Coronavirus: what Canadians need to know
Canada Is Ignoring The Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Women
https://twitter.com/Pam_Palmater/status/1242931251528503296
"Canada must end genocide vs Indigenous women and take all steps to reduce risk of COVID-19...."
Nice article.
No funding was announced to specifically address the gendered impacts of this pandemic on Indigenous women, nor was there any funding allocated to simultaneously address the ongoing genocide crisis.
$305 million has been approved for Indigenous-specific funding on top of the billions in aid for Canada. Hear a lot of demands for funding and money but never a real plan.
This is my entire exchange with Peter Julian one of the MPs who voted for this bill:
Me: People who were already unemployed when Covid19 started have been abandoned. Condition for #Covid19 support: "without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in a four-week period, for reasons related to COVID-19." This is true even if you get sick. If your EI runs out now or ran out already you have no job market to look for work, no EI, if you are in a home you cannot sell to impoverish yourself- no social assistance. The government pretends you are not affected. Even the Trump administration is giving $1200 to all Americans. I approached Jagmeet Singh the day before this was to be debated in Parliament, he referred me to my Liberal MP who confirmed this. At least he said he would follow up with others as he recognizes it is a problem. I had hoped the NDP would have been there to advocate for the support of the most vulnerable after having supporting the party believing this all my life. I am 55 and now hoping for work on the front lines of the virus as a grocery store clerk, knowing my age means I have a greater chance of becoming very sick with this. I worked for years in communications but despite trying, I cannot find a job and this makes that prospect impossible. Thank you for accepting messages as many NDP accounts are set up so they do not.
11:28 AM
Me: I have just learned that you voted for this bill that only provides support to those who were employed when this started. The NDP should have demanded that the legislation acknowledge that all Canadians are affected. It should not have voted for a bill that excludes support to those Canadians who had lost their jobs before the crisis, seniors, disabled... when these people can get sick too. They face additional costs. Can you please explain what you thought this bill did and your vote. I ask as a NDP supporter of 35 plus years wondering how the party could have done this.
1:53 PM
Me: I have also learned now that the EI hotline is telling some MPs that people whose EI ran out in the last year are covered and telling others that they are not. The government response hotline is confused about what will happen when the applications open. The legislation seems to be the best guide.
Peter: The bill we voted for gives the Gov’t the ability to provide a universal basic benefit. They are choosing not to do it. We are pushing them to change their mind.
2:56 PM
Me: The bill contains wording of eligibility that excludes vulnerable people. I do not understand how the NDP could have supported it. It is not enough for an opposition party who did not demand this as a condition of support to say the Liberals are choosing not to do it. I am sorry but your answer should not be to rely on the Liberals to do something that you did not make them do in a bill you voted for. There may be news reports you will have to face of people sick and maybe dying without coverage. In a minority parliament you needed to do more than ask them nicely. NDP votes are meaningful that is why we vote NDP even when we know we will not get an NDP government. I say this as a longtime NDP supporter. Others probably will be less kind. The NDP should do everything to fix this and publicly stand up for those you promised to stand up for.
3:22 PM
Me: You need to push publicly. You should have done this before voting for this bill. I read it and saw how bad it was in minutes. I am sure you had longer. I am not trying to be mean. I am writing this privately to someone I respect. This is only a preview of what those who do not respect the NDP will say in the future. You will be contrasted with the US Democrats who were able to get more. I am sorry to say this but this all needs to be said.
What is your advice for people like me now?
3:25 PM
Peter: I could not disagree with you more. Your interpretation is simply wrong. I’m sorry. I cannot help you when you say things that are not true. I will keep pushing for the universal basic benefit that people need but I will no longer be responding to you here.
3:32 PM
Me: Ok thanks for reading. This is how it looks from my side of the problem - I am sorry that you cannot see it.
Here is the eligibility as written in the bill:
Eligibility
6 (1) A worker is eligible for an income support payment if
(a) the worker, whether employed or self-employed, ceases working for reasons related to COVID-19 for at least 14 consecutive days within the four-week period in respect of which they apply for the payment; and
(b) they do not receive, in respect of the consecutive days on which they have ceased working,
(i) subject to the regulations, income from employment or self-employment,
(ii) benefits, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Employment Insurance Act,
(iii) allowances, money or other benefits paid to the worker under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or in respect of the care by the worker of one or more of their new-born children or one or more children placed with them for the purpose of adoption, or
(iv) any other income that is prescribed by regulation.
The NDP leverage was before voting not asking politely after. So folks guess I wasted my vote in the last 10 elections huh?
He did not bother to even try to convince me how I am wrong about this or what he is claiming is not true. You could say that he wrote off any future support for him or his party.
No, I will not apologize for sharing a private conversation. He is a public person who was communicating with me related to his work. It was not a private matter of opinion. He is one of just 3 NDP MPs who have to explain their votes. It was his job to do so and he is one of the many people in Canada who is still getting paid.
As for the truth I am quoting from the Bill as it has received Royal assent. My interpretation is that of my MP that I am not eligble. My interpretations about the behaviour of the NDP I am willing to defend now and in the next election.
Update: I got this today:
Hi Sean, i reread your note this morning. I thought that you had read the bill but I now realize that you haven’t. There are actually 2 sections that deal with benefits. One is part 2 - the emergency response benefit for job loss. This is the one you are concerned about. More restrictive. The section that provides for a universal basic benefit is part 3- public health events of national concern payments act which gives the government unlimited leeway on providing income support during the crisis. I think that was an important achievement to get that in the bill- but we still have to push the Gov’t to act on income support for you and so many others. I don’t think now you were giving wrong information- just incomplete information. Now you know. Peter
I added the below.
I am sorry but the government having the ability to do something is not the same as them doing it. The eligibility I shared is what they are doing. The fact they have somewhat of a blank cheque to do something if they want to does not mean they will.
Politically, this government would do it if they were pressed to. I have been contacting quite a few people. The reason this will get no attention is everyone thinks they are already doing it. this means they politically won't need to.
The package is rushing money to those who lost employment due to this. They have the ability if they feel like it to do more - this is quite a contrast.
I have approached CCPA as well to see if they will raise the issue.
I want to thank you for re-reading what I wrote. But I also encourage you to see the difference between what was a plan built into the legislation and what was an ability for the government to do if they felt they wanted to. The second is something I cannot eat and cannot bet on. The first person to be filmed by the media in hospital with the virus saying they had no help because they were already unemployed will change this but can I wait that long?
This part: "(c) providing income support, including the Canada emergency response benefit; and" from part 3 is the enabling part for the benefit in part 2. The legislation makes clear the view that for the purpose of income support the consideration is those losing income for this and does not include those already without income or who had other needs. The direction of the Bill is to allow possibility but to emphasize a particular definition of who is affected. There is no indication anywhere that the Government has to or will extend this definition or is even aware that it is an issue. The provisions in Part 3 are more likely providing the flexibility to increase or lengthen the provisions anticipated. There is no suggestion anywhere of accounting for the people who did not lose work due to this because they were already out of work.
It is likely that the intention of the government is to support those losing work and leave it up to the provinces for the rest. If this is the case, I am screwed as I live in Ford's Ontario. The NDP in BC is providing something for everyone. Here in Ontario I get a few pennies off my hydro bill. Canada needs something comprehensive. Most Canadians are living under Conservative governments. Can you understand where I am coming from?
Actually if you read the intro to part 3 you can see that it is simply intended as an act to enable the payments in part 2 and allow Cabinet to do more if they see fit. It would not have to be amended to provide more than Part 2 but there is nothing on the table to do so.
I want to be fair to include what he says. I do not think what he says is reasonable but in fairness someone here might think it is. This is the part of the legislation he is speaking of:
PART 3
Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act
Enactment of Act
Enactment
9 The Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act is enacted as follows:
An Act to authorize the making of payments in relation to public health events of national concern
1 This Act may be cited as the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act.
Public Health Event of National Concern
Payments — public health event of national concern
2 (1) If, after consulting with the Chief Public Health Officer, appointed under subsection 6(1) of the Public Health Agency of Canada Act, and any of the officers in the provinces and territories occupying a similar position that the Minister of Health considers appropriate in the circumstances, the Minister of Health determines that there is a public health event of national concern, then there may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, on the requisition of a federal minister and with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health, all money required to do anything in relation to that public health event of national concern.
Examples
(2) Things that may be done in relation to a public health event of national concern include
(a) acquiring medical supplies;
(b) providing assistance to provinces and territories to help cover the cost of safety and emergency response needs;
(c) providing income support, including the Canada emergency response benefit; and
(d) funding public health-related federal programs or covering expenses incurred by federal departments and agencies.
Definition of public health event of national concern
(3) In this section, public health event of national concern means an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk to Canadians through the spread of an infectious disease, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), that requires a coordinated national or international response to prevent or control its spread or to protect against it.
10 The Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act is repealed.
Coming into Force
September 30, 2020
11 Section 10 comes into force on September 30, 2020.
ETA: I am at least grateful that he did come back and reread and has not closed the door to conversation. I still want him to move past being defensive about the legislation and look at the issue I am raising.
I am sorry for the length. I feel that I cannot edit out anything as it would be unfair given the criticisms I have brought.
Canada Is Ignoring The Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Women
https://twitter.com/Pam_Palmater/status/1242931251528503296
"Canada must end genocide vs Indigenous women and take all steps to reduce risk of COVID-19...."
Nice article.
No funding was announced to specifically address the gendered impacts of this pandemic on Indigenous women, nor was there any funding allocated to simultaneously address the ongoing genocide crisis.$305 million has been approved for Indigenous-specific funding on top of the billions in aid for Canada. Hear a lot of demands for funding and money but never a real plan.
I said on twitter that the choice here was either to place an emphasis on the economy or the people. This package appears to me to be a kinder gentler version of the former rather than the later. People are protected to the extent that they are actors in the economy. Yes, we can thank the Liberals, NDP, Greens and BQ for recognizing that the people are essential parts of the economy but the protections are only to their role in it and not based on them as human beings. To do so would require a full acknowledgement of the impact of this crisis on EVERYONE. The wording of this bill apporaches people as workers but not as people otherwise it would not have made that line where it is now. There is no hope at present that this will change as it would require a new vision of who is impacted and not just a continued escalating reaction to the level of the crisis.
I have just added the above in my comments to Peter Julian as well.
..good webinar. good discussion. it laid the groundwork for another one which will address how we can organise on the ground in these times. this webinar was recorded and once that comes out i'll post it unless someone else beats me to it.
I am sorry to hear of your troubles Sean. Their goal is to subsidize people who have an existing income that has been reduced not longterm unemployed. I think those rules mean that even students will qualify if they worked last summer. This is why we need to go to basic income for all. This event shows why it is needed.
I am sorry to hear of your troubles Sean. Their goal is to subsidize people who have an existing income that has been reduced not longterm unemployed. I think those rules mean that even students will qualify if they worked last summer. This is why we need to go to basic income for all. This event shows why it is needed.
No students would not be covered under these rules if they were not stopped from working due to the virus.
The unemployed are affected as job searches have been forced to end. This is a problem that they may eventually have to fix.
I wish my French was at a higher level. I would get a job in a day even now. The problem is the level of French required in the communications field means the ability to write and edit for publication. I am nowhere near that.
Thank you for your concern - I really do appreciate it
Sean I pinged a few people I know in Ottawa about you and your situation and seeing if they have or know of anyone who has something avaiulable in the communications or journalisim field (lack of French included). No promises but maybe we'll get lucky.
Sean I pinged a few people I know in Ottawa about you and your situation and seeing if they have or know of anyone who has something avaiulable in the communications or journalisim field (lack of French included). No promises but maybe we'll get lucky.
Wow thank you so much. Really I would do any kind of work.
My French is not nonexistant but I need a translator to write creatively. I am used to reading French, working with French texts.
I have a website that I built to highlight my skill areas (wordpress). It is at dillonfordyce.ca. I can send the password to anyone who wants to see it by message. It also has my CV. I just sent you the password.
Much of my graphics work is for clients so I cannot have it open to everyone.
Again thank you very, very much.
ETA: I have experience working for both a union and nonprofits.
Dr John Campbell: Sunday, 29th March, Coronavirus Update
"Fight. Unite.Ignite - Early detection, isolation and quaranatine - Short of PPE - Work on testing..."
NDPP, I want to thank you for not only breaking this story and its relevance to Canada when it seemed like such a far away issue, but for your dedication and work to providing relevant, up-to-date information from all corners on this current health crisis. It has truly proven to be a valuable source of information for this community.
Glad it was of interest Aristotleded24!
RNAO: Information on the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://rnao.ca/news/information-2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
"We want to support you during this time of COVID-19 by ensuring you're staying informed and consulting credible resources..."
"This graph has been making the rounds today on the effect of masks at reducing coronavirus transmission. There's a lot more going on here than mask/no mask..."
https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1243988679430778880
Trump's Coronavirus Czar Mike Pence Deploys Secret Weapon Against COVID-19 (and vid)
https://twitter.com/hemantmehta/status/1244344119545208834
It is a Time of Crisis and US Foreign Policy is Becoming Unhinged
"The Trump administration is reacting to the pandemic stress by lashing out at perceived internal and external enemies. Requests from Venezuela and Iran for emergency IMF loans to buy medical supplies were blocked by US intervention..."
(Obviously as ordered by his overlord V Putin)
George Galloway, MOATS, March 29, 2020 (and vid)
https://twitter.com/georgegalloway/status/1244346111655018497
Dr. John Campell on Coronavirus, Marxist Economics Professor Richard Wolff on bailouts and more!
Now the CFL has been affected:
The CFL postponed the start of training camps Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The ongoing global pandemic and the resulting directives issued by various governments make it unsafe to proceed with plans to gather our athletes and coaches together as scheduled," CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement.
There was no suggestion regarding when camps might open. Some rookie camps had been scheduled to open as early as May 11 with training camps starting May 17.
The postponing of training camps increases the likelihood the league will be forced to do the same with the start of its 2020 regular season.
"As for our future plans, we are in the hands of our public health officials," Ambrosie said. "We acknowledge their timetable will be dictated by the virus itself.
"We will make further decisions when we can and share them with our fans and the public as soon as possible."
The CFL campaign is scheduled to begin June 11.
I agree with the CFL's approach. I also believe that summer festivals (i.e. the Winnipeg Folk Festival) should start making contingency plans for how they can keep going in light of the circumstances, given that these events are still a few months away. It's possible that the pandemic might have susbsided by then, and the events can go on. Continuing on with these events at this time also give people hope. If the situation doesn't approve, they can always make the decision to cancel down the road if they have to.
The costs of cancelling increase as the date comes closer so sometime they have to choose earlier than might be necessary for other reasons
'A Historical Slide Into a Police State...' (radio)
Is factory farming to blame for coronavirus?
quote:
“Our study does not directly shed light on the geographical origin of the virus,” says Andersen. “However, all the available evidence shows that it was inside China.”
Case closed then, and President Trump is right to call Sars-CoV-2 the “Chinese virus”. Well, no, because if you want to understand why this pandemic happened now and not, say, 20 years ago – since Chinese people’s taste for what we in the west consider exotic fare is not new – you have to include a number of other factors. “We can blame the object – the virus, the cultural practice – but causality extends out into the relationships between people and ecology,” says evolutionary biologist Rob Wallace of the Agroecology and Rural Economics Research Corps in St Paul, Minnesota.
Starting in the 1990s, as part of its economic transformation, China ramped up its food production systems to industrial scale. One side effect of this, as anthropologists Lyle Fearnley and Christos Lynteris have documented, was that smallholding farmers were undercut and pushed out of the livestock industry. Searching for a new way to earn a living, some of them turned to farming “wild” species that had previously been eaten for subsistence only. Wild food was formalised as a sector, and was increasingly branded as a luxury product. But the smallholders weren’t only pushed out economically. As industrial farming concerns took up more and more land, these small-scale farmers were pushed out geographically too – closer to uncultivable zones. Closer to the edge of the forest, that is, where bats and the viruses that infect them lurk. The density and frequency of contacts at that first interface increased, and hence, so did the risk of a spillover.
It’s true, in other words, that an expanding human population pushing into previously undisturbed ecosystems has contributed to the increasing number of zoonoses – human infections of animal origin – in recent decades. That has been documented for Ebola and HIV, for example. But behind that shift has been another, in the way food is produced. Modern models of agribusiness are contributing to the emergence of zoonoses.
A banner reading ‘We are all pangolins’ hangs on a balcony in Bordeaux, France. The entire country has been on coronavirus lockdown since 16 March. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images
Pepe Escobar: China Locked in Hybrid War with US
https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/china-locked-in-hybrid-war-with-us/
"...Zhao's explosive contention is that COVID-19 was already in effect in the US before being identified in Wuhan."
Coronavirus: From 93 Infected to 0 (and vid)
https://twitter.com/CarlZha/status/1242349185111715840
"Japanese documentary film-maker showed how city of Nanjing, China contained coronavirus."
The costs of cancelling increase as the date comes closer so sometime they have to choose earlier than might be necessary for other reasons
It depends on the event. Take the Olympics, for example. Ordinarily athletes would be training right now, but can't beacause of restrictions. This would have knock-down effects on the whole games, and then you consider that other countries are farther behind their coronavirus curves than we are. It makes sense to postpone. Later summer leagues and other events have a little more time to come up with plans.
Speaking of leagues, the CHL has already cancelled the Memorial Cup for this year. With Trump's new restrictions in the US, I imaigne that the NBA and the NHL are going to follow suit very shortly. No word on how the MLB or the NFL are responding either.
UN Warns that COVID-19 Pandemic Could Trigger Global Food Shortage
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/03/30/unit-m30.html
"The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned of the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the global food supply chain in a notice on their website writing: 'We risk a looming food crisis unless measures are taken fast to protect the most vulnerable, keep global food supply chains alive and mitigate the pandemic's impacts across the food system..."
Dr John Campbell, Monday, 30 March, 2020, Coronavirus Update
"Those recovered have antibodies. Can return to normal duties, will be useful...Churches do not have antiviral properties."
'A Historical Slide Into a Police State...' (radio)
Pretty soon I suspect you're going to be more concerned about a military-state. Government is looking at putting 24'000 on the streets.
'A Historical Slide Into a Police State...' (radio)
Pretty soon I suspect you're going to be more concerned about a military-state. Government is looking at putting 24'000 on the streets.
It is very likely that the Canadian Forces will be stretched to deal with very urgent infrastructure and work normally provided by the private sector and volunteers.
Just one example:
This is the end of March. Spring flooding happens in many parts of the country. Normally we have armies of volunteers to shore up low-lying places with sandbags. Under this crisis it is likely they will have to use the Forces to do so.
Supply lines may be interupted in terms of distribution. The CAF may be forced to intervene.
Field hospitals are being considered. Only the CAF will have the means.
Many Canadians will recognize that the CAF will be being used for its most important purpose in the next few weeks.
We have 8 firefighters in Toronto down with the virus.
As far as other police state issues: people asked to quarantine are getting only 25% compliance according to a study released today. I saw it on flipboard. I just tried to find the link and will post it if I can get it.
The government has begged people to comply but it seems they are being forced to consider more and more draconian measures to force it.
Also today a poll reported that 65% of Conservative voters think this is overblown. The misinformation is in the way of compliance.
This misinformation and lack of cooperation are forcing the government to choose between abandonning safety or privacy. The pandemic of stupidity marches on and we all will pay.
Any decline in rights for Canadians will be brought on by people who are well off and flouting the orders (mostly travelors and Conservatives). Rest assured the erosian in privacy and increased surveilance will hurt the most vulnerable and the principles of democracy.
To some degree, democratic rights and freedoms rely on voluntary compliance when a crisis hits. This shared acceptance of the same facts and compliance is collapsing and the casualty will surely be democratic and personal freedoms. I will not make this partisan as this would happen regardless of the government.
I will continue with my last post. This connection is likely the weakness for the spread of real freedoms and democracy.
Without trust you do not get compliance. Without compliance you have support for oppression. Oppression destroys trust. You see the viscious circle? Once you lose this most basic level of trust it does not come back easily. Without it, people will continually choose oppression to maintain order.
The destruction of trust in institutions, shared facts, by figures such as Trump, has lead us to where people will find strong governments using oppression at least somewhat attractive. Lack of trust breeds oppression which breeds more of the same. Trumps war on science and any provable facts can almost only have the result of oppression and this would happen wherever significant numbers listen to him and people like him. Significant numbers do in Canada. The loss of freedoms will be a direct result.
Governments overreach, When you make a moderate level of oppression essential for a short time, what you get is considerable oppression being imposed permanently.
Those fearing a police state are not wrong becuase we are on that slope and are already sliding. Our slide creates momentum to continue.
The costs of cancelling increase as the date comes closer so sometime they have to choose earlier than might be necessary for other reasonsIt depends on the event. Take the Olympics, for example. Ordinarily athletes would be training right now, but can't beacause of restrictions. This would have knock-down effects on the whole games, and then you consider that other countries are farther behind their coronavirus curves than we are. It makes sense to postpone. Later summer leagues and other events have a little more time to come up with plans.
Speaking of leagues, the CHL has already cancelled the Memorial Cup for this year. With Trump's new restrictions in the US, I imaigne that the NBA and the NHL are going to follow suit very shortly. No word on how the MLB or the NFL are responding either.
The MLB and NFL have much more time than the others to work on it. Music festivals and other assorted events are the ones stuck in limno. Cancel now and save money or wait to see if it can still happen then incur tons of costs if they have to cancel
Can the Corporate State Hold? (podcast)
https://www.blackagendareport.com/covid-19-may-trigger-crisis-legitimacy
"Can the corporate state hold, 'or will it collapse under the weight of mass opposition and mass 'distancing' from the authority of the state?' asks Dubosian scholar Dr Anthony Monteiro. 'We might be approaching a crisis of that magnitude, a point at which the old cannot hold, but we are not certain what comes next."
The Jimmy Dore Show
"Why are progressives voting for the ultimate screwing of America?"
Haven't they always?
"I hope someone is making a documentary on this: homeless left in Canada and then COVID19 hits. Best ending would be COVID inspires a national housing program. Worst ending...see Le Temps du Loup by Michael Haneke."
Construction on Trans Mountain Pipeline Goes On, Company Says, as FN's Concerned Over COVID-19 Risks
https://nationalpost.com/news/construction-on-trans-mountain-pipeline-go...
"Construction of the TMX pipeline has continued despite concerns over workers contracting and spreading COVID-19, the Crown Corporation building the $12.6 billion project said Monday. Some First Nations have called on Ottawa in recent days to shut down various major projects including the construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline in northern BC and the Site C hydro dam." [the infested blanket of Canadian corporate colonialism]
"Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland cool to Manitoba Chiefs' request for Cuban doctors..."
https://twitter.com/JorgeBarrera/status/1244780555104923648
Naturally. Washington would flip out.
First Nations Call For Massive Resource Projects To Be Shut Down During Pandemic
https://twitter.com/350Canada/status/1244699475211214856
"The coronavirus actually reminded me of the first contact when we didn't have disease and it was brought to us - like smallpox..."
Obviously ecocide and genocide are 'essential services' which must continue at all costs.
COVID-19: Nurses Refusing Work Amid Pandemic-Fuelled Mask Shortage at London Hospitals, Union Says
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/covid-19-mask-shortage-leads-to-work...
London's nurses are starting to refuse front-line work as the coronavirus pandemic leads to a shortage of protective face-masks at Southwestern Ontario's largest hospital, their union says. The backlash comes as COVID-19 cases in Southwestern Ontario spike, the tally jumping by 85 to at least 152 Monday, with measures to protect health-care workers in increasingly short supply nationwide...'There's not a single nurse here that's not going to give 110 percent for their patients. But they want to be treated like any other worker. You wouldn't go onto a construction site without a hard hat. You wouldn't ask a firefighter to go and fight a fire without their equipment,' said James Murray, bargaining president for Local 100 of the Ontario Nurses Association union. 'It's terrible.' Workers in Ontario have the right to refuse unsafe work..."
Coronavirus: Kelowna Doctor Warns of 'Critical' Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment
https://globalnews.ca/news/6751005/coronavirus-kelowna-doctor-warns-of-c...
"Dr Jannene Frouws said nurses at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) have been directed to re-use face masks in the wake of dwindling supplies. 'I've spoken to some nurses that work on the ground that are extremely anxious...they are asked to re-use them, specifically masks, they get one mask per day, they have to put it in a container at the end of the day and re-use it.' Frouws said. They were currently told they are not allowed to speak out with the threat of being fired..."
The authorities have had months to prepare for this pandemic. Why aren't they? And why do they lie to us they are, when critical components such as masks and effective mass testing of the population as recommended by the WHO, are still in dangerously inadequate supply? Why are health workers being threatened and intimidated to conceal serious shortcomings? WTF! is going on?
3/30/2020 PBS News Hour
"COVID-19 continues to burn through the US population. Plus: Why US coronavirus testing is still problematic, a Greek refugee camp poised for disaster..."
ABC News 3/30/2020/ Cuomo Says New York Toll 'Beyond Staggering Already'
"Every six minutes someone in New York is dying right now of COVID-19..."
..here's the webinar recording that took place mar 28th.
Presenters:
Isaac Murdoch whose Ojibway name is Manzinapkinegego’anaabe / Bombgiizhik is from the fish clan and is from Serpent River First Nation. He is a respected storyteller and traditional knowledge holder, and a co-founder of the Nimkii Aazhibikong Ojibway language and culture camp.
Nandita Sharma is a professor of racism, migration, and transnationalism in the Department of Sociology at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
David McNally teaches history at the University of Houston and is an editor of the new journal of Marxism and politics, Spectre.
John Clarke first became involved in anti-poverty struggles in 1983 when he helped form the Union of Unemployed Workers in London, Ontario. He was an organizer with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) from its founding in 1990 until his retirement in 2019.
David Camfield teaches labour studies and sociology at the University of Manitoba. He is a supporter of socialism from below whose book "We Can Do Better: Ideas for Changing Society" was published in 2017.
Moderated by Saima Desai, editor of Briarpatch Magazine.
Five Ways to Mobilize For Social Change
"These recent weeks of state and corporate responses to the coronavirus pandemic have made inequalities and the need for structural change all the more evident..."
Don't Turn COVID-19 Testing Over To the Private Market
Why are most provinces unprepared to ramp up testing for COVID19? Lack of public investment in health care..."As the number of cases of COVID19 grows in the US, it seems hardly desirable to have the Canadian public health system dependent on kits from two private American companies..."
13 Deaths Now Linked To COVID-19 Outbreak at Long-Term Care Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/13-deaths-now-linked-to-covid-19-outbreak-at-...
On Monday, public health officials in the region said nine residents of Pinecrest Nursing Home infected with the novel coronavirus had died. By Tuesday morning, workers at the facility had confirmed the death of three more residents to CTV News. As well, the 82-year old wife of an infected resident had also died. Additionally, 24 staff members at the facility have tested positive for the virus and so have three other patients..."
Dr John Campbell, March 31, 2020, Coronavirus Updates
"Epidemiology of COVID-19 in a long-term facility."
best thing i have come across so far on covid and public policy.
very reasonable and calm guy.
well worth the hour.
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Published on Mar 26, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6MZy-2fcBw
Perspectives on the Pandemic: Dealing with Coronavirus, a fiasco in the making?
As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data.
Dr John P.A. Ioannidis is a professor of medicine and professor of epidemiology and population health, as well as professor by courtesy of biomedical data science at Stanford University School of Medicine, professor by courtesy of statistics at Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, and co-director of the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS) at Stanford University.
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best thing i have come across so far on covid and public policy.
very reasonable and calm guy.
well worth the hour.
-
Published on Mar 26, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6MZy-2fcBw
Perspectives on the Pandemic: Dealing with Coronavirus, a fiasco in the making?
As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data.
Dr John P.A. Ioannidis is a professor of medicine and professor of epidemiology and population health, as well as professor by courtesy of biomedical data science at Stanford University School of Medicine, professor by courtesy of statistics at Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, and co-director of the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS) at Stanford University.
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This video sounds reassuring. However it also sounds eerily like a Republican pro Trump paid scientific propoganda piece. The scientist used repeated references to worry about the impact of social distancing on the economy. He expressd opposition to political criticism of the Trump administration with ite handling of the epidemic
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FEMA Sends 85 Refrigerated Trucks to NYC as Makeshift Morgues as COVID-19 Deaths Grow
Here in New York City, the epicenter of the U.S. crisis, the death toll from COVID-19 is nearly 1,100 and continuing to climb. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is dispatching more than 250 ambulances and 85 refrigerated trucks to New York to serve as temporary morgues. The Intercept reports that prisoners at the Rikers Island jail are being offered $6 an hour and personal protective equipment if they agree to dig mass graves at a public cemetery on Hart Island. The coronavirus continues to spread rapidly at Rikers, where at least 167 prisoners and 137 staff members have tested positive. In Central Park, an emergency field hospital began operations Tuesday treating spillover patients from nearby Mount Sinai Hospital. The effort is led by the Christian fundamentalist group Samaritan’s Purse, whose leader Franklin Graham is a virulently Islamophobic, anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ preacher. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to send aides to monitor the group to prevent discrimination against patients.
Captain Calls for Evacuation of Infected U.S. Aircraft Carrier: “Sailors Do Not Need to Die”
In Guam, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt pleaded with U.S. Navy officials to allow thousands of sailors to disembark to prevent the spread of the coronavirus aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, where more than 100 sailors have tested positive. Captain Brett Crozier warned in a letter to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset — our sailors.” CNN reports sailors aboard a second U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, have also tested positive.
Brazilians Continue to Protest from Home
In Brazil, authorities have set up field hospitals for COVID-19 patients in some of the world’s most storied soccer stadiums. Residents of high-rise apartment buildings in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro continue to hold nightly protests from their windows and balconies, banging pots and pans and calling for the resignation of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed COVID-19 as a “little flu” and urged Brazilians to get back to work.
This video sounds reassuring. However it also sounds eerily like a Republican pro Trump paid scientific propoganda piece. The scientist used repeated references to worry about the impact of social distancing on the economy. He expressd opposition to political criticism of the Trump administration with ite handling of the epidemic
This doctor is credible and has a good reputation. Sorry - i have not seen the video so I could be wrong but here is a thought on your concern.
The people who are ignoring the science most, whoare believing the quack ideas most, who are spreading the most are right wingers. There is no way of sugar coating this. Theya re doing this becuase their leaderships trashed science, facts, all information sources but their own propaganda -- and then downplayed the threat. the priority for the safety of the public is to reach those people.
By saying some of these things it is possible the video was designed not to alienate those who needed most to be reached.
I have also trashed partisanship on social media -- not becuase I do not recognize that some party supporters are worse than others but becuase we need to rech everyone and if we are alienating some (due to their biases - let me be clear I recognize the problem) we are not going to be effective. If this video was accepted by conservatives and it had any value then that would be of considerable benefit. The rest of us have many sources and are tuned to accept science to a greater degree.
Does this make sense - that it could be designed to come across like it did to you - in order to be effective where it was needed most?
Like I say - I may be incorrect but if I were doing a video right now I would be tuning it to the group who is not paying attention enough, who is believing garbage, who is ignoring public health warnings. That is not Democrats/"Liberals" in great numbers in the US. The country is polarized and one side does not beleive anything the other side says.
This video sounds reassuring. However it also sounds eerily like a Republican pro Trump paid scientific propoganda piece. The scientist used repeated references to worry about the impact of social distancing on the economy. He expressd opposition to political criticism of the Trump administration with ite handling of the epidemic
This doctor is credible and has a good reputation. Sorry - i have not seen the video so I could be wrong but here is a thought on your concern.
The people who are ignoring the science most, whoare believing the quack ideas most, who are spreading the most are right wingers. There is no way of sugar coating this. Theya re doing this becuase their leaderships trashed science, facts, all information sources but their own propaganda -- and then downplayed the threat. the priority for the safety of the public is to reach those people.
By saying some of these things it is possible the video was designed not to alienate those who needed most to be reached.
I have also trashed partisanship on social media -- not becuase I do not recognize that some party supporters are worse than others but becuase we need to rech everyone and if we are alienating some (due to their biases - let me be clear I recognize the problem) we are not going to be effective. If this video was accepted by conservatives and it had any value then that would be of considerable benefit. The rest of us have many sources and are tuned to accept science to a greater degree.
Does this make sense - that it could be designed to come across like it did to you - in order to be effective where it was needed most?
Like I say - I may be incorrect but if I were doing a video right now I would be tuning it to the group who is not paying attention enough, who is believing garbage, who is ignoring public health warnings. That is not Democrats/"Liberals" in great numbers in the US. The country is polarized and one side does not beleive anything the other side says.
I think that you should watch the video in full before commenting. His downplaying of the seriousness and magnitude of the problem while saying that there is a lack of data which is all true was very reassuring and concerning all at the same time. His views were trashed and unpopular hence the video and interview. His views fall more in line with the directives of the Trump administration and if you had actually taken the time to watch the video you would have understood what my concerns really were.
I honestly think that people should actually research an opinion before shooting their opinions off really. It reflects badly on those who do it.
i opined about the piece because I extracted from it subtle partisanship which I found to be rather disturbing. I was hoping for comments from those who actually took the time to watch the video to find out what they thought, not that ignorant and pompous blast from you.
This video sounds reassuring. However it also sounds eerily like a Republican pro Trump paid scientific propoganda piece. The scientist used repeated references to worry about the impact of social distancing on the economy. He expressd opposition to political criticism of the Trump administration with ite handling of the epidemic
This doctor is credible and has a good reputation. Sorry - i have not seen the video so I could be wrong but here is a thought on your concern.
The people who are ignoring the science most, whoare believing the quack ideas most, who are spreading the most are right wingers. There is no way of sugar coating this. Theya re doing this becuase their leaderships trashed science, facts, all information sources but their own propaganda -- and then downplayed the threat. the priority for the safety of the public is to reach those people.
By saying some of these things it is possible the video was designed not to alienate those who needed most to be reached.
I have also trashed partisanship on social media -- not becuase I do not recognize that some party supporters are worse than others but becuase we need to rech everyone and if we are alienating some (due to their biases - let me be clear I recognize the problem) we are not going to be effective. If this video was accepted by conservatives and it had any value then that would be of considerable benefit. The rest of us have many sources and are tuned to accept science to a greater degree.
Does this make sense - that it could be designed to come across like it did to you - in order to be effective where it was needed most?
Like I say - I may be incorrect but if I were doing a video right now I would be tuning it to the group who is not paying attention enough, who is believing garbage, who is ignoring public health warnings. That is not Democrats/"Liberals" in great numbers in the US. The country is polarized and one side does not beleive anything the other side says.
I think that you should watch the video in full before commenting. His downplaying of the seriousness and magnitude of the problem while saying that there is a lack of data which is all true was very reassuring and concerning all at the same time. His views were trashed and unpopular hence the video and interview. His views fall more in line with the directives of the Trump administration and if you had actually taken the time to watch the video you would have understood what my concerns really were.
I honestly think that people should actually research an opinion before shooting their opinions off really. It reflects badly on those who do it.
i opined about the piece because I extracted from it subtle partisanship which I found to be rather disturbing. I was hoping for comments from those who actually took the time to watch the video to find out what they thought, not that ignorant and pompous blast from you.
Please Misfit see what I did. I said that I was responding without seeing this and made a general point that some people -- acknowledging that this may not be the case for this video -- may choose to be less hostile to Conservatives given that they are the ones we are trying to reach. I wanted to make the comment that this is an important part of the communications we need right now.
It is not unreasonable to present that opinion while carefully saying that I did not know if it applied to this video given that the video is an hour long.
Since I did not pretend to have seen it and did not claim that this necessarily applied -- why should I have to spend one hour on a video I am not wanting to make a priority in my life?
I would accept your idea that I should not comment if the video required only an investment of a couple minutes. Choosing to exclude the video from a general comment was another valid choice.
The part you are missing here is that I was not shooting an opinion about the video off-- I was shooting a general statement that I think is still valid about communications with Conservatives on this topic making it clear I did not know if it applied to this. I think you were unfair here.
Only Trump can get through to Trumpites. The only thing that can turn them is watching the bodies pile up where they are and being unable to get healthcare even though they paid their insurance.
This is just beginning in the US. The prevalence of guns is not going to help.
Only Trump can get through to Trumpites. The only thing that can turn them is watching the bodies pile up where they are and being unable to get healthcare even though they paid their insurance.
This is just beginning in the US. The prevalence of guns is not going to help.
I disagree. People who are loyal to Trump have to try. We have a life and death situation. Trump is out of it and we cannot depend on himm. Many whoa re on the right including those in his party who disagree with this can reach out to each other to get some life-saving sense -- even if Trump remains mired in insanity.