csmonitor--2020-02-18--Coronavirus outbreak: Three questions on China’s response

Yet when it comes to informing the rest of the world , Beijing has acted far more quickly than it did in 2003 , during the SARS epidemic .
And that means governments , foundations , and international organizations have begun pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the fight – though the extent of aid China will allow is unclear .
Take Beijing ’ s tight grip on the media .
Authorities were slow to publicize the threat to their own public , which experts say could have helped the virus spread .
Early on , doctors drawing attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumormongering , ” and two bloggers writing about the virus have disappeared .
Given that China has 1.4 billion people , and nearly 30 of the world ’ s 100 most populous cities , perhaps that isn ’ t surprising .
But there are some unique factors that shape outbreaks ’ origins , and Beijing ’ s response – not to mention , how the rest of the world can or can ’ t help .
For the past 70 years or so , a major outbreak has come out of China roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current coronavirus .
When coronavirus first started dominating global headlines , it quickly raised alarm – but maybe not surprise .
Every decade or so , a major outbreak has come out of China , from the 1957 Asian flu to the SARS epidemic in 2003 .
Why is that ?
It ’ s hard to say – and worth keeping in mind that other parts of the world have also experienced outbreaks in recent years , such as the 2009 swine flu pandemic that started in Mexico , and the MERS coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many Chinese at home and abroad have raised concern about increased bias since this outbreak came to light .
Here ’ s a look at how China ’ s top-down politics plays into public health , as well as what Beijing and the rest of the world are doing to stem the tide .
Why does China see so many outbreaks ?
Contributing factors include sheer demographics .
China ’ s huge population of 1.4 billion includes nearly 30 of the world ’ s 100 most populous cities .
Adding to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farm dwellers and animals .
Chinese leader Xi Jinping criticized the “ bad habit ” of eating wild animals as “ a major hidden danger to public health ” and ordered a crackdown on illegal wildlife markets that Chinese researchers have identified as a source of virus transmission .
Beijing ’ s tight grip on media also plays a role .
Chinese authorities were slow to publicize the threat to their own public .
“ Information could have been shared with the public earlier in ways that would have helped reduce the probability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so fast , ” says Jeremy Lee Wallace , an associate professor at Cornell University who researches authoritarian politics and China .
Early on , doctors drawing attention to the problem were accused of “ rumormongering , ” and two bloggers writing about the virus have disappeared .
Observers have also noted that regional officials may have been reluctant to share bad news with Beijing .
Two months into the outbreak , how is China responding ?
Beijing has acted far more quickly in informing the international community about the current outbreak than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say , despite censorship within China .
In 2003 , “ there was a lot of secrecy ” and “ a long delay in China notifying internationally , ” says Ann Marie Kimball , a physician and epidemiologist who led the APEC Emerging Infections Network at the time .
In contrast , this time China ’ s health authorities announced the discovery of the coronavirus and within a week had published the genomic sequence , “ so all around the world countries could begin to understand it , ” says Dr. Kimball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center on Global Health Security at Chatham House .
“ China has demonstrated an incredible technological depth.
” But experts question the effectiveness of China ’ s massive lockdown and quarantine of Wuhan , a city of 11 million .
Concentrating people in large facilities risks worsening the spread , especially as critical supplies are running short .
“ The containment strategy is going to be very challenging for them to be successful with , ” says Dr. Kimball .
How can the rest of the world help ?
Governments , foundations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars into the fight .
The U.S. government has pledged up to $ 100 million to help China and other affected countries , and has facilitated the transport of more than 17 tons of masks , respirators , and other supplies to China .
Meanwhile , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is donating up to $ 100 million to improve detection , isolation , and treatment efforts , says Jeff Hall , a deputy director at the foundation .
Nevertheless , China was slow to grant access to experts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12-member team for arrival in mid-February .
“ Whether humanitarian actors will be allowed to go in and provide the type of support that is usually needed in a potential humanitarian crisis of this magnitude remains to be seen , ” says Gabrielle Fitzgerald , founder and CEO of Panorama , a Seattle-based “ action tank , ” who has worked on combating Ebola and malaria .
“ China has really closed themselves off to everyone … but obviously if the situation gets significantly worse they may need to admit they need help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
”

Yet when it comes to informing the rest of the world, Beijing has acted far more quickly than it did in 2003, during the SARS epidemic. And that means governments, foundations, and international organizations have begun pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the fight – though the extent of aid China will allow is unclear.
Take Beijing’s tight grip on the media. Authorities were slow to publicize the threat to their own public, which experts say could have helped the virus spread. Early on, doctors drawing attention to the problem were accused of “rumormongering,” and two bloggers writing about the virus have disappeared.
Outbreaks create fear – not just of disease, but sometimes of the places they originate and the people who live there. Taking a step back gives some perspective on China’s crisis.
Given that China has 1.4 billion people, and nearly 30 of the world’s 100 most populous cities, perhaps that isn’t surprising. But there are some unique factors that shape outbreaks’ origins, and Beijing’s response – not to mention, how the rest of the world can or can’t help.
For the past 70 years or so, a major outbreak has come out of China roughly every decade – right up to the current coronavirus.
When coronavirus first started dominating global headlines, it quickly raised alarm – but maybe not surprise. Every decade or so, a major outbreak has come out of China, from the 1957 Asian flu to the SARS epidemic in 2003.
Why is that? It’s hard to say – and worth keeping in mind that other parts of the world have also experienced outbreaks in recent years, such as the 2009 swine flu pandemic that started in Mexico, and the MERS coronavirus that originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Many Chinese at home and abroad have raised concern about increased bias since this outbreak came to light.
Here’s a look at how China’s top-down politics plays into public health, as well as what Beijing and the rest of the world are doing to stem the tide.
Why We Wrote This Outbreaks create fear – not just of disease, but sometimes of the places they originate and the people who live there. Taking a step back gives some perspective on China’s crisis.
Why does China see so many outbreaks?
Contributing factors include sheer demographics. China’s huge population of 1.4 billion includes nearly 30 of the world’s 100 most populous cities. Adding to this is the close proximity of city and farm dwellers and animals. Chinese leader Xi Jinping criticized the “bad habit” of eating wild animals as “a major hidden danger to public health” and ordered a crackdown on illegal wildlife markets that Chinese researchers have identified as a source of virus transmission.
Beijing’s tight grip on media also plays a role. Chinese authorities were slow to publicize the threat to their own public. “Information could have been shared with the public earlier in ways that would have helped reduce the probability of the virus spreading so far and so fast,” says Jeremy Lee Wallace, an associate professor at Cornell University who researches authoritarian politics and China. Early on, doctors drawing attention to the problem were accused of “rumormongering,” and two bloggers writing about the virus have disappeared. Observers have also noted that regional officials may have been reluctant to share bad news with Beijing.
Two months into the outbreak, how is China responding?
Beijing has acted far more quickly in informing the international community about the current outbreak than it did during the SARS epidemic, experts say, despite censorship within China. In 2003, “there was a lot of secrecy” and “a long delay in China notifying internationally,” says Ann Marie Kimball, a physician and epidemiologist who led the APEC Emerging Infections Network at the time. In contrast, this time China’s health authorities announced the discovery of the coronavirus and within a week had published the genomic sequence, “so all around the world countries could begin to understand it,” says Dr. Kimball, now a senior fellow at the Center on Global Health Security at Chatham House. “China has demonstrated an incredible technological depth.”
But experts question the effectiveness of China’s massive lockdown and quarantine of Wuhan, a city of 11 million. Concentrating people in large facilities risks worsening the spread, especially as critical supplies are running short. “The containment strategy is going to be very challenging for them to be successful with,” says Dr. Kimball.
How can the rest of the world help?
Governments, foundations, and international organizations are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the fight. The U.S. government has pledged up to $100 million to help China and other affected countries, and has facilitated the transport of more than 17 tons of masks, respirators, and other supplies to China. Meanwhile, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is donating up to $100 million to improve detection, isolation, and treatment efforts, says Jeff Hall, a deputy director at the foundation.
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Nevertheless, China was slow to grant access to experts from the World Health Organization, approving a 12-member team for arrival in mid-February.
“Whether humanitarian actors will be allowed to go in and provide the type of support that is usually needed in a potential humanitarian crisis of this magnitude remains to be seen,” says Gabrielle Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of Panorama, a Seattle-based “action tank,” who has worked on combating Ebola and malaria. “China has really closed themselves off to everyone … but obviously if the situation gets significantly worse they may need to admit they need help and call on other actors to support them.”


csmonitor--2020-04-10--Native Americans drum on as uplifting powwows move online

The names pop up quickly on Whitney Rencountre 's computer screen , and he greets them as he would in person .
What 's up , y'all ?
Shout out to you .
How 's it going ?
Ya'at'eeh .
Good to see you , relatives .
He spots someone from the Menominee Nation , a Wisconsin tribe that hosts competitive dancers , singers , and drummers in traditional regalia in late summer .
`` Beautiful powwow there , '' he says .
The emcee from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota typically is on the powwow circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times .
Amid the coronavirus pandemic , the gatherings are taking on a new form online .
`` Sometimes we have this illusion that we 're in total control , but it takes times like this of uncertainty and the challenges of the possibility of death to help us step back and reevaluate , '' said Mr. Rencountre , a co-organizer of the Facebook group Social Distance Powwow , which sprung up about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised people to stay home .
Normally this time of year , a string of powwows hosted by Native American tribes and universities would be underway across the United States , with tribal members honoring and showcasing their cultures – and socializing , like family reunions .
The powwows represent an evolution of songs and dances from when tribal traditions were forced underground during European settlement , Mr. Rencountre said .
The pandemic has canceled or postponed virtually all of them , including two of the largest in the U.S. – the Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Albuquerque , New Mexico , held in April .
Social Distance Powwow has helped fill the void , quickly growing to more than 125,000 members .
Members from different tribal nations post photos and videos of themselves and loved ones dancing , often in their regalia .
The page has become a daily dose of prayer , songs , dances , well wishes , humor , and happy birthdays .
In one video , Jordan Kor sits in his vehicle after a shift at a San Jose , California , hospital emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he learned as a child that can be a rallying cry was bouncing around his head .
He pulls off his mask and cap and sings , slapping a beat on the steering wheel .
`` The biggest ones , social distance , keep working in whatever it is that brings you joy and helps you keep connected , '' said Mr. Kor , who is Tarahumara and Wapetonwon Lakota .
`` And wash your hands ! ''
The page also hosts a weekly , live powwow with the organizers – Mr. Rencountre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – assembling a lineup of volunteer drum groups , singers , and dancers for the hours-long event .
This past weekend , Mr. Rencountre patched people in from across the country on the live feed .
A marketplace on the site lets vendors showcase their paintings , beadwork , jewelry , basketry , and clothing .
An online powwow lacks some of the grandeur of being in person and seeing hundreds of performers fill an arena for the grand entry .
It does n't have a roll call of tribal royalty , singers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't have categories for competitive dancing .
But it offers a way to keep people connected .
`` When we dance , we are dancing for prayer and protection , '' said member Mable Moses of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina .
`` No matter what we do , may the Lord always protect us whether we ’ re living or dying . ''
Ms. Moses learned to dance later in life and now competes in the `` golden age '' category at powwows .
In a video of her Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogwood tree in her yard slowly but with high energy .
`` Even though I 'm 72 , I 'm like 29 , '' she said .
Ms. Moses said the dance meant to calm people helps her cope with the fear surrounding the coronavirus , and the difficulty of staying away from others .
Tribal members also are posting elsewhere on social media , including youth hoop dancers from Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico .
For those viewing for the first time , Mr. Rencountre encourages an open mind .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to feel the dances , to feel the songs , as you ’ re watching , '' he said .
`` Don ’ t think about it from a technical point of view .
Understand the creation of these songs and dances comes from a place of uplifting . ''
Leiha Peters grew up doing jingle dress dance meant for healing .
The dress is characterized by cone-shaped jingles typically made from the lids of tobacco cans .
Now , she does beadwork for her children 's outfits and is a Seneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video of two of her children and their cousins doing smoke dance in the living room of her home on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation northeast of Buffalo , New York .
Its origins are mixed as a dance for men to bless themselves before they went to battle and a way to clear smoke from traditional homes called longhouses , she said .
Her children grow up knowing the respect and the protocol that accompany the dance and its songs .
They also have fun with it , sometimes competing in the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or bags of candy , Ms. Peters said .
`` For them , dancing is medicine on its own .
It ’ s everything to us , '' she said .
`` It ’ s energy , it ’ s athleticism , it ’ s staying healthy , and living a better life with food choices .
It ’ s not easy doing what they do . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s free .

The names pop up quickly on Whitney Rencountre's computer screen, and he greets them as he would in person.
What's up, y'all? Shout out to you. How's it going? Ya'at'eeh. Good to see you, relatives.
He spots someone from the Menominee Nation, a Wisconsin tribe that hosts competitive dancers, singers, and drummers in traditional regalia in late summer.
"Beautiful powwow there," he says.
The emcee from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota typically is on the powwow circuit in the spring, joining thousands of others in colorful displays of culture and tradition that are at their essence meant to uplift people during difficult times. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the gatherings are taking on a new form online.
"Sometimes we have this illusion that we're in total control, but it takes times like this of uncertainty and the challenges of the possibility of death to help us step back and reevaluate," said Mr. Rencountre, a co-organizer of the Facebook group Social Distance Powwow, which sprung up about a month ago as more states and tribes advised people to stay home.
Normally this time of year, a string of powwows hosted by Native American tribes and universities would be underway across the United States, with tribal members honoring and showcasing their cultures – and socializing, like family reunions. The powwows represent an evolution of songs and dances from when tribal traditions were forced underground during European settlement, Mr. Rencountre said.
The pandemic has canceled or postponed virtually all of them, including two of the largest in the U.S. – the Denver March Powwow and the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, held in April.
Social Distance Powwow has helped fill the void, quickly growing to more than 125,000 members.
Members from different tribal nations post photos and videos of themselves and loved ones dancing, often in their regalia. The page has become a daily dose of prayer, songs, dances, well wishes, humor, and happy birthdays.
In one video, Jordan Kor sits in his vehicle after a shift at a San Jose, California, hospital emergency department. An old Dakota war song he learned as a child that can be a rallying cry was bouncing around his head. He pulls off his mask and cap and sings, slapping a beat on the steering wheel.
"The biggest ones, social distance, keep working in whatever it is that brings you joy and helps you keep connected," said Mr. Kor, who is Tarahumara and Wapetonwon Lakota. "And wash your hands!"
The page also hosts a weekly, live powwow with the organizers – Mr. Rencountre, Stephanie Hebert, and Dan Simonds – assembling a lineup of volunteer drum groups, singers, and dancers for the hours-long event. This past weekend, Mr. Rencountre patched people in from across the country on the live feed.
A marketplace on the site lets vendors showcase their paintings, beadwork, jewelry, basketry, and clothing.
An online powwow lacks some of the grandeur of being in person and seeing hundreds of performers fill an arena for the grand entry. It doesn't have a roll call of tribal royalty, singers, and champion dancers. And it doesn't have categories for competitive dancing.
But it offers a way to keep people connected.
"When we dance, we are dancing for prayer and protection," said member Mable Moses of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina. "No matter what we do, may the Lord always protect us whether we’re living or dying."
Ms. Moses learned to dance later in life and now competes in the "golden age" category at powwows. In a video of her Southern Traditional dance, she moves around a dogwood tree in her yard slowly but with high energy.
"Even though I'm 72, I'm like 29," she said.
Ms. Moses said the dance meant to calm people helps her cope with the fear surrounding the coronavirus, and the difficulty of staying away from others.
Tribal members also are posting elsewhere on social media, including youth hoop dancers from Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico.
For those viewing for the first time, Mr. Rencountre encourages an open mind.
"We ask them to break down the wall, to feel the dances, to feel the songs, as you’re watching," he said. "Don’t think about it from a technical point of view. Understand the creation of these songs and dances comes from a place of uplifting."
Leiha Peters grew up doing jingle dress dance meant for healing. The dress is characterized by cone-shaped jingles typically made from the lids of tobacco cans. Now, she does beadwork for her children's outfits and is a Seneca language teacher.
She recently posted a video of two of her children and their cousins doing smoke dance in the living room of her home on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation northeast of Buffalo, New York. Its origins are mixed as a dance for men to bless themselves before they went to battle and a way to clear smoke from traditional homes called longhouses, she said.
Her children grow up knowing the respect and the protocol that accompany the dance and its songs. They also have fun with it, sometimes competing in the family's backyard to win cups of Kool-Aid or bags of candy, Ms. Peters said.
"For them, dancing is medicine on its own. It’s everything to us," she said. "It’s energy, it’s athleticism, it’s staying healthy, and living a better life with food choices. It’s not easy doing what they do."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-20--As Moscow locks down, small businesses feel the crunch

“ They are really trying to be helpful .
It ’ s like a war situation , where everybody should pull together .
If that spirit lasts , even a little bit , that would be good.
” Some hold out hope the crisis will bring change , and , maybe , official attitudes toward them will improve .
Mikhail Sagiryan , who runs two fitness clubs in the Moscow region that he ’ s had to close , says his relations with local officials have greatly improved in the past month .
Vladimir Putin has decreed that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of small businesses , including direct subsidies of $ 162 ( the minimum wage ) per employee every month for those that retain at least 90 % of their staff .
But now that the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a lockdown of Moscow , Russia ’ s main economic and transport hub , until at least the end of April , many entrepreneurs describe the threat they face as existential .
Small businesses make up less than 20 % of Russia ’ s economy , though they have proliferated and diversified in Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence seems a bit of a miracle , and most still find it very tough going in the best of times .
The rise of Oleg Sirota ’ s cheese business , and its current dire straits , is actually a tale of two crises .
Mr. Sirota produces quality European-style cheeses , such as parmesan , cheddar , and Gruyere which , until recently , he distributed to eager clients through the Moscow region ’ s network of farmers markets .
The cutoff of European food imports to Russia amid the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afforded him and many others the opportunity to step into areas of niche production where they formerly never would have stood a chance of competing .
But now Russia ’ s coronavirus shutdown is battering his supply lines , scattering the workforce , and severely challenging his ability to keep things going .
The entire city of Moscow is shut down at least until the end of April , and no one may even leave home without a digital permit that states their reason for doing so .
Buying cheese isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a serious problem for Mr. Sirota .
“ We can ’ t stop working , ” he says .
“ Cows have to be milked every day .
If we throw the milk out , we ’ ll soon go bankrupt .
Our partners who work with us will go bankrupt , and our skilled workers will be permanently out of a job .
Everything we ’ ve built will be lost.
” Small businesses like Mr. Sirota ’ s – he has fewer than 200 employees – make up less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though they have proliferated and diversified in Russian cities in recent years .
Their very existence seems a bit of a miracle , since any form of private entrepreneurship was treated as criminal activity during the Soviet era , and most still find it very tough going in the best of times .
Among the head winds they face are official corruption , endless red tape , and public suspicion rooted in Soviet-era biases .
Some describe the challenge they face now as an existential threat .
“ The situation in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nesvetov , an official of Opora , the organization that represents small businesses in Russia .
“ The drop in custom for many of our members is nearly total .
If we don ’ t get very real support , a lot of our people will lose everything.
” But Mr. Sirota – like other small business owners – is determined to survive .
He ’ s brought his most essential employees to the Moscow-region village where his cheese-making operation is located , rented housing for them , and put them up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the duration .
He ’ s also leased a fleet of vans , is advertising on social media , and hopes to sell his production by direct delivery .
“ Over 3 million Muscovites have left the city , ” he says , referring to the fact that many urban Russians own countryside dachas , or cottages , where huge numbers have repaired to sit out the crisis .
“ We are already up to 100 deliveries daily and if we can get that up to 300 , I think we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the start of this I gave a pep talk to my staff , assuring them that we will overcome .
I did that mainly to encourage them .
But now I ’ m actually starting to believe it myself.
” The coronavirus pandemic crept up slowly on Russia – its impact is still well behind many European countries , much less the U.S. , with the total cases brought up to 47,121 on Monday – but it is hitting now , especially in Moscow , the country ’ s main economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of complacency , Vladimir Putin reacted in March by announcing a nationwide shutdown , now extended to April 30 , and turned over most of the government ’ s responses to a team of technocrats .
Many of their initiatives have been well received , including intensive consultations with the business community , and measures to provide tax deferrals , zero-interest bank loans , and rent relief for struggling companies .
But few small business operators report any of the declared assistance .
That may be due to logjams in Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit to small businesses .
Mr. Putin has left most of the heavy lifting and bad-news delivering to his coronavirus response team .
Instead he ’ s given a few reassuring “ fireside chat ” talks to the country , and held online conferences with officials .
But he ’ s also taken steps that could have long-term repercussions .
One has been to relax Russia ’ s tight centralization and hand more authority over to local governors to handle their own regions ’ pandemic problems .
Another was to decree on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention to the survival of small businesses , including direct subsidies of $ 162 ( the minimum wage ) per employee every month for those that retain at least 90 % of their staff .
Russian entrepreneurs tend to be a hardy breed and , although many speak in despairing terms about the current near-total loss of business and the paucity of official assistance , quite a few say they are finding ways to dig in for the long term and find workarounds .
So says Tatiana Sokolova , head of a Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central Russian hometown of Torzhok to help develop its tourist potential .
“ In the hotel and restaurant business , all activity has ceased .
But we have long-term relations with our clients , and we can expect that to return , ” says Ms. Sokolova .
“ I ’ ve managed to keep most of my team .
I ’ ve had to reduce their salaries , but promised to make it up to them .
We face new problems every day , but I think we will manage .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are even stepping up to help by arranging delivery of prepared meals to the city ’ s thousands of beleaguered medical workers after it became known that the government had no plan for feeding them .
Some hold out hope the crisis will bring change , that lessons will be learned , laws and regulations will be overhauled and , maybe , official attitudes toward them will improve .
Mikhail Sagiryan runs two fitness clubs in the Moscow region , which he ’ s had to close .
He says it would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t lose his premises – something the Moscow government has started to do – but if this doesn ’ t go on for too long , he should be able to wait it out .
“ The main thing is that the government should take care of ordinary people , ” he says .
“ Business is low on their list of official priorities , we always have been , but common people are very important because they vote , come out to parades , and such .
So , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintains order and calm , this will be good for my business in the long run.
” Mr. Sagiryan says his relations with the local officials he deals with have greatly improved in the past month .
“ They are really trying to be helpful .
It ’ s like a war situation , where everybody should pull together .
If that spirit lasts , even a little bit , that would be good.
” Igor Yurgens , the director of INSOR , a pro-business think tank , says one very positive development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the government and Russia ’ s three major business groups : the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs for big , Delovaya Rossiya for medium , and Opora for small businesses .
“ Of course business is getting only part of what they ask for .
Some lifelines are thrown , but the situation is very desperate , ” he says .
“ Still , this process of consultation is working well .
It would be a very good thing if it were made permanent .
”

“They are really trying to be helpful. It’s like a war situation, where everybody should pull together. If that spirit lasts, even a little bit, that would be good.”
Some hold out hope the crisis will bring change, and, maybe, official attitudes toward them will improve. Mikhail Sagiryan, who runs two fitness clubs in the Moscow region that he’s had to close, says his relations with local officials have greatly improved in the past month.
Vladimir Putin has decreed that the government should pay special attention to the survival of small businesses, including direct subsidies of $162 (the minimum wage) per employee every month for those that retain at least 90% of their staff.
It’s never been easy to run a small business in Russia. Now the pandemic is threatening to shut them down in a new way. But Russian entrepreneurs are figuring out ways to get by, and officials are starting to help them.
But now that the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a lockdown of Moscow, Russia’s main economic and transport hub, until at least the end of April, many entrepreneurs describe the threat they face as existential.
Small businesses make up less than 20% of Russia’s economy, though they have proliferated and diversified in Russian cities in recent years. Their very existence seems a bit of a miracle, and most still find it very tough going in the best of times.
The rise of Oleg Sirota’s cheese business, and its current dire straits, is actually a tale of two crises.
Mr. Sirota produces quality European-style cheeses, such as parmesan, cheddar, and Gruyere which, until recently, he distributed to eager clients through the Moscow region’s network of farmers markets. The cutoff of European food imports to Russia amid the ongoing sanctions war that began six years ago afforded him and many others the opportunity to step into areas of niche production where they formerly never would have stood a chance of competing.
But now Russia’s coronavirus shutdown is battering his supply lines, scattering the workforce, and severely challenging his ability to keep things going. The entire city of Moscow is shut down at least until the end of April, and no one may even leave home without a digital permit that states their reason for doing so. Buying cheese isn’t on the permitted list.
Why We Wrote This It’s never been easy to run a small business in Russia. Now the pandemic is threatening to shut them down in a new way. But Russian entrepreneurs are figuring out ways to get by, and officials are starting to help them.
That’s a serious problem for Mr. Sirota. “We can’t stop working,” he says. “Cows have to be milked every day. If we throw the milk out, we’ll soon go bankrupt. Our partners who work with us will go bankrupt, and our skilled workers will be permanently out of a job. Everything we’ve built will be lost.”
Small businesses like Mr. Sirota’s – he has fewer than 200 employees – make up less than 20% of Russia’s economy, though they have proliferated and diversified in Russian cities in recent years. Their very existence seems a bit of a miracle, since any form of private entrepreneurship was treated as criminal activity during the Soviet era, and most still find it very tough going in the best of times. Among the head winds they face are official corruption, endless red tape, and public suspicion rooted in Soviet-era biases. Some describe the challenge they face now as an existential threat.
“The situation in our sphere is catastrophic,” says Dmitry Nesvetov, an official of Opora, the organization that represents small businesses in Russia. “The drop in custom for many of our members is nearly total. If we don’t get very real support, a lot of our people will lose everything.”
But Mr. Sirota – like other small business owners – is determined to survive. He’s brought his most essential employees to the Moscow-region village where his cheese-making operation is located, rented housing for them, and put them up in what he calls “barracks” mode for the duration. He’s also leased a fleet of vans, is advertising on social media, and hopes to sell his production by direct delivery.
“Over 3 million Muscovites have left the city,” he says, referring to the fact that many urban Russians own countryside dachas, or cottages, where huge numbers have repaired to sit out the crisis. “We are already up to 100 deliveries daily and if we can get that up to 300, I think we’re going to make it through this. At the start of this I gave a pep talk to my staff, assuring them that we will overcome. I did that mainly to encourage them. But now I’m actually starting to believe it myself.”
Entrepreneurs in crisis
The coronavirus pandemic crept up slowly on Russia – its impact is still well behind many European countries, much less the U.S., with the total cases brought up to 47,121 on Monday – but it is hitting now, especially in Moscow, the country’s main economic and transport hub. After a period of complacency, Vladimir Putin reacted in March by announcing a nationwide shutdown, now extended to April 30, and turned over most of the government’s responses to a team of technocrats.
Many of their initiatives have been well received, including intensive consultations with the business community, and measures to provide tax deferrals, zero-interest bank loans, and rent relief for struggling companies. But few small business operators report any of the declared assistance. That may be due to logjams in Russia’s banks, which are reluctant to issue credit to small businesses.
Mr. Putin has left most of the heavy lifting and bad-news delivering to his coronavirus response team. Instead he’s given a few reassuring “fireside chat” talks to the country, and held online conferences with officials. But he’s also taken steps that could have long-term repercussions. One has been to relax Russia’s tight centralization and hand more authority over to local governors to handle their own regions’ pandemic problems. Another was to decree on April 15 that the government should pay special attention to the survival of small businesses, including direct subsidies of $162 (the minimum wage) per employee every month for those that retain at least 90% of their staff.
Russian entrepreneurs tend to be a hardy breed and, although many speak in despairing terms about the current near-total loss of business and the paucity of official assistance, quite a few say they are finding ways to dig in for the long term and find workarounds.
So says Tatiana Sokolova, head of a Moscow marketing firm who recently returned to her central Russian hometown of Torzhok to help develop its tourist potential.
“In the hotel and restaurant business, all activity has ceased. But we have long-term relations with our clients, and we can expect that to return,” says Ms. Sokolova. “I’ve managed to keep most of my team. I’ve had to reduce their salaries, but promised to make it up to them. We face new problems every day, but I think we will manage. We have good people.”
Several restaurateurs in Moscow are even stepping up to help by arranging delivery of prepared meals to the city’s thousands of beleaguered medical workers after it became known that the government had no plan for feeding them.
Building cooperation?
Some hold out hope the crisis will bring change, that lessons will be learned, laws and regulations will be overhauled and, maybe, official attitudes toward them will improve.
Mikhail Sagiryan runs two fitness clubs in the Moscow region, which he’s had to close. He says it would be good to get some guarantees that he won’t lose his premises – something the Moscow government has started to do – but if this doesn’t go on for too long, he should be able to wait it out.
“The main thing is that the government should take care of ordinary people,” he says. “Business is low on their list of official priorities, we always have been, but common people are very important because they vote, come out to parades, and such. So, if the government provides money for people, maintains order and calm, this will be good for my business in the long run.”
Mr. Sagiryan says his relations with the local officials he deals with have greatly improved in the past month. “They are really trying to be helpful. It’s like a war situation, where everybody should pull together. If that spirit lasts, even a little bit, that would be good.”
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Igor Yurgens, the director of INSOR, a pro-business think tank, says one very positive development in this emergency has been regular consultations between the government and Russia’s three major business groups: the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs for big, Delovaya Rossiya for medium, and Opora for small businesses.
“Of course business is getting only part of what they ask for. Some lifelines are thrown, but the situation is very desperate,” he says. “Still, this process of consultation is working well. It would be a very good thing if it were made permanent.”


csmonitor--2020-04-24--When guns bloomed with flowers: In lockdown, Portugal remembers

Historian Irene Pimentel points out what ’ s been gained since the end of dictatorship : access to education , more rights for women , social welfare .
“ With this pandemic we ’ re dependent on the national health care system , something that was won with the revolution , ” says Dr. Pimentel .
“ It ’ s terrible to think that someone could be denied medical care just because they are poor .
For us now it ’ s something unimaginable.
” A former political prisoner , Artur Pinto , will sing from his home , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our freedom of movement is conditioned but our fundamental freedoms have been guaranteed , ” he says .
This year ’ s Freedom Day won ’ t be marked by massive celebrations .
But Col. Vasco Lourenço , a key military officer in the coup , refuses to surrender his national holiday to the coronavirus .
At 3 p.m. from his window he ’ ll sing the song that secretly signaled the start of the revolution on the radio .
It may be maligned in fancy bouquets , but the red carnation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portugal ’ s democracy 46 years ago .
On April 25 , 1974 , soldiers put flowers in their gun barrels and civilians in the streets joined the nonviolent military coup , ending authoritarian rule and hastening Portugal ’ s decolonization of Africa .
For the past four decades , Col. Vasco Lourenço has spent every April 25 on the streets of Lisbon celebrating Freedom Day .
This year will be different .
There will be no parades , no concerts , no crowds walking down Freedom Avenue carrying red carnations .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the young Portuguese officers who led a nonviolent military coup that ended Europe ’ s longest lived far-right dictatorship .
Today , at 77 , he has canceled tomorrow ’ s parade , and will spend the time at home .
But Colonel Lourenço refuses to surrender his national holiday to the coronavirus .
The revolution ’ s values “ are fundamental to face the pandemic and deal with this moment of global crisis , ” he says .
As the head of the April 25 Association – which represents the revolution ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – he ’ s urging people to celebrate from home .
Colonel Lourenço has mastered video conferencing and plans to spend the day connecting with his “ comrades , ” family , and friends .
He wants everyone to sing “ Grândola Vila Morena ” ( Grândola , Swarthy Town ) at 3 p.m. “ We asked the TV stations and radios to play the song , and asked people to sing it wherever they are , from their windows or their balconies , ” he said via video .
Editor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Forty-six years ago , the song was played on the radio in the early hours of April 25 to secretly signal the start of the coup that overthrew the authoritarian regime , bringing an end to a three-front colonial war the Portuguese had been fighting in Africa since the 1960s .
“ Land of fraternity , ” the song goes , “ on each corner a friend.
” On the day of the coup , the military had asked civilians to remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets .
The armed forces ’ rebellion turned into a popular uprising , demanding democracy and social justice .
Soldiers placed blooms in their gun barrels and uniforms , and the coup was dubbed the Carnation Revolution .
For historian Irene Pimentel , a young woman during the revolution , this year the lyrics to “ Grândola Vila Morena ” resonate more strongly .
Her neighbors have offered to get groceries and to go to the pharmacy for her .
Solidarity and creativity seem to be spreading faster than the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks for family and neighbors .
Portugal ’ s March 18 lockdown closed nonessential businesses – including flower shops – but Dr. Pimentel says some people are making red carnations from paper at home .
Freedom and democracy aren ’ t to be taken for granted , she says .
“ We see what ’ s happening around the world , how in countries like Hungary the pandemic is being used as an excuse to crack down on freedom and rights.
” For the first time under the democratic system , Portugal ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and freedoms during the state of emergency .
Trust in the government led by the center-left Socialist Party , however , is relatively high .
Prime Minister António Costa is enjoying growing popularity for the way he is handling the crisis .
Portugal ’ s first case of COVID-19 was discovered late for Western Europe , and the country has so far registered a high rate of coronavirus testing , with under 23,000 positive cases , and 854 deaths – fewer than its closest neighbors .
A majority has supported the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal freedoms justified by the scale and severity of the pandemic .
“ Now with the lockdown our freedom of movement is conditioned but our fundamental freedoms have been guaranteed , ” says former political prisoner Artur Pinto .
Mr. Pinto was arrested in 1965 and spent nearly two months in a 3-by-6 1/2-foot cell in the Aljube prison .
Thousands were imprisoned and tortured by PIDE , the secret police , which helped the authoritarian regime to stay in power for four decades .
Some did not leave the prison alive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison was turned into a museum .
“ Every year on April 25 we receive thousands of visitors , but this year because of the pandemic we were forced to close doors , ” says Aljube Resistance and Freedom Museum spokesperson Francisco Ruivo .
“ But pandemics won ’ t make us forget the importance of fighting for freedom.
” Mr. Pinto says that despite his hoarse voice , he will be singing from the balcony with his wife , who was also jailed as a political dissident .
Their daughter and grandchildren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not being able to hug them is a different kind of prison .
But he says the holiday needs to be celebrated .
“ We have to keep remembering it and remind the younger generations .
Remind them that we used to live in a country where there were no freedoms , where almost a third of the population was illiterate.
” Dr. Pimentel , a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History in Lisbon , points out what ’ s been gained since the end of dictatorship : access to education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welfare , universal health care .
“ With this pandemic we ’ re dependent on the national health care system , something that was won with the revolution , ” says Dr. Pimentel .
“ It ’ s terrible to think that someone could be denied medical care just because they are poor .
For us now it ’ s something unimaginable.
” For many , this year ’ s Freedom Day is also a wish for better days .
Colonel Lourenço will be singing from his window , hoping that next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real carnation in hand .
“ Solidarity , social justice , freedom ... my hope is that these values will prevail , ” he says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Historian Irene Pimentel points out what’s been gained since the end of dictatorship: access to education, more rights for women, social welfare. “With this pandemic we’re dependent on the national health care system, something that was won with the revolution,” says Dr. Pimentel. “It’s terrible to think that someone could be denied medical care just because they are poor. For us now it’s something unimaginable.”
A former political prisoner, Artur Pinto, will sing from his home, too. “Now with the lockdown, our freedom of movement is conditioned but our fundamental freedoms have been guaranteed,” he says.
The anniversary of Portugal’s young democracy is usually a festive day of song and solidarity. Amid a pandemic and global political uncertainty, it’s taking shape as something different this year.
This year’s Freedom Day won’t be marked by massive celebrations. But Col. Vasco Lourenço, a key military officer in the coup, refuses to surrender his national holiday to the coronavirus. At 3 p.m. from his window he’ll sing the song that secretly signaled the start of the revolution on the radio.
It may be maligned in fancy bouquets, but the red carnation is an enduring symbol of the revolution for Portugal’s democracy 46 years ago. On April 25, 1974, soldiers put flowers in their gun barrels and civilians in the streets joined the nonviolent military coup, ending authoritarian rule and hastening Portugal’s decolonization of Africa.
For the past four decades, Col. Vasco Lourenço has spent every April 25 on the streets of Lisbon celebrating Freedom Day. This year will be different. There will be no parades, no concerts, no crowds walking down Freedom Avenue carrying red carnations.
In 1974, Colonel Lourenço was one of the young Portuguese officers who led a nonviolent military coup that ended Europe’s longest lived far-right dictatorship. Today, at 77, he has canceled tomorrow’s parade, and will spend the time at home. But Colonel Lourenço refuses to surrender his national holiday to the coronavirus.
The revolution’s values “are fundamental to face the pandemic and deal with this moment of global crisis,” he says. As the head of the April 25 Association – which represents the revolution’s officers and organizes celebrations every year – he’s urging people to celebrate from home.
Why We Wrote This The anniversary of Portugal’s young democracy is usually a festive day of song and solidarity. Amid a pandemic and global political uncertainty, it’s taking shape as something different this year.
Colonel Lourenço has mastered video conferencing and plans to spend the day connecting with his “comrades,” family, and friends. He wants everyone to sing “Grândola Vila Morena” (Grândola, Swarthy Town) at 3 p.m.
“We asked the TV stations and radios to play the song, and asked people to sing it wherever they are, from their windows or their balconies,” he said via video.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Forty-six years ago, the song was played on the radio in the early hours of April 25 to secretly signal the start of the coup that overthrew the authoritarian regime, bringing an end to a three-front colonial war the Portuguese had been fighting in Africa since the 1960s.
“Land of fraternity,” the song goes, “on each corner a friend.”
On the day of the coup, the military had asked civilians to remain in their homes, but people poured into the streets. The armed forces’ rebellion turned into a popular uprising, demanding democracy and social justice. Soldiers placed blooms in their gun barrels and uniforms, and the coup was dubbed the Carnation Revolution.
For historian Irene Pimentel, a young woman during the revolution, this year the lyrics to “Grândola Vila Morena” resonate more strongly. Her neighbors have offered to get groceries and to go to the pharmacy for her.
Solidarity and creativity seem to be spreading faster than the virus. Many are learning how to make face masks for family and neighbors. Portugal’s March 18 lockdown closed nonessential businesses – including flower shops – but Dr. Pimentel says some people are making red carnations from paper at home.
Freedom and democracy aren’t to be taken for granted, she says. “We see what’s happening around the world, how in countries like Hungary the pandemic is being used as an excuse to crack down on freedom and rights.”
For the first time under the democratic system, Portugal’s governors are empowered to suspend rights and freedoms during the state of emergency. Trust in the government led by the center-left Socialist Party, however, is relatively high. Prime Minister António Costa is enjoying growing popularity for the way he is handling the crisis. Portugal’s first case of COVID-19 was discovered late for Western Europe, and the country has so far registered a high rate of coronavirus testing, with under 23,000 positive cases, and 854 deaths – fewer than its closest neighbors.
A majority has supported the state of emergency. Many considered the restrictions on personal freedoms justified by the scale and severity of the pandemic.
“Now with the lockdown our freedom of movement is conditioned but our fundamental freedoms have been guaranteed,” says former political prisoner Artur Pinto.
Mr. Pinto was arrested in 1965 and spent nearly two months in a 3-by-6 1/2-foot cell in the Aljube prison. Thousands were imprisoned and tortured by PIDE, the secret police, which helped the authoritarian regime to stay in power for four decades. Some did not leave the prison alive.
After the Carnation Revolution, the Aljube prison was turned into a museum.
“Every year on April 25 we receive thousands of visitors, but this year because of the pandemic we were forced to close doors,” says Aljube Resistance and Freedom Museum spokesperson Francisco Ruivo. “But pandemics won’t make us forget the importance of fighting for freedom.”
Mr. Pinto says that despite his hoarse voice, he will be singing from the balcony with his wife, who was also jailed as a political dissident. Their daughter and grandchildren live nearby and will be singing too. Not being able to hug them is a different kind of prison. But he says the holiday needs to be celebrated.
“We have to keep remembering it and remind the younger generations. Remind them that we used to live in a country where there were no freedoms, where almost a third of the population was illiterate.”
Dr. Pimentel, a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History in Lisbon, points out what’s been gained since the end of dictatorship: access to education, more rights for women, social welfare, universal health care.
“With this pandemic we’re dependent on the national health care system, something that was won with the revolution,” says Dr. Pimentel. “It’s terrible to think that someone could be denied medical care just because they are poor. For us now it’s something unimaginable.”
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
For many, this year’s Freedom Day is also a wish for better days. Colonel Lourenço will be singing from his window, hoping that next year he will be on the streets with a real carnation in hand. “Solidarity, social justice, freedom ... my hope is that these values will prevail,” he says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-22--Could pandemic pave a path to peace? Why Yemen war is resistant.

“ But the Houthis won ’ t let them go , ” she says , noting how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources .
“ You have a fundamental , objective problem : The Saudis want out , the Houthis don ’ t .
How do you deal with this ?
” And Helen Lackner , at the European Council on Foreign Relations , says “ the solution for the Saudis is , ‘ COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably , and start focusing on the rest of our problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But standing in the way of an agreement “ is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides , ” says one Yemen-based researcher .
In announcing the cease-fire , the Saudis cited the need to pave the way for talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak .
U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths noted that Yemen could not “ face two fronts at the same time : a war and a pandemic.
” Saudi Arabia ’ s announcement of a cease-fire in Yemen was welcome news .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage , and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges that remain .
Two weeks ago , Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen , following months in which it had made clear its desire to disentangle from what has proved a costly and humiliating quagmire for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .
Coming amid a global pandemic , the announcement was welcome news .
The Saudi military intervention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for creating what the United Nations calls the world ’ s worst humanitarian disaster .
But with the cease-fire expiring today , the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage , and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges to peace that remain .
In announcing the Yemen cease-fire , the Saudis cited both the need to pave the way for peace talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the impoverished and war-weary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Other positive signs followed , including U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths telling the Security Council last week of progress toward a truce in closed-door talks between the Saudis and Houthis , with agreement expected in the “ immediate future.
” The catalyst toward peace was the virus , Mr. Griffiths said , noting that Yemen could not “ face two fronts at the same time : a war and a pandemic.
” Yemen announced its first – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 on April 10 .
“ This is the time for hard decisions , ” the envoy said .
But even as the U.S. was reported Tuesday to be preparing a “ substantial contribution ” to help Yemen battle the coronavirus , and Yemen was set to receive tens of thousands of test kits donated by a group of multinational companies , the fighting has barely eased .
In return for a Saudi withdrawal , the Houthis would sign a peace deal , analysts say , and the Iran-backed Houthi movement , known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal two weeks ago .
But with battlefield momentum now in their favor , the analysts say , the Houthis expect to dictate the terms of any Saudi drawdown – which is unacceptable to Riyadh .
“ As far as the Saudis are concerned , they don ’ t know what to do , ” says Abdulghani al-Iryani , a senior researcher at the Yemen-based Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies .
“ They ’ ve given one gesture after another , but these gestures are viewed by the Houthis as empty , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of how the relationship between the two sides will be in the future .
The guarantees are not there.
” The fulcrum of any deal needs to be agreement by the Saudis to stop undermining the Houthis , and agreement by the Houthis to protect Saudi borders and limit smuggling and human trafficking , says Mr. Iryani , who was a consultant to the U.N. Development Program in Yemen until the end of 2019 .
“ What stands in the way is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantees that any deal will be implemented , in order to “ be willing to give up some power ” to the Saudi-backed , internationally recognized government – currently in exile – of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi .
The Saudi cease-fire has barely dented the conflict , nor slowed the Houthi military advance on Marib , an oil- and gas-rich prize and one of the last strongholds of pro-Hadi forces in northern Yemen .
The Saudis face another crisis in the south , where a militia backed by the United Arab Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of war is imminent ” as they advance against Saudi-backed government forces .
“ The Saudis want out ; the solution for the Saudis is , ‘ COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably , and start focusing on the rest of our problems , which are not insignificant , ’ ” says Helen Lackner , a Yemen expert and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations .
“ But the Houthis won ’ t let them go .
The Houthis want this war to go on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war to stop .
They need it , ” says Ms. Lackner , noting current rebel advances , and how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources .
“ You have a fundamental , objective problem : The Saudis want out , the Houthis don ’ t .
How do you deal with this ?
” asks Ms. Lackner , author of the 2019 book “ Yemen in Crisis : The Road to War.
” Saudi Arabia has been widely accused of elevating Yemen ’ s civil war into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern fault lines , which pit Iran and its self-declared “ axis of resistance ” against Saudi Arabia and its pro-American allies .
When Saudi officials first intervened in Yemen , leading an Arab coalition to reverse the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and reinstall the Hadi government , they promised that “ Operation Decisive Storm ” would be over within weeks .
Yet instead of a demonstration of Saudi military prowess ordered by the new and assertive crown prince , the Yemen initiative has turned into a venture that is failing , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air raids , according to the Yemen Data Project , and the loss of more than 100,000 lives – nearly all of them Yemeni , and many of them civilians .
“ Why [ the Saudis ] don ’ t declare victory and go home is a question I asked about three years ago , and it would have been a lot easier for them to declare victory [ then ] than it is today , ” says Ms. Lackner .
“ Can they announce the extension of a cease-fire that hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battlefield to-and-fro is the looming risk of the coronavirus to one of the most vulnerable populations on earth .
Already with 80 % of Yemen ’ s population reliant on aid relief , and hospitals and health infrastructure ravaged by the war , the coronavirus “ could spread fast , more widely and with deadlier consequences than in many other countries , ” Mark Lowcock , the top U.N. aid official , warned last week .
The continued fighting and few signs of any diplomatic breakthrough mean it is not yet clear how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. counts 500 Yemenis killed or injured since January , one-third of them children .
“ The big change could be if we see COVID-19 taking hold in Yemen and spreading quite quickly , as it is likely to do , ” says Peter Salisbury , the senior Yemen analyst for the International Crisis Group .
“ Yemen ’ s population is malnourished , undernourished , and it ’ s in very bad shape .
People are already dying from preventable diseases , cholera , dengue fever , and so on .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Mr. Salisbury .
“ There ’ s a public image aspect to this as well : The Houthis and government of Yemen each seek to be seen as a legitimate governing authority in Yemen , and if you are prioritizing a war over a life-threatening virus , that ’ s not great for your image , ” he says .
“ There is a lot of face to be lost in a COVID-19 outbreak , ” adds Mr. Salisbury .
“ But for the time being , the challenge would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t enough for the Houthis.
” “ We ’ re really in a place where it depends on the willingness of one or several of the key parties to take a leap of faith ... to make gestures that build confidence from the other side , ” he says .
“ The question right now is : How willing are the parties to really compromise , in any way ?
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“But the Houthis won’t let them go,” she says, noting how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources. “You have a fundamental, objective problem: The Saudis want out, the Houthis don’t. How do you deal with this?”
And Helen Lackner, at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says “the solution for the Saudis is, ‘COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably, and start focusing on the rest of our problems, which are not insignificant.’”
But standing in the way of an agreement “is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides,” says one Yemen-based researcher.
By focusing minds on what is most important, the dark cloud of the coronavirus pandemic has at times displayed a silver lining. That raised hopes for Yemen, but peace there is proving elusive.
In announcing the cease-fire, the Saudis cited the need to pave the way for talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths noted that Yemen could not “face two fronts at the same time: a war and a pandemic.”
Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a cease-fire in Yemen was welcome news. But with the two-week cease-fire expiring today, the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage, and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges that remain.
Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen, following months in which it had made clear its desire to disentangle from what has proved a costly and humiliating quagmire for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Coming amid a global pandemic, the announcement was welcome news. The Saudi military intervention, beginning in 2015, has been blamed for creating what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.
But with the cease-fire expiring today, the lack of results – with Houthi rebels continuing to press their military advantage, and Saudi planes launching scores of airstrikes in reply – is a stark reminder of the challenges to peace that remain.
Why We Wrote This By focusing minds on what is most important, the dark cloud of the coronavirus pandemic has at times displayed a silver lining. That raised hopes for Yemen, but peace there is proving elusive.
In announcing the Yemen cease-fire, the Saudis cited both the need to pave the way for peace talks and to cope with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the impoverished and war-weary country.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Other positive signs followed, including U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths telling the Security Council last week of progress toward a truce in closed-door talks between the Saudis and Houthis, with agreement expected in the “immediate future.”
The catalyst toward peace was the virus, Mr. Griffiths said, noting that Yemen could not “face two fronts at the same time: a war and a pandemic.” Yemen announced its first – and so far only – laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 on April 10. “This is the time for hard decisions,” the envoy said.
But even as the U.S. was reported Tuesday to be preparing a “substantial contribution” to help Yemen battle the coronavirus, and Yemen was set to receive tens of thousands of test kits donated by a group of multinational companies, the fighting has barely eased.
“Gap of confidence”
In return for a Saudi withdrawal, the Houthis would sign a peace deal, analysts say, and the Iran-backed Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, produced an eight-page proposal two weeks ago. But with battlefield momentum now in their favor, the analysts say, the Houthis expect to dictate the terms of any Saudi drawdown – which is unacceptable to Riyadh.
“As far as the Saudis are concerned, they don’t know what to do,” says Abdulghani al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Yemen-based Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies. “They’ve given one gesture after another, but these gestures are viewed by the Houthis as empty, given the fact that there is no overall understanding of how the relationship between the two sides will be in the future. The guarantees are not there.”
The fulcrum of any deal needs to be agreement by the Saudis to stop undermining the Houthis, and agreement by the Houthis to protect Saudi borders and limit smuggling and human trafficking, says Mr. Iryani, who was a consultant to the U.N. Development Program in Yemen until the end of 2019.
“What stands in the way is this huge gap of confidence between the two sides,” he says. The Houthis need guarantees that any deal will be implemented, in order to “be willing to give up some power” to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government – currently in exile – of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Khaled Abdullah/Reuters View caption Hide caption Houthi troops ride on the back of a police patrol truck after participating in a gathering of Houthis in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 19, 2020.
The Saudi cease-fire has barely dented the conflict, nor slowed the Houthi military advance on Marib, an oil- and gas-rich prize and one of the last strongholds of pro-Hadi forces in northern Yemen.
The Saudis face another crisis in the south, where a militia backed by the United Arab Emirates warned this week that “the outbreak of war is imminent” as they advance against Saudi-backed government forces.
Houthis “need” the war
“The Saudis want out; the solution for the Saudis is, ‘COVID-19 is a wonderful way for us to get out respectably, and start focusing on the rest of our problems, which are not insignificant,’” says Helen Lackner, a Yemen expert and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
“But the Houthis won’t let them go. The Houthis want this war to go on, they don’t want this war to stop. They need it,” says Ms. Lackner, noting current rebel advances, and how the conflict and flow of humanitarian aid have boosted Houthi resources.
“You have a fundamental, objective problem: The Saudis want out, the Houthis don’t. How do you deal with this?” asks Ms. Lackner, author of the 2019 book “Yemen in Crisis: The Road to War.”
Saudi Arabia has been widely accused of elevating Yemen’s civil war into a regional proxy conflagration along familiar Middle Eastern fault lines, which pit Iran and its self-declared “axis of resistance” against Saudi Arabia and its pro-American allies.
When Saudi officials first intervened in Yemen, leading an Arab coalition to reverse the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and reinstall the Hadi government, they promised that “Operation Decisive Storm” would be over within weeks.
Yet instead of a demonstration of Saudi military prowess ordered by the new and assertive crown prince, the Yemen initiative has turned into a venture that is failing, even after the application of more than 20,000 air raids, according to the Yemen Data Project, and the loss of more than 100,000 lives – nearly all of them Yemeni, and many of them civilians.
“Why [the Saudis] don’t declare victory and go home is a question I asked about three years ago, and it would have been a lot easier for them to declare victory [then] than it is today,” says Ms. Lackner. “Can they announce the extension of a cease-fire that hasn’t actually happened?”
Overshadowing the battlefield to-and-fro is the looming risk of the coronavirus to one of the most vulnerable populations on earth. Already with 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on aid relief, and hospitals and health infrastructure ravaged by the war, the coronavirus “could spread fast, more widely and with deadlier consequences than in many other countries,” Mark Lowcock, the top U.N. aid official, warned last week.
Public image aspect
The continued fighting and few signs of any diplomatic breakthrough mean it is not yet clear how COVID-19 could affect war calculations. The U.N. counts 500 Yemenis killed or injured since January, one-third of them children.
“The big change could be if we see COVID-19 taking hold in Yemen and spreading quite quickly, as it is likely to do,” says Peter Salisbury, the senior Yemen analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“Yemen’s population is malnourished, undernourished, and it’s in very bad shape. People are already dying from preventable diseases, cholera, dengue fever, and so on. ... The population’s just incredibly vulnerable,” says Mr. Salisbury.
“There’s a public image aspect to this as well: The Houthis and government of Yemen each seek to be seen as a legitimate governing authority in Yemen, and if you are prioritizing a war over a life-threatening virus, that’s not great for your image,” he says.
“There is a lot of face to be lost in a COVID-19 outbreak,” adds Mr. Salisbury. “But for the time being, the challenge would appear to be that the Saudi initiative isn’t enough for the Houthis.”
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“We’re really in a place where it depends on the willingness of one or several of the key parties to take a leap of faith ... to make gestures that build confidence from the other side,” he says. “The question right now is: How willing are the parties to really compromise, in any way?”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-13--A burst of creativity to best a virus

A burst of creativity to best a virus

In just a few short weeks , millions of people in home isolation have mastered video conferencing .
Out of curiosity , many have found innovative ways to bake or to learn a language .
Out of necessity , parents are discovering how to home-school .
Out of ingenuity , the religious faithful are creating new ways to worship .
With similar speed , Ford Motor Co. has learned how to make face shields for health workers .
More doctors are doing medicine by phone .
Dozens of companies are racing to invent new ways to develop a vaccine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charitable foundation has sponsored a global contest among 6,000 “ tech minds ” to innovate open-source solutions to the coronavirus crisis .
COVID-19 may be a disrupter of lives and traditions but , as in many crises , it is forcing people to be open to inspiration and to locate the source of creativity .
In its global scope , the burst of improvisation could be historic .
It will not only help people through the crisis , the fresh discoveries and the sudden embrace of imagination should spur an economic rebound , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ With imagination , we can do better than merely adapting to a new environment – we can thrive by shaping it , ” states an article in the latest Harvard Business Review .
The authors , Martin Reeves and Jack Fuller , suggest people carve out time for reflection and search for needs in society that remain unmet .
“ We need to open up rather than constrict the funnel for new ideas , ” they write .
Many people may simply desire a return to normalcy .
Yet with so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search for solutions has taken on a purpose described well by Shakespeare : “ Sweet are the uses of adversity.
” “ Amid all the confusion and the fear , ” states a commentary from the think tank Rand , “ the power of individuals , organizations , and communities to think differently and to innovate shows what can be achieved when people are united by common , clear priorities and necessity.
” The old ways found wanting are giving way to the new .
The greatest victory over the virus may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on the origin of inspiration .

In just a few short weeks, millions of people in home isolation have mastered video conferencing. Out of curiosity, many have found innovative ways to bake or to learn a language. Out of necessity, parents are discovering how to home-school. Out of ingenuity, the religious faithful are creating new ways to worship.
With similar speed, Ford Motor Co. has learned how to make face shields for health workers. More doctors are doing medicine by phone. Dozens of companies are racing to invent new ways to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. And in California, a charitable foundation has sponsored a global contest among 6,000 “tech minds” to innovate open-source solutions to the coronavirus crisis.
COVID-19 may be a disrupter of lives and traditions but, as in many crises, it is forcing people to be open to inspiration and to locate the source of creativity. In its global scope, the burst of improvisation could be historic. It will not only help people through the crisis, the fresh discoveries and the sudden embrace of imagination should spur an economic rebound, perhaps even more than government subsidies.
“With imagination, we can do better than merely adapting to a new environment – we can thrive by shaping it,” states an article in the latest Harvard Business Review. The authors, Martin Reeves and Jack Fuller, suggest people carve out time for reflection and search for needs in society that remain unmet. “We need to open up rather than constrict the funnel for new ideas,” they write.
Many people may simply desire a return to normalcy. Yet with so many problems exposed by this crisis, the search for solutions has taken on a purpose described well by Shakespeare: “Sweet are the uses of adversity.”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Amid all the confusion and the fear,” states a commentary from the think tank Rand, “the power of individuals, organizations, and communities to think differently and to innovate shows what can be achieved when people are united by common, clear priorities and necessity.”
The old ways found wanting are giving way to the new. The greatest victory over the virus may be a steep learning curve among billions of people on the origin of inspiration.