Scientists call for new approach to the coronavirus pandemic

Professor Martin Kulldorff (Harvard), Professor Sunetra Gupta (Oxford) and Professor Jay Bhattacharya (Stanford) have come together to launch The Great Barrington Declaration, a petition calling on governments around the world to adopt a more proportionate approach to managing the pandemic that they call "Focused Protection". They express their “…grave concerns” about the devastating damage to citizens physical and mental health as a result of draconian restrictions from governments’ actions to ‘control’ the pandemic and recommend life should be allowed to return to normal for all but the elderly and most vulnerable in order to build up immunity in the majority of the population rather than relying on the introduction of a vaccine. At the time of writing, the petition has already been signed by nearly 3,000 medical and public health scientists, just under 4,000 medical practitioners and over 62,500 concerned citizens. If you would like to add your voice to the Declaration and express your concerns over continued restrictions that are increasingly causing more damage than the virus itself, you can find out more here. However, please be aware that breaking news this afternoon is that Downing Street has rejected the call of the Great Barrington group of scientists for an end to lockdown measures, saying their argument rests on an “unproven assumption” that it would be possible to protect the most vulnerable. The absolute refusal of the UK Government to engage in any meaningful debate with experts is the complete antithesis of an enlightened, progressive, free, democracy.  

Global coronavirus legal challenges update

As concerns over governments’ reactions to the pandemic grow, we are seeing increasing numbers of legal challenges being initiated. In the UK, a date (Thursday 15 October) has been set for the interim hearing of businessman Simon Dolan’s challenge to the UK Government’s lockdown policy. This has happened despite the High Court blocking the action in July. Running parallel to the Dolan case, The People’s Brexit continues its preparations to challenge the UK Government’s emergency powers under the Coronavirus Act. Whilst in Australia a class action is being launched to challenge the continuing State of Emergency across Australia and the devastating State of Disaster in Victoria.

Dr Reiner Fuellmich a consumer protection trial lawyer in Germany and California and one of four members of the German Corona Investigative Committee is calling for those responsible for the covid fraud scandal to be put on trial for what he says, is probably the greatest crime against humanity in history. In a video, he describes how an international network of lawyers will argue the biggest tort case ever, saying, “On a political level, everything must be done to make sure that no one will ever again be in a position of such power as to be able to defraud humanity or to attempt to manipulate us with their corrupt agendas.” Full details of the challenge, the facts and the questions that need to be answered can be found in his video. If you're based in the UK and you feel you’ve been harmed in any way, whether psychologically, emotionally, financially or otherwise, because of covid restrictions, please email Leah Butler-Smith at: [email protected]

Protests against the ongoing restriction of citizens freedoms and basic rights have continued with rallies in London and Dublin as ordinary people push back against the devastation wrought by draconian rules that serve only to increase government control rather than address a new virus appropriately. A virus, that continues to spread regardless of lockdowns, as viruses do.

Doctors who dissent get dismissed

If a doctor dares to challenge mainstream medical orthodoxy they’re taking a huge risk. Speak out and you’re likely to be mocked, dismissed as being ill-informed, accused of peddling fake news and even killing people by those deemed to be ‘official’ experts. It’s happened to many countering the official narrative in contentious areas such as the low-fat vs low carb diet arena and the widespread use of statins to drive down cholesterol levels. Health journalist, Jerome Burne, asks in his latest blog ‘Who benefits when dissenting doctors are dismissed as foolish and dangerous?’, questioning just who benefits the most from muting the voices and concerns of those scientists and doctors who speak out and asking who is paying the piper?

UK Government advocates serious crimes in the name of security

The UK government has fast-tracked legislation to amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 advocating crimes to be legally committed in the name of protecting the national security and economic wellbeing of the UK and preventing disorder. We include this news because they have widened the scope to include demonstrators/protesters, which directly affect those who have been campaigning for health freedom. The Covert Human Intelligence Source (Criminal Conduct) Bill was introduced in Parliament on the 24^th September to give legal protection to intelligence services for a previously secret power known as ‘the third direction’. Amnesty International warned in a press release that the bill “…could end up providing informers and agents with a licence to kill” as there are no specific limitations on the type of criminal activity that may be authorised under the Bill. The motion came before Parliament for its 2^nd reading on the 6^th October and was passed by a majority, but 20 Labour MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, defied their party whip to vote against the legislation rather than just abstain. The Bill relies on the Human Rights Act (HRA) as a safeguard, despite the Government’s reluctance to adhere to the European convention on human rights. Such legislation poses a grave threat to the freedoms and justices traditionally enjoyed in the UK, handing the state authority to do whatever they want, to whomever they want, for whatever reason, without legal consequence continuing the descent into authoritarian rule in a country that was once considered a bastion of democracy.

Turmeric reduces knee pain

Turmeric reduces pain associated with knee osteoarthritis without damaging the knee. A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found a turmeric extract reduced inflammation and pain more effectively than a placebo, without any adverse effects and reduced the use of pain medications. The randomised placebo-controlled study studied 70 participants over the age of 40 years, randomised to receive either 1000mg of turmeric per day or a placebo, across a 12 week period. Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is one of the most well-studied natural anti-inflammatories. Turmeric is wonderful consumed fresh, or in a formula that includes black pepper or turmeric essential oil to enhance bioavailabilty. This is definitely one spice to include in your kitchen ’medicine’ cabinet.

Scientists call on Governments to raise vitamin D daily values

An international alliance of researchers and doctors are calling on governments to increase the recommended daily intake of vitamin D from 400 to 4000 IU in a bid to reduce the severity of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and reduce hospitalisations. In a recent webinar, Dr Gareth Davies along with other experts on vitamin D demonstrated the risk of catching any coronavirus is reduced by nearly half if your blood level of vitamin D is replete. Following Matt Hancock’s recent dismissal of the importance of vitamin D for immune health, the UK government is set to reassess its stance over the use of vitamin D as part of its strategy to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. A new study from the University of Brimingham has found that healthcare workers who self-isolated after developing coronavirus symptoms were more likely to be deficient in vitamin D. Those from Black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds were found to be at much higher risk.

In Brief

Antitrust report damns Big Tech companies

A new report from US lawmakers is clear that Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google actively engage in a range of antitrust violations. It also says US antitrust laws need to be amended to allow for more competition in the US internet economy. The report states that, “…these market-dominant companies have all engaged in myriad forms of anticompetitive behavior, including using “killer acquisitions” to remove up-and-coming competitors from the marketplace.” It calls for clarification of existing antitrust laws and the creation of new laws to potentially break up Big Tech companies and make it harder for them to acquire smaller rivals.

Two fifths of plant species at risk of extinction

A new report from the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew in London, estimates that nearly 40% of all plant species (almost double that estimated in 2016) are at threat of extinction. The report, which highlights the loss of biodiversity, is the result of an international collaboration of 210 scientists from 42 countries. The researchers say plants species may be being lost quicker than science can find and identify them, which could have huge consequences for the future. Particular concern has been expressed over the threat to seaweeds. Without plants and fungi humans would not survive as we rely on them for medicine, food, energy, building materials and clean air.

African faith leaders call on Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to change funding focus

In an Open Letter, coordinated by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, faith leaders in Africa express their concerns over the Gates-led Alliance for a Green Revolution’s (AGRA) support for the expansion of intensive farming methods, which reduces ecosystem resilience and increases food insecurity. It calls for support for a return to regenerative agro-ecological models of agriculture in order to promote traditional community-based farming systems that rely on seed saving and sharing along with the promotion of biodiversity to provide African peoples with “…an affordable, nutritious diverse, chemical-free and culturally appropriate diet”. The maintenance of layers of biodiversity in our agricultural systems and surrounding environment is essential to maintain balance and stop individual species taking over to the detriment of another.