The real worry about swine flu

I am a pandemic sceptic, but what actually does that mean? I don't believe there will be mega-death from this swine-flu. But i do think that the powers-that-be may use the fear of that, to introduce measures which will reduce our freedoms individually and collectivelly. A little like all of the changes bought in after 9/11. I know it may be hard to remember but there was a time when security at airports was pretty slack. It was slack because there was minimal threat. Nowdays they want to look everywhere and into everything - for what? Ain't no terrorist in my toilet bag mate.

So the pandemic fear will arrive, people will be scared. Businesses will close and, coupled with the economic tsunami we will find major disruption to all our lives in some way or other.

You won't die or even get really sick from swine flu - but you might from the measures put in place to protect you from swine flu.

My believe is that we should all have the resources to survive for at least a week without leaving the house. The Government has enacted new laws which mean they can order you to stay home. If you don't you will be arrested. If you are arrested and are considered a danger because you might have the swine flu - they will isolate you. Where will you be isolated? It could be facilities where good methods are already in place for isolating people - like prisons for instance, or maybe an island somewhere. The key for them will be to use the smallest amount of people to 'look after' the maximum amount of people. You need razor wire for that and guns.

So get ready because this is a continuation of the fear based society that they have created.

For maori we have some double and triple whammys. We are more suseptible to getting the flu because of our genetic makeup, our poorer living conditions, the fact that we earn less and suffer from more ailments and die younger. We have been through it before when pakeha first arrived. We survived, we will survive again, and again. Maori are also colonised so the majority can say, sorry we need that area for everyone, we need to build a camp there for the sick/isolated people. Maori have very little political power in their own country, pakeha can do what they want and it's hard to see how anybody could stop them. Don't think it can't happen - it happens all around the world, every day.

So what can we do. Our strength is whanau, hapu, iwi. Our strength is our people and the kin relationships we have. Bind tight to your kin, bind tight to your culture. bind tight! Communication, caring and consideration are our strengths too. Get involved.

Pandemic swine flu lies

Oh dear
"Pharmacists have warned they will be on alert for "fakers" when anti-viral drug Tamiflu goes on sale over-the-counter tomorrow.
Pharmacy Guild chief executive Annabel Young said she expected pharmacists to be inundated with requests about Tamiflu given the growing concerns about swine flu.
"This is understandable, but there are clear restrictions under which Tamiflu can be sold for the safety of the patient the pharmacist must abide by these conditions."
Tamiflu is available on prescription, but from tomorrow can be legally sold by pharmacists to patients aged over 12 who present with influenza symptoms. A five-day course will cost about $65."

Oh dear
"A secret centre for assessing, testing and isolating potential swine flu victims is operating in Christchurch to prevent the virus spreading."

Oh dear
"Egypt, hit hard by bird flu, has ordered the slaughter of every pig herd in the country as a precaution against swine flu, a step the United Nations said was a mistake."

Oh dear
"Global companies began restricting employee travel in response to a potential flu pandemic that has claimed at least 149 lives in Mexico."

Oh dear
"Kiwis are trying to cash in on the swine flu outbreak as internet auctions become awash with goods designed to beat the virus."

Oh dear
"Swine flu has not yet hit Lebanon but it is threatening a national custom.
Lebanese should stop greeting each other with kisses to the cheek, Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh told a news conference called to explain measures to tackle the potential spread of the deadly strain.
"If you visit someone, don't exchange kisses... Let's stop the social kissing habit," Khalifeh said."

Oh dear
"New Zealand's Catholic bishops have issued hygiene recommendations for church services in preparation for a swine flu pandemic.
The bishops are stopping parishioners receiving communion wafers on the tongue, communion wine from the chalice and from shaking hands at the sign of peace at masses in New Zealand."

Oh dear
"Community based centres to deal with swine flu patients could be set up around the country, it was announced this morning... Medical authorities are treating those that test positive for Influenza A as having swine flu."

Okay...

Every year between 250,000 and 500,000 people die from flu around the world.
WHO have confirmed less than 20 deaths in this 'outbreak'.

If you want to know the truth about these pandemic scares - follow the money! Who is making money? What about the TV and media shows, Tamiflu makers are getting rid of their stockpiles, anyone else?

Swine Flu - forced detentions and isolation for non-containable flu

I have been resisting the urge to post about swine flu and i will continue to do so, but these developments really do worry me - much more than the flu itself.

"Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce has consented to sweeping new quarantine powers for health officials in response to the global outbreak of swine flu.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon approached Ms Bryce on Tuesday night to approve the powers, which include allowing authorities to detain people suspected of having the potentially deadly virus.
"Using disinfectants on planes or at ports, through to the far more extreme (powers) which are making sure that people are isolated and perhaps detained if they don't co-operate and are showing symptoms of this disease," she told ABC Radio on Wednesday."

Perhaps it's the use of the word 'detain', it worries me. I also note that we are enacting legislation today to add swine flu to the list of diseases that can trigger anti epidemic measures like forced quarantine.

Hmmm

The World Health Orgainsation said, "The swine flu virus first detected in Mexico can no longer be contained and countries should focus on mitigating its effects..."

So just to recap - The swine flu cannot be contained, yet here and in Aussie, legislation has been put through around detention and forced quarantine.

Makes you wonder - doesn't it?