The Covid19 thread

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by svenrico

What is the situation with an independent inquiry to find covid's origin , is there a 'lack of cooperation' from
China ?!

China now follows a "wolf warrior" doctrine which involves rebuffing any criticism of the country, its leaders, its policies for any reason.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_warrior_diplomacy

It sees the demand for a free and unbiased investigation into the source of the virus as an attack by the west to demonise the country. Australia was one of the first countries to demand an investigation.
The "independent" investigation that finished a few months ago was strictly controlled by China and the only data released was what China deemed relevant. China did not allow any interviews with their scientists without a CCP "minder" being present.
China's current position is that the virus started in several countries simultaneously.

[SV650rules]

Originally Posted by svenrico

What is the situation with an independent inquiry to find covid's origin , is there a 'lack of cooperation' from
China ?!

There is a lack of cooperation from China on pretty much everything, the west has built up China with its insatiable demand for cheap widgets but China acts as though it no longer needs the west, but the west is the biggest market for Chinese goods by a massive margin. Now Sleepy Biden ( that well known Sinophile ) is in charge of USA then China will relax a bit about USA sanctions and become even more belligerent. Trouble with one party countries like China ( same as Russia ) they need to be belligerent to make them appear strong.

[embee]

Indeed, the UK appears to be in the process of increasing imports from China while reducing imports from the EU. Some might question the moral justifications.
https://www.theguardian.com/business...-and-covid-hit

[Bibio]

when was the last time you bought something made in Australia or New Zealand or for that matter anywhere apart from the "East"? China and its neighbouring countries has the rest of the world over a barrel so can do what it likes until the "West" start producing its own consumer shizz.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by Bibio

when was the last time you bought something made in Australia or New Zealand or for that matter anywhere apart from the "East"? China and its neighbouring countries has the rest of the world over a barrel so can do what it likes until the "West" start producing its own consumer shizz.

I agree. This isn't so much a political issue as a corporation and investor issue. Investors demand ever increasing profits and the easiest way to satisfy this is to shift production to where labour is cheaper. If the consumer stopped buying ebay knock-offs it would help.

I've recently bought 2 UK made plain T shirts (@ £30 each!), I could buy 15 for that from Matalan.

oh, and my Blundstone boots were made in Tasmania.

[Seeker]

A good summary of UK's handling of pandemic:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/british-go...120632416.html

[SV650rules]

Zero covid is not a good strategy ( neither is zero carbon, but leave that for another day ). Nothing wrong with government lifting restrictions, too many bedwetting scientists have been forecasting millions of deaths for far too long now ( it actually reminds me of project fear before and during Brexit ). We need to treat this like flu, and UK has never worn masks during flu season ( well up to now anyway ) and has relied on vaccine to protect the vulnerable, they certainly never shut the country down for flu. Pretty much the same people are prey to flu every year, the old and infirm with multiple existing health conditions, old and young obese people and people with diabetes ( which is what the government should really be worrying about, it is a ticking time bomb in UK). Scientists seem to work on the premise that it is better to be massively gloomy than optimistic.

[svenrico]

Originally Posted by Seeker

China's current position is that the virus started in several countries simultaneously.

As Mandy Rice Davies once said - They would say that wouldn't they !

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by SV650rules

it actually reminds me of project fear before and during Brexit

you mentioned this once before, do you consider Brexit to be a success? It seems to me that all the pessimistic predictions are coming true.

Originally Posted by SV650rules

too many bedwetting scientists have been forecasting millions of deaths for far too long now

are these the same scientists that are predicting:

Originally Posted by SV650rules

...and people with diabetes ( which is what the government should really be worrying about, it is a ticking time bomb in UK)

Which particular gloomy outlook are you choosing to believe from the (bedwetting) scientists, covid deaths (currently 4.16 million worldwide] or UK diabetes (in UK about 4 million)?
It seems to me that many people have diabetes through lifestyle choices, not sure the same applies to covid patients (unless they have refused the vaccine).

Irrespective of how you feel about lockdown (and we know your views), my issue is how the government have handled the pandemic. On current information they cherry picked the scientific data to allow party donors to financially benefit.

[Bibio]

just as well BJ predicted he would save us this amount.