theduran--2020-03-31--The US supporting terrorists in Syria who are holding hostages at Rukban Camp

While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken center stage of the global media , there is little attention paid to a tragedy playing out in southeastern Syria .
Far away from the western media coverage of the “ Islamic State of Idlib ” , the scene is set in a desolate area on the border between Syria and Iraq , adjacent to the illegal US military base of ‘ Al Tanf ’ .
The ‘ Rukban Camp ’ holds 13,500 Syrian civilians , who are displaced , and 6,000 armed Radical Islamic terrorists of Maghawir Al-Thawra and their families .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement in Damascus , in which they exposed the US support of the terrorists who control the camp .
Under the guise of humanitarian aid , the US has coerced the UN into complicity , as the UN aid trucks are used to deliver not only food and supplies to the suffering civilians but also arms and ammunition to Maghawir Al-Thawra who administer the camp .
The US uses the residents of the camp as a reason to remain in illegal occupation of the area , claiming the US troops are protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp .
The situation in the camp is dire , as the terrorists are in complete control , even deciding who eats , and who starves .
According to the joint statement , many civilians have been evacuated from the camp and relocated to government-controlled areas that are safe and have free medical care facilities under the Syrian Ministry of Health , who work in conjunction with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
However , the US-sponsored terrorists have prevented the civilians from leaving by threatening them with dire consequences based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the suffering civilians trapped in the camp as hostages .
The ‘ Russian Centre for Syrian Reconciliation ’ said in September 2019 that the Rukban Camp is controlled by an illegally armed militia , and they had refused to let the UN buses inside to evacuate those who needed to be evacuated , instead insisting on using the civilians as human shields .
Maghawir Al-Thawra had seized a large cargo delivered by the UN and the Syrian Red Crescent and the confiscated goods were warehoused by the terrorists .
“ Sometimes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we only saw a small portion of it , most often sold to us , not given for free .
The militants take the free aid and resell it to the refugees — that ’ s their business .
To get money , we had to work at the camp .
They set up a brick factory and we had to work like dogs there , ” said Ahmad Mohammed , a former resident at Rukban Camp , who has been evacuated to Palmyra , and is now living safely there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling humanitarian aid given freely , “ Medical aid depended on the militants , too : if you co-operate , you have access to doctors .
If you don ’ t , there will be no aid , ” Mr. Mohammed said .
Using COVID-19 pandemic to threaten and torture displaced civilians The US military uses the assets on hand , and in this case , Maghawir Al-Thawra is the ‘ boots on the ground ’ that keep the very small numbers of American troops safe , and firmly in control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very hard to get an approval of 6,000 Americans to hold Al Tanf , but the terrorists are on hand and are vicious fighters who will carry out crimes without batting an eye .
The US presence and control of the Rukban Camp American troops illegally occupied the area at Al Tanf in 2015 , defying international law , and the UN charter .
President Trump famously ordered the US troops to withdraw from Syria , only to back-track later and order the US military to occupy and confiscate the oil wells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the US military presence at Al Tanf has never been under the withdrawal order , and the US military base is only manned by a few hundred US troops , while they partner with the terrorist group Maghawir Al-Thawra , who are on the US payroll and are tasked with the security and administration of the Rukban Camp .
“ We believe that the American side ’ s reluctance to exert influence on their militants to ensure the unhindered departure of people from the Camp and the safe work of humanitarian representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear evidence of their intention ” , the statement issued March 28 asserted .
The role of the UN and humanitarian organizations in prolonging the suffering of Syrian civilians On March 18 UNICEF shut down the only clinic providing Rukban Camp residents with advanced medical care , such as surgeries , and Caesarean-sections .
Two days later a group in Rukban issued an urgent appeal addressed to the UN and the international community in general , calling for quick action to lift what it called the “ Coronavirus siege , ” which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the camp .
An American journalist was killed for exposing the UN complicity Serena Shim , an American journalist , was covering the Syrian conflict from the Turkish-Syrian border in 2014 .
She had reported that terrorists had crossed from Turkey into Syria on trucks bearing the symbols of the UN ’ s ‘ World Food Organisation ’ and other humanitarian aid organizations .
She was killed the day after she had broadcast that the Turkish intelligence agency had threatened her .
While her death was pinned on a cement truck hitting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck was never charged .
The only humanitarian solution for Rukban Camp Syrians need to return to normal life in their homes , not camps .
The solution for the Rukban Camp is to be shut down , the residents evacuated to safe areas , which have aid , schools and medical care available .
The US troops should evacuate from the area , taking with them their partners Maghawir Al-Thawra .
The Syrian war is over .
Peace has returned to Syria , and there is no justification for keeping hostages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more like a prison than a sanctuary .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator…
While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken center stage of the global media, there is little attention paid to a tragedy playing out in southeastern Syria. Far away from the western media coverage of the “Islamic State of Idlib”, the scene is set in a desolate area on the border between Syria and Iraq, adjacent to the illegal US military base of ‘Al Tanf’. The ‘Rukban Camp’ holds 13,500 Syrian civilians, who are displaced, and 6,000 armed Radical Islamic terrorists of Maghawir Al-Thawra and their families.
On March 28 the Russian-Syrian Coordination Committee released a statement in Damascus, in which they exposed the US support of the terrorists who control the camp. Under the guise of humanitarian aid, the US has coerced the UN into complicity, as the UN aid trucks are used to deliver not only food and supplies to the suffering civilians but also arms and ammunition to Maghawir Al-Thawra who administer the camp. The US uses the residents of the camp as a reason to remain in illegal occupation of the area, claiming the US troops are protecting the displaced civilians who live at the camp.
The situation in the camp is dire, as the terrorists are in complete control, even deciding who eats, and who starves. According to the joint statement, many civilians have been evacuated from the camp and relocated to government-controlled areas that are safe and have free medical care facilities under the Syrian Ministry of Health, who work in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the US-sponsored terrorists have prevented the civilians from leaving by threatening them with dire consequences based on misinformation. Maghawir Al-Thawra is benefitting from the suffering civilians trapped in the camp as hostages.
The ‘Russian Centre for Syrian Reconciliation’ said in September 2019 that the Rukban Camp is controlled by an illegally armed militia, and they had refused to let the UN buses inside to evacuate those who needed to be evacuated, instead insisting on using the civilians as human shields. Maghawir Al-Thawra had seized a large cargo delivered by the UN and the Syrian Red Crescent and the confiscated goods were warehoused by the terrorists.
“Sometimes, we received aid from the Red Crescent, but we only saw a small portion of it, most often sold to us, not given for free. The militants take the free aid and resell it to the refugees — that’s their business. To get money, we had to work at the camp. They set up a brick factory and we had to work like dogs there,” said Ahmad Mohammed, a former resident at Rukban Camp, who has been evacuated to Palmyra, and is now living safely there. He said that Maghawir Al-Thawra was selling humanitarian aid given freely, “Medical aid depended on the militants, too: if you co-operate, you have access to doctors. If you don’t, there will be no aid,” Mr. Mohammed said.
Using COVID-19 pandemic to threaten and torture displaced civilians
The US military uses the assets on hand, and in this case, Maghawir Al-Thawra is the ‘boots on the ground’ that keep the very small numbers of American troops safe, and firmly in control of the area. The Pentagon knows it would be very hard to get an approval of 6,000 Americans to hold Al Tanf, but the terrorists are on hand and are vicious fighters who will carry out crimes without batting an eye.
The US presence and control of the Rukban Camp
American troops illegally occupied the area at Al Tanf in 2015, defying international law, and the UN charter. President Trump famously ordered the US troops to withdraw from Syria, only to back-track later and order the US military to occupy and confiscate the oil wells in the Deir-Ez-Zor area illegally. However, the US military presence at Al Tanf has never been under the withdrawal order, and the US military base is only manned by a few hundred US troops, while they partner with the terrorist group Maghawir Al-Thawra, who are on the US payroll and are tasked with the security and administration of the Rukban Camp.
“We believe that the American side’s reluctance to exert influence on their militants to ensure the unhindered departure of people from the Camp and the safe work of humanitarian representatives in the At-Tanf zone they occupied is clear evidence of their intention”, the statement issued March 28 asserted.
The role of the UN and humanitarian organizations in prolonging the suffering of Syrian civilians
On March 18 UNICEF shut down the only clinic providing Rukban Camp residents with advanced medical care, such as surgeries, and Caesarean-sections. Two days later a group in Rukban issued an urgent appeal addressed to the UN and the international community in general, calling for quick action to lift what it called the “Coronavirus siege,” which has only worsened the already miserable situation in the camp.
An American journalist was killed for exposing the UN complicity
Serena Shim, an American journalist, was covering the Syrian conflict from the Turkish-Syrian border in 2014. She had reported that terrorists had crossed from Turkey into Syria on trucks bearing the symbols of the UN’s ‘World Food Organisation’ and other humanitarian aid organizations. She was killed the day after she had broadcast that the Turkish intelligence agency had threatened her. While her death was pinned on a cement truck hitting her small car, the driver of the truck was never charged.
The only humanitarian solution for Rukban Camp
Syrians need to return to normal life in their homes, not camps. The solution for the Rukban Camp is to be shut down, the residents evacuated to safe areas, which have aid, schools and medical care available. The US troops should evacuate from the area, taking with them their partners Maghawir Al-Thawra. The Syrian war is over. Peace has returned to Syria, and there is no justification for keeping hostages in a camp, which has always been more like a prison than a sanctuary.
Steven Sahiounie is a Syrian American award winning journalist
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theduran--2020-03-31--Eurobonds or Bust? That’s the Next Phase of the EU

We ’ ve reached the next stage of the EU ’ s evolution , whether it will adopt a common bond market or not .
It ’ s been clear for a long time that something had to change if the European Union was to survive its political transformation .
And that issue is the formation of a shared debt structure underpinning the euro , commonly referred to as Eurobonds .
But in light of the current crisis they ’ ve been given the euphemism , “ Coronabonds ” and sold that way ad nauseum in the financial press , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s the next step that ’ s been on the docket for a long time ; pushing the EU to its breaking point and waiting for just the right moment to bulldozer what ’ s left of national sovereignty in Europe in the name of saving lives .
It ’ s truly stunning how inhuman political leaders are in this world .
This is not to say I ’ m surprised but it ’ s still stunning .
This has zero to do with actually fighting the disease at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with shared responsibility bonds is fundamentally no different than printing money locally to do the same thing .
It ’ s still not addressing the real problem… Europe is broke .
Its bond market is non-functional under a negative interest rate regime .
The only way to bring legitimacy to pricing these ‘ coronabonds ’ is to have the ECB be an unlimited buyer of them .
And how it that supposed to build confidence in them exactly ?
I guess the EU actually agreeing about anything I suppose is good news ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended in apparent white-hot fury as the bloc remains completely split on the issue as it has been for decades .
The map from Bloomberg below hasn ’ t shifted with the COVID-19 crisis despite the hopes and strong-arm tactics in recent months by ECB President Christine Lagarde and French President Emmanuel Macron .
And with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s political capital nearly spent the only position she can take so as to not be thrown out of power is to accede to the domestic fiscal conservatives .
No surprise there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resembling leadership from Merkel you need a trip to the eye doctor .
Merkel represents stasis and little else .
She is committed to that because she can ’ t do much more .
What ’ s worse is that she has done everything imaginable to remain in power at a time when decisive action from Germany is needed one way or the other .
Merkel ’ s classic dithering in the face of difficult choices is just one more source of instability across the EU political and financial landscape giving investors the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as siding with France , Italy and Spain in bailing them out of their bad choices .
But she really wants to .
That ’ s why she pulled so many strings to help the globalist government in Italy led by Giuseppe Conte block Lega ’ s Matteo Salvini from taking over .
But those countries ’ bad choices were born of the structural inequities built into the structure of the euro in the first place .
And those structural problems were always leading us to this moment .
Had Salvini forced new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he would have made an uncomfortable choice for the EU , which would have been introduce a domestic parallel currency , the mini-BOT , while Italy faced this crisis mostly alone .
The crowd in Europe screaming “ moral hazard ” over bailouts are absolutely right .
But , at the same time , they have to accept responsibility that the debts they are owed need to be written down substantially and the whole idea of a pan-European union chalked up to a bad idea and ended once and for all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s fascinating is that even the immediate threat of COVID-19 and the draconian shut down of vast stretches of the European economy hasn ’ t budged either side from their position .
That doesn ’ t bode well for the future of the European Union in its current form .
The northern bloc has hardened its stance .
The U.K. is gone .
And with its independence it is showing many countries in the EU what that independence gains them in terms of flexibility and nimbleness in dealing with the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. has made nothing but good choices but it ’ s far freer to adjust its response to the crisis than any of the EU member states who are trapped in an ossified and unresponsive bureaucracy more interested in virtue signaling about core European values than they are about saving the lives of the people whose values they are supposed to represent .
They keep trying to put a brave face on their disagreements .
Read the Bloomberg article I linked to above , there is nothing but downplaying of the contempt these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in there .
They are facing real human crises and Emmanuel Macron is worried about the future of the Schengen Treaty and eurobonds .
Well , of course he is .
I ’ m sure he ’ s also hoping COVID-19 wipes out members of the Gilet Jaunes in greater numbers than those loyal to the French state .
But all deaths will be a bailout to the French state pension system , so , it ’ s all good there too .
The contempt Macron has for humanity is palpable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time with Mike Pompeo to compare notes on how to wrap that contempt in a thin veneer of unctuous self-righteousness .
Macron is the one driving this virtue signaling , anti-human bus over the cliff .
He was chosen for the job .
And he chose Lagarde to force the evolution of the ECB .
The problem is the mask has slipped .
No one is buying what they are selling in this crisis .
To use a true humanitarian crisis for cynical political gain is depraved .
And yet , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe .
But its effects are most pronounced there because of how fundamentally unbalanced the playing field is between members .
Conte in Italy is in lockstep with Macron to politicize this as much as possible to pressure Merkel into caving in .
But in the end he may face the reality that he ’ s failed .
That will spell his end in Italy when the worst of the crisis is over .
For Merkel , I don ’ t think it will be up to her because the opposition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she won ’ t be able to pull the same trick Helmut Kohl did to unilaterally pull Germany into the euro-zone without a vote .
But don ’ t think she won ’ t try .
In a crisis even incredibly unpopular leaders stay in power simply out of a perceived need for stability until it ’ s over .
That ’ s why there is this urgency to get this done now .
Because Macron and his ilk know the window will close on them quickly if they don ’ t .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ euro is a blight on humanity Install the Brave Browser if you want to keep talking about it in the face of Big Tech Tyranny .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Authored by Tom Luongo via Gold, Goats, ‘n Guns blog:
We’ve reached the next stage of the EU’s evolution, whether it will adopt a common bond market or not. It’s been clear for a long time that something had to change if the European Union was to survive its political transformation.
And that issue is the formation of a shared debt structure underpinning the euro, commonly referred to as Eurobonds.
But in light of the current crisis they’ve been given the euphemism, “Coronabonds” and sold that way ad nauseum in the financial press, especially by Bloomberg.
Why? Because that’s the next step that’s been on the docket for a long time; pushing the EU to its breaking point and waiting for just the right moment to bulldozer what’s left of national sovereignty in Europe in the name of saving lives.
It’s truly stunning how inhuman political leaders are in this world. This is not to say I’m surprised but it’s still stunning.
This has zero to do with actually fighting the disease at this point. Just printing money and backing it with shared responsibility bonds is fundamentally no different than printing money locally to do the same thing.
It’s still not addressing the real problem… Europe is broke. Its bond market is non-functional under a negative interest rate regime.
The only way to bring legitimacy to pricing these ‘coronabonds’ is to have the ECB be an unlimited buyer of them.
And how it that supposed to build confidence in them exactly? I guess the EU actually agreeing about anything I suppose is good news?
A teleconference among EU leaders last week ended in apparent white-hot fury as the bloc remains completely split on the issue as it has been for decades.
The map from Bloomberg below hasn’t shifted with the COVID-19 crisis despite the hopes and strong-arm tactics in recent months by ECB President Christine Lagarde and French President Emmanuel Macron.
And with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s political capital nearly spent the only position she can take so as to not be thrown out of power is to accede to the domestic fiscal conservatives.
No surprise there. If you are looking for anything resembling leadership from Merkel you need a trip to the eye doctor. Merkel represents stasis and little else. She is committed to that because she can’t do much more.
What’s worse is that she has done everything imaginable to remain in power at a time when decisive action from Germany is needed one way or the other.
Merkel’s classic dithering in the face of difficult choices is just one more source of instability across the EU political and financial landscape giving investors the heebie-jeebies.
She cannot be seen as siding with France, Italy and Spain in bailing them out of their bad choices. But she really wants to. That’s why she pulled so many strings to help the globalist government in Italy led by Giuseppe Conte block Lega’s Matteo Salvini from taking over.
But those countries’ bad choices were born of the structural inequities built into the structure of the euro in the first place. And those structural problems were always leading us to this moment.
Had Salvini forced new elections and took over, by now, he would have made an uncomfortable choice for the EU, which would have been introduce a domestic parallel currency, the mini-BOT, while Italy faced this crisis mostly alone.
The crowd in Europe screaming “moral hazard” over bailouts are absolutely right. But, at the same time, they have to accept responsibility that the debts they are owed need to be written down substantially and the whole idea of a pan-European union chalked up to a bad idea and ended once and for all.
Now, given all of this, what’s fascinating is that even the immediate threat of COVID-19 and the draconian shut down of vast stretches of the European economy hasn’t budged either side from their position.
That doesn’t bode well for the future of the European Union in its current form. The northern bloc has hardened its stance. The U.K. is gone. And with its independence it is showing many countries in the EU what that independence gains them in terms of flexibility and nimbleness in dealing with the virus.
It’s not that the U.K. has made nothing but good choices but it’s far freer to adjust its response to the crisis than any of the EU member states who are trapped in an ossified and unresponsive bureaucracy more interested in virtue signaling about core European values than they are about saving the lives of the people whose values they are supposed to represent.
They keep trying to put a brave face on their disagreements. Read the Bloomberg article I linked to above, there is nothing but downplaying of the contempt these leaders have for each other at this time in there. They are facing real human crises and Emmanuel Macron is worried about the future of the Schengen Treaty and eurobonds.
Well, of course he is. I’m sure he’s also hoping COVID-19 wipes out members of the Gilet Jaunes in greater numbers than those loyal to the French state. But all deaths will be a bailout to the French state pension system, so, it’s all good there too.
The contempt Macron has for humanity is palpable. Honestly, he should really spend more time with Mike Pompeo to compare notes on how to wrap that contempt in a thin veneer of unctuous self-righteousness.
It’d be an improvement, frankly.
Macron is the one driving this virtue signaling, anti-human bus over the cliff. He was chosen for the job. And he chose Lagarde to force the evolution of the ECB.
The problem is the mask has slipped. No one is buying what they are selling in this crisis. To use a true humanitarian crisis for cynical political gain is depraved. And yet, that’s where we are and not just in Europe.
But its effects are most pronounced there because of how fundamentally unbalanced the playing field is between members.
Conte in Italy is in lockstep with Macron to politicize this as much as possible to pressure Merkel into caving in. But in the end he may face the reality that he’s failed. That will spell his end in Italy when the worst of the crisis is over.
For Merkel, I don’t think it will be up to her because the opposition to this stretches beyond her control. And she won’t be able to pull the same trick Helmut Kohl did to unilaterally pull Germany into the euro-zone without a vote.
But don’t think she won’t try.
In a crisis even incredibly unpopular leaders stay in power simply out of a perceived need for stability until it’s over.
That’s why there is this urgency to get this done now. Because Macron and his ilk know the window will close on them quickly if they don’t.
Join my Patreon if you think the euro is a blight on humanity
Install the Brave Browser if you want to keep talking about it in the face of Big Tech Tyranny.
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theduran--2020-03-31--Brits unite against coronavirus; but how long will the solidarity last?

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Johanna Ross , journalist based in Edinburgh , Scotland… Last Thursday night at 8pm , people across Britain took to their doorsteps and clapped to demonstrate their solidarity with health workers , currently on the front line desperately trying to save victims of Covid-19 .
It was a show which evoked something of the spirit of resilience and national unity which this pandemic has unleashed in Britain of late .
For not since World War Two have we experienced this ‘ Blitz spirit ’ .
One can not help but notice the extra smiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all take our daily walk ; the one form of exercise allowed per day .
People are sending signals to each other , as if to say ‘ it ’ s alright , we ’ re in this together , we ’ ll get through it ’ .
There is no doubt an element of fear in those smiles as well , however .
In a way , the smile covers up a multitude of doubts about what the future will hold : today we are out for a walk , tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bread in the supermarket .
For when we look to our neighbors on the continent , the picture looks pretty bleak .
The Italians have moved on from serenading on their balconies to sending video messages to the government begging for food .
The nation is on the brink of social unrest , after over 2 weeks of lockdown .
A video has emerged in which a father pleads with the government for help : “ Like my daughter , other children in a few days won ’ t be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assured , you will regret this because we ’ re going to have a revolution.
” Police descended on a supermarket in Palermo , Sicily , after people began stealing food .
Criminal gangs are beginning to exploit the chaos and incite violence .
At the moment , Britain is more united than it has been in decades .
Brexit is old news .
Scottish independence – shelved .
Boris Johnson – formerly a divisive figure in UK politics – is now more revered than hated as he has transformed into a war-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has even succumbed to the virus himself – the ultimate sacrifice .
# PrayForBoris is doing the rounds on Twitter .
His approval ratings have shot through the roof .
Yet this is just the beginning .
Britain , like many other nations right now , is on the precipice of an economic crisis like no other .
The 2008 economic crash is dwarfed in comparison .
The government is having to significantly intervene in the economy , and has moved to nationalize the railways , with talk of bus services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to grow in such a crisis – in a pandemic , everyone ’ s a socialist .
And historically speaking , crises have generally been followed by a stronger , more powerful state with the taxes to pay for it .
After all , the welfare state and nationalization were responses to conflict and turmoil .
But there is still a risk of this pandemic creating more inequality in an already unequal Britain .
As one analyst has put it : “ the virus doesn ’ t discriminate between people but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The measures announced by the Chancellor , Rishi Sunak , last week were ‘ unprecedented ’ but won ’ t necessarily target all who may desperately need help .
Various firms have already made staff redundant in the first week of the lockdown , and there will likely be more to follow .
With 20 % of British people already living in poverty , the fallout from the economic crisis could be far worse than the pandemic itself .
Farmers are already warning that there may not be enough food to feed everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harvest crops over the coming months .
‘ Months ’ not ‘ weeks ’ is the key word , according to another face we are growing used to seeing – Deputy Chief Medical Officer , Dr Jenny Harries .
In the government ’ s Sunday briefing she emphasized that we are in this for the long haul : six months if we ’ re lucky , but it could be much longer before we return to ‘ normality ’ .
What that ‘ normality ’ will consist of is another question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same again… 127,737 people have been tested for coronavirus in Britain so far , of whom 19,522 have tested positive , with 1,228 deaths .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Johanna Ross, journalist based in Edinburgh, Scotland…
Last Thursday night at 8pm, people across Britain took to their doorsteps and clapped to demonstrate their solidarity with health workers, currently on the front line desperately trying to save victims of Covid-19. It was a show which evoked something of the spirit of resilience and national unity which this pandemic has unleashed in Britain of late. For not since World War Two have we experienced this ‘Blitz spirit’.
One cannot help but notice the extra smiles of reassurance exchanged by passers by as we all take our daily walk; the one form of exercise allowed per day. People are sending signals to each other, as if to say ‘it’s alright, we’re in this together, we’ll get through it’. There is no doubt an element of fear in those smiles as well, however. In a way, the smile covers up a multitude of doubts about what the future will hold: today we are out for a walk, tomorrow we may be fighting over a loaf of bread in the supermarket.
For when we look to our neighbors on the continent, the picture looks pretty bleak. The Italians have moved on from serenading on their balconies to sending video messages to the government begging for food. The nation is on the brink of social unrest, after over 2 weeks of lockdown. A video has emerged in which a father pleads with the government for help: “Like my daughter, other children in a few days won’t be able to eat this bit of bread. Rest assured, you will regret this because we’re going to have a revolution.” Police descended on a supermarket in Palermo, Sicily, after people began stealing food. Criminal gangs are beginning to exploit the chaos and incite violence.
At the moment, Britain is more united than it has been in decades. Brexit is old news. Scottish independence – shelved. Boris Johnson – formerly a divisive figure in UK politics – is now more revered than hated as he has transformed into a war-time Prime Minister of Churchillian proportions. Heroically, he has even succumbed to the virus himself – the ultimate sacrifice. #PrayForBoris is doing the rounds on Twitter. His approval ratings have shot through the roof.
Yet this is just the beginning. Britain, like many other nations right now, is on the precipice of an economic crisis like no other. The 2008 economic crash is dwarfed in comparison. The government is having to significantly intervene in the economy, and has moved to nationalize the railways, with talk of bus services and airlines being next. The state has to grow in such a crisis – in a pandemic, everyone’s a socialist. And historically speaking, crises have generally been followed by a stronger, more powerful state with the taxes to pay for it. After all, the welfare state and nationalization were responses to conflict and turmoil.
But there is still a risk of this pandemic creating more inequality in an already unequal Britain. As one analyst has put it: “the virus doesn’t discriminate between people but the accompanying economic shock certainly does”. The measures announced by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, last week were ‘unprecedented’ but won’t necessarily target all who may desperately need help. Various firms have already made staff redundant in the first week of the lockdown, and there will likely be more to follow. With 20% of British people already living in poverty, the fallout from the economic crisis could be far worse than the pandemic itself. Farmers are already warning that there may not be enough food to feed everyone, and say they need 70,000 workers to harvest crops over the coming months.
‘Months’ not ‘weeks’ is the key word, according to another face we are growing used to seeing – Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jenny Harries. In the government’s Sunday briefing she emphasized that we are in this for the long haul: six months if we’re lucky, but it could be much longer before we return to ‘normality’.
What that ‘normality’ will consist of is another question. Arguably we will never be quite the same again…
127,737 people have been tested for coronavirus in Britain so far, of whom 19,522 have tested positive, with 1,228 deaths.
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theduran--2020-03-31--Shaun Attwood Interviews Fantasist Wilfred Wong (Part 2)

False allegations of this nature have consequences for real people , something Wong doesn ’ t seem to understand and Shaun doesn ’ t care about .
Watching the hangout in the live chat was a viewer called Samantha Baldwin , presumably “ the ” Samantha Baldwin .
When she split up with David Madge , this toxic female accused him of sexually abusing their two young sons , a tactic known as parental alienation syndrome in one of its many forms .
When the police concluded these allegations were false , and the custody proceedings were going against her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , ( see above picture ) .
Although he doesn ’ t name her , Wong says Baldwin was telling the truth , and for good measure throws in a canard about the Family Court judge , whom , he says , had sexually abused a teenage girl along with Baldwin ’ s ex .
Personal involvement aside , the judge was obviously sympathetic to paedophiles .
This is the same judge who last year sentenced former social worker Dean Gathercole to nineteen years in prison for sex crimes , crimes which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have happened .
As proof of the specific Satanic nature of sex crimes , Wong mentions one of the cases alluded to on his website .
Jack Kemp and Peter Petrauske received heavy sentences following their December 2012 convictions at Truro Crown Court .
But a ) was this Satanic ritual abuse , and b ) should they have been convicted anyway ?
The SAFF published a fuller report on this case .
Indeed , as with almost all cases of this nature , when examined in more detail they reveal at worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very minor part if any .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
False allegations of this nature have consequences for real people, something Wong doesn’t seem to understand and Shaun doesn’t care about. Watching the hangout in the live chat was a viewer called Samantha Baldwin, presumably “the” Samantha Baldwin. When she split up with David Madge, this toxic female accused him of sexually abusing their two young sons, a tactic known as parental alienation syndrome in one of its many forms. When the police concluded these allegations were false, and the custody proceedings were going against her, Baldwin kidnapped the boys and ran off, (see above picture). Although he doesn’t name her, Wong says Baldwin was telling the truth, and for good measure throws in a canard about the Family Court judge, whom, he says, had sexually abused a teenage girl along with Baldwin’s ex.
Personal involvement aside, the judge was obviously sympathetic to paedophiles. This is the same judge who last year sentenced former social worker Dean Gathercole to nineteen years in prison for sex crimes, crimes which being historical in nature may likewise not have happened.
As proof of the specific Satanic nature of sex crimes, Wong mentions one of the cases alluded to on his website. Jack Kemp and Peter Petrauske received heavy sentences following their December 2012 convictions at Truro Crown Court. But a) was this Satanic ritual abuse, and b) should they have been convicted anyway? The SAFF published a fuller report on this case. Indeed, as with almost all cases of this nature, when examined in more detail they reveal at worst appalling crimes in which Satanism plays a very minor part if any.
Back to Part 1.
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theduran--2020-03-31--North Macedonia Accession to NATO aims to Maintain Unipolarity in  Multipolarity Age

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Paul Antonopoulos , Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies… Bulgaria says there is no Macedonian language but rather it is a Bulgarian dialect .
There is academic consensus that the Ancient Macedonians were Greek .
Albanians claim nearly half of North Macedonia in their project for Greater Albania .
North Macedonia is a complex and complicated country , but despite this fact , on Friday , it became NATO ’ s thirtieth member , with Secretary General of the Alliance , Jens Stoltenberg , saying “ North Macedonia is now part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thirty nations and almost one billion people .
A family based on the certainty that , no matter what challenges we face , we are all stronger and safer together.
” There was little surprise that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed jubilation by saying that their membership “ will support greater integration , democratic reform , trade , security and stability across the region .
North Macedonia ’ s accession also reaffirms to other aspirants that NATO ’ s door remains open to those countries willing and able to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high standards , and to accept the responsibilities as well as benefits of membership.
” Pompeo is effectively opening the floodgates for more NATO members .
North Macedonia ’ s accession into NATO marks the completion of one of the key goals of the country since it separated from Yugoslavia , namely the entry into NATO and the European Union .
This was made possible by the 2018 Prespa Agreement to end the long-standing name dispute with Greece by changing its name from the “ Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ” to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended North Macedonian claims to the legacy of the Ancient Macedonians as Article 7 outlines that they “ are not related to the Ancient Hellenic civilization , history , culture and heritage.
” With the messy name and historical issue with Greece resolved , North Macedonia was given a clear path to join NATO , taking less than two years from the Prespa Agreement to become a full member , and is now being fast-tracked into the European Union .
But why was it necessary for North Macedonia to join NATO ?
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member brings to the table : An active military of 8,000 people with 5,000 in reserve .
An annual military budget of some $ 150 million .
North Macedonia brings absolutely nothing of material value to NATO .
That is because there is no expectation for North Macedonia to bring any great material value to NATO , and rather its geographic location is of interest to the alliance .
North Macedonia is to serve as a base against Serbia and Russian influence in the Balkans , in the same way that other NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Kosovo ’ s illegal sovereignty .
Of Serbia ’ s eight neighbours , only Bosnia is not a NATO member , but is ruled from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo .
It is unlikely Serbia will join NATO in the near future as 89 % of Serbs are against NATO membership according to a 2019 poll .
This makes Greece and Serbia the only two countries in the Balkans where NATO is looked at negatively by the majority of the population , as in North Macedonia for example , 66 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a 2018 poll .
NATO wants to complete the process of encircling Serbia , a Russian ally , and has effectively made Serbia an island in the sea of anti-Russian states .
NATO hopes that by encircling Serbia , it can force Belgrade to become pro-Western , something that will never happen since it was the West who orchestrated the collapse of Yugoslavia , bombed Serbia mercilessly in 1999 and protected Kosovo ’ s illegal independence .
North Macedonia ’ s accession is another piece of the puzzle to encircle Serbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusing why they choose to play this game considering Skopje must increase their military budget to meet NATO standards when 22 % of their citizens live in poverty and their GDP is ranked 130 in the world .
Of course , by joining NATO , North Macedonia will hardly pose any threat to Serbia and Russia , but it does put a psychological impact on Belgrade as it continues to feel pressurized to conform to Western demands and question whether they should abandon their Russian allies .
This does not discount though that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state in a disorganized organization that defends American interests and hegemony around the world .
But the mutual defense of NATO means that the organization will have to expand its security umbrella even further .
There is a very low risk of North Macedonia being attacked by any of its neighbours though , which suggests that besides being aimed against Serbia and Russia , its membership , like all of the small countries in the alliance , like Estonia and Montenegro , is for the U.S. arms industry who continue to profit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guise of conforming to NATO doctrine .
As we enter the Multipolar Age , North Macedonia is a unique country as it is wedged between the East and West of Europe .
Rather than embracing this new world system emerging , one that is being accelerated into existence because of the coronavirus pandemic , it is going into the comfort of the status quo that attempts to maintain U.S. hegemony .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies…
Bulgaria says there is no Macedonian language but rather it is a Bulgarian dialect. There is academic consensus that the Ancient Macedonians were Greek. Albanians claim nearly half of North Macedonia in their project for Greater Albania. North Macedonia is a complex and complicated country, but despite this fact, on Friday, it became NATO’s thirtieth member, with Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, saying “North Macedonia is now part of the NATO family, a family of thirty nations and almost one billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, we are all stronger and safer together.”
There was little surprise that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed jubilation by saying that their membership “will support greater integration, democratic reform, trade, security and stability across the region. North Macedonia’s accession also reaffirms to other aspirants that NATO’s door remains open to those countries willing and able to make the reforms necessary to meet NATO’s high standards, and to accept the responsibilities as well as benefits of membership.” Pompeo is effectively opening the floodgates for more NATO members.
North Macedonia’s accession into NATO marks the completion of one of the key goals of the country since it separated from Yugoslavia, namely the entry into NATO and the European Union. This was made possible by the 2018 Prespa Agreement to end the long-standing name dispute with Greece by changing its name from the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” to the “Republic of North Macedonia.” This ended North Macedonian claims to the legacy of the Ancient Macedonians as Article 7 outlines that they “are not related to the Ancient Hellenic civilization, history, culture and heritage.” With the messy name and historical issue with Greece resolved, North Macedonia was given a clear path to join NATO, taking less than two years from the Prespa Agreement to become a full member, and is now being fast-tracked into the European Union. But why was it necessary for North Macedonia to join NATO? Let’s examine what the 30th NATO member brings to the table:
An active military of 8,000 people with 5,000 in reserve.
An air force consisting of 20 helicopters.
No Navy.
An annual military budget of some $150 million.
North Macedonia brings absolutely nothing of material value to NATO. That is because there is no expectation for North Macedonia to bring any great material value to NATO, and rather its geographic location is of interest to the alliance. North Macedonia is to serve as a base against Serbia and Russian influence in the Balkans, in the same way that other NATO members in the Balkans do, as well as Kosovo’s illegal sovereignty. Of Serbia’s eight neighbours, only Bosnia is not a NATO member, but is ruled from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. It is unlikely Serbia will join NATO in the near future as 89% of Serbs are against NATO membership according to a 2019 poll. This makes Greece and Serbia the only two countries in the Balkans where NATO is looked at negatively by the majority of the population, as in North Macedonia for example, 66% of the population wanted to join NATO according to a 2018 poll.
NATO wants to complete the process of encircling Serbia, a Russian ally, and has effectively made Serbia an island in the sea of anti-Russian states. NATO hopes that by encircling Serbia, it can force Belgrade to become pro-Western, something that will never happen since it was the West who orchestrated the collapse of Yugoslavia, bombed Serbia mercilessly in 1999 and protected Kosovo’s illegal independence. North Macedonia’s accession is another piece of the puzzle to encircle Serbia, but it becomes all the more confusing why they choose to play this game considering Skopje must increase their military budget to meet NATO standards when 22% of their citizens live in poverty and their GDP is ranked 130 in the world.
Of course, by joining NATO, North Macedonia will hardly pose any threat to Serbia and Russia, but it does put a psychological impact on Belgrade as it continues to feel pressurized to conform to Western demands and question whether they should abandon their Russian allies. This does not discount though that North Macedonia is now simply another periphery state in a disorganized organization that defends American interests and hegemony around the world. But the mutual defense of NATO means that the organization will have to expand its security umbrella even further. There is a very low risk of North Macedonia being attacked by any of its neighbours though, which suggests that besides being aimed against Serbia and Russia, its membership, like all of the small countries in the alliance, like Estonia and Montenegro, is for the U.S. arms industry who continue to profit by selling weapons to these states under the guise of conforming to NATO doctrine.
As we enter the Multipolar Age, North Macedonia is a unique country as it is wedged between the East and West of Europe. Rather than embracing this new world system emerging, one that is being accelerated into existence because of the coronavirus pandemic, it is going into the comfort of the status quo that attempts to maintain U.S. hegemony.
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theduran--2020-03-31--Russia flies needed coronavirus aid to the United States

A somewhat buried article on the Russia Today ( RT ) English-language site , and more prominently shown on the Russian site , notes that Russia sent a plane full of needed helpful supplies and equipment to help the United States combat the coronavirus pandemic and help its people .
On the morning of March 31st , the USA has over 164,000 cases – twice as many confirmed cases of the virus as China presently is reporting .
From the English-language piece ( with slight corrections for language ) : US President Donald Trump [ … ] praised Moscow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things ’ to help fight the spread of the coronavirus and treat sickened patients , noting that China and other nations had also chipped in .
“ We ’ ve had great relationships with a lot of countries , ” the president told reporters at his daily Covid-19 briefing on Monday , adding : “ China sent us some stuff , which was terrific .
Russia sent us a very , very large planeload of things , medical equipment , which was very nice.
” Trump did not specify what kind of aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and failed to name any of the “ other countries ” that had also sent supplies .
The comment was somewhat puzzling , given that Russian officials have yet to announce any such aid shipment to the US , and a State Department email recently sent to American diplomats stationed in Europe in search of supplies – obtained by Foreign Policy magazine last week – explicitly ruled out Russia , stressing that the request applied to countries hosting US embassies “ minus Moscow.
” The president ’ s off-hand remark about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call with his Russian counterpart , President Vladimir Putin , in which the two discussed their mutual concern over the fast-spreading virus .
Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov had also previously signaled that his country was “ ready to help the United States ” if needed .
Moscow last week sent more than 100 medical experts and nearly a dozen aircraft loaded with equipment to Italy – including ventilators , disinfecting supplies , as well as face masks and other protective gear – to combat the country ’ s own outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though Italian media reports had slammed the aid as “ useless ” and mused that it came with malicious and hidden intentions , Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio insisted the assistance was a pure “ act of solidarity.
” Russia thus far has been spared the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic , with present reporting placing the number of confirmed cases in the country at 1,836 .
Moscow and its surrounding region have by far the greatest concentration of cases ( 1,345 combined ) and the capital city is under a strict lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to halt or slow the spread of the disease .
With the United States looking to be set to have a simply massive caseload of this disease , the resources of the country ’ s government have been aligned in a massive cooperative alliance with the main manufacturers in the US , who are now retooling their factories to produce needs for dealing with the pandemic .
In three weeks the number of cases in the US has simply exploded , and the eventual slowing of this rise in cases has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generosity is well appreciated in reality , even though the American media appear to be conveniently ignoring this bit of news .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
A somewhat buried article on the Russia Today (RT) English-language site, and more prominently shown on the Russian site, notes that Russia sent a plane full of needed helpful supplies and equipment to help the United States combat the coronavirus pandemic and help its people. On the morning of March 31st, the USA has over 164,000 cases – twice as many confirmed cases of the virus as China presently is reporting.
From the English-language piece (with slight corrections for language):
US President Donald Trump […] praised Moscow for sending a ‘very large planeload of things’ to help fight the spread of the coronavirus and treat sickened patients, noting that China and other nations had also chipped in. “We’ve had great relationships with a lot of countries,” the president told reporters at his daily Covid-19 briefing on Monday, adding: “China sent us some stuff, which was terrific. Russia sent us a very, very large planeload of things, medical equipment, which was very nice.” Trump did not specify what kind of aid Moscow or Beijing had provided, however, and failed to name any of the “other countries” that had also sent supplies. The comment was somewhat puzzling, given that Russian officials have yet to announce any such aid shipment to the US, and a State Department email recently sent to American diplomats stationed in Europe in search of supplies – obtained by Foreign Policy magazine last week – explicitly ruled out Russia, stressing that the request applied to countries hosting US embassies “minus Moscow.” The president’s off-hand remark about the aid did, however, follow a call with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, in which the two discussed their mutual concern over the fast-spreading virus. Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov had also previously signaled that his country was “ready to help the United States” if needed. Moscow last week sent more than 100 medical experts and nearly a dozen aircraft loaded with equipment to Italy – including ventilators, disinfecting supplies, as well as face masks and other protective gear – to combat the country’s own outbreak, among the most severe in Europe. Though Italian media reports had slammed the aid as “useless” and mused that it came with malicious and hidden intentions, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio insisted the assistance was a pure “act of solidarity.”
Russia thus far has been spared the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic, with present reporting placing the number of confirmed cases in the country at 1,836. Moscow and its surrounding region have by far the greatest concentration of cases (1,345 combined) and the capital city is under a strict lockdown for at least this week in an effort to halt or slow the spread of the disease.
With the United States looking to be set to have a simply massive caseload of this disease, the resources of the country’s government have been aligned in a massive cooperative alliance with the main manufacturers in the US, who are now retooling their factories to produce needs for dealing with the pandemic. In three weeks the number of cases in the US has simply exploded, and the eventual slowing of this rise in cases has not been indicated yet.
Russia’s generosity is well appreciated in reality, even though the American media appear to be conveniently ignoring this bit of news.
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theduran--2020-03-31--Coronavirus brings a “Bretton Woods Moment”

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro… The economic effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic continue to appear : stock exchanges close to collapse , stagnant production , falling expectations for global growth , entire economies broken and an uncertain future for the current system .
The fragility of the international financial system can no longer be hidden , it is visible and palpable .
To survive the crisis , the West becomes less and less “ western ” , progressively denying its liberal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borders and free markets , promoting increasingly constant and incisive state interventions , closing borders and instituting strong economic protectionism .
To illustrate some of the partial effects of the crisis , we can mention some official data .
Federal Reserve System ’ s President James Bullard recently announced that 46 million people are expected to lose their jobs in the United States .
The speculation concerns precisely the positions in which employees work interacting with the public .
These jobs are suspended indefinitely by the sanitarian rules , which damage the income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick government attitude to guarantee a universal basic income .
In Germany , banks have already anticipated the recession and Europe ’ s largest economy is experiencing its greatest instability in recent decades .
With the overwhelming growth of the infection in the country , there is no other measure than the implementation of the quarantine and the strong action of the State to repair the economic crisis that will result from the isolation .
“ The coronavirus pandemic will trigger a severe downturn in Germany ’ s economy and recession is inevitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly and correctly .
It seems to me that now the most important thing is to keep faith in the actions of the state ” , commented the Bundesbank director , Jens Weidmann , in an interview with the newspaper Die Welt .
The oil sector was one of the biggest affected by the economic crisis .
Oil prices have almost halved since the beginning of March , amid the slowdown in market demand due to the advance of COVID-19 , as well as the lack of agreement within OPEC and the unbridled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg analyst David Fickling said that “ future generations will never see the wealth that the Gulf States enjoy today ” .
Some experts already classify the pandemic as a new Great Depression .
Indeed , the social and economic effects of COVID-19 are only just beginning .
The crisis is far from over .
The number of cases increases daily on all continents .
Few countries have managed to stabilize the crisis so far .
What we can expect is an unprecedented catastrophe .
As Tobin Smith , analyst and president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is as a financial disaster , as a health disaster , as an economic disaster – is like we got three neutron bombs dropped on us.
” Predictions that the current economic order will not be able to restructure after the crisis increase day after day .
Jamie Martin , a former British government adviser , believes that the pandemic could represent the end of European liberalism and the return of an authoritarian tendency .
However , if the contemporary global structure is failing , it must be reformed or replaced .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the future of the world order ?
Is this the definitive end of liberalism or just the beginning of a new phase of capitalism ?
This week , at a remote meeting of the G-20 summit , Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the elaboration of a common economic recovery plan , emphasizing the need for international cooperation to overcome the effects of the current crisis .
One way to lessen the impacts of the crisis , according to Putin , would be through “ green corridors ” , free from trade wars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a special fund under the International Monetary Fund , which any member of the G20 could use .
In his words : “ At the moment , it is extremely important to guarantee access to finance for countries that need resources , especially taking into account the countries that have been affected by this crisis and this pandemic ” .
In fact , international organizations currently do not have the necessary tools to deal with a crisis of such dimensions , which is why two speeches may arise : the strengthening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberalism and globalization or the strengthening of the international organizations , creating new models of global governance that establish more efficient mechanisms to contain damages in crises .
Both speeches are booming in public debate .
What we are witnessing is the failure of a model that started in Bretton Woods in 1944 , when the main economic powers came together and accorded the post-war economy .
Although the Bretton Woods agreements were overcome in the 1970s , their legacy lives on : the belief in the infinite progress of capitalism and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
Subsequently , the so-called “ Washington Consensus ” reinforced this view and updated it for a post-industrial world and for the emergence of financial capitalism .
Now , this entire legacy seems to fall apart .
In a world where natural resources are increasingly scarce and technology replaces much of the human workforce , how can we still believe in the infinite progress of capitalism ?
This is perhaps the time for a “ new Bretton Woods ” , for a meeting of all world powers to define new parameters for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ecological collapse and social upheavals brought by globalization are increasingly evident and dangerous , touched by the outbreak of a deadly virus .
If a meeting of such magnitude really occurs , two models will be disputed by the world leaders : the strengthening of National States ( through international cooperation and regional integration ) and the strengthening of globalization through the revitalization of world organizations and global governance .
One of these paths will lead to multipolarity , the other will insist on the error of a liberal globalization .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment ” .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
The economic effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic continue to appear: stock exchanges close to collapse, stagnant production, falling expectations for global growth, entire economies broken and an uncertain future for the current system. The fragility of the international financial system can no longer be hidden, it is visible and palpable. To survive the crisis, the West becomes less and less “western”, progressively denying its liberal and globalist values of open society, open borders and free markets, promoting increasingly constant and incisive state interventions, closing borders and instituting strong economic protectionism.
To illustrate some of the partial effects of the crisis, we can mention some official data. Federal Reserve System’s President James Bullard recently announced that 46 million people are expected to lose their jobs in the United States. The speculation concerns precisely the positions in which employees work interacting with the public. These jobs are suspended indefinitely by the sanitarian rules, which damage the income of millions of people and require a quick government attitude to guarantee a universal basic income.
In Germany, banks have already anticipated the recession and Europe’s largest economy is experiencing its greatest instability in recent decades. With the overwhelming growth of the infection in the country, there is no other measure than the implementation of the quarantine and the strong action of the State to repair the economic crisis that will result from the isolation. “The coronavirus pandemic will trigger a severe downturn in Germany’s economy and recession is inevitable (…) The federal government acted quickly and correctly. It seems to me that now the most important thing is to keep faith in the actions of the state”, commented the Bundesbank director, Jens Weidmann, in an interview with the newspaper Die Welt.
The oil sector was one of the biggest affected by the economic crisis. Oil prices have almost halved since the beginning of March, amid the slowdown in market demand due to the advance of COVID-19, as well as the lack of agreement within OPEC and the unbridled increase in production in Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg analyst David Fickling said that “future generations will never see the wealth that the Gulf States enjoy today”.
Some experts already classify the pandemic as a new Great Depression. Indeed, the social and economic effects of COVID-19 are only just beginning. The crisis is far from over. The number of cases increases daily on all continents. Few countries have managed to stabilize the crisis so far. What we can expect is an unprecedented catastrophe. As Tobin Smith, analyst and president of Transformity Research, said: “this is as a financial disaster, as a health disaster, as an economic disaster – is like we got three neutron bombs dropped on us.”
Predictions that the current economic order will not be able to restructure after the crisis increase day after day. Jamie Martin, a former British government adviser, believes that the pandemic could represent the end of European liberalism and the return of an authoritarian tendency. However, if the contemporary global structure is failing, it must be reformed or replaced. But what comes after it? What will be the future of the world order? Is this the definitive end of liberalism or just the beginning of a new phase of capitalism?
This week, at a remote meeting of the G-20 summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the elaboration of a common economic recovery plan, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to overcome the effects of the current crisis. One way to lessen the impacts of the crisis, according to Putin, would be through “green corridors”, free from trade wars and sanctions. The president proposes the creation of a special fund under the International Monetary Fund, which any member of the G20 could use. In his words: “At the moment, it is extremely important to guarantee access to finance for countries that need resources, especially taking into account the countries that have been affected by this crisis and this pandemic”.
In fact, international organizations currently do not have the necessary tools to deal with a crisis of such dimensions, which is why two speeches may arise: the strengthening of National States and the regression of liberalism and globalization or the strengthening of the international organizations, creating new models of global governance that establish more efficient mechanisms to contain damages in crises. Both speeches are booming in public debate.
What we are witnessing is the failure of a model that started in Bretton Woods in 1944, when the main economic powers came together and accorded the post-war economy. Although the Bretton Woods agreements were overcome in the 1970s, their legacy lives on: the belief in the infinite progress of capitalism and the favoring of the US in the world economy. Subsequently, the so-called “Washington Consensus” reinforced this view and updated it for a post-industrial world and for the emergence of financial capitalism. Now, this entire legacy seems to fall apart. In a world where natural resources are increasingly scarce and technology replaces much of the human workforce, how can we still believe in the infinite progress of capitalism?
This is perhaps the time for a “new Bretton Woods”, for a meeting of all world powers to define new parameters for the global economy in an era when the ecological collapse and social upheavals brought by globalization are increasingly evident and dangerous, touched by the outbreak of a deadly virus. If a meeting of such magnitude really occurs, two models will be disputed by the world leaders: the strengthening of National States (through international cooperation and regional integration) and the strengthening of globalization through the revitalization of world organizations and global governance. One of these paths will lead to multipolarity, the other will insist on the error of a liberal globalization. We are experiencing a real “Bretton Woods moment”.
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theduran--2020-03-31--Shaun Attwood Interviews Fantasist Wilfred Wong (Part 1)

Recently , I described Shaun Attwood as charisma in an empty suit .
If he believes a tiny fraction of this rubbish he has an empty head as well .
His livestream guest Monday night was Wilfred Wong , who has spent the past 27 years investigating Satanic ritual abuse .
The word “ investigating ” should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense .
Where to begin ?
Does Satanism exist ?
Yes , there are people who worship the Devil , or whatever of his many names he goes by .
Does child sexual abuse exist ?
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse ever been covered up by those in power or the legal authorities ?
While involving mostly teenagers , the recent grooming gang scandal showed how horrific crimes against the young can be ignored by the police even in Britain .
Do Devil worshippers inhabit the corridors of power , the judiciary , local authorities , the police…and do they control them ?
That is what we are asked to believe .
There is a lot to cover in Wong ’ s nonsense , but the following will suffice .
There are three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says : sexual abuse ; torture , etc ; Satanism .
The first piece of nonsense he endorses is the claim that Jimmy Savile was a Satanist .
For those not au fait with him , Jimmy Savile was a disc jockey and TV presenter , a larger than life , visibly eccentric character who was a popular figure in British culture for decades .
Although unlike Michael Jackson he never invited underage boys into his bedroom , many people found him weird or even creepy .
He died in October 2011 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was given a funeral fit for a king .
Yet within months his grave had been trashed along with his legacy .
Space does not permit a detailed discussion of the full circumstances of his posthumous downfall , it will suffice to say that a one-sided TV documentary which featured a number of women who had met Savile in their teens , made allegations against him of sexual abuse .
These allegations were orchestrated through social media a bit like those made against Jian Ghomeshi in Canada , or by no fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USA .
Savile had actually been questioned about these allegations in 2009 , and had debunked them all .
After his death , they were simply revived , and an appeal was made for “ victims ” to “ come forward ” .
And come forward they did , literally hundreds of them .
Many of these allegations were proven false , largely by the late Susanne Cameron-Blackie and another blogger who goes by the name Moor Larkin .
But never allowing facts to stand in the way of a scurrilous story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost any demented female who had a tale to tell about Savile , including that he was a Satanist .
Savile had done a lot to raise money for a world famous hospital , and had also raised the profile of mental health treatment .
This brought him into contact with many politicians and a few royals .
Soon he was said to have been involved in Satanic rituals carried out by a certain member of the Royal Family .
Former Prime Minister Edward Heath died six years before Savile , but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ married , his name was dragged into an imaginary VIP paedophile ring that was said to sexually violate , torture and murder young boys .
One nutter , Michael Shrimpton , even claimed Savile had procured boys for Heath who were then ritually murdered on the latter ’ s yacht .
There was no end to the lunacy , and there won ’ t be any time soon .
Wilfred Wong has lapped all this up ; when the police investigate and find no evidence of Satanic crimes , that can only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wong quoted from a book by his fellow nutter Dianne Core , a woman who believed and probably still believes that four thousand babies are sacrificed to the Devil in Britain every year .
But aren ’ t these babies missed ?
Of course not , their births are never registered .
Surely you realised that ?
Shaun Attwood sat through all this rubbish like the true believer he is , even raising the question of necrophilia and mental patients regarding Savile , and of course attempting to implicate his bête noire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was non-committal about Andrew , although he did not rule out the likelihood of lesser known dukes engaging in such infamy , but how could they not have when every town and village in the UK is affected ?
Satanists come out at night in the Lake District and dispose of the bodies of their victims in its lakes .
Wong insists the child sexual abuse associated with Satanism is incidental ; the Devil ’ s followers are interested only in acquiring power , to which end their international networks , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 hour night-time rituals wherein young girls can be gang-raped or forced to drink urine and eat human faeces .
Children being kept in cages , hung on hooks…and then there is cannibalism !
Shaun asked him if he had seen any of this abuse , and of course he hasn ’ t , although plenty of people have told him they had .
Wong mentioned in particular two well-documented hoaxes : the Hollie Greig campaign in Scotland and the Hampstead Satanic abuse hoax .
The allegations of the mentally retarded Hollie Greig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentally deranged mother , a case that led to one of their supporters , the recently deceased Robert Green , spending time behind bars on two occasions for distributing scurrilous leaflets about innocent people .
The Hampstead hoax is if anything even more ridiculous , and tragic , including in a small way for me because I know one of the people who was caught up in it .
Sabine McNeill is a brilliant woman ; in the 1990s she took a big interest in the financial reform movement , and had she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely have been stronger than it is today .
Instead she allowed herself to be seduced by all manner of lunatics who claimed to be campaigning against child sexual abuse .
Now aged seventy-five , she is serving a nine year sentence for waging a hate campaign against innocent people , mostly women , a sentence that it pains me to say is well warranted .
Unsurprisingly , the website dedicated to exposing the lunacy of the Hampstead hoax is said to be run by Satanists .
With classic conspiratard paranoia , anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the plot .
I experienced this in person when I attended Sabine ’ s trial at Southwark Crown Court .
One of her idiot supporters denounced a detective for wearing a pink tie !

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Recently, I described Shaun Attwood as charisma in an empty suit. If he believes a tiny fraction of this rubbish he has an empty head as well. His livestream guest Monday night was Wilfred Wong, who has spent the past 27 years investigating Satanic ritual abuse. The word “investigating” should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense. Where to begin?
Does Satanism exist? Yes, there are people who worship the Devil, or whatever of his many names he goes by. Does child sexual abuse exist? Of course it does. Has child sexual abuse ever been covered up by those in power or the legal authorities? While involving mostly teenagers, the recent grooming gang scandal showed how horrific crimes against the young can be ignored by the police even in Britain. Do Devil worshippers inhabit the corridors of power, the judiciary, local authorities, the police…and do they control them? That is what we are asked to believe.
There is a lot to cover in Wong’s nonsense, but the following will suffice. There are three components to Satanic ritual abuse, he says: sexual abuse; torture, etc; Satanism.
The first piece of nonsense he endorses is the claim that Jimmy Savile was a Satanist. For those not au fait with him, Jimmy Savile was a disc jockey and TV presenter, a larger than life, visibly eccentric character who was a popular figure in British culture for decades. Although unlike Michael Jackson he never invited underage boys into his bedroom, many people found him weird or even creepy. He died in October 2011, two days before his eighty-fifth birthday, and was given a funeral fit for a king. Yet within months his grave had been trashed along with his legacy. Space does not permit a detailed discussion of the full circumstances of his posthumous downfall, it will suffice to say that a one-sided TV documentary which featured a number of women who had met Savile in their teens, made allegations against him of sexual abuse. These allegations were orchestrated through social media a bit like those made against Jian Ghomeshi in Canada, or by no fewer than thirteen girls against Tyler Kost in the USA.
Savile had actually been questioned about these allegations in 2009, and had debunked them all. After his death, they were simply revived, and an appeal was made for “victims” to “come forward”. And come forward they did, literally hundreds of them. Many of these allegations were proven false, largely by the late Susanne Cameron-Blackie and another blogger who goes by the name Moor Larkin. But never allowing facts to stand in the way of a scurrilous story, the tabloid press gave space to almost any demented female who had a tale to tell about Savile, including that he was a Satanist.
Savile had done a lot to raise money for a world famous hospital, and had also raised the profile of mental health treatment. This brought him into contact with many politicians and a few royals. Soon he was said to have been involved in Satanic rituals carried out by a certain member of the Royal Family. Former Prime Minister Edward Heath died six years before Savile, but, probably because like him he had never married, his name was dragged into an imaginary VIP paedophile ring that was said to sexually violate, torture and murder young boys. One nutter, Michael Shrimpton, even claimed Savile had procured boys for Heath who were then ritually murdered on the latter’s yacht. There was no end to the lunacy, and there won’t be any time soon. Wilfred Wong has lapped all this up; when the police investigate and find no evidence of Satanic crimes, that can only be because they are in on the plot.
Wong quoted from a book by his fellow nutter Dianne Core, a woman who believed and probably still believes that four thousand babies are sacrificed to the Devil in Britain every year. But aren’t these babies missed? Of course not, their births are never registered. Surely you realised that?
Shaun Attwood sat through all this rubbish like the true believer he is, even raising the question of necrophilia and mental patients regarding Savile, and of course attempting to implicate his bête noire Prince Andrew in something nefarious. Wong was non-committal about Andrew, although he did not rule out the likelihood of lesser known dukes engaging in such infamy, but how could they not have when every town and village in the UK is affected? Satanists come out at night in the Lake District and dispose of the bodies of their victims in its lakes.
Wong insists the child sexual abuse associated with Satanism is incidental; the Devil’s followers are interested only in acquiring power, to which end their international networks, which are largely autonomous, regularly murder people during 5 hour night-time rituals wherein young girls can be gang-raped or forced to drink urine and eat human faeces. Children being kept in cages, hung on hooks…and then there is cannibalism! Shaun asked him if he had seen any of this abuse, and of course he hasn’t, although plenty of people have told him they had.
Wong mentioned in particular two well-documented hoaxes: the Hollie Greig campaign in Scotland and the Hampstead Satanic abuse hoax. The allegations of the mentally retarded Hollie Greig were due to the machinations of her mentally deranged mother, a case that led to one of their supporters, the recently deceased Robert Green, spending time behind bars on two occasions for distributing scurrilous leaflets about innocent people. The Hampstead hoax is if anything even more ridiculous, and tragic, including in a small way for me because I know one of the people who was caught up in it. Sabine McNeill is a brilliant woman; in the 1990s she took a big interest in the financial reform movement, and had she stayed with that, it would very likely have been stronger than it is today. Instead she allowed herself to be seduced by all manner of lunatics who claimed to be campaigning against child sexual abuse. Now aged seventy-five, she is serving a nine year sentence for waging a hate campaign against innocent people, mostly women, a sentence that it pains me to say is well warranted.
Unsurprisingly, the website dedicated to exposing the lunacy of the Hampstead hoax is said to be run by Satanists. With classic conspiratard paranoia, anyone who dissents from the narrative becomes part of the plot. I experienced this in person when I attended Sabine’s trial at Southwark Crown Court. One of her idiot supporters denounced a detective for wearing a pink tie!
To Part 2.
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Pandemic of fear…

Here is something interesting : Also check out the official euro statistics regarding deaths in europe , no sign of @ @ @ @ @ being bamboozled big time !
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theduran--2020-03-31--Merkel continues to allow refugees into Germany despite pandemic fears (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Gemany ’ s policy to continue to allow migrants and asylum seekers into their country amidst coronavirus pandemic fears , while simultaneously closing German borders to EU member states .
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
“ Germany plays Russian roulette with Covid-19 , welcomes refugees from high-risk infection zones , ” authored by Robert Bridge , via RT… As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on , Germany has shut its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being accepted , even if they may have moved through the worst-affected countries .
Is that the right signal to a locked-down populace ?
The media paid much attention to an awkward moment earlier this month , when German Chancellor Angela Merkel attempted to shake hands with her interior minister , Horst Seehofer , as the number of coronavirus cases was on the uptick .
The minister did the seemingly unthinkable and declined Merkel ’ s advances , forcing the ‘ social-distancing ’ mantra on his superior .
An outburst of laughter defused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whether the scene was staged or not we may never know , but it did succeed in driving home the unmistakable message : keep your dirty paws to yourself and we may all get through this pandemic alive .
Despite the disappearance of handshaking , however , Covid-19 has mushroomed across Germany .
This week , the number of confirmed cases has been surging by over 4,000 cases a day , making the European Union ’ s largest economy one of the hardest-hit in terms of people infected .
By Thursday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected and 198 had died from the mysterious .
Germany has imposed harsh travel restrictions , essentially entering a bunker mentality amid creeping hysteria seizing the country .
Only German nationals or foreign citizens with an “ urgent reason to travel ” may cross the border .
Shockingly , however , refugees from the Middle East and Africa arriving at Germany ’ s border in search of asylum are given the red carpet treatment into the country .
While it may be difficult to argue against providing humanitarian assistance to refugees under ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point in imposing a transnational quarantine if you ’ re going to let in a select category of people whose movements can ’ t be tracked for infection safety ?
To do so in the middle of a deadly global pandemic is a bit like puffing away on a cigarette at a gas station .
At the very least it makes for some very poor optics .
After all , Germany is currently experiencing living conditions not witnessed since World War II .
Even in the capital , Berlin , panic buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foreboding climate of helplessness and despair .
To compound the mounting frustration , Germans , a traditionally gregarious people famous for their Oktoberfest revelries , have been ordered not to congregate in groups larger than two people , although families have been spared from this harsh rule .
The average German may even have temporarily forgotten about his own plight when it was reported that Angela Merkel had been forced into quarantine after her doctor tested positive for the disease .
Meanwhile , it can not be ignored that the European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks .
Nowhere is that more evident than in Italy , which is currently under a mandatory nationwide quarantine with the death toll spilling over 8,000 .
Germany is not immune to the emergency facing Italy , nor is the rest of the European continent .
Just this week , six Italians infected with Covid-19 arrived in Germany for medical treatment , with at least another 10 patients expected in the coming days .
Aside from the question as to whether Germany ’ s medical facilities can handle the growing demand is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granting asylum to refugees who have not only entered the European Union illegally , but have necessarily traveled through high-infection countries , like Italy and Spain , in their personal quest to receive asylum ?
A critical point to remember is that if a refugee makes it to the German border that can mean only one thing : that individual has more than likely broken the quarantine rules now being enforced across Italy and Spain , the two primary points of entry for migrants making their way to Europe from the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , any refugee now standing on Germany ’ s doorstep looking for asylum has traversed long distances through high-infection zones , possibly even infecting people along the way .
Although German authorities have established quarantine rules for new arrivals , not all of the refugees are keeping to their accommodations .
For example , after one asylum seeker tested positive for coronavirus at the Suhl asylum center in the German state of Thuringia , some 500 migrants from the facility began to riot after being placed into quarantine .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reestablish order .
Despite such measures , it does seem possible for coronavirus-carrying refugees to infect people once they are granted admission to Germany .
After all , no prevention method , even a nationwide lockdown , is absolutely fool-proof ; mistakes can happen anywhere and at any time .
In any case , optics at this sensitive moment are critical .
Now would seem to be the perfect opportunity for Germany to send an unmistakable message , much like Greece is doing as it works to repel the hundreds of refugees gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU-wide quarantine is for all people , regardless of their situation , not just fellow Europeans .
Germany ’ s past decision to open its border to millions of illegal aliens from abroad was controversial enough , leading to major setbacks for Merkel ’ s Christian Democrats .
To continue the practice now amid a global pandemic is at least politically reckless .
It seems inevitable that many people will come to view Germany ’ s ‘ helping hand ’ to refugees during a pandemic as simply too dangerous at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered taboo .
Europe needs to cure itself before re-embarking on the admirable cause of rescuing refugees from their plight , possibly at the expense of its own citizens ’ safety .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Gemany’s policy to continue to allow migrants and asylum seekers into their country amidst coronavirus pandemic fears, while simultaneously closing German borders to EU member states.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
The Duran Audio Podcast:
Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
“Germany plays Russian roulette with Covid-19, welcomes refugees from high-risk infection zones,” authored by Robert Bridge, via RT…
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, Germany has shut its borders – but asylum seekers are still being accepted, even if they may have moved through the worst-affected countries. Is that the right signal to a locked-down populace?
The media paid much attention to an awkward moment earlier this month, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel attempted to shake hands with her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, as the number of coronavirus cases was on the uptick. The minister did the seemingly unthinkable and declined Merkel’s advances, forcing the ‘social-distancing’ mantra on his superior. An outburst of laughter defused any discomfort the moment may have caused.
Whether the scene was staged or not we may never know, but it did succeed in driving home the unmistakable message: keep your dirty paws to yourself and we may all get through this pandemic alive. Despite the disappearance of handshaking, however, Covid-19 has mushroomed across Germany. This week, the number of confirmed cases has been surging by over 4,000 cases a day, making the European Union’s largest economy one of the hardest-hit in terms of people infected. By Thursday’s count, over 36,000 Germans were infected and 198 had died from the mysterious.
Germany has imposed harsh travel restrictions, essentially entering a bunker mentality amid creeping hysteria seizing the country. Only German nationals or foreign citizens with an “urgent reason to travel” may cross the border. Shockingly, however, refugees from the Middle East and Africa arriving at Germany’s border in search of asylum are given the red carpet treatment into the country.
While it may be difficult to argue against providing humanitarian assistance to refugees under ‘normal circumstances,’ what’s the point in imposing a transnational quarantine if you’re going to let in a select category of people whose movements can’t be tracked for infection safety?
To do so in the middle of a deadly global pandemic is a bit like puffing away on a cigarette at a gas station. At the very least it makes for some very poor optics.
After all, Germany is currently experiencing living conditions not witnessed since World War II. Even in the capital, Berlin, panic buying has led to empty store shelves amidst a foreboding climate of helplessness and despair. To compound the mounting frustration, Germans, a traditionally gregarious people famous for their Oktoberfest revelries, have been ordered not to congregate in groups larger than two people, although families have been spared from this harsh rule. The average German may even have temporarily forgotten about his own plight when it was reported that Angela Merkel had been forced into quarantine after her doctor tested positive for the disease.
Meanwhile, it cannot be ignored that the European Union is currently ground zero for new coronavirus outbreaks. Nowhere is that more evident than in Italy, which is currently under a mandatory nationwide quarantine with the death toll spilling over 8,000. Germany is not immune to the emergency facing Italy, nor is the rest of the European continent. Just this week, six Italians infected with Covid-19 arrived in Germany for medical treatment, with at least another 10 patients expected in the coming days.
Aside from the question as to whether Germany’s medical facilities can handle the growing demand is an equally problematic issue: should Germany be granting asylum to refugees who have not only entered the European Union illegally, but have necessarily traveled through high-infection countries, like Italy and Spain, in their personal quest to receive asylum?
A critical point to remember is that if a refugee makes it to the German border that can mean only one thing: that individual has more than likely broken the quarantine rules now being enforced across Italy and Spain, the two primary points of entry for migrants making their way to Europe from the Middle East and Africa via the Mediterranean Sea. In other words, any refugee now standing on Germany’s doorstep looking for asylum has traversed long distances through high-infection zones, possibly even infecting people along the way.
Although German authorities have established quarantine rules for new arrivals, not all of the refugees are keeping to their accommodations. For example, after one asylum seeker tested positive for coronavirus at the Suhl asylum center in the German state of Thuringia, some 500 migrants from the facility began to riot after being placed into quarantine. Around 200 police officers were called in to reestablish order. Despite such measures, it does seem possible for coronavirus-carrying refugees to infect people once they are granted admission to Germany. After all, no prevention method, even a nationwide lockdown, is absolutely fool-proof; mistakes can happen anywhere and at any time. In any case, optics at this sensitive moment are critical.
Now would seem to be the perfect opportunity for Germany to send an unmistakable message, much like Greece is doing as it works to repel the hundreds of refugees gathered at its border with Turkey – that the EU-wide quarantine is for all people, regardless of their situation, not just fellow Europeans. Germany’s past decision to open its border to millions of illegal aliens from abroad was controversial enough, leading to major setbacks for Merkel’s Christian Democrats. To continue the practice now amid a global pandemic is at least politically reckless.
It seems inevitable that many people will come to view Germany’s ‘helping hand’ to refugees during a pandemic as simply too dangerous at a time when even handshakes among government officials are considered taboo. Europe needs to cure itself before re-embarking on the admirable cause of rescuing refugees from their plight, possibly at the expense of its own citizens’ safety.
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