“In America: Remember. 678,584.”…At least that’s what it said Wednesday afternoon. The number on the sign inches up each day as the death toll rises. It is rising now, again, by more than 2,000 each day. The temporary memorial installation is the work of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg. The scale of it is staggering — you can walk more than six kilometres of paths between the flags.
But wandering around, many visitors will no doubt recognize that a white flag is a universally recognized symbol of surrender. You wave it to beg for an end. For mercy. In a country where universally available and free vaccines have been shunned by millions, and simple masks have become a battleground, some may consider how many of these lives have been surrendered, not by the victims but by fellow citizens and governments unwilling to take simple actions to protect their neighbours.
Basically, unless you get vaccinated the likelihood is lockdowns will continue, because the loss of life is not acceptable.
It provides the counter to the parties to the right who are increasingly pushing for NZ to mirror say Singapore or Denmark. The reality is though, in terms of health infrastructure, NZ is very weak for a developed nation. Few ICU beds, does not have access to some of the treatments (such as monoclonal antibodies). So more emphasis is needed on keeping numbers very low.
The report I watched stated that it had been a 6 month investigation which had included interviewing the former heads of the CIA and MI6 amongst many others - Also that there was a book and a documentary ready to go. The investigator was pretty adamant that the virus, in its original form - ready to infect humans, was present in the Wuhan lab months before the pandemic began.
She also produced documentary evidence of the cover up by China - which appears to go far deeper than first thought.
I do not know - but this is a subject that requires deep investigation to resolve it one way or the other - regardless of who uncovers the truth. This is a public health issue - not political point scoring.
Gutted. Daughter and her partner were due to visit us in Spain this Sunday. One of her grandkids ( our great grand kids) visited 3 days ago and felt ill. Next day he tested positive and today the daughters partner , who seemed a well man, got the sniffles, took a test and is positive. We thought all would be good as Spain is the safest place in Europe regarding Covid. but the best laid plans and all that.
I find the figures for the UK shocking. Seems it is the kids that are spreading it. Over here 12 yo and up are being vaccinated and it seems to be working well. The Spanish are very pro vaccinations which is also a help.
Personal note: Outgoing conservative government has dealt with the pandemic quite well. Credit to them. On various economic issues, they have given money and incentives to the wrong people imo. (and made some wrong early choices as to who to trust to get hold of enough vaccines), but their policies against the virus has been pretty good and we have suffered less than many states around us.
Thank you ! Clouded here and I am about to see a sci-fi series with a friend (The Foundation) so a Saturday spent mostly indoors here
Tomorrow I am going to the cinema to watch Dune with the same friend. We are already babbling enthusiastically about it a day prior to the watch
For those still denying about Covid-19, they should walk through this field and read the tiny white flags planted.
