COVID: Other Roads to Success – CRAIN’S COMMENTS

What did Australia do that was different? First was a hard lockdown starting in January 2020, not March as in the US. Second, the lockdown limited how far people could travel from their home and the amount of time they could be out of home each day — 3 miles and 1 hour. Third was aggressive contact tracing. People use QR codes on cell phones to sign into stores, restaurants and recreation sites that they visit so tracers will know who has been exposed to the virus.

The end result is that Australia is mostly back to normal, masks are optional and there are no lockdowns at present nationwide. Sporting events are open to full capacity. Movie theaters are open, although they still use empty seats to separate patrons.

Conversely, the US is still struggling.

New Zealand acted in concert with Australia, with even better results.

Source: COVID: Other Roads to Success – CRAIN’S COMMENTS

‘This goes way beyond brutality’: Myanmar coup and the military’s violent suppression of democracy · Global Voices

Throughout February, anti-coup protests faced constant reprisal from Myanmar’s security forces. Despite the crackdown, valiant protesters still went out on the streets everyday to battle injustices, human rights abuses, and brutality through peaceful ways.

The timeline below details some of the oppressive laws and brutal crackdown of the military.

Source: ‘This goes way beyond brutality’: Myanmar coup and the military’s violent suppression of democracy · Global Voices

Fauci Wants Trump To Urge Followers To Get Vaccinated – Rolling Stone

Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed surprise at recent polling that shows many Republicans and Trump voters have no plans on getting vaccinated, and he’s hoping the former president will do more to urge his followers to do so.

The government’s top infectious disease expert told Fox News on Sunday, “If [Trump] came out and said, ‘Go and get vaccinated. It’s really important for your health, the health of your family and the health of the country,’ it seems absolutely inevitable that the vast majority of people who are his close followers would listen to him.”

Source: Fauci Wants Trump To Urge Followers To Get Vaccinated – Rolling Stone

Free Image, Art and Conservation in Cuba – Havana Times

As caring for the environment is the most significant aspect for the Libre Imagen group, strategies are drawn up to gradually replace felled invasive trees with native species. To do this, they use methods based on the ethical principles of permaculture. Caring for the land and people, conserving the soil, forests and water, as well as the fair distribution of natural resources.

Ties with the community

The link with the community occurs through the project’s activity plan. People are integrated in workshops, as facilitators, listeners, managers, or workers. In addition to providing job opportunities and training, Libre Imagen assumes responsibility to promote female participation.

Source: Free Image, Art and Conservation in Cuba – Havana Times

Papa’s Umbrella

Delightful memory…

Inhale Peace; Exhale Love. Joy will Follow! - RUELHA

My papa had this huge umbrella. He made me feel like Cinderella. Unlike many other languages in India, Catholics here refer to their grandpas as 'papa'. It really confuses everyone. About that, nothing can be done. Papa here, mostly means 'father'. But, I've been speaking this way since I was a toddler. So anyway, back to Papa's umbrella. He was a tall and strong fella. Everyone around me, especially my mommy, was using trendy three-fold parasols. They never looked like they could assault. But, my Papa was quite something. That umbrella could have housed a weapon for hunting. It was tall and huge. Great for me to take refuge. Just a single fold. You know it was so damn old. With immaculate craftsmanship. A wooden handle at the tip. It was a simple black one. And to me, it weighed like a tonne. My Papa expired a few months short…

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