So, war has broken out in Europe. Or rather, war was started by Russia. One just wonders at the madness that is war - why it is ever an option. Boys with toys, sadly.
I feel like Kafka writing in his diary on the day World War 1 started - »Germany has declared war on Russia. Went swimming in the afternoon« Me, writing each day while somewhere in the world burns. The world is in many ways surreal.
The rich wage war, the poor pay for it.
Where are the Russian truckers? I remember a few years ago, they brought Moscow to its knees. I think the only hope is internal pressure within Russia. It might bring the policy, decision-making wankers to their senses.
And we have this. I hope even ordinary, grunt soldiers begin to see the light.
I have been noting the hypocrisy of so many about this war. So many saying - these aren’t just Muslim refugees, they are like us! Let them in! No visas!
Good luck if you are a Yemeni trying to get into jolly old English. Hmmm. Seems we are all embeded with racism of some sort. Watch some examples from this twitter feed.
All these examples point out something important. We need more questioning of the intentions of our leaders, our society.
But also, we mustn’t let our schooling get in the way of our education. School is in many ways an advertising agency. This week, I’ve been pushing teachers to put “peace” into their curriculum. Actually been railing on this for over 20 years.
My Project Peace of 15 years ago is an example. See a nice paper there, you can download. Peace should be a key component and topic of our school years, unfortunately, as one teacher at a staff meeting said when I once raised the topic, “We don’t have the time. We got testing to prepare for.”
On the Covid front - we still have NO recognition of natural immunity being the gold standard in protection against Covid 19. No screening prior to giving/demanding vaccination (why get vaccinated if you had a prior infection and are protected? Duh …). And this is public health policy that we should trust? See this peer-reviewed, definitive Israeli study of vaccinated vs prior infection, unvaccinated groups.
The effectiveness of previous infection in preventing reinfection
90.2% against the alpha variant 85.7% against the beta variant, 92.0% against the delta variant, and 56.0% against the omicron variantThe effectiveness with respect to severe, critical, or fatal Covid-19
69.4% against the alpha variant, 88.0% against the beta variant 95% to 100% against the delta variant 87.8% against the omicron variant
Much better efficacy (and unwaning) than any vaccine. Yet …
And meanwhile, this comparison of Israel (85% vaccinated - 4 doses) health apartheid state and Palestine (Gaza, West Bank - 5% vaccinated). You see NO differing outcomes in cases, hospitalizations, deaths. None. Just a 2-week gap between spread in Israel and spread in Palestine. Makes one wonder ….
To end on a positive note. All is for the best in the best of possible worlds. Just takes a busload of faith to see it.