The Grey Swan Guild News Wrap — The Week That Was January 22, 2021

Volume #1, Edition #1

These are a series of stories we are tracking in the Grey Swan Guild’s Global League of Sensemakers Newsroom. Here is the Good, Bad and Ugly of what we observed from this week.

Photo by Michael Parulava on Unsplash

The Good 😀

1. Poetry leading a nation. Amanda Gorman, the US’s youngest Inauguration Poet Laureate challenges and leads the population to the light, climbing the hills that come. This poem will turn into a play. Video from The Guardian.
2. Israel invents the idea of a Phase V Clinical Trial. We define that as a massive > 500,000 person trial of a new vaccine. Phase 4 Clinical trials are those that exceed 3,000 people and are measured and monitored long term. As Israeli vaccination cycles have been initiated in 12% of the population of 9M, almost 2M people have been vaccinated, making it the leading experiment in Pfizer’s new mRNA vaccine. The scientists of the world are watching. The BBC reports on the vaccination rollout and early results.
3. The US Rejoins the World Health Organization. As promised, the new administration is re-engaging in world coordination. It is a clear recognition that in a global crisis, world powers should participate in world organizations. President Biden — “Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health,” wrote on Twitter after news of the US withdrawal became public. Look to the US to try to influence some of the issues in the WHO for the betterment of the world. More reasons for America participating with science bodies in the world reported on Popsugar.

The Bad 😬

1. Protests back in the former USSR. Government challenger Navalny and his followers arrested in Russia after anti-Putin protests brew around Moscow and other cities are planned for January 23. The state moves to quell the use of social media to organize crowds, however, it seems that TikTok is being pressed into service to help organize the protest. TikTok was the most popular iPhone App for Russians in 2020 — Moscow Times.
2. Ceci n’est pas un Lockdown. France, reacting to the new variant of COVID-19 identified in Britain, looks at the possibility of new harsher lockdown measures. Case numbers and hospitalizations are still at concerning levels. There is still a 6 pm-6 am curfew across France and bars and restaurants remain closed — Euronews
3. To play or not to play, that is the question. The Olympics is considering launching without fans this summer. This may be the only way to reasonably keep the event in place. The debate over the necessity of sport, health, economy and mental health will roil all year. What the best approach? Amidst rumours of cancellation, the Japanese government and the IOC deny the consideration. — Reuters

The Ugly 😱

1. Levelling up the news. President Biden levels with the American Public, “We didn’t get into this mess overnight. It’s going to take months for us to turn things around,” he said. The challenge of behaviour change and speed of vaccination programs and vaccine hesitancy is leading to a forecast of 500,000 deaths in the US by the end of February. From the Finacial Times.
2. Talk about it. Post COVID-19 issues with mental health are coming under inspection and study and it is necessary to support long-term research. The waves of the impact of infected people will go beyond the management of the spread of the disease. “With more than 24 million people in the U.S. having been infected with COVID-19 to date, it’s an unfortunate truth that, for those lucky enough to have survived, this virus can have negative health effects that last long after recovery.” Upwards of 20% of recovering patients are reporting symptoms related to delirium, brain fog, PTSD, Chronic Fatigue, and other negative outcomes. As the virus burns through the population, the cumulative mental health impact may be the costliest damage it does. — Shape Magazine
3. Search this. A superpower global corporate negotiating with a nation as if it was a nation is a nasty evolution. Google may think it is a fair fight. Australia’s GDP is $1.3T to Google’s market cap of $1.2T. “We don’t respond to threats,” Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday. “Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That’s done in our parliament. It’s done by our government. And that’s how things work here in Australia.” Google has threatened to remove search from Australia over a fight over a demand to pay local media for using its content in search results. The world is watching. — Bloomberg

— Meme of the Week

Artist: Alistair Mortin

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Editor of The Week : Rob Tyrie