Ceachtanna ón bPaindéim!

Lessons from the Pandemic!

by | 2023/04/05 | Current Affairs, Science and Technology, International News, National News

Lessons from the Pandemic!

 

It's hard to believe that more than three years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is rarely in the news now and things are almost back to how they were before. But COVID–19 killed at least 6.8 million people worldwide and more than 13 thousand people on the island of Ireland. It is important for us now to reflect on the lessons we have learned and with that knowledge to better prepare for the next pandemic. In this article, we will highlight five important lessons from the pandemic. In the next article, we will mention five important recommendations of the next pandemic.

 

 

Lesson 1 – Put your faith in science instead of rumours

 

 

We take it for granted now, but the importance of vaccines and how quickly they were developed cannot be overemphasized. Not only that, but the development of an m-RNA vaccine is nothing short of a miracle – an innovative and revolutionary approach to vaccine design. Normally, it takes up to 15 years to design a vaccine, but it only took one year for COVID-19! Anti-vaccination misinformation did a lot of damage, because it scared some people, and they therefore refused the vaccine. Vaccines (including m-RNA vaccines) are safe, potent and effective. The more people who are vaccinated, the better the spread of the disease is prevented.

 

 

Lesson 2 – Masks work against the virus

 

 

Masks are able to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. There was uncertainty in the United States about that at first, because the authorities wanted to keep masks for doctors and medical staff to protect them from the virus. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) initially said that people who were not infected did not need to wear masks, but then changed their recommendation and said that everyone should wear a mask. Their messages were unfortunately conflicting and people were not quite sure what to do. As for what kind of masks to wear, there was a shortage of N-95 masks, and people had to wear cloth masks, which were not very effective against the virus.

 

 

Lesson 3 – Indoor air quality is important

 

 

At first, we didn't know much about how the virus spreads. But over time, we learned that airborne transmission is the most effective method of spreading the virus. Therefore, it is very important to use an air filter to remove virus particles. The best filter is a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter). Such a system is able to significantly reduce the amount of the COVID-19 virus, and it also reduces other disease vectors – such as influenza.

 

 

Lesson 4 – Wastewater monitoring is very useful in a virus pandemic

 

 

Early in the pandemic, the idea to monitor wastewater arose and that exercise grew as an approach over time. People shed particles of the COVID-19 virus before they have symptoms of the disease. Any surge in COVID-19 cases can be predicted a few weeks in advance by analyzing wastewater data. This analysis can be done area by area, and that is a great help in putting together a plan against the virus.

 

 

Lesson 5 – Genomic surveillance is necessary

 

 

Unfortunately, the virus mutates from time to time and changes the outer covering so that vaccines are no longer as effective. It is therefore necessary to design a new vaccine against a new variant, in a kind of biological warfare. Therefore, it is very important for all countries to be able to carry out genomic surveillance and find new variants as soon as possible. Even after the pandemic, it is still necessary to be alert, because you would never know when a new dangerous version will come out.

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

We feel relieved that the pandemic is now over, and life is almost back to normal. The pandemic was very painful and a large number of people died from the virus so it is easy to put the bad memories behind us and carry on as before the pandemic. But we have to go against our nature in this situation and not forget the pandemic and the lessons mentioned above. More than that, based on the lessons we've learned, we need to put measures in place to conquer the next pandemic, whenever it happens.

 

 

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Creat Windsor!

Windsor Framework!

by | 2023/03/29 | Current Affairs, International News, National News, Politics

Windsor Framework!

There are many dangers in the DUP's approach to Brexit. Without a doubt, the pressure is on as I write this. The DUP have long announced that they will not return to the Stormont Assembly, regardless of the Executive, unless the post-Brexit protocol is changed to meet their demands. Their main problem is that the same rules would not apply in the North as in Great Britain itself, due to the soft border between the North and Ireland. A soft border is enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement and customs checkpoints cannot be located on the border. Therefore, Brexit contravenes the Agreement, absent a special provision.

Northern Ireland Protocol

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed the Northern Ireland Protocol with the European Union and it came into effect on January 1, 2021. According to that arrangement, customs checkpoints are located at Northern Ireland ports and Belfast international airport , and all goods checked coming into the North – including goods from Great Britain, even if they are to stay in Northern Ireland. Previously, Johnson promised the DUP that he would not allow a border in the Irish Sea - and then broke his promise to them. No wonder the DUP felt betrayed and then refused to take a role in the Assembly ever since.

Windsor framework

The DUP boycott of Stormont has put pressure on the United Kingdom (UK) government in a number of ways. First of all, it is much more difficult to govern the North, without a devolved Northern government in place. Secondly, any member of the DUP who is a member of the UK Parliament must resign from that role were he/she to take up a role in the Assembly. As members of Parliament, they are able to put more pressure on the UK government in relation to the post-Britain protocol.

On the flip side of that, however, there are a few downsides to that approach. First, the boycott increases political instability and the risk of violence. Secondly, the Stormont boycott is against the will of the people and that is not a good thing. Even among its own followers, only half are in favor of the boycott, and that is a political risk for their own party! Undoubtedly, the DUP members are playing high stakes, not just for themselves, but for the North as well.

The UK government bowed to pressure, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen putting together new trade arrangements - the 'Windsor Framework' - which will reduce customs checks on goods coming into the North from Great Britain. It is a compromise between the two parties and the European Union has undoubtedly conceded to the UK in relation to several points. But it's a good deal for the North, all things considered.

Significant progress but…

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the Windsor Framework was a significant step forward, but they still had key concerns about the Framework, particularly around the continued application of EU laws. There is still a lot of work to be done, according to Donaldson. But Rishi Sunak said the UK government has no plans to renegotiate the Framework.

In the first vote in parliament on the 'Stormont Brake', a central piece of the Framework, there were 515 members in favor and 29 (including 8 DUP members) against the Brake, and so it was passed.

A clash between the DUP and Sunak is likely to be inevitable, but Sunak currently has the upper hand on the Framework. But what will Jeffrey Donaldson do now?

Choices?

Jeffrey Donaldson and the DUP are now in a dilemma over what to do. It now feels very unlikely that the DUP will succeed in forcing their will on the UK government further with respect to the Framework. At the same time, Northerners are growing impatient since they still don’t have their own government in place, and support for the DUP may well dwindle if its boycott of Stormont continues. Without a doubt, the DUP is in a bit of trouble now.

In my view, it is now time for the DUP to swallow their pride and do the right thing and accept their seats in Stormont. Ultimately, they got a new deal regarding the Protocol, and it's a shame they're not happy with that. Who knows what the end of this story might be, but I have to admit that I am not overly optimistic about it.

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Na hOscars – Thuas seal Thíos seal!

The Oscars - you win some, you lose some!

by | 2023/03/22 | Current Affairs, International News, National News

The Oscars - you win some, you lose some!

The Oscars could hardly be worse this year than they were last year. That's what I thought a few days ago, anyway. Unfortunately, they were much worse in my opinion, (at least) from the point of view of our country. Why? Well, we only won two Oscars out of the 14 nominations we received! Then to add insult to injury we received mental abuse before and at the Oscar ceremony.

Although 'The Banshees of Inisherin' received 9 nominations, the film did not win any Oscars. 'The Quiet Girl' did not win the Oscar for the best international feature film either, as the film 'All Quiet on the Western Front' from Germany won that Oscar. And Paul Mescal didn't win the Oscar for best actor in the movie 'Aftersun', because Brendan Fraser (in the movie 'The Whale') won that Oscar.

But, every cloud has a silver lining...

It is a sign of the significant progress in the film industry in Ireland that the two Oscars we won were a disappointment to some of us! The 14 nominations showed the full range of talent in the country in acting, directing, editing, composing and filming - not only in English, but in Irish too!

Richard Baneham's second Oscar win in the special effects category for his work on Avatar: The Way of Water' shows that Ireland's technical skills are at the highest level. 'An Irish Goodbye' showcased the depth and breadth of talent available in Ireland, as well as the gift of originality. When the Oscar audience sang 'Happy Birthday' to actor James Martin, it was a special celebration! James is the first person with Down syndrome to ever win an Oscar!

Ivan Martin (James' father) said: "I remember the person who said to me a long time ago: 'Look Mr Martin, you have to understand that James will never talk' And here we are now! "James doesn't just talk, but from the moment he started talking, he hasn't stopped since," Ivan told BBC Radio Ulster.

Special mention must be made of that wonderful film 'An Cailín Ciúin', the first Irish language film ever to reach this ceremony. With that, Irish-language filmmaking has achieved an important goal. CINE4 (a partnership with TG4, the Irish Film Board (BSE) and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)) played a key role as the main financier in this significant development. It's a strong confirmation of how important funding is to make progress like that - otherwise, it wouldn't happen.

Mental abuse!

On the Saturday before the Oscars, there was a 'comedy sketch' on the program 'Saturday Night Live', with Molly Kearny and Mikey Day as Farrell and Gleeson. The clip of them was posted online, which showed the pair speaking unintelligible English to each other until they walked out, and then one of the presenters saying: “Wow! They haven't even started drinking yet.”

The sketch was criticized for being offensive and derogatory in the way it portrayed Irish stereotypes. Actor Alan Mehdizadeh wrote on Twitter: “Well done SNL! You managed to make fun of an entire nation, and of someone who was engaged in a very public battle with alcohol, and you managed to do it without even being funny."

"..the 1980s called and they want their stereotypical Irish jokes back," said another commenter. Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee shared the clip on Twitter with the words: "Yeah, it's pretty good" and an emoji showing her displeasure at the end.

Even at the Oscar ceremony itself, the presenter, Jimmy Kimmel, was joking (in the same way). He opened the ceremony by saying: “We have nominated people from all over Dublin. Five Irish actors have been nominated tonight, which greatly increases the chances of another fight on stage.”

Later, Kimmel read a 'fan question' from a viewer who said he loved Farrell's performance, but didn't understand what he was saying. Farrell replied: "Watch SNL last night and you'll have a good clue." Kimmel was criticized on social media and the press for those negative things he was saying.

Conclusion

Although 'Saturday Night Live' and Jimmy Kimmel threw anti-Irish insults about, we should be positive about things. It is a source of national pride that we received 14 nominations and two Oscars, including the first for someone with Down syndrome. It's great to see an Irish language film competing at an international level as well - that's a good sign of hope for the language. We will have another day at the Oscars!

Athrú ollmhór i nDearcadh Phobal na Ríochta Aontaithe

Big Change of Perspective by the U.K. Public

by | 2023/03/15 | Current Affairs, International News, Politics

Athrú Ollmhór...

Recently, three researchers at the European University Institute performed an interesting analysis of trends in British opinion polls on Brexit that had been carried out over a six -year period. They noticed a strong trend - over time more people think that Brexit was a disastrous mistake. Other interesting trends were also discovered when they broke down the results by age group.

Results of the British referendum on Brexit

In the referendum itself in 2016, 52% were in favor of leaving the European Union (EU) and 48% against. But 64% of voters over 65 chose ‘leave’, compared to just 29% of youngest voters – those between 18 and 24 years. There is no argument but that there was, there is and there will be a big difference between young and old regarding Brexit.

The results of opinion polls

‘YouGov 'ran British opinion polls in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022. This question was in every poll:“ Do you think it was right or wrong for the UK to leave the EU? ”

Among all respondents, the average percentage has increased over time who think that it was wrong to leave the EU, suggesting that the people of the UK have experienced a change of heart.

The researchers Joris Frese, Juho Härkönen and Simon Hix for calculated the percentage for each age group who answered ‘wrong’”, in an attempt to gain deeper insights.

Researchers' analysis

Only a small group of the oldest voters group (65+) changed opinion since the referendum. In the latest poll, 28% think it was wrong to leave the tea. (This shows that,) if anything, they are, as a group, more comfortable now than ever that the UK was right to leave the EU.

Likewise, most people born between 1945 and 1954 - the so -called “Baby Boomers” did not change - their opinion. In the latest poll, 32% think it was wrong to leave the EU.

Unlike the other groups, many people changed their views in the group born between 1985 and 1994 - the ‘millenials’. 57% said in 2016 that it was wrong to leave, but in the latest poll, 70% say it was wrong.

In the group born between 1995 and 2004 (‘Gen Z’), 61% said in 2016 that it was wrong to leave the EU compared to 64% in the latest polls. But-and this is a crucial point-there are many in this group (those born after 1998) who were too young to vote in 2016.

Conclusions

But what is the main findings of the research? Two main conclusions can be drawn from the researchers' study.

1.Most did not change their opinion about Brexit, with one exception - the ‘millenials’. 70% now think it is a mistake for them to leave the EU. It is no coincidence that this is the group that is paying the most for the bad decision on Brexit.
2. In 2016, 69% young people were in favor of staying in the EU, compared to 36% of people over 65. But over time people dye - mainly older people, and new voters are coming in upon turning 18. Approximately one third of the opinion shift on Brexit in the opinion polls is attributable to this demographic change.

We cannot predict precisely what people in the UK will have in the future but we are able to express a measured opinion, anyway. One of the researchers - Juho Härkönen - said that “the main conclusion” from the study of his team was that “voter replacement” has a major impact on the results up to date, and will (do so) also in the future.” As the younger generation is much more positive about the EU than the oldest voters group, it is clear that the trend in favor of the EU will continue to increase in the UK. Therefore, after a while the UK will reach a dilemma, regarding its membership of the EU. Looking back now, it is clear to most electors that the Tories and the Press pulled the wool over their eyes, in relation to Brexit. And while it would not be easy for the UK, it would be better (for them) to re -apply for membership in the EU as soon as possible. To do this, they will have to consider how to save face-a difficult thing for a country that was once so strong!

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Rudaí sa spéir!

Things in the Sky!

by | 2023/02/22 | Current Affairs, Science and Technology, International News

Rudaí sa Spéir!

What is China up to? That's the question on everyone's mind after the recent major international incident between China and the United States. A senior military official said a balloon was seen on January 28, on the northern side of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The balloon was about 18 kilometers high. It followed a flight path over Canada and then over Idaho in the United States. It arrived in Montana on February 1st and when flights were banned at the Billings airport, people looked up in the sky and caught sight of the balloon.

 

President Biden first heard about the balloon on January 31 and asked a top general to review military options.

 

National and international diplomatic fallout quickly followed. In the United States, there was a difference of opinion about what should be done. Republicans took the opportunity to criticize Biden for his inaction, saying he should have destroyed the balloon as soon as he learned about it. But Biden said he did just that – with one condition – don't take the risk that anyone would die as a result. Therefore, it was not destroyed until it was over the sea – which happened on February 4, over the Atlantic ocean.

 

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its strong displeasure and objection over Washington's decision to shoot down the balloon, claiming it was a Chinese civilian aircraft that had accidentally entered the United States. "China will firmly protect the legitimate rights of the enterprise in question, and reserves the right to respond later," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The United States did not believe it was a civilian aircraft, but the Pentagon determined it was a Chinese surveillance device, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken postponed his trip to China as a result. It is strange that this (all) happened before the Secretary's trip, when his aim was to restore good relations with China. That's not the kind of thing that would foster good relations between them, and we have to wonder if the Chinese President, Xi Jinpeng, knew that that balloon would be violating US airspace at the same time as Secretary Blinken's visit (was scheduled to occur) .

 

Reconciliation will now be difficult, with China is claiming thing and the United States another, regarding the balloon. It is vital for the two superpowers to keep their distance for a while, before making another attempt to restore good relations.

 

UFOs?

 

It may be a coincidence but it is worrying that three more aircraft have entered the airspace over North America since then! After what had happened to the balloon, they were shot down without delay. The authorities said nothing about them except that they were not as sophisticated as the balloon. Oddlly enough, a couple of them were not balloons, apparently, but they were not sure about the propulsion system used. As a result, there were whispers that they were UFOs. Asked at a news conference whether an extraterrestrial origin was out of the question, Glen D. VanHerck, commander of the Air Force Northern Command, said, "I can't rule anything out at this point." But in other interviews, US national security officials said it was not an extraterrestrial spacecraft. No one, said one senior official, thinks these things are other than just products made here on Earth.

 

Parting Words

 

Up until February 4, 2023, no aircraft had been brought to the ground over North America. Since then, four aircraft have been brought to the ground! This raises many questions about what is going on, and who is behind this attack?

 

Undoubtedly, the first aircraft - the balloon - belongs to China. We will know more about the balloon before long, after the United States has examined the pieces they recovered from the sea. China was probably spying on the United States with that balloon. If so, they won’t be in a hurry back!

 

As for the other aircraft, the US government remains silent as of this writing. The government will be pressured to issue a statement soon enough, and that will be very interesting to see. I hope it's not alien spaceships!

 

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An tarcaisne a chur i gceann na héagóra!

Adding insult to injury!

by | 2023/01/25 | Current Affairs, Language Affairs, International News, Opinion

Adding insult to injury!

I have an incredible story for you today, a story that awakens memories of our own history in Ireland, in relation to our language.

In September 2022, bad storms blew across northwest Alaska. They were caused by typhoon Merbok, and they caused a lot of damage in places where Native American people live. The United States government (Federal Emergency Management Agency – it's called FEMA) provided money to repair the damage. Many Indigenous people had to apply to get money. Because they have their own languages, FEMA had to provide them with instructions in Yup'ik and Inupiaq.

FEMA awarded the translation contract to a small company in California, called "Accent on Languages." It was an utter disaster!

Strange Phrases!

When candidates started working on their applications, they expected instructions to help them fill out the paperwork. But instead, all they had to read were gibberish and strange phrases. For example, here is one sentence: "Tomorrow, we will go hunting, and we will not take anything with us." Here's another: "Your husband is a polar bear, skinny!"

Another document was in the wrong language. Instead of being in the Iñupiaq language, it was written in Inuktitut, a language that uses its own alphabet. Inuktitut is spoken 5,000 kilometers away from the area in question, in Labrador and Quebec in Canada.

In one press release, the 'State News Desk' was translated as "When she said that, the dog ran further away from the curtain".

An abrupt response

Tara Sweeney, an Iñupiaq who previously worked for the US Department of Home Affairs, told the AP that there was "symbolism" in the errors that went back to when Alaska Native languages were being erased in residential schools. in the 1900s.

“Like thousands of others in Alaska, my mother was beaten because she spoke her own language at school. When you see the federal government now, distributing documents in our languages, , I can't describe the feeling that that symbolism inspires in me" said Sweeney, talking to 'Associated Press' (AP) .

Jaclyn Rothenberg, a spokeswoman for FEMA, told the AP that the company "Accent on Languages" was fired and FEMA redid the translation. The aid was not postponed as a result of the error, Rothenberg told the AP.

Caroline Lee, CEO of "Accent on Languages", said that in their 30 years of translating, they had never experienced such a catastrophic failure. She fired the translators who were responsible for the mistranslations. Following this disaster, new measures were put in place to ensure that this would not happen again. FEMA will also be reimbursed in full, she said.

Conclusion

This story informs us about the problems faced by minority languages around the world. Wherever various empires have oppressed the native peoples, they have almost wiped out their languages. They added insult to injury in making a terrible mess in their efforts to use the same languages they destroyed in the first place. I have to say that I fully and completely agree with what Tara Sweeney has to say on the subject. After understanding this story, it dawned on me that FEMA did not ask the tribes in question to make the transfers. Don't they know their own languages best? The United States government should have a policy in place to offer a contract like that to those who speak the minority languages.

Bad things happen in Ireland too, unfortunately, when it comes to our own language!

I remember one terrible example where Cork County Council - a county where the Múscráí Gaeltacht is located - used 'Google Translate' to provide original content on the County Council's website in Irish.

Or you may remember the major problems faced by the Central Statistics Office a few years ago, as their system for providing information about the most common names given to children did not include names with fadas on them. The CSO's explanation for their system being faulty was technological difficulties.

It was no surprise then, that both the HSE and "Bank of Ireland" said that technological issues were the cause of all the fadas being missing in their own systems.

The bottom line is that we all have to constantly put pressure on our governments, whether in Ireland or Alaska, to protect our native languages!

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