The PR Blog

Like all children, one of the first things I learned is that parents were putty in our hands. Even at a very young age, we realised that being cute and batting our eyelids can perform miracles.

From the time we were in the cradle, we quickly spotted that a coo or a little smile; a chubby little hand reaching out to touch them; a cry or whimper ; all would achieve the intended result: we would be held, comforted and fussed over.

Job done.

I know, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about the Rise of the New Normal Reich. You want it to be over. So do I. It isn’t over … not by a long shot. It might seem like it’s over where you are.

I imagine it does if you live in Florida, or in Texas, or the UK, or Sweden, or Croatia, or in some other country or state in which the majority of the “Covid restrictions” have been lifted, or perhaps were never introduced in the first place. If that’s the case, I’m happy for you.

Never in a million years ( as the saying goes) did I ever imagine that we would be witnessing the rapid death of a once truly lucky country. We considered ourselves lucky to call it home. Lucky to enjoy its bounty of food, natural resources, freedom and thousands of miles of sandy beaches and pristine coastline.

In less than 3 years, we have descended into a hell on earth that little resembles that nation we loved, felt enormous pride to be part of and an almost arrogant smugness at declaring ourselves under its bounteous protection and wealth.

What the hell have we allowed to happen? How did we let it happen? Who stole it from us? When did the rot set in? Why did we allow it to happen?

Fears of a virus from China had been rising for two months in the spring of 2020. The White House under Donald Trump had already weathered two impeachment crises and was turning its attention toward reelection in November, which seemed assured. The virus was an enormously complicating factor. 

Trump surrounded himself with a small team of people among whom included supposed infectious disease experts such as Anthony Fauci from the National Institutes of Health and Deborah Birx of the Centers for Disease Control. On the recommendation of his vice president and son-in-law, Trump trusted them. 

Despite Green/ABC propaganda, recent Australian floods were not caused by coal, cattle or cars. Weather is driven by winds; solar energy powers the winds and draws moisture for them from the oceans. These eternal natural rain-making processes have been aided recently by two extra factors. Firstly a big La Nina weather event in the Pacific Ocean has left warmer water closer to Australia.

Secondly, there is increased underwater volcanism in this region as evidenced by the volcanic eruptions near Vanuatu.

In a move that is sure to trigger widespread discussion concerning the independence, objectivity and wisdom of granting authority to the WHO to manage global infectious diseases responses, the monkeypox outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization.

The declaration was made unilaterally, in direct contradiction of independent review panel advice, by WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Tedros made the declaration despite a lack of consensus among members of the WHO’s emergency committee on the monkeypox outbreak, and in so doing overruled his own review panel, who had voted 9 against, 6 for declaring the PHEIC. Tedros asserted that this committee of experts (who met on Thursday) was unable to reach a consensus, so it fell on him to decide whether to trigger the highest alert possible.