[Peace-discuss] Some news and opinions

[J.B. Nicholson]

COVID-19: We know less about the virus than we need to know to justify lifting lockdown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqOAhxfokao -- (2m 43s) "Recovery isn't immunity -- 
You might get COVID-19 a second time (study)". Results are not known now, but the 
best available evidence says that those who were once infected could be re-infected 
(which means more suffering). It's not clear if this is due to bad testing, a 
mutating virus, or something else that causes apparently inadequate antibodies to 
develop.

Meanwhile, in New York (frequently called "the epicenter" of COVID-19 infections):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxpOgQjEGxQ -- (6m) establishment media trots out the 
reliable obeisant comics (Stephen Colbert, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jimmy Fallon are 
shown) to help manufacture an unearned celebratory narrative for Gov. Cuomo in what 
these celebrities are (supposedly spontaneously) calling 'going "Cuomosexual"' 
despite his record to date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjS-43QhSNs (2m 43s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9hDzWymbMQ -- (2m 38s) in New York City it looks 
like NYPD is also opportunistically using a lack of 'social distancing' to arrest and 
beat disproportionately minorities -- "Minorities make up 90% of NYC COVID-19 
violations".

And loosening restrictions on crowds is proceeding nonetheless:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eN0YrgICi8 -- (1m 38s) Daytona Beach, Florida
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3AYP3lqj2s -- (2m 22s) Israel


Strikes abound!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW3RHrQ-pXI -- (8m 22s) Workers are organizing their 
own strikes and there's apparently a media blackout on coverage. You're far more 
likely to hear of an anti-lockdown protest than strike actions across the country. Is 
this because of who stands to benefit from re-opening businesses?



International news:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIatjya5tH8 -- US will place Cuba back on the 
so-called "terrorist" list. Sadly, this is only one segment of an otherwise not very 
recommendable episode and this program doesn't split out their topics into separate 
videos, so it is difficult to recommend only the discussion around Cuba for 
discussion or review. I don't even agree with the entire Cuba segment -- I don't 
think this is Trump's desire to somehow undo everything Obama did. Trump increases 
belligerency in Obama's wars, for example. But I think it's good to know that there 
is movement to return Cuba to increased US-backed restrictions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO1ZHk2jHYU -- Trump administration labels weapons 
manufacturers "essential workers" so they can get back to work manufacturing and 
selling weapons to other countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6BtqpXnYeU -- (8m 53s) Relatedly, there's a weapons 
sales boom despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XuUUte0Oms -- (3m 33s) US opposes Hong Kong laws, 
China increases their military spending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkMiTWXzZ6Y -- (10m 03s) US denies latest failed 
Venezuelan coup attempt (even though best available evidence clearly shows US backing 
including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPAoVlszisc which suggests self-declared 
Venezuelan "president" Juan Guaido met mercenary firm chief in the White House) and 
points the finger of blame at Russia -- Russiagate lives!



Recommended videos for AWARE on the Air & News from Neptune timeslots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnoFP4t61h4 -- (27m 55s) "On Contact" with Chris 
Hedges -- Ecosocialism interview with Victor Wallis. This includes good discussion on 
class consciousness and how identity politics doesn't address class and doesn't 
address what Wallis called "the basic outlook" of decision-making (neocon, neolib 
decision-making continues under selected women just as it did under selected men). 
This is very much against feminism too which is now defined as seeing a woman CEO of 
a powerful company (I'm reminded that most American weapons manufacturers are now led 
by women).
https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/489504-ecosocialism-victor-wallis-activist/ -- 
transcript should show up here soon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIp0jqeylpk -- (24m 48s) "On Contact" with Chris 
Hedges -- the lessons of the Paris Uprising of May 1968 with Mitch Abidor
https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/488804-student-uprising-paris-may-1968/ -- transcript

-J