EU On Brexit

From the BBC:

"Brexit: Europeans look to uncertain future as UK leaves EU”

Forty-seven years ago, in 1973, the UK joined an organisation that aimed to bring European nations closer together. The British people voted two years later to remain in what became the European Union (EU), but in a 2016 referendum voted to leave.  On Friday 31 January, at 23:00 GMT, the UK made history as the first EU member state to legally leave the bloc. Europeans from several of the remaining 27 member states have shared their thoughts about Brexit and the EU.

'I have mixed feelings'   Justyna Grudzien, 20, violinist from Poland:  As a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, I've met several people from the UK - and they're all concerned about Brexit. For them, it means they can no longer be members of the orchestra, whose main goal is to connect people from EU countries. This orchestra has over 40 years of history and from the beginning people from the UK were a very important part. I think most of the organisers are British. For the rest of the orchestra, including me, travelling to the UK will not be as easy. We previously only needed a form of ID, but now who knows what will happen - we probably won't be able to travel without a visa. It is heart-breaking. On the other hand, I think the EU can, in some cases, put too much pressure on member states. The union is a wonderful idea for connecting European countries, but right now it doesn't seem to work. 

'Uncertainty of no-deal still worries me' Gabriele Caredda, 27, NHS nurse from Sardinia, Italy: As an NHS staff member, I was advised to apply for pre-settled status as it would, in theory, be enough for me to continue living and working in the UK.  The uncertainty of a no-deal Brexit worries me, though, as we don't know if the situation will change, or what will be required of EU citizens in order for us to continue working in the country in the future. I think UK membership of the EU has been positive for both parties. It has allowed the free flow of people and ideas, and enabled a lot of young people to have experiences abroad, to face and explore a different culture and way of thinking.  Migrant salary threshold fall 'would boost public sector' I was really disappointed with the Brexit result because I always thought the UK was a kind of multicultural oasis, where everybody could find their place in a society that appreciated them for what they were bringing to the table. 

'It won't have a huge impact on our business' Kate O'Sullivan, 27, Irelands Eye Knitwear, Ireland: 

Brexit will have some affect on our business, but not a huge impact.  As a company based out of the island of Ireland, we have always relied on export markets to grow our business, and approximately 55% of what we produce is exported to over 20 countries worldwide.  Our exports to the UK make up about 3% of our overall business - so quite a small portion. To lose this business would be a pity, however we are in a better position than some other Irish companies who rely heavily on their UK customers. In preparation for Brexit, we are focusing more on other export markets such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands in order to achieve growth there, although it is difficult to prepare when we do not know the exact outcomes. The EU has been very good for Europe - the facilitation of trade agreements, the opportunities to do business and the facilitation of trade routes have all been extremely helpful, where Ireland is concerned in particular. 

'It could make the EU more united' Tudor Blaj, 43, tour operator in Romania: I have no idea what will happen with Brexit - free movement of people is my main concern. I could have fewer British clients, so it may get more difficult for me. About 60% of my clients are British. UK membership of the EU and all the European construction has been a good thing. The EU has meant European states getting together to survive economic pressure from the US and China etc. Having a bigger market helps us compete with those big powers. I don't think Brexit will lead to a break-up of the EU. It could make the EU more united as they will examine what made the UK leave. There was a lack of communication about the EU's goals. 

'Nobody has ever left, it raises fundamental questions' Birte Wassenberg, 52, professor in contemporary history, Strasbourg: Brexit is a kind of revolution in what it means to be in the EU. Nobody has ever left before, so this raises fundamental questions.  It may get more difficult to invite British academics to Strasbourg to talk.  UK membership has been good for Europe and the British were doing really well in the EU. They were essential for the common defence policy - without them it's a big problem. They helped the EU to develop real political power, not only economic.  A lot of French people are glad that the British are leaving - they felt the British never really belonged. But Germans really regret the UK leaving. Having witnessed the mess of leaving the EU, others will be dissuaded from leaving too.

'I don't think the British will abandon Dutch flowers' Edwin van Gils, 50, florist, the Netherlands: My granddad was a florist, then my father, and now it's me running this company exporting flowers to more than 1,000 supermarkets in the UK.  We've been preparing for about a year and a half. We're in contact with transport companies in the UK. It's like a long-running soap opera that started in 2016 - now it's 2020 and nothing has changed.  We are not looking at other markets. The UK is the market we know. We have a similar business sense and sense of humour. In five or six years I think things will settle down. I don't think the British will abandon Dutch flowers. A lot of countries that were considering leaving now see how much work it is and what it will cost. When you see the uncertainty in the UK you think twice.

^ This is the first time a member country has left the European Union (or the European Community as it used to be called.) It does raise many questions about the relationship between the EU Government and the EU member states as well as between the different member states themselves. Hopefully the EU will fix the many issues that currently plague the organization and give more voice to the member states so that other countries don’t decide to follow the UK and leave. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51279686

1st And 2nd Brexit

^ As of a few minutes ago the United Kingdom has officially left the European Union after 40+ years. Hobbits like 1st breakfast and then 2nd breakfast and the British like 1st Brexit and 2nd Brexit. The 1st Brexit just happened (everything that was legal a few minutes ago is still legal for the next 6 months.)

2nd Brexit will happen on December 31, 2020 when the transition period ends and all laws regarding the EU will end. The UK now has 6 months to negotiate new treaties with the EU on everything (the Northern Irish-Irish border, shipping, health care, medicines, pets, imports/exports, fishing, banking, UK-EU travel including EU citizens' status within the UK, British citizens' status within the EU, the Gibraltar-Spanish border, the Chunnel, cell phone roaming charges, policing, military involvement, food safety, etc.) It took 3 years for the UK to finalize Brexit and now they have just 6 months before potential chaos.

There are contingency plans already made for the British Military to be deployed around the UK in December 2020 in case there is any trouble (due to wide-spread fears of food, medicine and other shortages) and the Queen even has a special Brexit Evacuation Plan that could see her go to Canada (although since she is Queen of Canada it wouldn't be seen as the British Queen fleeing the UK, but as the Canadian Queen visiting her country.) ^

Officially Brexit

From the BBC:

“Brexit: UK leaves the European Union”

The UK has officially left the European Union after 47 years of membership - and more than three years after it voted to do so in a referendum. The historic moment, which happened at 23:00 GMT, was marked by both celebrations and anti-Brexit protests. Candlelit vigils were held in Scotland, which voted to stay in the EU, while Brexiteers partied in London's Parliament Square. Boris Johnson has vowed to bring the country together and "take us forward". In a message released on social media an hour before the UK's departure, the prime minister said: "For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come. "And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss. "And then of course there is a third group - perhaps the biggest - who had started to worry that the whole political wrangle would never come to an end. "I understand all those feelings and our job as the government - my job - is to bring this country together now and take us forward." He said that "for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country". He added: "The most important thing to say tonight is that this is not an end but a beginning," he said, and "a moment of real national renewal and change".

How did the UK mark the moment?

Brexit parties were held in pubs and social clubs across the UK as the country counted down to its official departure. Hundreds gathered in Parliament Square to celebrate Brexit, singing patriotic songs and cheering speeches from leading Brexiteers, including Nigel Farage. The Brexit Party leader said: "Let us celebrate tonight as we have never done before. "This is the greatest moment in the modern history of our great nation." Pro-EU demonstrators earlier staged a march in Whitehall to bid a "fond farewell" to the union - and anti-Brexit rallies and candlelit vigils were held in Scotland.  Other symbolic moments on a day mixed emotions included:  The Union flag being removed from the European Union institutions in Brussels The Cabinet meeting in Sunderland, the first city to declare in favour of Brexit when the 2016 results were announced A light show illuminating 10 Downing Street and Union flags lined The Mall A 50p coin to mark the occasion entering circulation In Northern Ireland, the campaign group Border Communities Against Brexit staged a series of protests in Armagh, near to the border with the Republic of Ireland. At 2300 GMT, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a picture of the EU flag, adding: "Scotland will return to the heart of Europe as an independent country - #LeaveALightOnForScotland" Speaking in Cardiff, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said Wales, which voted to leave the EU, remained a "European nation"

What happens now? UK citizens will notice few immediate changes now that the country is no longer in the European Union. Most EU laws will continue to be in force - including the free movement of people - until 31 December, when the transition period comes to an end. The UK is aiming to sign a permanent free trade agreement with the EU, along the lines of the one the EU has with Canada. But European leaders have warned that the UK faces a tough battle to get a deal by that deadline.

What's the reaction in Europe? European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said Britain and Brussels will fight for their interests in trade talks. She paid tribute to UK citizens who had "contributed to the European Union and made it stronger" and said the UK's final day in the EU was "emotional". French president Emmanuel Macron said: "At midnight, for the first time in 70 years, a country will leave the European Union. "It is a historic alarm signal that must be heard in each of our countries." European Council President Charles Michel warned: "The more the UK will diverge from the EU standards, the less access to the single market it will have.

What about the US? Washington's ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, said Brexit had been "long supported" by President Donald Trump. America's "special relationship" with the UK "will endure, flourish and grow even stronger in this exciting new era which Britain is now beginning," said Mr Johnson in a statement.

^ I just hope the British can figure everything out in these 6 months and not come to regret leaving the EU. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51333314

Correct Predictions

^ Forget Nostradamus, “The Simpsons” have predicted many correct things in their 31 years. ^

Night To Shine

From Disability Scoop:

“Proms For Those With Special Needs Expected To Draw 115,000”

Thousands of teens and adults with disabilities are set to dance the night away at a series of special proms all held on a single night at hundreds of sites around the world. More than 720 churches on five continents will host the parties next week in advance of Valentine’s Day. The events are part of the Tim Tebow Foundation’s annual “Night to Shine.”  Open to people with special needs ages 14 and older, the proms typically feature hair and makeup stations, shoe shining, limousine rides, karaoke, dinner and a dance floor. There is a red carpet with “friendly paparazzi” and all guests with special needs are crowned king or queen of the prom. “Night to Shine is a night that brings people together,” said Tim Tebow, the former NFL quarterback whose foundation has hosted the events since 2015. Proms will be held on Feb. 7 at locations in all 50 states and 34 countries, organizers said.  The events are expected to draw 115,000 guests with disabilities and 215,000 volunteers. That’s up from the estimated 100,000 people with special needs who attended proms at more than 650 sites last year.

^ I have heard about these proms, but didn’t realize that they were held around the world. This is such a cool and fun way to celebrate prom. I’m really glad this has expanded both across the US and the world. ^

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2020/01/29/proms-for-those-with-special-needs-expected-to-draw-115000/27731/

Sanctions Extended

From UNIAN:

“U.S. joins EU, Canada in imposing fresh Crimea-related sanctions – media”

There are now 692 individuals and entities, as well as their subsidiaries, blacklisted by the U.S. government. The U.S. Treasury Department has joined the European Union and Canada in imposing new sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow's "continued aggression toward Ukraine and attempted occupation of Crimea," a news release says. A total of eight individuals and a privately owned railroad company face restrictive measures in the form of asset freezes in the United States, according to the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said. Seven of these individuals, whom the Treasury Department called "illegitimate Russian-backed Crimean officials," were also designated by the EU on January 28. Canada blacklisted six of the individuals.The seven individuals include Sergei Danilenko, Lidia Basova, and Yekaterina Pyrkova of Sevastopol's municipal election committee, as well as Yuriy Gotsanyuk, the head of the de facto Crimean government. The three other targeted individuals are Mikhail Razvozhayev, Vladimir Nemtsev, and Yekaterina Altabayeva. The imposition of sanctions was made "as part of a coordinated action in a strong demonstration of the international community's continued condemnation of Russia's interference in Crimean politics. "Grand Service Express (GSE) and its CEO, Aleksandr Ganov, were put under sanctions for supporting "Russia's efforts to deepen the economic integration of Russia and Crimea. "It was in reference to a rail link that was opened in late December between Russia and the Ukrainian peninsula over a bridge that was built for which sanctions were also imposed. The GSE company says the sanctions will not affect its business as it operates in Russia. There are now 692 individuals and entities, as well as their subsidiaries, blacklisted by the U.S. government. The EU's Russian sanctions list now consists of 177 individuals and 44 entities. Canada's analogous list contains more than 430 individuals and entities.

^ It’s good to see the United States, the European Union and Canada keep up on its commitment (coming on 6 years) and hopefully the sanctions and pressure will continue until Russian-annexed Crimea is returned to the Ukraine. ^

https://www.unian.info/politics/10852283-u-s-joins-eu-canada-in-imposing-fresh-crimea-related-sanctions-media.html

John James Murphy

From Military.com:

“Hundreds Attend Funeral for 'Unclaimed Veteran' in Illinois”

Hundreds of people attended a funeral service in suburban Chicago Wednesday for a former U.S. Air Force mechanic who became an “unclaimed veteran” when he died last month. The service for John James Murphy, 71, was held at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin. Murphy died Dec. 18 at a nearby hospital after living in a rehabilitation center since 2017. The funeral home was unable to find any relatives. "He is ours,” the Rev. Tim Perry said to applause at the start of the service. Joy and Dan Symonds, the owners of the funeral home, invited the public to attend Murphy’s service. The Symonds obtained permission from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to conduct a service that included full military honors. Murphy was a U.S. Air Force jet engine mechanic from 1966 to 1969. His awards for military service included the Vietnam Service Medal. Those who attended Murphy’s service included veterans, active service members and civilians. “I didn’t think so many people would be here,” U.S. Navy veteran Cliff Hall told the Daily Herald. ”This is incredible.” Sonia Alfaro, a civilian from Streamwood, brought a bouquet of red roses. “I wanted to come to support a veteran,” Alfaro said. ”I wanted him to be accompanied by people who appreciated his service and what he did for his country.” A procession with a police escort took Murphy’s remains to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, where he was buried with the sounds of a 21-gun salute.

^ While it's nice to see so many people (strangers) attend the funeral it would be even better if people would get more involved with Veterans while they are alive so there wouldn't be any more "unclaimed." I am glad though that so many complete strangers showed their respect and turned an "unclaimed veteran" back into John James Murphy.  ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/30/hundreds-attend-funeral-unclaimed-veteran-illinois.html

After The 31st

From the BBC:

“Brexit: What will change after Friday, 31 January?”

The UK formally leaves the European Union (EU) at 23:00 on Friday, 31 January. But it will immediately enter an 11-month transition period.  During the transition the UK will continue to obey EU rules and pay money to the EU. 

Most things will stay the same but there will be some changes:

1. UK MEPs lose their seats: Familiar faces such as Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe are among the UK's 73 MEPs who will automatically lose their seats in the European Parliament. That's because, at the moment of Brexit, the UK will leave all of the EU's political institutions and agencies.  However, in addition to the UK following EU rules during the transition period, the European Court of Justice will continue to have the final say over legal disputes.

2. No more EU summits: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will have to be specially invited if he wants to join other leaders at EU Council summits in the future. British ministers will also no longer attend regular EU meetings that decide things such as fishing limits.

3. We will be hearing a lot about trade: The UK will be able to start talking to countries around the world about setting new rules for buying and selling goods and services.  It has not been allowed to hold formal trade negotiations with countries like the US and Australia while it remained an EU member. Brexit supporters argue that having the freedom to set its own trade policy will boost the UK's economy. There's also a lot to be discussed with the EU. Agreeing a UK-EU trade deal is a top priority, so extra charges on goods and other trade barriers aren't needed when the transition ends. If any trade deals are reached, they won't be able to start until the transition period ends.

4. The UK's passports will change colour: Blue passports were replaced in 1988 with the burgundy design  Blue passports will be making a return, more than 30 years after they were replaced by the current burgundy design. Announcing the change in 2017, then Immigration Minister, Brandon Lewis, praised the return to the "iconic" blue-and-gold design, first used in 1921. The new colour will be phased in over a number of months, with all new passports issued in blue by the middle of the year.  Existing burgundy passports will continue to be valid.

5. Brexit coins: The coins had to be re-made after Brexit was delayed  About three million commemorative 50p Brexit coins bearing the date "31 January" and the inscription: "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations", will enter circulation on Friday. The coin has received a mixed reaction, with some Remain supporters saying they will refuse to accept it. The government had planned to introduce a similar coin on 31 October, the date Brexit was previously meant to happen.  However, those coins had to be melted down and recycled after the deadline was extended.

6. The UK's Brexit department shuts down: The team that handled the UK-EU negotiations and no-deal preparations will disband on Brexit day. The Department for Exiting the European Union was set up by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2016. For the upcoming talks, the UK's negotiating team will be based in Downing Street.

7. Germany won't extradite its citizens to the UK: It won't be possible for some suspected criminals to be brought back to the UK if they flee to Germany. Germany's constitution does not allow its citizens to be extradited, unless it's to another EU country.  "This exception cannot apply anymore after the UK has left EU," a spokesman from the German Federal Ministry of Justice told BBC News. It's unclear if the same restrictions will apply to other countries. Slovenia, for example, says the situation is complicated, while the European Commission was unable to provide comment. The UK Home Office says the European Arrest Warrant will continue to apply during the transition period. (That means Germany will be able to extradite non-German citizens.) However, it adds that if a country's laws prevent extradition to the UK it "will be expected to take over the trial or sentence of the person concerned".

Seven things that will stay the same...

Because the transition period begins immediately after Brexit, the vast majority of other things remain the same - at least until 31 December 2020 including:

1. Travel: UK nationals will still be treated the same as EU nationals during the transition  Flights, boats and trains will operate as usual.  When it comes to passport control, during the transition period, UK nationals will still be allowed to queue in the areas reserved for EU arrivals only.

2. Driving licences and pet passports: As long as they are valid, these will continue to be accepted. Driving after Brexit: What you need to know

3. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): EHICs will still be valid during the transition  These are the cards that provide UK nationals with state-provided medical treatment in case of illness or accident.  They can be used in any EU country (as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and will continue to be valid during the transition period.

4. Living and working in the EU: Freedom of movement will continue to apply during the transition, so UK nationals will still be able to live and work in the EU as they currently do.  The same applies for EU nationals wanting to live and work in the UK.

5. Pensions: UK nationals living in the EU will continue to receive their state pension and will also receive the annual increase.

6. Budget contributions: The UK will continue to pay into the EU budget during the transition. This means existing schemes, paid for by EU grants, will continue to be funded.

7. Trade: UK-EU trade will continue without any extra charges or checks being introduced.

^ There’s no need for the Brits to grab your Brexit Boxes and head into their bunkers just yet. The transition period ends December 31, 2020 so there’s still time for the British Government to avoid the potential Brexit chaos (even the Queen has a Brexit Evacuation Plan.) ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51194363

75: The Great Raid

Raid at Cabanatuan

The Raid at Cabanatuan (Filipino: Pagsalakay sa Cabanatuan), also known as The Great Raid (Filipino: Ang Dakilang Pagsalakay), was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan City, in the Philippines. On January 30, 1945, during World War II, United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas liberated more than 500 from the POW camp. 

After the surrender of tens of thousands of American troops during the Battle of Bataan, many were sent to the Cabanatuan prison camp after the Bataan Death March. The Japanese shifted most of the prisoners to other areas, leaving just over 500 American and other Allied POWs and civilians in the prison. Facing brutal conditions including disease, torture, and malnourishment, the prisoners feared they would be executed by their captors before the arrival of General Douglas MacArthur and his American forces returning to Luzon. In late January 1945, a plan was developed by Sixth Army leaders and Filipino guerrillas to send a small force to rescue the prisoners. A group of over 100 Rangers and Scouts and 200 guerrillas traveled 30 miles (48 km) behind Japanese lines to reach the camp.  In a nighttime raid, under the cover of darkness and with distraction by a P-61 Black Widow night fighter, the group surprised the Japanese forces in and around the camp. Hundreds of Japanese troops were killed in the 30-minute coordinated attack; the Americans suffered minimal casualties. The Rangers, Scouts, and guerrillas escorted the POWs back to American lines. The rescue allowed the prisoners to tell of the death march and prison camp atrocities, which sparked a rush of resolve for the war against Japan. The rescuers were awarded commendations by MacArthur, and were also recognized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A memorial now sits on the site of the former camp, and the events of the raid have been depicted in several films. 

POW Camp:

The Cabanatuan prison camp was named after the nearby city of 50,000 people (locals also called it Camp Pangatian, after a small nearby village). The camp had first been used as an American Department of Agriculture station and then a training camp for the Filipino army.[9] When the Japanese invaded the Philippines, they used the camp to house American POWs. It was one of three camps in the Cabanatuan area and was designated for holding sick detainees. Occupying about 100 acres (0.40 km2), the rectangular-shaped camp was roughly 800 yards (730 m) deep by 600 yards (550 m) across, divided by a road that ran through its center. One side of the camp housed Japanese guards, while the other included bamboo barracks for the prisoners as well as a section for a hospital.  Nicknamed the "Zero Ward" because zero was the probability of getting out of it alive,  the hospital housed the sickliest prisoners as they waited to die from diseases such as dysentery and malaria. Eight-foot (2.4-m) high barbed wire fences surrounded the camp, in addition to multiple pillbox bunkers and four-story guard towers. 

(Map of the Camp)

At its peak, the camp held 8,000 American soldiers (along with a small number of soldiers and civilians from other nations including the United Kingdom, Norway, and the Netherlands), making it the largest POW camp in the Philippines. This number dropped significantly as able-bodied soldiers were shipped to other areas in the Philippines, Japan, Japanese-occupied Taiwan, and Manchukuo to work in slave labor camps. As Japan had not yet ratified the Geneva Convention, the POWs were transported out of the camp and forced to work in factories to build Japanese weaponry, unload ships, and repair airfields.  The imprisoned soldiers received two meals a day of steamed rice, occasionally accompanied by fruit, soup, or meat.  To supplement their diet, prisoners were able to smuggle food and supplies hidden in their underwear into the camp during Japanese-approved trips to Cabanatuan. To prevent extra food, jewelry, diaries, and other valuables from being confiscated, items were hidden in clothing or latrines, or were buried before scheduled inspections. Prisoners collected food using a variety of methods including stealing, bribing guards, planting gardens, and killing animals which entered the camp such as mice, snakes, ducks, and stray dogs. The Filipino underground collected thousands of quinine tablets to smuggle into the camp to treat malaria, saving hundreds of lives. One group of Corregidor prisoners, before first entering the camp, had each hidden a piece of a radio under their clothing, to later be reassembled into a working device. When the Japanese had an American radio technician fix their radios, he stole parts. The prisoners thus had several radios to listen to newscasts on radio stations as far away as San Francisco, allowing the POWs to hear about the status of the war. A smuggled camera was used to document the camp's living conditions. Prisoners also constructed weapons and smuggled ammunition into the camp for the possibility of securing a handgun. Multiple escape attempts were made throughout the history of the prison camp, but the majority ended in failure. In one attempt, four soldiers were recaptured by the Japanese. The guards forced all prisoners to watch as the four soldiers were beaten, forced to dig their own graves and then executed. Shortly thereafter, the guards put up signs declaring that if other escape attempts were made, ten prisoners would be executed for every escapee. Prisoners' living quarters were then divided into groups of ten, which motivated the POWs to keep a close eye on others to prevent them from making escape attempts. The Japanese permitted the POWs to build septic systems and irrigation ditches throughout the prisoner side of the camp.  An onsite commissary was available to sell items such as bananas, eggs, coffee, notebooks, and cigarettes. Recreational activities allowed for baseball, horseshoes, and ping pong matches. In addition, a 3,000-book library was allowed (much of which was provided by the Red Cross), and films were shown occasionally.  A bulldog was kept by the prisoners, and served as a mascot for the camp. Each year around Christmas, the Japanese guards gave permission for the Red Cross to donate a small box to each of the prisoners, containing items such as corned beef, instant coffee, and tobacco. Prisoners were also able to send postcards to relatives, although they were censored by the guards. As American forces continued to approach Luzon, the Japanese Imperial High Command ordered that all able-bodied POWs be transported to Japan. From the Cabanatuan camp, over 1,600 soldiers were removed in October 1944, leaving over 500 sick, weak, or disabled POWs.  On January 6, 1945, all of the guards withdrew from the Cabanatuan camp, leaving the POWs alone. The guards had previously told prisoner leaders that they should not attempt to escape, or else they would be killed.  When the guards left, the prisoners heeded the threat, fearing that the Japanese were waiting near the camp and would use the attempted escape as an excuse to execute them all. Instead, the prisoners went to the guards' side of the camp and ransacked the Japanese buildings for supplies and large amounts of food. Prisoners were alone for several weeks, except when retreating Japanese forces would periodically stay in the camp. The soldiers mainly ignored the POWs, except to ask for food. Although aware of the consequences, the prisoners sent a small group outside the prison's gates to bring in two carabaos to slaughter. The meat from the animals, along with the food secured from the Japanese side of the camp, helped many of the POWs to regain their strength, weight, and stamina. In mid-January, a large group of Japanese troops entered the camp and returned the prisoners to their side of the camp. The prisoners, fueled by rumors, speculated that they would soon be executed by the Japanese.

Outcome and Historical Significance:

(Allied PoWs rescued)

The raid was considered successful—489 POWs were liberated, along with 33 civilians. The total included 492 Americans, 23 British, three Dutch, two Norwegians, one Canadian, and one Filipino. The rescue, along with the liberation of Camp O'Donnell the same day, allowed the prisoners to tell of the Bataan and Corregidor atrocities, which sparked a new wave of resolve for the war against Japan.  Prince gave a great deal of credit for the success of the raid to others: "Any success we had was due not only to our efforts but to the Alamo Scouts and Air Force. The pilots (Capt. Kenneth R. Schrieber and Lt. Bonnie B. Rucks) of the plane that flew so low over the camp were incredibly brave men."  Some of the Rangers and Scouts went on bond drive tours around the United States and also met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  In 1948, the United States Congress created legislation which provided $1 ($10.43 today) for each day the POWs had been held in a prisoner camp, including Cabanatuan. Two years later, Congress again approved an additional $1.50 per day (a combined total of $26.03 today).  Estimates of the Japanese soldiers killed during the assault ranged from 530 to 1,000.  The estimates include the 73 guards and approximately 150 traveling Japanese who stayed in the camp that night, as well as those killed by Pajota's men attempting to cross the Cabu River. Several Americans died during and after the raid. A prisoner weakened by illness died of a heart attack as a Ranger carried him from the barracks to the main gate.  The Ranger later recalled, "The excitement had been too much for him, I guess. It was really sad. He was only a hundred feet from the freedom he had not known for nearly three years." Another prisoner died of illness just as the group had reached Talavera. Although Mucci had ordered that an airstrip be built in a field next to Plateros so that a plane could evacuate Fisher to get medical attention, it was never dispatched, and he died the next day.  His last words were "Good luck on the way out." The other Ranger killed during the raid was Sweezy, who was struck in the back by two rounds from friendly fire. Both Fisher and Sweezy are buried at Manila National Cemetery. Twenty of Pajota's guerrillas were injured, as were two Scouts and two Rangers.

 Alamo Scouts After the Raid:

The American prisoners were quickly returned to the United States, most by plane. Those who were still sick or weakened remained at American hospitals to continue to recuperate. On February 11, 1945, 280 POWs left Leyte aboard the transport USS General A.E. Anderson bound for San Francisco via Hollandia, New Guinea. In an effort to counter the improved American morale, Japanese propaganda radio announcers broadcast to American soldiers that submarines, ships, and planes were hunting the General Anderson.  The threats proved to be a bluff, and the ship safely arrived in San Francisco Bay on March 8, 1945. News of the rescue was released to the public on February 2.  The feat was celebrated by MacArthur's soldiers, Allied correspondents, and the American public, as the raid had touched an emotional chord among Americans concerned about the fate of the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. Family members of the POWs were contacted by telegram to inform them of the rescue.  News of the raid was broadcast on numerous radio outlets and newspaper front pages.  The Rangers and POWs were interviewed to describe the conditions of the camp, as well as the events of the raid.  The enthusiasm over the raid was later overshadowed by other Pacific events, including the Battle for Iwo Jima and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The raid was soon followed by additional successful raids, such as the raid of Santo Tomas Civilian Internment Camp on February 3, the raid of Bilibid Prison on February 4,  and the raid at Los Baños on February 23.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_at_Cabanatuan

75: Wilhelm Gustloff

MV Wilhelm Gustloff

(Wilhelm Gustloff in 1939)

MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German military transport ship which was sunk on 30 January 1945 by Soviet submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea while evacuating German civilians, German officials, refugees from Prussia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia and Croatia and military personnel from Gotenhafen (Gdynia) as the Red Army advanced. By one estimate, 9,400 people died, which makes it the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking in history. 

Constructed as a cruise ship for the Nazi Kraft durch Freude (Strength Through Joy) organisation in 1937, she had been requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine (German navy) in 1939. She served as a hospital ship in 1939 and 1940. She was then assigned as a floating barracks for naval personnel in Gdynia (Gotenhafen) before being put into service to transport evacuees in 1945. 

Operation Hannibal – Evacuation:

Operation Hannibal was the naval evacuation of German troops and civilians as the Red Army advanced. The Wilhelm Gustloff's final voyage was to evacuate German refugees, military personnel, and technicians from Courland, East Prussia, and Danzig-West Prussia. Many had worked at advanced weapon bases in the Baltic from Gdynia/Gotenhafen to Kiel. The ship's complement and passenger lists cited 6,050 people on board, but these did not include many civilians who boarded the ship without being recorded in the official embarkation records. Heinz Schön, a German archivist and Gustloff survivor who extensively researched the sinking during the 1980s and 1990s, concluded that Wilhelm Gustloff was carrying a crew of 173 (naval armed forces auxiliaries), 918 officers, NCOs, and men of the 2 Unterseeboot-Lehrdivision, 373 female naval auxiliary helpers, 162 wounded soldiers, and 8,956 civilians, of which an estimated 5,000 were children, for a total of 10,582 passengers and crew. The passengers, besides civilians, included Gestapo personnel, members of the Organisation Todt, and Nazi officials with their families. The ship was overcrowded, and due to the temperature and humidity inside, many passengers defied orders not to remove their life jackets.  The ship left Danzig (Gdańsk) at 12:30 pm on 30 January 1945, accompanied by the passenger liner Hansa, also filled with civilians and military personnel, and two torpedo boats. Hansa and one torpedo boat developed mechanical problems and could not continue, leaving Wilhelm Gustloff with one torpedo boat escort, Löwe. The ship had four captains (Wilhelm Gustloff's captain, two merchant marine captains, and the captain of the U-Boat complement housed on the vessel) on board, and they disagreed on the best course of action to guard against submarine attacks. Against the advice of the military commander, Lieutenant Commander Wilhelm Zahn (a submariner who argued for a course in shallow waters close to shore and without lights), the Wilhelm Gustloff's captain Friedrich Petersen decided to head for deep water which was known to have been cleared of mines. When he was informed by a mysterious radio message of an oncoming German minesweeper convoy, he decided to activate his ship's red and green navigation lights so as to avoid a collision in the dark, making Wilhelm Gustloff easy to spot in the night.  As Wilhelm Gustloff had been fitted with anti-aircraft guns, and the Germans, in obedience to the rules of war, did not mark her as a hospital ship, no notification of her operating in a hospital capacity had been given and, as she was transporting military personnel, she did not have any protection as a hospital ship under international accords.

Sinking:

(Path of the ship)

The ship was soon sighted by the Soviet submarine S-13, under the command of Captain Alexander Marinesko. The submarine sensor on board the escorting torpedo boat had frozen, rendering it inoperable, as had Wilhelm Gustloff's anti-aircraft guns, leaving the vessels defenseless. Marinesko followed the ships to their starboard (seaward) side for two hours before making a daring move to surface his submarine and steer it around Wilhelm Gustloff's stern, to attack it from the port side closer to shore, from whence the attack would be less expected. At around 9 pm (CET), Marinesko ordered his crew to launch four torpedoes at Wilhelm Gustloff's port side, about 30 km (16 nmi; 19 mi) offshore, between Großendorf and Leba. The first was nicknamed "for the Motherland," the second "for Leningrad," the third "for the Soviet people", and the fourth, which got jammed in the torpedo tubes and had to be dismantled, "for Stalin." The three torpedoes which were fired successfully all struck Wilhelm Gustloff on her port side.  The first torpedo struck Wilhelm Gustloff's bow, causing the watertight doors to seal off the area which contained quarters where off-duty crew members were sleeping. The second torpedo hit the accommodations for the women's naval auxiliary, located in the ship's drained swimming pool, dislodging the pool tiles at high velocity, which caused heavy casualties; only three of the 373 quartered there survived. The third torpedo was a direct hit on the engine room located amidships, disabling all power and communications.  Reportedly, only nine lifeboats were able to be lowered; the rest had frozen in their davits and had to be broken free. About 20 minutes after the torpedoes' impact, Wilhelm Gustloff listed dramatically to port, so that the lifeboats lowered on the high starboard side crashed into the ship's tilting side, destroying many lifeboats and spilling their occupants across the ship's side.  The water temperature in the Baltic Sea at that time of year is usually around 4 °C (39 °F); however, this was a particularly cold night, with an air temperature of −18 to −10 °C (0 to 14 °F) and ice floes covering the surface. Many deaths were caused either directly by the torpedoes or by drowning in the onrushing water. Others were crushed in the initial stampede caused by panicked passengers on the stairs and decks. Many others jumped into the icy Baltic. The majority of those who perished succumbed to exposure in the freezing water.  Less than 40 minutes after being struck, Wilhelm Gustloff was lying on her side. She sank bow-first 10 minutes later, in 44 m (144 ft) of water.  German forces were able to rescue 996 of the survivors from the attack: the torpedo boat T36 rescued 564 people; the torpedo boat Löwe, 472; the minesweeper M387, 98; the minesweeper M375, 43; the minesweeper M341, 37; the steamer Göttingen, 28; the torpedo recovery boat (Torpedofangboot) TF19, 7; the freighter Gotenland, two; and the patrol boat (Vorpostenboot) V1703, one baby.[18]  All four captains on Wilhelm Gustloff survived her sinking, but an official naval inquiry was only started against Wilhelm Zahn. His degree of responsibility was never resolved, however, because of Nazi Germany's collapse in 1945.

Losses:

The figures from Heinz Schön's research make the loss in the sinking to be 9,343 total, including about 5,000 children. Schön's more recent research is backed up by estimates made by a different method. An Unsolved History episode that aired in March 2003, on the Discovery Channel, undertook a computer analysis of her sinking. Using maritime EXODUS software, it was estimated 9,600 people died out of more than 10,600 on board. This analysis considered the passenger density based on witness reports and a simulation of escape routes and survivability with the timeline of the sinking. 

Aftermath:

Many ships carrying civilians were sunk during the war by both the Allies and Axis Powers. However, based on the latest estimates of passenger numbers and those known to be saved, Wilhelm Gustloff remains by far the largest loss of life resulting from the sinking of one vessel in maritime history. Günter Grass said in an interview published by The New York Times in April 2003, "One of the many reasons I wrote Crabwalk was to take the subject away from the extreme Right... They said the tragedy of Wilhelm Gustloff was a war crime. It wasn't. It was terrible, but it was a result of war, a terrible result of war." About 1,000 German naval officers and men were aboard during, and died in, the sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff. The women on board the ship at the time of the sinking were inaccurately described by Soviet propaganda as "SS personnel from the German concentration camps". There were, however, 373 female naval auxiliaries amongst the passengers.  On the night of 9–10 February, just 11 days after the sinking, S-13 sank another German ship, General von Steuben, killing about 4,500 people.  Before sinking Wilhelm Gustloff, Alexander Marinesko was facing a court martial due to his problems with alcohol and for being caught in a brothel while he and his crew were off duty, so Marinesko was thus deemed "not suitable to be a hero" for his actions. Therefore, instead of gaining the title "Hero of the Soviet Union," he was awarded the lesser Order of the Red Banner of Military Valour. Although widely recognized as a brilliant commander, he was downgraded in rank to lieutenant and dishonorably discharged from the navy in October 1945.  In 1960, he was reinstated as captain third class and granted a full pension. In 1963, Marinesko was given the traditional ceremony due to a captain upon his successful return from a mission.  He died three weeks later from cancer. Marinesko was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.

Wreckage:

Noted as "Obstacle No. 73" on Polish navigation charts,[30] and classified as a war grave, Wilhelm Gustloff rests at 55°04′22″N 17°25′17″E, about 19 nmi (35 km; 22 mi) offshore, east of Łeba and west of Władysławowo (the former Leba and Großendorf respectively). It is one of the largest shipwrecks on the Baltic Sea floor and has been attracting much interest from treasure hunters searching for the lost Amber Room. In order to protect the property on board the war grave-wreck of Wilhelm Gustloff and to protect the environment, the Polish Maritime Office in Gdynia has forbidden diving within a 500 m (1,600 ft) radius of the wreck.  In 2006, a bell recovered from the wreck and subsequently used as a decoration in a Polish seafood restaurant was lent to the privately funded "Forced Paths" exhibition in Berlin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wilhelm_Gustloff

Wall Demolished

From the BBC:

“Peace wall demolished in Belfast”

One of the oldest peace walls in Belfast has been demolished. The barrier on Duncairn Gardens in the north of the city will be replaced with a smaller barrier. The barriers were erected to separate mainly unionist and mainly nationalist areas, to prevent attacks on residents living along the interfaces. Duncairn Gardens separates the New Lodge and Tiger's Bay areas and has historically been one of the worst flashpoints in the city. Work to reduce the 70 metre long and seven metre high security fence is expected to be completed by the start of the summer. Ciaran Shannon, from the Duncairn Community Partnership, welcomed the work on the wall, which he said was "probably one of the ugliest peace fences". "It has been there for a long time and is going to be completely transformed," he said. "It will make a huge difference to people living on the other side. It will hopefully help regenerate the area." Kate Clarke, from the partnership, said she was "delighted for residents". But she said there was "a lot of work to be done" before peace walls were entirely removed. She said they were "like a comfort blanket" for some residents. Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "The changes will reduce the impact of the existing interface fence on nearby residents, whilst continuing to provide appropriate security for local people.  "I welcome this as progress and commend the ongoing work across interfaces to reduce tensions, build relationships and remove physical barriers."

^ It seems a little premature to take down these Peace Walls especially since Brexit is happening this Friday and that will most likely cause political and social disruptions in Northern Ireland. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51300476

Flights Cancelled

From the DW:

“Germany's Lufthansa cancels China flights over coronavirus”

Lufthansa's decision follows similar moves by American Airlines, British Airways, and several Asian carriers. The virus originated in China, but cases have since been recorded in several other countries. German flagship airline Lufthansa announced on Wednesday that it would suspend all flights to and from mainland China until February 9, as the number of deaths from a coronavirus outbreak rose to 132. The disease has infected around 6,000 people so far, most of them in the central Chinese province of Hubei. Dozens of cases have also been reported in more than 10 other countries, including Germany. Lufthansa's decision also affects flights run by its subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Each of the carriers will fly to their destinations in China "one last time" to give passengers and crew "the opportunity to return to Germany, Switzerland and Austria," Lufthansa group said in a statement, adding that flights to Hong Kong would continue.  The company, one of Europe's largest airline groups, usually operates 73 flights to and from mainland China each week. British Airways earlier announced that it would also halt all flights to and from mainland China, while American Airlines said it would not fly to Shanghai and Beijing from February 9 to March 27. Several Asian airlines have also suspended flights, including Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Air India and Seoul Air. The rapid drop in business travel and tourism is expected to take a heavy toll on the world's second-biggest economy.

Four cases confirmed in Germany:   The EU's health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, confirmed Wednesday that eight people infected with the virus were reported in the bloc — four of them in Germany and four in France. Meanwhile, thousands of foreigners are believed to be among the millions of people stranded in Hubei's capital Wuhan, the outbreak's epicenter. Japan and the US were the first to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan on Wednesday, while German authorities said they were finalizing plans to fly their nationals home soon. Britain said it would bring home 200 citizens on a charter plane on Thursday. The European Commission said there were almost 600 EU citizens in China who had requested repatriation.  Health officials reported that all four infections in Germany were based in the southern state of Bavaria. The individuals were among a group of around 40 people from a car parts company who had come into contact with a Chinese colleague. The employee had traveled to Germany for a training session and only began experiencing coronavirus symptoms on the flight back to China. The coronavirus, which can spread from person to person via droplets from coughs and sneezes, has an incubation time of between one and 14 days. Extended incubation times can be a problem in stopping the spread of viruses, as people can be contagious before realizing they are ill.

^ It does make sense to cancel flights to/from China until the outbreak is contained. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-lufthansa-cancels-china-flights-over-coronavirus/a-52190196

Virus Outbreak

From the BBC:

“China coronavirus: A visual guide to the outbreak”

Experts say cases may not peak for another ten days  The new respiratory virus first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan has now infected almost 6,000 Chinese citizens. The virus has caused more than 130 deaths, spreading across China and to at least 16 other countries. The fast-spreading infection, which causes pneumonia-like symptoms, has prompted Chinese authorities to quarantine several major cities. 

1. Cases have been mainly in China:  Thousands of confirmed cases have been recorded across China, with central Hubei province the worst-affected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is warning the number of cases is likely to rise further, and Chinese authorities have introduced a number of measures to try to halt the virus's spread. Travel restrictions have been imposed on a number of cities in Hubei province and people have been asked to wear face masks in public places. The Chinese government has also closed a number of temples, the Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall. The growing list of restrictions came at the beginning of a week-long holiday celebrating Lunar New Year - one of the most important dates in the Chinese calendar - when millions of people travel home. The national new year holiday was extended by three days, in an attempt to contain the spread. The WHO has not yet classed the virus as an "international emergency", partly because of the low number of overseas cases, but has said it "may yet become one". "Make no mistake, this is, though, an emergency in China," said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

2. Hubei province has been particularly badly affected:  More than 3,500 cases have been recorded in Hubei province - the centre of the virus outbreak - which has also seen most of the deaths as a result of the virus. Restrictions on travel are affecting at least 20 million people across 10 cities - including the capital Wuhan, where the virus emerged. Its origins have been linked to illegally traded wildlife at the city's seafood market, which sells live animals including bats, rabbits and marmots. Wuhan - which has a population of 11 million people - has gone into lockdown, with authorities suspending flights and train services in and out of the city. Local officials said no-one from the city had left Wuhan in four days. "My university is checking every student's body temperature every day and are offering free masks. It also has its own hospital and ambulance," Chongthan Pepe Bifhowjit, an Indian student at the Wuhan University of Technology, told the BBC. Videos have been circulating on social media, reportedly taken by Wuhan residents, showing long queues at local hospitals. In a bid to tackle the increased demand for medical services, the authorities are building two makeshift hospitals, one with 1,000 beds and another with a capacity of 1,500 beds. State-owned news outlet China Global Television Network said the first could be ready by 3 February and the second by 5 February. More than 3,500 workers are involved in their construction.

3. There have been some cases elsewhere:  Outside China, more than 50 confirmed cases have been recorded in countries across the world from the US and Canada to France and Germany - but no other deaths have been reported. Other nations are investigating suspected cases. Many authorities have announced screening measures for passengers from China, including the major airport hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Taiwan has banned people arriving from Wuhan, and the US state department warned its nationals to exercise increased caution in China. An expert from the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC) has said it could take 10 more days for the outbreak to peak. Australia, Japan, the US and EU nations are repatriating citizens from Wuhan, and quarantine measures will be imposed for those who return. 

 4. The symptoms are respiratory:  Coronaviruses are common, and typically cause mild respiratory conditions, such as a cough or runny nose. But some are more serious - such as the deadly Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers).  This outbreak - known as novel coronavirus (nCoV) - is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. It seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and then, after a week, leads to shortness of breath. But in more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.  Most victims have been elderly people, suffering from other chronic diseases including Parkinson's and diabetes. Peter Piot, professor of global health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the "good news" was that data suggested the virus may have a lower mortality than Sars. There was also a diagnostic test and greater global sharing of information than previously, he said. "And that is essential because you cannot deal with a potential pandemic in one country alone." There is not yet a specific anti-viral treatment for the infection, so people with the virus are currently being treated for their symptoms.

5. You can do things to reduce your chances of catching it:  The WHO is advising people in affected areas to follow standard procedures to reduce the chance of catching the virus. They include hand and respiratory hygiene as well as safe food practices. People are advised to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections; wash hands regularly, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment; and avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals. Avoiding eating raw or undercooked animal products is also advised. Those with symptoms of coronavirus should practise "cough etiquette", including maintaining distance, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or the inside of an elbow, and washing hands. The WHO has said that while there is evidence of transmission between people in close contact, such as families or those in healthcare settings, there is not yet evidence of onward transmission.

6. If a case is suspected, there are processes to follow:  The Chinese government has classified the outbreak in the same category as the Sars epidemic.  This means people diagnosed with the virus in the country must be isolated and can be placed in quarantine. Within healthcare facilities, the WHO advises staff to implement enhanced standard infection prevention and control practices, especially in emergency departments. The WHO advises that patients should be assessed quickly and treated for the level of severity of the disease they have - mild, moderate, or severe. It also recommends immediately implementing infection prevention measures. These include staff wearing protective clothing and limiting patient movement around the hospital. In the UK, family doctors - GPs - are being advised to place patients suspected of having coronavirus in isolation and avoid physical examinations. Official guidance from Public Health England (PHE) says patients should remain in a room away from other patients and staff and be prevented from using communal toilets. The UK government's emergency committee, Cobra, has held a meeting to discuss the outbreak.

^ This virus is an international problem that every country needs to address so that it stops spreading, infecting and killing people. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105

DMV

We went to the DMV in the capital. When I went last year to renew my license and change to a REAL ID one the worst part was the wait (since they had changed everything so that those needing a regular a Driver's License waited with the drunks trying to get back their suspended license or those with court orders, etc..) This time we literally waited 6 minutes (they went back to the old system of separating the regular Driver's Licenses and everyone else.) But that is where the intelligence ended.

Apparently, despite what their website says you can't get a 5 year REAL ID Driver's License in this state if it is 6 months before your renewal date. You can get a REAL ID license valid up until your current renewal. On top of that they give you a cheapp-looking temporary license that can only be used to drive in the state (not to board planes or enter Federal buildings) and you get the permanent one within 45 days. Supposedly, they are fast-tracking this license and hopefully it will be here before he flies.

So instead of getting a 5 year REAL ID Driver's License my Dad got a temporary REAL ID License valid until September 2020 and is waiting on the permanent license (also valid only until September 2020) to come in the mail. He won't be in the States to get his 5 year regular License this September so will have to try and do it through the mail. 

After the DMV we went to the AAA travel store nearby and got great service and everything we needed. Too bad the DMV couldn't be run like AAA. This is the only state I have lived in where you can't do things online and even doing them in person doesn't match what their official website says.

Good Idea - Poor Practice

From the CBC:

"For Conservative candidates who aren't fully bilingual, running to be prime minister won't be easy”

It's 2020, and it seems we're in a place in Canadian politics again where the question of leadership is also a question of language. Should the leader of a federal party in Canada be required to speak both of Canada's official languages? Just how bilingual is bilingual enough? How does a candidate's facility in both languages affect the ability to win? Maybe we should be asking a different question: Why would anyone who doesn't speak both languages well even bother applying for the job? We're talking about this now, of course, because the Conservative Party of Canada is choosing a new leader in June. The three declared candidates running to be chosen leader (and eventually, they hope, prime minister) — Peter MacKay, Erin O'Toole and Marilyn Gladu — are all able to speak French with varying degrees of success. But we'd be hard-pressed to call any of them fluent. When MacKay launched his campaign this past weekend in Nova Scotia, he read his French lines off a Teleprompter. In spite of the visual aid, he still made grammatical errors and struggled with pronunciation. Good luck, Mr. MacKay His efforts were rewarded with a snarky front page in Le Journal de Quebec (the headline: "Good Luck Mister!"). MacKay took no questions in either official language, so it's hard to know how he'd handle answering them in a campaign setting. It's fair to say, though, that French does not come easily to this son of the Maritimes. When asked directly about his ability to speak French, MacKay told columnist John Ivison in the National Post that he knows he needs to improve, but his life since leaving federal politics in 2015 hasn't afforded him as many opportunities to speak French. O'Toole, meanwhile, launched his campaign on Monday with two videos. In the French version, O'Toole clearly is struggling with a strong accent and poor pronunciation.

Now, some of you are asking, "So what? Where does anyone get off criticizing a politician's language skills?" Like a lot of Canadians, I grew up in a unilingual home — but I've spent my entire life pursuing fluency in French. My home province of Manitoba gave me a few advantages the candidates may not share: a broad push toward French immersion, a strong Francophone community. But learning to be comfortable in a second language isn't something you do in childhood and then set aside. Every opportunity I had to immerse myself in the language, I took. Bilingualism has served me well. I still make mistakes, of course. (Listen in to Radio-Canada's Midi-Info with Michel C. Auger, who has to listen to my occasional flubs every second Friday of the month when I do a political panel.) But this isn't about me. It isn't even about the candidates themselves — who may indeed speak French competently enough to communicate directly with Canadian francophones across the country. It's not about the politicians. It's about the people they want to represent. In 2011, according to Statistics Canada, some 7.3 million Canadians cited French as their mother tongue; even more said they speak French at home. And in 2016, the agency reported that bilingualism had increased in most provinces and territories and had reached its highest proportion ever nationally: 17.9 per cent. The vast majority of French-speaking Canadians are, of course, living in Quebec, but there are strong pockets of francophones across the country. Canada declared French and English its official languages in 1969 — which means that every federal institution is required to offer services in both languages, if asked. A 2016 poll commissioned by the Official Languages Commission found that a vast majority of Canadians support official bilingualism — and a full 86 per cent of Canadians think the prime minister should be bilingual.

Language and elections

So that's the statistical argument: French is a fact of life in Canada, not just in Quebec, and Canadians expect their leaders to be fluent. But there are crass political factors at play as well. Quebec holds 78 federal seats. That's more than Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta combined. It's not impossible to form a majority government without Quebec: Stephen Harper managed it in 2011 with only five MPs from the province. But doing well in Quebec makes it a lot easier. Maybe that's not the point. Maybe we should expect our leaders to communicate well in both official languages because it's part of the job — not because it makes it easier to win and hold power. Choosing to represent people in public life should include working hard to understand them on their own terms, to recognize their importance as individuals and as members of a living culture. That's leadership.

Final point: there are roughly 90 different living Indigenous languages in Canada — three out of four of them are considered endangered. Last year, in an attempt to save at least some of them, the government passed the Indigenous Languages Act. The legislation doesn't give any Indigenous language official status, but it does allow for federal documents to be translated into Indigenous tongues and also launched a commissioner's office tasked with trying to protect some of these endangered languages. Think about that — ninety different languages, most of them fading away. Under the circumstances, asking our leaders to talk to us in just two languages doesn't seem unreasonable.

^ I have written about bilingualism (or the lack or it) in Canada many times before. I am a Canadian citizen. I can fluently speak and write in English and in French. I am just an ordinary citizen (not a politician or a Government worker) who believes that bilingualism in Canada will only work if every man, woman and child throughout the country learns and uses both official languages. Those whose first language is English should also be able to speak and write in French the same way that those whose first language is French should also be able to speak and write in English. It doesn’t matter if you live in Newfoundland, Alberta, British Columbia or Nunavut (from the East Coast to the West Coast and from the North to the South.) Canada has been officially bilingual for 51 years and yet while most Canadians support the idea of Bilingualism the majority of Canadians are not bilingual. It seems to be more of a question of liking something on paper, but not in practice. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mackay-otoole-conservative-leadership-french-bilingual-1.5442204

Empty Funerals

It's a sad state of things when so many ordinary people and politicians show so much sadness, support and grief for a person who made millions playing a game when there are Soldiers and Veterans being buried at empty funerals.

Bandit Adopted

From Sacramento Bee:

“Dog that uses a wheelchair struggled to find new home – until now, Georgia group says”

A paralyzed dog that struggled for years to find a home just landed the “perfect match,” Georgia officials say. Bandit is adjusting to his newest family after he was adopted and returned at least three times, Gwinnett County officials told WSB-TV and other news outlets last week. People who adopted Bandit meant well, but they thought his needs were too demanding, WXIA reports. The dog uses a wheelchair after heartworm treatment caused paralysis in his hind legs, according to the Gwinnett Jail Dogs program. Now, Darrell Rider is offering help from a unique perspective, WAGA reports. Rider, who also uses a wheelchair, felt a special connection to the pup, according to multiple news outlets. “If you look at Bandit, he’s me,” Rider told WXIA. “If you look at his paralysis — waist down — same thing I have.” After weighing the level of care the chow mix dog needed, the Rider family adopted him last week, according to Gwinnett Daily Post. “We’re not going into this blindfolded,” Darrell told the newspaper. “If we really felt like we couldn’t give him that final home and that support that he’s going to need, we wouldn’t be here today.” Photos show Bandit bonding with his new owner as he gets friendly pats on the head, according to the Facebook page for Gwinnett Jail Dogs. Bandit was in the program, which takes dogs from a shelter, assigns them to inmates and trains them. The facility is roughly 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The pet owner’s first name is spelled Darryl in at least one media report.

^ This is one of those stories that makes you feel sad and happy at the same time. You feel bad that the dog needs a wheelchair and that he wasn’t adopted for so long, but you also feel happy to hear that he was finally adopted. ^

https://news.yahoo.com/dog-uses-wheelchair-struggled home155659765.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=

Coronavirus

From the BBC:

“Coronavirus: Death toll rises to 81 as China extends holiday”

The number of people killed in China by the new coronavirus has risen to 81, with almost 3,000 confirmed ill. The national new year holiday has been extended by three days to Sunday, in an attempt to contain the spread. The number of deaths in Hubei rose from 56 to 76, with five deaths elsewhere. Wuhan is in lockdown and several other cities have imposed travel bans. At least 44 cases have been confirmed abroad, including in Thailand, the United States, and Australia.  There have been no deaths outside China. In Shanghai, the government has stopped businesses from returning to work until 10 February. The ban applies to all companies apart from utilities, medical firms, medical suppliers, and supermarkets. Meanwhile, the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is in Beijing to discuss the outbreak with the Chinese government and health experts. The BBC's Robin Brant in Shanghai says extending the main holiday of the year is a highly unusual move. But after the pre-new year travel surge, the prospect of half a billion people getting back on trains, planes and buses and criss-crossing the country again is the last thing the government wants, he adds.  On Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and centre of the outbreak.  Experts suspect many more people are infected, but actual figures are hard to ascertain due to a number of factors like some people being asymptomatic.  Prof Neil Ferguson, a public health expert at Imperial College, London, told the UK's Guardian newspaper his "best guess" put the number at 100,000 infected, while figures put together by the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong suggest the number was closer to 43,000. However, the University of Hong Kong research also suggested that - without public health intervention - tens of thousands more could be infected every day when the outbreak reaches its height. As a result of their projections, Gabriel Leung, the dean of the faculty of Medicine, was advising "substantial, draconian measures" to limit population mobility.  The coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory infection and there is no specific cure or vaccine.  Most of the deaths have been of elderly people or those with pre-existing respiratory problems.

What is happening in Wuhan? Travel from the city, home to 11 million people, has been severely restricted and non-essential vehicles have been banned from the roads.  At the Hubei border, workers are checking people's temperatures before allowing them into the province. The local government in Wuhan said no-one from the city had left China in the past four days. Some 4,096 tourists from Wuhan are still out of the country, while five million new year travellers left the city before the lockdown. More than half a million medical staff have joined the province's prevention, control and treatment operations, while two makeshift hospitals are being built. 

What is the situation in China? New year celebrations were scaled back and four major cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Tianjin - have banned long-distance buses. Schools and official institutions will remain closed for the rest of this week.  Beijing has closed the Forbidden City for tourists, as well as a section of the Great Wall. Both Disney parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai have closed. In Guangdong province, several cities have made face masks mandatory in public.  Hong Kong, which has eight confirmed cases, has declared a city-wide emergency, with schools closed until 17 February. Mongolia - which has yet to record a case of the virus - has closed its border with China. It has also closed schools until 2 March, and banned public events. Meanwhile, He Qinghua, a top official with China's National Health Commission, told reporters some areas still "lack determination in controlling the epidemic", according to the state-run newspaper Global Times. He said rural villages, in particular, were failing to deal with the crisis "in a timely manner". Over the weekend, Chinese officials warned the virus was able to spread during its incubation period, believed to be between one and 14 days, making it harder to contain the illness. 

What is the situation internationally? According to the World Health Organization and national authorities, there have been at least 45 confirmed cases outside China.

Eight cases: Thailand

Five: USA, Australia

Four: Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea

Three: France, Japan

Two: Vietnam

One: Nepal, Canada, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

In the UK, 73 people have been tested - but no-one has resulted to have contracted the virus. 

 Almost all had recently been to Wuhan or had been in close contact with someone who had.

Where did the virus emerge?   The virus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan.  Authorities have since temporarily banned the sale of all wildlife in China. The virus itself is a new, or "novel" coronavirus - a family that normally affects animals.

 'As long as we leave, they don't mind'  Police and officials in the impact zone in Hubei and Henan provinces are now very keen to move us on wherever we arrive. They don't seem to mind where we go - as long as we leave their towns. We explain that the world wants to see the important, tiring work they're doing to combat the virus. But they're not interested. It could be that they're worried that our presence might imply to some that their patch is not handling this emergency well enough. One police officer at the entrance to a small town in Henan said to me: "We don't have a problem here any more so there's no need for you to be here." He said this at a checking station as cars were being pulled up behind him. Medical staff covered head to toe in protective clothing were then screening every passenger. They also checked the inside of all vehicles. I'm not sure what they were looking for - but it certainly didn't look like business as usual.

What can people do to stay safe? The World Health Organization (WHO) advises its "standard recommendations" focusing on "hand and respiratory hygiene".  That essentially means washing hands or using disinfectants, and covering one's mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.  The advice also suggests avoiding contact with live animals in places where there have been coronavirus cases, and not to eat raw or uncooked animal products.

^ This virus needs to be better contained both within China and from people returning from China to stop even more people getting infected and dying. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51259649