vigilantcitizen--2020-04-14--Microsoft Releases (and Deletes) an Ad With Elite Occultist Marina Abramovic

To promote its mixed reality device Hololens 2 , Microsoft teamed up with prominent occultist Marina Abramovic to create an art project named The Life .
In a promotional video posted on Microsoft ’ s official YouTube account , Abramovic is described as the “ most legendary performance artist working now ” .
The art project consists of people wearing the Holohens device to witness a ghostly version of Abramovic appearing out of nowhere while walking around while wearing a symbolic red dress .
In the video , which was released on Good Friday , Marina says that the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immortality .
“ The Life is dealing with what is going to stay after I ’ m not there anymore , and I can face myself , and this frightening experience .
Really like you ’ re facing your own ghost , but it is always this greater idea of immortality .
Once you die the work could never die because the work of art can continue .
In performance , the piece is only in the memory of the audience and nowhere else .
Here I am kept forever.
” The video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a flood of negative comments and about 90 % thumbs down , Microsoft set the video to “ private ” .
Since nothing can be truly deleted from the internet , the video was re-uploaded by other sources .
Microsoft also removed all traces of the campaign from its official website – although it still appears in Google search results .
The fact that powerful entities such as Microsoft keep showering Abramovic with infinite praise is quite telling .
Because it doesn ’ t take much in-depth research to understand what she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marina Abramovic as a performance artist who is known for “ confronting pain , blood , and physical limits of the body ” .
More importantly , there ’ s a powerful element the permeates all of her works : Occult ritual .
For decades , Abramovic has been associating with the world ’ s most prominent artists , celebrities and politicians in events that are permeated with elements of black magic .
In recent years , she became mostly known for inviting John Podesta to one of her “ Spirit Cooking ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other bodily fluids .
Here ’ s a video dating from 1997 where she prepared such an event .
Abramovic is also known for organizing massive gathering with celebrities partaking in mock cannibalism .
To sum everything up , Abramovic ’ s Twitter handle used to be AbramovicM666 .
There is symbolism in releasing a video on Good Friday where an occultist talks about achieving immortality .
There is also symbolism in the fact that the founder of this company is out there using a pandemic to push a global vaccine that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t take a fertile imagination to connect some dots and to understand the underlying philosophy going on here .
If you don ’ t see it , well , you ’ re kind of like that poor boy with his eyes covered by Abramovic … blinded by the occult elite .
P.S .
The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues , making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat .
If you appreciated this article , please consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donation on Patreon .
If you prefer , you can also make a one-time donation here .
Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis .
Thank you !

To promote its mixed reality device Hololens 2, Microsoft teamed up with prominent occultist Marina Abramovic to create an art project named The Life. In a promotional video posted on Microsoft’s official YouTube account, Abramovic is described as the “most legendary performance artist working now”.
The art project consists of people wearing the Holohens device to witness a ghostly version of Abramovic appearing out of nowhere while walking around while wearing a symbolic red dress.
In the video, which was released on Good Friday, Marina says that the project allows her to attain a form of immortality.
“The Life is dealing with what is going to stay after I’m not there anymore, and I can face myself, and this frightening experience. Really like you’re facing your own ghost, but it is always this greater idea of immortality. Once you die the work could never die because the work of art can continue. In performance, the piece is only in the memory of the audience and nowhere else. Here I am kept forever.”
The video was not well received at all. After a flood of negative comments and about 90% thumbs down, Microsoft set the video to “private”. Since nothing can be truly deleted from the internet, the video was re-uploaded by other sources.
Microsoft also removed all traces of the campaign from its official website – although it still appears in Google search results.
The fact that powerful entities such as Microsoft keep showering Abramovic with infinite praise is quite telling. Because it doesn’t take much in-depth research to understand what she is truly about.
Marina Abramovic
Mainstream sources describe Marina Abramovic as a performance artist who is known for “confronting pain, blood, and physical limits of the body”. More importantly, there’s a powerful element the permeates all of her works: Occult ritual.
For decades, Abramovic has been associating with the world’s most prominent artists, celebrities and politicians in events that are permeated with elements of black magic. In recent years, she became mostly known for inviting John Podesta to one of her “Spirit Cooking” events which involve lots of blood and other bodily fluids. Here’s a video dating from 1997 where she prepared such an event.
Abramovic is also known for organizing massive gathering with celebrities partaking in mock cannibalism.
To sum everything up, Abramovic’s Twitter handle used to be AbramovicM666.
In Conclusion
There is symbolism in releasing a video on Good Friday where an occultist talks about achieving immortality. There is also symbolism in the fact that the founder of this company is out there using a pandemic to push a global vaccine that is combined with a microchip device. It doesn’t take a fertile imagination to connect some dots and to understand the underlying philosophy going on here.
If you don’t see it, well, you’re kind of like that poor boy with his eyes covered by Abramovic … blinded by the occult elite.
P.S. The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues, making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here. Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis. Thank you!


vigilantcitizen--2020-04-10--“Order Out of Chaos”: How the Elite’s Plans Were Foretold in Popular Culture

Since late 2008 , The Vigilant Citizen has been analyzing popular culture to highlight patterns of messages and symbolism .
And , since the very first articles published on this site , one major theme keeps resurfacing all across popular culture : The “ welcoming ” of a global crisis that causes massive chaos and death which allows the ushering in of a new era .
In other words : Order Out of Chaos .
This theme can be found all over popular culture , especially in products funded and commissioned by the occult elite .
Why is that ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official motto of the occult elite is Ordo Ab Chao , Latin for Order Out of Chaos .
As in everything else in Freemasonry , the motto Order Out of Chaos has several meanings , ranging from nebulous metaphysical deeds to concrete social engineering .
On a wider scale , this motto is the ultimate recipe for a drastic change in society : 1 ) An event causes chaos and panic 2 ) A solution surfaces which also happens to advance the agenda of the elite 3 ) Society changes without resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ultimate goal of the elite is to create a global government that controls the world ’ s resources while keeping the masses subdued and monitored through police-state tactics .
The “ solutions ” to the current virus crisis represent big steps in that direction .
This is why they welcome these moments of chaos .
They are opportunities .
While the masses suffer and weaken , the elite gains power and control .
And , since symbols rule the world , Order Out of Chaos is celebrated all over popular culture through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronological order .
Since their unveiling in 1980 , the enigmatic Georgia Guidestones have baffled people with their ominous messages .
Indeed , inscribed on gigantic slabs of stone are “ 10 Commandments ” for a new era .
And the first one says : Maintain humanity under 500 million .
In order to satisfy this monument , the current world population needs to be reduced by at least 90 % .
As explained in my article Sinister Sites – The Georgia Guidestones , everything about this monument is in line with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a world government to population control , it is all here .
Here are the ten “ commandments ” : This current crisis is pushing us towards these commandments .
For instance , a world in confinement is clearly an exercise of “ balancing personal rights with social duties ” .
Also , we are definitely “ leaving room for nature ” .
In short , the Georgia Guidestones “ look forward ” to a massive , apocalyptic event to bring forth specific changes to the world .
And it is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
As explained in the article Sinister Sites – Denver International Airport , there ’ s a bunch of strange things going on at the DIA .
At the center of it all is a 4-panel mural displaying death and chaos , followed by the creation of a new world .
As my 2009 article states : At the risk of causing you nightmares tonight , here ’ s one of the murals .
For some reason , I always found the rainbow at the top of this mural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s context .
I won ’ t analyze all four murals here , but there ’ s a happy ending .
Once again , an artwork placed in a public space tells the story of massive chaos followed by the rebirth of a new world that unites all nations .
The enigmatic murals on display at the Bank of America corporate center in Charlotte , North Carolina revolve around the same general theme as the sinister sites above .
As thoroughly explained in my article The Occult Symbolism Found on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a wealth of symbolism going on here .
At the center of it all : Order Out of Chaos .
The mural on the right is called “ Planning / Knowledge ” and it is replete with occult and Masonic symbolism .
It basically tells us that those who are “ planning ” the world have occult “ knowledge ” .
The center mural is called “ Chaos / Creativity ” .
It depicts a period of transition characterized by turmoil and oppression .
There is civil unrest , military figures on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the place .
There is also this guy : Flash forward to right now .
This is all we see in the news : Finally , the mural on the left is called “ Making / Building ” .
It mainly depicts a worker after a job well done .
Order out of chaos .
Again .
Disaster movies attract audiences with big visual effects … to then indoctrinate them with messages .
Released in 2009 , the movie 2012 depicted the end of the world as predicted by the Mayans or whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monuments being destroyed , the movie conveyed one single message : Only the elite would survive a period of chaos .
As explained in my article The Hidden Symbolic Meaning of the Movie “ 2012 ” , the story is less about the end of the world and more about the world elite surviving a major crisis .
Indeed , in the movie , the elite knew that a cataclysm was coming years in advance and they hid it from the masses .
They used that time to prepare for a new era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was left to die .
In the movie , the elite mandates China to build massive ships that would keep the “ chosen ones ” safe as the world gets wiped out .
The price of a ticket to enter these ships : 1 billion Euros per person .
In the end , the chosen ones survived the cataclysm while the rest of the world died .
Their ships landed in Africa and the elite started a new civilization in place they ’ ve called Cape Hope .
Once again , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While 2012 is not about a deadly virus , it symbolically depicts the elite ’ s core philosophy : Order Out of Chaos .
For years , The Economist has been creeping out people for years with strange , enigmatic magazine covers that appear to make grim predictions .
While some might say “ who cares ” , there ’ s a reason why this magazine should be taken seriously : The Economist is directly linked to the world elite – those who make these predictions a reality .
As I wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Filled With Cryptic Symbols and Dire Predictions : With that being said , here ’ s The Economist cover titled “ The World in 2019 ” .
I won ’ t analyze everything here ( read my full article about it here ) , but here are some details that relevant in today ’ s context .
The Book of Revelation describes the Horseman as harbingers of the Last Judgement .
The White Horse is said to symbolize Conquest , Pestilence and the coming of the Anti-Christ ; The Red Horse represents War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Famine , and the Pale Horse brings Death .
In today ’ s context , one could say that the current crisis simultaneously brought some forms of conquest , pestilence , famine , and death .
Here ’ s another weird element found on the cover .
Although there are several theories floating around regarding the origins of the virus , there is one that keeps popping up in mass media : It was transmitted to humans by a pangolin .
The cover contains other details that are more relevant now than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a barcode ( Bill Gates ’ wants to create a “ digital ID ” through vaccination at birth ) ; The “ Vitruvian man ” holding a QR Code ( China now requires people to show a QR code on their phones to move around ) .
Now , here ’ s the cover of the latest issue of The Economist .
About a year ago , I analyzed the grand finale of the Eurovision contest which is one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world .
The show culminated with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which seems to foretell things to come .
After partaking into some kind of occult ritual , a bunch of people wearing gas masks surrounded Madonna .
As Madonna performed the song Future , she sang : Fast-forward to today , Madonna is saying weird things about the virus .
In a recent video posted on her social media account , Madonna said this about the pandemic : I personally wouldn ’ t use the word “ wonderful ” anywhere near this virus .
But I ’ m not an elite-connected psychopath .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with those who want to turn this crisis into an Orwellian nightmare .
Although this article looked at items that are widely different , they have a few points in common .
First , they ’ re were funded and commissioned by the elite .
Second , they are all part of popular culture , which defines and “ colors ” our society .
Third , they all tell a similar story : The “ welcoming ” of a major crisis to usher in a New World Order .
One could ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ?
Wouldn ’ t they want to keep their plans secret ?
” .
No .
The plans need to be hidden in plain sight , for several reasons .
First , the concept of predictive programming tells us that , once the masses are exposed to a shocking idea , they are less shocked and more accepting when it actually happens .
Second , the elite believes in karmic laws .
If the masses are properly warned and if they willingly accept what is happening , the elite is relieved from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbols rule the world .
Throughout history , the symbolism of those in power was always plastered all over society .
Those who rule the world right now want a New World Order .
But , before this can happen , there needs to be chaos .
P.S .
The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues , making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing your support through a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer , you can also make a one-time donation here .
Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis .
Thank you !

Since late 2008, The Vigilant Citizen has been analyzing popular culture to highlight patterns of messages and symbolism. And, since the very first articles published on this site, one major theme keeps resurfacing all across popular culture: The “welcoming” of a global crisis that causes massive chaos and death which allows the ushering in of a new era. In other words: Order Out of Chaos.
This theme can be found all over popular culture, especially in products funded and commissioned by the occult elite. Why is that? Because, since the 19th century, the official motto of the occult elite is Ordo Ab Chao, Latin for Order Out of Chaos.
As in everything else in Freemasonry, the motto Order Out of Chaos has several meanings, ranging from nebulous metaphysical deeds to concrete social engineering. On a wider scale, this motto is the ultimate recipe for a drastic change in society: 1) An event causes chaos and panic 2) A solution surfaces which also happens to advance the agenda of the elite 3) Society changes without resistance.
In this day and age, the ultimate goal of the elite is to create a global government that controls the world’s resources while keeping the masses subdued and monitored through police-state tactics. The “solutions” to the current virus crisis represent big steps in that direction.
This is why they welcome these moments of chaos. They are opportunities. While the masses suffer and weaken, the elite gains power and control. And, since symbols rule the world, Order Out of Chaos is celebrated all over popular culture through symbolism. Here are some examples in chronological order.
Georgia Guidestones
Since their unveiling in 1980, the enigmatic Georgia Guidestones have baffled people with their ominous messages. Indeed, inscribed on gigantic slabs of stone are “10 Commandments” for a new era. And the first one says: Maintain humanity under 500 million. In order to satisfy this monument, the current world population needs to be reduced by at least 90%.
As explained in my article Sinister Sites – The Georgia Guidestones, everything about this monument is in line with the agenda of the occult elite. From a world government to population control, it is all here. Here are the ten “commandments”:
1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
2. Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.
3. Unite humanity with a living new language.
4. Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.
5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
8. Balance personal rights with social duties.
9. Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite.
10. Be not a cancer on the earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.
This current crisis is pushing us towards these commandments. For instance, a world in confinement is clearly an exercise of “balancing personal rights with social duties”. Also, we are definitely “leaving room for nature”.
In short, the Georgia Guidestones “look forward” to a massive, apocalyptic event to bring forth specific changes to the world. And it is not the only landmark to communicate this specific message in the United States.
Denver International Airport Murals
As explained in the article Sinister Sites – Denver International Airport, there’s a bunch of strange things going on at the DIA. At the center of it all is a 4-panel mural displaying death and chaos, followed by the creation of a new world. As my 2009 article states:
“When you analyze the symbolism of the murals, you realize that they tell a terrifying story of future events about to happen, as if it was some sort of prophecy. There are specific social and political references and other occult details that basically turn those paintings into a New World Order manifesto.”
At the risk of causing you nightmares tonight, here’s one of the murals.
For some reason, I always found the rainbow at the top of this mural extremely unsettling. Even more so in today’s context.
I won’t analyze all four murals here, but there’s a happy ending.
Once again, an artwork placed in a public space tells the story of massive chaos followed by the rebirth of a new world that unites all nations.
Bank of America Murals
The enigmatic murals on display at the Bank of America corporate center in Charlotte, North Carolina revolve around the same general theme as the sinister sites above.
As thoroughly explained in my article The Occult Symbolism Found on the Bank of America Murals, there’s a wealth of symbolism going on here. At the center of it all: Order Out of Chaos.
The mural on the right is called “Planning / Knowledge” and it is replete with occult and Masonic symbolism. It basically tells us that those who are “planning” the world have occult “knowledge”.
The center mural is called “Chaos / Creativity”. It depicts a period of transition characterized by turmoil and oppression. There is civil unrest, military figures on the streets and barb wires all over the place. There is also this guy:
Flash forward to right now. This is all we see in the news:
Finally, the mural on the left is called “Making / Building”. It mainly depicts a worker after a job well done. Order out of chaos. Again.
The Movie 2012
Disaster movies attract audiences with big visual effects … to then indoctrinate them with messages. Released in 2009, the movie 2012 depicted the end of the world as predicted by the Mayans or whatever. Beyond the specular scenes of famous monuments being destroyed, the movie conveyed one single message: Only the elite would survive a period of chaos.
As explained in my article The Hidden Symbolic Meaning of the Movie “2012”, the story is less about the end of the world and more about the world elite surviving a major crisis. Indeed, in the movie, the elite knew that a cataclysm was coming years in advance and they hid it from the masses. They used that time to prepare for a new era while the rest of the world population was left to die.
In the movie, the elite mandates China to build massive ships that would keep the “chosen ones” safe as the world gets wiped out. The price of a ticket to enter these ships: 1 billion Euros per person.
In the end, the chosen ones survived the cataclysm while the rest of the world died. Their ships landed in Africa and the elite started a new civilization in place they’ve called Cape Hope. Once again, we’re seeing echoes of this today.
While 2012 is not about a deadly virus, it symbolically depicts the elite’s core philosophy: Order Out of Chaos.
The Economist Magazine
For years, The Economist has been creeping out people for years with strange, enigmatic magazine covers that appear to make grim predictions. While some might say “who cares”, there’s a reason why this magazine should be taken seriously: The Economist is directly linked to the world elite – those who make these predictions a reality. As I wrote in the article The Economist 2015 Cover is Filled With Cryptic Symbols and Dire Predictions:
“I wouldn’t normally dedicate an entire article analyzing the cover of a publication, but this isn’t any publication. It is The Economist and it is directly related to the world elite. It is partly owned by the Rothschild banking family of England and its editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, attended several times to the Bilderberg Conference – the secretive meeting where the world’s most powerful figures from the world of politics, finance business and media discuss global policies. The outcome of those meetings is totally secret. It is therefore safe to say that the people at The Economist know things that most people don’t.”
With that being said, here’s The Economist cover titled “The World in 2019”.
I won’t analyze everything here (read my full article about it here), but here are some details that relevant in today’s context.
The Book of Revelation describes the Horseman as harbingers of the Last Judgement. The White Horse is said to symbolize Conquest, Pestilence and the coming of the Anti-Christ; The Red Horse represents War; the Black Horse is associated with Famine, and the Pale Horse brings Death. In today’s context, one could say that the current crisis simultaneously brought some forms of conquest, pestilence, famine, and death.
Here’s another weird element found on the cover.
Although there are several theories floating around regarding the origins of the virus, there is one that keeps popping up in mass media: It was transmitted to humans by a pangolin.
The cover contains other details that are more relevant now than ever: A stork carrying a baby with a barcode (Bill Gates’ wants to create a “digital ID” through vaccination at birth); The “Vitruvian man” holding a QR Code (China now requires people to show a QR code on their phones to move around).
Now, here’s the cover of the latest issue of The Economist.
Order Out of Chaos.
Madonna Eurovision Performance
About a year ago, I analyzed the grand finale of the Eurovision contest which is one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world. The show culminated with a disturbing and deeply occult performance by Madonna which seems to foretell things to come. After partaking into some kind of occult ritual, a bunch of people wearing gas masks surrounded Madonna.
As Madonna performed the song Future, she sang:
Not everyone is coming to the future
Not everyone is learning from the past
Not everyone can come into the future
Not everyone that’s here is gonna last
Fast-forward to today, Madonna is saying weird things about the virus. In a recent video posted on her social media account, Madonna said this about the pandemic:
“It’s the great equalizer, and what’s terrible about it is what’s great about it. What’s terrible about it is it’s made us all equal in many ways — and what’s wonderful about it is it’s made us all equal in many ways.”
I personally wouldn’t use the word “wonderful” anywhere near this virus. But I’m not an elite-connected psychopath. Speaking of which, Madonna also partnered up with those who want to turn this crisis into an Orwellian nightmare.
In Conclusion
Although this article looked at items that are widely different, they have a few points in common. First, they’re were funded and commissioned by the elite. Second, they are all part of popular culture, which defines and “colors” our society. Third, they all tell a similar story: The “welcoming” of a major crisis to usher in a New World Order.
One could ask: “Why are these messages even there? Wouldn’t they want to keep their plans secret?”. No. The plans need to be hidden in plain sight, for several reasons. First, the concept of predictive programming tells us that, once the masses are exposed to a shocking idea, they are less shocked and more accepting when it actually happens. Second, the elite believes in karmic laws. If the masses are properly warned and if they willingly accept what is happening, the elite is relieved from karmic “revenge”. Finally, symbols rule the world. Throughout history, the symbolism of those in power was always plastered all over society.
Those who rule the world right now want a New World Order. But, before this can happen, there needs to be chaos.
P.S. The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues, making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here. Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis. Thank you!


vigilantcitizen--2020-04-07--Michael J. Burry (The Weird Genius in the Movie “The Big Short”): “End the Lockdown”

The movie The Big Short was inspired by the true story of Michael J. Burry , the weird and slightly autistic hedge fund manager who shorted the mortgage bond market in 2007 ( his role was played by Christian Bale ) .
Indeed , after processing thousands of pages of data in his powerful , computer-like brain , Burry predicted the mortgage crash months before it actually happened .
He also made tons of money off the situation by betting against the housing market – a move that was never seen before .
The net result : He made $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million for his investors .
Since then , Burry focused on private investing ( mostly water , which he considers to be the commodity of the future ) and remained steadily away from the spotlight .
However , the massive panic and lockdown caused by COVID-19 seem to have triggered an error message in his powerful , computer-like brain .
And that error message was so persistent that it compelled him to do the unthinkable : He created a Twitter account .
His goal : To address the sweeping , unprecedented government response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that people should immediately go back to sketchy bars and lick each other ’ s faces .
He ’ s calling for a measured approach , one that allows healthy people to live normally and go to work while protecting those who are at risk .
In short , he believes that the current remedy might be worse than the disease .
In an interview with BNN Bloomberg , Burry stated : “ I became active on Twitter in the last week for the first time ever .
I just had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chest .
I joined Twitter because I was deeply saddened by a national shut-in that is devastating the livelihoods of Americans in many ways .
I saw the prevailing narratives ignoring the masses that are not at lethal risk from COVID-19 .
Stay-at-home policies need not be universal .
COVID-19 is a disease that is somewhat lethal for the obese , the very old , the already-sick .
Public policies have no nuance because they want to maximize fear to enforce compliance .
But universal stay-at-home policies devastate small and medium-sized businesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill and create drug addicts , engender suicides , and in general create tremendous misery and mental anguish .
These secondary and tertiary effects are getting no play in the prevailing narratives .
Stay-at-home policies are only good for equipment and medicine shortages at or near peak disease .
But this could be achieved with the order affecting a much more targeted group of people .
Meanwhile , stay-at-home reduces and slows the development of herd immunity to COVID .
Herd immunity is a fundamental step to putting this behind us .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in this country and globally supersedes that .
In the end , Twitter is a risk-free activity .
I have only been on Twitter for a week or so , but I figure l will just try to focus and not to get too deep in the weeds.
” In many ways , Michael Burry is the anti-Bill Gates .
While Gates recently called for a mind-boggling 10-week national lockdown ( and for microchipping those who get the upcoming vaccine ) , Burry calls for a quick end to the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach .
Although both Burry and Gates are very rich , there ’ s a major difference between them : Burry is an actual licensed physician with an M.D .
from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine while Bill Gates is a college dropout with zero qualification in medicine .
However , it is Bill Gates who the “ authoritative figure ” right now .
Since joining Twitter on March 23rd , Burry has been posting several times a day with a laser-like focus on COVID-19 response .
While , at first , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pick up when people realized who he was .
Here are some of his tweets in chronological order .
In the following tweet , Burry addresses an article written by no other than Henry Kissinger titled The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order .
Here , Burry takes aim at his COVID-19 arch-nemesis , Bill Gates .
Burry is not done with his twitterstorm .
He actually added a few tweets while I was writing this article .
In the current climate of fear and media-generated panic , Michael Burry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While most media pundits ( i.e .
Bill Gates ) are backed by powerful organizations with hidden agendas , Burry is basically a private person who appears to be genuinely concerned with the well-being of his fellow citizens .
As Burry says , now is the time for facts , not fear .
Although one might not agree with his views , his voice needs to be heard .
We need to have a rational debate about the correct response to this situation .
Because if governments keep putting billions of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a new virus , we ’ re in serious trouble .
P.S .
The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues , making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon .
If you prefer , you can also make a one-time donation here .
Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thank you !

The movie The Big Short was inspired by the true story of Michael J. Burry, the weird and slightly autistic hedge fund manager who shorted the mortgage bond market in 2007 (his role was played by Christian Bale). Indeed, after processing thousands of pages of data in his powerful, computer-like brain, Burry predicted the mortgage crash months before it actually happened. He also made tons of money off the situation by betting against the housing market – a move that was never seen before. The net result: He made $100 million for himself and $700 million for his investors.
Since then, Burry focused on private investing (mostly water, which he considers to be the commodity of the future) and remained steadily away from the spotlight. However, the massive panic and lockdown caused by COVID-19 seem to have triggered an error message in his powerful, computer-like brain. And that error message was so persistent that it compelled him to do the unthinkable: He created a Twitter account. His goal: To address the sweeping, unprecedented government response to this pandemic.
Burry is not saying that people should immediately go back to sketchy bars and lick each other’s faces. He’s calling for a measured approach, one that allows healthy people to live normally and go to work while protecting those who are at risk. In short, he believes that the current remedy might be worse than the disease. In an interview with BNN Bloomberg, Burry stated:
“I became active on Twitter in the last week for the first time ever. I just had a lot to say and get off my chest. I joined Twitter because I was deeply saddened by a national shut-in that is devastating the livelihoods of Americans in many ways. I saw the prevailing narratives ignoring the masses that are not at lethal risk from COVID-19. Stay-at-home policies need not be universal. COVID-19 is a disease that is somewhat lethal for the obese, the very old, the already-sick. Public policies have no nuance because they want to maximize fear to enforce compliance. But universal stay-at-home policies devastate small and medium-sized businesses and indirectly beat up women and children, kill and create drug addicts, engender suicides, and in general create tremendous misery and mental anguish. These secondary and tertiary effects are getting no play in the prevailing narratives. Stay-at-home policies are only good for equipment and medicine shortages at or near peak disease. But this could be achieved with the order affecting a much more targeted group of people. Meanwhile, stay-at-home reduces and slows the development of herd immunity to COVID. Herd immunity is a fundamental step to putting this behind us. I am very private, but what is going on in this country and globally supersedes that. In the end, Twitter is a risk-free activity. I have only been on Twitter for a week or so, but I figure l will just try to focus and not to get too deep in the weeds.”
In many ways, Michael Burry is the anti-Bill Gates. While Gates recently called for a mind-boggling 10-week national lockdown (and for microchipping those who get the upcoming vaccine), Burry calls for a quick end to the lockdown and the introduction of a more targeted approach. Although both Burry and Gates are very rich, there’s a major difference between them: Burry is an actual licensed physician with an M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine while Bill Gates is a college dropout with zero qualification in medicine. However, it is Bill Gates who the “authoritative figure” right now.
Burry’s Twitterstorm
Since joining Twitter on March 23rd, Burry has been posting several times a day with a laser-like focus on COVID-19 response. While, at first, his tweets garnered little attention, things began to pick up when people realized who he was. Here are some of his tweets in chronological order.
If COVID-19 testing were universal, the fatality rate would be less than 0.2%. This is no justication for sweeping government policies, lacking any and all nuance, that destroy the lives, jobs, and businesses of the other 99.8%. — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) March 23, 2020
COVID-19 policy cannot be settled by CYA politicians career ID docs. Too much hammer/nail and too little common sense. POTUS must reflect the interests of the working class and small business here – the economy cannot crash 30% to save the 0.2%. Set America Free! #COVID19 — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) March 23, 2020
Prudent plan: 1) Standardize on chloroquine and azithromycin -cheap and available 2) Sick and elderly voluntarily shelter in place. 3) Americans lead their normal lives with extra hand washing and special care if around elderly. Saving the economy means life, not murder.#COVID19 — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) March 25, 2020
Roughly 2.8 million people die in the US each year. The worst estimates for COVID would add less than 10% to that total. Consider this as the media implies Americans are dying at multiples of normal rates. Compassion is not incompatible with facts.#COVID19https://t.co/ztTPR33L4P — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 1, 2020
Government anti-COVID measures are causing a rise in domestic violence – the women and children that would not have been hurt by the virus are being terrorized at home instead. https://t.co/ji7PstnQtN — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 1, 2020
NJ doc Stephen Smith (MD Yale ‘89) is on the front lines and notes none of his COVID patients under 70 who have a BMI under 30 have progressed to severe disease. Then he hits us with this! Set America Free! #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/GmkWO7c2sR — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 2, 2020
Unconscionable. Let’s put today’s horrific jobless claims in perspective. This is not the virus. This is the response to the virus killing the US and global economy, with all accompanying human tragedy. I present America’s initial jobless claims over the decades. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/f2Lhz43rPh — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 2, 2020
15 million mortgage defaults? An unemployment rate exceeding 10%? Social unrest can be expected as it passes 20%. Unthinkable in America. Just two months ago the economy was great. A virus shows up that kills less than 0.2%, and the government does THIS? https://t.co/A7Ge7MnoI9 — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 2, 2020
How many tens of thousands extra American opioid deaths will occur because of the government’s national shut-in? At what cost prevention? #COVID19https://t.co/04oM50Cuzd — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 3, 2020
>5 million victims of abuse in last <12 mos. Children involved 30-60% of the time. Locking these victims in with their abusers during a stressful period and job losses? Earth’s most under-reported crime gets a big boost. At what cost prevention? #COVID19https://t.co/AkIy6zuBXh — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 3, 2020
Spoken like a guy that has been in government since 1968 and the same position since 1984. If you are not obese or already sick, your tiny <0.1% risk from COVID is replaced by the 100% certainty of economic ruin, and that’s fine by him. #faucifacepalmhttps://t.co/eRkQiiDXjb — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 3, 2020
In the following tweet, Burry addresses an article written by no other than Henry Kissinger titled The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order.
I disagree with Mr. Kissinger. The world didn’t start from a point of trust in government and institutions. There is no need for the world to return to something that has not existed in a long while. Shortly, we will, quite simply, move forward. #COVID19https://t.co/0uUJPpjeLz — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 4, 2020
There is no good reason to hoard – except for our own self-interested instinctual drive to hoard in the face of scarcity. First step, internalize that there really is no scarcity. Second step, move beyond your own self-interest. #Hoarding https://t.co/RVrxVmof02 — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 4, 2020
The shut down is not good for anyone – only 30% of whites and Asians can work from home, but it’s far worse for blacks and Latinos. Hard-earned job and wage gains are evaporating fastest for the already-underprivileged. At what cost prevention? #JobsReporthttps://t.co/cT06Z9zLeY — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 4, 2020
Here, Burry takes aim at his COVID-19 arch-nemesis, Bill Gates.
Another someone with influence who will not feel economic pain dictating to the masses without influence how their economic pain is worth it. #COVID19 #endthelockdown https://t.co/inDtUAsWoK — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 5, 2020
Will be a rough week. But note the WHO has introduced a new code for COVID-19 deaths where “laboratory confirmation is inconclusive or not available.” The CDC counts deaths where COVID-19 is “assumed to have contributed.” Death inflation anyone? #COVID19https://t.co/QwfKmnl2ES — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 5, 2020
Note what sector is gaining the most jobs. That sector is the one forcing the collapse of the private sector economy. #COVID19 #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/jUycSacclh — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 6, 2020
Sense in Japan: “Even though we will declare a state of emergency, we will not lock cities down…We will ramp up our effort to maintain economic activities as possible as well as preventing the further spread of the virus.” +$1T stim bazooka. #lockdown https://t.co/CkxyqXVkjI — michaeljburry (@michaeljburry) April 6, 2020
Burry is not done with his twitterstorm. He actually added a few tweets while I was writing this article.
In Conclusion
In the current climate of fear and media-generated panic, Michael Burry brings his brand of fact-based analytical thinking. While most media pundits (i.e. Bill Gates) are backed by powerful organizations with hidden agendas, Burry is basically a private person who appears to be genuinely concerned with the well-being of his fellow citizens. As Burry says, now is the time for facts, not fear.
Although one might not agree with his views, his voice needs to be heard. We need to have a rational debate about the correct response to this situation. Because if governments keep putting billions of people on house arrest every time there’s a new virus, we’re in serious trouble.
P.S. The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues, making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here. Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis. Thank you!


vigilantcitizen--2020-04-01--Bill Gates Calls for a “Digital Certificate” to Identify Who Received COVID-19 Vaccine

For years , Bill Gates has been at the forefront of research regarding global pandemics and mass vaccination campaigns .
In the past decade , Gates went on record several times stating that the world was not ready for a global pandemic .
In October 2019 ( only a few months before the apparition of COVID-19 ) the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ( in cooperation with the World Economic Forum ) hosted Event 201 , a 3.5-hour table-top simulation of a global pandemic .
Oddly enough , this simulation was about a novel coronavirus that would kill millions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus spurred in China .
This lead to some people wondering if this exercise actually predicted the spread of COVID-19 .
In response to these questions , a statement was posted on the Event 201 website .
Statement about nCoV and our pandemic exercise In October 2019 , the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a pandemic tabletop exercise called Event 201 with partners , the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation .
Recently , the Center for Health Security has received questions about whether that pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China .
To be clear , the Center for Health Security and partners did not make a prediction during our tabletop exercise .
For the scenario , we modeled a fictional coronavirus pandemic , but we explicitly stated that it was not a prediction .
Instead , the exercise served to highlight preparedness and response challenges that would likely arise in a very severe pandemic .
We are not now predicting that the nCoV-2019 outbreak will kill 65 million people .
Although our tabletop exercise included a mock novel coronavirus , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of that fictional virus are not similar to nCoV-2019 .
On March 13th , about a day after COVID-19 began shutting down the entire Western world , Bill Gates stepped down from the public board of Microsoft to “ dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development , education , and climate change ” .
As the pandemic spread across the world , Gates became an outspoken and authoritative figure on the pandemic crisis , appearing all over mass media to share his views and recommendations .
On March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an AMA ( Ask Me Anything ) on Reddit titled I ’ m Bill Gates , co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation .
AMA about COVID-19 .
where he answered questions about the pandemic .
In one of his answers , Gates referred to a “ digital certificate ” to keep track of who got vaccinated .
While most of Gates ’ answers were received with praise , this one raised lots of eyebrows .
The most upvoted reply highlights the similarities between Gates ’ solution and the “ Mark of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This concept of a “ digital certificate ” to store medical information ( including vaccines received ) and to grant access to rights or services was not a mere suggestion .
It is part of a massive project that is propelled by a powerful group called ID2020 which is backed by the United Nations , the Rockefeller Foundation and … Bill Gates ’ Microsoft .
Simply put , ID2020 is looking to create a digital identification system that would store a wealth of personal information and that would go beyond the limits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ID2020 states that a global digital identity is necessary to keep track of refugees and ID-less people in developing countries .
Of course , people in developed countries would be ID-ed as well .
The website states : In an article published by ID2020 in 2018 , vaccines are the perfect way to introduce digital identity to the world – especially infants .
Appropriately titled Immunization : an entry point for digital identity , the article states : In short , according to ID2020 , vaccinations are the perfect opportunity to introduce a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of each individual .
This identity would also be used to grant access to basic rights and services .
ID2020 is already testing the introduction of digital IDs in Bangladesh .
On August 2019 , ID2020 published a “ Request for information ” article stating : In this Bangladesh experiment , digital ID is “ biometrically-linked ” , meaning that it is based on the fingerprints of individuals .
The article describes the process in place : While this project is linked to biometrics , Bill Gates has been funding research on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The quantum dot tattoo .
In December 2019 , a group of researchers at the MIT published a study in Science Translational Medicine about the use of quantum dot tattoos to identify who people who received a vaccine .
An article in Futurism titled An Invisible Quantum Dot ‘ Tattoo ’ Could Be Used to ID Vaccinated Kids reviewed this study : For the people overseeing nationwide vaccination initiatives in developing countries , keeping track of who had which vaccination and when can be a tough task .
But researchers from MIT might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created an ink that can be safely embedded in the skin alongside the vaccine itself , and it ’ s only visible using a special smartphone camera app and filter .
In other words , they ’ ve found a covert way to embed the record of a vaccination directly in a patient ’ s skin rather than documenting it electronically or on paper – and their low-risk tracking system could greatly simplify the process of maintaining accurate vaccine records , especially on a larger scale .
The invisible “ tattoo ” accompanying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of minuscule quantum dots – tiny semiconducting crystals that reflect light – that glows under infrared light .
The pattern – and vaccine – gets delivered into the skin using hi-tech dissolvable microneedles made of a mixture of polymers and sugar .
“ It ’ s possible someday that this ‘ invisible ’ approach could create new possibilities for data storage , biosensing , and vaccine applications that could improve how medical care is provided , particularly in the developing world , ” MIT professor and senior author Robert Langer said in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study was the result of a direct request from Bill Gates .
While answering a question about conducting business in the era of social distancing , Bill Gates replied that “ digital certificates ” will be used to determine who had COVID-19 , who recovered from it , who was recently tested for it and who received the vaccine .
This short ( and unexpected answer ) opened a gigantic pandora box of what could be in store in the near future : The inevitable mass vaccination campaign to eradicate COVID-19 would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital ID .
This system would store a wealth of information about each individual ( including vaccination history ) and would be used to grant access to rights and services .
Although Gates did not go into specifics , “ digital certificates ” could be linked to biometrics or a quantum dot tattoo .
Considering the fact that this entire project is eerily reminiscent to a passage in the Book of Revelation ( a Mark of the Beast that is received on the “ right hand or forehead ” and that is required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , the introduction of such a system would most likely be received with a great deal of resistance .
And not only from religious people .
P.S .
The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues , making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon .
If you prefer , you can also make a one-time donation here .
Your support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis .
Thank you !

For years, Bill Gates has been at the forefront of research regarding global pandemics and mass vaccination campaigns. In the past decade, Gates went on record several times stating that the world was not ready for a global pandemic.
In October 2019 (only a few months before the apparition of COVID-19) the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (in cooperation with the World Economic Forum) hosted Event 201, a 3.5-hour table-top simulation of a global pandemic.
Oddly enough, this simulation was about a novel coronavirus that would kill millions. About eight weeks later, an actual novel coronavirus spurred in China. This lead to some people wondering if this exercise actually predicted the spread of COVID-19. In response to these questions, a statement was posted on the Event 201 website.
Statement about nCoV and our pandemic exercise In October 2019, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a pandemic tabletop exercise called Event 201 with partners, the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Recently, the Center for Health Security has received questions about whether that pandemic exercise predicted the current novel coronavirus outbreak in China. To be clear, the Center for Health Security and partners did not make a prediction during our tabletop exercise. For the scenario, we modeled a fictional coronavirus pandemic, but we explicitly stated that it was not a prediction. Instead, the exercise served to highlight preparedness and response challenges that would likely arise in a very severe pandemic. We are not now predicting that the nCoV-2019 outbreak will kill 65 million people. Although our tabletop exercise included a mock novel coronavirus, the inputs we used for modeling the potential impact of that fictional virus are not similar to nCoV-2019.
On March 13th, about a day after COVID-19 began shutting down the entire Western world, Bill Gates stepped down from the public board of Microsoft to “dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and climate change”. As the pandemic spread across the world, Gates became an outspoken and authoritative figure on the pandemic crisis, appearing all over mass media to share his views and recommendations.
On March 18th, Bill Gates took part in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit titled I’m Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. AMA about COVID-19. where he answered questions about the pandemic. In one of his answers, Gates referred to a “digital certificate” to keep track of who got vaccinated.
A Reddit user named RemoteControlledUser asked this question:
What changes are we going to have to make to how businesses operate to maintain our economy while providing social distancing?
Bill Gates’ answer:
The question of which businesses should keep going is tricky. Certainly food supply and the health system. We still need water, electricity and the internet. Supply chains for critical things need to be maintained. Countries are still figuring out what to keep running. Eventually we will have some digital certificates to show who has recovered or been tested recently or when we have a vaccine who has received it.
While most of Gates’ answers were received with praise, this one raised lots of eyebrows. The most upvoted reply highlights the similarities between Gates’ solution and the “Mark of the Beast” in the Bible.
This concept of a “digital certificate” to store medical information (including vaccines received) and to grant access to rights or services was not a mere suggestion. It is part of a massive project that is propelled by a powerful group called ID2020 which is backed by the United Nations, the Rockefeller Foundation and … Bill Gates’ Microsoft.
ID2020
Simply put, ID2020 is looking to create a digital identification system that would store a wealth of personal information and that would go beyond the limits of national governments. The official website of ID2020 states that a global digital identity is necessary to keep track of refugees and ID-less people in developing countries. Of course, people in developed countries would be ID-ed as well. The website states:
We Need to Get Digital ID Right Unfortunately, current models of digital ID do not meet everyone’s needs. They are generally archaic, insecure, lacking adequate privacy protection, and for over a billion people worldwide, unavailable. Everyone should have access to a digital ID that enables them to prove who they are across institutional and international borders and across time, while giving them control over how their personal information is collected, used, and shared.
In an article published by ID2020 in 2018, vaccines are the perfect way to introduce digital identity to the world – especially infants. Appropriately titled Immunization: an entry point for digital identity, the article states:
Because immunization is conducted in infancy, providing children with a digital child health card would give them a unique, portable digital identity early in life. And as children grow, their digital child health card can be used to access secondary services, such as primary school, or ease the process of obtaining alternative credentials. Effectively the child health card becomes the first step in establishing a legal, broadly recognized identity.
In short, according to ID2020, vaccinations are the perfect opportunity to introduce a digital ID that would store the medical history of each individual. This identity would also be used to grant access to basic rights and services.
ID2020 is already testing the introduction of digital IDs in Bangladesh. On August 2019, ID2020 published a “Request for information” article stating:
A2i and its partners Gavi and ID2020 are committed to jointly researching and implementing a unique ID for infants through digitisation of vaccination processes in Bangladesh. The program will provide infants and children with a portable, biometrically-linked digital ID either at the point of birth registration or at the time of their immunizations, simultaneously supporting three shared objectives:
Driving improvements in CRVS (Demographic and Social Statistics) coverage and process
Supporting improvements in vaccination process and equity
Ultimately, supporting access to rights and services throughout one’s life-course.
In this Bangladesh experiment, digital ID is “biometrically-linked”, meaning that it is based on the fingerprints of individuals. The article describes the process in place:
Information is required regarding biometric scanners capable of capturing the fingerprint biometrics of parents during phase 1 with the ambition to also effectively capture infant biometrics in phase 2. Scanners can be cabled or Bluetooth. Scanners must be a minimum of FBI certified FAP30, portable, robust and capturing a minimum of 500 pixels per inch. Please state the port type on the scanner(s), for example, micro USB, USB C, or other.
While this project is linked to biometrics, Bill Gates has been funding research on a different form of vaccine identification: The quantum dot tattoo.
Quantum Dot Tattoo
In December 2019, a group of researchers at the MIT published a study in Science Translational Medicine about the use of quantum dot tattoos to identify who people who received a vaccine.
An article in Futurism titled An Invisible Quantum Dot ‘Tattoo’ Could Be Used to ID Vaccinated Kids reviewed this study:
For the people overseeing nationwide vaccination initiatives in developing countries, keeping track of who had which vaccination and when can be a tough task. But researchers from MIT might have a solution: they’ve created an ink that can be safely embedded in the skin alongside the vaccine itself, and it’s only visible using a special smartphone camera app and filter. In other words, they’ve found a covert way to embed the record of a vaccination directly in a patient’s skin rather than documenting it electronically or on paper – and their low-risk tracking system could greatly simplify the process of maintaining accurate vaccine records, especially on a larger scale. (…) The invisible “tattoo” accompanying the vaccine is a pattern made up of minuscule quantum dots – tiny semiconducting crystals that reflect light – that glows under infrared light. The pattern – and vaccine – gets delivered into the skin using hi-tech dissolvable microneedles made of a mixture of polymers and sugar. “It’s possible someday that this ‘invisible’ approach could create new possibilities for data storage, biosensing, and vaccine applications that could improve how medical care is provided, particularly in the developing world,” MIT professor and senior author Robert Langer said in the statement.
The article states that this study was the result of a direct request from Bill Gates.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the team’s research, which was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday. According to a Scientific American story, the project came about following a direct request from Microsoft founder Bill Gates himself, who has been personally involved in efforts to eradicate polio and measles through vaccinations.
In Conclusion
While answering a question about conducting business in the era of social distancing, Bill Gates replied that “digital certificates” will be used to determine who had COVID-19, who recovered from it, who was recently tested for it and who received the vaccine. This short (and unexpected answer) opened a gigantic pandora box of what could be in store in the near future: The inevitable mass vaccination campaign to eradicate COVID-19 would be the perfect opportunity to introduce a worldwide digital ID. This system would store a wealth of information about each individual (including vaccination history) and would be used to grant access to rights and services. Although Gates did not go into specifics, “digital certificates” could be linked to biometrics or a quantum dot tattoo.
Considering the fact that this entire project is eerily reminiscent to a passage in the Book of Revelation (a Mark of the Beast that is received on the “right hand or forehead” and that is required “to buy or to sell”), the introduction of such a system would most likely be received with a great deal of resistance. And not only from religious people.
P.S. The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has caused a massive drop in advertising revenues, making it difficult for independent websites such as The Vigilant Citizen to remain afloat. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here. Your support will help this site navigate these difficult times as it continues to provide vital information and analysis on a regular basis. Thank you!


vigilantcitizen--2020-03-27--COVID-19 Lockdown: A Global Human Experiment

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic launched the largest human experiment in world history .
At the moment of writing these lines , over a third of the global human population is forced into confinement .
Furthermore , the global economy came to a screeching halt as several governments ordered the closing of all non-essential businesses .
Never in world history have we seen such sweeping and far-reaching measures that affect each individual at such a profound level .
In a matter of weeks , the ability of billions to move around freely and to earn a livelihood completely vanished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be temporary in order to strop the propagation of the virus , an important fact remains : They ’ ve actually become a reality .
And this means that they can easily become a reality at any point and time in the future .
Although it is comforting to think that our governments have our health and best interests at heart , it is rather naive to believe that the most powerful people in the world do not see this pandemic as an amazing opportunity .
One of the elite ’ s favorite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis go to waste ” .
And this crisis is definitely not going to waste .
This pandemic has enabled the “ testing ” of various authoritarian measures that are exactly in line with the world elite ’ s long-term plans .
In fact , it is difficult to imagine a better plan to simultaneously terrify , isolate , subdue , impoverish and demoralize a society as a whole – creating the perfect context to reshape to fit specific interests .
In short , the dystopian future is now .
For years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a world government that is based on intense mass media indoctrination and high-tech police state surveillance .
We are living all of this now – to a degree that many of us did not even fathom a few weeks ago .
If this global lockdown lasts a few weeks , the world might recover and regain some sort of normality ( until the next crisis ) .
However , if this goes on months ( as some experts predict ) , the impact on society will take on biblical proportions .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facets of this lockdown and their possible long-term impact on humanity as a whole .
The first “ symptom ” of COVID-19 was the complete takeover of mass media on a global level .
Nearly every media source – no matter its target audience or niche interest – switched to 24/7 COVID coverage .
All other news topics became irrelevant and got evacuated from the public discourse .
Nearly all forms of entertainment – most notably professional sports – were put on hold , forcing people to solely focus on the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were replaced with a morbid “ deaths and confirmed cases ” scoreboard that is custom-made to generate fear .
Every day , billions of humans anxiously follow these “ scores ” , knowing that their freedom and livelihood depend solely on these government-issued numbers .
If the numbers do not go down , the confinement goes on .
As COVID-19 took over mass media , popular culture as a whole instantly turned into a barren wasteland .
There are no new cultural products and no artists releasing material that could ease minds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide some much-needed insight .
Most artists are reduced to social media “ influencers ” who repeat the Orwellian orders heard everywhere else around the world : “ Stay home and wash your hands ” .
In short , nearly all forms of social and cultural distractions were replaced with wall-to-wall COVID coverage .
As people consume a steady stream of frightful news , levels of anxiety keep going up , creating an ideal context for the introduction of police-state measures .
And these measures were welcomed with thundering applause .
The threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context to introduce aggressive police state tactics .
People are scared and they want to see decisive measures taken by their government .
However , once this is all said and done , will society recover 100 % of its freedoms ?
Or will it gradually go back to about 50 % , celebrating each percent as a victory ?
The first casualty of the pandemic was air travel .
Simply put , it just stopped .
All flights were canceled and people abroad were told to go back home as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone was told to remain home .
Then , in a matter of days , governments went from banning “ large gatherings ” to banning gatherings of “ 2+ people ” .
These unprecedented restrictions on human contact generated a climate of fear and paranoia as people began to alert authorities of illegal gathering .
While these “ snitches ” would argue that “ the faster the epidemic is eradicated , the faster we all return to normalcy ” , precedents are being set .
The pandemic has also justified the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen before .
Here are some examples from around the world : In China , government-installed CCTV cameras point at the apartment door of those under a 14-day quarantine to ensure they don ’ t leave .
Drones tell people to wear their masks .
Digital barcodes on mobile apps highlight the health status of individuals .
In Singapore , the government rolled out an app called TraceTogether .
It uses Bluetooth signals between cellphones to see if potential carriers of the coronavirus have been in close contact with other people .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made to wear a wristband which linked to a smartphone app and could alert authorities if a person left their place of quarantine .
In South Korea , the government used records such as credit card transactions , smartphone location data and CCTV video as well as conversations with people , to create a system where confirmed cases were tracked .
The result was a map that could tell people whether they had gone near a coronavirus carrier .
On Thursday , the South Korean government launched an enhanced tool that it says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in near real time , in order to see where the disease was moving .
Meanwhile , Israel ’ s security agency Shin Bet is using citizens ’ cell phone location data to track where they ’ ve been so they can enforce quarantine controls and monitor the movements of those infected .
Controversially , the data has been collected over the past few years and intended to for counterterrorism purposes , the New York Times reported .
The newspaper said this data trove and the collection of it had not been previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stamping the hands of people arriving at airports telling them how long they had to be quarantined , Reuters reported .
Reservation data from airlines and trains were being monitored to make sure those people didn ’ t travel , the report added .
In the south Indian state of Kerala , authorities have been using a mixture of telephone call records , surveillance camera footage and phone location data to track down people who may have been in contact with coronavirus patients .
In the U.S. , the government is talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the possibility of using location and movement data from Americans ’ smartphones to combat coronavirus .
– CNBC , Use of surveillance to fight coronavirus raises concerns about government power after pandemic ends Albert Fox Cahn , the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project believes that most of these measures are here to stay .
He stated : The after-pandemic will lead to another major source of concern : The economy .
COVID-19 incited several governments to enact a controversial measure : The closing of all non-essential businesses .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing their jobs .
It also led to some unhealthy wheeling-and-dealings with governments to determine which businesses are deemed essential or not .
While most major corporations will weather the storm and hire back employees , a great number of small and medium businesses will not survive the shutdown .
The situation also creates clear winners : Major chains such as Walmart , Costco , Walgreens , McDonald ’ s and Amazon .
In fact , due to a staggering jump in sales , Amazon recently announced the hiring over 100,000 employees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not unlike most jobs available at these major chains , the offered pay nears minimum wage .
If the lockdown persists , we can expect a major shift in the global economy : Small and medium businesses will struggle and die while gigantic entities will thrive as they turn into monolithic “ distribution centers ” for essential goods .
To prevent a complete crash of the global economy , governments announced trillions of dollars in financial aid to those impacted by the shutdown .
However , this money does not come out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in massive debts and , most likely , higher taxes .
In poorer countries , financial aid is rare or non-existent – a recipe for impending chaos .
In the end , all economic crises always end up favoring the elite .
The net result of the financial crash of 2008 ( and its bailouts ) led to the funneling of tens of trillions of dollars from the pockets of the middle class towards the world elite .
This COVID crisis will most likely end with similar results .
While the above assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective analysis of a planet in lockdown .
In a matter of weeks , the entire planet went from normalcy to fear , panic , paranoia , confinement , unemployment , police-state surveillance and extreme social distancing .
Millions of citizens who thrived on freedom and free enterprise are now on “ house-arrest ” and must rely on the government for subsistence .
Although the absolute necessity of these measures is up for debate , there is no possible debate about their necessity once the virus is gone .
And we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living now does not become permanent .
Because , right now , some power-hungry people are salivating and they will only want more of this .
In these critical times , we must keep track of the many ways society is being altered and we must make sure that , once the virus is gone , liberty is fully restored .
Because , as Thomas Jefferson said : “ The price of freedom is eternal vigilance ” .
P.S .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing your support through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you prefer , you can also make a one-time donation here .

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic launched the largest human experiment in world history. At the moment of writing these lines, over a third of the global human population is forced into confinement. Furthermore, the global economy came to a screeching halt as several governments ordered the closing of all non-essential businesses. Never in world history have we seen such sweeping and far-reaching measures that affect each individual at such a profound level. In a matter of weeks, the ability of billions to move around freely and to earn a livelihood completely vanished.
While these measures are said to be temporary in order to strop the propagation of the virus, an important fact remains: They’ve actually become a reality. And this means that they can easily become a reality at any point and time in the future.
Although it is comforting to think that our governments have our health and best interests at heart, it is rather naive to believe that the most powerful people in the world do not see this pandemic as an amazing opportunity. One of the elite’s favorite sayings is “never let a good crisis go to waste”. And this crisis is definitely not going to waste. This pandemic has enabled the “testing” of various authoritarian measures that are exactly in line with the world elite’s long-term plans. In fact, it is difficult to imagine a better plan to simultaneously terrify, isolate, subdue, impoverish and demoralize a society as a whole – creating the perfect context to reshape to fit specific interests.
In short, the dystopian future is now. For years, this site has been warning about plans for a world government that is based on intense mass media indoctrination and high-tech police state surveillance. We are living all of this now – to a degree that many of us did not even fathom a few weeks ago.
If this global lockdown lasts a few weeks, the world might recover and regain some sort of normality (until the next crisis). However, if this goes on months (as some experts predict), the impact on society will take on biblical proportions.
Here’s a look at the many facets of this lockdown and their possible long-term impact on humanity as a whole.
Mass Media Takeover
The first “symptom” of COVID-19 was the complete takeover of mass media on a global level. Nearly every media source – no matter its target audience or niche interest – switched to 24/7 COVID coverage. All other news topics became irrelevant and got evacuated from the public discourse. Nearly all forms of entertainment – most notably professional sports – were put on hold, forcing people to solely focus on the pandemic.
In newspapers, scoreboards displaying sports results were replaced with a morbid “deaths and confirmed cases” scoreboard that is custom-made to generate fear. Every day, billions of humans anxiously follow these “scores”, knowing that their freedom and livelihood depend solely on these government-issued numbers. If the numbers do not go down, the confinement goes on.
As COVID-19 took over mass media, popular culture as a whole instantly turned into a barren wasteland. There are no new cultural products and no artists releasing material that could ease minds, provide some entertainment or, perhaps, provide some much-needed insight. Most artists are reduced to social media “influencers” who repeat the Orwellian orders heard everywhere else around the world: “Stay home and wash your hands”.
In short, nearly all forms of social and cultural distractions were replaced with wall-to-wall COVID coverage. As people consume a steady stream of frightful news, levels of anxiety keep going up, creating an ideal context for the introduction of police-state measures. And these measures were welcomed with thundering applause.
High Tech Police State
The threat of a deadly pandemic is the perfect context to introduce aggressive police state tactics. People are scared and they want to see decisive measures taken by their government. However, once this is all said and done, will society recover 100% of its freedoms? Or will it gradually go back to about 50%, celebrating each percent as a victory?
The first casualty of the pandemic was air travel. Simply put, it just stopped. All flights were canceled and people abroad were told to go back home as soon as possible. Once everyone got home, everyone was told to remain home. Then, in a matter of days, governments went from banning “large gatherings” to banning gatherings of “2+ people”.
These unprecedented restrictions on human contact generated a climate of fear and paranoia as people began to alert authorities of illegal gathering. While these “snitches” would argue that “the faster the epidemic is eradicated, the faster we all return to normalcy”, precedents are being set.
The pandemic has also justified the use of high tech surveillance at a level never seen before. Here are some examples from around the world:
In China, government-installed CCTV cameras point at the apartment door of those under a 14-day quarantine to ensure they don’t leave. Drones tell people to wear their masks. Digital barcodes on mobile apps highlight the health status of individuals. In Singapore, the government rolled out an app called TraceTogether. It uses Bluetooth signals between cellphones to see if potential carriers of the coronavirus have been in close contact with other people. Over in Hong Kong, some residents were made to wear a wristband which linked to a smartphone app and could alert authorities if a person left their place of quarantine. In South Korea, the government used records such as credit card transactions, smartphone location data and CCTV video as well as conversations with people, to create a system where confirmed cases were tracked. The result was a map that could tell people whether they had gone near a coronavirus carrier. On Thursday, the South Korean government launched an enhanced tool that it says can help track patients even more closely in near real time, in order to see where the disease was moving. Meanwhile, Israel’s security agency Shin Bet is using citizens’ cell phone location data to track where they’ve been so they can enforce quarantine controls and monitor the movements of those infected. Controversially, the data has been collected over the past few years and intended to for counterterrorism purposes, the New York Times reported. The newspaper said this data trove and the collection of it had not been previously reported. Some parts of India were stamping the hands of people arriving at airports telling them how long they had to be quarantined, Reuters reported. Reservation data from airlines and trains were being monitored to make sure those people didn’t travel, the report added. In the south Indian state of Kerala, authorities have been using a mixture of telephone call records, surveillance camera footage and phone location data to track down people who may have been in contact with coronavirus patients. In the U.S., the government is talking to Facebook, Google and other tech companies about the possibility of using location and movement data from Americans’ smartphones to combat coronavirus.
– CNBC, Use of surveillance to fight coronavirus raises concerns about government power after pandemic ends
Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project believes that most of these measures are here to stay. He stated:
“We have absolutely no reason to believe that the government agencies that are eager to expand their power in response to COVID-19 will be willing to see those authorities lapse once the virus is eradicated.”
The after-pandemic will lead to another major source of concern: The economy.
Major Economy Shift
COVID-19 incited several governments to enact a controversial measure: The closing of all non-essential businesses. This led to millions of workers to instantly losing their jobs. It also led to some unhealthy wheeling-and-dealings with governments to determine which businesses are deemed essential or not.
While most major corporations will weather the storm and hire back employees, a great number of small and medium businesses will not survive the shutdown.
The situation also creates clear winners: Major chains such as Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, McDonald’s and Amazon. In fact, due to a staggering jump in sales, Amazon recently announced the hiring over 100,000 employees to help cope with the demand. However, not unlike most jobs available at these major chains, the offered pay nears minimum wage.
If the lockdown persists, we can expect a major shift in the global economy: Small and medium businesses will struggle and die while gigantic entities will thrive as they turn into monolithic “distribution centers” for essential goods.
To prevent a complete crash of the global economy, governments announced trillions of dollars in financial aid to those impacted by the shutdown. However, this money does not come out of thin air: It will result in massive debts and, most likely, higher taxes. In poorer countries, financial aid is rare or non-existent – a recipe for impending chaos.
In the end, all economic crises always end up favoring the elite. The net result of the financial crash of 2008 (and its bailouts) led to the funneling of tens of trillions of dollars from the pockets of the middle class towards the world elite. This COVID crisis will most likely end with similar results.
In Conclusion
While the above assessment might seem grim, it is an objective analysis of a planet in lockdown. In a matter of weeks, the entire planet went from normalcy to fear, panic, paranoia, confinement, unemployment, police-state surveillance and extreme social distancing. Millions of citizens who thrived on freedom and free enterprise are now on “house-arrest” and must rely on the government for subsistence.
Although the absolute necessity of these measures is up for debate, there is no possible debate about their necessity once the virus is gone. And we need to make sure that the dystopian nightmare we are living now does not become permanent. Because, right now, some power-hungry people are salivating and they will only want more of this.
In these critical times, we must keep track of the many ways society is being altered and we must make sure that, once the virus is gone, liberty is fully restored. Because, as Thomas Jefferson said: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance”.
P.S. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here.


vigilantcitizen--2020-03-23--Symbolic Pics of the Month 03/20

Symbolic Pics of the Month 03/20

Special thanks to everyone who sent in pics .
P.S .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing @ @ @ @ @ monthly donation on Patreon .
If you prefer , you can also make a one-time @ @ @

Special thanks to everyone who sent in pics.
P.S. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here.


vigilantcitizen--2020-03-17--“This Too Shall Pass”: 3 Things to Remember Amid Coronavirus Panic

In these past weeks , we ’ ve witnessed a series of major historical events of a magnitude that is still difficult to fathom .
With these events came a wave of panic that is palpable both on a local and a global level .
And , in some ways , that panic is understandable .
The specter of an invisible yet deadly disease spreading at an exponential rate has terrified humans for centuries .
At the time of writing these lines , we ’ re at this strange period of uncertainty where we have no idea where this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have on humanity .
How long will this last ?
How many people will die ?
Will the world economy collapse ?
This unprecedented situation has triggered in many individuals a great deal of fear and anxiety – steadily fed by a constant influx of alarming news by mass media .
Meanwhile , while the masses are physically confined in small spaces and mentally paralyzed with fear , things are happening behind the scenes .
In these trying times , vigilant citizens need to be more vigilant than ever .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deep breath and remaining clear-headed .
With that being said , here are a few things we need to remember now and always .
If COVID-19 is causing in you feelings of fear , panic , and anxiety , please repeat to yourself this timeless saying : “ This too shall pass ” .
Because it will .
Often found in wisdom literature of the ancient Near East , the adage “ this too shall pass ” aptly sums up the unconditionally temporary nature of human condition .
It is a reminder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether it is a negative or a positive one , inevitably becomes a thing of the past .
And , although there doesn ’ t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel right now , this virus will also inevitably become a thing of the past .
The only question is “ when ?
” .
Not unlike all other living things in the world , epidemics rise , peak and decline .
Sooner or later , this thing will peak and it will decline .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great deal of panic .
However , the only thing they are infecting now is history books .
While current world events might seem overwhelming , we still have full control of ourselves and our surroundings .
Which leads me to my next point .
If you can take away one thing from this site is that critical thinking is required when dealing with mass media .
Sometimes , it doesn ’ t have our best interest at heart and , sometimes , it is even outright toxic .
As people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , the urge to keep up with the news is constant .
However , not all news is good to consume .
Some of it actually is vile , toxic crap .
For instance , an article in Canada ’ s National Post titled What might our lives look like when Canada is in the full grip of COVID-19 ?
dug up an obscure report dating from 2009 , quoted its grimmest parts and linked them to what is happening now .
I will spare you the details , but the article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body bags , choosing a central place where people bring corpses of family members and identifying hockey and curling rinks cold enough to be temporary morgue sites ” .
The article brought forth no useful information , just wild speculations that poke on people ’ s latent fears .
Gladly , not every reader lapped up the unnecessary fear-mongering .
Here are two comments from the article .
Another article from another Canadian publication titled Cancel your March Break straight-up begins with these words : I ’ m sorry , but no .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ right reaction ” is when a bear is chasing you and you need the adrenaline boost to outrun it .
In the case of a global crisis with lots of moving parts that require careful planning , fear is not the “ right reaction ” .
Fear leads to panic-induced , irrational decisions .
And a prolonged state of fear can be extremely damaging for one ’ s mental health .
After a whole lot of fear-mongering , the article ends with these words : I ’ m sorry , but no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to remain calm , rational and level-headed .
And limiting our daily intake of “ panic news ” is a great start .
Trust me , I know that it is difficult to resist the urge to grab one ’ s phone and look-up news articles about the virus .
I sometimes find myself doing it without even realizing it .
But it is simply not healthy or even necessary to do so .
You don ’ t need to get a mild panic attack each time the number of confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t need to mildly despair each time an artist cancels a world tour .
More importantly , if you have children , they don ’ t need to see you turn into a panicky shell of a person .
Which leads me to my final point .
If you look outside , the sun is still rising and birds are still chirping .
You are still on this Earth and you still have one life to live .
Even if you are in lockdown , quarantine or whatever else , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your surroundings .
You still need to sleep well , eat healthily and exercise regularly .
If you ’ re stuck at home , put down your phone for a while and use this time to take care of your people , read a good book , work on creative projects and , if possible , go outside and seek the healing presence of nature .
Coincidentally enough , in my annual end-of-year articles , I constantly suggest readers to do these exact things .
That ’ s because , despite the constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important things in life happen outside of it .
While this advice might sound extremely boring and generic , this is what needs to be done right now in order to remain vigilant citizens .
We need to remain sharp and focused , not weak and fearful .
Because , at this point , it doesn ’ t matter where this virus comes from , what ( or who ) is behind it and how dangerous it really is .
It already managed to shut down the entire world .
Soon , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Who benefitted from this situation ?
Who went for a power grab ?
What kind of companies weathered the storm ?
Where did the world economy shift to ?
What kind of local and global policies were introduced ?
To properly answer these questions , we need to remain strong and watchful .
Because , no matter what happens in the next months … this too shall pass .
P.S .
If you appreciated this article , please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-time donation here .

In these past weeks, we’ve witnessed a series of major historical events of a magnitude that is still difficult to fathom. With these events came a wave of panic that is palpable both on a local and a global level. And, in some ways, that panic is understandable. The specter of an invisible yet deadly disease spreading at an exponential rate has terrified humans for centuries.
At the time of writing these lines, we’re at this strange period of uncertainty where we have no idea where this is going and what kind of impact it will have on humanity. How long will this last? How many people will die? Will the world economy collapse?
This unprecedented situation has triggered in many individuals a great deal of fear and anxiety – steadily fed by a constant influx of alarming news by mass media. Meanwhile, while the masses are physically confined in small spaces and mentally paralyzed with fear, things are happening behind the scenes.
In these trying times, vigilant citizens need to be more vigilant than ever. And that means taking a step back, taking a deep breath and remaining clear-headed.
With that being said, here are a few things we need to remember now and always.
1- “This Too Shall Pass”
If COVID-19 is causing in you feelings of fear, panic, and anxiety, please repeat to yourself this timeless saying: “This too shall pass”. Because it will.
In 1858, Abraham Lincoln famously recounted:
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!
Often found in wisdom literature of the ancient Near East, the adage “this too shall pass” aptly sums up the unconditionally temporary nature of human condition. It is a reminder that every single event in human history, whether it is a negative or a positive one, inevitably becomes a thing of the past. And, although there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel right now, this virus will also inevitably become a thing of the past.
The only question is “when?”. Not unlike all other living things in the world, epidemics rise, peak and decline. Sooner or later, this thing will peak and it will decline. In the past decades, SARS and H1N1 caused a great deal of panic. However, the only thing they are infecting now is history books.
While current world events might seem overwhelming, we still have full control of ourselves and our surroundings. Which leads me to my next point.
2- You Don’t Need Up-to-the-Minute News Updates
If you can take away one thing from this site is that critical thinking is required when dealing with mass media. Sometimes, it doesn’t have our best interest at heart and, sometimes, it is even outright toxic. As people are confined to their homes with little to do, the urge to keep up with the news is constant. However, not all news is good to consume. Some of it actually is vile, toxic crap.
For instance, an article in Canada’s National Post titled What might our lives look like when Canada is in the full grip of COVID-19? dug up an obscure report dating from 2009, quoted its grimmest parts and linked them to what is happening now. I will spare you the details, but the article talks about things such as “stockpiling body bags, choosing a central place where people bring corpses of family members and identifying hockey and curling rinks cold enough to be temporary morgue sites”.
The article brought forth no useful information, just wild speculations that poke on people’s latent fears. Gladly, not every reader lapped up the unnecessary fear-mongering. Here are two comments from the article.
Another article from another Canadian publication titled Cancel your March Break straight-up begins with these words:
“Fear is the right reaction to the coronavirus”.
I’m sorry, but no. The only time that fear is the “right reaction” is when a bear is chasing you and you need the adrenaline boost to outrun it. In the case of a global crisis with lots of moving parts that require careful planning, fear is not the “right reaction”. Fear leads to panic-induced, irrational decisions. And a prolonged state of fear can be extremely damaging for one’s mental health.
After a whole lot of fear-mongering, the article ends with these words:
“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
I’m sorry, but no. Now, more than ever, we need to remain calm, rational and level-headed. And limiting our daily intake of “panic news” is a great start. Trust me, I know that it is difficult to resist the urge to grab one’s phone and look-up news articles about the virus. I sometimes find myself doing it without even realizing it. But it is simply not healthy or even necessary to do so.
You don’t need to get a mild panic attack each time the number of confirmed cases goes up a notch. You don’t need to mildly despair each time an artist cancels a world tour. More importantly, if you have children, they don’t need to see you turn into a panicky shell of a person. Which leads me to my final point.
3- Life Goes On
If you look outside, the sun is still rising and birds are still chirping. You are still on this Earth and you still have one life to live. Even if you are in lockdown, quarantine or whatever else, you are still in control of yourself and your surroundings. You still need to sleep well, eat healthily and exercise regularly. If you’re stuck at home, put down your phone for a while and use this time to take care of your people, read a good book, work on creative projects and, if possible, go outside and seek the healing presence of nature. Coincidentally enough, in my annual end-of-year articles, I constantly suggest readers to do these exact things. That’s because, despite the constant noise of mass media, the most important things in life happen outside of it.
While this advice might sound extremely boring and generic, this is what needs to be done right now in order to remain vigilant citizens. We need to remain sharp and focused, not weak and fearful. Because, at this point, it doesn’t matter where this virus comes from, what (or who) is behind it and how dangerous it really is. It already managed to shut down the entire world.
Soon, we will need to ask some important questions: Who benefitted from this situation? Who went for a power grab? What kind of companies weathered the storm? Where did the world economy shift to? What kind of local and global policies were introduced?
To properly answer these questions, we need to remain strong and watchful. Because, no matter what happens in the next months … this too shall pass.
P.S. If you appreciated this article, please consider showing your support through a small monthly donation on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also make a one-time donation here.