This cartoon was published in the Journal de Montréal & Journal de Québec (March 12, 2020). It is written: Trump prohibits flights from Europe. We see Ms. Greta Thunberg congratulating Mr. Trump (stocking up “Trump toilet papers”) by saying: “This ban is excellent for the environment”
Bambi appreciates the sense of humour (and artistic talent) of Mr. Lemay.
This being said, despite the seriousness of the situation, being able to find reasons to entertain ourselves, to remain positive, and to smile are healthy mechanisms of coping with a crisis or life adversity.
Even if we worry about our loved ones in times of pandemics, it helps to have a sense of perspective on matters and to keep smiling. May everyone be safe. May our world leaders and decision-makers know how to be as wise as possible. May each one of us know how to be as responsible as possible.
Bambi would like to weigh in on an article by Ms. Zoe Hunter recently published in the Argosy (Mount Allison University’s student newspaper), which is entitled “Divest holds protest during open house”.
Now, she would like to comment on the above article and perhaps even more specifically on the picture below.
A picture published in the Argosy on March 5, 2020
A quick question to students with signs like “Divest from colonial violence”: What is more violent: blocking railways and hijacking the economy of a whole country OR proceeding with a project that got the approval of 20 First Nations AND that would allow many Wet’suwet’en Nation members to earn a decent living?
Why can’t the Wet’suwet’en Nation be prosperous? Doesn’t it deserve this like the rest of the world?
Another question
specifically to Ms. Helen Yao who said: “Divestment is the beginning to a
sustainable future… It entails shifting our economy and our lifestyle towards a
living one, towards one focused on sustainability, not profit”.
Bambi’s question is as
follows: How is divestment the start of a sustainable future? How would you
have a future if you do not have an economy anymore? In an ideal utopic world,
it would be nice to dream of a sustainable future with a renewable form of energy
but this is not realistically possible yet. All what we would be shifting is
the source of that fossil fuel, either a Canadian product or a product bought
from Saudi Arabia, Iran, or other. Period.
Plus, what about
sustainable profitability? In other terms, can’t sustainability co-exist with
profitability?
According to the Argosy article, Ms. Yao added: “We need dramatic and radical change because we only have 10 years to address the climate crisis before we reach a point that we don’t want to think about,” said Yao, referencing the UN’s warning in 2018 that in order to keep global warming from rising to a dangerous point (a maximum temperature increase of 2 C), immediate action must be taken within 12 years”.
This is where Ms. Yao completely lost Bambi who does not buy this apocalyptic view/prediction.
To conclude this post, thanks to Ms. Hunter and to the Argosy for keeping us informed. Please keep up the good work (Bambi is a faithful reader :))!
Sadly, one man died in Lebanon today (56 years old). His name is Mr. Jean Khoury, according to l’Orient Le Jour. May he rest in peace… Bambi’s heart goes to his family and loved ones. He seemed to have visited Egypt. From what Bambi understood, his diagnosis may have been somehow delayed and he was transferred across hospitals. However, it remains unclear if the latter factors contributed to his complications and death.
It seems that the official number of cases (including the case of mortality) has reached a total of 52, as of March 10, 2020.
Schools, universities, and daycares remain closed until March 15. Public gardens, some mosques (for Friday’s prayer) in addition to nightclubs, restaurants, gyms, and the Casino du Liban are/will be closed.
Last weekend, the police, along with a sort of “a touristic” type of police, forced the closure of two nightclubs that remained open, despite the public ban. It is hard to stop Lebanese people when they want to party… or do business!
Other mosques and churches remain open as usual, especially that it is a spiritually busy season (preceding Easter). However, it seems that some churches had to change some of their rituals because of COVID-19.
The public hospital (featured in the video below by TRT World) seems to be doing the best it can to serve patients infected with the coronavirus (along with its regular patients). However, according to the same article cited herein, this overwhelmed hospital is now in need of external assistance, namely with regard to testing. The latter will be also be done from now on by medical labs of universities and several private teaching-hospitals.
Of not, the l’Orient le Jour article reported that the cost of the coronavirus test is: 150,000 Lebanese pounds (about CAD $156). It is unclear to Bambi who would be covering the fees of this test in the future: patient themselves (can they afford it?), the government (as it usually does when people do not have a private insurance), or the insurance companies. It is also unclear if Lebanon has or will receive assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO).
On thing is certain though: the crisis of this pandemic is an additional burden to a “bankrupt” country and to a population already strained by the financial/economic crisis since October 17, 2019 :(. Despite this, at least from far away, Lebanon seems to be dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic with efficacy (as much as realistically possible and at least for now). This is not surprising to Bambi. After all, it is the story of Lebanon, a tiny country expert in crisis management/survival.
Some people want to see racism everywhere. Some seem
to want to develop a narrative about it. However, when a restaurant owner
apologizes for a joke on its window (“urgent, no coronavirus here”), whether by
him or by a “drunk client”, we know that stupidity has reached levels too high
to be taken seriously.
Mind you, the joke may not be the funniest on earth,
but it is still a form of humour: This virus is not welcome at the restaurant and
not persons who may be carrying it.
The restaurant owner is an immigrant himself (from France). Mind you, his birth country also has a pandemic outbreak of coronavirus. The virus is now spreading not just in (Continental) China but also Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Iran, India, Italy (especially the North), France (especially Haute-Savoie, Oise, Mulhouse, Morbihan), and the USA (perhaps mainly Seattle), and in the Middle East (Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Dubai, etc.).
Here is the story that is not a real story but a waste
of time to read about:
Bambi finds it sad that the restaurant owner had to apologize
to this so-called “victim”. He should not have in order not to encourage stupidity.
However, in a world of political correctness, you cannot joke anymore (humour
is racist). He may have perhaps feared a legal action against him or a campaign
of bad reputation. It is extremely sad that the Canadian stupidity has also reached
Québec (usually more resistant).
To Ms. Sung, Bambi would like to say: Usually all what
business owners want is to invite clients in, not to scare them away. So why
did she take this personally? Bambi bets it is because she is Canadian (and not
from Asia), likely a product or a symptom of our times where silly forms of social
justice or intellectual puritanism are surgically removing our sense of humour
and poisoning our brains.
According to Naharnet (March 9, 2020), an “apparently delinquent” outpatient left the hospital where he was being tested for the coronavirus to head toward the airport and “escape” to Canada:
As per one sarcastic comment by a reader: “Lol, the
man is not escaping from Corona but rather from Lebanon”.
Who knows? Perhaps he is simply eager to return to his
home county, Canada, and did not want to be stuck quarantined for 14 days.
Regardless, his behaviour is far from being wise and responsible.
He was arrested by the police at the airport and transferred back to the hospital by the Lebanese Red Cross to await the results of his test (which was being processed). Pending those results, he will either be allowed to travel to Canada (if negative) or stay in Lebanon for the needed time (if positive).
Well done Lebanon. Bambi wishes this man safe travels
back to Canada BUT only after receiving the green light from the health authorities
in Beirut.
It is somehow ironic how the UN has been scaring the planet with the impact of “global warming of 1.5°C” over years now. However, when it comes to a fast-growing virus transmission in several continents over days, it refuses to call the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.
Indeed, according to the UN website, “climate change
is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment”:
Bambi suspects that the UN may be reluctant to call a spade a spade for some political reasons, rather than merely scientific and public health-related ones. A little bit like how the true phenomenon of global warming has been politicized, weaponized, and even at times radicalized.
One can wonder if the UN will end up calling the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic in the near future, depending on how matters may evolve (no one knows when and how a worldwide outbreak ends).
Regardless, one thing is sure: it is not because it
won’t that people will stop fearing this new virus or that the latter will stop
crossing borders.
Eurobonds are external (or international) bonds, which are issued in a currency that is different from that of the issuer (i.e. the country or market issuing them).
Not surprisingly, Lebanon will not be paying its maturing eurobonds (due on March 9, 2020). In other terms, the government of Lebanon has now suspended a $1.2 billion eurobond payment due on Monday.
“Lebanon’s governmental anti-coronavirus panel ordered
the closure of educational institutions until March 14 and the closure of sport
clubs, nightclubs, cinemas and fairs” (Naharnet source).
“Only one out of 22 coronavirus cases is of an unknown
source” (Naharnet source).
“A nurse at the Notre Dame des Secours hospital and a
patient who was in the room with the patient who came from Egypt have tested
positive for coronavirus” (Naharnet source).
This being said, Bambi has suspected, from the beginning of this public health crisis, that the Lebanese authorities would have not been fully transparent about the precise number of infected people. Why is she saying so? Because it is Lebanon, after all, and because it was not fast enough in halting entry for travellers from coronavirus hubs (i.e. especially Iran, likely for political/ideological reasons). Many citizens have travelled to Iran for religious tourism and kept doing so even during the early stages of the crisis, it seems; of course, this in addition to travels from/to other hubs (China, Italy, etc.).
Then, the Lebanese authorities woke up (it is never too late). They took serious measures, like the ones described above and decisions concerning travels (i.e., China, Iran, Italy, etc.). They only accepted the entrance of residents who were abroad (returning home). They invited them to self-isolate themselves. They proceeded to test them in case of flu-like symptoms or fever. Right now, Bambi is unsure if the travels bans are still in place and, if so, for how long.
Despite this, and all in all, Lebanon’s response to the coronavirus crisis seems to be efficient, at least thus far. For instance, they secured beds in isolated parts of several hospitals and coordinated the response. They regularly update the population with press releases, etc.
One must add that Lebanon is used to surviving from crisis to crisis throughout history. When needed, this country can be not only efficient (small yet highly efficient) but also inspiring. For instance, it has survived to 15 years of civil war. Its medical system remained up-to-date and functional. Same for its currency. It is only now that its economy has collapsed (or it is about to do so?). Yet, tiny Lebanon is still hanging on in the middle of its unprecedented economic crisis.
Anyhow, Bambi would like to conclude this post with three pictures.
The first shows two government employees cleaning a public space in Beirut to prevent the transmission of the virus.
A picture taken in Beirut by Mr. Mohamed Azakir/Reuters published in the L’Orient Le Jour
The second picture shows a couple on their Vespa, wearing a mask because they think it would help them protect their lungs and bodies from the coronavirus. Mind you, from their young age, they seem not to be in a vulnerable or risky group. Plus, let’s not forget that the mask be not be that protective, even if psychologically it may make them feel better. Ironically though, they forgot about a much more imminent threat to their safety (than a tiny invisible virus): a potential brain concussion, or even death, can occur more easily when we do not wear a protective helmet in case of a road accident. This being said, Bambi wishes them a long good health and life!
A picture taken from l’Orient Le Jour
To conclude this post, the last powerful picture shows anti-government protesters in front of Lebanon’s Health Ministry on February 26, 2020. These courageous women are holding a sign in Arabic that reads, “You are the coronavirus. You are the epidemic“. This refers to the corrupt political leaders (still in charge), responsible for the economic fiasco in Lebanon.
Congratulations to Mr. Amine Maalouf, Lebanese-French author, for having been awarded the “National Order of Merit” by Mr. Macron, President of the French Republic!
Eight years ago, Mr. Amine Maalouf was inducted into the elite “Académie Française” (or French Academy) as one of 40 still living members to represent the French language.
Three days ago, Mr. Maalouf received this most prestigious distinction, which recognizes an individual who represents the civic “spirit” of France, a bit like our own “Order of Canada”, but with an important emphasis on the French culture.
Mr.
Maalouf was born in Lebanon (like Bambi ?) in 1949:
Bambi just discovered the nice short video (further below), which was produced in 2015 by the Asian Heritage Society with special thanks to the Government of New Brunswick and Government of Canada.
On YouTube, we can read the following description of the video in question: ” Winner of “Best Low-Budget NB Documentary” at the 2015 Silver Wave Film Festival Made in partnership with the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick. This short documentary profiles some of the Lebanese people in New Brunswick, revealing their personal stories, family history, and culture. It highlights people from various generations and families, from some of the first Lebanese to immigrate to New Brunswick and start their own businesses, to the Lebanese youth who plan on keeping their culture alive and strong”.
Anyhow, she hopes you will enjoy watching. As far as she is concerned, she was happy and proud to see a friend from Moncton in the video [Hello Mike (Timani) :)]!
