Notations On Our World (Special Edition): As Our World Lives Through #LifeIntheTimeofCorona

The #COVID19 Pandemic has brought our World to a standstill.    Our team has been busy with updates on our Social Media Channels.   We decided to release this very crucial call to action here by the UN Secretary General that we joined as we commend the team at AVAAZ in helping to spread this word and we are pleased to join it as we say, 

#WeWillGetThroughThisTogether:

 FacebookWhatsApp
 


Dear friends, the UN chief António Guterres has invited our movement to answer his call to action. Here it is:

--

Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19.

The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly.

Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world.

The most vulnerable — women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced — pay the highest price.

They are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19.

Let’s not forget that in war-ravaged countries, health systems have collapsed.

Health professionals, already few in number, have often been targeted.

Refugees and others displaced by violent conflict are doubly vulnerable.

The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war.

That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world.

Join the call for an immediate global ceasefire.

It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.

To warring parties, I say:

Pull back from hostilities.

Put aside mistrust and animosity.

Silence the guns; stop the artillery; end the airstrikes.

This is crucial…

To help create corridors for life-saving aid.

To open precious windows for diplomacy.

To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Let us take inspiration from coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties in some parts to enable joint approaches to COVID-19. But we need much more.

End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world.

It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now.

That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.

- UN Secretary General António Guterres

Join the call for an immediate global ceasefire.

MORE INFORMATION:

The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war - UN Secretary General António Guterres
https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/fury-virus-illustrates-folly-war 

Russia joins UN’s appeal for global ceasefire (Euractiv)
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russia-joins-uns-appeal-for-global-ceasefire-lists-conflicts-by-name/ 

Cameroon rebels declare coronavirus ceasefire (BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52053738 

Given the gravity of the Covid-19 crisis, Avaaz is taking the unprecedented step of sharing a full statement of the UN Secretary General. You can also read his full statement here and his full virtual press conference here.

#LifeInTheAgeofCorona: As We Go Dark For the Quarter

It is the dawn of Nowruz which is celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and other parts of the World--We hereby extend best wishes as our Founder was  good enough to share the greeting he released yesterday in support of Donate a Photo.

As we go dark for the quarter and gear up for the new Quarter throughout our properties, we hereby present this simple reminder courtesy of USA.GOV as we implore all to visit the World Health Organization and the Centers For Disease Control   for the latest information--our team will continue its' daily updates on our Twitter Corner and the latest on Demand live broadcast featuring SkyNews as we also got this from California on the latest resource they have released: 

Cleaning Hands Helps Prevent the Spread of Germs

Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. Be sure to wash before and after certain activities to reduces the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness. Follow five simple and effective steps: Wet Lather Scrub Rinse Dry Learn more about when and how to wash your hands, the importance of using soap and water, and what you can do if soap and clean water are not available. Whether you are at home, work, or on the go, find out how good hand hygiene can protect you, your family, and others. Please Stay Safe, take care of yourself and your families. #WeWillGetThroughThisTogether.

Notations From the Grid ( #LIfeIntheAgeofCorona Edition): On the Latest Developments....

Corona Virus in the United States (Source:  Washington Post) 

The Corona Virus continues to wreck havoc on life throughout the World.     Life in the United States is pretty much grinding to a halt--our team was in town in Laguna Niguel and we were again witness to empty shelves as we saw restaurants closed, banks adjust their hours (and even potentially shutting down) to deal with this raging virus as we present a compliation of updates courtesy the Washington Post & the Financial Times of London (and as we went to press, the European Central Bank announced a 750 Billion Euro Corporate Bond Purchase Program & the US Senate Cleared the Corona Recovery Bill which was signed by President Trump: 

Layoffs are mounting by the tens of thousands, and economists warn millions of jobs could disappear this year. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers that the unemployment rate could spike to almost 20 percent (from its current level of 3.5 percent), people familiar with his comments told The Washington Post. The scale of a $1 trillion economic plan is coming into sharper focus. The White House is working with Republicans in Congress on a package that could send $2,000 to many Americans and devote $300 billion to small businesses. U.S. markets tanked as stimulus talks failed to ease worried investors. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index was forced to halt trading at one point Wednesday because the sell-off was so sharp. Nearly all of the advances the market has made under the Trump presidency have been erased. A chilling new study forced the United Kingdom to sit up and take coronavirus seriously, and the White House task force is also reportedly using it to guide strategy. The study predicts that if we only try to slow the spread, the number of hospital beds could be overwhelmed, leading to about 250,000 deaths in the U.K. and more than a million in the United States. The study, by London's Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team, recommended stronger measures would need to be taken to reduce the death toll further. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is using that study to implement more extreme measures to suppress the spread of the virus. On Wednesday, Johnson announced all schools across the U.K. will close starting Friday, until further notice. In a rare pre-recorded televised message, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany is facing its gravest challenge since World War II. “Take it seriously," she said. "Since German reunification, not since World War II, there's not been a challenge to our country that depends as much on our united actions done in solidarity.” The United States and Canada have mutually agreed to close their border to nonessential traffic. Trump said trade would not be affected. The administration also plans to immediately send back to Mexico migrants who cross the southern border illegally, including those who are seeking asylum. New York confirmed 1,008 new cases Tuesday, raising the state’s total to 2,382, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) told reporters Wednesday. He attributed the rise to more testing. New York has the most cases of any U.S. state. Of people who are ill, 549 are hospitalized. Italy reported 475 new deaths from the virus Wednesday — the largest one-day spike recorded in one country. The nation's surging fatality rate has been blamed in part on overloaded hospitals, raising fears of a similar spike in the United States, where cash-strapped hospitals have been reluctant to order ventilators they could soon need in the tens of thousands. Faced with such shortages, authorities are turning to quarantines, business closures and bans on large gatherings in an attempt to “flatten the curve.” You can use our new interactive graphic to get a rough idea of how much your town or city may have to restrict public life to save people’s lives. Lately, President Trump has been trying to rebrand the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus,” despite concerns that the term is unscientific, misleading and could incite racial attacks. “It’s not racist at all,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “It comes from China, that’s why.” Researchers believe the disease originated in bats or pangolins. Slightly more than half of Americans think Trump has downplayed the virus too much, a new Pew Research Center survey found. The president, who last month suggested U.S. coronavirus cases would peak at 15, defended himself by noting his decision to restrict travel from China early in the outbreak. “I always treated the Chinese Virus very seriously, and have done a very good job from the beginning,” he tweeted this morning.

World Rana Foroohar on the trillion dollar fightback, Biden sweep MARCH 18, 2020 by News features and analysis from Financial Times reporters around the world. FT News in Focus is produced by Fiona Symon.

Economy Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler agree widespread shutdown Honda, BMW and Toyota also idle plants across US and Europe MARCH 18, 2020 by Peter Campbell in London and Claire Bushey in Chicago Senate clears $104B House coronavirus bill The Senate cleared a $104 billion federal aid package Wednesday aimed at responding to the coronavirus pandemic, freeing up lawmakers to focus on a third, much more significant stimulus plan that could cost in the range of $1 trillion. The $104 billion measure, which President Trump is expected to sign quickly, provides up to 10 days of sick leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave for some workers. It also pays for free coronavirus testing for those who need it. Read the full story here.