provides some information:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
"Can face masks help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Yes, face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, help slow the spread of the disease.
So why weren't face masks recommended at the start of the pandemic? At that time, experts didn't yet know the extent to which people with COVID-19 could spread the virus before symptoms appeared. Nor was it known that some people have COVID-19 but don't have any symptoms. Both groups can unknowingly spread the virus to others.
These discoveries led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to do an about-face on face masks. The CDC updated its guidance to recommend widespread use of simple cloth face coverings to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 by people who have the virus but don't know it.
Some public health groups argue that masks should be reserved for health care providers and point to the critical shortage of surgical masks and N95 masks. The CDC acknowledged this concern when it recommended cloth masks for the public and not the surgical and N95 masks needed by health care providers.
How do the different types of masks work?
Surgical masks
Also called a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs. A surgical mask also filters out large particles in the air. Surgical masks may protect others by reducing exposure to the saliva and respiratory secretions of the mask wearer.
At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of surgical mask specifically for protection against the COVID-19 virus, but these masks may provide some protection when N95 masks are not available.
N95 masks
Actually a type of respirator, an N95 mask offers more protection than a surgical mask does because it can filter out both large and small particles. The name indicates that the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are intended to be disposable. However, researchers are testing ways to disinfect N95 masks so they can be reused.
Cloth masks
While surgical and N95 masks are in short supply, cloth masks are more accessible and reusable. Although cloth masks and N95 masks have different purposes, both are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. A cloth mask is worn to help protect others in case the wearer has the virus. An N95 mask helps protect the wearer from getting the virus from others.
Countries that required face masks, testing, isolation and social distancing early in the pandemic seem to have had some success slowing the disease's spread. Common sense also suggests that some protection is better than none. But wearing a cloth face mask will lose any value unless it's combined with frequent hand-washing and social distancing.
Cloth masks are cheap and simple to make. Instructions are easy to find online. Masks can be made from common materials, such as sheets made of tightly woven cotton. The CDC website even includes directions for no-sew masks made from bandannas and T-shirts. Cloth masks should include multiple layers of fabric.
How to wear a cloth face mask
Cloth face masks should be worn in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in grocery stores, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Here are a few pointers for putting on and taking off a cloth mask:
Place your mask over your mouth and nose.
Tie it behind your head or use ear loops and make sure it's snug.
Don't touch your mask while wearing it.
If you accidentally touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands.
Remove the mask by untying it or lifting off the ear loops without touching the front of the mask or your face.
Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.
Regularly wash your mask with soap and water in the washing machine. It's fine to launder it with other clothes.
Finally, here are a few face mask precautions:
Don't put masks on anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove the mask without help.
Don't put masks on children under 2 years of age.
Don't use face masks as a substitute for social distancing."
-------------------------------
In regions where N95 masks are insufficiently supplied, there are recommendations and instructions for extending the usage or reusing the masks. Here is one of them:
https://www.sages.org/n-95-re-use-instructions/
-----------------------------------
Note:
Do you know who owns the Smithfield Foods Company behind the screen?
Why did the Defense Production Act classify meat processing as critical infrastructure, but let the 80% of the frontline health caregivers, personnel, staff running the risk of their lives to take care of the patients and themselves with desperately needed medical materials and personal protective gears?
----------------------------------------
April 28 (T), 2020
VP Pence triggered a storm of controversy on Tuesday, April 28 by failing to wear a face mask on a visit to the Mayo Clinic’s facilities in Minnesota.
"Pence leads the US government’s coronavirus taskforce though he is typically overshadowed by his president, or medical experts, at the group’s regular press briefings.
Video from a journalist pool camera at the Mayo Clinic showed Pence visiting the facility and 10 people in the area around Pence, including a patient, wearing masks. Pence was not wearing one.
On its website, the Mayo Clinic advises: “Mayo Clinic is requiring all patients, visitors, and staff to wear a face-covering or mask to slow the spread of Covid-19.”
In response to widespread online condemnation of Pence’s decision not to wear a mask, the Mayo Clinic tweeted that it had informed Pence of its mask policy before his arrival. The tweet was later deleted.
The Democratic senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii criticized Pence for not wearing a mask, saying the vice-president was “setting a dangerous example” by not covering his face." More details, please refer to: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/28/mike-pence-face-mask-mayo-clinic-visit-coronavirus
----------------------------------------
Some research data show the effects of Masks vs. No-Masks
Refer to:
https://www.maskssavelives.org/?fbclid=IwAR2EWVFPLugSKDgu8w-aXQ34Dj-glOu-Co6YlBjdyYRSOAPnClvER6AMr1s
-------------------------------------
"How the face mask became the world's most coveted commodity"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/face-masks-coveted-commodity-coronavirus-pandemic
In the previous posts, I shared my observations regarding upon being informed the novel coronavirus' existence (in January), most of the countries along the west rim of the Pacific Ocean, the very first action was to make the facial masks available. Masks! Masks! Masks, not toilet papers.
I recorded a couple of episodes of my awkward and uneasy sentiment with N95 masks (my sister mailed me from Tawain) in my bags while dared not to wear one when in public. It was not a way of showing in public with a mask on in this midwest area during March. Later, we realized, mainly, toilet papers were abundant, while facial masks, never appeared anywhere.
During early March, there were controversies regarding the effectiveness of the facial masks which also masked the problems of the unavailability or shortage of the facial masks desperately needed by the frontline health caregivers and staff.
Later, in April, people switched gears toward different questions, such as "How much protection do the facial masks offer?" The Mayo Clinic provides some information:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
"Can face masks help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Yes, face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, help slow the spread of the disease.
So why weren't face masks recommended at the start of the pandemic? At that time, experts didn't yet know the extent to which people with COVID-19 could spread the virus before symptoms appeared. Nor was it known that some people have COVID-19 but don't have any symptoms. Both groups can unknowingly spread the virus to others.
These discoveries led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to do an about-face on face masks. The CDC updated its guidance to recommend widespread use of simple cloth face coverings to help prevent transmission of COVID-19 by people who have the virus but don't know it.
Some public health groups argue that masks should be reserved for health care providers and point to the critical shortage of surgical masks and N95 masks. The CDC acknowledged this concern when it recommended cloth masks for the public and not the surgical and N95 masks needed by health care providers.
How do the different types of masks work?
Surgical masks
Also called a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs. A surgical mask also filters out large particles in the air. Surgical masks may protect others by reducing exposure to the saliva and respiratory secretions of the mask wearer.
At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of surgical mask specifically for protection against the COVID-19 virus, but these masks may provide some protection when N95 masks are not available.
N95 masks
Actually a type of respirator, an N95 mask offers more protection than a surgical mask does because it can filter out both large and small particles. The name indicates that the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are intended to be disposable. However, researchers are testing ways to disinfect N95 masks so they can be reused.
Cloth masks
While surgical and N95 masks are in short supply, cloth masks are more accessible and reusable. Although cloth masks and N95 masks have different purposes, both are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. A cloth mask is worn to help protect others in case the wearer has the virus. An N95 mask helps protect the wearer from getting the virus from others.
Countries that required face masks, testing, isolation and social distancing early in the pandemic seem to have had some success slowing the disease's spread. Common sense also suggests that some protection is better than none. But wearing a cloth face mask will lose any value unless it's combined with frequent hand-washing and social distancing.
Cloth masks are cheap and simple to make. Instructions are easy to find online. Masks can be made from common materials, such as sheets made of tightly woven cotton. The CDC website even includes directions for no-sew masks made from bandannas and T-shirts. Cloth masks should include multiple layers of fabric.
How to wear a cloth face mask
Cloth face masks should be worn in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as in grocery stores, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Here are a few pointers for putting on and taking off a cloth mask:
Place your mask over your mouth and nose.
Tie it behind your head or use ear loops and make sure it's snug.
Don't touch your mask while wearing it.
If you accidentally touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands.
Remove the mask by untying it or lifting off the ear loops without touching the front of the mask or your face.
Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.
Regularly wash your mask with soap and water in the washing machine. It's fine to launder it with other clothes.
Finally, here are a few face mask precautions:
Don't put masks on anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove the mask without help.
Don't put masks on children under 2 years of age.
Don't use face masks as a substitute for social distancing."
-------------------------------
In regions where N95 masks are insufficiently supplied, there are recommendations and instructions for extending the usage or reusing the masks. Here is one of them:
https://www.sages.org/n-95-re-use-instructions/
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
April 27 (M), 2020 Freedom fighters' happy hours shared with the hidden novel coronavirus
NEWPORT BEACH
Some Californians Defy Stay-at-Home Order During Hot Weekend
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/501cbcef-c0df-4537-bed3-74a4de0fbac8
Some Californians Defy Stay-at-Home Order During Hot Weekend
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/501cbcef-c0df-4537-bed3-74a4de0fbac8
Sunday, April 26, 2020
April 26 (Sn), 2020 The second priority
This, shall pass. We Will overcome...
Friday, April 24, 2020
April 24 (F), 2020 This, shall pass. We Will overcome...
I posted the above message on Facebook on the same day (February 29 Saturday) as the viral outbreak at the Life Care nursing care center in Kirkland, Washington.
The state officials said that the first death in the U.S. from the novel coronavirus, the first health care worker to be infected with the disease, and most worrying, the first known outbreak in the above long-term care facility.
In the Life Care nursing care center, approximately 27 of the 108 residents and 25 of the 180 staff have some symptoms, health officials said during a teleconference with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Authorities report that some of them have pneumonia. Refer to: https://www.statnews.com/2020/02/29/new-covid-19-death-raises-concerns-about-virus-spread-in-nursing-homes/
During that time, I read a report from Taiwan about a Taiwanese-American caregiver working at the Life Care nursing center who wore a facial mask to her office right after the outbreak. When her American colleague came into their work setting, shockingly asked her, " Are you O.K.?" that put her in an ambivalent situation. This Taiwanese-American employee was aware of the detriments of SARS, not to mention the unknown novel coronavirus. Then another co-worker, and then her supervisor all said the same thing. Even the supervisor suggested her if not feeling well, better go home for a rest.
For her, it was natural to wear a mask during the viral crisis, but unfortunately, it was not supposed to do during that time, in the US... Nevertheless, it is never too late to do it now. Surely, you need to know the essential role and functions of the masks during the novel coronavirus crisis; and even more importantly, is to know how challenging it is to get one... (Note, during mid-March to the end of April, some basic protective gears for the general population are more available than before.)
Before the outbreak of the Life Center, Washington on February 28, I shared a post on Facebook how shocked I was on February 5, in reading the rendering of the VERY FIRST CASE happening in Wisconsin (the 12th of the US). I was skeptical of the needed protocols (the health caregivers' PPE issues and viral treatment procedures) in screening, testing, treating, self-quarantine, and tracking the contacted people and places that were done adequately. That first case report frightened me tremendously. At that time, I thought of patient confidentiality (such HIPAA) and civil liberties protected in the US., which I should not have been too worried or curious for further understanding or probing.
In Taiwan, each discovered or identified case has to be documented for the potential medical interventions and data collection (aided by the digital devices without violating the confidentiality). Tracking down the contacted people, places visited (for disinfection) by the infected, and various follow-ups according to the category of severity based on the anti-viral protocols are stringently managed. Here is a helpful article published by the Atlantic Council: https://atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/lessons-from-taiwans-experience-with-covid-19/
EACH incrested case will catch the government, all the media, and people's alert and concerns. Early preparation (this, Thanks for the close proximity to China and the 2003 SARS Lessons), transparent and clear information, strictly enacted anti-viral laws, thorough communications between the Ministry of Health-n-Welfare and people, gaining both public and private support without violating civil liberties make Taiwan steadily combating the novel virus. The universal screening and testing are costly, nevertheless, they are still an endeavor now. The anti-viral actions are well executed, but, the potential second wave, relapses, and the asymptotic transmitters are still going on. Some epidemiologists reported the multiple strains of the virus through mutations making the anti-viral actions even more challenging:
March 27, "SAN FRANCISCO – At least eight strains of the coronavirus making their way around the globe, creating a trail of death and disease that scientists are tracking by their genetic footprints.
While much is unknown, hidden in the virus's unique microscopic fragments are clues to the origins of its original strain, how it behaves as it mutates and which strains are turning into conflagrations while others are dying out thanks to quarantine measures.
Huddled in once bustling and now almost empty labs, researchers who oversaw dozens of projects are instead focused on one goal: tracking the current strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause the illness COVID-19." Refer to https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/27/scientists-track-coronavirus-strains-mutation/5080571002/
I also shared an observation on facebook ( March 16 ) about a trip to a local hospital with a friend.
"The frontline register associates faced a sick role's severe coughing droplets without any basic protection gears. I reluctantly took out of my facial-mask from my bag to distance this sick role. That precarious action truly scared several people in the hospital. For, in this still peaceful region (during Mid March), the facial mask looks like a monster, particularly, worn by a non-Caucasian!!
Before I left the hospital, I found a courageous RN to share my thoughts and suggestion: "Please provide those frontline register associates, at least, with facial masks, in addition to your hospital's protective measures," because it only takes ONE, if not treated properly, to be exponentially spreading - all over the world - a mutable and intriguing nature of this deadly novel coronavirus - as simple as that!
Updated relevant information about the virus was shared on social media:
Many medical articles reported some characteristics of this virus. Here is one of them:
"In the case of the coronavirus COVID-19, exponential growth will occur in the disease rate in humans so long as:
a. there is at least one infected person in the population pool,
b .regular contact between infected and uninfected members of the population occurs,
c. and there are large numbers of uninfected potential hosts among the population." More details, refer to: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/03/17/why-exponential-growth-is-so-scary-for-the-covid-19-coronavirus/#b8909d4e9b29 .
Why so hard to understand it among a good amount of people? Though the vast territory, and the lower density of population (compared to China, India...) in the US. functions as a buffer to slow down the spreading, playing the Russian Roulette game to try out the luck amid different stages of the novel viruses may not be a good thing to do.
How many gains and tragedies would be invited by the protesting states and their protesters in widening the broken net to save "economy" with the whimsical virus rampantly roaming everywhere? Do the protesting states and their protesters rigorously abide by the three-stage protocols and rules before reopening? Are they aware of what is the most detrimental thing amid this crisis? Yes, you only need ONE, just only ONE untested carrier in your family, in your community can cause the horrific massive contagions. This is the faster and worse way to wear out and murder our frontline caregivers than the lack of PPEs.
How powerful the politico-ideological drive is "embedded" into those "innocent" people by some of the people-in-charge? The mass "innocent" people need conscientious policies, not the near-sighted, unprepared politicians' expedience.
From another perspective, people protest by their "own choice, or free will - 'guided by hidden forces?' " to embrace civil liberties, then any casualty through accidental infections, or death, the potential litigations may have nothing to do with the policy-making of the governments and officials.
Which politician ventures to "muddle" the sacrosanct "liberties"? Who are those with power-in-charge "rigorously" pampering voters with the gentle "advice" for social distancing? Who has GUTs to tell people the "truth" that life is more precious than money? Which politician dares to "lockdown" a town, a city, a state, and the whole nation, like Italy, the UK, Spain, Switzerland and the rest of EU countries did, so as Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan - in order to put life before money?
I still cannot understand and don't get me wrong that I am a Luddite of the economy. It is just too shocking to see the states and their protesters' "Brave" actions (or challenging death, instead of the economy?) against the stay-at-home orders. Take a look at the rigor and stringency in enacting the safety law in the aforementioned countries!
It was really hard to post this message on social media:
Yes, the paradoxes of elections, re-elections, votings... of democracy.
Yes, the oxymorons of civil liberties in squandering liberties and lives.
A canary's outcry on February 28 (F):
Is this a hind-sight or fore-sight bias? Not lamenting, not finger-pointing, but things should not have been down to this way... It is just sadly unbelievable. Why do people need to pay such a gargantuanly high price in order to learn a lesson?
What was missing in the wake of the mass infections and deaths at the bottom-line? When did people-in-charge start collecting data and issue the necessary protocols for containment? How much has been done in tracking the contacted by the infected; disinfecting the placed visited; tracing the traveling history of the original infected; checking, and documenting the self-quarantine, isolation, or the euphemism of "social distancing in a civil society". When did people begin to take this deadly virus seriously? How many lives were lost amid all the confusion, unpreparedness entangled with the civil liberties/Bills of Right, and politicians' muddying the water? Then, not to mention the gigantic scale of the tough coordination, mobilization, and collaboration among 50 states and the federal government in searching for all the urgent needed medical personnel and materials. These enormously heavy tasks are just incomprehensible in the pursuit of LIBERTY, happiness, and LIFE.
It is really hard to see that saving lives turns into the second line of the daily pandemonious drama, while under "flattening the curve," "arguing this model, that model"..., the massive sorrow, sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness are frozen into a statistic number. The most cavalier and capricious massacring is occurring day by day...while the short-sighted/frightening egomaniac politicians are worsening the infected cases and the death tolls...
It is unfathomable for me to see the value of life turning into so insignificant, so brutally transitory since Wuhan tragedy, then, recurring in Italy, Spain, France, UK, and the rest of countries in Europe and now repeating in the US. and the rest of the regions or territories. Like an exhausted Italian doctor said that he had to follow a new rule to pull off the ventilators from the severely infected based on "the values of life in contributing to society" to determine who got scarce respirators. A nurse in the US. sharing the sad moment when without proper PPE, she had to work and "choose or witness" who might live and who would die in front of her eyes every day. Several caregivers reported the number of deaths was just shockingly unbelievable and how inadequate protective gears worsening the saving life condition, even though the daily good news about the available medical materials is increasing, while the infected cases and death tolls are climbing. Some infected people dare not to go to the hospital; the overwhelmed caregivers confront their own safety on a daily basis...and more shocks, pains, and sorrows will be told, while protesting against the stay-home policy is trendy in several less virally tested states...
All of these should not have been happening this way...
The very first time in my life, a question of " 'diversity' of this sort" challenges me. I taught Diversity Studies with 6 major themes of class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability and their intersectionality for 12 years. One major underlined ground is about how the power-structure made and resources distributed, mainly, in the US.
I was shocked by the " 'diversity' in civil liberties/political ideologies, and geo-demography clandestinely affected by many intended and unintended consequences domestically.
The domestic " 'diverse voices' " entangled by the massive globalization process, could turn into such a horrific dragging machine in hindering the combating of this deadly virus. Ironically, in contrast to the totalitarian and semi-authoritarian regimes/countries, one voice and one action make things moving faster and effectively.
These two posters, at that juncture, shared the above concerns:
The following posters are some of my daily prayers and thoughts:
On March 5 (Th)
On March 26
On Feb. 28
On March 16
On March 24
Posting the concerns, worries, and care on social media during the viral crisis, perhaps, is just a way for self-psychotherapy...
Recalling Dr. Li, the first whistle-blower of the novel virus in Wuhan, died for being a canary in a dangerous coal-mine...
Some of the above-recollected facts, for better or worse, during the last few weeks lead to a short conclusion:
"Every day is never a too-late-day to reinforce the strength with one mind, one soul, persistently, rigorously, fighting against this deadly invisible enemy!
This, shall pass. We Will overcome..."
"Every day is never a too-late-day to reinforce the strength with one mind, one soul, persistently, rigorously, fighting against this deadly invisible enemy!
This, shall pass. We Will overcome..."
Thursday, April 23, 2020
April 2020 Taiwan, the FIRST whistle-blowing country's urgent concern about the Pandemic crisis in late December, 2019 - has been donating millions, millions of facial masks to Europe, Southeast Asia, America and the rest
Amid the pandemics, there are competitions, confrontations, but also cooperation and reciprocations, concurrently challenging humanity on the global stage.
Taiwan, a de facto country, constantly stands unique and strong among the global hegemonies. Democratic, reserved, she, always plays a responsible and helpful role in the international community.
Rejected by the WHO to join efforts to fight against the viral crisis, Taiwan, the very FIRST whistle-blowing country informed this organization about the novel coronavirus in late December 2019. Though not being a member, she not only has been rigorously combating against the pandemic and sharing experiences with other countries since January 2020, but also able to donate millions, millions of facial masks to help Europe, Southeast Asia, America, and the rest.
More details, see https://atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/lessons-from-taiwans-experience-with-covid-19/
The following videos are some of the recent helping hands of the Taiwan government, other public, and private sectors, as well as personal business donations...
Taiwan, a de facto country, constantly stands unique and strong among the global hegemonies. Democratic, reserved, she, always plays a responsible and helpful role in the international community.
Rejected by the WHO to join efforts to fight against the viral crisis, Taiwan, the very FIRST whistle-blowing country informed this organization about the novel coronavirus in late December 2019. Though not being a member, she not only has been rigorously combating against the pandemic and sharing experiences with other countries since January 2020, but also able to donate millions, millions of facial masks to help Europe, Southeast Asia, America, and the rest.
More details, see https://atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/lessons-from-taiwans-experience-with-covid-19/
The following videos are some of the recent helping hands of the Taiwan government, other public, and private sectors, as well as personal business donations...
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
April 22 (W), 2020 Something about The Earth and the novel virus
Some of my previous posters designed for my sociology class in the unit learning of Population, Urbanization, and Environment:
The novel coronavirus pandemics might change the contents of the above poster (and the following two posters as well) designed on July 31 (F), 2015 for my sociology classes. Aa a strand of research predicts (on Feb. 13) that 2/3 of the world population would be infected, and 1/3 of them might die. Refer to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-13/coronavirus-could-infect-two-thirds-of-globe-researcher-says
If it turned out to be true, then will the pro-life advocacy keep the Earth very busy again? Then, I might need to redesign the poster?
This study, a more conservative one, predicts 1/2 of the population would be infected.“We assume that the virus will infect around 50% of the world population; 20% of the cases will be severe, and 1-3% (of 7.4 billion population x 50% x 20% x 1-3% => approximately from 7 to 22 million population ) will result in deaths,” analysts from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said in a note. Refer to https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-will-infect-half-the-global-population-eiu-predicts.html
As yesterday, India revealed a potentially catastrophic spreading of the viruses under the extreme lack of the anti-viral types of equipment and other relevant medical resources. Africa and the rest of the 4th wave regions are still very slowly discovering the virus contagions. The unavailable or short of the testing kits and anti-viral information, materials, and other important resources may prolong the pandemics.
The pivotal point of the viral crisis: April 6 ( Refer to https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52159986): The news reported that the race to stop of the virus spreading may come from Asia's 'biggest slum': Dharavi, India, which was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire film and city planners from all over the world studying its throbbing-hard economy and society.
Half of a million of the disadvantaged people live in 2.5 square kilometers of the devastating area with a high speed of spreading within the slum.
When does the viral spreading reach its plateau in India (with 1.3 billion population), may determine how long the battle against the virus in the world will last...
A sidebar note, during a crisis, it never lacks the conspiratory theories.
Disclaimer:
This current writing is a non-academic style. For the following information, readers' discretion is advised.
Two of the most popular speculations, particularly related to this viral crisis are the De-Population Conspiracy and the New World Order.
Here is a brief regarding "Anonymous and the Depopulation Agenda", authored by Vita Peacock
"This paper explores the theory of intentional depopulation shared by supporters of the 'Anonymous' movement in Britain. It argues that the theory is an analogical response to real crises of social and biological reproduction that have deepened in Britain since 2010."
A longer abstract was attached as follows:
"As a loose assembly of hackers, activists, and marginalized persons, Anonymous proclaims a populist message. Adherents maintain that 'anyone can be Anonymous', that it has no limiting ideology nor doctrine. In practice, those most committed to the movement in Britain share a theory of the world known as the 'Depopulation Agenda' or 'Agenda 21'. Drawing on a UN resolution passed in 1992 to address the threat of climate change, Agenda 21 in their conceptualization is a project by the world's rich and powerful to depopulate the world by around six and a half billion people. The internet provides an important resource for this theory, as it enables the marshaling of various forms of documentary, visual, and audio-visual 'evidence' for the existence of a mass existential threat. Rather than deconstructing the flawed epistemological bases on which the theory rests, I offer that the fear of organized depopulation is an analogical response to real crises of social and biological reproduction that have deepened in Britain since 2010. Drawing on Orlando Patterson's concept of 'social death', the paper argues that Anonymous in Britain arises from experiences of invisibility that have been aggravated by prioritization and austerity policies. Social death is fundamentally a symbolic state, a position outside a hierarchy of value; yet it is also tacitly connected to biological death, as those outside a sphere of recognition might not benefit from life-giving institutional protections. Agenda 21 thus becomes a way for Anons to rationalize the social and biological risks that invisibility can produce."
As the complex ideologies are unfolding and evolving, some extremists engaging in the Culture War or ideologues may label the conventional environmental agencies, environmentalists, the animal protection agencies, climate change advocates/activists, and the rest of pro-Earth-Justice groups with political tags... Being a social science educator, I was aware of the necessary precautions in the classrooms and in the online learning environment.
The novel coronavirus pandemics might change the contents of the above poster (and the following two posters as well) designed on July 31 (F), 2015 for my sociology classes. Aa a strand of research predicts (on Feb. 13) that 2/3 of the world population would be infected, and 1/3 of them might die. Refer to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-13/coronavirus-could-infect-two-thirds-of-globe-researcher-says
If it turned out to be true, then will the pro-life advocacy keep the Earth very busy again? Then, I might need to redesign the poster?
This study, a more conservative one, predicts 1/2 of the population would be infected.“We assume that the virus will infect around 50% of the world population; 20% of the cases will be severe, and 1-3% (of 7.4 billion population x 50% x 20% x 1-3% => approximately from 7 to 22 million population ) will result in deaths,” analysts from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said in a note. Refer to https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-will-infect-half-the-global-population-eiu-predicts.html
As yesterday, India revealed a potentially catastrophic spreading of the viruses under the extreme lack of the anti-viral types of equipment and other relevant medical resources. Africa and the rest of the 4th wave regions are still very slowly discovering the virus contagions. The unavailable or short of the testing kits and anti-viral information, materials, and other important resources may prolong the pandemics.
The pivotal point of the viral crisis: April 6 ( Refer to https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52159986): The news reported that the race to stop of the virus spreading may come from Asia's 'biggest slum': Dharavi, India, which was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire film and city planners from all over the world studying its throbbing-hard economy and society.
Half of a million of the disadvantaged people live in 2.5 square kilometers of the devastating area with a high speed of spreading within the slum.
When does the viral spreading reach its plateau in India (with 1.3 billion population), may determine how long the battle against the virus in the world will last...
A sidebar note, during a crisis, it never lacks the conspiratory theories.
Disclaimer:
This current writing is a non-academic style. For the following information, readers' discretion is advised.
Two of the most popular speculations, particularly related to this viral crisis are the De-Population Conspiracy and the New World Order.
Here is a brief regarding "Anonymous and the Depopulation Agenda", authored by Vita Peacock
"This paper explores the theory of intentional depopulation shared by supporters of the 'Anonymous' movement in Britain. It argues that the theory is an analogical response to real crises of social and biological reproduction that have deepened in Britain since 2010."
A longer abstract was attached as follows:
"As a loose assembly of hackers, activists, and marginalized persons, Anonymous proclaims a populist message. Adherents maintain that 'anyone can be Anonymous', that it has no limiting ideology nor doctrine. In practice, those most committed to the movement in Britain share a theory of the world known as the 'Depopulation Agenda' or 'Agenda 21'. Drawing on a UN resolution passed in 1992 to address the threat of climate change, Agenda 21 in their conceptualization is a project by the world's rich and powerful to depopulate the world by around six and a half billion people. The internet provides an important resource for this theory, as it enables the marshaling of various forms of documentary, visual, and audio-visual 'evidence' for the existence of a mass existential threat. Rather than deconstructing the flawed epistemological bases on which the theory rests, I offer that the fear of organized depopulation is an analogical response to real crises of social and biological reproduction that have deepened in Britain since 2010. Drawing on Orlando Patterson's concept of 'social death', the paper argues that Anonymous in Britain arises from experiences of invisibility that have been aggravated by prioritization and austerity policies. Social death is fundamentally a symbolic state, a position outside a hierarchy of value; yet it is also tacitly connected to biological death, as those outside a sphere of recognition might not benefit from life-giving institutional protections. Agenda 21 thus becomes a way for Anons to rationalize the social and biological risks that invisibility can produce."
The New World Order or NWO is much well-known to many curious people. It claimed to be an emerging clandestine totalitarian world government by various conspiracy theories. Again, for the following information, readers' decretion is advised.
"The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government—which will replace sovereign nation-states—and all-encompassing propaganda whose ideology hails the establishment of the New World Order as the culmination of history's progress. Many influential historical and contemporary figures have therefore been alleged to be part of a cabal that operates through many front organizations to orchestrate significant political and financial events, ranging from causing systemic crises to pushing through controversial policies, at both national and international levels, as steps in an ongoing plot to achieve world domination.
Before the early 1990s, New World Order conspiracism was limited to two American countercultures, primarily the militantly anti-government right and secondarily that part of a fundamentalist Christianity concerned with the end-time emergence of the Antichrist. Skeptics, such as Michael Barkun and Chip Berlet, observed that right-wing populist conspiracy theories about a New World Order had not only been embraced by many seekers of stigmatized knowledge but had seeped into popular culture, thereby inaugurating a period during the late 20th and early 21st centuries in the United States where people are actively preparing for apocalyptic millenarian scenarios. Those political scientists are concerned that mass hysteria over New World Order conspiracy theories could eventually have devastating effects on American political life, ranging from escalating lone-wolf terrorism to the rise to power of authoritarian ultranationalist demagogues." Refer to
"The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government—which will replace sovereign nation-states—and all-encompassing propaganda whose ideology hails the establishment of the New World Order as the culmination of history's progress. Many influential historical and contemporary figures have therefore been alleged to be part of a cabal that operates through many front organizations to orchestrate significant political and financial events, ranging from causing systemic crises to pushing through controversial policies, at both national and international levels, as steps in an ongoing plot to achieve world domination.
Before the early 1990s, New World Order conspiracism was limited to two American countercultures, primarily the militantly anti-government right and secondarily that part of a fundamentalist Christianity concerned with the end-time emergence of the Antichrist. Skeptics, such as Michael Barkun and Chip Berlet, observed that right-wing populist conspiracy theories about a New World Order had not only been embraced by many seekers of stigmatized knowledge but had seeped into popular culture, thereby inaugurating a period during the late 20th and early 21st centuries in the United States where people are actively preparing for apocalyptic millenarian scenarios. Those political scientists are concerned that mass hysteria over New World Order conspiracy theories could eventually have devastating effects on American political life, ranging from escalating lone-wolf terrorism to the rise to power of authoritarian ultranationalist demagogues." Refer to
April 22 (W) Battles USA.
Only in the US in the world amid the viral crisis:
Unfortunately, doesn't fighting for saving lives turn into the Russian Roulette game set up by the intriguing politicians' covering up of their criminal acts...?
April 22 (W), 2020 A humble request
The 50th Earth Day!
Animals are freely roaming on empty areas
(and searching for food which is rationed by their owners?)
The silver linings of the Dark Clouds:
Animals are freely roaming on empty areas
(and searching for food which is rationed by their owners?)
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