[Peace] Some news and opinions
J.B. Nicholson
jbn at forestfield.org
Mon May 25 01:17:11 UTC 2020
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
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