Monthly Archives: March 2021

2021-03-23: News Headlines

F. Douglas Stephenson (2021-03-23). Why we Must pass The Medicare for All Act. juancole.com Gainesville, Florida (Special to Informed Comment) — March 17, 2021, was a very bright day in the history of single-payer health insurance and public health in the USA. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D, WA) and Debbie Dingell, (D., MI) introduced the modern MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT of 2021 (H.R. 1976) in Congress. M4A 2021 is new …

Aggarwal R, Hammond J, Joynt Maddox KE, et al. (2021-03-23). Association Between Proportion of Black Patients Cared for at Hospitals and Penalties in CMS Value-Based Payment Programs. jamanetwork.com This study evaluates whether US hospitals with mostly Black patients are more likely than other hospitals to have penalties associated with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) value-based payment programs.

Johnston KJ, Meyers DJ, Hammond G, et al. (2021-03-23). Association of Clinician Minority Patient Caseload With Performance in the 2019 Medicare MIPS. jamanetwork.com This study assesses the association between US clinicians' caseload of minority patients and their 2019 Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System performance score.

Kuehn BM. (2021-03-23). Sexual Minorities Have Greater COVID-19 Risk Factors. jamanetwork.com Gay, lesbian, or bisexual adults have higher rates than heterosexual people of health conditions that increase the risk of developing severe COVID-19, according to national survey data.

Patrick Cockburn (2021-03-23). The War of Hunger is Taking Over From the War of Guns…and All Syrians are the Victims. counterpunch.org Great dollops of hypocrisy invariably accompany expressions of concern by outside powers for the wellbeing of the Syrian people. But even by these low standards, a new record for self-serving dishonesty is being set by the Caesar Civilian Protection Act, the new US law imposing the harshest sanctions in the world on Syria and bringing millions of Syrians to the brink of famine.

RobertAlvarez (2021-03-23). BOOK: The Water Defenders. ips-dc.org THE WATER DEFENDERS: | HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE SAVED A COUNTRY FROM CORPORATE GREED: | Robin Broad | John Cavanagh: | Introduction: | Water is life. Countless communities across the world, from Flint, Michigan to the Standing Rock Reservation to the Gualcarque River in Honduras, have used this phrase as a rallying cry against powerful corporations that value profits over the environment and the health of local communities. | The movements waging these struggles can take some inspiration from El Salvador. | In 2002, a small group of citizens in El Salvador joined the global community of…

Fink D. (2021-03-23). Review of Hearing Loss in Children. jamanetwork.com To the Editor The article by Dr Lieu and colleagues about hearing loss in children notably omitted the important topic of noise-induced hearing loss. Prevention of disease is almost always better and less expensive than treatment. The only treatment currently available for hearing loss is amplification, via hearing aids, personal sound amplification products, or cochlear implants. Hearing loss with age, which is predominantly due to noise-induced hearing loss, begins at an early age and is theoretically preventable with avoidance of loud noise. The only evidence-based noise exposure level to prevent noise-induced…

Yehia BR, Fihn SD. (2021-03-23). Envisioning the Veterans Affairs Health Care System of the Future. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint proposes strategies the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system can pursue to shore up its mission in response to declining numbers of veterans and impending budget constraints, including accelerating a transition to value-based care, optimization of infrastructure, and strengthening engagement with employees and the public.

Len Faul (2021-03-23). Video: "Police On Guard for Thee": Toronto Police Officers Challenge "Unconstitutional Public Health Measures" globalresearch.ca For those officers who are silent while we are ordered to …

Wakefield M. (2021-03-23). Federally Qualified Health Centers and Related Primary Care Workforce Issues. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint proposes education, training, and funding reforms to expand the primary care workforce to supply federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), government-funded community-based health care sites that by providing safety-net primary care in underserved areas will be vital to addressing health inequities in the US.

Len Faul (2021-03-23). Video: "Police On Guard for Thee": Toronto Police Officers Challenge "Unconstitutional Public Health Measures" globalresearch.ca Len Faul is a retired former Inspector with the Toronto Police. …

WSWS (2021-03-23). An Open Letter to Columbia Graduate Students from the IYSSE at University of Michigan. wsws.org The issues being fought for by graduate students—a living wage, job security, better health care coverage and improved working conditions—are the same issues that confront students, young people and workers across the country and around the world.

Betsey Piette (2021-03-23). New court filings for Abu-Jamal's appeal. workers.org As his 67th birthday nears, and Pennsylvania political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal faces challenging and potentially fatal health crises, his legal case is still slowly winding its way through the arduous appellate court system. "Free Mumia" signs at the March 20 Harlem rally in solidarity with Amazon workers in Bessemer, Ala., . . . |

Nina Turner (2021-03-23). "Good Ideas Are Not Enough, We Need to Marry Our Ideas to Power" zcomm.org Interview on the heartbreaks and new opportunities of both Bernie campaigns, the left agenda she will bring to Capitol Hill, and why policies like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal are racial justice issues…

F. Douglas Stephenson (2021-03-23). Why we Must pass The Medicare for All Act. zcomm.org Everyone knows that this inhumane system should have been corrected long ago, but the death and illness ravages of the pandemic crisis makes it impossible to any longer avoid reality…

Staff (2021-03-23). Headlines for March 23, 2021. democracynow.org Man with AR-15 Assault Rifle Kills 10 in Boulder, CO, Supermarket, Colorado Judge Overturned Boulder's Ban on Assault Weapons One Week Ahead of Massacre, CDC Warns Against Relaxing Public Health Measures at "Critical Point in the Pandemic", AstraZeneca Submitted "Outdated Information" in COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Application, WHO Decries "Grotesque" Vaccination Gap Between Rich and Poor Nations, Saudi Arabia Proposes Yemen Ceasefire; Houthis Demand End to Devastating Blockade First, Hundreds Missing, Tens of Thousands Displaced by Fire in Rohingya Refugee Camp, 137 Killed in Niger Attacks After Constitutiona…

teleSUR (2021-03-23). Europe Do Not Rule Out Link Between AstraZeneca and Coagulation. telesurenglish.net European Medicines Agency (EMA) Director Emer Cooke on Tuesday announced clinical and laboratory reports do not yet allow a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the blood clotting cases to be definitively ruled out. | RELATED: | She recalled that the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) recommended raising awareness of potential risks to help healthcare professionals follow up on symptoms that may occur after vac…

Tom Engelhardt (2021-03-23). There Is No Vaccine for Global Warming. thenation.com There Is No Vaccine for Global Warming…

Dr. Joseph Mercola (2021-03-23). COVID-19 Vaccine Tested on Babies Even as Death Toll Mounts. Greatest Public Health Calamity in Modern History. globalresearch.ca If early statistics are any indication, we are facing the greatest …

teleSUR (2021-03-23). Mexico Dispatches Its First Batch of CanSino COVID-19 Vaccines. telesurenglish.net Mexico's Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard Monday informed that 940,022 CanSino vaccines were packaged in his country and began to be distributed. | RELATED: | These doses were packaged at the Drugmex plant in Queretaro where Birmex laboratories are in charge of the distribution. Previously, Mexico purchased 35 million doses from China. | Ebrard noted that this vaccine is highly effective and it avoids hos…

Newsclick (2021-03-23). The US Indo-Pacific Strategy and Its Delusions. dissidentvoice.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha talks about the recent Anchorage meeting between Chinese and US officials, the larger dimensions of the Indo-Pacific strategy of the United States, and how all of this ties into the politics around vaccines that dominates global diplomacy today.

Megan Redshaw (2021-03-23). New Research Points to Link Between AstraZeneca Vaccine and Blood Clots. globalresearch.ca Researchers in Norway and Germany say they've identified antibodies that provoke …

WSWS (2021-03-23). European vaccine crisis worsens with EU set to vote on export ban. wsws.org Nothing is more disgusting than the sight of Johnson and Von der Leyen competing for the moral high ground. Both are implementing trade war policies.

Human Rights Watch (2021-03-23). Israel's Discriminatory Vaccine Push Underscores Need for Action on behalf of Palestinians. juancole.com Human Rights Watch Statement — Item 7 General Debate ( Human Rights Watch ) — As millions of Israelis slowly return to normalcy, with the majority of citizens vaccinated, millions of Palestinians just a short distance away in the occupied territory return to lockdown, with the prospect of mass vaccination nowhere in sight. The Israeli …

Alvaro Huerta (2021-03-23). Four Ways to Support Latinas/os during the Pandemic and Beyond. counterpunch.org The COVID-19 pandemic has not only devastated the U.S. economy, healthcare system and educational way of learning, it has also exposed or exasperated the racial and class inequalities in the formal economy (and informal economy). (The informal economy is also known as the unregulated economy, among other terms.) While it's true that pandemic has impacted

Global Research News (2021-03-23). Selected Articles: Toronto Police Officers Challenge "Unconstitutional Public Health Measures" globalresearch.ca By For those officers who are silent while we are ordered to enact questionable polic…

2021-03-22: News Headlines

Kristen Lee (2021-03-22). Lack of Full Statehood Rights Continues to Cause Harm to D.C. Residents. aclu.org Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform is holding a hearing on a bill to establish statehood for Washington, D.C. Since the last congressional hearing on statehood in September 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, protests in D.C. after the killing of George Floyd, and the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol building have all highlighted how the lack of full statehood rights continues to cause serious harm to the health and safety of D.C. residents. These events underscore the urgency with which our country must grant full and equal rights to the 712,000 residents of D.C. | Historically, Congress has tre…

Dr. Joseph Mercola (2021-03-22). IBM Partners with Moderna for "COVID Reset". "Health Passports Are Here" globalresearch.ca Better hang on folks, as technocracy's plan to digitize you to …

Jordan Schachtel (2021-03-22). "The Chicken Little" Act Isn't Working — COVID Mania Is Wearing Off. Resistance is Unfolding. globalresearch.ca The "public health experts" are scrambling to remain in the spotlight, …

Brenton Brookings (2021-03-22). Workers report COVID-19 health violations at iconic Seattle-area burger chain. liberationnews.org Dick's Drive-In did not provide workers with any training on coronavirus symptoms or prevention and pressured them to come to work while waiting for COVID-19 test results.

Rob Okun (2021-03-22). Where Are the "Other" White Men? counterpunch.org Years ago, the pork industry ran a campaign touting its product as the "other white meat." It was angling to ally itself with the "chicken-is-healthier-than-red-meat" crowd. Most people saw it for what it was: a cynical ploy. Today, when it comes to white men, the sound and fury is all coming from the red meat

John Buell (2021-03-22). An Open Letter to Senator Joe Manchin: Stop worrying about Inflation and Focus on Keeping Hurting Workers Afloat. juancole.com Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) — Dear Senator Manchin; Corporate media now portray you as on of the most powerful politicians in DC. Hard bargaining on the amount and length of unemployment insurance chopped 100 dollars a week off the compensation workers will receive. This compromise, which you defended on the grounds it …

Dharam Kaushik (2021-03-22). [Letter] COVID-19 and health care workers burnout: A call for global action. thelancet.com In recent years, increased administrative burden, productivity metrics and work-life imbalance have caused a high burnout rate amongst healthcare workers (HCW) [1]. A survey of 7500 physicians from 8 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals that this burnout has reached an alarmingly high-rate [2]. HCW responsible for the care of COVID-19 patients are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and mental distress. Psychological distress from witnessing COVID- related deaths, deep despondency, and extra-long work hours are fueling HCW burnout at an exponential rate [3].

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2021-03-22). Experts Urge World Leaders to 'Put Marine Ecosystems at the Heart of Climate Policy'. commondreams.org "A healthy ocean, teeming with life, is a vital tool in the bid to tackle global heating." | www.flickr.com/photos/berkeleylab/282653…

Franklin Frederick (2021-03-22). Cuba's Contributions in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic. zcomm.org The Cuban Revolution shows that when resources are distributed equitably, health outcomes previously unimaginable are possible…

Socialized Medicine is What We Need (2021-03-22). HR 1976 Medicare for All Act of 2021. indybay.org On March 17, 2021, Rep. Jayapal Pamila of Wash. state and Rep. Deborah Dingell of Michigan introduced this year's version of the urgently needed Medicare for All Act of 2021 with a total of 112 sponsors, all Democrats, and it needs 218 to pass. See www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/hou…{%22search%22: [%22actionSessionCode: \%22117-1 | 1000\%22+AND+billIsReserved: \%22N\%22%22]}&r=9&s=4&searchResultViewType=compact…

Staff (2021-03-22). Headlines for March 22, 2021. democracynow.org Nationwide Protests Call for an End to Anti-AAPI Violence After Atlanta Massacre, AstraZeneca Vaccine Is 79% Effective in U.S. Trial, Shows No Risk of Blood Clotting, CDC Updates School Distancing Guidelines to 3 Feet; Miami Beach Imposes Emergency Curfew, Drug Companies Plan to Hike COVID Vaccine Prices After Pandemic Is Over, Pakistani PM Khan Has COVID; Tokyo Olympics Bars Int'l Spectators; More European Nations Lock Down, U.S. Says "Border Is Closed" as Number of Unaccompanied Children in Gov't Custody Tops 15,000, Defense Sec. Austin in Afghanistan Amid Questions over May 1 Troop Withdrawal Deadline, Women,…

WSWS (2021-03-22). New surge in COVID-19 pandemic accelerates internationally. wsws.org As cases of COVID-19 and deaths from the virus rise around the world, vaccine nationalism becomes an increasingly lethal impediment to a scientifically grounded, internationally coordinated response to the global pandemic.

Megan Redshaw (2021-03-22). CDC Ignores Inquiry into Increasing Number of Deaths, Injuries Reported After COVID Vaccines. globalresearch.ca Data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

teleSUR (2021-03-22). Peru's President Sagasti Refuses To Declare Over 'Vaccinegate'. telesurenglish.net Peru's President Francisco Sagasti announced that he would not attend a congressional subpoena scheduled for Monday to respond to the allegations of COVID-19 illegal vaccinations in his Cabinet. | RELATED: | On March 18, the Congress' Constitutional Accusations Subcommittee summoned Sagasti on "the Vaccinegate", a scandal involving former Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti and former Foreign Affairs Minister Elizabeth Astet…

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-03-22). Vacuna AstraZeneca suspendida en toda Europa. "Posibles reacciones autoinmunes, coagulación sanguínea, accidente cerebrovascular y hemorragia interna" globalizacion.ca ACTUALIZACIàìN | Francia, Alemania e Italia, que habían suspendido la vacuna AstraZeneca, reanudaron su aplicación "después de que los funcionarios de salud intentaron disipar las preocupaciones de que pueda provocar coágulos de sangre" (Informe VA) | Esta decisión fue tomada tras las…

Special to People's World (2021-03-22). Brazilian State of Maranhà£o obtains 4.5 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine. peoplesworld.org The Governor of the Brazilian State of Maranhà£o, Flávio Dino, a member of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), signed a contract on March 17 with the Sovereign Russian Fund authorizing the acquisition of 4.582 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine to combat the coronavirus. This vaccine, produced by the Gamaleya laboratory, has …

Paul Dobson (2021-03-22). Venezuela Returns to National Lockdown as Vaccine Deal Brokered. venezuelanalysis.com A ground-breaking agreement between the government and Guaidó-led opposition will allegedly allow the purchase of 12 million additional doses.

Rabbi Chananya Weissman (2021-03-22). 31 Reasons Why I Won't Take the Vaccine. globalresearch.ca The following list was created by Israeli Rabbi

Adam Dick (2021-03-22). Gov. Ron DeSantis Opposes Vaccine Passports in Florida. globalresearch.ca Good for Governor Ron DeSantis. In sharp contrast with New …

Nanjala Nyabola (2021-03-22). Vaccine Nationalism Is Patently Unjust. thenation.com Vaccine Nationalism Is Patently Unjust…

Stelios Elliniadis (2021-03-22). Humanity Will Not be Saved by Vaccines. "Hunger is Caused by Poverty and Inequality" globalresearch.ca "Hunger is caused by poverty and inequality, not scarcity. Over the …

Newsclick (2021-03-22). The US Indo-Pacific strategy and its delusions. peoplesdispatch.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha talks about the Anchorage meeting between the US and China, the recent Quad summit, and how geo-political considerations are playing a role in the distribution of vaccines…

imperial.ac.uk (2021-03-22). Artificial intelligence can help spot traces of natural selection. imperial.ac.uk Researchers have used advanced AI and large sets of genomic data to unveil how humans have adapted to recent diseases.