Coronavirus Pandemic: Apocalypse Now! Or exaggerated scare story?

[dredger]

This one made my day, a Canadian refusing to be tested at the airport.
Bonus : it's from a french site and was text-traduced :

https://www.egaliteetreconciliation.fr/Un-Canadien-refuse-de-se-laisser-tester-a-l-aeroport-63154.html

 

[JEEP]

Ho boy! Was sent this forwarded email from my 94 year old mother-in-law who has gotten both doses of the Covid vaccine thanks to her youngest son married to a nurse practitioner:

Johns Hopkins Hospital information sheet about Coronavirus 19. ....
>
> I think this is a great common sense article
> This certainly makes the CoVid -19 protection methods more understandable.
>
> * This virus is not a living organism. It is a protein molecule (RNA or DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal mucosa (mouth), changes its genetic code (mutates) and converts into aggressor and multiplier cells.
>
> * Since the virus is not a living organism but is a protein molecule, it cannot be killed.
>
> It has to decay on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.
>
> * The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat, and that is the reason why soap or detergent is the best weapon. The foam CUTS THE FAT (that is why you have to scrub for 20 seconds or more to create lots of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down.
>
> * HEAT melts fat; this is why it is necessary to use water above 77 degrees for hand washing, laundry and cleaning surfaces. In addition, hot water makes more foam, making it more effective.
>
> * Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ALL FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.
>
> * Any solution with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaking it down from the inside.
>
> * Oxygenated water increases the effectiveness of soap, alcohol, and chlorine because peroxide dissolves the virus protein. However, because you have to use it in its pure form, it can damage your skin.
>
> * NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC WILL WORK because the virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.
>
> * The virus molecules remain very stable at colder temperatures, including air conditioning in houses and cars. They also need moisture and darkness to stay stable. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade the virus faster.
>
> * UV LIGHT on any object that may contain the virus breaks down the protein. Be careful. It also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.
>
> * The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.
>
> * Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.
>
> * NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol, and you need a minimum of 65%.
>
> * LISTERINE is 65% alcohol.
>
> * The more confined the space, the higher the concentration of the virus there can be—the more open or naturally ventilated, the less.
>
> * You have to wash your hands before and after touching any commonly used surfaces such as mucosa (mouth area), food, locks, knobs, switches, remotes, cell phones, watches, computers, desks etc... and don’t forget when you use the bathroom.
>
> * You have to MOISTURIZE YOUR HANDS due to frequent washing. Dry hands have cracks, and the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better.
>
> * Also, keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.

[continued]

Now for some additional input:
>
> Dr. Bonnie Henry is the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia, the first woman in this position. She is also an associate professor at the University of British Columbia. She has a background in epidemiology and is a specialist in public health and preventive medicine . She is also from PEI (Prince Edward Island).
>
>
> The Wisdom of Dr. Bonnie Henry
>
> 1. We may have to live with COVID-19 for months or years. Let's not deny it or panic. Let's not make our lives useless Let's learn to live with this fact.
> 2. You can't destroy COVID-19 viruses that have penetrated cell walls, by drinking gallons of hot water, you'll just go to the bathroom more often
> 3. Washing hands and maintaining a two-meter physical distance is the best method for your protection.
> 4. If you don't have a COVID-19 patient at home, there's no need to disinfect the surfaces at your house.
> 5. Packaged cargo, gas pumps, shopping carts and ATMs do not cause infection. If you wash your hands, live your life as usual.
> 6. COVID-19 is not a food infection. It is associated with drops of infection like the 'flu’. There is no demonstrated risk that COVID-19 is transmitted by food.
> 7. You can lose your sense of smell with a lot of allergies and viral infections. This is only a non-specific symptom of COVID-19.
> 8. Once at home, you don't need to change your clothes urgently and go shower! Purity is a virtue, paranoia is not!
> 9 The COVID-19 virus doesn't hang in the air for long. This is a respiratory droplet infection that requires close contact.
> 10. The air is clean; you can walk through the gardens and through parks (just keeping your physical protection distance).
> 11. It is sufficient to use normal soap against COVID-19, not antibacterial soap. This is a virus, not a bacterium.
> 12. You don't have to worry about your food orders. But you can heat it all up in the microwave if you wish.
> 13. The chances of bringing COVID-19 home with your shoes is like being struck by lightning twice in a day. I've been working against viruses for 20 years — drop infections don't spread like that!
> 14. You can't be protected from the virus by taking vinegar, sugarcane juice and ginger! These are for immunity not a cure.
> 15. Wearing a mask for long periods interferes with your breathing and oxygen levels. Wear it only in crowds.
> 16. Wearing gloves is also a bad idea; the virus can accumulate into the glove and be easily transmitted if you touch your face. Better just to wash your hands regularly.
> Immunity is weakened by always staying in a sterile environment. Even if you eat immune boosting foods, please go out of your house regularly to any park/beach. Immunity is increased by EXPOSURE TO PATHOGENS, not by sitting at home and consuming fried/ spicy/sugary food and aerated drinks.
>
> Be smart and stay informed! Live life sensibly and to the fullest.
> Be Kind, Be Calm and wash your hands.

So now, in addition to the "viruses don't exist" idea, we have viruses are not living things!

(Chu) That's why they also said previously that viruses are thoughts made manifest. The way I understand it is that they can manifest a thought but you have to have the receiver. So not everyone will catch the same virus. Same with any disease really...

(L) Yeah, some can have the virus in their body and it's completely inactive. And other people can be taken down in no time at all. Reading these genetics books is just mind-boggling.

If you google 'is virus a living thing', the overall result is a resounding no. Duckduckgo results are more balanced with the first result stating "Scientists are not sure whether viruses are living or non-living. In general, scientists use a list of criteria to determine if something is alive." From duckduckgo regarding virus and bacteria:

"While both can cause disease, viruses are not living organisms, whereas bacteria are. Viruses are only "active" within host cells which they need to reproduce, while bacteria are single-celled organisms that produce their own energy and can reproduce on their own. Bacteria serve many vital roles in nature outside of being infectious." [Umm - so do viruses . . . ]

"Bacteria are single-celled, living organisms. They have a cell wall and all the components necessary to survive and reproduce, although some may derive energy from other sources. Viruses are not considered to be "living" because they require a host cell to survive long-term, for energy, and to reproduce."

"A virus is an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope."

"The biggest difference between viruses and bacteria is that viruses must have a living host - like a plant or animal - to multiply, while most bacteria can grow on non-living surfaces."

Again, it appears to be Darwinian science vs Intelligent Design at the core of all this. IOW, is "God" a living thing? Reminds me of the doctors who dismiss near death experiences as anything other than a mind coping mechanism. Is a bacteria considered a material living thing whereas a virus is not? Is this a case of the Darwinian materialist definition of what is living? I suppose most of the measures outlined in Dr. Henry's advice will come in handy when the real plague comes along.

I previously sent a lot of Covid info to my mother-in-law's other married son and daughter but not to her as I felt it would unnecessarily alarm and stress her. Her daughter is a retired teacher who still tutors grade school children, so I imagine she has probably gotten the vax as well. The other son and wife are adamantly against the vax perhaps influenced by some of the info I sent. The wife's father is a retired M.D. - don't know if a factor or not.

I completely stopped sending any info regarding this Covid madness already as it seemed for the most part to be falling on deaf ears. As the Cs have said, the wetiko mind virus is in play and to just enjoy the show. I like the part of the show where Ark fully recovered. Also, Texas and Mississippi ending their mask mandates. I like this forum and the free exchange of information as opposed to propaganda. I like Sott and its ongoing mission of truth vs lies. I like that we're in this together and not alone adrift in a sea of psychopathic manipulation.

 

[JEEP]

Speaking of wetiko, this from last summer:

Covid-19 is a Symbol of a Much Deeper Infection​

By Paul Levy

For almost twenty years I’ve been writing about an invisible, contagious death-creating virus that no one is immune to that has been insidiously spreading and replicating itself throughout the human species. This deadly disease is a virus of the mind—the Native Americans call it “wetiko”—that literally cultivates and feeds on fear and separation. A psycho-spiritual illness, it is a psychosis in the true sense of the word, “a sickness of the spirit.” The origin and medium of operations of the wetiko virus is none other than the human psyche. This mind-virus acts itself out through our blind-spots in such a way so as to hide itself from being seen – keeping us in the dark, so to speak. A collective psychosis, wetiko can be envisioned as “the bug” in the system that has been ravaging our species for as long as anyone can remember.

It is a true game-changer to recognize that the coronavirus is literally a materialization in our world—a REVELATION—of the immaterial and heretofore invisible wetiko virus that exists deep within the collective unconscious of humanity. This is to say that what is playing out in the Covid-19 pandemic (with all the various political, social and financial reactions to it in our world, as well as what it brings up inside of our minds) can help us to begin to see the deeper underlying and more dangerous wetiko pandemic—a collective psychological infection—that has been plaguing humanity from time immemorial.

Wetiko is a unique form of mind-blindness that renders us blind to our blindness (i.e., we don’t realize we are blind, but fancy ourselves as clear-seeing). Pointing at wetiko in its own unique way, The Gnostic Gospels says, “The darkness comes to anesthetize the intelligence and spread the cancer of mind blindness.” Seeing how the wetiko mind-virus surreptitiously works—both out in the world and especially within our own minds (which is the only place it can be confronted and potentially dissolved)—is its worst nightmare, for to see it takes away its raison d’etre, which is to perpetuate itself. Seeing wetiko simultaneously dispells its power over us while empowering ourselves. This is why healing the “cancer of mind blindness”—and seeing wetiko—is of such importance. Covid-19 could potentially be the lens that helps us bring into focus and see wetiko.

READ MORE

Paul Levy was last referenced on Sott in May 2014 and June 2016:

Behind the Headlines: The 'Wetiko Virus' and Collective Psychosis: Interview With Paul Levy​

Describing Wetiko: Colin Wilson's Sci-Fi Classic 'The Mind Parasites': Fiction or Reality?​

Perhaps he should be referenced again regarding Covid-19.

 

[Ellipse]

Now in Israel if a person comes back from abroad, an electronic bracelet will be imposed on him to find out his facts and gestures, so that he can carry out his quarantine at home.

Here is the Tweet from i24NEWS (French):

"first electronic bracelets distributed to Israelis returning from abroad":

https://twitter.com/x/status/1366425971323191298

 

[JEEP]

Here's hoping a trickle becomes a tsunami:

16 States are now following the (real) science: Governors scramble to end lockdowns, mask mandates​

Now that their constituents have had enough, politicians on the Right are fast departing from the COVID tyranny, and attempting to secure what is left of their political aspirations.

That does not include Ohio nor is it likely to anytime soon:

Ohio won't soon follow Texas, Mississippi in lifting mask mandate, COVID-19 business restrictions​

Ohio's Mike DeWine will not soon follow the lead of fellow Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi in repealing mask mandates and lifting COVID-19 restrictions to allow businesses to operate at full capacity.

While coronavirus infections in Ohio have dropped more than 80% from their December peaks and tens of thousands of more vaccine doses find their way into arms daily, DeWine has repeatedly called on Ohioans to stay the course.

Ongoing virus restrictions and precautions, such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing and seeking out vaccinations, remain vital in preventing another surge in the pandemic that has infected one in 12 Ohioans, DeWine says.

Citing increasing vaccine supplies and economic concerns, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday ignored federal government warnings and lifted their state mask mandates and removed restrictions on businesses.

DeWine will not follow suit, including removing all restrictions on businesses designed to curb spread of coronavirus, the governor's press secretary said.

"We intend on keeping the mask mandate," said spokesman Dan Tierney. "We're still relatively early in our vaccination process ... we've got a bit to go.

"The governor does not intend to lift that (mask mandate) because we still need to protect Ohioans who have not had the opportunity to get the vaccine yet," Tierney said.

Texas and Mississippi dropped their mask requirements with their number of virus tests returning positive at 11.8% and 9.9%, respectively, as compared to 4.3% in Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer of the Ohio Department of Health, stressed Monday that even Ohioans who have been vaccinated should continue to wear masks, and help sidestep variant infections, until the state approaches "herd immunity."

State health officials, meanwhile, reported 2,022 new virus infections on Wednesday, raising the pandemic total to 972,605. No new deaths were reported as the state changed how it reports morality statistics, with updates to come every few days.

Another 110 hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients were reported, dropping the total in the hospital to 1,081, a decline of 75% from two months ago.

The state reported another 32,867 vaccinations, raising the total to 1,758,579 or 15% of the population. A total of 962,230 people now have received second and final doses — 8.2% of the population.

Ohio finally has an end goal to lift COVID-19 restrictions. When and how can it happen?​

Ohio's coronavirus restrictions – including a statewide mask mandate – could be repealed once new cases drop below a certain rate, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday night.

DeWine said once new cases drop to 50 per 100,000 residents over two weeks, all health orders will be removed.

Despite Ohio being an overwhelmingly red state as per the 2020 election, Columbus and Franklin county is decidedly blue (I live in a suburb of Columbus and it used to be overwhelmingly red as well):



The blue listed cities in their respective counties are the six largest by population. The city of Athens is in the remaining blue county on the map (Athens), has a population of 24,984, and home of Ohio University.

• Columbus (913,921)
• Cleveland (376,599)
• Cincinnati (307,266)
• Toledo (268,609)
• Akron (197,023)
• Dayton (140,343)

March 11th will mark the official one year anniversary of the plandemic. I wonder what may be in store that day - and also keeping April Drop Dead date in mind as well.

 

[NewEngland Seeker]

Ohio finally has an end goal to lift COVID-19 restrictions. When and how can it happen?​

DeWine said once new cases drop to 50 per 100,000 residents over two weeks, all health orders will be removed.

Oh how convenient. Cases is the very tool that they use to keep the restrictions going on like the energizer bunny! Hay DeWine, we're onto you! Even if there are zero deaths from Covid your going to maintain restrictions because you get high on absolute power!

 

[Cosmos]

The Free West is dead, long live the Free East.

Lavrov: Russia Is Against Vaccine Passports For Traveling, It's Contrary to Voluntary Inoculation​

Yep, the russian government seem to resist and pointing out the obvious that is planned not only in the EU but worldwide with those new glories digital vaccine passports. Here is what Lavrov said:

The Russian top diplomat emphasized that the European Union’s move to introduce "vaccine passports" could lead to forced vaccination and would violate the principle that inoculation should be voluntary. "It seems that the initiative runs counter to the rules of democracy because EU countries decided that vaccination would be voluntary," Lavrov noted. "It means that people will be forced to get vaccinated in order to be able to travel, and people in the European Union can hardly imagine their life without traveling between countries," he added.

"We’ll see how it plays out. I hope that a decision will be made based on the positions of member states. The principle that vaccination should be voluntary is very important," the Russian foreign minister stressed.

 

[nature]

As I hope is becoming clear to some of you, Rappoport is one of those who claims that only terrain plays a role in disease. He rarely spits it out, but between the lines in his articles he is claiming that one cannot 'catch' something from without because - for him - external pathogens do not exist.

He doesn't say pathogens don't exist. Pathogens don't include only viruses, there are also some of bacterias, protozoas, fungus.
He neither doesn't say viruses don't exist. He speaks only about Ebola, HIV and SARS-cov21 here. He says theses viruses have never been isolated, neither been identified on electronic microscopes.
I remember Gallo and Montagnier confessed they didn't isolate the HIV, just saw bits of proteins and nucleotids. We now know these "viruses" are lab-created and injected to humans directly in their body (vaccines, transfusions, IV stuff, engineered IV antibodies...). They don't propagate through air (cf dedicated thread), but on body liquids and are stored in water (like in the syringue).

And yes, terrain makes the difference. On the thread germ-theory-vs-terrain-theory we shared knowledge on how important the terrain is. Otherwise, all the tips given in the thread "health-protocol-for-mandatory-coronavirus-vaccination" would be vain.

Jon Rappoport says the epidemics seen in some areas coincides with places where there are awful use of certain chemical toxins. That the symptomes (of chemical toxicity) are the same as the "Ebola" 's, and so it's easy to use this fact to deceive us by using virus as a scapegoat, that it's the perfect coverage.
Also, some chemical toxins are highly harmful to our DNA. It creates clusters of specific diseases in given areas. I think about these cases of malformed newborns in Irak due to dirty bombs. But also in France, in recent years, cluster of leukemia in infants in a precise area in West France, cluster of congenital upper limb malformation in a tiny (16 km long) area in East France. Many experts concluded to chemical poisoning but as always that have been denied.

 

[SOTTREADER]

Hey guys, they are no longer calling them vaccine passports... They are now calling them certificates.

The EU is looking to introduce a framework on 17 March for it to be implemented by the summer... apparently! They are bypassing all democratic avenues... Decisions are being made on behalf of all EU citizens by bureaucrats to be imposed on all member states.

Un certificat européen pour voyager: Didier Reynders donne des précisions

On ne parle plus d’un passeport mais bien d’un certificat. Il doit permettre aux Européens de circuler librement lors de la pandémie.

www.lesoir.be

Use translate.

 

[nature]

Hey guys, they are no longer calling them vaccine passports... They are now calling them certificates.

Good trick! They have accostumed people since one year now, to have a certificate on themselves every time they go out; certificate signed by yourself saying you go out for necessary shopping, for dog's walk out), certificate signed by your employer saying you go to work. So certificate for beeing able to travel will be less difficult to be accepted...

 

[lilies]

I spotted this article today - Covid vaccine-induced swelling can lead to false cancer diagnosis, doctors warn:

However, lymph nodes, especially in the armpit, can swell up following Covid-19 vaccinations.

compared to this Mayoclinic Plague overview:

Known as the Black Death during medieval times, today plague occurs in fewer than 5,000 people a year worldwide. It can be deadly if not treated promptly with antibiotics. The most common form of plague results in swollen and tender lymph nodes — called buboes — in the groin, armpits or neck.

As discussed before:

Q: (Joe) So is that the best bet then for a real plague? A real pandemic might come from the vaccine for Covid...
(L) A real, horrible pandemic might come from this vaccine interacting with the DNA of specific individuals. There may be a small percentage of them, but all it takes is one.

(Gaby) Or could it be more like... Ya know, it's the spike protein that is produced that is like HIV and also endogenous retroviruses that are already resident in our DNA that could be activated and behave like a Black Death. Or could it be something more like we'll be seeing a lot more cancer, for example?

A: Think something more like Black Death.

 

[herondancer]

I spotted this article today - Covid vaccine-induced swelling can lead to false cancer diagnosis, doctors warn:

compared to this Mayoclinic Plague overview:

As discussed before:

Oh dear Lord.

I remember reading a story about some western docs going to Africa as volunteers The local medical teams were astonished because they didn't recognize symptoms of tuberculosis, dengue, etc. without elaborate lab tests. They had no experience with the daily reality of diseases endemic to poor countries.

Our cosseted medical folk have never seen real plague. It will take way too long for them to catch on.

 

[XPan]

The Thousand People March • Stockholm
in swedish "Tusenmannamarschen" 6 March 2021

So, today was a big Demonstration in the city of Stockholm, called the Thousand People March. I personally did not attend, but my husband and dog Tequila did. I followed later one of the alternative media's Telegram channel which reported from the scene. The Medborgarplatsen (Plaza of the People) was surrounded by police and vans, which they had partially closed it in. Arrests were made. They started gentle, but increased in aggressiveness (but nothing compared to the US, i may add). Fines of 200 €, based on the fraudulent "Swedish pandemic law" in it's latest iteration.

German Dr Heiko Schöning was on the stage, and World Freedom Alliance Maneka JC Helleberg. From the videos and images to judge, and Sal told me too, that approx. 1500-2500 people came this time (which is a lot more than last time, when 250-300 came during the words World Doctor/Freedom Alliance meeting on 31 Oct 2020, I attended to).


More people, lots more spirit

This time, it was far more lively in terms of spirit (Which I think is wonderful !!) - as well never violent. Swedes are not exactly a high spirited bunch, and it takes a long time to get them going.

Although the police tried to prevent the march, the crowd did "escape" through two passages - and they wandered off, collectively though the southern City, then Old Town in order to reach Kungsträgården (Kings Garden). Half way - the Police did disable the bridge to the Old Town of Stockholm, and it got a bit heated with some people gotten harshly beaten (?) by the police (the alternative media mentioned/claimed that pepper spray was used). Later however, the police opened the bridge again.

Here some photos and a few panoramas I stitched together from the videos presented by the reporter via their Telegram Channel.



Medborgarplatsen (People's Square) in Stockholm South City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"





Medborgarplatsen (People's Square) in Stockholm South City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"



Medborgarplatsen (People's Square) in Stockholm South City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"



Götgatan Street in Stockholm South City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"



Slussen/Gamla Stan • Stockholm City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"



Slussen • Stockholm City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"



Slussen/Gamla Stan - Police fence • Stockholm City - image by alternative media "Nya Dagbladet"

 

[Jones]

At the beginning of lockdowns last year, moratoriums were put in place on mortgage and rent payments. The Victorian government is about to lift the moratorium on rent payment at the same time as the Job Keeper supplement for employers comes to an end.

‘Dire’ outcome for thousands of renters as end of eviction moratorium looms​

Tenant advocacy groups and welfare organisations are concerned for thousands of Victorian renters as the state government’s ban on evictions and rental increases, introduced at the beginning of the pandemic, is set to expire at the end of the month.

The end of the key protections for Victorian renters, introduced to prevent them from being evicted for the non-payment of rent due to rising unemployment and reduced incomes amid the coronavirus pandemic, coincides with the scheduled finish of JobKeeper payments, also set for March 28.

Tenants Victoria CEO Jennifer Beveridge said despite many Victorians still feeling the financial impacts of COVID-19, “the cliff edge is looming for many renters”.

“As the peak body for renters, Tenants Victoria is worried about the prospect of a wave of evictions when the state eviction moratorium and federal JobKeeper payments end at the end of March,” she said.

“We are bracing for a surge in ‘notices to vacate’ being given to renters on March 29. Based on our experience working with renters, we expect these numbers to be significant.”

The deadline comes as new figures from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and Homes Victoria reveal 4500 Victorians experiencing rental distress sought rental relief in the form of grants or rent reductions in January.

In March last year, the Victorian Government established a rental assistance fund to provide rent relief payments of up to $2000 – which were later increased to up to $3000 – for Victorians experiencing rental hardship due to the pandemic.

More than 23,000 Victorians have benefitted from the program, with $74.5 million in grants helping tenants maintain stable accommodation.

In January 2190 Victorians applied for the grant, which is paid directly to landlords on the tenant’s behalf. In the same month, 2455 rent reduction agreements were registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria.

A spokeswoman for CAV said more than 70,000 rent reduction agreements had been registered with the organisation as at February 24.

“Consumer Affairs Victoria is continuing to assist tenants and landlords wherever possible during this extremely challenging time,” she said.

“We encourage tenants and landlords to work together to come to an agreement on any issue they may have. If parties are not able to reach an agreement, they should contact Consumer Affairs Victoria for assistance.”

Originally due to last six months, the key protections for vulnerable tenants have twice been extended, first until the end of December 2020, then again until March 28.

Tenant advocates are now calling for further protections to prevent a spike in evictions and homelessness when the current extension ends.

“Many renters in our state are still facing a challenging COVID situation and this was starkly demonstrated by the recent snap lockdown which, once again, highlighted the precarious circumstances many people find themselves in as they face loss of income,” Ms Beveridge said.

She said people working in retail, hospitality and the fitness and entertainment sectors were particularly vulnerable.

“The arrangements to transition from COVID laws to a new Residential Tenancies Act – which will happen on March 29 – do not currently support people who continue to be impacted financially by COVID,” Ms Beveridge said.

“Urgent action is needed to keep people in their homes, and this includes a mechanism for VCAT to make decisions on ongoing COVID-related tenancy matters and consideration of extended financial supports for renters who are hurting from COVID-related loss of income. “

Better Renting executive director Joel Dignam said cuts to the current JobSeeker payment of $50 a week, which come into effect on April 1, just days after the rental protections end, will be “dire” for many Victorian renters.

“We are extremely concerned for Victorian renters with the eviction moratorium ending and rental increases looming for many people at the same time that we are seeing some pretty awful cuts to income support. It is going to be pretty dire for a lot of people,” he said.

“The feedback we’re hearing from a lot of renters at the moment is that they are stressed and anxious about being able to afford their rent if it goes up at the end of the month or if they are forced to leave their home — will they be able to afford a new place to live in.

“We aren’t through this crisis yet and people are still very concerned about their ability to pay their rent.”

Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) Victoria organiser Jesse James Frances said she was also concerned for the thousands of Victorians experiencing rental debt.

“The most conservative estimate says that 84,000 Victorians are in rental debt after 2020,” she said. “[There are] 84,000 people [who] potentially face eviction on March 29, at the same time as Jobseeker is pushed back below the poverty line.

“Community legal centres, peak bodies and unions have all called for rental debt to be cancelled to avoid a wave of evictions in April, but we’ve heard nothing on rental debt from the government.

“Nobody should be made homeless because of the pandemic … We urge the state government to protect us from evictions and crushing rental debt, and immediately house all Victorians, while we work together towards building an equitable and stable housing system.”

Landlords who have debt on their investment rental properties are probably going to be in the situation where banks will start calling in the repayments or foreclose on the mortgages. Either way it looks like there's plenty of potential for homelessness to increase in Victoria unless some action is taken. Things are set to get much rougher down there.

 

[Chad]

I searched the thread and it appears this video hasn't been posted yet. My apologies if it has.

Writer Gilad Atzmon shared an Israel government propaganda video, posted on another account on 25th February, with Benjamin Netanyahu encouraging Israeli's to get their coronavirus vaccination during the Jewish holiday of Purim; which this year apparently fell on 25th-27th February.

In the video Netanyahu seems to be offering the vaccines in much the same way adults offer candy to kids on Halloween. And from what i've seen of Purim on documentaries, the holiday appears to be celebrated in much the same way; partying, costumes, and what not.

Added #1: In the video he's basically trying to convince these different characters (clown, dog, nutty professor) who are reluctant to take the vaccine, to take the vaccine.

#2 Article about the video here: ‘The Last Purim With Corona:’ Netanyahu Urges Jabs in Holiday Skit
LA Times reports on the video here too.

0
February 26, 2021 5:02 pm

‘The Last Purim With Corona:’ Netanyahu Urges Jabs in Holiday Skit​

by Algemeiner Staff​

A Purim-themed public service announcement on the COVID-19 vaccine from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Screenshot

A Purim holiday-themed video from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after allaying the concerns about the shot from a series of costumed characters.

“We have mishloach manot (Purim treats), first dose, second dose — roll-up your sleeves, everyone gets vaccinated,” says Netanyahu through a megaphone, while manning a vaccine station in a basketball gym.

An actor cycling through a series of costumes lobs common worries about the vaccine at the prime minister. “I’ve heard it changes your DNA; I might grow a tail,” he says, while dressed as a dog.

“Why vaccinate everyone? What’s your interest? You want to implant a microchip?” he asks as a tech-themed superhero covered in keyboards.

​

Most important are the reports that the vaccination campaign appears to have caused a spike in death by up to 40%, see this article: Pfizer vaccine in Israel: Mortality rate 'hundreds of times greater in vaccinated young people' -- Sott.net

But what also caught my eye was the last part of the short promo video - screenshot posted below. I gather the CGI dragon is supposed to be a joke, it's someone in a Halloween style costume, but in other ways, the image seems rather odd, and yet appropriate...

Screenshot:



Full video:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1367215117318959107

Snippet about Purim from wiki:

Purim:

Purim (/ˈpʊərɪm/; Hebrew: פּוּרִים (help·info); Pûrîm, "lots", from the word פור, "pur", translated as 'lot' in the Book of Esther, perhaps related to Akkadian pūru, "stone, urn";[2] also called the Festival of Lots) is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an Achaemenid Persian Empire official who was planning to kill all the Jews, as recounted in the Book of Esther (מגילת אסתר, "Megillat Ester" in Hebrew; usually dated to the 5th century BCE). Other customs include wearing masks and costumes, public celebrations and parades (Adloyada), and eating hamantaschen ("Haman's pocket"); men are encouraged to drink wine or any other alcoholic beverage.[10]