#Interview
Families turn to the “Civilian Tracing Chain” in search of missing Anti-ELAB movement protesters
• Lack of trust in the police has led to crowdsourcing on social media communities when searching for missing loved ones
• Front-line photojournalists are at the start of the “Civilian Tracing Chain” as they take photos of arrested protesters on scene
• Social workers act as intermediaries between families of missing persons and lawyers who help the arrested
• Private detectives provide an alternate solution but often as a last resort
Full article :
https://telegra.ph/Families-turn-to-the-Civilian-Tracing-Chain-in-search-of-missing-Anti-ELAB-movement-protesters-04-30
#AntiELAB #MissingPersons #SelfHelp #Trust #FailedState
Families turn to the “Civilian Tracing Chain” in search of missing Anti-ELAB movement protesters
• Lack of trust in the police has led to crowdsourcing on social media communities when searching for missing loved ones
• Front-line photojournalists are at the start of the “Civilian Tracing Chain” as they take photos of arrested protesters on scene
• Social workers act as intermediaries between families of missing persons and lawyers who help the arrested
• Private detectives provide an alternate solution but often as a last resort
Full article :
https://telegra.ph/Families-turn-to-the-Civilian-Tracing-Chain-in-search-of-missing-Anti-ELAB-movement-protesters-04-30
#AntiELAB #MissingPersons #SelfHelp #Trust #FailedState
Telegraph
Families turn to the “Civilian Tracing Chain” in search of missing Anti-ELAB movement protesters
Lack of trust in the police has led to crowdsourcing on social media communities when searching for missing loved ones Front-line photojournalists are at the start of the “Civilian Tracing Chain” as they take photos of arrested protesters on scene Social…
#Newspaper #SelfHelp
How Hong Kong Did It:
With the government failing, the city’s citizens decided to organize their own coronavirus response
By Zeynep Tufekci, May 12, 2020
//The secret sauce of Hong Kong’s response was its people and, crucially, the movement that engulfed the city in 2019. Seared with the memory of SARS, and already mobilized for the past year against their unpopular government, the city’s citizens acted swiftly, collectively, and efficiently, in effect saving themselves. The organizational capacity and the civic infrastructure built by the protest movement played a central role in Hong Kong’s grassroots response.
1.
Many of the key information sources for Hong Kong protesters had been anonymous channels in the popular app Telegram and their own online forums. These anonymous formats protected the protesters from government repression but created a constant threat of misinformation, as someone could always pretend to be a protester or just be wrong or trolling.
Consequently, the protesters learned to become incessant fact-checkers, used to looking up multiple sources and critically analyzing information. Now they turned their powers to critical analysis to the coronavirus: criticizing their own officials, as well as the World Health Organization, which did not advise wearing masks or travel restrictions, and China, which they saw as covering up the initial epidemic (they were right on all counts).
2.
In response to the crisis, Hong Kongers spontaneously adopted near-universal masking on their own, defying the government’s ban on masks. When Lam oscillated between not wearing a mask in public and wearing one but incorrectly, they blasted her online and mocked her incorrect mask wearing.
In response to the mask shortage, the foot soldiers of the protest movement set up mask brigades—acquiring and distributing masks, especially to the poor and elderly, who may not be able to spend hours in lines. An “army of volunteers” also spread among the intensely crowded and often decrepit tenement buildings to install and keep filled hand-sanitizer dispensers.
3.
When the government refused at first to close the border with mainland China, more than 7,000 medical workers went on an unprecedented strike, demanding border closures and PPE for hospital workers. This strike was only possible because labor unions were formed during the protests.
Now they came in handy for collective action. Protesters also tried to speak symbolically and increase awareness: They advocated wearing white ribbons to show support for medical workers and made art that demonstrated proper hand-washing and correct mask wearing, and that decried the mask shortage.
4.
Hong Kong also teaches that people aren’t helpless, even when their government isn’t helpful.//
Source: The Atlantic #May12
Read the Full Article here
#WuhanPneumonia #FailedState #HongKongWay
How Hong Kong Did It:
With the government failing, the city’s citizens decided to organize their own coronavirus response
By Zeynep Tufekci, May 12, 2020
//The secret sauce of Hong Kong’s response was its people and, crucially, the movement that engulfed the city in 2019. Seared with the memory of SARS, and already mobilized for the past year against their unpopular government, the city’s citizens acted swiftly, collectively, and efficiently, in effect saving themselves. The organizational capacity and the civic infrastructure built by the protest movement played a central role in Hong Kong’s grassroots response.
1.
Many of the key information sources for Hong Kong protesters had been anonymous channels in the popular app Telegram and their own online forums. These anonymous formats protected the protesters from government repression but created a constant threat of misinformation, as someone could always pretend to be a protester or just be wrong or trolling.
Consequently, the protesters learned to become incessant fact-checkers, used to looking up multiple sources and critically analyzing information. Now they turned their powers to critical analysis to the coronavirus: criticizing their own officials, as well as the World Health Organization, which did not advise wearing masks or travel restrictions, and China, which they saw as covering up the initial epidemic (they were right on all counts).
2.
In response to the crisis, Hong Kongers spontaneously adopted near-universal masking on their own, defying the government’s ban on masks. When Lam oscillated between not wearing a mask in public and wearing one but incorrectly, they blasted her online and mocked her incorrect mask wearing.
In response to the mask shortage, the foot soldiers of the protest movement set up mask brigades—acquiring and distributing masks, especially to the poor and elderly, who may not be able to spend hours in lines. An “army of volunteers” also spread among the intensely crowded and often decrepit tenement buildings to install and keep filled hand-sanitizer dispensers.
3.
When the government refused at first to close the border with mainland China, more than 7,000 medical workers went on an unprecedented strike, demanding border closures and PPE for hospital workers. This strike was only possible because labor unions were formed during the protests.
Now they came in handy for collective action. Protesters also tried to speak symbolically and increase awareness: They advocated wearing white ribbons to show support for medical workers and made art that demonstrated proper hand-washing and correct mask wearing, and that decried the mask shortage.
4.
Hong Kong also teaches that people aren’t helpless, even when their government isn’t helpful.//
Source: The Atlantic #May12
Read the Full Article here
#WuhanPneumonia #FailedState #HongKongWay
The Atlantic
How Hong Kong Did It
With the government flailing, the city’s citizens decided to organize their own coronavirus response.
#SelfHelp
Civilian compares ill-managed Owners’ Incorporation to worsening public administration in Hong Kong since 1997
On March 31, 2020, riot police barged into Glorious Garden in Tuen Mun, intercepted and arrested at least 4 people. During the operation, police deployed pepper-spray and raised the blue warning flag, ordering onlooking residents to leave.
Distressed residents attempted to ask Owners’ Incorporation and Management office of the housing estate for an explanation, only to find a long list of “bad debts” on the financial records of the Incorporation.
Contesting candidate, Kwan Siu-kee confessed that he used to treat Glorious Garden as merely a premise for him to stay in before and after work, never paying real attention to affairs concerning building management of the housing estate. Kwan paused and remarked, “Just like a reflection of what’s been ongoing in Hong Kong, if my generation were doing more before the Handover, Hong Kong wouldn't be suffering like this.”
Source: InMedia #May14
Civilian compares ill-managed Owners’ Incorporation to worsening public administration in Hong Kong since 1997
On March 31, 2020, riot police barged into Glorious Garden in Tuen Mun, intercepted and arrested at least 4 people. During the operation, police deployed pepper-spray and raised the blue warning flag, ordering onlooking residents to leave.
Distressed residents attempted to ask Owners’ Incorporation and Management office of the housing estate for an explanation, only to find a long list of “bad debts” on the financial records of the Incorporation.
Contesting candidate, Kwan Siu-kee confessed that he used to treat Glorious Garden as merely a premise for him to stay in before and after work, never paying real attention to affairs concerning building management of the housing estate. Kwan paused and remarked, “Just like a reflection of what’s been ongoing in Hong Kong, if my generation were doing more before the Handover, Hong Kong wouldn't be suffering like this.”
Source: InMedia #May14
#OpinionArticle
Carrie Lam administration scorning the elected councils will be not be forgotten by Hong Kong citizens
(12 May) Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) Carrie Lam, won the CE election with the Election Committee members only represent around 0.03 percent of the population, was interviewed by Takunpao, a Chinese state-owned and controlled media, and accused the newly elected district councils of having no contribution after being in office term for 6 months, and supported the government officials to dismiss or leave the meetings to boycott the councils. Coincidentally, just one day before this article was published, Casper Tsui Ying Wai, the newly appointed leader or the Home Affairs Bureau, said “The District council is a playground”, and as long as everybody plays by the rule, it will be great fun. The head of the administrative government, publicly disregarded the council, disrespect and challenged the citizen-empowered councillors. This is to pour scorn on the councils, insult the dignity of the councillors, and to eradicate the society’s effort in the success of fighting the virus.
//From January 2020 until today, the Central and Western District council along with other councillors, have discussed and had over 70 discussion papers. And among the discussions, many were about livelihood of the citizens,
//other district councils, under the lack of competence of the government in combatting virus, deployed power and resources, to procure medical supplies, such as face masks, hand sanitisers, bleach, etc.
//Hong Kong government suppressed the council by refusing to provide any venue and secretarial service, and upheld the power under District Councils Ordinance but the council organised meetings on discussion anti-pandemic measures.
//The success of the anti-pandamic measures, was attributed to the civil actions and contributions. She took all the pride of success, and obliviated her inaction
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Carrie-Lam-administration-scorning-the-elected-councils-will-be-not-be-forgotten-by-Hong-Kong-citizens-05-18
Source: Stand News
#DistrictCouncillor #Eipdemic #SelfHelp
Carrie Lam administration scorning the elected councils will be not be forgotten by Hong Kong citizens
(12 May) Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) Carrie Lam, won the CE election with the Election Committee members only represent around 0.03 percent of the population, was interviewed by Takunpao, a Chinese state-owned and controlled media, and accused the newly elected district councils of having no contribution after being in office term for 6 months, and supported the government officials to dismiss or leave the meetings to boycott the councils. Coincidentally, just one day before this article was published, Casper Tsui Ying Wai, the newly appointed leader or the Home Affairs Bureau, said “The District council is a playground”, and as long as everybody plays by the rule, it will be great fun. The head of the administrative government, publicly disregarded the council, disrespect and challenged the citizen-empowered councillors. This is to pour scorn on the councils, insult the dignity of the councillors, and to eradicate the society’s effort in the success of fighting the virus.
//From January 2020 until today, the Central and Western District council along with other councillors, have discussed and had over 70 discussion papers. And among the discussions, many were about livelihood of the citizens,
//other district councils, under the lack of competence of the government in combatting virus, deployed power and resources, to procure medical supplies, such as face masks, hand sanitisers, bleach, etc.
//Hong Kong government suppressed the council by refusing to provide any venue and secretarial service, and upheld the power under District Councils Ordinance but the council organised meetings on discussion anti-pandemic measures.
//The success of the anti-pandamic measures, was attributed to the civil actions and contributions. She took all the pride of success, and obliviated her inaction
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Carrie-Lam-administration-scorning-the-elected-councils-will-be-not-be-forgotten-by-Hong-Kong-citizens-05-18
Source: Stand News
#DistrictCouncillor #Eipdemic #SelfHelp
Telegraph
Carrie Lam administration scorning the elected councils will be not be forgotten by Hong Kong citizens
(12 May) Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) Carrie Lam, won the CE election with the Election Committee members only represent around 0.03 percent of the population, was interviewed by Takunpao, a Chinese state-owned and controlled media, and accused the newly…
A Hongkonger’s Voice - Universal Masking
A youtube video posted on 12 May explains the importance of wearing masks to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. Despite having one of the highest population densities in the world, Hong Kong has had relatively few infectious cases because people learned the importance of wearing masks during SARS in 2003.
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung as a key researcher of the SARS coronavirus, stated that wearing masks would prevent the spread of disease, whether symptoms were present or not. "Those who are susceptible ... would protect themselves from getting infected." He stressed its importance in urban areas where social distancing can be challenging. "Even in less crowded places ... a surgical mask can help and remember that wearing a mask itself is a symbol of civility in Hong Kong. When you wear a mask, people think that you are very responsible, very conscientious."
Dr Fan Ning, former president of Medecins Sans Frontieres HK and current chairman of Health in Action said, "When I run out of surgical mask, I would wear cloth mask because it still protects against the ... transmission of diseases."
The template for the cloth HKMask created by Dr K. Kwong can be found at this website: http://diymask.site
Dr Kwong examined easily accessible materials that can be used as a filter in his double cloth cotton mask. Before choosing a filter, it is important to know the material's filtration efficiency and PD flow rate. The former specifies effectiveness in filtering out particles; the latter specifies breathability. Dr Kwong says 70% filtration efficiency is sufficient for general use.
Recommendations: Use a new filter every time. Make sure it fills up the mask so the air you breathe passes through the filter. The mask should cover your nose and mouth with the mask fitted snuggly. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after wearing the mask.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Watch
https://youtu.be/qinC8-vKn1M
#YuenKwokyung #FanNing #ClothMask #UniversalMasking #KKwong #SelfHelp #Hongkongers
A youtube video posted on 12 May explains the importance of wearing masks to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. Despite having one of the highest population densities in the world, Hong Kong has had relatively few infectious cases because people learned the importance of wearing masks during SARS in 2003.
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung as a key researcher of the SARS coronavirus, stated that wearing masks would prevent the spread of disease, whether symptoms were present or not. "Those who are susceptible ... would protect themselves from getting infected." He stressed its importance in urban areas where social distancing can be challenging. "Even in less crowded places ... a surgical mask can help and remember that wearing a mask itself is a symbol of civility in Hong Kong. When you wear a mask, people think that you are very responsible, very conscientious."
Dr Fan Ning, former president of Medecins Sans Frontieres HK and current chairman of Health in Action said, "When I run out of surgical mask, I would wear cloth mask because it still protects against the ... transmission of diseases."
The template for the cloth HKMask created by Dr K. Kwong can be found at this website: http://diymask.site
Dr Kwong examined easily accessible materials that can be used as a filter in his double cloth cotton mask. Before choosing a filter, it is important to know the material's filtration efficiency and PD flow rate. The former specifies effectiveness in filtering out particles; the latter specifies breathability. Dr Kwong says 70% filtration efficiency is sufficient for general use.
Recommendations: Use a new filter every time. Make sure it fills up the mask so the air you breathe passes through the filter. The mask should cover your nose and mouth with the mask fitted snuggly. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after wearing the mask.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Watch
https://youtu.be/qinC8-vKn1M
#YuenKwokyung #FanNing #ClothMask #UniversalMasking #KKwong #SelfHelp #Hongkongers
YouTube
A Hongkonger’s Voice on Coronavirus #UniversalMasking
Hong Kong has learned from the 2003 SARS coronavirus that, MASKS HELP. Even cloth masks are proven to be good protection. The HK Mask, created by a Hong Kong chemist Dr. K Kwong, was lab tested on its filtration efficiency at MPPS (0.3 micron particle size)…
How Hongkongers fight coronavirus on their own
Given Carrie Lam and Her Government have again and again shown a high degree of incompetence, Hongkongers have trusted the puppets no more, especially in this #epidemic time.
Hong Kong citizens have organized their own #coronavirus countermeasures since January 2020, when the mysterious viral pneumonia was circulating in Wuhan. Hongkongers initiated to wear #facemasks when they went to public places, and they paid particular attention to personal hygiene. Meanwhile, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's Chief Executive handpicked by Beijing, was staying in Switzerland without a sense of crisis.
Although more than 7,000 medical workers staged an unprecedented strike, Carrie Lam dragged her feet in closing the city’s borders, and never fully closed down the land border with Mainland China -- the most hazardous source of coronavirus.
Furthermore, Lam wavered on facemasks, and even ordered civil servants not to wear them. Meanwhile, public and private hospitals were facing shortage of personal protective equipment. The incompetent government also ignored the empty shelves in stores and shortage of crucial supplies such as rice, noodles, and toilet rolls.
In response, Hongkongers created their own websites to track local information of COVID-19, including the resources of protective equipment and track cases of COVID-19. They get used to looking up instant notification and critically analyzing information through anonymous channels in Telegram, which had been initially used to protect human rights activists from government repression.
For the shortage of facemasks, an “army of volunteers” spread among the intensely crowded and often decrepit tenement buildings to install and keep filled hand-sanitizer dispensers.
Realtime digital maps were not just confined to track police blockades and clashes, they were also used to keep track of outbreak locations and hand-sanitizer distribution points. Moreover, there were volunteers sanitizing subdivided flats with affordable UVC lights.
Lam’s government eventually responded, but it was always a step behind the people.
The Government coped with the epidemic in their way, for example, setting up quarantine centers in dense neighborhoods without public consultation, or even worse, against public opinions.
Hongkongers' self help was not in vain. In early February, the financial outlet Bloomberg ran an opinion piece that compared Hong Kong to a “failed state”. And yet there is no unchecked, devastating COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong. Hongkongers, on their own, beat back the original wave, and also beat back a second resurgence due to imported cases.
This success should be attributed to the self-disciplined Hongkongers, who seared with the memory of SARS in 2003 and evolved into a united group during the movement in 2019. Hongkongers act swiftly, collectively, and efficiently. Besides, thanks partly to its history of fighting epidemics, Hong Kong has some of the world’s most prominent experts in infectious diseases.
Now that life returns to normal in Hong Kong, it also means that Hongkongers have to return to the life of protesting: fighting for the release of pan-democracy protesters, and fighting against the bad popo and oppressive legislation such as the "Article 23 Enactment".
The road ahead is certainly challenging, #Hongkongers know that, but they will not yield.
Further reading:
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/how-hong-kong-beating-coronavirus/611524/
#Coronavirus #SelfHelp #Hongkongers
Given Carrie Lam and Her Government have again and again shown a high degree of incompetence, Hongkongers have trusted the puppets no more, especially in this #epidemic time.
Hong Kong citizens have organized their own #coronavirus countermeasures since January 2020, when the mysterious viral pneumonia was circulating in Wuhan. Hongkongers initiated to wear #facemasks when they went to public places, and they paid particular attention to personal hygiene. Meanwhile, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's Chief Executive handpicked by Beijing, was staying in Switzerland without a sense of crisis.
Although more than 7,000 medical workers staged an unprecedented strike, Carrie Lam dragged her feet in closing the city’s borders, and never fully closed down the land border with Mainland China -- the most hazardous source of coronavirus.
Furthermore, Lam wavered on facemasks, and even ordered civil servants not to wear them. Meanwhile, public and private hospitals were facing shortage of personal protective equipment. The incompetent government also ignored the empty shelves in stores and shortage of crucial supplies such as rice, noodles, and toilet rolls.
In response, Hongkongers created their own websites to track local information of COVID-19, including the resources of protective equipment and track cases of COVID-19. They get used to looking up instant notification and critically analyzing information through anonymous channels in Telegram, which had been initially used to protect human rights activists from government repression.
For the shortage of facemasks, an “army of volunteers” spread among the intensely crowded and often decrepit tenement buildings to install and keep filled hand-sanitizer dispensers.
Realtime digital maps were not just confined to track police blockades and clashes, they were also used to keep track of outbreak locations and hand-sanitizer distribution points. Moreover, there were volunteers sanitizing subdivided flats with affordable UVC lights.
Lam’s government eventually responded, but it was always a step behind the people.
The Government coped with the epidemic in their way, for example, setting up quarantine centers in dense neighborhoods without public consultation, or even worse, against public opinions.
Hongkongers' self help was not in vain. In early February, the financial outlet Bloomberg ran an opinion piece that compared Hong Kong to a “failed state”. And yet there is no unchecked, devastating COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong. Hongkongers, on their own, beat back the original wave, and also beat back a second resurgence due to imported cases.
This success should be attributed to the self-disciplined Hongkongers, who seared with the memory of SARS in 2003 and evolved into a united group during the movement in 2019. Hongkongers act swiftly, collectively, and efficiently. Besides, thanks partly to its history of fighting epidemics, Hong Kong has some of the world’s most prominent experts in infectious diseases.
Now that life returns to normal in Hong Kong, it also means that Hongkongers have to return to the life of protesting: fighting for the release of pan-democracy protesters, and fighting against the bad popo and oppressive legislation such as the "Article 23 Enactment".
The road ahead is certainly challenging, #Hongkongers know that, but they will not yield.
Further reading:
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/how-hong-kong-beating-coronavirus/611524/
#Coronavirus #SelfHelp #Hongkongers
The Atlantic
How Hong Kong Did It
With the government flailing, the city’s citizens decided to organize their own coronavirus response.
#YellowEconomy #Agape
Yellow Social Enterprise Restaurant Help Three Generations By Cooking Meals for Seniors and Hiring Protesters
"In the beginning, I wanted to help the elderly. Now we help the young people as an extra," Roy said.
As the owner of Agape Restaurant in Ngau Tau Kok, Roy recounted that his original aim was to provide the elderly in nursing homes with catered meals and to channel 15% of their earnings to help the elderly.
Since the pro-democracy protests started last year, Roy saw many young people struggling in difficulties. He decided to lend a helping hand. "Nothing to eat? Alright! I'll set up meal tickets; Abandoned by your family? I hear you! Come work with us."
At the moment, Roy has employed over 40 staff in the resraurant and has a plan to open a second diner in a different districts. Roy hired not only protesters, but also government supporters so that they can get to know more about different opinion.
Source: InMedia #May16
#Solidarity #SelfHelp #SocialEnterprise
Yellow Social Enterprise Restaurant Help Three Generations By Cooking Meals for Seniors and Hiring Protesters
"In the beginning, I wanted to help the elderly. Now we help the young people as an extra," Roy said.
As the owner of Agape Restaurant in Ngau Tau Kok, Roy recounted that his original aim was to provide the elderly in nursing homes with catered meals and to channel 15% of their earnings to help the elderly.
Since the pro-democracy protests started last year, Roy saw many young people struggling in difficulties. He decided to lend a helping hand. "Nothing to eat? Alright! I'll set up meal tickets; Abandoned by your family? I hear you! Come work with us."
At the moment, Roy has employed over 40 staff in the resraurant and has a plan to open a second diner in a different districts. Roy hired not only protesters, but also government supporters so that they can get to know more about different opinion.
Source: InMedia #May16
#Solidarity #SelfHelp #SocialEnterprise
#CoronavirusPandemic #SelfHelp
Honesty is a key to Vietnam's coronavirus success
Vietnam has a long border with #China spanning more than 1400 km and a large population of over 95 million, yet it has only recorded some 320 cases of coronavirus and zero deaths, according to the official figures as of mid-May. The last local cases were reported more than a month ago, suggesting Vietnam is now free of community transmission.
While #Vietnam is an authoritarian, one-party state where the freedom of speech and information is limited, most healthcare experts and diplomats believe the official statistics is trustworthy. Funeral homes interviewed by Reuters has also seen no surge in deaths.
Contrary to the alleged cover-up in China in the early days of the epidemic, Vietnamese authorities proactively disseminated information via various platforms at the very beginning. These include regular text messages to all phone users and a creative song called "Ghen CĂ´ Vy" to promote personal hygiene, which has gone viral in Vietnam and beyond. Their transparent response during this crisis has helped unify the public and eventually spared Vietnamese a high death toll.
Honesty in the handling of this epidemic is all the more important to regain public trust in light of the public criticism of the Vietnamese government in recent years. The authorities have been blamed in 2016 for covering up the marine disaster caused by chemical spill. They have also faced protests due to public concerns over China's influence in the special economic zones.
The Chinese authorities, on the other hand, have not learnt from the SARS outbreak of 2003. They have chosen to put politics above human lives by cracking down on whistleblowers in December and January. Critics suggest that serious measures to contain the virus had been delayed by a few weeks because of that.
Sources:
BBC, 15 May
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52628283
ABC, 13 May
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/coronavirus-vietnam-no-deaths-success-in-south-east-asia/12237314
The Guardian, 1 May
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/01/testing-vietnam-contained-coronavirus
Reuters, 29 Apr
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vietnam-fight-insi/after-aggressive-mass-testing-vietnam-says-it-contains-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN22B34H
Foreign Policy, 15 Apr
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/15/coronavirus-vietnam-communist-party-hanoi/
Song "Ghen CĂ´ Vy", official English version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGoodWEtV8c
#Coronavirus
Honesty is a key to Vietnam's coronavirus success
Vietnam has a long border with #China spanning more than 1400 km and a large population of over 95 million, yet it has only recorded some 320 cases of coronavirus and zero deaths, according to the official figures as of mid-May. The last local cases were reported more than a month ago, suggesting Vietnam is now free of community transmission.
While #Vietnam is an authoritarian, one-party state where the freedom of speech and information is limited, most healthcare experts and diplomats believe the official statistics is trustworthy. Funeral homes interviewed by Reuters has also seen no surge in deaths.
Contrary to the alleged cover-up in China in the early days of the epidemic, Vietnamese authorities proactively disseminated information via various platforms at the very beginning. These include regular text messages to all phone users and a creative song called "Ghen CĂ´ Vy" to promote personal hygiene, which has gone viral in Vietnam and beyond. Their transparent response during this crisis has helped unify the public and eventually spared Vietnamese a high death toll.
Honesty in the handling of this epidemic is all the more important to regain public trust in light of the public criticism of the Vietnamese government in recent years. The authorities have been blamed in 2016 for covering up the marine disaster caused by chemical spill. They have also faced protests due to public concerns over China's influence in the special economic zones.
The Chinese authorities, on the other hand, have not learnt from the SARS outbreak of 2003. They have chosen to put politics above human lives by cracking down on whistleblowers in December and January. Critics suggest that serious measures to contain the virus had been delayed by a few weeks because of that.
Sources:
BBC, 15 May
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52628283
ABC, 13 May
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/coronavirus-vietnam-no-deaths-success-in-south-east-asia/12237314
The Guardian, 1 May
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/01/testing-vietnam-contained-coronavirus
Reuters, 29 Apr
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vietnam-fight-insi/after-aggressive-mass-testing-vietnam-says-it-contains-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN22B34H
Foreign Policy, 15 Apr
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/15/coronavirus-vietnam-communist-party-hanoi/
Song "Ghen CĂ´ Vy", official English version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGoodWEtV8c
#Coronavirus
BBC News
Coronavirus: How 'overreaction' made Vietnam a virus success
Vietnam chose to prevent rather than fight Covid-19, a strategy which means it has had no virus deaths.
#NetizensVoice
Hongkongers have evolved through the past year
The boy holding the tailgate sign at the end of the line was a university student, reporters found him when the queue started to shorten at 23:00, pointing all the live camera at him, while he bashfully held up a handwritten card to ask the reporters not to film his appearance. The reporters came up to ask for his thought and the time when he started tailgating, he said that he arrived at 17:00 and started to be “Mr Tailgating” as he found the situation a bit messy, instructing people where to line up for paying their respects from 18:00 to 23:00. When Siu Wan (a journalist) asked for his thought on the movement, he suddenly stood up straight and said, “I think we don’t need to wait for people to start activities online, if we want to participate in any activity, just do it.” (main idea)
I was more interested in the origin of his paper, he chuckled and said, “It’s just lecture notes.” Oh, so he’s a student of Kuo Way. I bet this page of lecture notes from mechanical engineering would not know that it had not only transferred knowledge, but become the guiding light of tens of thousands of Hongkongers tonight.
It’s all thanks to the (government’s) strong suppression on all the (activity) organizations last year. “No cross (with cross being the chill to the bones in the Chinese version of this saying), no crown (with crown being the civic maturity of Hong Kong)”, and last year was a Siberian chill, training Hong Kong to become an absolutely mature civil society which is astonishingly neat. A spontaneous memorial with tens of thousands of people paying their respects has only overflown one trash can, and there wasn’t even a piece of paper bigger than a fingernail on the ground, which is a huge improvement from the Occupy Movement in 2014.
When I talked to other reporters today, we all had the feeling that our comrades were not only back in place tonight, but also evolved since last time. But as the citizens have matured, the regime keep shrinking the room allowed for civic maturity, while RTHK, Foo Tak Building and Hong Kong Alliance are going to be broken down one by one. While the civic energy can no longer be pressed, how will this Summer of Freedom 2.0 go on?
I am worried.
PS: Listening to “Sing Hallelujah To The Lord” again makes me emotional as it feels like a lifetime ago, as I haven’t been listening to it for a year. Before the National Security Law, we probably all need to sing hallelujah to the lord to ask God to keep us safe. Amen.
#NotAChristian
#ButILoveRealChristians
#HeavenHasReservedASeatForThoseWhoShouldGo
#HongkongersRunHongKongWell
#NoNeedToBotherYou
Source: Facebook
Further reading:
The end of the Queue was at Mid-levels
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22554
#SingHallelujahToTheLord #SelfHelp #CivicMaturity #Remembrance #15June #YellowRainCoatman #MarcoLeung
Hongkongers have evolved through the past year
The boy holding the tailgate sign at the end of the line was a university student, reporters found him when the queue started to shorten at 23:00, pointing all the live camera at him, while he bashfully held up a handwritten card to ask the reporters not to film his appearance. The reporters came up to ask for his thought and the time when he started tailgating, he said that he arrived at 17:00 and started to be “Mr Tailgating” as he found the situation a bit messy, instructing people where to line up for paying their respects from 18:00 to 23:00. When Siu Wan (a journalist) asked for his thought on the movement, he suddenly stood up straight and said, “I think we don’t need to wait for people to start activities online, if we want to participate in any activity, just do it.” (main idea)
I was more interested in the origin of his paper, he chuckled and said, “It’s just lecture notes.” Oh, so he’s a student of Kuo Way. I bet this page of lecture notes from mechanical engineering would not know that it had not only transferred knowledge, but become the guiding light of tens of thousands of Hongkongers tonight.
It’s all thanks to the (government’s) strong suppression on all the (activity) organizations last year. “No cross (with cross being the chill to the bones in the Chinese version of this saying), no crown (with crown being the civic maturity of Hong Kong)”, and last year was a Siberian chill, training Hong Kong to become an absolutely mature civil society which is astonishingly neat. A spontaneous memorial with tens of thousands of people paying their respects has only overflown one trash can, and there wasn’t even a piece of paper bigger than a fingernail on the ground, which is a huge improvement from the Occupy Movement in 2014.
When I talked to other reporters today, we all had the feeling that our comrades were not only back in place tonight, but also evolved since last time. But as the citizens have matured, the regime keep shrinking the room allowed for civic maturity, while RTHK, Foo Tak Building and Hong Kong Alliance are going to be broken down one by one. While the civic energy can no longer be pressed, how will this Summer of Freedom 2.0 go on?
I am worried.
PS: Listening to “Sing Hallelujah To The Lord” again makes me emotional as it feels like a lifetime ago, as I haven’t been listening to it for a year. Before the National Security Law, we probably all need to sing hallelujah to the lord to ask God to keep us safe. Amen.
#NotAChristian
#ButILoveRealChristians
#HeavenHasReservedASeatForThoseWhoShouldGo
#HongkongersRunHongKongWell
#NoNeedToBotherYou
Source: Facebook
Further reading:
The end of the Queue was at Mid-levels
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22554
#SingHallelujahToTheLord #SelfHelp #CivicMaturity #Remembrance #15June #YellowRainCoatman #MarcoLeung
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Remembrance #15June
The end of the Queue was at Mid-levels
This video shows a long queue over 2 kilometers from Ginza Plaza to Mid-levels formed orderly and peacefully by citizens to pay tribute to protest martyr Marco Leung.
Marco Leung Ling-kit fell…
The end of the Queue was at Mid-levels
This video shows a long queue over 2 kilometers from Ginza Plaza to Mid-levels formed orderly and peacefully by citizens to pay tribute to protest martyr Marco Leung.
Marco Leung Ling-kit fell…
#Survey #Epidemic
What do Hongkongers think..?
“It is believed that the recent epidemic outbreak is mainly caused by the government's failure in immigration quarantine policy.” How much do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Diagram:
64% Agree(yellow); 15% Half-and-half(lime); 19% Disagree(pine) I ; 2% Don’t know(turquoise)
#HongKongPublicOpinionResearchInstitute
#WeHongkongers
Source: Facebook
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#FailedState #SelfHelp
What do Hongkongers think..?
“It is believed that the recent epidemic outbreak is mainly caused by the government's failure in immigration quarantine policy.” How much do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Diagram:
64% Agree(yellow); 15% Half-and-half(lime); 19% Disagree(pine) I ; 2% Don’t know(turquoise)
#HongKongPublicOpinionResearchInstitute
#WeHongkongers
Source: Facebook
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#FailedState #SelfHelp