Mar 212021
 
 March 21, 2021  Posted by at 7:19 pm Finance Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,


“Flora” (Roman Goddess of Spring), Villa di Arianna 1st Century A.D.

 

 

 

[..] the rifleman’s stalking the sick and the lame
Preacherman seeks the same, who’ll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks, water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain
False-hearted judges, dying in the webs that they spin
Only a matter of time ’til night comes steppin’ in

Bob Dylan, Jokerman

 

I’ve seen huge amounts of riot police in many cities this weekend, in Holland, Germany, UK, Sweden, Canada, Florida and money more places (Miami Beach declared a state of emergency), using water cannons, horses, dogs, in some cases tear gas, to disperse relatively small and peaceful crowds. These things are normally used in case of serious rioting. But now the “justification” is that people are standing and walking too close together, and not obeying the “measures” and restrictions.

But that is exactly what they’re protesting. If you protest the measures, and they say you can only do that if you comply with those same measures, which includes asking permission beforehand, that is not a protest, that is theater. And the right to protest is not something that can just arbitrarily be taken away in a democratic country. Until now. Until Covid came along.

Here’s a clip of 14 countries with protests. They don’t include the water cannons etc. footage, which is fine by me.

 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1373384307474100225

 

Almost all countries have rising numbers of Covid cases again, so their only response will be re-activated: lockdown. Well, yes, the response now also includes vaccines as our only hope out of this, but those will take a long time to arrive everywhere, and both their efficacy and adverse effects remain major and untested questions.

So we’ll need another 130 billion facemasks per month in the world, and we won’t do vitamin D or ivermectin or HCQ, not even zinc. How much longer will that work, though? What will the protests look like next weekend? Hard to imagine they’ll get smaller. Easy to imagine they’ll get bigger and more widespread. And then what? More dogs and horses and water cannons, more tear gas? Or are we going to use live ammo next time around?

It’s been a year since the pandemic started, and in many places 5 months since the lockdowns did. Meanwhile, we’ve sold our souls to Big Pharma. Or they’ve been sold for us, if you will. Technology is now the only thing that can save us, and it must be brand new; the newer and more expensive, the better.

 

In Israel there was a 20,000 strong mass protest, but not really against lockdown, against PM Netanyahu. Given that Israel has run a faster vaccine rollout than anyone else, some political leaders must now think the people are never satisfied.

 

I liked this from Eva Bartlett in Canada, at least some people still have a semblance of a functioning brain. What editor comes up with that kind of headline, though?

Vive La Lockdown Révolution! Growing Rebellion Against Draconian Covid Restrictions By Easygoing Canadians Shows The World The Way

Some Canadians, armed with knowledge of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, aren’t complying with the draconian and absurd measures, and instead are walking out of airports instead of being incarcerated in quarantine hotels. In March, nurse Jessica Faraone made headlines for doing just that and walking out of Toronto’s Pearson airport instead of subjecting herself to a costly $2,000-plus quarantine hotel stay.

In a later interview, Faraone said a border guard had attempted to intimidate and shut her up, but she knew her rights. She added: “I have worked in the hospitals and more than ever I’m seeing suicide, depression, strokes, heart attacks, addiction issues. Masking people and children, oppressing health-care workers’ opinions that go against the grain, socially isolating people, and instilling fear into Canadians… is not how we solve this problem.”

And it’s not just well-informed individuals who are contesting the drastic measures. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has been active in challenging the government both on quarantine hotels and on tickets issued to citizens for alleged violations of public health orders. The centre is also disseminating resources for Canadians to know their rights regarding Covid measures.

Liberty Coalition Canada was formed after Covid restrictions were brought in. The coalition is a “national network of clergymen, elected officials, small business owners, legal experts and other concerned citizens” that now has a number of sub-groups addressing specific aspects of the measures Canada has taken. These include the social media campaign Save Our Youth, Reopen Ontario Churches, and the End the Lockdowns Caucus.

The latter comprises a number of current and former elected representatives who came together in February “resolved to ensure there is open, honest, and public debate regarding the Covid government response.” This body espouses what many ordinary Canadians have been feeling: “After careful examination and scrutiny of mitigation measures undertaken by all levels of government, it is now evident that the lockdowns cause more harm than the virus and must be brought to an end.”

Likewise, the newly-formed Professionals Against Lockdowns – already listing over 100 professionals, including doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, legal experts, police and teachers – aims to provide “evidence-based, scientific research that will educate and empower the public.”

Noting the widespread censorship of any dissenting voices on issues Covid, its statement reads: “It is our professional duty to protect the public, our communities, and our children. We will advocate for what is right and speak up against harm. Together, we will continue to be the voice for the voiceless to ensure that the truth about these lockdowns is heard. “The government’s response has lacked a risk variant analysis on all our populations. We are seeing the harm being done first-hand. We know lockdowns, isolation of healthy individuals, and the violation of our rights are causing more harm than good.”

 

You’re going to have to take this to the courts, I’ve been saying it for ages now. Or your government, wherever you are, will usurp all the powers they desire. Still, unless there are enemy bombers targeting you, there’s no such thing as a year long emergency.

 

Another tidbit I noticed today: In Holland, from 6 million people who were actively exercising in Jan 2020, only 2 million remained in Jan 2021. So everyone’s immune systems are seriously compromised by the lockdowns, and now also by the closure of gyms and other sports facilities. We’re on a roll. All we need is a jab, we don’t need to be healthy, we don’t need exercise, or vitamins, or repurposed drugs. If you just remember to inoculate your 6-month old as well, we will all be fine by 2024.

I’ve seen claims that Covid affects the brain too, but I never imagined that it would do so in this way.

 

This fine gym bro got it right a whole year ago:

 

 

 

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Home Forums Water Cannons? Tear Gas?

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #71533

    “Flora” (Roman Goddess of Spring), Villa di Arianna 1st Century A.D.       [..] the rifleman’s stalking the sick and the lame Preacherm
    [See the full post at: Water Cannons? Tear Gas?]

    #71534
    Germ
    Participant

    Did you know that last year Yale investigated how to guilt-trip people into taking the COVID vaccine?

    The study of 4,000 people tested ten different messages aimed at convincing people to get the COVID vaccine.
    Checkout the “messaging” categories!

    “Guilt”, “Anger”, Embarrassment” …

    https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04460703

    #71535
    Michael Reid
    Participant

    Looks like some people are starting to stand up!

    #71537
    ezlxa1949
    Participant

    But if Shanna Swan’s research findings are correct and human sperm counts reach zero by 2045, what does any of this matter? If the decline is at least partly due to “forever chemicals” (non-degradable) in the environment, what remedies do we have for that? Would it end up that the only way to reproduce is via in vitro technology? And who can afford that? The sterile elites?

    Can it really be possible that Homo sapiens is poisoning itself out of existence? Really?

    Hmmm. 2045. I may possibly live long enough to see that year arrive, although I rather hope not.

    #71538
    Doc Robinson
    Participant

    Germ: “Did you know that last year Yale investigated how to guilt-trip people into taking the COVID vaccine?”

    That’s worth a closer look, for some indication of what arguments and social pressure to expect. Interesting that this study started in early July 20, and it presents preconceived “facts” about Covid vaccines which didn’t really exist then.

    Baseline message… about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines.

    Personal freedom message… about how COVID-19 is limiting people’s personal freedom and by working together to get enough people vaccinated society can preserve its personal freedom.

    Economic freedom message… about how COVID-19 is limiting peoples’s economic freedom and by working together to get enough people vaccinated society can preserve its economic freedom.

    Self-interest message… that COVID-19 presents a real danger to one’s health, even if one is young and healthy. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent oneself from getting sick.

    Community interest message… about the dangers of COVID-19 to the health of loved ones. The more people who get vaccinated against COVID-19, the lower the risk that one’s loved ones will get sick. Society must work together and all get vaccinated.

    Economic benefit message… about how COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the economy and the only way to strengthen the economy is to work together to get enough people vaccinated.

    Guilt message… about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one’s family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and society must work together to get enough people vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the guilt they will feel if they don’t get vaccinated and spread the disease.

    Embarrassment message… about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one’s family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the embarrassment they will feel if they don’t get vaccinated and spread the disease.

    Anger message… about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one’s family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the anger they will feel if they don’t get vaccinated and spread the disease.

    Trust in science message… about how getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective way of protecting one’s community. Vaccination is backed by science. If one doesn’t get vaccinated that means that one doesn’t understand how infections are spread or who ignores science.

    Not bravery message… describes how firefighters, doctors, and front line medical workers are brave. Those who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are not brave.

    Primary Outcome Measures :
    Intention to get COVID-19 vaccine

    Secondary Outcome Measures :

    Vaccine confidence scale… to assess the impact of the messages on vaccine confidence.

    Persuade others item… This is a measure of a willingness to persuade others to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Fear of those who have not been vaccinated… This is a measure of a comfort with an unvaccinated individual visiting an elderly friend after a vaccine becomes available

    Social judgment of those who do not vaccinate… This is a scale composed of 4 items measuring the trustworthiness, selfishness, likeableness, and competence of those who choose not to get vaccinated after a vaccine becomes available

    https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04460703

    #71540
    VietnamVet
    Participant

    Charging $2,000 Canadian Loonies at Pearson Airport for a two-week quarantine hotel room is the tip-off. Canada is just as infested with neoliberalism as the rest of the West. Whoever is directing the coronavirus response in the Americas and Europe is only concerned about money. Public Health is ignored, forbidden, discarded. The only certainty is the rich will get richer and the poor poorer. Lockdowns were instituted so hospitals could keep functioning and make money. Corporate Media is looking here and there, especially at ethnic incitement, to avoid the obvious — Western Governments have failed.

    I think deep down, the global rulers think this pandemic is another flu and shortly will go away instead of becoming endemic across the world like HIV which killed around 32.7 million humans but is treatable by taking lifetime antivirals. However, the gene-therapy vaccines could fail, or immunity is too limited, and without new effective antivirals, variant coronavirus outbreaks could continue to overflow healthcare systems and close economies in hot-spots.

    There is a reason Plague is one of the Four Horsemen.

    #71541
    sumac.carol
    Participant

    Dogs and tear gas only used in serious cases of rioting? That has not been my experience. I have participated in many demonstrations in Canada, mostly related to meetings of G20, G8, activities of the IMF. I was never near any rioting and have been pepper-sprayed. I also had to march past a line of police in riot gear holding back their barking German Shepherds. In my experience the level of force shown in the police response to demonstrations has been excessive most of the time. I don’t see why covid should be any different. Maybe this is an education for people who don’t usually participate in demonstrations -they will experience the inner workings of power first hand.

    #71545
    Kimo
    Participant

    Covid Death Risk Calculator. Warning, you might need to count a lot of zeros.
    https://www.qcovid.org/Home/AcademicLicence?licencedUrl=%2FCalculation

    #71547
    V. Arnold
    Participant

    “Flora” (Roman Goddess of Spring), Villa di Arianna 1st Century A.D.

    Lovely painting…
    …of particular note are Flora’s fingers plucking a flower with her right hand.

    #71548
    V. Arnold
    Participant

    There is a reason Plague is one of the Four Horsemen.

    …but, but…we’re in the 21st century! Technology and human ingenuity will save us…(sarc)
    We humans need a good scare; and I’m not yet convinced Covid will deliver it…
    We’ve been at the edge for decades, but have yet to look over that edge, but whatever…
    The shock we need is still in the womb of time…

    #71556
    Mister Roboto
    Participant

    @V Arnold: I suspect that Covid’s real damage will lie in the micro-shocks it delivered to an already very fragile and brittle global system. The powers that be chose to make this effect worse by employing the lockdown strategy thinking they could use it to their advantage.

    #71564
    madamski cafone
    Participant

    I’m suspicious of “gym bro”. His predictions are a bit TOO specific and he works hard to alienate anyone not already higly cyncically skeptical, calling people stupid and allo that. Wouldn’t surprised me if he’s, oh, let’s call them Paid Professional assholes.

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