Connect with us

Published

4 years ago

on

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Instead of taking insults to my intelligence personally, I research, qualify, and then educate.”
Simone Jennifer Smith

I won’t lie. I have been in my feelings lately. Instead of staying in the feeling, I faced the facts that when it comes to this pandemic, I have to give credit where credit is due.

The mainstream media continues to impress me with their ability to manipulate, and present information in a way that drives fear, induces stress, and divides the masses. Mainstream media is the giant, and then you have a few tenacious individuals who have chosen to see through the hypocrisy, and work together to help their communities.

 

 

I know that there are members of the community who have been following our coverage of COVID-19. Some agree with us, and others think that we are endangering their health and well-being. Respectfully, I understand both sides, and this is why we move to bring credible, relevant content to our community.

This week, I turned to a cohort, who should have been turned to from the very beginning. In 1.5 million years of human existence, it is only for about the past 200 years that communities have not turned to their elders during times of extreme social strain. An anthropologist will coincide with the fact that in prehistoric times, the collection of wisdom found with our elders was the key to human survival.

Our elders have a wealth of experience. They have gained so much wisdom in their lifetime; it is almost idiotic to not turn to them, especially when they have experienced situations that you are personally struggling with.

Life is cyclical. What has happened before will happen again. There is nothing really new under the sun. When facing indecision, or dealing with an experience that you have never been through before, why not ask an elder? Find out how they handled the experience.

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Richard Schabas, a retired physician, and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer from 1987 – 1997. He happened to be the Chief of Staff at York Central Hospital during the SARS crisis in 2003. During this time, he spoke at “Pandemics and the Media: Global Health Challenges,” a conference that promotes the understanding about how to best inform the public in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Dr. Schabas spoke out against the WHO’s 2005 declaration of a pandemic third-stage alert for avian flu. He did not believe it was justified, as there was no substantive change in the behaviour of the disease. He was sure to point out that he believed that the decision was based on politics, not on scientific or biological events.

With his over 40 years of experience in the medical field, no one has been paying closer attention to this pandemic than Dr. Schabas. What he is focused on is the daily situation reports issued by the World Health Organization. What he shared with me that day was not only powerful, but also eye opening, even for me who has been following this pandemic, just as closely.

“We shouldn’t panic!” Dr. Richard Schabas

Let’s take a look at some facts. At the beginning of March 2020, Dr. Schabas contributed an article to the Globe & Mail, and in that article, he calls attention to the numbers.

“But in the same three months, there have been about three million deaths in China from other causes, and about 14 million deaths worldwide. During the same three-month period, according to Health Canada, there have been almost 10,000 deaths in Canada from tobacco addiction, for instance – and just one from COVID-19.”
(“Strictly by the numbers, the coronavirus does not register as a dire global crisis”, Globe and Mail, March 11th, 2020)

He stresses on paying attention to just the facts, not the sensationalized version of the facts. During his time dealing with SARS in 2003, he learned some powerful lessons. He shares his discomfort on how the WHO issues their daily reports. In his eyes, the reports given are wrong in many aspects. However, like I mentioned above, these larger global organizations are the strongest sources of information out there.

One thing he does not preach is complacency. He realizes that this disease is not going away anytime soon. He stresses that we need to be vigilant in our surveillance of the pandemic. Travellers from areas of active disease should be tested. Patients with atypical pneumonia should be hospitalized. People with COVID-19 need to be isolated, and their close contacts monitored. In his words,

“We need to be sensible. The province going back into a lockdown is not only unnecessary, it’s also damaging. Our last lockdown accomplished nothing. We need to establish our non-negotiable, which are school, and people’s ability to be financially independent. People have to be able to work.”

There is so much that I could share with you in this article, but I think that it would be better off if you heard it from him. I am going to share two topics that we went into: quarantines, and masks.

“Quarantine belongs back in the Middle Ages. Save your masks for robbing banks. Stay calm and carry on. Let’s not make our attempted cures worse than the disease.”

Quarantine
Quarantine is defined as “restrictions placed on the entrance to and the exit from the place or premises where a case of communicable disease exists.” It describes the actions directed at healthy people thought to have been exposed to a communicable disease and who may be nurturing the infection.

His article “Is the Quarantine Act Relevant,” Dr. Schabas goes into detail about why quarantining is not the best way to handle a pandemic. He shares that quarantine is an ancient concept. It can be traced back to the Black Death in 14th century Italy. At that time, the period of detention was 30 days, and was later modified to 40 days (quarantino). He calls these measures “harsh and stupid.” There are unmarked graves on Grosse-Île on the St. Lawrence River that bear witness to how well quarantine worked for them.

It was interesting to learn that about 40 years ago, quarantine had fallen into disrepute because of the widespread perception that it did not work. It became relevant again in the mid-1980s to describe an unsuitable effort to control the spread of HIV. Since then, quarantining has become a thing again. It gained strength during the SARS situation in 2003. Now, quarantining has turned into a measure to fight pandemic influenza.

Dr. Schabas introduced “The Control of Communicable Disease Manual,” which provides an authoritative summary of control measures for more than 150 infectious diseases of public health concern. The book recommends modified quarantine for only six diseases, and: influenza, smallpox or SARS are not on that list.

According to Dr. Schabas, for quarantine to be effective, three conditions must be met:
1. The disease must be efficiently transmissible in its incubation period or very early in its symptomatic stage. Case isolation, not quarantine, is appropriate for diseases that are spread only during symptomatic illness. Quarantine will be ineffective for diseases that can be spread by people with only asymptomatic illness.
2. Second, it must be possible and practical to identify all, or virtually all, people incubating the infection.
3. Third, infected people must comply with the conditions of the quarantine.
When I go through this list, I think to myself, what handbook is the government reading out of? Also, where are they finding their specialists? This unnecessary quarantining has hurt our communities. It has caused: diversion of scarce resources (toilet paper hoarding), augmentation of public fears and intolerances (mask-shaming), provocation of civil disobedience (non-maskers) and infringement of human rights.

“Masks have become a symbol. All it does is identify someone as being on the good side. Personally, I think it is silly to wear masks.”

Masks
Dr. Schabas mentions that he thinks that the governments are all caught up in a high stakes poker game where they can’t fold. Every country keeps upping the ante, and then other countries follow suit. He truly does not understand where the global governments are going with these measures. He feels that they have all over-reacted.

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time I personally write about the harmful effects of masks. This is yet another doctor telling us that the use of masks is hurting rather than helping us.

There are studies that continue to show that the prolonged use of facemasks is associated with higher rates of respiratory infection and depression of the immune system.

Dr. Colin D. Furness, a professor from the University of Toronto, also is speaking out about the fact that wearing a mask can be dangerous. He notes that masks can collect bacteria and other viruses.

There was a study done in a U.K. medical journal, showing that health-care workers who wore cloth masks all day while working were 13 times more likely to get a respiratory illness when compared to those who only wore a mask when necessary.

Let’s wrap this up with one more study that supports Dr. Schabas’s attitude when it comes to masks. A Singapore study observed health care workers, and they found that those who wore their masks for long periods of time developed new headaches or exacerbation of their pre-existing headache disorders.

I want to be clear about something here. Dr. Schabas does not have any issues with people who want to wear masks; he just wants you to be doing it safely, and he thinks that mandating it is unnecessary.

I am starting to question certain things that I continue to hear in the mainstream media. As I question, I dig for answers, I consult with those who know more than me, and then, I share it with you. Do with it as you wish!

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Community News

Canada is Sinking – Is there a correlation between the rising economic costs, and the siphoning of funds to other sources in Canada?

Published

4 days ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

BY ADRIAN REECE

At some point Toronto was a city that people enjoyed living in. Recent political leadership at every level of government has caused citizens to consider moving out of the country as a whole. The high cost of living, coupled with the difficulty affording housing, and remote work becoming more regular has made the rest of the world seem much more appealing for Canadians as a whole.

Many countries are offering travel perks and visas to travelers in the west, to encourage them to visit, or to even move into their countries. Costa Rica, Japan, and France currently have travel perks and have opened their borders to make it easier to enter. Specifically for Canadians and even more specifically Torontonians who work remotely, are looking to countries and cities with lower costs of living. The Canadian dollar goes far in other parts of the world.

We owe the struggling economy to a few factors. Political leadership has greatly impacted the state of Canada, immigration policies that have changed over the years have caused stress on Canadian citizens.

In 2023, the federal government released its new Immigration Levels Plan to welcome 485,000 permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025 and 2026. This announcement came on the heels of an Environics public opinion survey revealing a significant increase in the number of Canadians who believe the country accepts too many immigrants. That marks a dramatic reversal from a year ago, when support for immigration levels stood at an all-time high.

The Trudeau led government has held true to their commitment to bring in millions of immigrants in a short span of time. Housing policy is draining the income of Canadians, and political debates do not provide any real answers towards understanding what is going on in the country. Consistent political scandals regarding Trudeau overspending, and not adhering to budgets, and using money that was originally allocated for certain things. Trudeau was audited and it was found that $123 million was given to ineligible businesses, or projects that should have never been awarded at all. This is one in a long list of Trudeau scandals that have been a part of Canada political identity for the last nine years.

Trudeau’s government has even siphoned off funds to their personal businesses, after audits by the auditor general, we have seen too many inconsistencies with the funding of the Trudeau government in misusing funds as well as money disappearing into places that it should not be going.

In June of this year, the auditor general (AG) released two reports about: improper contracting practices, conflict of interest, and funding provided for ineligible projects. What these reports brought to light is an unpleasant reality; politicians and bureaucrats in Ottawa do not always act in the best interest of Canadians.

According to the first AG report, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the federal agency responsible for funding green technology projects, demonstrated “significant lapses… in governance and stewardship of public funds.” Nearly 20% of the SDTC projects examined by the AG were in fact ineligible (based on the government’s own rules) for funding, with a total price tag of $59 million. There were also 90 instances where the SDTC ignored conflict of interest provisions while awarding $76 million to various projects. Indeed, the AG found 63 cases where SDTC agency directors voted in favour of payments to companies in which they had declared interest.

The second AG report focused on 97 contracts totaling $209 million awarded by the federal government to the McKinsey & Company consulting firm from 2011 to 2023. According to the AG, the government demonstrated “frequent disregard for procurement policies and guidance and that contracting practices often did not demonstrate value for money.” About 70% of these contracts were awarded non-competitively, meaning no other companies were permitted to bid on the contracts. Interesting!

These findings also follow an earlier report in February that found the federal government “repeatedly failed to follow good management practices in the: contracting, development, and implementation” of the ArriveCAN mobile app, which cost Canadian taxpayers at least $59.5 million.

Is there a correlation between the rising economic costs, and the siphoning of funds to other sources in Canada? Potentially, it will take a lot more investigation to confirm if that is really the case. However, Canadians can see that there has been a drastic change in the economy since the Trudeau government has come into power.

For governments to work there needs to be transparency, and there has been a lack there of in regard to our political leadership in the last few years. There are too many scandals and too many mishaps with money. Too many policies that do not benefit the citizenry, and not enough effort made to rectify the sinking economy.

Canada cannot continue to stay in these dire straits, we are sinking, and leadership plays a big role in the state of the country. We won’t see changes unless we demand it, we can take a page out of France’s method of protest; other countries have set a precedent of what their expectations are, and Canadians need to do the same. They need to demand change and implement strategies to achieve it. Within acceptable methods of protest there exists a strategy and method of changing the nature of Canada’s problems, but it starts with the citizenry. Coming together is the greatest power we have, and we need to utilize it.

REFERENCES:

https://www.environicsinstitute.org/projects/project-details/public-opinion-about-immigration-refugees

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2023-2025.html

https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202402_01_e_44428.html

https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202406_06_e_44493.html

https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202406_e_44491.html

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/article/scathing-auditor-general-reports-underscore-political-realities

Continue Reading

Community News

The Jamaica Food and Drink Festival – where every bite tells a story, and every sip celebrates Jamaica’s vibrant soul

Published

4 days ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

What if I told you that Visa is offering two amazing opportunities that YOU, our loyal readers have an opportunity to take part in? For one of our lucky readers, you have a chance to:

  • Win a trip to Trinidad Carnival 2025
  • Win a trip to Jamaica

“What is this all about Simone,” you might be asking? Well, the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival (JFDF) turns 10 this year, and Visa International is thrilled to be part of the celebration once again. Welcome to the heart of Jamaica’s culinary playground – the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival, where flavours, culture, and music blend into one unforgettable celebration.

Step into the lively Craft Market downtown, where the spirit of Jamaica comes alive. Here, they celebrate the island’s rich history and vibrant flavours – an ode to the past. Guests get a chance to immerse themselves in the legacy of festival favourites like: Crisp, Chopstix, Pork Palooza, and Picante – all in one electrifying space.

Taste, sip, and groove your way through the night, reliving fond festival memories while savouring the global influences that have shaped the iconic dishes we love today – no passport required (except to travel of course)!

As the hot days turn into steamy nights, and steamy nights turn into sweltering days, what better way to close out the festivities than with one last delectable event? The finale is not just a celebration, but a reflection of Jamaica’s culinary renaissance. After four unforgettable days, guests get a chance to honour the island’s: finest chefs, mixologists, and artisans who have made this festival a true showcase of creativity and passion.

Naturally, the festival had to find accommodations that match its prestige, and the only hotels of choice this year are: The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites. At the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, the Caribbean’s most distinguished address, you will experience the perfect blend of elegance and island charm. Nestled in the heart of New Kingston, surrounded by lush gardens and views of the Caribbean Sea, this 17-storey gem is where business meets leisure in true Jamaican style. You also have the option of immersing yourself in the timeless charm of The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, a true jewel of Jamaica’s capital city. With spacious accommodations, award-winning dining, and all the modern comforts, it is the perfect way to end your festival experience.

Waldemar Cordero, Marketing Senior Director for Visa in the Caribbean and Central America, expressed his excitement about being involved in the festival’s decade-long run. “We’re really excited to be part of the 10th staging of the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival. It’s amazing to see how far this festival has come, and we’re proud to have been part of the journey over the last 6 years. This festival isn’t just about food, it’s about celebrating Jamaica’s rich culture and the incredible talent that drives it.”

Visa’s partnership with JFDF has grown over the years, evolving from a traditional sponsorship into a dynamic collaboration that enhances the festival experience for everyone. “Our relationship with the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival has deepened over time,” said Waldemar. “We’ve moved from simply being a sponsor to becoming the main partner, working closely with the organizers to bring fresh, exciting elements to the event each year. This time around, we’re especially excited about the initiatives we’re rolling out that will make it easier and more enjoyable for attendees to experience all that the festival has to offer.”

Visa is excited to enhance the celebration of the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival’s milestone 10th year by offering an exclusive hospitality package to Trinidad Carnival 2025. One lucky Visa cardholder who purchases festival tickets between October 16th and November 9th, 2024, will win this incredible experience. This offering includes: two economy class tickets from Kingston, Jamaica to Port of Spain, Trinidad; six nights of luxury accommodation at the Hyatt Regency; and comprehensive airport transfers and event transportation. The winner and their guest will enjoy: inclusive meals, stylish Monday Wear and Carnival Tuesday costumes, and access to premier events such as Brian Lara’s Event and PinkNicTT. Additionally, they will be treated to glamour make-up and photos. This package promises to deliver an unforgettable festival experience and celebrate the unified Caribbean culture in style.

In addition, one lucky winner from our Caribbean neighbour Trinidad and Tobago, who uses the First Citizens Bank card in Trinidad, will win a trip for two to the Food and Drink Festival in Jamaica. This is an all-expense paid trip for two with the winners to ensure the festival and enjoy scenic places in Jamaica such as Dunn’s River Falls and Port Royal. Ready for that almost winter getaway? Visit https://jafoodanddrink.com/ for more details. Good luck!

Continue Reading

Community News

Welcome to the Black Scholars Institute—where excellence thrives, and liberation is pursued

Published

4 days ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

At the heart of the University of Windsor’s campus, centrally located in the lower level of the CAW Student Centre, lies a space dedicated to fostering: African-Caribbean excellence, academic growth, and community empowerment: The Black Scholars Institute, or BSI.

The BSI Lounge is more than just a meeting place. It is a safe and welcoming space for African/-Caribbean faculty, staff, and students—a venue that fosters not only academic engagement, but community connection. Here, important university and local events, aligned with the Institute’s mission and values, take place.

The Black Scholars Institute is a multidisciplinary research institute—a home for African-Caribbean scholars at UWindsor. It is dedicated to advancing Black excellence and liberation through scholarship, research, and community engagement. The Institute’s work enriches teaching, learning, and social justice efforts across the University, with a focus on making an impact nationally and globally.

BSI hosts a range of weekly programs that encourage meaningful dialogue and academic collaboration. Events such as “Think Tank Thursday” provide a platform for African-Caribbean faculty and students to come together, exchange ideas, and discuss relevant research and current events. For those who are deep in their academic work, “Just Write” sessions offer dedicated time for focused writing in a supportive environment. “Coffee and Convo,” a collaboration with Leddy Library, creates space to explore Black literature and hold thought-provoking discussions around important topics.

Graduate students are invited to participate in student saloons, where they present their works-in-progress in a safe, inclusive space, where they can receive valuable feedback from peers and faculty members alike. Additionally, the “Black Research Spotlight” shines a light on the groundbreaking work of African Caribbean scholars, providing them with a platform to showcase their research and innovations.

In recognition of the challenges posed by systemic anti-Black racism, the BSI offers its members a membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, providing on-demand access to a wealth of professional development resources. This is just one of the ways BSI ensures its scholars are well-equipped to thrive and succeed in their academic careers. As a research institute, BSI is committed to supporting Black Studies and promoting excellence in scholarships. One vital aspect of this is the awarding of grants to Black scholars. These grants are instrumental in advancing research that is often overlooked in traditional funding competitions.

While visiting the University earlier this month, I learned more about some of the challenges that have been faced in opening BSI. The establishment of this initiative was approved by the University of Windsor’s Senate on October 7th, 2022. The initiative is in alignment with the University’s commitment to the Scarborough Charter (utoronto.ca) on anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in Canadian higher education. In 2023, the University of Windsor (UWindsor) announced their new academic home that would spotlight: Black excellence, scholarship, research, and community. The inaugural Black Scholars Institute (BSI) at UWindsor, was formally launched in September 2024.

Dr. Clinton Beckford, UWindsor’s Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, envisions that the BSI will be the institutional home for Blackness at the University. “The establishment of a Black Scholars Institute at the University of Windsor is ground-breaking and transformative,” he says.  “It positions the University of Windsor as a post-secondary leader in intellectual thought and practice around Blackness and makes real our commitments to Black flourishing and thriving at and beyond the institution.”

The BSI will work closely with UWindsor’s Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies Department within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Building a Black Scholars academic program represents an innovative plan of action intended to meaningfully understand UWindsor’s approach to African-Caribbean ways of knowing in Canadian universities. The expected output will enhance UWindsor’s research profile in Black Studies and feature scholarly work, special events, speakers’ series, mentorship, and more.

Dr. Camisha Sibblis, the Director at BSI, is hopeful that the institute will enrich the experiences of Black faculty at UWindsor. “We believe that the inclusion of Black peoples, ways of learning and knowledge systems are integral to the growth of our community. The establishment of the BSI is a crucial part of fulfilling the University’s Strategic Mandate Agreement (ontario.ca) and purposefully moving the institution into the future. The Institute will enhance the University’s research profile and will also establish the University as a center of excellence in Windsor-Essex and the Detroit area – a region known for its historic importance for Black people in North America.”

Welcome to the Black Scholars Institute—where excellence thrives, and liberation is pursued through scholarship, research, and community engagement.

Continue Reading

Trending