Items

• 
  2021-02-24

  MY MOOD. MY MASK

  Will we miss them when we no longer need them? What will become of these scrappy, sometimes brightly-colored statement pieces? In many ways, a mask has become the sartorial equivalent of a tie. Men still wear ties, but really…why? They serve no purpose. Will we do the same without masks? A mask can reveal who the wearer is in a way that a bare face cannot. Study the mudroom collection in this photo reveals and you will know that someone loves Star Wars and the other is a feminist who adores penguins. After the Texas deep-freeze, and Ted Cruz’s air cruise to Mexico to escape the failure of the power grid, he returned to the U.S. hiding behind an enormous Lone-Star state face mask—as if donning it would make everyone forget his Marie-Antoinette moment. For future generations reading this: Cruz abandoned his constituents who were without power and water for days and flew to a Cancun resort with his family because they were cold. Did the mask hide his shame when he returned home after being caught? If so, maybe we should keep the mask in our wardrobes in our post-COVID futures. Perhaps the year of plague has given us a new fashion choice as well as a place to hide when necessary.
• 2021-02-04

  IMF Myanmar Response

  Questions Reporter Asked IMF Gerry Rice [ Director, Communications Department, IMF ] concerning Myanmar COVID Relief Money QUESTIONER: In terms of Myanmar, recent developments in Myanmar. It seems that quite recently, just before the coup, that the IMF had given some $350 million and dedicated it toward it. I'm wondering what are your thoughts? First of all, what are the IMF's thoughts, obviously, on the coup? But also generally, how did the IMF react when there's a change of government in this way right after they've given money? Is there any -- how can you assure that the money goes, you know, for the intended purposes? That it doesn't actually support a now more military government? That's my question for today. MR. RICE: Thank you very much for that. We are, of course, very concerned about the impact of recent events and what they could have on the people of Myanmar, and we're watching it very closely, of course, like the rest of the world. Just to remind that, of course, Myanmar faced large economic and social costs as a result of the pandemic, and the IMF resources, our support was to help the people of Myanmar to meet these urgent humanitarian needs. That was the whole purpose. Again, just to set in context, the approval of this supports was back in January by our board and followed all standard procures for this kind of emergency financing. The same as we have done for another 84 countries in this crisis, and standard safeguards in place regarding the resources, including the repayment schedule. And as I think you know, the IMF's record over 75 years on repayment and safeguarding of IMF resources is very clear. In terms of the status of our engagement, we have had no communication at this point with the new regime, and that's about as much as I have at the moment on Myanmar. QUESTIONER: So I had a question to follow up on Myanmar. I'm just wondering, on what happens [next]? Do you have to wait until whatever government emerges to reach out to the IMF to see if there's going to be even a relationship with the IMF going forward? And, you know, some people that I've spoken with are suggesting that well, this is kind of a pitfall of these rapid disbursing instruments that have been used. The money goes out very quickly all at once with no or very few conditions attached to it. Is there any thought to changing that at this stage and, you know, just wondering what next steps are on this? Is it just waiting till the smoke clears to decide how we engage? Also, the military generals that were appointed, a new central bank chief who was the same guy that ran the central bank when they were in power. Is there some concern that the central bank will lose its independence? MR. RICE: Just on your last point, of course, the independence of central banks is one of the fundamental principles that the IMF believes in and supports so, you know, just to make that very clear. On your other points, clearly the situation is unfolding. In terms of recognition of the government as in other cases, we are guided by the international community, guided by the membership in terms of recognition of the government. So again, the situation is unfolding there but that's what guides us in terms of our relationship with countries. You know, what I'd say on how the resources that we approved back in January how they are used, clearly again, as I said, these resources were for a clear purpose, the crisis, the pandemic, the helping with the humanitarian needs there. And, of course, it would be in the interest of the government and certainly the people of Myanmar that those funds are indeed used accordingly. Under the arrangement that was agreed with the previous former government, there was indeed safeguards regarding how the funds would be used as is the case with all of our emergency financing. I've talked about it here before. That included audit and, you know, transparency of how the resources are used. And again, this is true for all of the emergency financing. So while there are few conditions, as you rightly say, there are safeguard provisions and it would be our expectation that, you know, regardless of the future that these commitments would be maintained. Because those resources need to go to support the people and especially vulnerable groups. So you asked finally where we’re thinking of changing. You know, again, we've been using these emergency financing instruments in 85 countries so far. I think they have been a huge help and assistance in the crisis especially to the poorest countries, to low income countries. And I think one of the reasons that they've been so effective and we've been able to get the support so quickly is the, you know, the conditions are relatively few. However, and again I stress, the safeguards and the governance of those resources is something that we give high priority to and each one of those has a set of safeguards. Whether it's audit or publishing of procurement contracts, you know, there's a whole series of governance related provisions that we have attached to these loans. These are very important and we're confident that the resources will be well used and for the purpose that they were intended in these emergency financing loans.
• 
  2021-02-18

  Vaccine-gate in Peru

  Peru's president, wife, and other well-connected politicians were getting the COVID-19 vaccine back in October, provided by the Chinese company Sinopharm. The vaccines were distributed before the vaccine was publically available, and some high-level officials have resigned.
• 
  2020-10-23

  Social justice as a foundation for democracy and health

  From article: Jennifer Prah Ruger uses the covid-19 pandemic to show the importance of countries implementing a justice framework for health and equality. This article is part of a collection launched at the World Health Summit, 25-27 October 2020, Berlin, Germany. Funding for the articles, including open access fees, was provided by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to the Council on Foreign Relations, support from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung to the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
• 2021-02-18

  One-time covid vaccine

  It is an article about an innovative vaccine from COVID that is not two-phased, but one-phased.
• 
  2020-11-05

  Echoing Empty Galleries

  This photo, taken at the Detroit Institute of Art, is a glimpse of the drastically different pandemic-era museum experience. Upon entrance to the museum, guests are masked, tickets are bought online, temperatures are checked, and then one can wander the silent, empty galleries. Diego Rivera’s monumental Detroit Industry Murals are even more awe-inspiring when drifting around the cavernous hall distraction-free, with only sentinel machines keeping one company. Presently, Rivera’s personal history of political conflict and pandemic-related loss ring especially true. Although museum visits have adapted, one can still experience a powerful connection to art, in a new, maybe even improved way.
• 
  2021-02-15

  Do you have the right to protest? The coronavirus's impact on freedom of assembly

  A group gathers to protest against social isolation rules of the COVID-19 pandemic in Edmonton, Alberta.
• 
  2021-02-15

  Justin Trudeau Coronavirus Update

  Image from Macleans Magazine of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressing the nation at the beginning of the pandemic.
• 
  2021-02-15

  COVID-19: We're doing this for this

  Video created by the Government of Canada urging the public to wear a mask so "one day we can go back to" travelling, getting together with friends and family, and eating at restaurants.
• 
  2021-02-15

  Canadian Mask

  Image from an article in the McGill Reporter titled "COVID-19 pandemic uniting Canadians like no other event in decades".
• 
  2020

  Stencil of Nurse Hoax

  This is an Instagram post of street art in Bexhill, East Sussex. The street art is a stencil of US President Trump as a nurse with an oversized syringe and the phrase, "DONT TRY AT HOME." This is a reference to comments made by Trump to try injecting bleach as a remedy for the coronavirus.
• 
  2020-05-23

  Street Art - honoring frontline workers

  This article talks about street art around the world responding to the pandemic with satire, humor, political commentary, observation and expression. What stands out most with this article is the video interview of a street artist while he is completing a piece of art honoring frontline workers.
• 
  2020-05-28

  Street Art - political critique and social engagement

  This article, written by Jana Fedtke for PopMatters, describes instances of worldwide street art as political critique and social engagement during the pandemic. Examples of street art shown include stencil work. The author explores the ways in which street art relay information about how government agencies have handled spreading information and health care and in turn, how street artists depict social engagement with pandemic procedures.
• 
  2021-02-13

  Canada is 'playing chicken' with COVID-19 by reopening while variants are spreading widely

  Many are criticizing provinces plan's to continue to open up as Covid-19 variants are springing up throughout the country. Places like Quebec have begun to reopen businesses such as museums, malls, and hair salons while having a curfew in place. Newfoundland is facing a current surge with a variant strain.
• 
  2021-02-12

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 100

  IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, CONSTITUTIONALITY?
• 
  2021-02-08

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 99

  COUNTRY DIVIDED
• 
  2021-02-04

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 98

  BLACK HISTORY MONTH, QUOTES
• 
  2021-01-31

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 97

  San Francisco school board erases school names
• 
  2021-01-24

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 95

  REPUBLICAN INTRAPARTY PROBLEMS
• 
  2021-01-22

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 94

  Biden as the great unifier?
• 
  2020-12-17

  New Ale House Sign: London ON, Canada

  A pub in downtown London Ontario, Canada has been making its opinion of the pandemic restrictions heard through their ever changing sign out front.
• 
  2021-01-21

  Nearly 1 in 5 Defendants in Capitol Riot Cases Served in the Military

  The article discusses the Capitol riots and the veterans who participated in them, as well as recent extremist behavior within the military and the government's response.
• 
  2021-02-04

  US Rep. Yvette Harrell seeks to spare NM from Biden's ban on oil and gas leases

  This article from Carlsbad Current Argus reporter Adrian Hedden explains NM District 2 Congressional Representative Harrell's efforts to preserve the oil-and-gas driven economy in New Mexico. The oil and gas lease referenced here applies to federal lands, and the ban of new lease issuance impacts existing operations. Much of southeastern New Mexico is federally owned, while nearby Texas is predominantly private land. The effect of this ban, if successful, would merely drive operations a few miles across the state line without largely impacting production from within the Permian Basin; it will, however, destroy the New Mexico economy, approximately 40% of which depends on oil and gas operations within the state. This article and topic are important to me because of my familial ties to New Mexico, but also because it demonstrates the unintended and myopic objectives set forth in this particular executive order. The economic impact of this ban would further exacerbate community and statewide problems related to COVID-19 as homeless has recently spiked in that region, and the disappearing tax base has further inhibited county and state programs and operations.
• 
  2020-04-06

  Evangelical missionaries, COVID-19, and the rationalizing of infection

  Excerpt from the article: "One talking point that commonly arises in evangelical subculture is that “there is no safer place to be than in the center of God’s will.” If God needs you not to have coronavirus, in other words, you won’t get it; and why would God want people to get coronavirus in church after all? Following the same principle, if God wants you to preach to uncontacted peoples, God will make a way. You don’t need to worry about diseases; if the people you’re trying to convert die, that will turn out to have been God’s will."
• 
  2021-01-16

  An Eco-Socialist model for fixing the COVID-19 crisis

  Rob Wallace, an evolutionary epidemiologist with the Agroecology and Rural Economics Research Corps, reflects on the state of the US's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He lists a set of demands, per se, that outline how focusing on an environmental ethic based on the principle of meeting the needs of each person can provide a way out of the pandemic.
• 2021-02-03

  The Proud Boys have been listed as a terrorist organization, now what?

  Earlier this week, the Proud Boys were successfully listed as a terrorist organization by parliament thanks to the tireless efforts of Jagmeet Singh, the NDP, and Canadians who voiced their concerns regarding the fascistic proud boys, following their role in the January 6th coup attempt in Washington D.C. This news article was written in the wake of the ruling, that while the listing of the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization is undoubtedly a good thing, there have been questions raised in regards to effectively combating white supremacy and subsequently the amount of work that went into resisting expanding Canada’s description of ‘terrorist organizations.’ Essentially, by listing the Proud Boys as a Terrorist organization, we have been confronted with a possibility that future, more repressive or Conservative governments could easily utilize these legal systems against BIPOC community organizations, indigenous sovereignty and anti-fascists across the country. That essentially, we are relying too overly on the state itself to counter harmful movements which are fermenting across our country. That in order for lasting, and efficient change – we must be able to break from relying on state security and secret intelligence and tackle the problem at its core; mainly, what is causing the spread and radicalization processes of white supremacists. Essentially, we are only kicking the can down the road – that while this development is undoubtedly good for all Canadians, we are failing to address why white supremacy is so prevalent, and violent in our country, as the article concludes, “I understand why it feels good to call this organization a terrorist organization and why it might send the right signal but I think it also sends a false signal,” he said. ”Are we actually dealing with the underlying ideology of white supremacy by doing this? No we’re not.” I’m uploading this document to highlight the ongoing debate and conflict with white supremacy in Canada, providing how Canadians are now being confronted with the question of “what now?” following the ruling. For me, we will not defeat white supremacy in Canada until we address the influence of the institutions which are entrenched in our colonial history, and the subsequent ideology of white supremacy, such as the RCMP. The RCMP were a rural police force created solely to facilitate the Westward expansion of white Canadian settlers, effectively a state tool of genocide towards Indigenous peoples; to this day they still carry on the torch of eroding and combating Indigenous sovereignty, they are often the tool of the state and private business interests on unceded Indigenous land.
• 
  2020-05-28

  “Treated like a pariah': 11 COVID-19 survivors reveal what they want people to know

  This article presents the sometimes-unspoken stigma that accompanies having Covid-19. It invited survivors to share what they want people to know, because, according to the article, “for many people living through this, sharing their story is the only way they feel validated as they wait for researchers to wade through the unknowns.” The article expresses feelings of isolation from some who are avoided now that they have had Covid. Others share that there is a sense of blame thrust upon them, by those who feel as though they are at fault for getting sick. Still others disclose the subpar treatment by their health providers. Their lessons include: the disease can turn severe quickly, Covid-19 shouldn’t be about politics, don’t let your guard down, warn your friends and family, it is not just the flu, people need to have empathy, the suffering is real, be your own advocate, precautions aren’t foolproof, researchers and doctors are trying their best, and be grateful. Overall, these stories remind us that even when a person survives, they have healing yet to go.
• 
  2021-02-03

  Masks mandatory inside middle and high schools in B.C.

  Masks are now mandatory inside middle and high schools in British Columbia, Canada. Elementary students are currently not required to. Schools are also asking for more money in order to help with improving safety for returning staff. While much of the population is currently wearing masks, the government has been relatively laissez-faire compared to the United States on compliance.
• 
  2021-01-31

  navalny came back to moscow

  the political protests in russia
• 
  2020-09-03

  How social justice protests could affect the 2020 election

  This article by Jenesse Miller looks at the campaign strategies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump as the social justice protests occur in the wake of police brutality. From the article, "Both Biden and Trump made plans to visit Kenosha in the wake of the civil unrest in that city. Trump toured businesses that had been damaged during riots and praised law enforcement, while Biden’s campaign announced he would hold a community meeting and speak with the family of Blake, who was shot seven times by police. Each candidate’s actions were carefully choreographed to appeal to specific voters among their respective bases of support, but will their plans work?"
• 
  2020-10-30

  Race and social justice in the 2020 presidential election

  In the interview, Rashawn Ray discussing race and voter suppression. He discusses the history of voter suppression and how it can be used against various communities of color and how it is being used today. He also discusses the many ways this practice affects communities and our country as a whole.
• 
  2020-12-21

  A look at powerful social justice moments this year

  Many photographs in this article show a beautiful moment within the context of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Some photographs show other events marked by the year 2020 such as the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the anniversary of women having the right to vote. If anything, 2020 was the most volatile year most of us have ever witnessed in our lives.
• 
  2020-03-16

  9 Biggest Social Justice Issues of 2020

  This advertisement/article discusses nine different social justice issues North America is facing: voting rights, climate justice, healthcare, refugee crisis, racial injustice, income gap, gun violence, hunger, food insecurity, equality and how the Yeshiva University located in New York can help prepare people for the social work that can improve these issues. The article talks about how access to vital treatment during Covid-19 has impacted communities.
• 
  2021-01-20

  Bernie Sanders During the Pandemic

  During the pandemic all events where canceled, I found myself staying home everyday and isolating myself from all friends and work since I have family members that have underlying medical conditions and have weak immune systems. During the pandemic many people have stayed home and entertained themselves with memes. One very popular meme that recently spread through the internet is with Bernie Sanders at the inauguration ceremony. I created a picture/meme by cropping Bernie Sanders in a bed, similar to how I have been during the pandemic.
• 
  2021-01-29

  Four Wensdays in January

  This is a meme my friend shared in our discord, it recounts the absolute insanity that was January of 2021. The first image is of the failed coup attempt by enraged Trump supporters, white supremacists and fascists; who all stormed the capitol building with little to no resistance. While inside, they defaced the building, broke into offices and hunted for Vice President Mike Pence to hang for ‘betraying’ Donald Trump. The second photo came in response, depicting speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi holding the article of impeachment for Donald Trump. While it was argued that this was a pointless endeavor as Trump was virtually leaving office in a week, the main goal for impeachment was to prohibit Donald Trump from holding office ever again. The third image is the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States, this event was made possible by the presence of the national guard, where 21,000 soldiers were deployed to make sure nothing as similar as January 6th could occur. The streets were empty as roadblocks and military utility trucks cordoned off the area, massive fences were erected surrounding the structure and soldiers patrolled the area. Largely, it was believed there was going to be nationwide attacks on several capitol structures throughout the nation in response – yet nothing of substance happened. The final image, and my favorite, would be the assault on Wall Street. This is an insane story, so I’m going to be a little less formal but this is an incredibly significant event, it is an instance of effective class-warfare. I’m not going to explain stocks, but essentially what happened is hedge fund investors made a bet that GameStop would fail, they took several ‘shorts’ out on this company to profit from this bet – however, redditors on r/wallstreetbets caught wind of this and thought “what would happen if their bet was wrong,” they began investing heavily into the company, raising its value, and as a result, costing the hedge fund billionaires thousands. These thousands in losses became millions, then billions, as more and more working class and middle class people threw themselves onto the market, to eat the rich. It wasn’t about profit, about making a return, it was a message. Eventually, this fiasco showed Americans that there essentially is no such thing as the ‘free-market,’ as these large hedge funds began blocking people from purchasing stock, forcibly selling peoples stock, using their own funds to facilitate an artificial ‘scare.’ People lost so much after the initial manipulation, but it proved that the market was only free for the rich, that once anyone else began to emulate the fraudulent strategies of the wealthy elite, they would be struck down. This is currently on going, but I cannot stress enough – it is not about money, it’s about sending a message that people are done. It’d be funny if the federal government intervened on behalf of wall-street by bailing them out, before sending out those measly 2k stimulus cheques. For the archive, this photo represents the pace in which everything moved in 2021, and the absolute absurdity of where we are today. To think, when this began we were planning on a few weeks at home, we’d make sour dough bread, then we began missing our friends and family’s – then we were in the streets marching for civil rights, and the ability for people not to be murdered by police because of the colour of their skin, fascists stormed the government, the ex-president is being impeached, again, now we’re trying to destroy Wall Street, this pandemic is absolutely wild.
• 
  2021-01-25

  "The Pandemic Is Finally Softening. Will That Last?" - The Atlantic

  This Atlantic Monthly article, written by Robinson Meyer, details the race to vaccinate millions of Americans in the face of loosening mitigation efforts, new COVID-19 strains, and supply bottlenecks. According to Meyer, with the advent of several COVID-19 vaccines, some states and municipal governments across the country have loosened their quarantine restrictions in the belief that vaccination and lower death rates make lockdowns unnecessary. This is not true, and this loosening of restrictions may precipitate further surges in COVID-19 cases, especially as new strains from the UK and South Africa become endemic. Fewer vaccine doses will be delivered by Pfizer, due to an agreement signed by the Trump administration.
• 2021-01-27

  Analyzing a water usage during COVID article

  The Pacific Institute Article is here (in the document this was the link but ill just give the actual URL below)!! “As many people have put together a water shortage is happening because of COVID. This is because so many more people are using longer showers and stuff while they stay home as they are uncomfortable doing their business outside of home. In Portsmouth, England water demand increased by 15% throughout the past 10 months. Here in SF water demand for residential blocks gained 10% whilst decreasing by over 30% everywhere else. There are also many other facts given other than Portsmouth and SF.” Is the main info the article is given through a very stately manner. This article also likes using numbers which I like about it giving facts instead of something they think. The article keeps circling back to utilities and is clearly meant for DIY workers instead of giving other info. It also heads sections unlike many other articles on other subtopics. This is actually quite useful if you need certain information like using the article much more as a source than most other articles. Even with all this I still think it is an article, not a list of instructions or facts.
• 
  2021-01-28

  clay mask

  this is a clay mask with we are fighting two pandemics coronavirus & stupidity
• 
  2021-01-28

  Protester, Rioteer

  I drew this to show how spotlighted and how dramatic the BLM protests were, not out of want, but out of the need to bring attention to this issue. In the photo, the subject is shying away from the spotlight, not because they will be hurt in the same way as others, but because having a singular, white face as the flag would undermine the entire thing, and the subject knows that. They are wearing a mask, both to obscure their face and let them be known as part of the protests and not just an innocent bystander; and also to show how harmful covid was and that they are protecting others in different ways.
• 
  2021-01-28

  Fake News

  This is a poem about how it's hard to know where your news is coming from, and what to believe.
• 2021-01-24

  My Experience with the statistics.

  The only statistic about COVID-19 that I know is that it's survival rate is over 99.9%. I personally feel that I cannot trust this, or any other statistic provided by anyone due to the lies about causes of deaths, cover ups about causes of deaths, and blinds eyes turned by political figures. I believe that at this point nothing about the matter can be trusted do to the political roots that have been planted inside the entire pandemic. I have known people to get COVID-19 and haven't known anyone who has died from it but I still will likely never know the truth about any stat or fact about this virus.
• 
  2021-01-20

  Poet Amanda Gorman has a star-making moment during Biden-Harris inauguration

  I was teaching during the inauguration. But I pulled up the ceremony and allowed the students to watch Biden take his oath. Afterwards I quickly shut it down and tried to catch up on the lesson I had already planned. One of my students during 6th period unmuted (which is rare). "Mrs. Bell? Did you see the poet? It really moved me". I told her I would watch it after class. When I did get a chance to watch it, I was so sad I missed the opportunity to share Amanda Gorman's dream of a better America with them in the moment. The next day, each class watched it with me. Students who normally never speak applauded her, telling me what her vision meant to them, that she was elegant, that she was brave. Watching her speak was a moment I will never forget. She made history with words of hope in a horribly fractured America. She brought a sense of patriotism and optimism that I haven't felt in some time. I know she inspired kids everywhere. Ahhh!!! It was so good. "If only we're brave enough to see it, If only we're brave enough to be it".
• 2021-01-25

  Statistics and Final Thoughts

  I think it's absolutely boggers that there have been 1.07 cases of covid-19 in la county alone. That's about 10% of Los Angeles county that have had covid-19 at some point in the past year. Not only that but La county makes up about 1% percent of the world's covid cases. I have been effected by the statistics because now every time I go somewhere, I am thinking "someone in the grocery store most defiantly has covid", and that really stresses me out. The pandemic is not over and a lot of older people and just people and general think that now we have the vaccine we won't have to wear masks everything will get back to normal, but that's just not true. Also at the beginning of the lockdown, if some people just stayed home and wore their masks this could be a lot better now. If people could also stop saying that covid is a hoax made up by the democrats I would appreciate that.
• 
  2021-01-21

  Medics go on hunger strike in Peru amid Covid-19 second wave

  Peruvian medics and health care workers are on a hunger strike to call attention to the need for further funding as the country struggles with its second wave of Covid-19. There is also a call to remove the country's Health Social Security, Fiorella Molinelli, over the mismanagement of Covid health and isolation centers, but Molinelli has yet to respond.
• 2021-01-24

  My Thoughts on Ordinances, Mandates, and Lethal Force

  One of the cyclic discussions this year has been government mandates related to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Mask mandates and business closures are the two most prominently discussed on my household and circles, usually with respect to their wisdom, efficacy, and consequence. Municipal/county ordinances and state statutes originate within the respective legislative bodies of that particular government. Few legislative bodies have passed COVID-related mandates, and almost all such efforts have been at the sole discretion and direction of the executives branches of government. That specific division of labor is meant as a check-and-balance in our republic to keep one branch from both writing and enforcing laws, but our collective COVID response has almost universally done that very thing. For most Americans, their mayor, county managers, or governor have enacted Emergency Orders to address the public health crisis without sanction by the corresponding legislature AND that same office gets to enforce their own rule without public debate about the underlying mandate or its punishment. This effectively makes our respective executive authorities our parents. They make the rules without input, and they enforce the rules as they see fit. How just and sustainable is this model? Emergency orders are special authority granted to executives to respond to urgent crises during times when the legislatures are out of session, or when time constraints prevent pending a response for passage of a bill. However, we’re now nearly a year into this crisis...to my knowledge, no legislative body has composed and passed legislation to replace, supplant, or invalidate any COVID executive orders. Why are elected officials seemingly unwilling to fulfill their responsibilities and oaths of office? Has anyone asked them? How just are behavior mandates, especially across large terrains and diverse areas? How reasonable are Draconian restrictions for a rural community with very few cases due to the infection rates and suffering in a dense municipal area many miles away? Is it reasonable to close businesses in one area for something happening in another? Is it reasonable to fine, arrest, or incarcerate residents for behaviors deemed dangerous somewhere else? Conversely, why does a face covering have to be politicized? In terms of enforced behaviors, I would ask executives and legislators alike to remember that every mandate or prohibition carries the risk of lethal force and death in its enforcement. Every mandated enforcement interaction between state actors (police, deputies, code enforcement, etc) carries the potential for escalating resistance that can quickly translate into a loss of life for the alleged offender and/or the state actor. If we enforce behavior mandates, we must ensure that those mandates are worthy risks to actual human lives. Many of those presently shouting in the public square, actual and virtual alike, fail to address the multifaceted and complex realities of any government decision related to this pandemic. Almost everyone picks the data that support one narrow aspect of their position and works to shout down and bully every dissenting opinion. If your family’s business teeters on the verge of bankruptcy in small rural community with no actual COVID crisis, your priorities, fears, and needs diverge greatly from that of a family in the capital city that’s lost three grandparents this year. A third family who’s relying on continued eviction moratoriums to stay living indoors due to ongoing unemployment has still-different and valid priorities. We need to accept that all three families’ priorities are simultaneously right, even if disparate and conflicting. Despite what the loudest voices want us to believe, there are few monsters roaming among us who long for a global, COVID-driven euthanasia of the old and infirm. Republics require dialogue, engagement, and compromise based ultimately on reason and significant support of specific action. We need to engage each other as neighbors and potential allies and partners instead of enemies and ideological adversaries. We won’t be past this pandemic for some time yet, and I fear our society cannot long function under this ever-increasing strain.
• 
  2021-01-09

  Twitter hides post about COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theory on Iran supreme leader's account

  Another COVID related regional tension. Interesting to watch geopolitical conflicts play out regionally in relation to COVID. As China, Iran, and Russia strengthen their alliance and control over central Asia.
• 
  2021-01-21

  Iran’s Khamenei bans the import of U.S. and U.K. coronavirus vaccines

  I wonder how local regions around Iran will react to this proclamation. Iran a country paranoid of America for legitimate reasons. How many other countries treat America with such a paranoid predisposition. The tragic answer to that question would be; we deserve it.
• 
  2020-12-12

  Anti-mask protesters take to the streets in Calgary to fight COVID-19 restrictions

  This article details one of the numerous ‘freedom marches’ which took place in Calgary Alberta, Canada. These people were protesting in response to the government lockdowns, mask mandates and regulations to help limit the spread of Covid-19. However, what is interesting in this particular article is the reference to the multiplicity of causes behind each protestor; that protestors had different causes, and reasons for showing up. People marched for the obvious ‘anti-mask’ causes, yet others would protest for the ‘Wexit’ movement, which is the desire to establish either an independent Albertan ‘republic’ or join the U.S. as the 51st state. This item is important as it demonstrates how the pandemic sceptic movements of Calgary Alberta were viewed in a negative light; more importantly how these movements often co-opted other fringe movements such as the Albertan separatist movement. Similarly, the vitriol of these protestors is on display, as the Calgary freedom marchers have been notable for their behaviour of spitting, coughing and screaming at passersby, police and local businesses as evident in this particular story. Similarly, many believe these mask-less movements are super spreader events which are contributing to the spread of the virus in several urban centers throughout the province of Alberta, such as Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. This article provides substance to the pandemic sceptics of Alberta, Canada as no different to the anti-maskers of the United States; as uploading this, many of the organizations who attended and organized these events are currently organizing a massive march throughout the province which has been marketed to appear alike the tiki-torch rally of the far right in Charlottesville in 2017. I believe this article would fit best in the social justice collection to demonstrate the public/media response to the pandemic sceptics marching in the streets of Albertan cities.
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  2021-01-21

  No Pain, No Psych

  The last time I stepped foot into a climbing gym was March 8, 2020… The last time I felt both pain and psych at the same time was March 8, 2020. My last pre-Covid birthday celebration was March 8, 2020. What a day to look back on with such happiness, but also sorrowful yearning. When I was younger, I tried soccer… volleyball… tennis… and long story short, I discovered that trying to aim at spherical objects just wasn’t my thing. After several years of experimentation, I found a magazine advertisement for a climbing gym and almost immediately asked my mom if we could check it out. After day one, I knew I would be in it for the long run. For one, climbing didn’t require me to kick, bump, or serve a ball. That criteria was easily met, but most importantly, climbing proved to be a puzzle that continuously enticed me to complete it. Each route at the gym was a new challenge for me, and I was flooded with adrenaline as I fought my fear of heights and racked my brain to find a suitable sequence to top the climbs. Right hand up, right foot out to the side. Left foot high, left hand grasping the lip of the wall. The process nearly resembled the times where I learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube with a myriad of algorithms. As I grew stronger in my climbing technique, I possessed an arsenal of movements that I could employ at any time. The attached video shows the last climb I ever attempted before the lockdown commenced. Unbeknownst to my past self, I would never get the chance to finish it. Now, as I sit at home every day for distance learning, that climb continues to haunt me… Goodness, that was dramatic. No, but really, losing the opportunity to climb each week essentially equates to me losing my main coping mechanism. Whenever my mind was plagued by academic stress or general unease about the future, I would climb and climb and climb, at least three hours each Sunday. In the moment, all I desired to focus on was my next move – how I would inch closer to the top of the wall. I was never an exceptional climber, but I still liked to believe that I could be averagely skilled in something besides school. I suppose there was also the idea that, if my education headed downhill, I would escape in a minivan and become a nomadic climber, but my mother would not be pleased with me. With junior year beginning online (and most likely ending online as well), I found myself experiencing an influx in anxiety. During the weekdays and weekends, most of my time was spent either napping, surfing YouTube, or doing homework… such a dreadful cycle that contributed to my worst slump ever. Climbing used to instill me with so much energy that seems to have simply vanished ever since the pandemic hit. Nonetheless, I am finding my way to be active at home. YouTube often fuels my procrastination on school assignments, but it also provides me with the workout videos I follow along with on Saturday mornings. When climbing gyms facilities reopen, I know that my climbing technique will be extremely rusty, but I look forward to feeling… alive again. Climbing is a rather masochistic sport, but it is the “no pain, no gain” aspect, along with the exhilaration, that keeps me wanting more. (Side note: yesterday was Inauguration Day! Hoping that we are able to hold our nation's officials accountable in this new age for democracy.)
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  2021-01-19

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 93

  Inaguration eve