I Voted!

 

^  I got my Absentee Ballot for the November 3^rd Election today. It is my third time voting by Absentee Ballot, but my first time in this State. The other two times were from New York (once when I was in College in Massachusetts and the other when I was studying in Russia.) The New York Absentee Ballot was folded like a map and when opened it was the size of a map of the world with Candidates and Questions on the front and back – I showed it to several groups of Russian students, - before I filled it out – since they had never seen one before. Like a map, it was very hard to refold and fit it in the envelope to mail back.

This Current Absentee Ballot was one regular-sized printer page (front and back.) It came with: An Instructions Page, the Official Ballot, an Absentee Voter Affidavit small envelope and a larger addressed envelope. The Instructions tell you to fill-in the oval, but do not tell you if you use a pencil or a pen. When you vote in person you get a pencil (my Mom always joked that it was because it is easier for them to change the votes afterwards.)

This year we are voting for: President and Vice-President, Governor, US Senator, US Representative, Executive Councilor, State Senator, State Representatives, Sheriff and other local offices. It’s nice to see some spaces have no Candidates and other spaces have the same Candidate for both Parties (that’s how it always is here.)

So I did my Civic Duty today and will mail it tomorrow. One thing I didn't like is that you not only have to put your own postage on the envelope to mail it back, but have to use extra postage. It should have been in an envelope that says: "No postage necessary if mailed in the United States."

My State has a website so you can track: 1) That you requested an Absentee Ballot 2) That an Absentee Ballot was mailed to you 3) That they received your Absentee Ballot back and 4) That your Absentee Ballot was accepted – ie. you followed the correct instructions.

Compulsory Voting

 WHAT IS COMPULSORY VOTING?

Most democratic governments consider participating in national elections a right of citizenship. Some consider that participation at elections is also a citizen's civic responsibility. In some countries, where voting is considered a duty, voting at elections has been made compulsory and has been regulated in the national constitutions and electoral laws. Some countries go as far as to impose sanctions on non-voters. Compulsory voting is not a new concept. Some of the first countries that introduced mandatory voting laws were Belgium in 1892, Argentina in 1914 and Australia in 1924. There are also examples of countries such as Venezuela and the Netherlands which at one time in their history practiced compulsory voting but have since abolished it.

Advocates of compulsory voting argue that decisions made by democratically elected governments are more legitimate when higher proportions of the population participate. They argue further that voting, voluntarily or otherwise, has an educational effect upon the citizens. Political parties can derive financial benefits from compulsory voting, since they do not have to spend resources convincing the electorate that it should in general turn out to vote. Lastly, if democracy is government by the people, presumably this includes all people, then it is every citizen's responsibility to elect their representatives.

The leading argument against compulsory voting is that it is not consistent with the freedom associated with democracy. Voting is not an intrinsic obligation and the enforcement of the law would be an infringement of the citizens' freedom associated with democratic elections. It may discourage the political education of the electorate because people forced to participate will react against the perceived source of oppression. Is a government really more legitimate if the high voter turnout is against the will of the voters? Many countries with limited financial capacity may not be able to justify the expenditures of maintaining and enforcing compulsory voting laws. It has been proved that forcing the population to vote results in an increased number of invalid and blank votes compared to countries that have no compulsory voting laws. Another consequence of mandatory voting is the possible high number of "random votes". Voters who are voting against their free will may check off a candidate at random, particularly the top candidate on the ballot. The voter does not care whom they vote for as long as the government is satisfied that they fulfilled their civic duty. What effect does this immeasurable category of random votes have on the legitimacy of the democratically elected government? A figure depicting the exact number of countries that practice compulsory voting is quite arbitrary. The simple presence or absence of mandatory voting laws in a constitution is far too simplistic. It is more constructive to analyse compulsory voting as a spectrum ranging from a symbolic, but basically impotent, law to a government which systematic follow-up of each non-voting citizen and implement sanctions against them. This spectrum implies that some countries formally have compulsory voting laws but do not, and have no intention to, enforce them. There are a variety of possible reasons for this.

Not all laws are created to be enforced. Some laws are created to merely state the government's position regarding what the citizen's responsibility should be. Mandatory voting laws that do not include sanctions may fall into this category. Although a government may not enforce mandatory voting laws or even have formal sanctions in law for failing to vote, the law may have some effect upon the citizens. For example, in Austria voting is compulsory in only two regions, with sanctions being weakly enforced. However, these regions tend to have a higher turnout average than the national average. Other possible reasons for not enforcing the laws could be complexity and resources required for enforcement. Countries with limited budgets may not place the enforcement of mandatory voting laws as a high priority still they hope that the presence of the law will encourage the citizens to participate. Can a country be considered to practice compulsory voting if the mandatory voting laws are ignored and irrelevant to the voting habits of the electorate? Is a country practicing compulsory voting if there are no penalties for not voting? What if there are penalties for failing to vote but they are never or are scarcely enforced? Or if the penalty is negligible? Many countries offer loopholes, intentionally and otherwise, which allow non-voters to go unpunished. For example, in many countries it is required to vote only if you are a registered voter, but it is not compulsory to register. People might then have incentives not to register. In many cases, like Australia, an acceptable excuse for absence on Election Day will avoid sanctions. The diverse forms compulsory voting has taken in different countries refocuses the perception of it away from an either present or absent practice of countries to a study of the degree and manner in which the government forces its citizens to participate.

WHICH COUNTRIES PRACTICE COMPULSORY VOTING?

Laws, Sanctions & Enforcement   Below is a table containing all the countries that have a law that provides for compulsory voting. The first column lists the name of the country, the second column the type of sanctions that the relevant country imposes against non-voters and the third column contains the information on to what extent the compulsory voting laws are enforced in practice.

Country   Type of Sanction(*)   Enforced     Year Introduced         Comments

Argentina   1, 2, 4   Yes   1912   Voluntary for those between 16 and 18 years of age.

Australia   1, 2     Yes     1924

Austria (Tyrol)  1, 2  Yes    Practiced from 1929 to 2004   The region of Tyrol.

Austria (Vorarlberg)  2, 3   Yes  Practiced from 1929 to 1992  The region of Vorarlberg.

Austria (Styria)   N/A  Yes   Practiced from 1929 to 1992   The region of Styria.

Belgium  1, 2, 4, 5  Yes  1892 (men);   1949 (women)

Bolivia  1, 2, 4   Yes  1952   Not enforced for those who are over 70 years old, who prove they have been absent from the national territory at the time of voting by a moment of voting, and those who could not vote by force majeure.

Brazil  1, 2, 4, 5  Yes   1932  Voluntary for the illiterate, those over 16 and under 18 years of age, and those over 70 years of age.

Bulgaria  None   No   2016

Chile   1, 2, 3    Yes    Practiced from 1925 to 2012

Congo, Democratic Republic of the   N/A   N/A   N/A

Costa Rica    None   No    1959  Although the electoral legislation formally provides for the obligation of suffrage, it is generally understood as a civic duty, without legal sanctions for non-compliance.

Cyprus   1, 2   Yes   Practiced from 1960 to 2017

Dominican Republic  None  No  Practiced till 2010

Ecuador  1, 2  Yes   1947 for men, 1968 for both sexes  Voluntary for those between 16 and 18 years of age, those over 65 years of age, Ecuadorians who are members of the Armed Forces and National Police, those with disabilities and those who live abroad.

Egypt  1, 2  No  1956

Fiji   1, 2, 3   Yes  Practiced from 1992 to 2006

France (Senate only)  2  No   1950's or 60's

Gabon  N/A   No  N/A

Greece  None  No  1926  Administrative sanctions, including prohibition to issue a passport, a driving license or an occupational license, were officially lifted in year 2000.

Guatemala  None  No  N/A  Guatemala abandoned compulsory voting in 1990.

Honduras  None  No  N/A

Italy  5  No  Practised from 1945 to 1993

Lebanon  N/A  N/A  N/A  21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel.

Liechtenstein  1, 2  Yes  N/A

Luxembourg  1, 2  Yes  N/A  Voluntary for those over 70.

Mexico  None No  1857

Nauru  1, 2  Yes  1965

Netherlands  No   Practised from 1917 to 1967

Panama  None  No  N/A

Paraguay  2  No  N/A  Voluntary for those over 75 years of age.

Peru  1, 2, 4  Yes  1933  Voluntary for those over 75 years of age.

Philippines  None No  Attempt to practice 1972-1986 under martial law.

Spain  N/A  No  Practiced from 1907 to 1923

Singapore  2, 4  Yes  N/A  The non-voter is removed from the voter register until he/she reapplies and provides a reason. Fee applies only if the voter does not have valid reason for not voting. The non-voter is also disqualified from being a candidate at any subsequent Presidential or Parliamentary election.

Switzerland (Schaffhausen)  2  Yes  1904  Practised in only one canton. Abolished in other cantons in 1974.

Thailand None  No  N/A

Turkey  1, 2  Yes  N/A

Uruguay  1, 2, 4  Yes  1934 Compulsory voting was not in practiced until 1970

U.S.A (Georgia)  N/A  No  Stated in 1777 Constitution of Georgia.

Venezuela  4  Yes  Practiced from 1958 to 1993     Venezuela abandoned compulsory voting in 1993. A provision in the Constitution describing voting as a duty remained until 1999. The elimination of legal sanctions from 1993 on, however, marks that year as the end of compulsory voting.

 

(*) The numbers listed in the column for Type of Sanction stands for different types of sanctions. These are as follows:

1. Explanation. The non-voter has to provide a legitimate reason for his/her abstention to avoid further sanctions, if any exist.

2. Fine. The non-voter faces a fine sanction. The amount varies among the countries, for example AU$20-$AU50 in Australia, from $50 to $500 pesos in Argentina.

3. Possible imprisonment. The non-voter may face imprisonment as a sanction, however, we do not know of any documented cases. This can also happen in countries such as Australia where a fine sanction is common. In cases where the non-voter does not pay the fine after being reminded or after refusing several times, the courts may impose a prison sentence. This is usually classified as imprisonment for failure to pay the fine, not imprisonment for failure to vote.

4. Infringements of civil rights or disenfranchisement. It is, for example, possible that the non-voter, after not voting in at least four elections within 15 years will be disenfranchised in Belgium. In Peru the voter has to carry a stamped voting card for a number of months after the election as proof of having voted. This stamp is required in order to obtain some services and goods from some public offices. In Singapore the voter is removed from the voter register until he/she reapplies to be included and submits a legitimate reason for not having voted. In Bolivia the voter is given a card when he/she has voted so that he/she can proof the participation. The voter would not be able to receive his/her salary from a bank if he/she cannot show the proof of voting during three months after the election.

5. Other. For example, in Belgium it might be difficult to get a job within the public sector if you are non-voter. There are no formal sanctions in Mexico or Italy but possible arbitrary or social sanctions. This is called the "innocuous sanction" in Italy, where it might for example be difficult to secure day care placement for your child or a similar service, but this is not formalised.

https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/voter-turnout/compulsory-voting

Wal-Mart Redesign

From USA Today:

“Walmart unveils new store design with self-checkout kiosks, contactless options rolling out to Supercenters”

A future trip to your local Walmart might soon remind you of shopping on the retailer's app. Walmart unveiled a new, reimagined store design Wednesday rolling out to 200 locations this fiscal year, which ends in early 2021, and another 1,000 by next fiscal year that officials say will create a "seamless" omni shopping experience with more self-checkout kiosks and contactless payment options.  Janey Whiteside, the retailer's chief customer officer and an executive vice president, said the new design was planned before the coronavirus pandemic and one of the goals is to save shoppers time. "We're working hard to make it easy for customers to be able to toggle between their physical experiences that are in the store and their digital journeys," Whiteside said in an interview with USA TODAY. "We think customers are going to really enjoy and find this a much easier shopping experience." Whiteside said Walmart has been testing the redesign in select stores in Arkansas and has evolved the design based on shopper and employee feedback. She said the design will come to more stores this fall and will continue to evolve based on additional feedback. "By the end of this fiscal year, the experience will be in nearly 200 Supercenters as well as in select Health Centers and Neighborhood Markets, reaching close to 1,000 stores by next fiscal year," Whiteside said in a blog post Wednesday.  Whiteside said they got the inspiration for the design by "airport wayfinding systems as best-in-class examples of how to navigate large groups of people."

The signage on the outside of stores and inside is updated to reflect the Walmart app icon and there are visual reminders encouraging shoppers to download and use it while they shop such as how to use the app's item finder and navigate around the store with a map. The design focuses “on getting what you want as quickly as possible so you're not endlessly walking up and down aisles looking for items,” Whiteside told USA TODAY, adding the layout brings greater visibility to key items throughout the store, including dedicated in-store sections for electronics, toys, baby products and more. Stores also will include self-checkout kiosks as well as contactless payment solutions, including Walmart Pay, "to limit contact between associates and customers," Whiteside said. Select locations will also have Scan & Go, part of the new Walmart+ membership program, she said in the blog post. With the in-store feature, shoppers scan items as they shop and then pay using Walmart Pay.

Contactless payment and item finder Regardless of whether your Walmart is one of the first to get redesigned, there are some features available to all shoppers using the app, including the item finder with the maps and Walmart Pay options. A few months ago Walmart combined its Walmart Grocery app with its main app to allow consumers to shop for items in multiple departments, much like a trip to one of the company's Supercenter stores. Until the recent upgrade, shoppers could only pickup groceries at curbside but were able to order items from other departments for pickup in the store. The pandemic sped up Walmart's plans to integrate the apps because of a surge in online and mobile shopping, Whiteside said. Whiteside said COVID-19 advanced plans for the new store design rollout and contactless efforts, too. Customer interest and ease using contactless options also has increased, she said.  "Whether you get the redesign now, next year or moving forward, you'll still have access to Walmart+, Scan & Go, the delivery options,” Whiteside told USA TODAY. “This will just be another supporting aspect of that.”

^ I’m sure this redesign will be good for some people, but not for the typical Wal-Mart shopper (we’ve all seen the videos online.) I rarely go to Wal-Mart so don’t see it doing much for me. ^

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/30/walmart-stores-new-design-online-shopping-experience-curbside-pickup/3571765001/

Election Guide

From the BBC:

“US election 2020: A really simple guide”

The US president has a huge influence on people's lives both at home and abroad, so when the next election is held on 3 November, the outcome will matter to everyone. The US political system is dominated by just two parties, so the president always belongs to one of them.

The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US and their candidate in this year’s election is President Donald Trump, who is hoping to secure another four years in power. The Republican Party is also known as the GOP, or the Grand Old Party. In recent years, it has stood for lower taxes, gun rights and tighter restrictions on immigration. Support for the party tends to be stronger in more rural parts of America. Former Republican presidents include George W Bush, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.

The Democrats are the liberal political party in the US and their candidate is Joe Biden, an experienced politician best-known for serving as Barack Obama’s vice president for eight years. Both men are in their 70s - Mr Trump would be 74 years old at the start of his second term, while at 78, Mr Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history.

How is the winner decided? Both candidates compete to win electoral college votes. Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes partly based on its population and there are a total of 538 up for grabs, so the winner is the candidate that wins 270 or more. This means voters decide state-level contests rather than the national one, which is why it’s possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - like Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated by the electoral college. All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule, so whichever candidate wins the highest number of votes is awarded all of the state’s electoral college votes. Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other, so the focus is usually on a dozen or so states where either of them could win. These are known as the battleground states.

Who can vote and how do they do it? If you’re a US citizen and you’re 18 or over, you should be eligible to vote in the presidential election, which takes place every four years. However, lots of states have passed laws requiring voters to show identification documents to prove who they are before they can vote. These laws are often put into place by Republicans who say they’re needed to guard against voter fraud. But Democrats accuse them of using this as a form of voter suppression as it is often poorer, minority voters who are unable to provide ID like a driving licence. How people vote is a contentious issue this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some politicians are calling for wider use of postal ballots, but President Trump has said - with very little evidence - that this could result in more voter fraud.

Is the election just about who is president? No. All of the attention will be on Trump v Biden, but voters will also be choosing new members of Congress when they fill in their ballots. Democrats already have control of the House so they will be looking to keep hold of that while also gaining control of the Senate. If they had a majority in both chambers they would be able to block or delay President Trump’s plans if he were to be re-elected. All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year, while 33 Senate seats are also up for grabs.

When will we find out the result? It can take several days for every vote to be counted, but it’s usually pretty clear who the winner is by the early hours of the following morning. In 2016, Donald Trump took to the stage in New York at about 3am to give his victory speech in front of a crowd of jubilant supporters. But don’t set your alarm clocks just yet. Officials are already warning that we may have to wait longer - possibly days, even weeks - for the result this year because of the expected surge in postal ballots. The last time the result wasn’t clear within a few hours was in 2000, when the winner wasn’t confirmed until a Supreme Court ruling was made a month later.

When does the winner take office? If Joe Biden wins the election, he wouldn’t immediately replace President Trump as there is a set transition period to give the new leader time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans. The new president is officially sworn into office on 20 January in a ceremony known as the inauguration, which is held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC. After the ceremony, the new president makes their way to the White House to begin their four-year term in office.

^ This is an easy to understand guide. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-53785985

Ascension Center

From the BBC:

“Ascension Island considered as location for asylum centre”

The government considered building an asylum processing centre on Ascension Island, a UK territory in the Atlantic. Home Secretary Priti Patel asked officials to look at asylum policies which had been successful in other countries, the BBC has been told. And the Financial Times says Ascension Island was suggested as an outpost to process applications. A source said ministers were looking at "every option that can stop small boat crossings and fix the asylum system". The idea of "offshoring" is being looked at, but sources said finding an appropriate location would be key. "The UK has a long and proud history of offering refuge to those who need protection. Tens of thousands of people have rebuilt their lives in the UK and we will continue to provide safe and legal routes in the future. "As ministers have said we are developing plans to reform policies and laws around illegal migration and asylum to ensure we are able to provide protection to those who need it, while preventing abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it." No final decisions have been made. Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "This ludicrous idea is inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive - so it seems entirely plausible this Tory government came up with it." In order to be eligible for asylum in the UK, applicants must prove they cannot return to their home country because they fear persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, gender identity or sexual orientation. Asylum seekers cannot work while their claims are being processed, so the government offers them a daily allowance of just over £5 and accommodation, often in hostels or shared flats. Delays in processing UK asylum applications increased significantly last year with four out of five applicants in the last three months of 2019 waiting six months or more for their cases to be processed, compared with three in four during the same period in 2018. In Australia, asylum seekers can be sent to an offshore processing centre while their claims are processed. Currently Australia has centres on the Pacific island nation of Nauru and another on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Ascension Island, which is a British territory about 5,000 miles from the UK, has a population of fewer than 1,000.

^ This is an odd location for an asylum center considering it is 5,000 miles from the UK. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54349796

Boring Debate

 Even my DirecTv was bored with the Presidential Debate and so lost its signal rather than watch it (it has nothing to do with the rain and storms we are getting.) Chris Wallace is not a very good moderator. The Presidential Debate should have been combined with the premiere of “The Weakest Link.” It would have been nice to say to both candidates: “You are the weakest link – good bye!.”

Disney's 28,000

From Reuters:

“Disney to lay off about 28,000 parks unit employees due to coronavirus hit”

Walt Disney Co DIS.N said on Tuesday it will lay off roughly 28,000 employees, mostly at its U.S. theme parks, where attendance has been crushed by the coronavirus pandemic, especially in California where Disneyland remains closed. About two-thirds of the laid-off employees will be part-time workers, the company said in a statement. Disney shut its theme parks around the world when the novel coronavirus began spreading this year. All but Disneyland - nicknamed the Happiest Place on Earth - gradually reopened, though the company was forced to limit the number of visitors to allow for physical distancing. “We have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels,” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of the parks unit, said in a statement. He cited the parks’ limited capacity and uncertainty about the pandemic’s duration, which he said was “exacerbated in California by the state’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen.” Disney shares slumped 1.5% to $123.58 in after-hours trading on Tuesday. In a letter to employees, D’Amaro called the move “heartbreaking.” He said management had tried to avoid layoffs by cutting expenses, suspending projects and streamlining operations. The company had continued to pay health benefits for furloughed workers since April. “However, we simply cannot responsibly stay fully staffed while operating at such limited capacity,” D’Amaro said. Walt Disney World in Florida had employed 77,000 full- and part-time workers before the pandemic, while Disneyland in California employed about 32,000.Disney did not disclose how many other U.S. employees work in the parks unit, which includes consumer products, cruise lines and other businesses. Last week, Disney officials said their coronavirus protections had been successful and urged California officials to issues guidelines that would allow Disneyland to welcome visitors again.

^ It is sad to think that the “Happiest Place” is not that happy anymore and has to lay off so many employees. I have been to Disney World many times and Euro Disney (I will always use the name it had when I went there) once. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-parks-layoffs/disney-to-lay-off-about-28000-parks-unit-employees-due-to-coronavirus-hit-idUSKBN26K3KG

Possible Shutdown

From News Nation:

“Senate advances bill to avoid government shutdown, deadline Wednesday”

The Senate voted to keep the government open until December. The final passage of the bill is expected on Wednesday, which is also when government funding runs out. The bill, if passed, would keep the government funded at current levels until Dec. 11. As NewsNation previously reported, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have stressed they don’t want the government to shut down. The House of Representatives voted 359-57 last week to push the spending bill through the lower chamber of Congress. Funding for most federal government programs will continue at their current level. In the Senate, the vote was 82-6.

^ I don’t understand why people aren’t more concerned about this since there could be no deal to avoid a Government Shutdown before the close of business tomorrow which would effect millions of people. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/senate-advances-bill-to-avoid-government-shutdown-deadline-wednesday/

5 PM Darkness

 

1 Million Dead

From Reuters:

“Global coronavirus deaths pass 'agonizing milestone' of 1 million”

The global death toll from COVID-19 rose past 1 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, a bleak milestone in a pandemic that has devastated the global economy, overloaded health systems and changed the way people live. The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus this year is now double the number of people who die annually from malaria - and the death rate has increased in recent weeks as infections surge in several countries. “Our world has reached an agonizing milestone,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. “It’s a mind-numbing figure. Yet we must never lose sight of each and every individual life. They were fathers and mothers, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues.” It took just three months for COVID-19 deaths to double from half a million, an accelerating rate of fatalities since the first death was recorded in China in early January. More than 5,400 people are dying around the world every 24 hours, according to Reuters calculations based on September averages, overwhelming funeral businesses and cemeteries. That equates to about 226 people an hour, or one person every 16 seconds. In the time it takes to watch a 90-minute soccer match, 340 people die on average.

INFECTIONS RISING Experts remain concerned that the official figures for deaths and cases globally significantly under-represent the real tally because of inadequate testing and recording and the possibility of concealment by some countries. The response to the pandemic has pitted proponents of health measures like lockdowns against those intent on sustaining politically sensitive economic growth, with approaches differing from country to country. The United States, Brazil and India, which together account for nearly 45% of all COVID-19 deaths globally, have all lifted social distancing measures in recent weeks. “The American people should anticipate that cases will rise in the days ahead,” U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned on Monday. India, meanwhile, has recorded the highest daily growth in infections in the world, with an average of 87,500 new cases a day since the beginning of September. On current trends, India will overtake the United States as the country with the most confirmed cases by the end of the year, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government pushes ahead with easing lockdown measures in a bid to support a struggling economy. Despite the surge in cases, India’s death toll of about 95,500, and pace of growth of fatalities, remain below those of the United States, Britain and Brazil. In Europe, which accounts for nearly 25% of deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a worrying spread in western Europe just weeks away from the winter flu season. The WHO has also warned the pandemic still needs major control interventions amid rising cases in Latin America, where many countries have started to resume normal life. Much of Asia, the first region affected by the pandemic, is experiencing a relative lull after emerging from a second wave.

BURIAL STRAIN The high number of deaths has led to changes burial rites around the world, with morgues and funeral businesses overwhelmed and loved ones often barred from bidding farewell in person. In Israel, the custom of washing the bodies of Muslim deceased is not permitted, and instead of being shrouded in cloth, they must be wrapped in a plastic body bag. The Jewish tradition of Shiva where people go to the home of mourning relatives for seven days has also been disrupted. In Italy, Catholics have been buried without funerals or a blessing from a priest, while in Iraq former militiamen dropped their guns to dig graves at a specially created cemetery and learned how to conduct both Christian and Muslim burials. In some parts of Indonesia, bereaved families have barged into hospitals to claim bodies, fearing their relatives might not be given a proper burial. An indigenous group in the Ecuadorean Amazon took two police officers and a state official hostage, demanding authorities return the body of a community leader for a traditional burial. The United States, Indonesia, Bolivia, South Africa and Yemen have all had to locate new burial sites as cemeteries fill up.

^ A sad milestone for the world. ^

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-global-deaths/global-coronavirus-deaths-pass-agonizing-milestone-of-1-million-idUSKBN26K08Y

Disabled Service Areas

 From MSN:

“Highways England to make motoring easier for disabled drivers”

Highways England plans to make it easier for disabled motorists to use UK motorways and A-roads. More than 100 service areas will be assessed on the accessibility of parking, toilets, petrol stations, shops and restaurants. Watford Gap motorway service area has already been assessed and the plan is to launch 113 Virtual Access Guides on England’s motorway service areas in early 2021. The guides will include 360-degree imagery so disabled motorists can see in advance the route to facilities such as accessible toilets. The initiative is part of a collaboration between Highways England and the AccessAble app, which gives disabled motorists information on thousands of venues across the UK and Ireland. AccessAble director David Livermore called it a “groundbreaking initiative”. He explained: “This project will not only give people all the information they need to plan a trip but also support Highways England and Motorway Service Operations to see how facilities could be improved in the future.” The access guides will be available free of charge both via the AccessAble app and on the Access Able website. Highways England is also updating its costumer contact centre to allow anyone who is a British Sign Language user to use SignLive to communicate with the organisation. The free service connects deaf users with a professional BSL interpreter; they will contact Highways England on their behalf and then translate the conversion. Around 150,000 people in the UK use British Sign Language as their main means of communication. Both initiatives have come from Highways England’s Roads for All Forum, which was established in 2018. This brings together people from a wide range of organisations that help represent disabled motorists, including Motability, Disability Rights UK, RAC, Disabled Motoring UK and Driving Mobility.   Nearly one in four people has a disability and disabled motorists represent five percent of the driving population.

^ This is needed to make driving and traveling a little easier for those with disabilities. I would like to see this kind of program done across the rest of the UK and the world. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-in/autos/news/highways-england-to-make-motoring-easier-for-disabled-drivers/ar-BB19ks1x

Prime Day

From News Nation:

“Amazon to kick off holiday shopping with October Prime Day”

Amazon is aiming to kickstart the holiday shopping season early this year. The company is holding its annual Prime Day over two days in October this year, after the pandemic forced it to postpone the sales event from July. It’s the first time Prime Day is being held in the fall, and Amazon is positioning it as a way to get people to start their holiday shopping. Even before Amazon’s announcement Monday, major retailers have said they plan to push shoppers to start their holiday shopping in October and offer deals earlier, hoping to avoid crowds in their stores in November and December.

Prime Day, which will run from Oct. 13 to Oct. 14 this year, is sure to put pressure on rivals to offer deals around the same time. In past years, Walmart, Best Buy and Target have offered their own online discounts during Prime Day. Amazon started the sales event in 2015 as its answer to Singles’ Day, a shopping holiday in China popularized by Chinese ecommerce company Alibaba. Prime Day has become one of Amazon’s biggest shopping days, since it offers some of its deepest discounts of the year. Amazon also sees it as a way to get more people to sign up for its Prime membership, since only those paying $12.99 a month or $119 a year can access the deals. The company said Amazon Prime members in 19 countries will get access to deals this year, including two new ones: Brazil and Turkey. It already held Prime Day in India this summer.

^ People will probably do the majority of their holiday shopping online this year. They should remember that there are delays (it’s 7-10 days where I am) in shipping. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/amazon-to-kick-off-holiday-shopping-with-october-prime-day/

Quim Torra

From the BBC:

“Quim Torra: Spain's top court bans Catalonia leader from office”

Spain's top court has upheld a decision to ban Catalonia's separatist leader Quim Torra from holding public office. The case stems from Mr Torra's refusal to take down a pro-independence symbol from a government building ahead of last year's general election. He was found guilty of disobeying a court order to remove the banner, and will now be forced to stand down. The Supreme Court's decision to uphold Mr Torra's 18-month ban triggered immediate calls for protests. It is not yet clear when the ban will take effect, but Catalonia's high court is expected to rule on this imminently. Catalonia, home to Barcelona, is a semi-autonomous region in north-eastern Spain with about 7.5 million people. Its drive for independence plunged Spain into its biggest political crisis in 40 years in 2017. The region had its autonomy suspended for almost seven months by Madrid after a failed bid to break away. "[Mr Torra] repeatedly and stubbornly disobeyed the orders of the Central Electoral Board to remove certain symbols from public buildings belonging to the [regional government] during the electoral process," the Supreme Court judges said in their ruling on Monday. The 57-year-old defended himself on the grounds of freedom of expression and had been appealing against an earlier verdict in a lower court. But the judges said he had defied a constitutional body and rejected his appeal. It is believed deputy Catalan leader Pere Aragones will become the region's acting head. Mr Torra, a staunch separatist, was elected in May 2018 as a relative newcomer to politics. He pledged that his new government would "build an independent state in the form of a republic" In October last year, the Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan politicians and activists to jail terms of between nine and 13 years over the 2017 independence bid. "Supreme shame," Jordi Turull, one of the jailed leaders, wrote on Twitter after Monday's ruling.”Once more, the Spanish state interferes in our democratic institutions," Mr Torra's predecessor, Carles Puigdemont, wrote.

^ The Spanish Supreme Court is only making Quim Torra a martyr to both the Catalans and the other Spaniards. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54328334

Hamburg's Forced Forgotten

From the DW:

“The forgotten children of Hamburg's forced labor camps”

Hundreds of women and children were sent to forced labor camps in Hamburg during the Nazi era. A psychologist has launched a campaign to remember their lives with "stumbling stones." The names featured on the new stumbling stones unveiled in Hamburg belong to persons whose lives were cut too short Recently 49 new Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) were laid into the concrete sidewalk in the Hamburg suburb of Langenhorn. They carry the names of 49 children who died there during World War II.  The names on the little memorial stones are mostly Eastern European-sounding, names of small children whose mothers had been sent to forced labor camps for the Nazi regime.

Chance encounter unearths hundreds of stories It was only about 10 years ago that Hamburg-based psychologist Margot Löhr discovered these children's fates — entirely by chance. Taking a close look at Hamburg death registers, she found numerous files containing the names of children and infants. Their official place of residence was listed as a former forced labor camp in Hamburg.  "I wanted to follow up on the fate of these children," said Löhr. She compiled 418 names of children, most between the ages of 10 and 14, but many of them babies. They and their mothers had been forced by the Nazis to work in various factories. They included, for example, a young woman named Nadeshda who had entered the Hohenzollernring camp in Hamburg as a 4-year-old. In her later memoirs, she recalled that her parents and 14-year-old brother had to work hard in the factory and that her brother had been beaten by guards — for accidentally dropping a barrel that had been too heavy for him to carry.

Murdered newborns Margot Löhr was especially jarred by the fate of two young Jewish women at the Hamburg concentration camp, Rozena and Alice. Having already witnessed the genocide against Jews first-hand at Auschwitz, both had to hide their pregnancies for fear of their lives. “Pregnancies were not allowed,” Margot Löhr explained. Rozena went into labor in December 1944 and gave birth to a healthy boy. A short time later, a female security guard showed her the dead child. A supervisor had placed the baby in a cardboard box, and the camp commander, Walter Kümmel, had drowned it. Having survived the war, the two women testified as witnesses before the Hamburg Regional Court — but not until in the early 1970s. The verdict for Kümmel was only "accessory to murder." In the court's opinion, "no base motives" that could be held against him.

Remembering the forgotten Many women had been forced abort their pregnancies, but in postwar Germany those brutal Nazi-era practices were met with silence. Even back in their home countries, the mothers of the dead children who had been sent to forced labor camps in Germany hardly ever dared to speak about that dark chapter of their lives. The children the forced laborers had given birth to were usually written off as "children of traitors." In the past decade, Löhr has researched more than 400 such cases in Hamburg and has written a book about their fates. Thanks to her initiative, much light has been cast on the history of female forced laborers in Hamburg during World War II.  During the war, 246 of these women's babies were buried at Hamburg's Ohlsdorf cemetery. But in 1959, most of the graves were leveled, leaving nothing to remember them by, making it all the more important today to remember their fates another way.  Additional stumbling blocks are scheduled to be laid in memory of these forgotten children of Hamburg Iater this year.

^ This was a very interesting story and I’m glad to have learned about it and to see that the victims are finally being remembered. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/the-forgotten-children-of-hamburgs-forced-labor-camps/a-55071627

20% Rise: Military Suicides

From Military.com/AP:

“Military Suicides Up as Much as 20% in COVID Era”

Military suicides have increased by as much as 20% this year compared to the same period in 2019, and some incidents of violent behavior have spiked as service members struggle under COVID-19, war-zone deployments, national disasters and civil unrest. While the data is incomplete and causes of suicide are complex, Army and Air Force officials say they believe the pandemic is adding stress to an already strained force. And senior Army leaders — who say they've seen about a 30% jump in active duty suicides so far this year — told The Associated Press that they are looking at shortening combat deployments. Such a move would be part of a broader effort to make the wellbeing of soldiers and their families the Army's top priority, overtaking combat readiness and weapons modernization.

The Pentagon refused to provide 2020 data or discuss the issue, but Army officials said discussions in Defense Department briefings indicate there has been roughly a 20% jump in overall military suicides this year. The numbers vary by service. The active Army's 30% spike — from 88 last year to 114 this year — pushes the total up because it's the largest service. The Army Guard is up about 10%, going from 78 last year to 86 this year. The Navy total is believed to be lower this year. Army leaders say they can't directly pin the increase on the virus, but the timing coincides. “I can't say scientifically, but what I can say is - I can read a chart and a graph, and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health related issues,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in an AP interview. Pointing to increases in Army suicides, murders and other violent behavior, he added, “We cannot say definitively it is because of COVID. But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started, the numbers actually went up.”

Preliminary data for the first three months of 2020 show an overall dip in military suicides across the active duty and reserves, compared to the same time last year. Those early numbers, fueled by declines in Navy and Air Force deaths, gave hope to military leaders who have long struggled to cut suicide rates. But in the spring, the numbers ticked up. “COVID adds stress,” said Gen. Charles Brown, the Air Force chief, in public remarks. “From a suicide perspective, we are on a path to be as bad as last year. And that’s not just an Air Force problem, this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors – a fear of the unknown for certain folks." The active duty Air Force and reserves had 98 suicides as of Sept. 15, unchanged from the same period last year. But last year was the worst in three decades for active duty Air Force suicides. Officials had hoped the decline early in the year would continue.  Navy and Marine officials refused to discuss the subject. It's unclear how the military suicide rate this year compares with the civilian rate. The most recent civilian suicide data is from 2018. James Helis, director of the Army’s resilience programs, said virus-related isolation, financial disruptions, remote schooling and loss of child care all happening almost overnight has strained troops and families. “We know that the measures we took to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID could amplify some of the factors that could lead to suicide,” said Helis, who attended department briefings on suicide data. Army leaders also said troops have been under pressure for nearly two decades of war. Those deployments, compounded by the virus, hurricane and wildfire response and civil unrest missions, have taken a toll. Soldiers’ 10-month deployments have been stretched to 11 months because of the two-week coronavirus quarantines at the beginning and end. McCarthy said the Army is considering shortening deployments. Gen. James McConville, Army chief of staff, said there's new attention to giving service members "the time that they need to come back together and recover.” “We were very focused on readiness four years ago because we had some readiness challenges, and we did a great job. The force is very, very ready now. But I think it’s time now to focus on people,” he told the AP. McConville and Army Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston said units have begun “stand-up” days, where commanders focus on bringing people together, making sure they connect with each other and their families and ensuring they have strong values in how they treat each other. The isolation is also taking a toll on veterans, particularly the wounded. Sergio Alfaro, who served in the Army for 4 1/2 years, said fears associated with the virus intensified his PTSD and suicidal thoughts. “It's definitely something that’s made things a bit more chaotic, trying to plan for the future, do things together,” said Alfaro, who deployed near Baghdad in 2003, facing daily mortar rounds, including one that killed his commander. “It’s almost like adding more trash on the heap.” While he once feared that strangers passing by might hurt him, now he fears people may have COVID and not show symptoms. Others in support groups, he said, "are just sick of living this way, worried about what’s coming over the next hill, what next horrible thing are we going to be confronted with.” Roger Brooks, a senior mental health specialist at the Wounded Warrior Project, said veterans are reporting increased suicidal symptoms and anxiety. Between April and the end of August, the group saw a 48% jump in referrals to mental health providers and a 10% increase in mental health calls and virtual support sessions, compared to the previous five months. Brooks said there's anecdotal evidence that the pandemic has made wounded warriors like amputees feel more isolated, unable to connect as well with support groups. He said injured vets have seen disruptions in medical visits for pain management and other treatments. Within the Army, Helis said the virus has forced an increase in telehealth calls and online visits with mental health providers. That has generated some positive results, such as fewer missed appointments. “And we also think there was a reduction in the stigma of seeking behavioral health because you can do it from the privacy of your home,” he said. Military leaders also are encouraging troops to keep a closer eye on their buddies and ensure that those who need help get it. That message was conveyed in a remarkable public statement this month by Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said he sought help while heading U.S. Strategic Command from 2016 to 2019. He didn't reveal details but said he saw a psychiatrist – a rare public admission by a senior officer. “I felt like I needed to get some help,” Hyten said in a video message. “I felt like I needed to talk to somebody.” He encouraged others to do the same, if needed, without fear of hurting their career.

^ When the Pentagon, the Navy and the Marine Corps. refuse to address the suicides then you know it is a real and major problem. I’m glad the Army is at least willing to discuss the problem even if they do not know if the increase in suicides in due to Covid-19 restrictions and isolation – at least they seem to care and want to know the truth. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/09/27/military-suicides-much-20-covid-era.html

£10,000 Fines

From the BBC:

“Covid-19: Up to £10,000 fine for failure to self-isolate in England”

Refusing to self-isolate when told to is now illegal in England from Monday, with fines of up to £10,000. Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19, or has been told they have been in contact with someone who has, now has a legal duty to quarantine. It comes as a study commissioned by the government found just 18% of people who had symptoms went into isolation. Meanwhile, the government has promised an "uninterrupted supply" of PPE for front-line workers over the winter. Four-month stockpiles of PPE - personal protective equipment such as masks, visors and gowns - will be available from November, the Department of Health has said.

What are the self-isolation rules? From Monday, it will be a punishable offence not to comply with an official instruction to self-isolate, with fines starting at £1,000 and rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches. Police officers can check that people are complying with the rules in virus hotspots and among high-risk groups based on "local intelligence", the government said. The law applies to people who have tested positive for coronavirus, or who have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate as they have been in close contact with someone with the virus. And if someone tests positive, it is illegal to knowingly give false information about their close contacts to NHS Test and Trace. People on low incomes who cannot work and are losing income while self isolating will be able to get a £500 payment. Nearly four million people who receive benefits in England will be eligible for the money, and it will be backdated once the scheme is properly set up in their council area, the Department of Health said. Home Secretary Priti Patel added the new fines were "a clear sign that we will not allow those who break the rules to reverse the hard-won progress made by the law-abiding majority." And Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government will "not hesitate" to introduce further measures if case numbers continue to rise. As of the last week of August, more than 19,000 fines had been issued in England and Wales for alleged breaches of coronavirus laws, a letter from the attorney general said.

The UK government hopes the new fines will be replicated in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - which all have powers to set their own coronavirus rules. Earlier this month, the Scottish health secretary said the issue would be under discussion. Meanwhile, Wales is the latest part of the UK to bring in further local lockdown rules, with new restrictions in Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan from 18:00 BST on Monday. It will mean nearly two-thirds of Wales' population will be under lockdown - with people not allowed to enter or leave their county unless for a limited number of reasons and banned from meeting other households indoors. The government's self-isolation rules mean a person cannot leave their house - even to buy food or other essentials, or to exercise. It requires anyone with symptoms or a positive test result to isolate for 10 days, while members of their household or people who have been contacted by Test and Trace must quarantine for 14 days. The crackdown on self-isolating comes as research carried out for the Department of Health found that the number of people with symptoms following the self-isolation rules was low. Although people's intention to self-isolate was high - around 70% - only 11% of people went into quarantine after being asked to by NHS Test and Trace. The most common reasons that people gave for not self-isolating were because they needed to go to the shops for groceries or a pharmacy or because their symptoms got better. Men and younger people were also less likely to follow the test, trace and isolate guidance, the research added. Mr Hancock has also promised that health and social care workers will get enough PPE, as the number of UK coronavirus cases rises again. He said it had been a "massive challenge" to get enough at the start of the pandemic - when health and care staff warned of widespread shortages. "That's why we have worked every day since to ensure we have an uninterrupted supply to meet the challenges in the coming months and protect those who are protecting us," he said. The Department of Health said 70% of the expected demand for PPE will be met by UK manufacturers from December.

^ I completely agree that anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 should be required to self-isolate. I do have an issue with contact tracers forcing everyone who was in contact with someone with Covid-19 to also self-isolate. That decision should not be a general rule, but should be done on a case by case basis - taking into account if you were wearing a mask, were social distancing, etc. I also believe that when people are forced, by the Government, to self-isolate they should also be given Government help with money, getting food, getting medicine, etc. That help is especially needed for those who are elderly, disabled or who care for the elderly, the disabled and children. You can not simply force people indoors for 14 days and not give them any support. I believe these should be done in every country, not just the UK. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54320482

Nagorno-Karabakh Fighting

 From the BBC:

“Armenia and Azerbaijan erupt into fighting over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh”

Heavy fighting has erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, with both civilians and combatants killed. Accusing Azerbaijan of air and artillery attacks, Armenia reported downing helicopters and destroying tanks, and declared martial law. Azerbaijan said it had begun a counter-offensive in response to shelling. The region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenians. They broke away in the dying years of the Soviet Union. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan were part of the communist state, which sought to suppress ethnic and religious differences. Amid the clashes, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said he was confident of regaining control over the breakaway region. Martial law has also been declared in some regions of Azerbaijan. The conflict in the Caucasus Mountains has remained unresolved for more than three decades, with periodic bouts of fighting. Border clashes in July killed at least 16 people, prompting the largest demonstration for years in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, where there were calls for the region's recapture. On Sunday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged support for Azerbaijan during the new crisis while Russia, traditionally seen as an ally of Armenia, called for an immediate ceasefire and talks to stabilise the situation. France, which has a large Armenian community, called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue, while Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, offered to broker peace talks.

How did the fighting spread? Armenia's defence ministry said an attack on civilian settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the regional capital Stepanakert, began at 08:10 local time (04:10 GMT) on Sunday. A woman and child were killed, officials said. The separatist authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh said 16 of their servicemen had died, with 100 injured. Armenia said it had shot down two helicopters and three drones, as well as destroying three tanks.  Armenia's government declared martial law and total military mobilisation, shortly after a similar announcement by the authorities inside Nagorno-Karabakh. Martial law is an emergency measure under which the military takes over the authority and functions of the civilian government. "Get ready to defend our sacred homeland," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said after accusing Azerbaijan of "pre-planned aggression". Warning that the region was on the brink of a "large-scale war", and accusing Turkey of "aggressive behaviour", he urged the international community to unite to prevent any further destabilisation. According to Azerbaijani prosecutors, five members of the same family were killed by Armenian shelling of one village in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's defence ministry confirmed the loss of one helicopter but said the crew had survived, and reported that 12 Armenian air defence systems had been destroyed. It denied other losses reported by Armenia. President Aliyev said he had ordered a large-scale counter-offensive operation in response to Armenian army attacks. "As a result of the counter-offensive operation, a number of Azerbaijani residential areas that were under occupation have been liberated," he said in remarks broadcast on television. "I am confident that our successful counter-offensive operation will put an end to the occupation, to the injustice, to the 30-year-long occupation." Armenia's defence ministry denied any villages had been lost to Azerbaijan.

Nagorno-Karabakh - key facts

A mountainous region of about 4,400 sq km (1,700 sq miles)

Traditionally inhabited by Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks

In Soviet times, it became an autonomous region within the republic of Azerbaijan

Internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but majority of population is ethnic Armenian

An estimated one million people displaced by 1990s war, and about 30,000 killed

Separatist forces captured some extra territory around the enclave in Azerbaijan in the 1990s war

Stalemate has largely prevailed since a 1994 ceasefire

Russia has traditionally been seen as an ally of the Armenians

 

President Erdogan called Armenia "the biggest threat to peace and tranquillity in the region". Turkey has close ties to Azerbaijan and does not have relations with Armenia. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has long been trying to mediate a settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, with diplomats from France, Russia and the US - making up the OSCE Minsk Group - trying to build on a 1994 ceasefire.

^ Hopefully both sides will find a way to stabilize the situation so the fighting doesn’t escalate. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54314341

100,000 On 50th Day!

 From the CBC/AP:

“100,000 march in Belarus capital on 50th day of protests against president”

About 100,000 demonstrators marched in the Belarusian capital calling for the authoritarian president's ouster, some wearing cardboard crowns to ridicule him, on Sunday as the protests that have rocked the country marked their 50th consecutive day. Protests also took place in nine other cities, underlining the wide extent of dismay and anger with President Alexander Lukashenko, who has stifled opposition and independent news media during 26 years in power. The protest wave began after the Aug. 9 presidential election that officials said gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office with a crushing 80 per cent of the vote. The opposition and some poll workers say the results were manipulated. Lukashenko has defied calls for him to step down and many prominent members of a council formed with the aim of arranging a transfer of power have been arrested or have fled the country. The protests have persisted despite the daily detentions of demonstrators. The Interior Ministry said about 200 demonstrators were arrested throughout the country Sunday. Police and troops blocked off the centre of the city with armoured vehicles and water cannons. Luksahenko stepped up his defiance this week by unexpectedly taking the oath of office for a new term in an unannounced ceremony, leading many to mock him as harbouring royal-like pretensions.

Some of the estimated 100,000 people who braved rain and strong winds to march in a two-kilometre-long column wore crowns made of cardboard and bore placards calling him "the naked king." Lukashenko's main election opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, praised protesters' determination and urged them not to let their energies flag. "Today is the 50th day of our protest and the Belarusian people have again come out on the streets," she said in a statement from Lithuania, where she went into exile after the election. "We have come to stop this regime and we will do this peacefully." She went on: "Democracy is the power of the people. The entire people are stronger than one man." Western countries have widely denounced the dubious election and the crackdown on protesters. The European Union and the United States are considering sanctions against Belarusian officials. Lukashenko slapped back sharply at Emmanuel Macron on Sunday after the French president said in a newspaper interview that Lukashenko must relinquish power. "I want to say that the president of France himself, following his own logic, should have resigned two years ago — when yellow vests had first begun going out in the streets of Paris," Lukashenko said, referring to the French protest movement. Belarus's Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Saturday told the UN General Assembly that international expressions of concern are "nothing but attempts to bring chaos and anarchy to our country."

^ 50 days of peaceful (on the part of the protesters, not on the part of Lukashenko’s Police and Military) and still going strong. 100,000 people in the Capital, Minsk, with other protests in 9 cities. You have to admire their determination and civil disobedience. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/belarus-protests-day-50-1.5740991

German Eras On Streaming

From the DW:

“Netflix and Amazon series explore revolutionary era in Germany”

In time for the 30th anniversary of German reunification, Netflix and Amazon are presenting the documentary-style series "Deutschland 89" and "Rohwedder." It all started with the Deutschland 83, and now the story goes on, rushing toward its historical climax. Now involuntary secret agent Jonas Nay struggles both with the impending demise of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), and his opportunistic aunt Lenora, depicted by recent Emmy award winner Maria Schrader. On September 25, in time for the 30th anniversary of German reunification on October 3, the streaming platform Amazon Prime released Deutschland 89, the continuation of the breakout German series Deutschland 83 and Deutschland 86.  In the latest sequel, another three years have passed in which the GDR has not been able to solve its foreign exchange problems. The 89 in the title points to the fateful year that marked the fall of the East German state, indicating that this will be the final installment in Martin Rauch's adventure tale of two Germanys. Embedding fictional material in a historically faithful setting is an established approach that sells well if the plot can both relate actual historic events and remain entertaining. Series like Babylon Berlin, set against the backdrop of the collapsing Weimar Republic, and Weissensee, set in 1980s East Berlin, have been hugely successful in and outside Germany.

History in a few seconds A film can immediately immerse viewers in the past in ways that books leave to the imagination and might therefore lack the same historical precision. Which could explain the explosion of period dramas in the international streaming market, including in the US where series also revisit the Cold War (The Americans), or more recently the US war on terror (Homeland).  More recent history is also the stuff of several German productions. Die Getriebenen (The Driven Ones), a production of ARD (German Public Broadcasting) based on the book of the same name, and the ZDF (Second German Television) film Stunden der Entscheidung (Hours of Decision), both explore the story of Angela Merkel's decision to admit refugees into Germany in September 2015. The problem with the hybrid documentary/fiction format: Affording a seemingly behind-the-scenes view, it comingles fact and interpretation and has the potential to exaggerate for dramatic effect.

True crime? Sounds interesting The more realistic the format, the greater care given to detail. The four-part series Rohwedder —Einigkeit und Mord und Freiheit (Rohwedder — Unity and Murder and Freedom) is another production released on September 25 through Netflix that is set in the volatile pre-unification era in Germany. It deals with the still unsolved murder of Detlev Rohwedder, then head of the Treuhand, the agency responsible for liquidating physical assets of the former Communist state and transforming them into capitalist enterprises. With today's classic documentaries including elements of entertainment, the production is marketed with the sexy "true crime" moniker. The opening credits recall the crime series 4 Blocks more than straightforward documentaries. The reconstructed scenes alternate with interviews with witnesses of the time. It's a dramatic approach patterned after filmed reconstructions of scenes from unresolved murder mysteries in the German TV series Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst (File XY… Unsolved). The authors of Rohwedder tackle the murder of its protagonist by following the "third generation" of the Red Army Faction, the 1970s left-wing terror organization that had claimed responsibility for the deed in 1991 — though doubts about their complicity still remain. The crime was executed with military precision, leading some to believe that elements of former East Germany's state security apparatus had continued to exist and were behind the murder, possibly because Rohwedder was hunting down the agency's hidden financial assets.

Recipe for a thriller Mystery, whether having to do with terrorists or a secret agency, is an essential ingredient. As Rohwedder rehabilitated or dissolved 15,000 enterprises facing bankruptcy, Western German politicians and businesses were interested in the GDR's economic assets. After his death, they were privatized and transformed into lucrative objects for investors. The more realistic a story is, the greater the wish for confrontation. Strong accusations were leveled that despite severe danger, Detlev Rohwedder hadn't been sufficiently protected. Politicians and agencies who bore responsibility were not interviewed however. With Rohwedder, Netflix is taking a certain risk. Will the case attract the interest of an international audience? Amazon's fiction product seems to be a safe bet: Deutschland 83 took the Emmy as Best Drama in 2016.

^ I really liked “Deutschland 83” but didn’t care for “Deutschland 86.” I hope that when “Deutschland 89” comes out in the US this October it will be as good, if not better, than ’83 was. I also like “Babylon Berlin” and “Weissensee” (although the last one is harder to find in the States.) These shows show both German and non-German audiences a side of German History that we rarely see or that we have forgotten. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/netflix-and-amazon-series-explore-revolutionary-era-in-germany/a-55054713