Those were the Days my Friends by UteBigSmile
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https://www.tageblatt.lu/headlines/sars-cov-2-das-kind-im-brunnen-und-wie-es-so-weit-kommen-konnte/?fbclid=IwAR0kIEwMNavnRx7EHqQFt5JY77eI6IDMg1lu3NIKkionQaieXedNdN_19vw
March 2020. State of emergency. Almost every day the government now steps in front of the cameras and microphones to keep the population informed about the dramatic situation regarding the coronavirus. And to proclaim, like a prayer wheel, how painful but important it is for us all to comply with the prescribed measures. Highest activity - now, all of a sudden. For up to three months the country is expected to go into emergency mode.
The facts are clear: what began at the beginning of winter in a market in Wuhan, China, has developed into a genuine pandemic. For a long time, politics, both here and in neighbouring countries, sounded quite different: the "possible" further spread of the novel corona virus must be countered "with calm and deliberation". Tenor: "We have this under control, we are well prepared for emergencies". By mid-February at the latest, every halfway informed and capable person could actually imagine what was still to come. And when the whole thing began to boil alarmingly in northern Italy, they started to think about their own protection strategy for day X. Without any political guidance.
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The bottom line is that both humans (not every individual, but the herd animal, the individual stupid, so to speak) and the political caste have been unaware of the consequences - both health wise and economically - for far too long. With all understanding for the nervous efforts that Beg, Macron and many others are now making, with all understanding that now, when the child has fallen into the well, we all have to spoon out the soup in solidarity: It was overslept!
Italy, China and the "Partita zero"
Let's start from the beginning again: In the north of Italy, tens of thousands of Chinese work for dumping wages in shamefully hidden textile studios, so-called sweatshops, which also supply expensive brands - keyword "Made in Italy". Sounds better than "Made in China". Officially there are 321,000 Chinese living in Italy today, but unofficially there are probably considerably more. The fact that some of them travel home at the turn of the year and return at some point could have been anticipated in Europe's boots, given the health situation in the Middle Kingdom. This did not happen at all - instead, a sham search for the "patient zero" in northern Italy was staged.
What followed can certainly be compared with the Titanic disaster of 1912: With a lot of hullabaloo into disaster! A fatal piece of the puzzle was, many epidemiologists agree, the Champions League game Atalanta Bergamo against FC Valencia on 19 February in Milan: after this "match zero" with 44,000 spectators, the Corona Falls in Northern Italy exploded within 14 days. In addition, viruses were exported to Spain when the air was almost "clean" there.
In many countries the case is only registered when hotel guests on Tenerife (and also returnees with us) have to go into protective quarantine after February 20. In the German Rhineland, carnival is celebrated in the same week as if nothing was wrong (what do you care about Italy and the first few corona cases at a Bavarian company ...), the number of Covid-19 sufferers in the Heinsberg district near Aachen is still going through the roof. In Berlin, until then almost Corona-free, the Party Bear is tap-dancing. And also in the Bundesliga: the games continue to be played in front of packed spectators on the last weekend of February; the only topic of conversation is the hostility against patron Dietmar Hopp. Corona? No way. Today: national emergency in Germany.
Titanic, the next - Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, 17-21 February: For just under a week, followers of the Free Church "Porte ouverte" pray, love and embrace each other, and with divine blessing, so to speak, the next big epidemic is forming. Today: Corona-GAU in Alsace, national emergency in France.
Celebrate until the doctor comes
And the party goes on - even here in the small country nobody pulls the emergency brake after the first two Covid 19 cases were confirmed in the first days of March. In Düdelingen, the 7th March is the time for the "Celtic" festival - international bands, like the steadfast Gauls, are allowed to play in close contact with the audience against the increasing virus-warners and knockers. Assembly bans? No way! Today: national emergency in Luxembourg
The whole thing will literally be crowned (Spanish "corona") on the same weekend (7th/8th March) in the streets of Madrid to celebrate International Women's Day with kettledrums and trumpets and thousands(!) of participants, including political actors. Four days later: Covid-19 explodes and a national emergency is declared in Spain. Meanwhile the situation there is as catastrophic as in Italy.
Other sources of infection have long since been established, for example in South Tyrol. And on the Austrian side, in Ischgl, the ski and après-ski gala continues cheerfully well into March - with the well-known consequences in Tyrol as well as for the regions of origin of many who (really unsuspecting?) spent their holidays there. Here the fun society, there the repressed corona danger.
Politics in deep sleep
And politics, what has she been doing all this time? - She was asleep. Her first appeals for a certain "social distancing" also largely evaporated; it was only at the turn of the month that some countries introduced tentative regulations limiting the number of visitors at major events: initially to 1,000 (a farce!), and then only a few slices were "patched up". Emmanuel Macron (France) and Simonetta Sommaruga (Switzerland) were among the first heads of state to react. Germany, confident in its good health infrastructure, was slow to follow suit. And in Luxembourg, no less than on 11 March (!) assemblies with over 1,000 people (!) were banned.
The number of cases continues to rise, no wonder, rapidly, people get scared, buy toilet paper - and suddenly even politicians are panicking on the Titanic: iceberg ahead, engines stop - but how to slow down the ship so quickly? The emergency braking, which the government has hectically initiated, can only prevent Italian conditions from arising - but not the collision with the iceberg itself.
It is to be hoped that the message of unconditional "social distancing" has now reached really everyone. The fact that even the last indomitable ones who flock together in "normal" times in public facilities or on Friday nights at a well-known Leudelingen gas station to "chill out" or party understand that the word herd immunity does not mean that their compulsive group behavior would make them immune to the virus. It is important that strict action is now taken in such cases.
Finding the middle way
However, we must warn against throwing out the child (the other one who is not yet in the well) with the bathwater again right now, i.e. imposing a complete curfew, proclaiming a kind of police state and thus putting the majority of the population - who by now know themselves how to protect themselves and others - in a war-like scenario. In contrast to Spain or France, it must continue to be possible to move around alone in public spaces. Disciplined, at a distance from others! That must be enough. We are not in "war" (as Macron, Trump and occasionally Bettel use to express themselves), but in a serious fight against a treacherous virus. No more and no less.
The current crisis management of Health Minister Paulette Lenert is convincing. The fact that the behaviour of our and other governments was anything but pro-active in the previous month is currently better covered in a cloak of silence. The system is now heading for the "peak" in the Covid 19 cases. If society follows the current rules, the curve of new infections should flatten out by mid-April. The all-clear may not be given yet: summer may weaken the virus, which is not very heat-resistant, but caution with contacts is still necessary as long as natural herd immunity has not yet developed. Initial approaches to drugs and vaccines promise hope. However, the latter will first have to undergo longer test phases.
The consequences for the economy are likely to be more serious in the long term. To cushion these, support and a sense of proportion are needed. After a certain period of time, corporate and business life will have to continue on the back burner. Simply too many human existences depend on it. The economic and also social damage of an excessively long shutdown risks becoming far worse than the purely health-related consequences of Covid-19. A real dilemma for politicians, who now have to find a happy medium between the calls of the economy and the imperative of public health.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
PS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinese#Country_statistics
Comments (35)
twingo
It's a strange world that we are living in my friend. Great song and image.
UteBigSmile
Your right, I thank you anyway!
marcPoser
The translation software is not doing a good job; it is very difficult to read this translated article, for me (French or English).
I am not sure if the Covid-19 (the CCP virus) is a weaponized virus that has been developed in Chine; it looks too much like a conspiracy theory. However, the falsification of the impact of the CCP virus in China, and the very slow (politically correct) response of the Western countries have been OBSERVED by many witnesses. The journalistic coverage of this sanity crisis is far from being truthful.
On a brighter side, your artistic creation brings lots of relief and moments of joy in our heart.
UteBigSmile
Je sais, Gilles va me fair un nouveau avec Deep, je n'arrive pas!
Tracesl
excellent
adrie
Beautiful and wonderful image, love also that song, great work dear Ute. I dont want to think about this virus story to much, but this kind of story I heard a couple of months ago also. On a black market, and the people where from Turkey. They also talk about the same story of a weaponized virus attack from another country on China. I don't know if this is the true story, I don't hope so.
UteBigSmile
Oh' mijn God, ik heb daar nog niets over gehoord, ik hoop dat dat niet waar is!
g1tip
Since we cannot feast together, right now, we can at least feast our eyes on your beautiful work!!!! Stay safe and well, my friend!!!
UteBigSmile
Thank's hon, stay safe as well!
A_Sunbeam
It might be badly translated but it sums up what's happened.
UteBigSmile
Hello, my translated text has been changed in a better one, it's not always easy to translate in different langues, so I always try to do my best (German is my mother-tongue), here I got help from a french artist and friend!
S_Tomm
Beautiful image, and I appreciate your commentary!
JoeJarrah
Thought provoking as ever, and a great acompanying image.
I will stay positive; I have survived two wars as child and cancer as an adult, so I believe that together we'll make it and maybe even emerge a stronger society. Most people know the right way, and follow it. Communities are pulling together to help the most needy and vulnerable, regardless of governmental incompetence or indifference, and therein is our hope.
AureliusdeMercoeur
Une excellente scène très bien réalisée ! J'aime beaucoup le vent dans les cheveux et la fumée du fume-cigarette. Et le petit caniche est trop mignon !!! Superbe travail, ma chère Ute !! Et on a droit à cette chanson qui nous rappelle "le bon vieux temps". En français, le titre s'appelait "Le Temps des Fleurs"...Et c'était probablement la meilleure époque du vingtième siècle, pleine de liberté, de tolérance, de partage, de recherche spirituelle et d'espoir...Aujourd'hui, il ne reste plus grand chose de tout cela !!...
dakotajaroo
une belle création ,pleine de nostalgie , le caniche vaut 10/10 ,il est tout mignon
UteBigSmile
Je pense qu’il n’est pas approprié de plaisanter ici, ou avez-vous oublié à quel point la aussi votre pays est affectée par la crise, j’aurais honte à votre place, nous sommes ici pour parler, pour s’encourager les uns les autres et de ne pas faire de blagues!
virginiese
Un beau rendu de l'insouciance... d'une époque où le coronavirus n'existait pas. Maintenant, la moitié de l'humanité est confinée... Reste bien chez toi !
rbowen
Beautiful scene, Ute! Thank you for the information. The how and why will follow us for a long time. Shame to the officials that did not take the correct measures to stop the spread. I am, also, very sad for this horrible time we are going through! Take care, and BRAVO for your fantastic images!
eekdog
lots of info and makes you think. no matter, just we might all be prepared for large population losses. very depressing world where in most places you cant go to the hospital to say goodbye or attend funerals. your image is classy and wonderful Ute.
Nightwind
Your image is splendid! I find the information you have provided enlightening and appreciate you sharing it as it gives a more complete picture of how we got to this point. Regardless, we now have to play the hand we have been dealt. Please be safe as possible and keep well my friend.
imagemaker
Another wonderful image my friend I love the retro looks..and thank you for all your nice comments more importantly how you show we all are a family and community here and I know we'll get through this and be all the better and stronger . I do hope one thing after this crisis is over we (i mean all the conuntries and leaders hold accountable any irrespossible goverments groups etc.) I spent many years working within some great medical facilities J. Hopkins was one and maintain contacts there and friend in resreach told me yesterday there is no way the coding of this virus came from eating bats etc. it has all the ear marks of a bio. if that proves to be correct 1-what else have we not been told , 2- there are sectors out there that would love to use just this. Being a member of the Woodstock generation and ideology it's easy to talk about some of these elelments I finally got to the market today and was shocked to about 75 people there and other than myself and 2-3 others no one was wearing gloves much less keeping a safe distance.
Sorry all to rant not normally my nature. be safe stay well and take care of one another !!!!
UteBigSmile
You don't need to apologize for your opinion, I'm glad when many people here share their opinions and present their point of view on the things that concern us all at the moment: Only together we are strong, and that's why I've started to post such infos, because the people in America don't get (as far as I know from a good friend from Texas) a lot of info from Europe and the rest of the world! When I was born (1946), it wasn't rosy after the 2nd World War either, but we almost all survived!
Navi
Very nice artwork Ute, and that was an interesting read, although I'm not sure everything was well translated :) . But I'm not sure French governement was among the first to react, in Europe, not sure at all, to say the least... They just tried to catch-up once the hamr had already been done, and they really took their time (no borders closure, no masks, medical staff working with no protection Oo, etc, this is insane believe me Oo.
VDH
Deze dame ziet er heel mooi en goed uit !Prachtige en rustgevende poze in deze woelige tijden !!
UteBigSmile
Dank je well!
bakapo
A nice looking character dressed all in red. The puppy is adorable.
I don"t know how we got here, I'm just trying to get through one day at a time.
pchef
jolie image
Radar_rad-dude
Lets all jump into a time machine and go back to the good old days for one last bash. Then when our parents and grandparents die from the disease before we are born, none of this will happen! Good idea, no? LOL! What other improbable ideas could I spew? If I slept on it for a few years, I might come up with one or two more. Again, LOL! LOL is much better than crying myself to sleep. Who can sleep when the whole world is going down the tubes? Okay, enough of my incoherent rant. I thank you, Ute for sharing the above information. It only confirms how stupid the human herd mentality is and how it can lead to it's own destruction. If we survive this current worldwide crises, I hope and pray there are enough people with real brain power and the back bone to take control and bring this out of control I, Me, My corrupt political and economic monster under control and put it where it belongs. In the past once and for all. In these times, it can only be said never too many times, what affects one affects all. You can't ignore your fellow man and expect things to take care of themselves. We as one species will have to swallow the bitter pills this current disease is dishing out to us and will have to come up with new solutions to try to prevent it from happening again. I know it is easy for me to say this. I don't even offer any solutions myself. My little pea brain can barely wrap itself around what news I hear everyday. I can only say that if we don't change our ways immediately as a species, we will certainly be wiped out clean and the stage made ready for a more resilient replacement!
UteBigSmile
TIME MACHINE - Very cool idea R/Dude, your right, and you made me even smile and for this smile (so late in the evening for me) I thank you so much!!!
The Time Machine:
romangirl
We live in a frightening world, my friend! Wonderful image!
nun2brite
Yes, years gone by... the one coming so dark for my country. I would have gone with a blue tone. Winter scene, as in the last season of life. If ever you want to collaborate on a image I'd be pleased to do so.
UteBigSmile
Sorry, I dont understand exactly what you mean, pls. send me further information via sitemail!
uncollared
Love the red. Wonderful character
UteBigSmile
I know that you are living in Detroit, so be carefully because it's since some days a very dangerous place to live!
RodS
sigh.... If we convince ourselves that this is the last season of life, it will become self-fulfilling...
Read this with great interest, Ute! Thank you for posting and your efforts to keep us all informed and hopefully acting as one people. This virus does not recognize borders - neither should we.
Oh, to be able to go back to those 'good ol' days..' Lovely image, Ute! You and Rene stay safe!
magnus073
We need to keep everyone in our prayers, Ute.
Richardphotos
I like your views of the tragedy and the only trouble with your views is it is true .
samjan
belle réalisation j'aurais aimé être à cette époque un peu folle
mtdana
Very interesting - well done Ute!
Saby55
I agree with what marcPoser said and I don't agree on the responsibilities of ITALY…...We did not infect Europe !!😔 Fantastic picture and beautiful work!!👍🙋♂️
UteBigSmile
...Non l'ho mai detto, sto solo pubblicando informazioni che trovo qui, mi dispiace che vi siate sentiti offesi, sto solo cercando di fare un po' di luce sulla questione per coloro che sono male informati: FORZA ITALIA: Sono con voi!
starship64 Online Now!
Nice synopsis of recent events. It's becoming more and more obvious that those people who never trusted their government were right; not because government leaders were all evil (although some are), but because no government has ever been able to actually provide the protection that they promise.
UteBigSmile
That's right, read more on my todays post.