21stcenturywire--2020-09-28--Denmark Heads to Pre-COVID Normality: No Masks or Distancing in Schools, Just Common Sense

One of the more diabolical aspects of the protracted COVID ‘ crisis ’ in countries like the United Kingdom , the United States and Australia , is the intellectually dishonest claim that Coronavirus in their countries is somehow different from the Coronavirus in other western countries .
It ’ s like there are two parallel universes now .
While the Anglosphere continues to ramp-up its emergency ‘ pandemic ’ measures and mandatory mask and quarantine policies , their Scandinavian counterparts like Sweden , Norway or Denmark have already returned to life as normal ; no masks on public transport ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today advising masks on crowded carriages ) , no obsessive social distancing rules , no snap lockdowns , and certainly no draconian laws and threats of £10,000 fines made by government leaders , or holding the country hostage until a wonder vaccine arrives in the spring .
The contrast couldn ’ t be more extreme .
Why has normality not returned to the US and UK ?
Perhaps the worst aspect of the new hypochondriac culture being aggressively promoted in the US and UK is how the state bureaucrats and schools are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relentless regime of restrictive and nonsensical health and safety policies .
One of the main drivers of the school chaos in the UK has been the teachers/public service unions , who have seized on the crisis in order to leverage political power and carve out a platform in the national spotlight .
Union officials repeated the fallacious claim that schools were no longer safe unless a whole new raft of new rules , regulations and government assurances were put into place .
The list of issues and concerns keeps growing by the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education to a grinding halt .
As a result of this over-the-top fear-based approach to risk mitigation , the lives of students and their families across the UK have been unnecessarily disrupted .
In just the first few weeks of school , many thousands of students have already been removed from school and sent home and placed under under 14 day house arrest-quarantine order by school administrators – all because another student in school or a teacher had tested PCR positive for COVID .
Many schools are also ordering all primary , secondary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house arrest at home over their half-term break , supposedly to “ stop the spread of the virus.
” British authorities have even gone so as to demand that university students remain on campus over the Christmas break in order “ stop the spread of COVID to their families back home.
” All of this is taking place at a time where hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID have dropped to near zero in the UK .
In other words : the ‘ pandemic ’ , if it ever was one , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hospitalisations in the UK have plummeted , as have deaths attributed to COVID19 .
Still , neither school or government health officials will readily admit the fact that young people at statistically at near zero risk of any complications due to COVID .
Likewise , nearly all teachers fall well below the well-established elderly age-bracket risk zone .
In addition to this , UK officials still refuse to acknowledge that the PCR test is not only unreliable as a diagnostic tool for COVID , it also can not rightly identify whether a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case ’ or even an ‘ infection.
’ This means that the entire mass-testing effort championed by governments is fatally flawed at source .
This is not up for debate , it is a scientific reality .
By contrast , from the very beginning of the crisis , Sweden never closed its schools and only required its university-aged students to temporarily migrate to remote teaching online .
The results for Sweden have been impressive – minimal or no interruption for millions of students nationwide during such a crucial stage in their formative educational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been pursued in the US and UK , and the results have been catastrophic .
Unlike in the UK , the Danish Teachers Union did not take to the media to try and hold government and schools hostage by threatening to strike if the State could not guarantee all schools were ” safe ” for teachers .
Instead , there were sane and measured discussions , and genuine cooperation between the government and the teachers ’ unions .
Interestingly , both parties allowed the schools to be the final authority on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and education .
During a recent discussion with CBC , Dorte Lange , VP of the Danish Teachers Union described the type of practical , common sense approach which appears to have escaped the educational brain trust in Britain and US – realising that it ’ s “ very much is up to the schools to see what ’ s the best way forward for us with our kids.
” SEE ALSO : Why Sweden Has Already Won the Debate on COVID ‘ Lockdown ’ Policy While some social distancing measures were put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened in April and May , most of the major precautionary measures have since been lifted because Danish educators and administrators rightly recognised that you can not carry on with mass-panic and an open-ended state of emergency ; the masks , the endless quarantines and the bizarre social distancing – without jeopardising , and eventually ruining their students ’ education experience .
Again , the fundamental question still remains : if it ’ s the same virus everywhere , then why have Scandinavian countries taken a completely different approach ?
Putting aside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is part of a massive state and corporate power grab in the UK , US , Australia and elsewhere , there is another fundamentally democratic issue at play here .
The marked difference in policy demonstrates how the social contract between citizens and government is still alive and healthy in Scandinavia .
In other words : their governments still desire a mutual arrangement with the people .
Has this same social contract been abandoned in the UK , US and Australia ?
Ålholm headmaster Soren Vith said getting close to students comes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience to be as normal as possible .
( Lily Martin/CBC ) Every seat in Jens Rodgaard ’ s Grade 5 class is full — there is no physical distance at all .
When a student raises their hand with a question , Rodgaard is by their side in an instant and leans in to help .
“ You have to be around them and help them , help them with spelling , help them make choices , and for proper teaching we can ’ t do that with the distance , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands every time they enter the school and the grades aren ’ t supposed to mingle with each other .
But there isn ’ t a mask in sight .
This is what Phase 2 of school reopening looked like at Ålholm public school in Copenhagen , Denmark , this week , a month into the second semester .
“ Right now we are trying to make things as normal as possible , [ to ] not scare any kids , ” said Rodgaard , who has taught at Ålholm for 28 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the experience of education as normal as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Other schools have more rules in place .
At this stage , Denmark is allowing each school to come up with its own COVID-19 safety plans .
Right now , the country ’ s strategy of containing the coronavirus seems to be working .
Countries around the world , including Canada , have looked at the Danish model in designing their own school plans… Now , after six months of pandemia , it ’ s now clearer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steady drift towards fascism in parts of the West – a trend previously obscured by endless cycles of media and political rhetoric and platitudes about democracy , and convoluted by constant fearmongering about a non-existent Russian threat to something vaguely referred to as ‘ our way of life.
’ It ’ s time for the high-minded guardians of democracy in the ‘ free ’ West to take a long hard look in the mirror .
*** Author Patrick Henningsen is an American writer and global affairs analyst and founder of independent news and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is host of the SUNDAY WIRE weekly radio show broadcast globally over the Alternate Current Radio Network ( ACR ) .
He has written for a number of international publications and has done extensive on-the-ground reporting in the Middle East including work in Syria and Iraq .
See his archive here .
SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

By
Patrick Henningsen
21st Century Wire
One of the more diabolical aspects of the protracted COVID ‘crisis’ in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, is the intellectually dishonest claim that Coronavirus in their countries is somehow different from the Coronavirus in other western countries.
It’s like there are two parallel universes now. While the Anglosphere continues to ramp-up its emergency ‘pandemic’ measures and mandatory mask and quarantine policies, their Scandinavian counterparts like Sweden, Norway or Denmark have already returned to life as normal; no masks on public transport (although Norway just introduced a new rule today advising masks on crowded carriages), no obsessive social distancing rules, no snap lockdowns, and certainly no draconian laws and threats of £10,000 fines made by government leaders, or holding the country hostage until a wonder vaccine arrives in the spring. The contrast couldn’t be more extreme.
Sweden’s success should be obvious to the UK and other lockdown adherents by now, but you wouldn’t know it watching the political coverage in the media. Since when did normal life become so threatening to certain western governments and their media adjuncts?
https://twitter.com/SeanCollins66/status/1309179008018513926?s=20
Why has normality not returned to the US and UK?
Perhaps the worst aspect of the new hypochondriac culture being aggressively promoted in the US and UK is how the state bureaucrats and schools are now targeting children and young adults with a relentless regime of restrictive and nonsensical health and safety policies. Is there any scientific basis for these state interventions?
One of the main drivers of the school chaos in the UK has been the teachers/public service unions, who have seized on the crisis in order to leverage political power and carve out a platform in the national spotlight. Union officials repeated the fallacious claim that schools were no longer safe unless a whole new raft of new rules, regulations and government assurances were put into place. The list of issues and concerns keeps growing by the day and is now threatening to bring normal education to a grinding halt.
As a result of this over-the-top fear-based approach to risk mitigation, the lives of students and their families across the UK have been unnecessarily disrupted. In just the first few weeks of school, many thousands of students have already been removed from school and sent home and placed under under 14 day house arrest-quarantine order by school administrators – all because another student in school or a teacher had tested PCR positive for COVID.
Many schools are also ordering all primary, secondary and high school students to remain under house arrest at home over their half-term break, supposedly to “stop the spread of the virus.”
British authorities have even gone so as to demand that university students remain on campus over the Christmas break in order “stop the spread of COVID to their families back home.”
All of this is taking place at a time where hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID have dropped to near zero in the UK. In other words: the ‘pandemic’, if it ever was one, is now over.
GRAPH: Since May, hospitalisations in the UK have plummeted, as have deaths attributed to COVID19.
Still, neither school or government health officials will readily admit the fact that young people at statistically at near zero risk of any complications due to COVID. Likewise, nearly all teachers fall well below the well-established elderly age-bracket risk zone. In addition to this, UK officials still refuse to acknowledge that the PCR test is not only unreliable as a diagnostic tool for COVID, it also cannot rightly identify whether a positive PCR test is indeed a ‘case’ or even an ‘infection.’ This means that the entire mass-testing effort championed by governments is fatally flawed at source. This is not up for debate, it is a scientific reality.
By contrast, from the very beginning of the crisis, Sweden never closed its schools and only required its university-aged students to temporarily migrate to remote teaching online. The results for Sweden have been impressive – minimal or no interruption for millions of students nationwide during such a crucial stage in their formative educational years.
Unfortunately, the opposite path has been pursued in the US and UK, and the results have been catastrophic.
IMAGE: ‘Normal life’ – a scene from Amagertorv Strøget in Copenhagen, Denmark (Source: Wikicommons)
Unlike in the UK, the Danish Teachers Union did not take to the media to try and hold government and schools hostage by threatening to strike if the State could not guarantee all schools were”safe” for teachers. Instead, there were sane and measured discussions, and genuine cooperation between the government and the teachers’ unions. Interestingly, both parties allowed the schools to be the final authority on how to conduct the business of managing schools and education.
During a recent discussion with CBC, Dorte Lange, VP of the Danish Teachers Union described the type of practical, common sense approach which appears to have escaped the educational brain trust in Britain and US – realising that it’s “very much is up to the schools to see what’s the best way forward for us with our kids.”
SEE ALSO: Why Sweden Has Already Won the Debate on COVID ‘Lockdown’ Policy
While some social distancing measures were put into place early on when schools were opened in April and May, most of the major precautionary measures have since been lifted because Danish educators and administrators rightly recognised that you cannot carry on with mass-panic and an open-ended state of emergency; the masks, the endless quarantines and the bizarre social distancing – without jeopardising, and eventually ruining their students’ education experience.
Again, the fundamental question still remains: if it’s the same virus everywhere, then why have Scandinavian countries taken a completely different approach?
Putting aside the very real possibility that all of this is part of a massive state and corporate power grab in the UK, US, Australia and elsewhere, there is another fundamentally democratic issue at play here. The marked difference in policy demonstrates how the social contract between citizens and government is still alive and healthy in Scandinavia. In other words: their governments still desire a mutual arrangement with the people.
Has this same social contract been abandoned in the UK, US and Australia?
CBC reports from Denmark…
Ålholm headmaster Soren Vith said getting close to students comes with risk, but he wants the school experience to be as normal as possible. (Lily Martin/CBC)
Every seat in Jens Rodgaard’s Grade 5 class is full — there is no physical distance at all.
When a student raises their hand with a question, Rodgaard is by their side in an instant and leans in to help.
“You have to be around them and help them, help them with spelling, help them make choices, and for proper teaching we can’t do that with the distance,” Rodgaard said.
Students must sanitize their hands every time they enter the school and the grades aren’t supposed to mingle with each other. But there isn’t a mask in sight.
This is what Phase 2 of school reopening looked like at Ålholm public school in Copenhagen, Denmark, this week, a month into the second semester.
“Right now we are trying to make things as normal as possible, [to] not scare any kids,” said Rodgaard, who has taught at Ålholm for 28 years.
The school’s goal is to make the experience of education as normal as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other schools have more rules in place. At this stage, Denmark is allowing each school to come up with its own COVID-19 safety plans.
Right now, the country’s strategy of containing the coronavirus seems to be working. Countries around the world, including Canada, have looked at the Danish model in designing their own school plans…
Continue this report at CBC
Now, after six months of pandemia, it’s now clearer than ever how COVID has simply revealed a steady drift towards fascism in parts of the West – a trend previously obscured by endless cycles of media and political rhetoric and platitudes about democracy, and convoluted by constant fearmongering about a non-existent Russian threat to something vaguely referred to as ‘our way of life.’ It’s time for the high-minded guardians of democracy in the ‘free’ West to take a long hard look in the mirror.
***
Author Patrick Henningsen is an American writer and global affairs analyst and founder of independent news and analysis site 21st Century Wire, and is host of the SUNDAY WIRE weekly radio show broadcast globally over the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR). He has written for a number of international publications and has done extensive on-the-ground reporting in the Middle East including work in Syria and Iraq. See his archive here.
READ MORE COVID-19 NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire COVID Files
SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV


21stcenturywire--2020-09-28--French Gov’t Science Advisor: COVID Has Exposed ‘Ceiling’ of Human Development

Interviewing Jean-Francois Toussaint [ professor of physiology and director of France ’ s Scientific Council ] often felt more like speaking to a philosopher than a physiologist .
Coming from a professor of physiology at the University of Paris and director of IRMES , his emphasis on giving people back their “ ability to taste and live ” and rediscovering the joys of life might sound unusual , but this is why we found him so intriguing .
In Toussaint ’ s view , the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the “ ceiling ” of humanity , which is evidenced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected regions in the world are also the most developed .
This , he says , has forced us to confront the limits of our species .
As such , we should turn our attention to “ filling ” life rather than keeping ourselves “ in a cave ” ( lockdown ) for perpetuity .
Agree with him or not , the professor is certainly taking the Covid debate in a new direction .
( … ) On whether there is a second wave in France It seems as though there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of around 30 to 40 deaths a day , which is concerning only in the southern regions of France .
These regions were not directly affected in the first wave… This is similar to the United States where eastern regions were affected in April and in June , and southern states in July and August .
It looks like it ’ s the same kind of situation in France .
We are the only continent in the world that has the means to track the virus to every European nose .
Every nose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that we are diagnosing people by saying that they have the virus .
We then say ‘ well you are sick , ’ which is not the case .
All they have is a fragment of the dead virus , which leads to the amplification of the PCR .
It is telling us nothing about what the battle was , and we still don ’ t know how to tell the difference between the people who were really sick and the ones who have been cured .
The question now is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Would you like a Russian or Chinese vaccine ?
We don ’ t know when it will come , from what country , and how safe it will be .
So the question is : do we have to stay in a cave until something pops up and says ‘ now you ’ re safe ’ .
Or do we have to understand that this is not the Black Plague ?
It is a serious disease for which we ’ ve improved the treatment ; in many places all over the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduction in mortality rates inside the hospitals… Things have improved for the patients .
So we have to decide if this is now a common infectious disease or is it something new ?
Do we have to stay inside our bunkers , not going to school , and not providing the necessary finance for the economy and , importantly , the health economy ?
What will we have next year if we don ’ t have the necessary investment for techniques for people inside the care systems if the economy falls by 10-20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society Trust in people and confidence in the future is at a much lower rate than what is seen in Sweden .
Young people are now the designated people for not just the transmission of the disease , but also the economic consequences which came directly from lockdown .
And still we don ’ t have the absolute number of those who were saved by lockdown .
What about the people who are dying from being isolated without human contact with their families ?
And suicides ?
We have had a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are focused on the positive effects of this isolation .
The Oxford study shows there is no relation at all between the stringency of lockdown and mortality rate in the 188 countries that have declared at least one case of Covid .
On the limits of the human species We are having higher rates in countries that have already experienced a plateau in life expectancy growth , which means that we are touching a ceiling .
We are reaching the limits of development for the human species .
Interestingly , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 20-55 degree northern latitude , which stretches from Japan to the United States and includes all the European countries .
These countries had the highest development rates in the twentieth century but they have experienced for the last two decades some plateauing in many parameters : health , life expectancy , height , obesity and the economy .
Many of those elements seem to provide clues into the highest rates of Covid-19 mortality .
UnHerd host Freddie Sayers speaks with French government science advisor Jean-Francois Toussaint to discuss these and other key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID public health policies .
Watch : SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

By
UnHerd reports…
Interviewing Jean-Francois Toussaint [professor of physiology and director of France’s Scientific Council] often felt more like speaking to a philosopher than a physiologist. Coming from a professor of physiology at the University of Paris and director of IRMES, his emphasis on giving people back their “ability to taste and live” and rediscovering the joys of life might sound unusual, but this is why we found him so intriguing.
In Toussaint’s view, the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the “ceiling” of humanity, which is evidenced by the fact that some of the worst affected regions in the world are also the most developed. This, he says, has forced us to confront the limits of our species. As such, we should turn our attention to “filling” life rather than keeping ourselves “in a cave” (lockdown) for perpetuity.
Agree with him or not, the professor is certainly taking the Covid debate in a new direction. (…)
On whether there is a second wave in France
It seems as though there is a very slow and small but regular increase of around 30 to 40 deaths a day, which is concerning only in the southern regions of France. These regions were not directly affected in the first wave… This is similar to the United States where eastern regions were affected in April and in June, and southern states in July and August. It looks like it’s the same kind of situation in France.
On testing
We are the only continent in the world that has the means to track the virus to every European nose. Every nose has been targeted and what we see is that we are diagnosing people by saying that they have the virus. We then say ‘well you are sick,’ which is not the case. All they have is a fragment of the dead virus, which leads to the amplification of the PCR. It is telling us nothing about what the battle was, and we still don’t know how to tell the difference between the people who were really sick and the ones who have been cured.
On waiting for a vaccine
The question now is what hopes are there in the vaccine? Would you like a Russian or Chinese vaccine? We don’t know when it will come, from what country, and how safe it will be. So the question is: do we have to stay in a cave until something pops up and says ‘now you’re safe’. Or do we have to understand that this is not the Black Plague? It is a serious disease for which we’ve improved the treatment; in many places all over the world, we’ve seen a 30-40% reduction in mortality rates inside the hospitals… Things have improved for the patients. So we have to decide if this is now a common infectious disease or is it something new? Do we have to stay inside our bunkers, not going to school, and not providing the necessary finance for the economy and, importantly, the health economy? What will we have next year if we don’t have the necessary investment for techniques for people inside the care systems if the economy falls by 10-20%?
On the negative impact on society
Trust in people and confidence in the future is at a much lower rate than what is seen in Sweden. Young people are now the designated people for not just the transmission of the disease, but also the economic consequences which came directly from lockdown. And still we don’t have the absolute number of those who were saved by lockdown. What about the people who are dying from being isolated without human contact with their families? And suicides? We have had a lot of examples of these elements, but instead we are focused on the positive effects of this isolation. The Oxford study shows there is no relation at all between the stringency of lockdown and mortality rate in the 188 countries that have declared at least one case of Covid.
On the limits of the human species
We are having higher rates in countries that have already experienced a plateau in life expectancy growth, which means that we are touching a ceiling. We are reaching the limits of development for the human species. Interestingly, we have the highest level of death rates in that 20-55 degree northern latitude, which stretches from Japan to the United States and includes all the European countries. These countries had the highest development rates in the twentieth century but they have experienced for the last two decades some plateauing in many parameters: health, life expectancy, height, obesity and the economy. Many of those elements seem to provide clues into the highest rates of Covid-19 mortality.
UnHerd host Freddie Sayers speaks with French government science advisor Jean-Francois Toussaint to discuss these and other key issues on the efficacy and science behind COVID public health policies. Watch:
READ MORE COVID NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire COVID Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-09-29--The Twisted Truth: Silicon Valley Platforms Are Designed for Addiction

Many people believe that social media can be a positive force for good in the world , but we must @ @ @ @ @ it .
But is there a deeper truth in this technological paradox ?
Is there @ @ @ @ @ the surface of 21st century society and culture ?
Undoubtedly , these digital platforms are @ @ @ @ @ your attention throughout the day – something which prevents many people from pursuing real , @ @ @ @ @ The reality is that virtual lives , lived online – are not real at all @ @ @ @ @ facsimile of life .
The reality is that one of the only really tangible thing @ @ @ @ @ deliver to users are dopamine hits .
While these platforms are sold by billionaires like @ @ @ @ @ to a fawning public as revolutionary modern tools which “ bring people closer together , @ @ @ @ @ social media may be ripping the fabric of human society apart .
SUPPORT OUR WORK @ @ @ @ @ MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

By
Many people believe that social media can be a positive force for good in the world, but we must be careful how we use it. But is there a deeper truth in this technological paradox? Is there an existential crisis brewing below the surface of 21st century society and culture?
Undoubtedly, these digital platforms are addictive, and actually fragment your attention throughout the day – something which prevents many people from pursuing real, long-term fulfillment and goals. The reality is that virtual lives, lived online – are not real at all. They are merely a facsimile of life. The reality is that one of the only really tangible thing which social media platforms do deliver to users are dopamine hits.
While these platforms are sold by billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey to a fawning public as revolutionary modern tools which “bring people closer together,” the truth is that social media may be ripping the fabric of human society apart.
Watch this important and stunning short documentary segment:
READ MORE FACEBOOK NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Facebook Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-09-30--Bankers’ Corona Coup: UK Gov’t Debt Tops £2 Trillion – With No End in Sight

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 ‘ pandemic ’ is accelerating the consolidation of finance and industry across the globe .
This is beyond debate now ; it ’ s as obvious as our climbing unemployment and record-levels of business closures – both clear indicators that a real economic depression is underway .
But while the people , SMEs and Main Street businesses continue to suffer incalculable losses , top-tier investment banks are quietly consolidating their wealth and power in the form of debt .
The central banking cartel are now lending record levels of money to governments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s to pay for endless government bailouts and seemingly endless ‘ Corona rescue ’ packages .
As a result , government balance sheets in countries like US , UK and Australia are inflating , and are due to explode soon .
This new mountain of debt is being pay for reactionary government ‘ lockdown ’ measures which sold to citizens as ‘ the only option.
’ Now governments are telling the public that they will have to endure a further decade of economic suffering – supposedly to pay for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing 10 years of tax rises and austerity cuts .
Amazingly , most of the public haven ’ t yet worked out how badly they ’ ve been swindled by their elected leaders and the banking cartels .
A recent Bloomberg article shows the incredible levels of growth in deposits at the largest US banks , but in reality this merely reflects the billions in federal stimulus money which has been pumped into the system – and more importantly it reflects the disturbing trend of consolidation in the US banking industry which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In other words : banks who enjoy economies of scale will continue to ride the current rigged ‘ pandemic ’ environment , enjoying the relative low cost of capital passing between smaller and larger banks – with larger banks enjoying the biggest advantage .
Likewise , in the corporate sphere , those transnational companies who also have easy and cheap access to the banks ’ unlimited capital – are expanding and taking over markets , making money hand-over-fist because of a collapse in competitors ’ performance during the ‘ pandemic.
’ Notably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have accrued record profits , with U.S. billionaires taking the lion share as their fortunes soared by $ 434 billion in just the first two months of lockdown alone .
Chief among those cashing in on the pandemic were Amazon ’ s Jeff Bezos and Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg who logged the biggest financial gains .
One of the biggest artificial bubbles has been inflated by the UK government who are now £2 trillion in the hole .
Under the colour of Corona , Boris Johnson ’ s government has all but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public sector to their smiling creditors in the City of London .
It is the largest financial coup in history , and the mainstream media are hardly talking about it .
The UK ’ s national debt hit a new record at the end of August as the public sector borrowed around £35.9 billion , the latest figures show .
Debt hit £2,023.9 billion just weeks after passing £2 trillion for the first time ever in July .
This is £249.5 billion more than the same time last year , according to new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It pushed borrowing up to 101.9 % of gross domestic product ( GDP ) after the public sector borrowed around £35.9 billion in August .
The Government has thrown billions at offsetting the economic chaos caused by the Covid-19 crisis .
It comes just a day after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an extension to loan schemes and a new Job Support Scheme to replace furlough .
READ MORE FINANCIAL NEWS AT : 21st Century Wire Financial Files SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 ‘pandemic’ is accelerating the consolidation of finance and industry across the globe. This is beyond debate now; it’s as obvious as our climbing unemployment and record-levels of business closures – both clear indicators that a real economic depression is underway.
But while the people, SMEs and Main Street businesses continue to suffer incalculable losses, top-tier investment banks are quietly consolidating their wealth and power in the form of debt. The central banking cartel are now lending record levels of money to governments, and also corporations. For governments, it’s to pay for endless government bailouts and seemingly endless ‘Corona rescue’ packages. As a result, government balance sheets in countries like US, UK and Australia are inflating, and are due to explode soon. This new mountain of debt is being pay for reactionary government ‘lockdown’ measures which sold to citizens as ‘the only option.’ Now governments are telling the public that they will have to endure a further decade of economic suffering – supposedly to pay for the last 7 months of government Corona laws by issuing 10 years of tax rises and austerity cuts.
Amazingly, most of the public haven’t yet worked out how badly they’ve been swindled by their elected leaders and the banking cartels.
A recent Bloomberg article shows the incredible levels of growth in deposits at the largest US banks, but in reality this merely reflects the billions in federal stimulus money which has been pumped into the system – and more importantly it reflects the disturbing trend of consolidation in the US banking industry which has been building over the last few decades. In other words: banks who enjoy economies of scale will continue to ride the current rigged ‘pandemic’ environment, enjoying the relative low cost of capital passing between smaller and larger banks – with larger banks enjoying the biggest advantage.
Likewise, in the corporate sphere, those transnational companies who also have easy and cheap access to the banks’ unlimited capital – are expanding and taking over markets, making money hand-over-fist because of a collapse in competitors’ performance during the ‘pandemic.’ Notably, Silicon Valley and other monopolist firms have accrued record profits, with U.S. billionaires taking the lion share as their fortunes soared by $434 billion in just the first two months of lockdown alone. Chief among those cashing in on the pandemic were Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg who logged the biggest financial gains.
One of the biggest artificial bubbles has been inflated by the UK government who are now £2 trillion in the hole. Under the colour of Corona, Boris Johnson’s government has all but handed-over large sections of the economy and public sector to their smiling creditors in the City of London.
It is the largest financial coup in history, and the mainstream media are hardly talking about it.
UK Metro reports…
The UK’s national debt hit a new record at the end of August as the public sector borrowed around £35.9 billion, the latest figures show.
Debt hit £2,023.9 billion just weeks after passing £2 trillion for the first time ever in July.
This is £249.5 billion more than the same time last year, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.
It pushed borrowing up to 101.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) after the public sector borrowed around £35.9 billion in August. The Government has thrown billions at offsetting the economic chaos caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
It comes just a day after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an extension to loan schemes and a new Job Support Scheme to replace furlough.
In July borrowing rose higher than GDP for the first time since the early 1960s. It gives a stark picture of the huge costs involved in fighting the pandemic. Most countries borrow money even in good times, with the UK borrowing £5.4 billion in August last year. But the scale this year is unprecedented. In August, the public sector borrowed more in a single month than at any time since 1993 when monthly records began…
Continue this story at Metro
READ MORE FINANCIAL NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Financial Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-09-30--NHS Debacle: 1 Million Breast Cancer Screenings Missed Due to COVID Panic Policies

One sizable at-risk group which has fallen victim to this collateral damage are those in dire need of early stage cancer detection screening .
It is now estimated that at least one million breast screening appointments have been missed in the UK due to the country ’ s COVID-19 panic .
To date , the Tory government led by Boris Johnson have never explained the rationale behind this open-ended , protracted ’ emergency ’ health policy which has denied health care to millions of Britons .
SKY News reports on the scale and scope of this disturbing situation… Breast Cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have missed mammograms in the UK after screening services were paused because of coronavirus .
This includes 838,000 women in England , 78,000 in Scotland , 48,000 in Wales and 23,000 in Northern Ireland .
The charity have also estimated that around 8,600 women could be living with undetected breast cancer .
Breast screening services were temporarily paused to free up emergency NHS resources as well as trying to help reduce the spread of coronavirus .
Breast Cancer Now have said it “ is a grave concern ” that nearly one million women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will lead to further delays in diagnosis , adding that services have resumed at different speeds around the country .
The charity has called on the NHS and government to set out how they plan to tackle an anticipated rise in demand for imaging and diagnostics .
Baroness Delyth Morgan , chief executive at Breast Cancer Now , said : “ Mammograms are a key tool in the early detection of breast cancer , which is critical to stopping women dying from the disease .
“ We understand that the breast screening programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global COVID-19 pandemic , but we must now press play to ensure that all women can access breast screening , and we can not afford for the programme to be paused again ” … .
In addition to the breast cancer scandal , there is still the overall issue of waiting lists caused by NHS care rationing , lockdowns and over-the-top fear of COVID promoted by government and mainstream media .
The waiting lists for hospital treatment could reach as high as 10 million by Christmas , as health officials simply can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the mass-panic and reactionary government policies .
According to a report filed by UK health officials : “ The total number of people waiting to undergo a procedure in a hospital in England such as a hernia repair , cataract removal or hip or knee replacement stood at 4.4 million before the pandemic .
It then fell to 4.2 million because in March GPs referred fewer patients for care to help hospitals tackle the pandemic and also because some patients were reluctant to risk getting infected by going into hospital.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to mount , concerned members of the public are now asking : how long will the government stay trained on the current policy death spiral ?
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One sizable at-risk group which has fallen victim to this collateral damage are those in dire need of early stage cancer detection screening. It is now estimated that at least one million breast screening appointments have been missed in the UK due to the country’s COVID-19 panic.
To date, the Tory government led by Boris Johnson has never explained the rationale behind this open-ended, protracted ’emergency’ health policy which has denied health care to millions of Britons.
SKY News reports on the scale and scope of this disturbing situation…
Breast Cancer Now have estimated that around 986,000 women have missed mammograms in the UK after screening services were paused because of coronavirus.
This includes 838,000 women in England, 78,000 in Scotland, 48,000 in Wales and 23,000 in Northern Ireland.
The charity have also estimated that around 8,600 women could be living with undetected breast cancer.
Breast screening services were temporarily paused to free up emergency NHS resources as well as trying to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
Breast Cancer Now have said it “is a grave concern” that nearly one million women will be caught in the backlog which will lead to further delays in diagnosis, adding that services have resumed at different speeds around the country.
The charity has called on the NHS and government to set out how they plan to tackle an anticipated rise in demand for imaging and diagnostics.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: “Mammograms are a key tool in the early detection of breast cancer, which is critical to stopping women dying from the disease.
“We understand that the breast screening programme was paused out of necessity due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but we must now press play to ensure that all women can access breast screening, and we cannot afford for the programme to be paused again”….
Continue this story at SKY News
In addition to the breast cancer scandal, there is still the overall issue of waiting lists caused by NHS care rationing, lockdowns and over-the-top fear of COVID promoted by government and mainstream media. The waiting lists for hospital treatment could reach as high as 10 million by Christmas, as health officials simply cannot deal with the huge backlog caused by the mass-panic and reactionary government policies. According to a report filed by UK health officials:
“The total number of people waiting to undergo a procedure in a hospital in England such as a hernia repair, cataract removal or hip or knee replacement stood at 4.4 million before the pandemic. It then fell to 4.2 million because in March GPs referred fewer patients for care to help hospitals tackle the pandemic and also because some patients were reluctant to risk getting infected by going into hospital.”
As the cost in lives and public services continues to mount, concerned members of the public are now asking: how long will the government stay trained on the current policy death spiral?
READ MORE COVID-19 NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire COVID Files
SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV


21stcenturywire--2020-09-30--UK Lockdown: Child Abuse ‘Hidden by Under-reporting’

It ’ s the hidden epidemic which no one wants to talk about .
As a result of the COVID-19 shutdown ordered by governments , adolescents and children are being physically abused in record numbers , with incidences involving children in England and Wales at their highest levels since 2014 , according to a recent report by the NSPCC .
Even the prestigious Lancet medical journal is finally admitting that the government ’ s own lockdown measures have driven increases in mortality resulting – due to movement restrictions imposed during the supposed ‘ pandemic.
’ As a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the ‘ R number ’ , reports of depression , suicides , and child abuse have also skyrocketed in the UK .
The situation has gotten so bad now that even mainstream media outlets like the BBC – are being forced to report on the scale of the social degradation caused by the government ’ s ill-advised lockdown policies .
A significant drop in the number of child sexual abuse cases reported to police during lockdown masks the true extent of what ’ s happened to vulnerable children , police chiefs say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports in England and Wales fell by 25 % between April and August , compared with the same period in 2019 .
But officers told BBC Newsnight this does not represent the true picture .
And senior officers are warning child protection referrals will now rise .
Chief Constable Simon Bailey said he suspected the 25 % fall was “ a false and misleading picture ” of what children may have experienced during those months .
“ Those children that would have been exposed to those adverse experiences during lockdown , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time within the safe environment of a school , in contact with their teachers , who are very , very good and adept at identifying those signs – the indicators that something is not right within that child ’ s life , ” he said .
Supt Chris Truscott , of South Wales Police , agreed there were limited opportunities during lockdown for vulnerable children to disclose harmful behaviour , which would start to come to light only now schools were back .
He too expected an increase in referrals officers would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If they were vulnerable before the pandemic , then the likelihood is that vulnerability will have increased over that period of time , ” Supt Truscott said… SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

By
It’s the hidden epidemic which no one wants to talk about.
As a result of the COVID-19 shutdown ordered by governments, adolescents and children are being physically abused in record numbers, with incidences involving children in England and Wales at their highest levels since 2014, according to a recent report by the NSPCC.
Even the prestigious Lancet medical journal is finally admitting that the government’s own lockdown measures have driven increases in mortality resulting – due to movement restrictions imposed during the supposed ‘pandemic.’
As a result of the government’s panic-driven policies and obsession with the ‘R number’, reports of depression, suicides, and child abuse have also skyrocketed in the UK.
The situation has gotten so bad now that even mainstream media outlets like the BBC – are being forced to report on the scale of the social degradation caused by the government’s ill-advised lockdown policies.
BBC reports…
A significant drop in the number of child sexual abuse cases reported to police during lockdown masks the true extent of what’s happened to vulnerable children, police chiefs say.
National Police Chiefs Council data shows reports in England and Wales fell by 25% between April and August, compared with the same period in 2019.
But officers told BBC Newsnight this does not represent the true picture.
And senior officers are warning child protection referrals will now rise.
Chief Constable Simon Bailey said he suspected the 25% fall was “a false and misleading picture” of what children may have experienced during those months.
“Those children that would have been exposed to those adverse experiences during lockdown, it is only going to emerge when they spend time within the safe environment of a school, in contact with their teachers, who are very, very good and adept at identifying those signs – the indicators that something is not right within that child’s life,” he said.
Supt Chris Truscott, of South Wales Police, agreed there were limited opportunities during lockdown for vulnerable children to disclose harmful behaviour, which would start to come to light only now schools were back.
He too expected an increase in referrals officers would have had no way of identifying during lockdown.
“If they were vulnerable before the pandemic, then the likelihood is that vulnerability will have increased over that period of time,” Supt Truscott said…
Continue this story at BBC
READ MORE LOCKDOWN NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Lockdown Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-09-30--Elon Musk: ‘I Won’t Take the COVID Vaccine’ – Calls Bill Gates a ‘Knucklehead’

Telsa and SpaceX founder Elon Musk dropped another media bomb this week , stating that neither he nor his family will be taking the experimental COVID-19 vaccine which is being fast-tracked by governments and pharmaceutical giants .
Musk added that he won ’ t be partaking in the vaccine roll-out , even if it was readily available .
During a press appearance on Monday with the New York Times opinion podcast Sway hosted by Kara Swisher , Musk explained why he thinks the aggressive push for mass vaccinations does not really equate the actual risk posed by COVID to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk , neither are my kids , ” said the 49 year old billionaire entrepreneur .
“ The question is what , on balance , serves the greater good , ” he said .
Musk pointed out that oppressive lockdowns “ diminished my faith in humanity , ” and did not actually stop the virus , and called the whole pandemic situation a “ no-win situation.
” Musk previously referred to quarantines as “ unethical ” policies which equate to “ de facto house arrest.
” Rather than draconian lockdown laws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more targeted measures where those at risk could be “ quarantined until the storm passes.
” When leftwing host Swisher accused Musk of being insensitive to the possibility that humans ‘ could potentially die ’ if draconian lockdowns and mass vaccines weren ’ t forced on the population , Musk replied simply , saying that , “ Everybody dies.
” CNN took the opportunity to pile-on the righteous indignation , claiming that “ Elon Musk is once again publicly downplaying the risks of Covid-19.
” On the subject of Microsoft founder turned billionaire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telsa CEO hit back at Gates ’ criticisms of Musk where Gates accused Musk ‘ not know much about vaccines.
’ “ Gates said something about me not knowing what I was doing , ” said Musk .
“ It ’ s like , ‘ Hey , knucklehead , we actually make the vaccine machines for CureVac , that company you ’ re invested in , ” referring his firm Tesla getting its equipment for the German biopharmaceutical firm CureVac .
In July , Musk trolled Gates with a series of cryptic tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my lover , ” and “ The rumor that Bill Gates & I are lovers is completely untrue.
” SUPPORT OUR WORK BY SUBSCRIBING & BECOMING A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV

By
Telsa and SpaceX founder Elon Musk dropped another media bomb this week, stating that neither he nor his family will be taking the experimental COVID-19 vaccine which is being fast-tracked by governments and pharmaceutical giants. Musk added that he won’t be partaking in the vaccine roll-out, even if it was readily available.
During a press appearance on Monday with the New York Times opinion podcast Sway hosted by Kara Swisher, Musk explained why he thinks the aggressive push for mass vaccinations does not really equate the actual risk posed by COVID to the population.
“I’m not at risk, neither are my kids,” said the 49 year old billionaire entrepreneur.
Musk slammed the government’s nationwide lockdown, calling it a “no-win situation.”
“The question is what, on balance, serves the greater good,” he said.
Musk pointed out that oppressive lockdowns “diminished my faith in humanity,” and did not actually stop the virus, and called the whole pandemic situation a “no-win situation.”
Musk previously referred to quarantines as “unethical” policies which equate to “de facto house arrest.”
Rather than draconian lockdown laws, Musk said that government should be doing more targeted measures where those at risk could be “quarantined until the storm passes.”
When leftwing host Swisher accused Musk of being insensitive to the possibility that humans ‘could potentially die’ if draconian lockdowns and mass vaccines weren’t forced on the population, Musk replied simply, saying that, “Everybody dies.”
CNN took the opportunity to pile-on the righteous indignation, claiming that “Elon Musk is once again publicly downplaying the risks of Covid-19.”
On the subject of Microsoft founder turned billionaire vaccine mogul, Bill Gates, the Telsa CEO hit back at Gates’ criticisms of Musk where Gates accused Musk ‘not know much about vaccines.’
“Gates said something about me not knowing what I was doing,” said Musk. “It’s like, ‘Hey, knucklehead, we actually make the vaccine machines for CureVac, that company you’re invested in,” referring his firm Tesla getting its equipment for the German biopharmaceutical firm CureVac.
In July, Musk trolled Gates with a series of cryptic tweets saying, “Billy G is not my lover,” and “The rumor that Bill Gates & I are lovers is completely untrue.”
READ MORE COVID-19 NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire COVID Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-10-04--Episode #343 – ‘Church of New Normal’ with host Patrick Henningsen and guests

Episode # 343 of SUNDAY WIRE SHOW resumes on this week , October 4 , 2020 with host Patrick Henningsen , broadcasting LIVE on the Alternate Current Radio Network ( ACR ) … 5pm-8pm UK Time | 12pm-3pm EST ( US ) | 9am-12pm PST ( US ) This week the SUNDAY WIRE broadcasts LIVE on ACR with host Patrick Henningsen covering the top stories in the US , Europe and internationally .
As if the election and COVID hysteria weren ’ t enough , following a raukus debate with Democrat nominee Joe Biden , on Friday morning President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve tested positive for the Coronavirus – so now all bets are off , literally .
We ’ ll also review the latest blockbuster special edition from New Dawn Magazine entitled ‘ The Great Reset ” .
Later , in the second hour , we ’ ll be joined by Deacon Brother Basil Valentine for the first Sunday service of the New Universal Church of The New Normal and Holy Corona , as well as a look at this week ’ s wild ride in domestic and global affairs .
All this and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SUPPORT OUR INDY MEDIA PLATFORM BY DONATING HERE AND ALSO BECOME A TEAM MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TV *NOTE : THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN STRONG LANGUAGE AND MATURE THEMES*

By
Episode #343 of SUNDAY WIRE SHOW resumes on this week, October 4, 2020 with host Patrick Henningsen, broadcasting LIVE on the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR)…
LISTEN LIVE ON THIS PAGE – START TIMES:
5pm-8pm UK Time | 12pm-3pm EST (US) | 9am-12pm PST (US)
This week the SUNDAY WIRE broadcasts LIVE on ACR with host Patrick Henningsen covering the top stories in the US, Europe and internationally. As if the election and COVID hysteria weren’t enough, following a raucous debate with Democrat nominee Joe Biden, on Friday morning President Trump and the First Lady reported they’ve tested positive for the Coronavirus – so now all bets are off, literally. We’ll also review the latest blockbuster special edition from New Dawn Magazine entitled ‘The Great Reset”. Later, in the second hour, we’ll be joined by Deacon Brother Basil Valentine for the first Sunday service of the New Universal Church of The New Normal and Holy Corona, as well as a look at this week’s wild ride in domestic and global affairs. All this and much, more. Enjoy the show…
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AND ALSO BECOME A TEAM MEMBER @21WIRE.TV
*NOTE: THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN STRONG LANGUAGE AND MATURE THEMES*
Download the most recent Episode #343
Sunday Wire Radio Show Archives


21stcenturywire--2020-10-06--Space Helmet Muzzle Launched Just-in-Time for ‘New Normal’ Travel

If the constant onslaught of calls for more PPE weren ’ t enough , there ’ s now a burgeoning industry of ‘ pandemic ’ gear hitting the market with a mission to make all the ‘ New Normals ’ feel safer while traveling .
The “ AIR ” is a space helmet looking muzzle meant for savvy ‘ New Normal ’ travelers .
( Image via Microclimate ) The new line of ‘ Microclimate ’ muzzles are being pushed out by Hall Labs , a Utah-based firm .
They are retailing online for pre-order at $ 199 and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Keep your AIR space helmet on all the way to your final destination .
( Image via Microclimate ) Hall Labs markets the Covid-inspired helmet as a mask alternative for “ safer and more comfortable travel , ” equipped with an internal ventilation system so you will not leave to chance the possibility of directly breathing in any of the fresh air around you .
There is one major design flaw the company is still working out – the ventilation system ’ s fans muffle your hearing while you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fast Company , other future plans for the product include “ adding a straw port so you can drink from your personal bubble.
” Yes , these are troubling times indeed .
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By
If the constant onslaught of calls for more PPE weren’t enough, there’s now a burgeoning industry of ‘pandemic’ gear hitting the market with a mission to make all the ‘New Normals’ feel safer while traveling.
The “AIR” is a space helmet looking muzzle meant for savvy ‘New Normal’ travelers. (Image via Microclimate)
The new line of ‘Microclimate’ muzzles are being pushed out by Hall Labs, a Utah-based firm. They are retailing online for pre-order at $199 and will begin shipping in just a few weeks time.
Keep your AIR space helmet on all the way to your final destination. (Image via Microclimate)
Hall Labs markets the Covid-inspired helmet as a mask alternative for “safer and more comfortable travel,” equipped with an internal ventilation system so you will not leave to chance the possibility of directly breathing in any of the fresh air around you.
There is one major design flaw the company is still working out – the ventilation system’s fans muffle your hearing while you’re muzzled.
According to an article in Fast Company, other future plans for the product include “adding a straw port so you can drink from your personal bubble.”
Yes, these are troubling times indeed.
READ MORE COVID-19 NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire COVID Files
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21stcenturywire--2020-10-06--Inside China’s High-Speed Rail Project Bound for Southeast Asia

There is a significant reason why political unrest fueled by US interference is flaring up across Southeast Asia – an attempt at derailing Beijing ’ s ambitious One Belt , One Road ( OBOR ) initiative .
When completed , it will cement not only China ’ s regional rise , but permanently replace the United States as Asia ’ s largest and most influential power .
The “ stitching ” holding this emerging shift together is a regional high-speed rail network running from the southern Chinese city of Kunming , through Laos , and into the heart of Thailand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with construction having already started in Thailand and expected to be completed in 2-3 years .
The brand new Bang Sue Central Station in Bangkok was built specifically to service high-speed trains .
While the West has heavily criticized this citing costs , debt , and low projections for passenger use – and while all of these issues are already being discussed by China and its Laotian and Thai partners – the West ’ s own criticism is more owed to its inability to compete with China ’ s regional rise and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any legitimate concern regarding the project itself .
Western criticism has focused on both debt incurred through this leg of OBOR , as well as a perceived lack of demand for high-speed rail passenger services along the routes being built .
However there are two points often left out of Western commentary – or more accurately – out of Western complaining .
First is the fact that infrastructure itself often creates demand simply by being built , existing , and creating options that had never existed before .
Travel along these high-speed rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing travelers use in great numbers but those numbers will likely be joined by additional passengers who would have otherwise avoided the trip altogether because of the lack of appealing options in existence now – flying , conventional rail , buses , and vans – which are still expensive , time consuming , and mostly uncomfortable .
Western critics , who mistakenly believe tourism is Thailand ’ s largest industry – claim that the high-speed railway travels through areas most ( Western ) tourists are uninterested in .
However , there are two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists visiting Thailand no longer come from Western nations , but from Asia .
More Chinese tourists visit Thailand each year than tourists from all Western nations combined .
Thailand ’ s northeast region may currently be less appealing to tourists than other regions of the country , but this is simply because few have invested in making the region more accessible and more appealing .
Chinese tourists traveling into Thailand via high-speed rail could just as easily be persuaded to spend time in the northeast , provided investments are made in local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentive exists .
Completion of the Thailand-Laos-China high-speed railway will be the first as well as a major incentive in changing this .
Just as mass transportation networks in Bangkok have transformed little-known areas of the city into high-end commercial and residential districts , high-speed rail has the possibility of doing this on a much larger , national and even regional level .
Then there is the fact that in addition to moving passengers , this high-speed rail network could just as easily move freight .
In this regard , the benefits are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Thailand ’ s main agricultural regions and the ability of farmers in Thailand ’ s northeast to move produce from their farms directly to China by rail would reduce time to market and increase exports – including exports that aren ’ t practical at the moment .
Articles like Bloomberg ’ s , “ Thailand forges new path for food exports to China , ” explains the current options available for moving Thai produce to Chinese markets .
This includes moving goods by trucks through Laos and Vietnam .
It also includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recent attempts to use rail in Vietnam , stating : How much simpler would it be to place goods on a single train and transport it at higher speeds straight to China , or anywhere else along high-speed rail lines ?
Acknowledging possibly low passenger numbers , Thailand has already considered the utility of using the network to move freight as well .
The South China Morning Post ( SCMP ) would report in its article , ” Thailand pushes for high-speed rail link with China to be used for freight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ La Poste used dedicated trains specifically for moving mail across the country .
Similar trains could be used by Thailand , Laos , and future countries in the region connected to the high-speed rail network to move large amounts of goods quickly and directly to China as well as receive goods from China .
China itself plans on using its own high-speed rail network to move freight .
A SCMP article titled , ” China planning high-speed rail freight network to help e-commerce sector , ” noted : It is not a difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be extended into Laos and Thailand just as China plans on moving passenger services into both nations .
China is already Thailand and Laos ’ largest trading partner , largest foreign investor , largest source of tourism , and a key partner in defense and infrastructure .
Connecting these nations together with high-speed rail and giving the population of Southeast Asia a direct route into China ’ s own massive domestic high-speed rail network will facilitate the movement of people and goods in ways that may not be immediately quantifiable .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own high-speed railway when it was first proposed , but it now moves billions of people a year , easily competes with domestic airlines , and has begun to play a role in China ’ s development in ways not directly connected to simply collecting fares .
Arguments against the construction of Thai and Laotian high-speed rail based merely on passenger numbers and revenue projections are lazy arguments and are made primarily by a West otherwise unable to compete with China ’ s growing influence and role in Asia – a region the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another century .
The completion of high-speed rail in Southeast Asia – an admittedly massive project – will take time to prove its worth .
But a look at high-speed rail anywhere else in the world indicates that such a network will undoubtedly become a major asset for each nation involved , and the entire region .
It is no coincidence that detractors of the ongoing project are also deeply involved in promoting US-funded anti-government protests in Thailand and a generally anti-Chinese stance regarding any issue in the region .
For detractors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this major leg of China ’ s OBOR initiative – it is certainty of how it will contribute to the end of Western hegemony in Asia permanently .
*** Author Tony Cartalucci , Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher , writer and special contributor to 21st Century Wire .
See more of his work at Tony ’ s archive .
Over the last decade , his work has been published on a number of popular news and analysis websites , and also on the online magazine “ New Eastern Outlook ” .
Also , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @

By
Tony Cartalucci
21st Century Wire
There is a significant reason why political unrest fueled by US interference is flaring up across Southeast Asia – an attempt at derailing Beijing’s ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.
When completed, it will cement not only China’s regional rise, but permanently replace the United States as Asia’s largest and most influential power.
The “stitching” holding this emerging shift together is a regional high-speed rail network running from the southern Chinese city of Kunming, through Laos, and into the heart of Thailand. Construction in Laos is well underway with construction having already started in Thailand and expected to be completed in 2-3 years.
The brand new Bang Sue Central Station in Bangkok was built specifically to service high-speed trains.
While the West has heavily criticized this citing costs, debt, and low projections for passenger use – and while all of these issues are already being discussed by China and its Laotian and Thai partners – the West’s own criticism is more owed to its inability to compete with China’s regional rise and its vision for Asia’s future than any legitimate concern regarding the project itself.
A Game Changer
Western criticism has focused on both debt incurred through this leg of OBOR, as well as a perceived lack of demand for high-speed rail passenger services along the routes being built.
However there are two points often left out of Western commentary – or more accurately – out of Western complaining.
First is the fact that infrastructure itself often creates demand simply by being built, existing, and creating options that had never existed before.
Travel along these high-speed rail lines may or may not be options existing travelers use in great numbers but those numbers will likely be joined by additional passengers who would have otherwise avoided the trip altogether because of the lack of appealing options in existence now – flying, conventional rail, buses, and vans – which are still expensive, time consuming, and mostly uncomfortable.
Western critics, who mistakenly believe tourism is Thailand’s largest industry – claim that the high-speed railway travels through areas most (Western) tourists are uninterested in.
However, there are two problems with this. Firstly, most tourists visiting Thailand no longer come from Western nations, but from Asia. More Chinese tourists visit Thailand each year than tourists from all Western nations combined.
Thailand’s northeast region may currently be less appealing to tourists than other regions of the country, but this is simply because few have invested in making the region more accessible and more appealing.
Chinese tourists traveling into Thailand via high-speed rail could just as easily be persuaded to spend time in the northeast, provided investments are made in local infrastructure and attractions. Currently, little incentive exists. Completion of the Thailand-Laos-China high-speed railway will be the first as well as a major incentive in changing this.
Just as mass transportation networks in Bangkok have transformed little-known areas of the city into high-end commercial and residential districts, high-speed rail has the possibility of doing this on a much larger, national and even regional level.
Then there is the fact that in addition to moving passengers, this high-speed rail network could just as easily move freight.
In this regard, the benefits are undeniable. The network passes through one of Thailand’s main agricultural regions and the ability of farmers in Thailand’s northeast to move produce from their farms directly to China by rail would reduce time to market and increase exports – including exports that aren’t practical at the moment.
Articles like Bloomberg’s, “Thailand forges new path for food exports to China,” explains the current options available for moving Thai produce to Chinese markets. This includes moving goods by trucks through Laos and Vietnam. It also includes via air.
The article also notes more recent attempts to use rail in Vietnam, stating:
Thailand began a two-mode system by trucking products to Vietnam, then moving the goods into containers on trains, which complete the deliveries to China. It may sound simple, but this is a first for Thai shipments, according to Narapat Kaeothong, vice minister for agriculture.
How much simpler would it be to place goods on a single train and transport it at higher speeds straight to China, or anywhere else along high-speed rail lines?
Acknowledging possibly low passenger numbers, Thailand has already considered the utility of using the network to move freight as well.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) would report in its article, ”Thailand pushes for high-speed rail link with China to be used for freight,” that:
Vallobh Muangkeo, secretary general of the National Assembly of Thailand, told the South China Morning Post that Thailand had concerns about low demand for the service and called for it to be used to transport freight instead.
High-speed rail services handling freight is not unprecedented.
France’s TGV La Poste used dedicated trains specifically for moving mail across the country. Similar trains could be used by Thailand, Laos, and future countries in the region connected to the high-speed rail network to move large amounts of goods quickly and directly to China as well as receive goods from China.
China itself plans on using its own high-speed rail network to move freight. A SCMP article titled, ”China planning high-speed rail freight network to help e-commerce sector,” noted:
China’s state-owned railway operator is planning to accelerate the development of a high-speed freight network in the hope of bolstering the e-commerce network. A development plan published in mid-August also includes plans to further expand the passenger network and build an advanced control system that will integrate home-grown technologies such as 5G telecommunications, the Beidou satellite navigation system and artificial intelligence.
It is not a difficult leap to imagine how easily this network could be extended into Laos and Thailand just as China plans on moving passenger services into both nations.
China is already Thailand and Laos’ largest trading partner, largest foreign investor, largest source of tourism, and a key partner in defense and infrastructure.
Connecting these nations together with high-speed rail and giving the population of Southeast Asia a direct route into China’s own massive domestic high-speed rail network will facilitate the movement of people and goods in ways that may not be immediately quantifiable.
There were similar doubts over China’s own high-speed railway when it was first proposed, but it now moves billions of people a year, easily competes with domestic airlines, and has begun to play a role in China’s development in ways not directly connected to simply collecting fares.
Arguments against the construction of Thai and Laotian high-speed rail based merely on passenger numbers and revenue projections are lazy arguments and are made primarily by a West otherwise unable to compete with China’s growing influence and role in Asia – a region the US saw itself maintaining primacy over for another century.
The completion of high-speed rail in Southeast Asia – an admittedly massive project – will take time to prove its worth. But a look at high-speed rail anywhere else in the world indicates that such a network will undoubtedly become a major asset for each nation involved, and the entire region. It is no coincidence that detractors of the ongoing project are also deeply involved in promoting US-funded anti-government protests in Thailand and a generally anti-Chinese stance regarding any issue in the region.
For detractors, it is not doubts about the viability of this major leg of China’s OBOR initiative – it is certainty of how it will contribute to the end of Western hegemony in Asia permanently.
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Author Tony Cartalucci, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher, writer and special contributor to 21st Century Wire. See more of his work at Tony’s archive. Over the last decade, his work has been published on a number of popular news and analysis websites, and also on the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”. Also, you can follow him on VK here.
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