Even the WHO (World Health Organization), who demonstrated its utter incompetence various times since the start of the pandemic — for instance denying that aerosol transmission is the main way of COVID-19 infection — had to admit:
Vaccines reduce COVID-19 transmission by a mere 40 percent.
"We're concerned about the false sense of security that vaccines have ended the pandemic and people who are vaccinated do not need to take any other precautions," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
"Data suggests that before the arrival of the Delta variant, vaccines reduced transmission by about 60 percent. With Delta, that has dropped to about 40 percent."
"If you are vaccinated, you have a much lower risk of severe disease and death but you are still at risk of being infected and infecting others.”
”We cannot say this clearly enough: even if you are vaccinated, continue to take precautions to prevent becoming infected yourself, and infecting someone else who could die."
“That means wearing a face mask, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds, and meeting others outside or only in a well-ventilated indoor space.”
COVID deniers, some anti-vaxxers, and most conspiracy theorists will reject this statement, while most politicians will ignore it, avoid discussing it, try to bury it among other news. The politicians (at least the brighter ones) know that this is explosive, that this invalidates their declared goal of a transition to an endemic state, that the hope of vaccinations as a panacea goes up in smoke, and that a return to the old normal is impossible.
Politicians (at least the brighter ones) know, that travel must be reduced or superseded by digital communication; that tourism industry, airlines, and cruise lines will have to close shop; that global supply chains need to be shortened or replaced by local production; that parades, rallies, sport events, concerts, and other crowded spectacles must be banned.
These are unpopular measures, and people will claim vehemently their god-given right to get infected, suffer from long COVID for the rest of their lives, and infect others. If authorities really would go this route, there would be protests, revolts, looting, arson, lynchings, chaos and anarchy.
No politician could survive the backlash to such harsh measures, and in addition to that realization and just for good measure industry bosses will disburse lavish bribes in order to stop such plans once and for all.
These measure would also violate the religious postulates of permanent GDP growth, happiness through consumerism, ferocious free market competition (dog-eat-dog), and untouchable property rights.
So, most probably just like in a Greek tragedy the story will head to a dark and painful end with confusion and disorder, with millions more dying or being incapacitated, with collapsing societies and failed states.
In the epic war between humanity and nature humans have won many victories, destroying vital habitats, poisoning air, water, and soil, and causing a mass extinction of wildlife. They were jubilant, as the final victory, the irreversible destruction of the natural word, seemed to be near.
And yet, there are writings on the wall, and the pandemic is one of these writings, that humans were too confident, that their triumphalism and jubilation was unjustified. Just like in a Greek tragedy, just like in the Peloponnesian War, narrated by Thucydides, where Athens after many victories finally lost to Sparta, the story could end with a surprising twist and a bitter defeat.
Maybe this time nature will win.
Fewer than 6 percent of people in Africa are vaccinated, and yet, the WHO has described Africa regularly as “one of the least affected regions in the world” in its weekly pandemic reports.
Some researchers say the continent’s younger population -- the average age is 20 versus about 43 in Western Europe — in addition to their lower rates of urbanization and a tendency to spend time outdoors, may have spared it the devastating coronavirus waves Europe experiences at the moment. Several studies are probing whether there might be other explanations, including genetic reasons or past infection with parasitic diseases.
Japan reported no daily deaths from COVID-19 for the first time in 15 months, as infections decline rapidly in the country. When cases started falling in September, experts attributed the decline to vaccination progress as well as widespread mask wearing and reduced nightlife activities.
It may have been, that people changed their behavior and took a stricter approach to anti-infection measures when they saw how hospitals were overwhelmed and heard reports of infected people dying at home.
Despite a low double vaccination rate, COVID cases in India are decreasing. Even the festive season (Diwali) did not lead to any surges and the prediction of a third wave during October–November was not right.
Asia-Pacific countries are sticking to tight border controls, dampening prospects for a revival of the region’s pandemic-battered travel industry. Australia, where about 70 percent of the population is double-vaccinated, has indicated that international tourists won’t return until sometime next year.
Malaysia, where 77 percent of residents are double-jabbed, remains largely closed to international arrivals, with plans to begin accepting international tourists by January.
While China and Hong Kong become more isolated under a strict “zero COVID” policy that mandates up to four weeks of hotel quarantine, countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia try pandemic mitigation efforts under which non-essential travel remains tightly restricted.
A few Southeast Asian nations discuss VTL (vaccinated travel lane, also called safe travel bubble) agreements. Singapores unilateral VTL with Indonesia and a Singapore-Malaysia land VTL, using designated bus services and trains, will take effect on Nov 29. A VTL between Singapore and India is expected to be launched at the same date.
Fully vaccinated visitors will be able to enter New Zealand from 30 April, but will have to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival as well as undergo tests on entry and departure. Vaccinated New Zealanders will be allowed to travel home from January 16, under similar rules.
French pharmaceutical company Valneva has developed a vaccine with a difference. Rather than induce an immune response that targets just the spike protein of the coronavirus, the Valneva vaccine, also known as VLA2001, stimulates an immune response to the entire virus by taking the whole of the coronavirus and inactivating it so that it can no longer cause illness. It then combines with an adjuvant, a substance that helps it enter human cells effectively.
The advantage of this method is that should any mutations on the spike protein arise that render it unrecognizable to other vaccines, the Valenva-induced immune response is broad enough to be able to recognize other parts of the virus so the immune reaction will still be effective.
The new Novavax vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine, containing the spike proteins that cover the virus’s surface and which the immune system can easily recognize. The spike proteins are grown within moth cells, then purified and added to an adjuvant, made from a soapbark tree extract, which enhances the immune response. Vaccines against papillomavirus and hepatitis B, regarded as safe and effective, use similar methods. A trial investigating the use of Novavax as a booster suggests it is highly effective at generating antibodies, including against delta.
The UK’s MHRA approved the use of the antiviral oral drug, molnupiravir. It said it was safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death by around 50 percent in those with mild to moderate COVID-19, who may have one or more risk factors (obesity, older age, diabetes mellitus, heart disease) for developing severe disease. The drug works by reducing viral replication and onward transmission. It is most effective when taken during the early stages of infection. The MHRA recommends its use as soon as possible following a positive COVID-19 test and within five days of the onset of symptoms. The USA will buy 3.1 million courses of molnupiravir.
Pfizer’s antiviral drug paxlovid reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by 89 percent, according to trial data. Pfizer seeks emergency authorization and the US administration intends to purchase 10 million courses of paxlovid for 5.3 billion US$. Officials see the Pfizer and Merck pills as potential game-changers to help tame the pandemic by reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
China is on track to approve its first drug for Covid-19 within weeks. Conditional approval may be given to a neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatment co-developed by Chinese and US researchers. An efficient treatment for the disease is crucial for the country with a zero-tolerance strategy before it can consider reopening its borders, even as vaccination remains a priority.
AstraZeneca claims that its preventative antibody cocktail offers 83 percent protection against symptomatic Covid-19 for at least six months. The drug is created using a combination of two antibodies originating from immune B-cells donated by recovering Covid-19 patients. The treatment could be used in people who are known not to respond well to vaccines, such as cancer patients. Around 2 percent of people are considered to be at risk of not creating enough antibodies following the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The US-based NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) has found giving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as a nasal spray reduced viral shedding in animal trials. Nasal vaccines have several advantages, among them the option of self administration and an immediate activation of the immune system. Many bacteria that affect the respiratory system are breathed in, so the lining of the nasal passage and the airways are packed with immune cells to protect us from invading germs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he has been given a new COVID-19 nasal vaccine, administered through the nose without a needle, as part of his re-immunization. “They asked me to breathe in deeply and count to three,” Putin said, adding that he didn’t feel anything during the process. “Six months after my vaccination, my antibody levels dropped and experts recommended a revaccination process.”
The GSK-Vir Biotechnology's COVID-19 antibody treatment xevudy received US approval for emergency use in mild or moderate coronavirus cases. The EMA (European Medicines Agency) hopes to reach a verdict in two month time.
Feline news:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-deaths-snow-leopards-nebraska-zoo/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/14/three-snow-leopards-die-covid-19-childrens-zoo-nebraska
http://hatchingcatnyc.com/2021/11/18/joe-fife-cat-joined-uss-president-lincoln/
Environmental news:
https://dgrnewsservice.org/civilization/electric-vehicles-back-to-the-future-part-2-2/
https://dgrnewsservice.org/civilization/ecocide/habitat-loss/electric-vehicles-back-to-the-future-part-1-2/
https://mronline.org/2021/11/15/cop26-was-a-failure-but-the-peoples-alternative-can-still-be-a-success/
https://mronline.org/2021/11/16/as-we-run-out-of-time-to-save-the-planet-cop26-ends-in-utter-betrayal/
https://www.globalresearch.ca/road-zero-emissions-strewn-alternative-facts/5761583
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brain-fog-short-term-exposure-to-pollution-impacts-memory-research-finds-20211115-p5994n.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/12/concern-grows-over-atlantic-ocean-conveyor-belt-shutdown
https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-science-business-environment-and-nature-cc0deca6a28aab21cd4e0aa35ea7b6af
US auctions vast oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico estimated to hold up to 1.1 billion barrels of crude.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/11/17/whats-driving-global-deforestation-organized-crime-beef-soy-palm-oil-and-wood-products/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59341770
Brazilian Amazon sees worst deforestation levels in 15 years.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/feeding-the-world-in-times-of-climate-change-we-can-learn-a-lot-from-indigenous-peoples-a-19526257-5cf9-45bd-b242-9ef97dfb64aa
https://www.juancole.com/2021/11/emergency-thousands-riverbed.html
Drought in Iran.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/we-will-all-die-in-kenya-prolonged-drought-takes-heavy-toll
Economic news:
A New York Times headline: Uneasy about the economy, Americans are spending anyway. Retail sales jumped 1.7 percent in October, the third monthly increase, a rise that highlighted the resilience of the US economy.
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/us-supply-chain-coordination-problem-by-james-k-galbraith-2021-11
https://www.indianpunchline.com/cop26-wall-street-rolls-out-climate-finance/
Wall Street moves in, as the “green transition” promises to be an investors dream.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/proximity-principle-uniting-local-farmers-local-buyers-imperative-our-time/5762372
Pandemic news:
Leading epidemiologist Neil Ferguson said, that the UK has almost reached a state of herd immunity as it settles into a new normal of about 40,000 cases a day.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/11/12/cop-dead-long-live-movement
https://www.dw.com/en/covid-pets-find-themselves-on-tinder-and-in-shelters/a-59806075
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/11/15/why-are-modernas-billionaires-airbrushing-scientists-out-of-the-vaccine-patent-picture/
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/16/couk-n16.html
Operation Rampdown will end all pandemic mitigation efforts.
https://theconversation.com/how-peru-became-the-country-with-the-highest-covid-death-rate-in-the-world-169779
The negative influence of the private sector makes the country’s health system inefficient.
https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-covid-what-happens-when-children-dont-go-to-school-171606
The article depicts the loss of GDP growth caused by school closures as something negative, implying that economic growth is the main purpose of education. What about making social cohesion, content, and creative social reforming to achieve individual wellbeing with less industrial activity the ultimate goal of education?
https://elifesciences.org/articles/71131
Efficacy of FFP3 respirators.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/syria-explores-vaccine-cooperation-cuba
https://theconversation.com/long-covid-my-work-with-sufferers-reveals-that-western-medicine-has-reached-a-crisis-point-167417
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/wearing-masks-single-most-effective-way-to-tackle-covid-study-finds
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2021/11/new-radically-different-covid-variant-getting-footholds-now-as-media-and-officials-remain-complacent.html
https://fair.org/home/us-uk-press-mock-new-zealands-incredibly-successful-covid-response/
Countries ho try to stop infections and eradicate COVID-19 are ridiculed by the ones who failed or didn’t even try because profits were more important than human health and wellbeing.
https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-pandemics-united-nations-fcf28a83c9352a67e50aa2172eb01a2f
https://www.thecardiologyadvisor.com/home/topics/acs/acute-coronary-syndrome-acs-biomarkers-mrna-covid19-vaccine/
mRNA vaccines dramatically increase inflammation on the endothelium and T cell infiltration of cardiac muscle and may account for the observations of increased thrombosis, cardiomyopathy, and other vascular events following vaccination.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00593-7
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-covid-airborne-team-delta-virus.html
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/europe-rethinks-booster-shot-policy-covid-19-cases-hit-records-2336051
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/covid-19-germany-death-toll-passes-100000-2337796
Media, technology, and propaganda news:
https://mindmatters.ai/2021/10/are-we-really-luddites-just-for-logging-off/
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/540780-guardian-funding-billionaires
Why the motives and views of the article author are dubious, the presented facts are clear: The Guardian, like any other mainstream media outlet, depends on big money.
Imperial news:
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1055796115/warehouses-are-overwhelmed-by-americas-shopping-spree
Online spending grew over 40 percent in 2020 and has continued growing exponentially this year.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/11/17/why-its-so-hard-to-tax-billionaires/
https://www.rt.com/business/540747-us-boosts-exports-russia-diesel
The “gas station masquerading as a country” comes to the rescue. Concerning environmental issues, Russia and the USA are partners in crime.
https://www.rt.com/business/540863-japan-us-oil-reserves/
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/20/pers-n20.html
The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse is a judicial travesty.
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/11/24/former-naval-air-station-brunswick-has-contaminated-the-mussels-in-maine/
Imperial conquest news:
https://tomdispatch.com/the-costs-of-war-to-you/
https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-middle-east-asia-china-africa-6e0d380124c7ab2c9bec33530de4ca29
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59321755
DR Congo corruption. Millions transferred to Joseph Kabila allies.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/us-envoy-asks-israel-intervene-sudan-says-local-press
https://www.blackagendareport.com/dirty-occupation-uns-criminal-enterprise-and-ecological-catastrophe-haiti
https://www.salon.com/2021/11/17/cubans-definitely-want-change--but-not-necessarily-regime-change/
The planned protests on November 15 fizzled out, and Western media have a hard time to explain why.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20211117/call-protests-cuba-goes-unheeded
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/11/17/the-world-stands-with-cuba/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/missing-cuban-protest-leader-yunior-garcia-lands-madrid-rcna5871
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/11/22/protest-in-cuba-why-it-failed/
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Chavismo-Swept-The-Polls-International-Opinions-20211122-0007.html
https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/arc-of-encirclement-appearing-around-russia
https://www.rt.com/russia/540853-red-lines-nato-war/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/turkeys-war-attrition-against-syrias-kurds
Ottoman empire.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/11/famed-syrian-singer-omar-souleyman-arrested-turkey
https://thecradle.co/Article/analysis/3514
If Houthis capture Marib, they will control all of Yemen.
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/11/22/prestigious-weaponry-expert-censored-after-demonstrating-that-a-deadly-poison-gas-attack-blamed-on-the-syrian-government-was-really-a-false-flag-operation-by-u-s-funded-terrorists/
China news:
Retail sales and industrial production rose by 4.9 percent and 3.5 percent respectively, in October from a year earlier. Fixed-asset investment grew by 6.1 percent in the January-October period, while the surveyed jobless rate remained at 4.9 per cent last month.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/11/15/1039650/china-tech-workers-996-fight-back/
https://theconversation.com/chinas-retail-revolution-innovations-which-could-change-the-way-the-world-shops-169480
Hyper-consumerism becomes cyber-consumerism.
https://socialistchina.org/2021/11/18/chinas-sponge-cities-are-a-revolutionary-rethink-to-prevent-flooding/
The very concept of urban living is unecological and unsustainable. Mitigation efforts will not save the cities from disaster as the various ecological crises intensify.
https://asiatimes.com/2021/11/what-to-expect-from-us-china-nuke-talks/
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/11/23/what-china-learned-from-u-s-capitalisms-development/
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/china-birth-rate-record-low-population-marriage-divorce-2334976
https://apnews.com/article/sports-china-media-crime-social-media-75efe52e2caae9d5bee9c73e7e16b073
Gender discrimination in China is ubiquitous and has a long history. The inhumane practice of foot binding for instance was such an established part of Chinese culture that even well-meaning leaders like Emperor K'ang Hsi were unable to end it. The practice was only outlawed in 1912.
Uncategorized news:
https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-somalia-middle-east-turkey-europe-48431fc521e8de559347dc3e3ac6fdb9
Greece criminalizes migration.
https://theconversation.com/deaths-from-landmines-are-on-the-rise-and-clearing-them-all-will-take-decades-171848
https://dezayasalfred.wordpress.com/2021/11/17/asia-times-migration-and-geopolitics-the-belarus-poland-border-crisis/
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2021/11/the-war-nerd-the-tigray-ethiopia-war.html
The horrors of war and the bone-chilling insane logic behind it.
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2021/11/23/erm-i-know-youre-busy-but-nuclear-war-is-getting-increasingly-likely/
New pictures from cat land:
My severely sick cat companions Princess Min Ki and Wendy are still alive and doing surprisingly well. Maybe they will even see another spring.
