Underlying issues and hidden treasure

What the papers have said in the week ending August 15^th

There is a sense that has begun to mature in our relationship with Covid-19. It remains a terrible world-threatening phenomenon, but we know it and we are aware of how our own behaviour contributes on the one hand to reducing its power, but on the other how lack of understanding and reckless self-seeking is fanning its survival and spread.

Other matters are increasingly claiming attention and headlines

Covid-19:

The hardest hits have been in Care Homes:

• including illness and deaths amongst residents and staff, and the seemingly endless imposed separation between individual residents, their family and friends and the world which give meaning to life https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/12/care-home-residents-losing-will-to-live-amid-covid-restrictions-in-england
• Care Home problems are not confined to the UK https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/14/ants-crawling-from-wound-horrifying-scenes-at-coronavirus-hit-aged-care-home-in-melbourne

And problems are not confined to older people, nor to the physical health injuries it produces:

• international studies find that survivors may experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (28%) or anxiety (42%) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/14/sheer-fear-mental-health-impacts-of-covid-19-come-to-fore
• a lack of discipline and awareness can easily lead to a further outbreak – Our friends in Orkney being hit via a visit from a fishing boat from Peterhead https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/14/orkney-coronavirus-cluster-linked-to-fishing-boat-from-peterhead

Societal problems in the UK are seen to have left the population who are the weakest, the poorest and most vulnerable, easy prey for this and potentially other illnesses.

• there are strong arguments being made to return to a more equable and caring version of society. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/09/social-care-breaking-point-england-lost-decade-report
• https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/10/england-worst-covid-figures-austerity-inequality
• https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/13/covid-19-and-the-human-cost-of-years-of-austerity
• 10% of the population is now turning to foodbanks https://www.theguardian.com/society/food-banks
• the UK economy has fallen by 20% – a steeper fall than in other European countries: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/12/uk-economy-covid-19-plunges-into-deepest-slump-in-history
• there is growing acceptance of the link between poverty and illness – The perverse phenomenon of obesity being associated with lack of personal wealth is a case in point: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/12/to-fight-obesity-we-must-first-raise-incomes
• it is the poorest who are more likely to live in areas marked by air pollution, and there is more to link pollution with susceptibility to Covid 19: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/13/study-of-covid-deaths-in-england-is-latest-to-find-air-pollution-link

There are positives to take from the discipline designed to stop transmission of Covid:

• the incidence of other infections – influenza, colds and bronchitis have been reduced: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/lockdown-england-reduced-flu-colds-bronchitis-coronavirus
• healthy alternative hobbies have drawn more interest – Hopeful to maintain a grip beyond these strange times: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/aug/10/interest-in-allotments-soars-in-england-during-coronavirus-pandemic
• our grasp of history is improving with referral to literature on earlier pandemics https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/12/to-calais-in-ordinary-time-by-james-meek-review
• Churches here and elsewhere are finding ways to open their doors and re-establish their role within the communities and heats of the people https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/joy-relief-lagos-churches-reopen-worship-coronavirus-lockdown-nigeria
• Charity shops have been finding lockdown a mixed blessing – a drop in sales for now seems likely to be followed by an upturn as donations rise and people are again bargain hunting https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/15/uk-charity-shops-sales-suffer-despite-lockdown-decluttering

Climate change and its consequences are competing for headlines and worry:

The 6.38am train from Aberdeen to Glasgow was derailed by a landslip following torrential rain on Thursday morning – causing the deaths of three men and raising fears of similar problems to come https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/13/scottish-minister-warns-of-climate-challenge-after-stonehaven-crash#:~:text=Scottish%20minister%20warns%20of%20climate%20challenge%20after%20Stonehaven%20crash,-Concerns%20over%20rise&text=The%20climate%20crisis%20is%20presenting,following%20thunderstorms%20and%20torrential%20rain.

• failure to invest in safety, as with the weakness of social care, will make us the more vulnerable unless action is taken: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/15/uk-infrastructure-inadequate-for-climate-emergency-experts-warn
• researchers are convinced that earlier climate changes were responsible for the extinction of certain creatures. Warning signs indeed: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/13/climate-change-most-likely-cause-of-woolly-rhino-extinction-study

Other matters:

Detectorists have been busy during lockdown and those in Peebles of the Scottish Borders found fame with the discovery of a Bronze Age horse harness and sword https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-53714864

Sales from a collection of antiquarian cookery books will whet appetites and teach us about tastes of the past https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/10/roasted-badger-and-raisin-wine-historical-cookbooks-reveal-surprising-recipes

There is advice on determining the optimum time to leave tea brewing, which is good for the soul – read the Miserere Psalm at a leisurely pace: https://www.catholicity.com/prayer/psalm-51-miserere.html

Catherine Shoard muses on the attractions of rail travel – reminding me of reflections from a man who taught anatomy at Guy’s Hospital and researched Haversian Canals. Travel by train with grape juice to hand is the greatest of pleasures. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/10/pandemic-train-travel-rail-network

Angelo Boletti – an 83 year old pensioner has been fined the equivalent of £150 for allowing his cockerel to call out too early and too close to his neighbours’ homes https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/italian-pensioner-fined-over-cockerels-early-morning-crowing?fbclid=iwar278u4rhvlajtz30lkzfx1yfpxs1jpvcwwvnucomvn6p0j4-bdw3z6ft-u

The Competitions and Markets Authority accuses funeral services of making unreasonable profits: at least £400 more being charged for a funeral than is reasonable. The largest services, The Coop and Dignity, are accused of being the most guilty with overcharging £800 – £1,400. This is not an easy time for the authorities to take action, but hopefully it will follow https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/aug/13/funeral-directors-overcharging-bereaved-by-at-least-400-watchdog-says

And, to celebrate:

• The 75^th anniversary of VJ Day  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/15/uk-to-mark-75th-anniversary-of-victory-over-japan-day
• Princess Anne is 70: Princess Anne at 70: a life of style – in pictures

 

David Jolley