Items

• 
  2021-11-03

  My Annual Newsletter to Friends 2020 and 2021

  At the holidays I send a newsletter about whatever I have been thinking that year. This year and last the newsletters were about the epidemic. I was looking for examples in history to help us see today how we could cope with the disruption of our lives.
• 
  -2021-06-20

  Losing Connections with Older Relatives and with Their Life Knowledge

  I am an individual over 60, which means that my aunts, uncles, and cousins are also over 60, and several are in their 80s and 90s. Luckily I haven’t been separated from family members younger than me, but because of the health and safety concerns for older individuals, I haven’t been able to meet with these older family members during the pandemic. I’ve found that my older family members don’t enjoy connecting through technology, as they know that doing so, although better than not connecting at all, is a poor substitute for face-to-face connections. Trying to communicate over Zoom results in frustration and dissatisfaction for people who are used to another way of communicating, a way where body language, touch, and energy are important components of the conversation. So the level of connection with these individuals has declined greatly during the pandemic, as we haven’t been able to meet in person and our technology-driven connections have been unsatisfactory or infrequent. The lack of connection is particularly sad as this demographic is more likely to fall ill with the virus or suffer another illness, or even death, and I may not have another chance to see them. I’ve lost an uncle to the virus this past year already. I’ve gone without seeing friends this past year, but I fully expect to be able to see them again in the future; with my older family members, this connection in the future is far less certain. The lack of connection is also sad because these individuals have lived long lives and encountered hardships, including diseases and public health scares, and their advice and history would be sources of comfort and knowledge for these times.
• 
  2021-01-07

  An Open Letter from Indigenous Peoples to Indigenous Peoples in Brazil on Surviving COVID-19

  This entry shares an open letter titled "Indigenous Peoples to Indigenous Peoples in Brazil." The letter includes artwork of Indigenous artists, to encourage, uplift, support, educate, and communicate about solidarity and strength of Indigenous communities. The open letter includes historical information, words on Acts of Resistance, and Acts of Healing. The webpage and downloadable letter/PDF are available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. This is important to capture because it is created by Indigenous Peoples for Indigenous Peoples, shared publicly via the Internet. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/una-carta-abierta-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-del-norte-los-pueblos-indigenas-de-brasil-sobre https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/carta-aberta-dos-povos-indigenas-do-grande-norte-aos-povos-indigenas-no-brasil-sobre-o-covid https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/carta-aberta-dos-povos-indigenas-do-grande-norte-aos-povos-indigenas-no-brasil-sobre-o-covid
• 
  2020-08-28

  Jewish Melbourne: St Kilda Hebrew Congregation weekly recorded sermons

  Given synagogues were closed during lockdown, rabbis had to find new ways to communicate to their congregations. St Kilda Hebrew Congregation's rabbis would each week post a short video on facebook of a sermon. Often they would record these sermons outside, out the front of St KIlda Shule
• 
  2020-07-26

  Jewish Melbourne: 'consider those with hearing difficulties while wearing a mask'

  Chevra Hatzolah encouraged people to consider those with hearing difficulties while wearing a mask: "😷 Please consider those with hearing difficulties whilst wearing a mask. 😷 Please: - Be patient - Speak louder but do not yell - Articulate your words - Speak slowly - Use your hands and body language (gestures and pointing) - Move to a quiet place - Use alternative methods to communicate e.g. text Information is sourced from: https://www.deafvictoria.org.au/coronavirus/ Wherever you can, keep 1.5 metres apart from others, wash your hands often, and cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. And if you have symptoms – get tested. In a medical emergency call 9527 5111."