jewworldorder--2020-12-24--Many tales of corporate control over agriculture

In 1991 , when I was 12 years old and in 8th class in my village high school , the Government of India led by the Congress Party launched new economic reform programmes .
I vividly remember reading local newspapers , which carried news on the reduction of agricultural subsidies on seeds , fertilisers , electricity and irrigation .
It also started dismantling the universal approach to food security and public distribution system in India .
My father who was an active farmer then and used to be the district leader of BJP ( Secretary of Kishan Morcha ) but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Congress Government in New Delhi .
He argued that these policies will bring economic boom and there will be trickle-down effect on all sectors of Indian economy .
The agriculture sector and famers will benefit from such policies .
This was also the silent understanding of BJP and RSS but made piecemeal opposition to the reforms led by the Congress Party .
The national and mainstream media heralded the new economic reforms as the best policy option for a powerful and developed India .
The theological promise of neoliberalism is like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three decades , my village is witnessing the declining of agriculture .
The new economic reforms were slow poison for the agrarian economy .
The new economic policies ruined agriculture in my village .
The fertiliser corporations get subsidies .
The industries get water and electricity subsidies but the farmers in my village nearly abandoned agriculture as a source of their livelihood .
There are a very few farmers left in my village due to lack of availability of alternative livelihoods for them .
As Modi government follows the footprints of the Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , my father ( my best friend ) opposes these polices and he argues that corporatisation of agriculture will destroy agricultural economy and take away farmer ’ s livelihood in short run and farmer ’ s land in long run .
Such a transformation of my father gives me hope and shows greater transformation waiting for India in political and economic terms .
The democratic debate between the father and son continues as famers protest against an authoritarian regime led by Mr Narendra Modi .
Mr Narendra Modi led BJP government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms are necessary to expand trade and investment in agriculture .
The goal of the reform is to increase wholesale agricultural market for the growth of agricultural exports .
The Modi government claims that farmers will get greater freedom within liberalised agricultural market and maximise their profit .
It would result in higher standard of living and higher quality of life for Indian farmers .
It is important to burst these myths propagated by Modi and his ignorant Hindutva capitalist cronies .
These claims are blatant lies and agricultural reform policies are unsustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make farmers vulnerable to market forces .
The deepening of capitalist market forces have ruined agriculture , agricultural communities , farmer ’ s lives and livelihoods .
The market led industrial approach to agriculture drives farmers out of business and reinforces agrarian crisis which forces farmers to commit suicide .
The American farmers have become vulnerable to corporate exploitation and abuse because of similar reform policies .
The liberalised agricultural policies have helped in the growth of very few corporations that controls American agriculture today .
The deepening of market forces and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth of four corporations that controls forty percent of agricultural market in USA .
It destroyed the livelihood of small and medium farmers , rural communities and swallowed family farms in America .
The corporations supressed the price of the farm produce and increased its selling price .
Both American producers and consumers suffer heavily due to such agricultural transitions .
It also destroyed small businesses affiliated with agriculture in US .
The American farmers are fighting back and defeat corporate control over American agriculture .
The European Union ( EU ) ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has created a system in which the large farmers and landowners in UK , France and Germany are the beneficiaries of its subsidies whereas the small farmers are marginalised .
It has created a wholesale agricultural market where prices of agricultural products are different in different parts of EU member countries .
The price fluctuation within agricultural market is created by the market forces within EU and the small farmers face the crisis .
The EU led CAP has huge negative impacts of developing countries in Africa .
The subsidise overproduction of food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production and local markets in Africa .
The big farmers and agricultural corporations in Europe are the net beneficiaries of such agricultural policies driven by market forces .
These policies ruined the rural communities and destroyed the livelihoods of small and medium farmers in Europe .
Therefore , Land Workers ’ Alliance is not only opposing the CAP but also demanding subsidies to small farmers and family farms in UK .
It is also strongly demanding the British government to exempt agriculture from all free trade agreements .
Many European countries have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroy the environment .
So , there are many social and political movements against corporate takeover of agriculture in Europe today .
Many developed countries have witnessed to the landgrab by the big corporations and big farmers with the growth of corporatisation of agriculture .
The Congress Party governments have started the policies of corporate land grab in the name of Special Economic Zones ( SEZs ) .
After agricultural policy reforms , the Modi led BJP government is planning to liberalise land laws further by which the corporates can take over land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in India .
The BJP government is preparing itself to provide vast stretches of land to the capitalist cronies and friends of Mr Narendra Modi .
The corporate led industrial agriculture in India will create conditions of industrial feudalism and corporate landlordism in one hand and consumerist individualism on the other .
The corporatisation of agriculture destroys social fabric in agricultural and rural communities .
The cooperative culture is converted into competitive culture that ruins rural communities with the growth of individualist consumerism .
The market forces do not believe in diversification .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is dangerous for the diversity within Indian agriculture .
Therefore , the market led industrial agriculture dominated by corporations can never be an alternative for India and Indian farmers .
The Government of India need to find ways to invest in agricultural cooperatives to empower farmers and generate employment in agriculture by diversifying it .
India and Indian farmers need socially responsible , environmentally sustainable and economically rewarding agricultural policies and egalitarian land reforms to increase farmer ’ s income and expand market led agricultural economy , where agricultural producers can directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agricultural market economy would be really open , free and fair .

In 1991, when I was 12 years old and in 8th class in my village high school, the Government of India led by the Congress Party launched new economic reform programmes. I vividly remember reading local newspapers, which carried news on the reduction of agricultural subsidies on seeds, fertilisers, electricity and irrigation. It also started dismantling the universal approach to food security and public distribution system in India. My father who was an active farmer then and used to be the district leader of BJP (Secretary of Kishan Morcha) but supported liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation policies of the Congress Government in New Delhi. He argued that these policies will bring economic boom and there will be trickle-down effect on all sectors of Indian economy. The agriculture sector and famers will benefit from such policies. This was also the silent understanding of BJP and RSS but made piecemeal opposition to the reforms led by the Congress Party. The national and mainstream media heralded the new economic reforms as the best policy option for a powerful and developed India. The theological promise of neoliberalism is like deceptive salvation in Hindu religion.
After three decades, my village is witnessing the declining of agriculture. The new economic reforms were slow poison for the agrarian economy. The new economic policies ruined agriculture in my village. The fertiliser corporations get subsidies. The industries get water and electricity subsidies but the farmers in my village nearly abandoned agriculture as a source of their livelihood. There are a very few farmers left in my village due to lack of availability of alternative livelihoods for them. As Modi government follows the footprints of the Congress Party in implementing more ruthless agricultural policy reforms, my father (my best friend) opposes these polices and he argues that corporatisation of agriculture will destroy agricultural economy and take away farmer’s livelihood in short run and farmer’s land in long run. Such a transformation of my father gives me hope and shows greater transformation waiting for India in political and economic terms. The democratic debate between the father and son continues as famers protest against an authoritarian regime led by Mr Narendra Modi.
Mr Narendra Modi led BJP government and his Hindutva henchmen are claiming that agricultural reforms are necessary to expand trade and investment in agriculture. The goal of the reform is to increase wholesale agricultural market for the growth of agricultural exports. The Modi government claims that farmers will get greater freedom within liberalised agricultural market and maximise their profit. It would result in higher standard of living and higher quality of life for Indian farmers. It is important to burst these myths propagated by Modi and his ignorant Hindutva capitalist cronies. These claims are blatant lies and agricultural reform policies are unsustainable. The Modi led agricultural reform policies would make farmers vulnerable to market forces. The deepening of capitalist market forces have ruined agriculture, agricultural communities, farmer’s lives and livelihoods. The market led industrial approach to agriculture drives farmers out of business and reinforces agrarian crisis which forces farmers to commit suicide.
The American farmers have become vulnerable to corporate exploitation and abuse because of similar reform policies. The liberalised agricultural policies have helped in the growth of very few corporations that controls American agriculture today. The deepening of market forces and growth of industrial agriculture led to the growth of four corporations that controls forty percent of agricultural market in USA. It destroyed the livelihood of small and medium farmers, rural communities and swallowed family farms in America. The corporations supressed the price of the farm produce and increased its selling price. Both American producers and consumers suffer heavily due to such agricultural transitions. It also destroyed small businesses affiliated with agriculture in US. The American farmers are fighting back and defeat corporate control over American agriculture.
The European Union (EU)’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has created a system in which the large farmers and landowners in UK, France and Germany are the beneficiaries of its subsidies whereas the small farmers are marginalised. It has created a wholesale agricultural market where prices of agricultural products are different in different parts of EU member countries. The price fluctuation within agricultural market is created by the market forces within EU and the small farmers face the crisis. The EU led CAP has huge negative impacts of developing countries in Africa. The subsidise overproduction of food, milk and poultry is destroying local production and local markets in Africa. The big farmers and agricultural corporations in Europe are the net beneficiaries of such agricultural policies driven by market forces. These policies ruined the rural communities and destroyed the livelihoods of small and medium farmers in Europe. Therefore, Land Workers’ Alliance is not only opposing the CAP but also demanding subsidies to small farmers and family farms in UK. It is also strongly demanding the British government to exempt agriculture from all free trade agreements. Many European countries have also realised that industrial agriculture led by corporations destroy the environment. So, there are many social and political movements against corporate takeover of agriculture in Europe today.
Many developed countries have witnessed to the landgrab by the big corporations and big farmers with the growth of corporatisation of agriculture. The Congress Party governments have started the policies of corporate land grab in the name of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). After agricultural policy reforms, the Modi led BJP government is planning to liberalise land laws further by which the corporates can take over land ownership from the small and medium farmers in India. The BJP government is preparing itself to provide vast stretches of land to the capitalist cronies and friends of Mr Narendra Modi. The corporate led industrial agriculture in India will create conditions of industrial feudalism and corporate landlordism in one hand and consumerist individualism on the other.
The corporatisation of agriculture destroys social fabric in agricultural and rural communities. The cooperative culture is converted into competitive culture that ruins rural communities with the growth of individualist consumerism. The market forces do not believe in diversification. The market forces promote economies of standardisation which is dangerous for the diversity within Indian agriculture. Therefore, the market led industrial agriculture dominated by corporations can never be an alternative for India and Indian farmers. The Government of India need to find ways to invest in agricultural cooperatives to empower farmers and generate employment in agriculture by diversifying it. India and Indian farmers need socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and economically rewarding agricultural policies and egalitarian land reforms to increase farmer’s income and expand market led agricultural economy, where agricultural producers can directly interact with their consumers. Such an agricultural market economy would be really open, free and fair.
Bhabani Shankar Nayak, University of Glasgow, UK
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jewworldorder--2020-12-24--Police investigating suspected rape of 9-year-old girl by 4 Jewish boys

A woman in central Israel filed a police complaint alleging the rape of her 9-year-old daughter by four boys , according to a Wednesday report .
The oldest of the accused rapists is 14 , according to Channel 12 .
The other suspects are 11 and 12 years old .
The woman filed the complaint some two weeks ago , the report said .
Get The Times of Israel ’ s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up Police arrested the suspects as part of the initial investigation .
The 14-year-old was initially held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house arrest .
Police also collected evidence from the three other boys .
All four of the suspects denied involvement .
Sources close to the girl ’ s mother criticized police conduct , telling Channel 12 that officers went to the family ’ s home at night to take testimony in a way that was traumatic to the girl .
“ We ’ re talking about a 9-year-old girl .
There ’ s no reason to send uniformed men to her in the middle of the night , ” they said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian clothes to speak to the girl in a more non-threatening manner .
Police said , “ The investigation was handled in a thorough and sensitive manner .
Investigators and pediatricians worked in a thorough manner .
Investigatory materials were transferred to prosecutors.
” The girl ’ s lawyer , Kinneret Barashi , who is representing her pro bono , said , “ This is a difficult case .
If we have reached a point where there is a suspicion of serious sexual offense by children of these ages , it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living in .
”

A woman in central Israel filed a police complaint alleging the rape of her 9-year-old daughter by four boys, according to a Wednesday report.
The oldest of the accused rapists is 14, according to Channel 12. The other suspects are 11 and 12 years old.
The woman filed the complaint some two weeks ago, the report said.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Police arrested the suspects as part of the initial investigation. The 14-year-old was initially held on court order before being released to house arrest.
Police also collected evidence from the three other boys. All four of the suspects denied involvement.
Sources close to the girl’s mother criticized police conduct, telling Channel 12 that officers went to the family’s home at night to take testimony in a way that was traumatic to the girl.
“We’re talking about a 9-year-old girl. There’s no reason to send uniformed men to her in the middle of the night,” they said.
The report said the officers later changed into civilian clothes to speak to the girl in a more non-threatening manner.
Police said, “The investigation was handled in a thorough and sensitive manner. Investigators and pediatricians worked in a thorough manner. Investigatory materials were transferred to prosecutors.”
The girl’s lawyer, Kinneret Barashi, who is representing her pro bono, said, “This is a difficult case. If we have reached a point where there is a suspicion of serious sexual offense by children of these ages, it is a slippery slope that reflects the reality we are living in.”


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jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Western Sahara map in backdrop of Netanyahu clip said to spark fury in Morocco

A map delineating Morocco from Western Sahara hanging in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s office — and seen in the background of a recent video clip — has reportedly sparked outrage in the Arab country , which signed a normalization detail with Israel last week In exchange for Morocco normalizing ties with Israel , the United States agreed to recognize Morocco ’ s claims over Western Sahara .
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a Moroccan media outlet in response to criticism that the map was “ old ” and would be replaced , the Kan public broadcaster reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up “ It will be corrected in the new maps that appear , ” the spokesperson was quoted as saying .
Netanyahu often refers to the map of the Middle East that hangs behind his desk .
Earlier this month , after the normalization efforts between Jerusalem and Rabat were announced , the US adopted a “ new official ” map of Morocco that includes the territory of Western Sahara .
Western Sahara is a disputed and divided former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s control , where tensions with the pro-independence Polisario Front have simmered since the 1970s .
The Polisario condemned “ in the strongest terms the fact that outgoing American President Donald Trump attributes to Morocco something which does not belong ” to the country , namely sovereignty over Western Sahara .
The movement dismissed the announcement and vowed to fight on until Moroccan forces withdraw from all of Western Sahara .
Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Morocco ’ s King Mohammed VI on Friday for the first time since the two countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Morocco ’ s tourism minister announced that direct flights will begin operating between Israel and Morocco within two or three months .
A joint Israeli-American delegation visited Morocco on Tuesday to sign several bilateral agreements and a trilateral declaration to solidify the normalization agreement .
The group ’ s flight to Rabat was the first direct commercial flight from Israel to Morocco .
Morocco was the third Arab state this year to normalize ties with Israel under US-brokered deals , joining the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain .
Sudan has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though no official agreements have been signed .
Morocco is home to North Africa ’ s largest Jewish community , which has been there since ancient times , and grew with the arrival of Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic monarchy , from 1492 .
It reached about 250,000 in the late 1940s , 10 percent of the national population , but many Jews left after the creation of Israel in 1948 , often fleeing local hostilities directed at them over the establishment of the Jewish state .
About 3,000 Jews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community is one of the country ’ s most active .
Israel , meanwhile , is home to 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin .

A map delineating Morocco from Western Sahara hanging in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office — and seen in the background of a recent video clip — has reportedly sparked outrage in the Arab country, which signed a normalization detail with Israel last week
In exchange for Morocco normalizing ties with Israel, the United States agreed to recognize Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a Moroccan media outlet in response to criticism that the map was “old” and would be replaced, the Kan public broadcaster reported Monday.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
“It will be corrected in the new maps that appear,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Pro-independence Polisario Front rebel soldiers pray in the Western Sahara village of Tifariti as they commemorate the 35th anniversary of the RASD (Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic), February 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)
Netanyahu often refers to the map of the Middle East that hangs behind his desk.
Earlier this month, after the normalization efforts between Jerusalem and Rabat were announced, the US adopted a “new official” map of Morocco that includes the territory of Western Sahara.
Western Sahara is a disputed and divided former Spanish colony, mostly under Morocco’s control, where tensions with the pro-independence Polisario Front have simmered since the 1970s.
Pro-independence Polisario Front rebel soldiers are seen during a military parade in the Western Sahara village of Tifariti, February 27, 2011, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)
The Polisario condemned “in the strongest terms the fact that outgoing American President Donald Trump attributes to Morocco something which does not belong” to the country, namely sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The movement dismissed the announcement and vowed to fight on until Moroccan forces withdraw from all of Western Sahara.
Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Friday for the first time since the two countries agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations.
Last week, Morocco’s tourism minister announced that direct flights will begin operating between Israel and Morocco within two or three months.
A joint Israeli-American delegation visited Morocco on Tuesday to sign several bilateral agreements and a trilateral declaration to solidify the normalization agreement. The group’s flight to Rabat was the first direct commercial flight from Israel to Morocco.
Morocco was the third Arab state this year to normalize ties with Israel under US-brokered deals, joining the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Sudan has also announced plans to normalize ties with Israel, though no official agreements have been signed.
US presidential adviser Jared Kushner, center, and National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat, center-right, arrive at the Royal Palace in the Moroccan capital Rabat, December 22, 2020. (Fadel Senna/AFP)
Morocco is home to North Africa’s largest Jewish community, which has been there since ancient times, and grew with the arrival of Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic monarchy, from 1492.
It reached about 250,000 in the late 1940s, 10 percent of the national population, but many Jews left after the creation of Israel in 1948, often fleeing local hostilities directed at them over the establishment of the Jewish state.
About 3,000 Jews remain in Morocco, and the Casablanca community is one of the country’s most active.
Israel, meanwhile, is home to 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin.
Agencies contributed to this report.


jewworldorder--2020-12-28--In the Year of a Cure, One Disease Still Can’t Be Licked

This year of global illness is coming to an end just in time to administer a cure .
The predictions in March that COVID-19 would cause millions of American deaths and take years to develop a vaccine were plainly wrong .
Yet , we remain in agony .
And for good reason .
Well over 300,000 died , and 100,000 businesses were lost .
Lockdowns proved to be epidemiologically wise but spiritually and economically destructive .
As a species , we have never excelled at isolation .
But public health required that we sever human lifelines — the very same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings to tame this planet .
Feeling cut off and alone can be unbearable .
Very few wish to return to our state of nature , which is why stories of shipwrecked castaways and wilderness survivalists are so frightening .
The coronavirus was a stark reminder of how fragile we are , how unprepared we can be for a global crisis and how dependent we are on one another .
COVID-19 shocked systems beyond the mere respiratory .
Good riddance to 2020 , a year when we ruined our eyesight on Netflix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have lived through an epochal , defining moment of history , not unlike 9/11 .
All that soul-searching while sheltering at home , washing hands feverishly to avoid getting a fever , avoiding all contact — six-feet apart became the new six-feet under .
All those outdoor enticements became forbidden , all on account of the deadly droplets of an invisible virus .
With January 1 upon us , those wishing to make New Year ’ s Resolutions ( last years were doubtlessly aborted by a plague ) , will probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-discoveries .
The sacrifices that the virus required , and the newfound resources it inspired , were everywhere .
We made do with virtual gatherings and working from — and working out in — home .
Sexual diseases disappeared , the pandemic proving to be the ultimate prophylactic .
Meanwhile , the unthinkable happened : we became even more shackled to our screens .
Binge watching outpaced binge eating .
Toilet paper and Lysol became precious commodities — yet , it seemed as though there wasn ’ t anything Amazon wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned that those over 60-years-old were the most vulnerable , which rendered 60 the new 80 .
Low ceiling , unventilated establishments will probably remain verboten .
Some gesture other than shaking hands may need to be invented to seal a deal .
The image of the coronavirus under a microscope , that crown of barnacled nodules , is now forever imprinted on our brains .
And its insidious symptoms will probably result in mask-wearing long after everyone is vaccinated .
Leaving home without a spare mouth-covering will be like forgetting one ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metaphor all its own .
In some parts of the country , the decision to wear a mask was as much a political statement as it was a public health measure .
Operation Warp Speed — the government ’ s initiative to produce a vaccine — fell into a political time warp , a crease in time where we regarded our leaders as warped .
Remaining neutral on nearly any issue of the day — especially anything having to do with President Donald Trump — would lead to even worse isolation .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either reviled as a murderer who abetted a virus or revered as the second-coming of Jonas Salk .
There was no solid ground in-between .
Polarization was the endgame of the administration , taking sides an absolute necessity and national obsession .
Everyone held a strong opinion about President Trump .
Friends parted company , and family members were excommunicated — all for failing to adopt the right extreme .
All the while , breathtaking changes transformed the world , almost in defiance of our respiratory concerns .
Peace actually came to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , however , as the year wound down , global Jewry was reminded that Jewish life is still very cheap .
On December 24 , the High Court in Pakistan ordered the release of the four men who were convicted of kidnapping and murdering Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 .
The mastermind of the savage crime , who originally was sentenced to death , was now among the four seemingly pardoned .
Who can ever forget the barbaric videotape of Pearl ’ s beheading ?
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but recited as an assertion , declared that he was a Jew , that he came from a Jewish family and that Chaim Pearl Street in Israel was named for his great-grandfather .
A journalist , who in any other era and in any other theater of war would be safe from harm .
But not a Jewish journalist with Israeli bona fides , abducted by Islamist captors with such bloodthirsty anti-Semitic aims .
The highest court in the country , where Osama bin Laden managed to live undetected until zero-dark-thirty , reaffirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose father is Israeli is not a capital crime worthy of even a life sentence .
If that was not insulting enough , that same week , in Argentina , the man charged with supplying the truck that detonated outside of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 ( murdering 85 and wounding more than 300 ) was acquitted and released from prison .
It was the worst terror incident in the nation ’ s history , and yet the assailant has been in and out of jail repeatedly , as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , can ’ t decide whether the mass murdering of Jews is a criminal act .
The revulsion that naturally emanates from these injustices are not unfamiliar .
Whether they are wrongly accused — such as Alfred Dreyfus , Leo Frank or Menahem Mendel Beilis — or whether their murderers are unjustly set free , Jews have a long history with legal systems that are not impartial when it comes to them .
These year-end pardons of Jew-killers , during a time when all minds are on a cure , provide a jolting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply be incurable .
Too bad there never seems to be an Operation Warp Speed for such inoculations .
Thane Rosenbaum is a novelist , essayist , law professor and Distinguished University Professor at Touro College , where he directs the Forum on Life , Culture & Society .
He is the legal analyst for CBS News Radio .
His most recent book is titled “ Saving Free Speech … From Itself .
”

This year of global illness is coming to an end just in time to administer a cure. The predictions in March that COVID-19 would cause millions of American deaths and take years to develop a vaccine were plainly wrong.
Yet, we remain in agony. And for good reason. Well over 300,000 died, and 100,000 businesses were lost. Lockdowns proved to be epidemiologically wise but spiritually and economically destructive. As a species, we have never excelled at isolation. But public health required that we sever human lifelines — the very same common causes and social bonds that enabled human beings to tame this planet.
Feeling cut off and alone can be unbearable. Very few wish to return to our state of nature, which is why stories of shipwrecked castaways and wilderness survivalists are so frightening.
The coronavirus was a stark reminder of how fragile we are, how unprepared we can be for a global crisis and how dependent we are on one another. COVID-19 shocked systems beyond the mere respiratory.
Good riddance to 2020, a year when we ruined our eyesight on Netflix. This year is best left forgotten.
Except we can’t.
We have lived through an epochal, defining moment of history, not unlike 9/11. All that soul-searching while sheltering at home, washing hands feverishly to avoid getting a fever, avoiding all contact — six-feet apart became the new six-feet under. All those outdoor enticements became forbidden, all on account of the deadly droplets of an invisible virus.
With January 1 upon us, those wishing to make New Year’s Resolutions (last years were doubtlessly aborted by a plague), will probably try to make some use of coronavirus self-discoveries.
The sacrifices that the virus required, and the newfound resources it inspired, were everywhere. We made do with virtual gatherings and working from — and working out in — home. Sexual diseases disappeared, the pandemic proving to be the ultimate prophylactic. Meanwhile, the unthinkable happened: we became even more shackled to our screens. Binge watching outpaced binge eating.
Toilet paper and Lysol became precious commodities — yet, it seemed as though there wasn’t anything Amazon wouldn’t deliver right to your door.
We learned that those over 60-years-old were the most vulnerable, which rendered 60 the new 80. Low ceiling, unventilated establishments will probably remain verboten. Some gesture other than shaking hands may need to be invented to seal a deal.
The image of the coronavirus under a microscope, that crown of barnacled nodules, is now forever imprinted on our brains. And its insidious symptoms will probably result in mask-wearing long after everyone is vaccinated. Leaving home without a spare mouth-covering will be like forgetting one’s keys. The mask became a metaphor all its own.
In some parts of the country, the decision to wear a mask was as much a political statement as it was a public health measure. Operation Warp Speed — the government’s initiative to produce a vaccine — fell into a political time warp, a crease in time where we regarded our leaders as warped. Remaining neutral on nearly any issue of the day — especially anything having to do with President Donald Trump — would lead to even worse isolation.
In homes all across America, Trump was either reviled as a murderer who abetted a virus or revered as the second-coming of Jonas Salk. There was no solid ground in-between. Polarization was the endgame of the administration, taking sides an absolute necessity and national obsession. Everyone held a strong opinion about President Trump. Friends parted company, and family members were excommunicated — all for failing to adopt the right extreme.
All the while, breathtaking changes transformed the world, almost in defiance of our respiratory concerns. Peace actually came to the Middle East with the Abraham Accords. At the same time, however, as the year wound down, global Jewry was reminded that Jewish life is still very cheap.
As the year wound down, global Jewry was reminded that Jewish life is still very cheap.
On December 24, the High Court in Pakistan ordered the release of the four men who were convicted of kidnapping and murdering Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. The mastermind of the savage crime, who originally was sentenced to death, was now among the four seemingly pardoned.
Who can ever forget the barbaric videotape of Pearl’s beheading? His final words, filmed as a confession but recited as an assertion, declared that he was a Jew, that he came from a Jewish family and that Chaim Pearl Street in Israel was named for his great-grandfather.
A journalist, who in any other era and in any other theater of war would be safe from harm. But not a Jewish journalist with Israeli bona fides, abducted by Islamist captors with such bloodthirsty anti-Semitic aims.
The highest court in the country, where Osama bin Laden managed to live undetected until zero-dark-thirty, reaffirmed that the grisly murder of a Jew whose father is Israeli is not a capital crime worthy of even a life sentence.
If that was not insulting enough, that same week, in Argentina, the man charged with supplying the truck that detonated outside of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 (murdering 85 and wounding more than 300) was acquitted and released from prison. It was the worst terror incident in the nation’s history, and yet the assailant has been in and out of jail repeatedly, as if Argentina, which once secreted Adolf Eichmann, can’t decide whether the mass murdering of Jews is a criminal act.
The revulsion that naturally emanates from these injustices are not unfamiliar. Whether they are wrongly accused — such as Alfred Dreyfus, Leo Frank or Menahem Mendel Beilis — or whether their murderers are unjustly set free, Jews have a long history with legal systems that are not impartial when it comes to them.
These year-end pardons of Jew-killers, during a time when all minds are on a cure, provide a jolting reminder that the malady of anti-Semitism may simply be incurable.
Too bad there never seems to be an Operation Warp Speed for such inoculations.
Thane Rosenbaum is a novelist, essayist, law professor and Distinguished University Professor at Touro College, where he directs the Forum on Life, Culture & Society. He is the legal analyst for CBS News Radio. His most recent book is titled “Saving Free Speech … From Itself.”
Source


jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Half-vaccinated patients at NY clinic under investigation unsure what’s next

JTA — When David first saw the advertisement on his local Long Island community Whatsapp group inviting people like him and his wife , both over 65 , to sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine , he was skeptical .
The ad linked to a nondescript Google form that asked him to answer a few questions and submit insurance information .
“ At this point I got suspicious .
Is this an attempt to steal my identity ?
A scam ?
” he said in an email sharing his experience with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency .
After doing some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provider that created the form , ParCare Community Health Network , was well known and had contracted with New York City ’ s health authority to administer coronavirus tests to the Orthodox Jewish community .
Get The Times of Israel ’ s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up Days after submitting their information , David and his wife headed to ParCare .
On December 24 , the couple , who are not health care workers , drove to one of the network ’ s facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus vaccine — as well as a follow-up appointment to receive the second dose in January .
Whether and how David will receive that second dose , required to maximize the efficacy of the Moderna vaccine he received , is now unknown .
That ’ s because days after his vaccination , the state announced a criminal investigation into ParCare over allegations that the Brooklyn-based healthcare provider fraudulently obtained the vaccine and distributed it to members of the public , in what appears to be the first inquiry into potential vaccine fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found to have knowingly participated in this scheme will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law , ” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a statement Saturday announcing the investigation .
A representative for ParCare said Sunday that the network had “ proactively ” returned its vaccine supplies to cooperate with the state health department .
“ We will be working with the state to ensure that we provide the second dose for our patients , ” ParCare said in a statement .
“ We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that the state understands that our patients are our priority and that everyone receives their second dose accordingly.
” State officials did not answer questions Sunday about how they planned to handle the second doses of people vaccinated by ParCare .
Moderna ’ s clinical trial found that a single dose was 80 to 90 % effective , compared to 94 % for the two-dose vaccination .
David — who asked to use an alias because he feared repercussions for speaking about his experience — said he was anxious that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the investigation into ParCare .
He issued a plea on behalf of other patients who had been given the vaccine ’ s first dose : “ Please do not leave them in a lurch and authorize their follow up shot.
” It ’ s unclear how many people are in David ’ s position .
BoroPark24 , a Yiddish news service , reported on December 21 that ParCare had obtained 3,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine and would vaccinate 500 people that day .
A representative for the network told JTA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shared what it said were a packing slip and an email from the state health department showing that 2,300 vaccine doses had been delivered to ParCare in Monroe , New York , the upstate town that includes the Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel .
But it ’ s clear that those vaccinated by ParCare include prominent Orthodox leaders .
Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Rabbi Mordechai Willig , both head teachers at Yeshiva University , were vaccinated at ParCare last week , and the network tweeted a video of their vaccinations .
Neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 , is a frontline health care worker or nursing home resident or worker , the two categories currently eligible for vaccines .
On Sunday night , Schachter , who has been an outspoken leader urging compliance with pandemic guidelines , said he had been told that his vaccination was above board .
“ If either of us would have been told that this was inappropriate , that it wasn ’ t legitimate , we would not have done that , ” he said before delivering an online Torah lesson .
ParCare advertised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 65 and with preexisting health conditions .
But one Manhattan physician said he had reason to believe that people far younger had been vaccinated .
Dr. Mark Horowitz , a family physician with some patients in the Orthodox Jewish community , said he had seen a 36-year-old patient last week who said she had received a COVID-19 vaccine in Brooklyn the previous day , despite not meeting state vaccination standards .
Horowitz tweeted about the patient three days before the state announced its investigation into ParCare .
Horowitz said he found ParCare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” especially as he said he sees patients with COVID-19 but has yet to receive the vaccine .
“ I have little , if any , sympathy for people who jump the line , but I think the greater blame goes to the operators of this facility , ” he said .
That ’ s who state investigators appear to be scrutinizing .
The Centers for Disease Control ’ s vaccination program provider agreement , which New York requires private practices to sign , tells participants to “ administer COVID-19 Vaccine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination laws.
” Breaching the agreement risks suspension or termination from the program and federal criminal and civil penalties .
Gary Schlesinger , the prominent Hasidic businessman who owns the ParCare network , shared a picture of his own vaccination on Twitter late last week .
He deleted his post after the state announced its investigation .
David , the man who was vaccinated at ParCare , said he assumed ParCare was distributing the vaccine early because of COVID-19 rates in Orthodox communities .
Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called attention to lapses in the communities in compliance with rules designed to curb the spread of the disease .
And the city has collaborated with ParCare as it has worked to manage the pandemic .
In October , the NYC Test & Trace Corps , the city ’ s contact tracing unit , announced that it was expanding the provider ’ s COVID-19 testing capabilities and offering additional resources and supplies .
But while Orthodox Brooklyn experienced some of the first major outbreaks of the pandemic in the United States , neighborhoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the city ’ s list of areas experiencing the steepest toll throughout the entire pandemic .
That list , de Blasio said last week , will determine where vaccines are sent first once vaccinations begin for the general public .
Dr. Aaron Glatt , the chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau on Long Island and an assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere , a large Orthodox synagogue , declined to comment on the ParCare investigation .
But he said that he , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to follow state distribution schedules .
He also said that he personally has fielded many inquiries into vaccine availability since the first federal approvals earlier this month .
“ People are very anxious , very excited , very interested in taking this vaccine , ” Glatt said .
“ I think the sole concern at this time is ‘ how can I get the vaccine .
’ ”

JTA — When David first saw the advertisement on his local Long Island community Whatsapp group inviting people like him and his wife, both over 65, to sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine, he was skeptical. The ad linked to a nondescript Google form that asked him to answer a few questions and submit insurance information.
“At this point I got suspicious. Is this an attempt to steal my identity? A scam?” he said in an email sharing his experience with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
After doing some research, however, he found that the provider that created the form, ParCare Community Health Network, was well known and had contracted with New York City’s health authority to administer coronavirus tests to the Orthodox Jewish community.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Days after submitting their information, David and his wife headed to ParCare. On December 24, the couple, who are not health care workers, drove to one of the network’s facilities and received what they were told was the coronavirus vaccine — as well as a follow-up appointment to receive the second dose in January.
Whether and how David will receive that second dose, required to maximize the efficacy of the Moderna vaccine he received, is now unknown. That’s because days after his vaccination, the state announced a criminal investigation into ParCare over allegations that the Brooklyn-based healthcare provider fraudulently obtained the vaccine and distributed it to members of the public, in what appears to be the first inquiry into potential vaccine fraud in the United States.
Pfizer employees clap after line workers finished packing boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Michgan, December 13, 2020. (Morry Gash/AP)
“Anyone found to have knowingly participated in this scheme will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a statement Saturday announcing the investigation.
A representative for ParCare said Sunday that the network had “proactively” returned its vaccine supplies to cooperate with the state health department.
“We will be working with the state to ensure that we provide the second dose for our patients,” ParCare said in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to make sure that the state understands that our patients are our priority and that everyone receives their second dose accordingly.”
State officials did not answer questions Sunday about how they planned to handle the second doses of people vaccinated by ParCare. Moderna’s clinical trial found that a single dose was 80 to 90% effective, compared to 94% for the two-dose vaccination.
David — who asked to use an alias because he feared repercussions for speaking about his experience — said he was anxious that he would have to go without a second dose because of the investigation into ParCare. He issued a plea on behalf of other patients who had been given the vaccine’s first dose: “Please do not leave them in a lurch and authorize their follow up shot.”
Illustrative: Sandra Lindsay (L), a nurse, is inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, on December 14, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (Mark Lennihan/Pool/AFP)
It’s unclear how many people are in David’s position. BoroPark24, a Yiddish news service, reported on December 21 that ParCare had obtained 3,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine and would vaccinate 500 people that day.
A representative for the network told JTA that the vaccines had been properly obtained and shared what it said were a packing slip and an email from the state health department showing that 2,300 vaccine doses had been delivered to ParCare in Monroe, New York, the upstate town that includes the Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel.
But it’s clear that those vaccinated by ParCare include prominent Orthodox leaders. Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Rabbi Mordechai Willig, both head teachers at Yeshiva University, were vaccinated at ParCare last week, and the network tweeted a video of their vaccinations. Neither Schachter, 79, nor Willig, 73, is a frontline health care worker or nursing home resident or worker, the two categories currently eligible for vaccines.
On Sunday night, Schachter, who has been an outspoken leader urging compliance with pandemic guidelines, said he had been told that his vaccination was above board.
Illustrative: A pharmacist labels syringes in a clean room where doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be handled, December 9, 2020, at Mount Sinai Queens hospital in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
“If either of us would have been told that this was inappropriate, that it wasn’t legitimate, we would not have done that,” he said before delivering an online Torah lesson.
ParCare advertised that it would offer vaccines to people over 65 and with preexisting health conditions. But one Manhattan physician said he had reason to believe that people far younger had been vaccinated.
Dr. Mark Horowitz, a family physician with some patients in the Orthodox Jewish community, said he had seen a 36-year-old patient last week who said she had received a COVID-19 vaccine in Brooklyn the previous day, despite not meeting state vaccination standards. Horowitz tweeted about the patient three days before the state announced its investigation into ParCare.
Horowitz said he found ParCare’s alleged misconduct “morally repugnant,” especially as he said he sees patients with COVID-19 but has yet to receive the vaccine.
Illustrative. A syringe and a bottle reading ‘COVID-19 Vaccine’ next to the Pfizer company logo, November 23, 2020. (JOEL SAGET / AFP)
“I have little, if any, sympathy for people who jump the line, but I think the greater blame goes to the operators of this facility,” he said.
That’s who state investigators appear to be scrutinizing. The Centers for Disease Control’s vaccination program provider agreement, which New York requires private practices to sign, tells participants to “administer COVID-19 Vaccine in compliance with all applicable state and territorial vaccination laws.” Breaching the agreement risks suspension or termination from the program and federal criminal and civil penalties.
Gary Schlesinger, the prominent Hasidic businessman who owns the ParCare network, shared a picture of his own vaccination on Twitter late last week. He deleted his post after the state announced its investigation.
David, the man who was vaccinated at ParCare, said he assumed ParCare was distributing the vaccine early because of COVID-19 rates in Orthodox communities. Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have called attention to lapses in the communities in compliance with rules designed to curb the spread of the disease.
And the city has collaborated with ParCare as it has worked to manage the pandemic. In October, the NYC Test & Trace Corps, the city’s contact tracing unit, announced that it was expanding the provider’s COVID-19 testing capabilities and offering additional resources and supplies.
Dr. Aaron Glatt (Screengrab: YouTube)
But while Orthodox Brooklyn experienced some of the first major outbreaks of the pandemic in the United States, neighborhoods with the most Orthodox Jews are not on the city’s list of areas experiencing the steepest toll throughout the entire pandemic. That list, de Blasio said last week, will determine where vaccines are sent first once vaccinations begin for the general public.
Dr. Aaron Glatt, the chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau on Long Island and an assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere, a large Orthodox synagogue, declined to comment on the ParCare investigation. But he said that he, along with other medical professionals, had no alternative but to follow state distribution schedules.
He also said that he personally has fielded many inquiries into vaccine availability since the first federal approvals earlier this month.
“People are very anxious, very excited, very interested in taking this vaccine,” Glatt said. “I think the sole concern at this time is ‘how can I get the vaccine.’”


jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Navalny Poisoning: CIA, MI6, ‘Discredited’ State-Funded Bellingcat Play Key Role In Accusing Russia

Western media coverage has overlooked the key role of the CIA , MI6 , and the NATO member state-funded outlet Bellingcat in generating the allegation that Russia ’ s FSB poisoned Alexei Navalny .
Russia ’ s FSB intelligence agency has been accused of poisoning opposition activist Alexei Navalny .
While the allegation may prove to be true , Western media coverage has overlooked the key role of the CIA , MI6 , and the state-funded outlet Bellingcat in generating it .
Western media outlets have failed to disclose that Bellingcat is funded by NATO member states , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that Bellingcat has a dubious record .
In a leaked assessment , the UK government ’ s Integrity Initiative wrote : “ Bellingcat was somewhat discredited , both by spreading disinformation itself , and by being willing to produce reports for anyone willing to pay.
” And few have paid attention to reporting by the New York Times that shortly after Navalny was flown to Germany for treatment , “ representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency and Britain ’ s Secret Intelligence Service provided members of the German government with details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Security Service officers involved , that directly implicated the Russian government.
” Aaron Maté is a journalist and producer .
He hosts Pushback with Aaron Maté on The Grayzone .
He is also is contributor to The Nation magazine and former host/producer for The Real News and Democracy Now !
.
Aaron has also presented and produced for Vice , AJ+ , and Al Jazeera .

[embedded content]
Western media coverage has overlooked the key role of the CIA, MI6, and the NATO member state-funded outlet Bellingcat in generating the allegation that Russia’s FSB poisoned Alexei Navalny.
Russia’s FSB intelligence agency has been accused of poisoning opposition activist Alexei Navalny. While the allegation may prove to be true, Western media coverage has overlooked the key role of the CIA, MI6, and the state-funded outlet Bellingcat in generating it.
Western media outlets have failed to disclose that Bellingcat is funded by NATO member states, including the US via the National Endowment for Democracy, and that Bellingcat has a dubious record. In a leaked assessment, the UK government’s Integrity Initiative wrote: “Bellingcat was somewhat discredited, both by spreading disinformation itself, and by being willing to produce reports for anyone willing to pay.”
And few have paid attention to reporting by the New York Times that shortly after Navalny was flown to Germany for treatment, “representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency and Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service provided members of the German government with details about the poisoning, including the identities of the Federal Security Service officers involved, that directly implicated the Russian government.”
Background:
Draft debacle: Bellingcat smears OPCW whistleblower, journalists with false letter, farcical claims
Aaron Maté is a journalist and producer. He hosts Pushback with Aaron Maté on The Grayzone. He is also is contributor to The Nation magazine and former host/producer for The Real News and Democracy Now!. Aaron has also presented and produced for Vice, AJ+, and Al Jazeera.


jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Eight German care home employees jabbed with 5 TIMES Pfizer vaccine dose, 4 hospitalized with Covid-

Eight German care home employees jabbed with 5 TIMES Pfizer vaccine dose, 4 hospitalized with Covid-like symptoms

Eight nursing home workers in Stralsund received five times the normal dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine , sending half of them to the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms – but the company insists the megadose is safe .
A group of care home employees in the northeastern town of Stralsund was accidentally dosed with five times the prescribed amount of Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s newly approved Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday – the first day Germany began vaccinating healthcare workers and nursing home residents against the virus .
Eight employees received five times the 30-microgram ( mcg ) dose of the jab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four of those were hospitalized as a “ precautionary measure ” after experiencing flu-like ( and Covid-19-like ) symptoms , Vorpommern-Rügen district administrator Stefan Kerth revealed on Monday .
Also on rt.com VaccinEUnity ?
European bloc launches Covid jab program – but Germany , Hungary & Slovakia already started ahead of schedule “ I deeply regret this incident , ” Kerth told reporters , expressing “ hope ” that “ those affected suffer no serious side effects.
” While the prescribed dose for Comirnaty is just 30mcg , a spokeswoman for BioNTech insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” during clinical trials and found doses of as much as 100mcg were tolerated without “ serious consequences.
” However , five times the normal dose would be 150mcg , half again as much as a 100mcg overdose , and it ’ s not clear if any of the clinical trials had tested such high doses .
The overdosed group consisted of seven women and one man , all aged between 38 and 54 .
The vaccine is being administered to elderly nursing home residents and employees at such facilities first , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin next year .
The arrival of pharmaceutical salvation has already encountered obstacles , however , with some districts rejecting their vaccine shipments on the suspicion they had not been kept at the ultra-cold temperature of -70 degrees Celsius required to retain safety and effectiveness .
Seven districts in Bavaria opted to return 1,000 shots after the ‘ cold ’ boxes in which they arrived registered internal temperatures up to 15 degrees Celsius , dismissing BioNTech ’ s claim that the comparatively lukewarm vaccine shipment was “ probably okay.
” Also on rt.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold chain prompts concerns over Pfizer vaccine batch going off Medical authorities also discovered on Monday that , while vaccine containers were supposed to carry five doses , Comirnaty ’ s vials actually included closer to six – an anomaly dismissed as intentional “ slight overfill ” by the manufacturer .
However , EU health officials warned that “ under no circumstances ” were vaccine leftovers from multiple containers meant to be mixed .
While the European Union was initially hesitant to rush the Pfizer jab to market , and even criticized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country to embrace the experimental shot , continental health authorities stepped up their delivery timetable earlier this month when member nations , including Germany , complained about the delay .
European countries began vaccinating people over the weekend , with the authorities recommending anyone over 16 years of age receive the dual-dose shot .
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Eight nursing home workers in Stralsund received five times the normal dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, sending half of them to the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms – but the company insists the megadose is safe.
A group of care home employees in the northeastern town of Stralsund was accidentally dosed with five times the prescribed amount of Pfizer-BioNTech’s newly approved Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday – the first day Germany began vaccinating healthcare workers and nursing home residents against the virus.
Eight employees received five times the 30-microgram (mcg) dose of the jab, which was recently christened Comirnaty. Four of those were hospitalized as a “precautionary measure” after experiencing flu-like (and Covid-19-like) symptoms, Vorpommern-Rügen district administrator Stefan Kerth revealed on Monday.
Also on rt.com VaccinEUnity? European bloc launches Covid jab program – but Germany, Hungary & Slovakia already started ahead of schedule
“I deeply regret this incident,” Kerth told reporters, expressing “hope” that “those affected suffer no serious side effects.”
While the prescribed dose for Comirnaty is just 30mcg, a spokeswoman for BioNTech insisted researchers had experimented with “increased dosages” during clinical trials and found doses of as much as 100mcg were tolerated without “serious consequences.” However, five times the normal dose would be 150mcg, half again as much as a 100mcg overdose, and it’s not clear if any of the clinical trials had tested such high doses.
The overdosed group consisted of seven women and one man, all aged between 38 and 54. The vaccine is being administered to elderly nursing home residents and employees at such facilities first, with a rollout for the general population to begin next year.
The arrival of pharmaceutical salvation has already encountered obstacles, however, with some districts rejecting their vaccine shipments on the suspicion they had not been kept at the ultra-cold temperature of -70 degrees Celsius required to retain safety and effectiveness.
Seven districts in Bavaria opted to return 1,000 shots after the ‘cold’ boxes in which they arrived registered internal temperatures up to 15 degrees Celsius, dismissing BioNTech’s claim that the comparatively lukewarm vaccine shipment was “probably okay.”
Also on rt.com Vaccination suspended in Bavaria after glitch in cold chain prompts concerns over Pfizer vaccine batch going off
Medical authorities also discovered on Monday that, while vaccine containers were supposed to carry five doses, Comirnaty’s vials actually included closer to six – an anomaly dismissed as intentional “slight overfill” by the manufacturer. However, EU health officials warned that “under no circumstances” were vaccine leftovers from multiple containers meant to be mixed.
While the European Union was initially hesitant to rush the Pfizer jab to market, and even criticized the UK for bragging about being the first country to embrace the experimental shot, continental health authorities stepped up their delivery timetable earlier this month when member nations, including Germany, complained about the delay. European countries began vaccinating people over the weekend, with the authorities recommending anyone over 16 years of age receive the dual-dose shot.
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jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Loujain al-Hathloul: Prominent Saudi women’s rights activist sentenced to five years in jail

Loujain al-Hathloul , who successfully campaigned for women to have the right to drive in Saudi Arabia , has been imprisoned jail since her arrest in May 2018 .
On Monday , the Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh , which was set up to deal with terror cases , convicted the 31-year-old – but the court is said to have suspended two years and 10 months of the sentence in addition to the time already served in prison which would see her released in around two months .
However , Ms Hathloul ’ s family says they still intend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prize nominee alleges she has been tortured in prison , though these claims have been denied by Saudi Arabia .
Lina al-Hathloul , her younger sister , said the campaigner will appeal the sentence and ask for another investigation into the alleged torture she has endured .
She added : “ After nearly three years in pre-trial detention and now five weeks of a rushed trial process in the Specialised Criminal Court , my sister Loujain was sentenced .
She was charged , tried and convicted using counter-terrorism laws .
“ To be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very reforms that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and the Saudi kingdom so proudly tout is the ultimate hypocrisy .
“ Loujain and my parents , who are her lawyers , were given little time to prepare , so it is hard to understand how this trial process is a fair one .
My sister is not a terrorist ; she is an activist .
My sister is the bravest person I know.
” She said that although the family were “ devastated ” that the activist would be forced to “ spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their fight was “ far from over ” , adding that they “ will not rest until Loujain is free ” .
She said : “ Loujain is a peaceful campaigner for the basic freedoms the rest of the world takes for granted .
In response she has been imprisoned , tortured and abused by the Saudi authorities – yet they call her the terrorist .
“ It is the Saudi regime that rules by terror .
The international community must not let this stand .
If human rights mean anything more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s time for real action .
Loujain must be released – and as Joe Biden has said , it ’ s time for the rest of the world to treat Saudi Arabia as the pariah it is until it ends these sickening abuses.
” Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for the campaigner to be immediately released from jail , arguing that the charges against her are false and must be dropped .
At the end of last month , the campaigner ’ s sister , Lina , told The Independent : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a sham trial and a show trial , so it won ’ t magically become a fair trial .
From the beginning , it has been normal to give a day ’ s notice for things .

A leading Saudi women’s rights activist has been sentenced to five years and eight months in jail for charges including trying to harm national security.
Loujain al-Hathloul, who successfully campaigned for women to have the right to drive in Saudi Arabia, has been imprisoned jail since her arrest in May 2018.
On Monday, the Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh, which was set up to deal with terror cases, convicted the 31-year-old – but the court is said to have suspended two years and 10 months of the sentence in addition to the time already served in prison which would see her released in around two months. However, Ms Hathloul’s family says they still intend to appeal the conviction.
The Nobel peace prize nominee alleges she has been tortured in prison, though these claims have been denied by Saudi Arabia. Lina al-Hathloul, her younger sister, said the campaigner will appeal the sentence and ask for another investigation into the alleged torture she has endured.
She added: “After nearly three years in pre-trial detention and now five weeks of a rushed trial process in the Specialised Criminal Court, my sister Loujain was sentenced. She was charged, tried and convicted using counter-terrorism laws.
Read more
“To be sentenced for her activism and for the very reforms that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and the Saudi kingdom so proudly tout is the ultimate hypocrisy.
“Loujain and my parents, who are her lawyers, were given little time to prepare, so it is hard to understand how this trial process is a fair one. My sister is not a terrorist; she is an activist. My sister is the bravest person I know.”
She said that although the family were “devastated” that the activist would be forced to “spend even one more day in prison”, their fight was “far from over”, adding that they “will not rest until Loujain is free”.
Ms Hathloul, who was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2019, peacefully campaigned for years alongside other activists to give women the right to drive.
The University of British Columbia graduate had previously been arrested and released several times for defying the driving ban in the highly Conservative country.
Ms Hathloul, who recently launched a hunger strike over her jail conditions, was arrested with 10 other women’s rights activists in Saudi Arabia in May 2018 – weeks before the kingdom reversed the driving ban.
US actor Mia Farrow and Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman, and Amnesty International recently called for Ms Hathloul to be released from prison. Saudi officials deny the charges are linked to Ms Hathloul’s activism.
Lucy Rae, a spokesperson for human rights charity Grant Liberty, a human rights charity, told The Independent that the sentencing of Ms Hathloul was an “international outrage”.
She said: “Loujain is a peaceful campaigner for the basic freedoms the rest of the world takes for granted. In response she has been imprisoned, tortured and abused by the Saudi authorities – yet they call her the terrorist.
“It is the Saudi regime that rules by terror. The international community must not let this stand. If human rights mean anything more than words on a page – it’s time for real action. Loujain must be released – and as Joe Biden has said, it’s time for the rest of the world to treat Saudi Arabia as the pariah it is until it ends these sickening abuses.”
Local press said Ms Hathloul had been charged with damaging the kingdom’s national security and trying to alter its political structure.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for the campaigner to be immediately released from jail, arguing that the charges against her are false and must be dropped.
Read more
At the end of last month, the campaigner’s sister, Lina, told The Independent: “From the beginning, it has been a sham trial and a show trial, so it won’t magically become a fair trial. From the beginning, it has been normal to give a day’s notice for things.
“The authorities’ decisions have been very impulsive. The procedures have not been respected and have not been fair. The authorities previously blocked my parents from giving Loujain her legal documents.”
She said: “I really miss my sister. Not a second goes by that I don’t miss her.”
The Independent has contacted a representative of the Saudi embassy for comment.
Source


jewworldorder--2020-12-28--Fired Tyson boss says COVID office pool was a ‘morale boost’

One of the Tyson Foods managers fired for betting on how many workers would contract COVID-19 at an Iowa pork plant said the office pool was spontaneous fun and intended to boost morale .
Don Merschbrock , former night manager at the plant in Waterloo , Iowa , said he was speaking in an attempt to show that the seven fired supervisors are “ not the evil people ” that Tyson has portrayed .
“ We really want to clear our names , ” he told The Associated Press .
“ We actually worked very hard and took care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terminations of the Waterloo managers Dec. 16 , weeks after the betting allegation surfaced in wrongful death lawsuits filed by the families of four workers who died of COVID-19 .
Tyson said an investigation led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder found sufficient evidence to terminate those involved , saying their actions violated the company ’ s values of respect and integrity .
The company had asked Holder ’ s law firm to investigate the allegation after a public backlash threatened to damage its brand and demoralize its workers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s largest meat producers , did not release Holder ’ s findings , and fired managers have complained that they were let go without explanation .
Merschbrock released a statement and elaborated in an interview that he was more willing to speak than the other fired managers since he isn ’ t a named defendant in the lawsuits .
County officials said last May that more than 1,000 workers tested positive for the virus , which hospitalized several and killed at least six .
They have blasted Tyson for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for idling the plant only after the outbreak had ripped through the city .
Lawyers for the estates of four dead workers have portrayed the betting pool as indicative of the company ’ s callous attitude toward health and safety .
They have alleged that managers downplayed the severity of the virus , at times allowing or encouraging employees to work while sick .
Tyson has said the plant , its largest for pork and able to process 20,000 hogs daily , was designated as critical infrastructure by the federal government in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely continue operations to secure the national food supply.
” Merschbrock , who had been with Tyson for a decade , said managers were given the “ impossible task ” of maintaining production while implementing virus safety precautions .
They had been working 12-hour days , six or seven days per week , he said .
The office pool involved roughly $ 50 cash , which went to the winner who picked the correct percentage of workers testing positive for the virus , Merschbrock said .
He added that those involved didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thought the plant ’ s positivity rate would be lower than the community rate due to their mitigation efforts .
“ It was a group of exhausted supervisors that had worked so hard and so smart to solve many unsolvable problems , ” Merschbrock said .
“ It was simply something fun , kind of a morale boost for having put forth an incredible effort .
There was never any malicious intent .
It was never meant to disparage anyone.
” Mel Orchard , an attorney representing families of deceased employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not “ an unsolvable problem.
” He said the issue was a corporate culture where executives prioritized production and sales and treated line workers as expendable .
“ Listening to the stories of those who lost a father , brother or wife , I have a hard time having sympathy for the managers who worked extra hours and were tired , ” he said .
“ But I do understand why and how this could have happened .
”

One of the Tyson Foods managers fired for betting on how many workers would contract COVID-19 at an Iowa pork plant said the office pool was spontaneous fun and intended to boost morale.
Don Merschbrock, former night manager at the plant in Waterloo, Iowa, said he was speaking in an attempt to show that the seven fired supervisors are “not the evil people” that Tyson has portrayed.
“We really want to clear our names,” he told The Associated Press. “We actually worked very hard and took care of our team members well.”
Tyson announced the terminations of the Waterloo managers Dec. 16, weeks after the betting allegation surfaced in wrongful death lawsuits filed by the families of four workers who died of COVID-19.
Tyson said an investigation led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder found sufficient evidence to terminate those involved, saying their actions violated the company’s values of respect and integrity. The company had asked Holder’s law firm to investigate the allegation after a public backlash threatened to damage its brand and demoralize its workers.
The Springdale, Arkansas-based company, one of the world’s largest meat producers, did not release Holder’s findings, and fired managers have complained that they were let go without explanation.
Merschbrock released a statement and elaborated in an interview that he was more willing to speak than the other fired managers since he isn’t a named defendant in the lawsuits.
He said managers conducted the office pool last spring within minutes following mass testing of the plant’s roughly 2,800 workers.
County officials said last May that more than 1,000 workers tested positive for the virus, which hospitalized several and killed at least six. They have blasted Tyson for not initially providing workers adequate protective gear and for idling the plant only after the outbreak had ripped through the city.
Lawyers for the estates of four dead workers have portrayed the betting pool as indicative of the company’s callous attitude toward health and safety. They have alleged that managers downplayed the severity of the virus, at times allowing or encouraging employees to work while sick.
Tyson has said the plant, its largest for pork and able to process 20,000 hogs daily, was designated as critical infrastructure by the federal government in March and that its leaders worked to “safely continue operations to secure the national food supply.”
Merschbrock, who had been with Tyson for a decade, said managers were given the “impossible task” of maintaining production while implementing virus safety precautions. They had been working 12-hour days, six or seven days per week, he said.
The office pool involved roughly $50 cash, which went to the winner who picked the correct percentage of workers testing positive for the virus, Merschbrock said. He added that those involved didn’t believe the pool violated company policy and thought the plant’s positivity rate would be lower than the community rate due to their mitigation efforts.
“It was a group of exhausted supervisors that had worked so hard and so smart to solve many unsolvable problems,” Merschbrock said. “It was simply something fun, kind of a morale boost for having put forth an incredible effort. There was never any malicious intent. It was never meant to disparage anyone.”
A Tyson spokesman declined to comment on Merschbhrock’s assertions.
Mel Orchard, an attorney representing families of deceased employees, said protecting workers from the virus was not “an unsolvable problem.” He said the issue was a corporate culture where executives prioritized production and sales and treated line workers as expendable.
“Listening to the stories of those who lost a father, brother or wife, I have a hard time having sympathy for the managers who worked extra hours and were tired,” he said. “But I do understand why and how this could have happened.”
Orchard represents the estates of Sedika Buljic, 58; Reberiano Garcia, 60; Jose Ayala Jr., 44; and Isidro Fernandez. Buljic, Garcia and Fernandez died in April, and Ayala died May 25 after a six-week hospitalization.
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