Alarge outbreak of hysteria occurred in the media over the past week, regarding a small Nipah virus outbreak in eastern India. ‘Hysteria’ is the correct word in terms of proportionality. It is not, unfortunately, the right word in terms of intent. Ten years ago this episode of Nipah virus disease would barely have rated a mention […]
Argentina’s government has become increasingly skeptical of the World Health Organization, reflecting a wider reconsideration of international health institutions in the aftermath of Covid-19. Although Argentina has not formally withdrawn, it has expressed dissatisfaction with the WHO’s performance, its growing reliance on donor-funded agendas, and its push for expanded treaty […]
The Seduction of New Revelations People always seem to need something new, or at least those who consider it important to educate the public think this. Hence, we replace great children’s stories, remake movies, and desperately seek to excite people with something that seems more ‘now.’ Fashions change sometimes for […]
Changing the direction of a dinosaur was, presumably, hard for any who tried. Especially when the direction of the dinosaur was highly profitable to its minders. While paleontology does not fully support the analogy, the picture describes the new Global Health Strategy just released by the US government. Someone is trying hard […]
The Covid response was not an error, and it was not the result of rushing to address a crisis due to an unknown pathogen. It was a lot of people, mostly professionals in the field, systematically and collectively doing what they knew was wrong. It is helpful when this is […]
Geoengineering in the form of modifying the weather happens. It can save decimation of farmer livelihoods by mitigating droughts, and it can risk the global food supply by reducing crop growth. Like nuclear fission, it’s useful in the hands of sane people working with the knowledge and assent of the […]
Much has been written on the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), which most countries are making themselves subject to after July 19th (next week). Many raise concerns of loss of sovereignty, censorship, corporate greed, and conflict of interest. But most are missing the main point; the sheer and outright stupidity and fallacy on […]
Ignorance is often desirable. It allows us to benefit from things our conscience might deny us. ‘Informed consent’ can be something we need to force upon ourselves. Sacrificing Others for the Greater Good Science, we prefer to think, has removed us from the dark inhumanity of human sacrifice and the […]
As humans, we commonly consider ourselves, our beliefs, and our work of particular importance. It is not surprising, then, that when we form institutions, those within them seek to promote the institution’s relevance, expand their work, and centralize decision-making within their own ‘particularly important’ group. Few want to divest power […]