- Human Rights law establishes that the duty to protect life includes a requirement on states to take reasonable steps if they know (or ought to know) there is a real and immediate risk to life.
- This cover government policy that rests on an acceptance that people will die.After all, the entire human rights framework was put in place to limit states from breaching rights.
- This duty to protect applies not just to deaths. The severity of Covid-19, including the consequences of long Covid, meet this standard.If government policy can mitigate such consequences, human rights standards mandate that it should.
- It is a breach of human rights standards and morally repugnant for politicians to cite "acceptable risk" for some to die - especially vulnerable old people - in exchange for economic re-opening.
- Anonymous
Singapore's COVID institutional failures, accountability
ReplyDelete.. foreign sex workers faking familial ties and other travel purposes have been allowed to enter by a government known for its overzealous pandemic controls. As usual, no one has provided any answers. Nor has the Ministry of Home Affairs, the sole overseer of vice policing and the city-state's border controls, taken responsibility for this institutional failure and the evident border policy loophole.
The latest COVID outbreak not only necessitates a plan for Singapore to lift domestic restrictions and reestablish international connectivity, but demands that its leaders take responsibility for the institutional failures that caused it. Watching disingenuous ministers feign retrospective shock and surprise at how the latest outbreak occurred no longer cuts it. - Nikkei Asia July 23
Let's not be too harsh on these workers. They are trading their most precious and private assets for a few dollars. No one would do that if they could afford not to.
ReplyDeleteThey did not steal or rob or cheat your CPF money. It is willing buyer, willing seller, fair trade. They lose some to make their customers happy.
HO Ching
ReplyDeleteVaccination converts the risks of dangerous covid to be more like the risks of flu.
“As of Wednesday night (Jul 21), out of the 412 local COVID-19 cases reported in the last 28 days who had been fully vaccinated, all had mild or no symptoms.
In the partially vaccinated group, 0.7 per cent of patients who had received one dose of the vaccine required supplemental oxygen.
As for those who had not received any dose of the vaccine, 2.4 per cent of the 253 local cases developed serious illness, need oxygen supplementation or admission into intensive care units.” - CNA
This is quite apart from the higher likelihood to get infected in the first place, if we are not vaccinated.
This is especially important for our pioneer generation. They are used to being independent, and toughing things out. And many dislike the idea of seeing a doctor or getting vaccinated or medicated.
Some old folks are afraid of side effects.
Others are afraid their body can’t “take the strong effects of Western medicine” - they read Wechat or WhatsApp messages about this or that case, many of which are plain misinformation.
The vast majority have mild or no side effects for their 1st shot. This is particularly so for old folks.
The most common side effects are sore spot or pain at the injection site for 1-3 days.
The next most common side effects are fever, headache, tiredness - these are signs that our immune system have started their training to recognise the spike of the virus.
For the 2nd shot, we see more and stronger side effects, esp for the younger people below 60, and among our young adults.
It is partly related to the stronger immune response of younger people.
It is a sign that they most probably have very good protection from the vigorous training.
Few old folks above 70 years old have strong side effects like the younger 20 year olds.
Having other illnesses doesn’t make it more dangerous or more troubling to have vaccination.
In fact, having other illnesses makes it even more important to be vaccinated. Old age plus other illnesses make Covid highly dangerous for them if they are not protected hy vaccination.
When we go for vaccination, we must go through a medical review at the vaccination centre or polyclinic.
There, we are asked questions to check our suitability. There, we can ask questions too.
And we can always decline if we are still uncomfortable.
Please remember to keep the information leaflet that we are given to tell us about the vaccine we are getting.
If some good doctors advise me I may listen.
DeleteComing from Empress Dowager, an unprofessional trying to overshadow the professionals and the government, I not only would turn a deaf ear, I get very angry.
She really cares for the old folks or trying to popularize herself and enhance her own image?
Or worried that her stocks of Pfizer and Modena vaccines could have gone to waste?
The vaccines have an expiry date. They cannot be stored for too long in the tropical heat.
As they have to be stored @ minus 70 degrees the cost of storage is very high.
The longer the storage, the longer they take up the specialised space (special containers) and the higher the electricity bills.
Agree with you.
DeletePaid so exorbitantly high, yet so free to spent lots of time on her Facebook to get attention and for her balls carriers to praise her.
Always acting as though she is the one who runs the country.
When LKY was alive, she dared not even make a squeak. Now, that LKY is dead, she puts her husband in her pocket and over-steps his duties and responsibilities very frequently, until it has become a habitual routine. Especially, last two years.
One important information is the QR code to enable us to report any unusual side effects or medical conditions after vaccination.
ReplyDeleteSuppose we think we had heart palpitations, chest pains, breathlessness, or other unusual sensations during the 1st few days after vaccination.
This could be due to the inflammation of the heart muscle or heart membrane.
This is a known but rare condition esp for younger adult males from the Pfizer covid vaccines. This usually happens within 4 days from day of vaccination, typically after the 2nd shot.
Please do 2 things if anything unusual like that happens within the 1st few days, and up to 2-3 weeks.
First, go report to the HSA adverse reaction tracking using the QR code on the vaccine information leaflet.
Second, go see your doctor to check up on your
symptoms. It could be a coincidence, or the vaccine could have tipped us over when we have some unknown underlying condition.
It is important to let the doctor know you have had vaccination and when.
The doctors are required to report any suspected adverse reactions to MOH.
But first investigation the cause of any serious unusual symptoms. Early diagnosis could save more trouble later.
It may be a blessing in disguise to get us to get an investigation or diagnosis early to treat an unknown condition like a blocked artery.
Then we next apply for financial review.
MOH reviews based on whether the condition is related to vaccination, and whether it is permanent or temporary condition, and whether it requires hospitalisation or not.
Whether the condition is related to vaccination or not, also depends on medical science knowledge.
Remember cases well before covid when fit and healthy adults in their prime could suddenly have a heart attack or heart seizure and die. Sometimes, that happens to a young adult, in the middle of an exercise. Sometimes, it seems to happen out of the blue.
So not having any symptoms before, or having a fit and healthy life before, is no guarantee that we do not have some underlying unknown but dangerous condition.
For example, if we trip and fall after a vaccination, few people would link that to vaccination.
In the same way, medical experts from the different specialties like heart, brain immune system, and so on, will review each case to determine if there is any medical basis to associate a condition with the vaccination.
It is through such adverse events reporting and medical review that we can begin to spot rare conditions like the inflammation of the heart muscle or heart membrane.
So even if we feel fine a couple of weeks after feeling some troubled symptoms which bugged us, go see our GP and get a referral to see a specialist for more detailed assessment.
Even if it is not related to vaccination, it helps us find out if there are other medical issues which we should treat sooner than later.
And children, parents, siblings, and spouses can play our role to nag and remind our loved ones to go see a doctor to get a read.
Staying home and not going out is no guarantee that the virus won’t hop, skip and jump into our homes.
So let’s help save our pioneer generation from the grief of an covid infection.
Let’s help them go for their vaccination.
Even one shot is better than nothing in terms of protecting them from severe illness or worse.
Let’s see if we can get 75%, 80% and 80% of our old folks vaccinated.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1813419882179171&id=100005335308340
This is similar to Pfizer's "Cover Own Arsk" No-Liability Clause, expanded with details.
DeleteTypical of trying to deflect and deflate responsibility by pushing the responsibility to us, using rare circumstances as main examples.
Farking Bastards!
ReplyDelete“As of Wednesday night (Jul 21), out of the 412 local COVID-19 cases reported in the last 28 days who had been fully vaccinated, all had mild or no symptoms.
In the partially vaccinated group, 0.7 per cent of patients who had received one dose of the vaccine required supplemental oxygen.
As for those who had not received any dose of the vaccine, 2.4 per cent of the 253 local cases developed serious illness, need oxygen supplementation or admission into intensive care units.” - CNA
This is selective statistics reporting. Why some tell the actual number, why some don't?
Another example, 'For the 2nd shot, we see more and stronger side effects, esp for the younger people below 60, and among our young adults.' 60 is referred to as young people. In another report, old people included people in their 50s, including 50.
Conveniently choosing statistics to support one's argument.
For the seniors, the risk of dying from Covid19 is once. Even getting Covid19 has more than 96% of surviving.
Getting jab with mRNA vaccines increases the chance of dying by 100%, ie one more chance to die from the vaccine.
The risk is too high and unacceptable.
The benefits are theirs, while the risks are ours.
ReplyDeleteOf those politically-inclined doctors and scientists working for the government and paid by the government, will say things beneficial to their own careers at the expense of our risks.
If anything goes wrong, it is our physical, mental and emotional health that suffer, even deaths.
The NCID Head and his minions will wash their hands.
Socialise the losses, ie you pay, and privatise or personalise the gains, ie pay to themselves.
ReplyDeleteWait for them to announce how many years of bonuses they are going to pay themselves after announcing huge asset gains. Did I hear 24%?
So everyone be paid 24 months or 48 months of bonuses?
Halimah Yacob Facebook Page:
ReplyDelete5 hours ago
"We mourn for the parents who lost their 13 year-old son, when he was allegedly killed by a 16 year-old student, both from River Valley High. It was a great tragedy. A young life lost with promises and hopes unfulfilled. No words can describe how the parents who had lovingly nurtured this child only to so suddenly have him snatched away are feeling now, and how they can recover from that pain.
But one can’t help feeling sorry for the 16 year-old and his family too. It was rec..."
Indian-transformed-to-Malay President seems to be doing her duties like previous Singapore Figurehead Ceremonial Presidents.
Big national issues such as CECA and the COVID-19 Pandemic, she has not spoken a sentence, yet this rare occurrence, though horrendous, issue which involved two individuals, she seized it as an opportunity to make her presence felt.
Crocodiles must be crying?
Auditors from the Auditor-General's Office have again and again found Irregularities in different ministries, stat boards, etc year after year, yet nobody came out to take responsibility though everyone comes out to get paid every month.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Rule: He who holds the gold makes the rules.
ReplyDelete“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.” ― Frédéric Bastiat
ReplyDelete"Until and unless vaccination is made compulsory, this group (unvaccinated seniors) will remain. Is it fair for the country to come to a standstill to cater to a stubborn minority?
ReplyDeleteIt's true that if everyone else is vaccinated, it does provide some herd immunity to people not vaccinated. But the risk of getting Covid-19, serious illness and possibly death, will always be there for older unvaccinated people.
It might be better if these seniors stayed home, and for their family members who might pass the disease to them to either stay away or remain home with them to reduce the risk of infection." - ST's Salma Khalik, July 23
I have never seen any brightness in this mouth piece.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Rule: He who holds the gold makes the rules.
July 23, 2021 9:31 pm
There is a more powerful rule in Singapore.
He who can squeeze the balls of you know who makes the rules. Now you understand all the funny and questionable rules in Singapore, like CECA is the best, CECA is untouchable, unquestionable, and CECA Indians taking over the island?
The Concept And Practice Of Ownself Check Ownself
ReplyDeleteWhat is "Ownself Check Ownself"?
Ownself check ownself is oneself checking oneself in every aspect of human existence and human endeavors. No third party is involved.
Essentially, it is self-enrichment, self-glorification, self-indulgence, and self-protection through self-accountability.
In other words, it means no accountability and no transparency to the public, the masses, the citizens
Who created the concept of "Ownself Check Ownself"?
From the very beginning, this corrupted concept was created by people with corrupted thinking. It became a corrupt practice carried out by power-hungry and corrupt dictators and absolute monarchs who enjoyed unfettered power over their citizens or subjects, and unfettered total control of all institutions of government in the country in which they rule.
It is a practice that any conscionable, upright, moral and law-abiding person or organisation would never have acceded to, condoned for, or be associated with.
Why is it still in existence?
Nevertheless, the practice has been going on and on for decades, centuries and time immemorial. It has been left unchecked by any Independent third party because the power of the day has always ensure that no Independent third party ever existed. If it does exist, it has been existing in semblance and form but not in substance nor in spirit. So, without a third party to counter-balance the unfettered and absolute power of the ruling elites, the practice of ownself check ownself carries on without respite, and become part of the system of governance as if it is a normal and acceptable practice. And in a vicious cycle, it enhances and further strengthen the unfettered power of the ruling elites (dictatorship, monarchy or aristocracy)
Will it ever end?
In the end, this corrupt practice will lead to much suffering of the people, by the people and to the people. As the sufferings become too immense, too intense and too intolerable, uprisings naturally arise to challenge and topple the unfettered absolute dictatorial power of the day, with or without bloodshed, no matter how long it takes.
However, no success is possible without sacrifice.
Singapore Context
In the Singapore context, the self-check mechanism is subsumed into the overall governing system. It comprises:
1. The Judiciary,
2. The Parliament,
3. The Attorney General's Chambers.
4. The Accountant General's Office,
5. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau,
6. The Internal Security Department,
7. The Public Service Commission.
8. The Presidential Advisory Council.
9. The Elected Presidency.
Despite all the above, however, there seems to be no one willing to sacrifice himself, or no organisation that is willing to sacrifice itself in order to topple the unfettered absolute power that the PAP enjoys increasingly over the last 56 years.
Moreover, there has been no critical mass, strong enough, to want to topple the present PAP government. But that doesn't mean it will not happen.
The deceptive CECA Trojan golden wooden horse has already entered the City, brought in deliberately through the folly of some local leaders. When the right time comes, under cover of Darkness (pun intended), the hidden invaders will show themselves and it will be too late for the local leaders and inhabitants to defend themselves.
Conclusion
The practice of ownself check ownself will lead to the ultimate overthrow of the unfettered absolute power as the citizenry becomes fed-up, awakened, more resolute, more courageous and more willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the country. And, of course, when a critical mass is reached, either by the locals or by a mixture of foreign subversive elements and local traitors.
It is only a matter of when, not a matter of if.
SSO - 23 July 2021.