We gave Covid 19 the keys to our house 199 days ago, how are things going?

It is 08.00 am on Friday 19 March 2021, one hundred and ninety-nine days from the start of the 2020 – 2021 school year.

The third wave in France is now officially recognised

At long last! The French Prime Minister went on TV this week to declare that Covid is out of control again, a state of emergency that has been ‘bleedin’ obvious’ for some weeks. There are 16 regions that are particularly hard hit. They have to implement new ‘lockdown’ measures, but, hey, relax boys and girls, they are not as tough as the first two lockdowns (you could ask what’s the point then?). The new measures as usual in our view, are inherently confusing and open to challenge by the tired citizenry (e.g. no social family gatherings more than 6, evening curfew now starts at seven pm, not six p.m., (never ever policed properly anyway and again just tinkering at the edges of the abyss!), no travel beyond 10 kms without a self-certificate to justify the reasons, and finally an invitation to the nation: Make sure you get outside and enjoy the outdoors – that is much safer in staying indoors, say the pundits. Goodness, they took a long time to work that last one out and announce it publicly. I hope they remember to keep the local parks open for them to enjoy.

And back to the schools for a moment

Notwithstanding these new restrictions, all schools everywhere will continue to remain open (‘closing schools would be the last thing we would do’, says the prime minister). Mum and dad don’t bother to react to this level of stupidity anymore. On the one hand, the ‘men-in-charge’ are pushing hard for commercial businesses to change – if they can – to remote working at least 4 days of the week, while on the other hand, they don’t even mention the similar concept of an integrated hybrid of home based and school-based learning curriculum. This is not rocket science! Schools are now officially elevated to the status of ‘absolutely essential’, in the same category as essential commercial businesses.

And what about the vaccine fiasco?

Have you been following the clash between the European Union and the UK – the perfect example of a kids’ school playground punch up! They are now heavily engaged slagging each other off. They verbally squabble, punch, kick and bite over the shortcomings of the vaccine supply chain – who contracted for what? why do we not have enough? And now, most of Europe has clubbed together to vent their spleen on the nasty Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. The politicians, and many of their citizens, have believed the media avalanche of scaremongering misinformation that it is dangerous – the blood clot story. Many EU countries are refusing to give it to their citizens ostensibly ’to keep them safe from a dangerous vaccine’. The reality is that many of their so-called protected citizens are going to catch Covid 19 and die while waiting for their masters to finally find and authorise them to receive a safer vaccine, assuming they will still be alive. As if that is not enough, the EU is also planning to ban all vaccine exports, AND, AS IF THAT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH, saddest of all, the EU and the UK, and the other rich countries, have, despite their rift, also clubbed together and refused to support the licensing of their vaccines so that the poorer countries can manufacture them for themselves, instead of relying upon WHO mediated hand-outs or being ripped off financially when they can’t afford it.

What do mum and dad think of the fiasco:  Netflix eat your heart out! This is the best ever exposé of raw corporate greed, childish egos and reputations in overdrive, political shenanigans, the huge gulf between the haves and the have-nots and their colonially driven, pathologically obsessive appetite for money and control. History tells us it is time for the next peasant revolt. What do you think?

By John Saunders

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World Health Communication Associates (WHCA) & INSPIRIT Creatives UG NGO,
MediaWise and MediaFocusUK

Strengthening connections
while keeping distance

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We are all vulnerable to this virus. This is a unique time for our communities all over the world as we work to combat this massive global threat. This blog aims to collect and share your stories and reflections that can help others to cope, thrive and build resilience…

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