This video is about a red-winged blackbird singing in Canada.
Red-winged blackbird sings in Canada
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Coronavirus crisis, worldwide update
This cartoon by Henry Beaumont from Britain shows United States President Donald Trump running away from the coronavirus disaster which he helped to cause with his policies. The wave symbolizing the coronavirus pandemic is inspired by Japanese artist Hokusai´s depiction of a big wave.
From daily The Morning Star in Britain
Friday, April 3, 2020
Fears of pogroms in India as Muslims blamed for Covid-19 outbreak
Fears have been raised over a return to faith-based pogroms in India after a rise in Islamophobic rhetoric seeking to blame the coronavirus outbreak on Muslims.
More than 300 cases of Covid-19 have been linked to a recent week-long Islamic gathering in Delhi, which attracted thousands from India and overseas, and officials are trying to contact attendees and their secondary contacts.
But the news has led to fears of a repeat of the communal violence seen in recent months following the introduction of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.
El-Sisi uses coronavirus pandemic to tighten grip on Egypt. By Jean Shaoul, 3 April 2020. Egypt did nothing to prepare for the onset of the virus, despite being identified in early February, along with Algeria and South Africa, as one of the African countries most at risk.
An interview with four Chinese physicians at the epicenter of the pandemic in Wuhan: here.
Over the past week, state and federal governments have demanded that nine cruise ships in Australian waters near major ports depart immediately, despite the risk of mass coronavirus outbreaks on board. As many as twelve other cruise liners are in or near Australian waters. The dictates have placed at risk the safety and lives of the 11,000 people on board the nine vessels, the majority of whom are low-paid workers: here.
South Australian teacher speaks out against governments keeping schools open. By Sue Phillips, 3 April 2020. Amidst the mounting coronavirus danger, teachers are demanding the closure of schools.
Injured silvery-cheeked hornbill gets new horn
This photo by Texel zoo on Texel island in the Netherlands shows silvery-cheeked hornbill Balou with its new horn.
Dutch NOS radio reports about this today (translated):
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Balou in Texel Zoo has a 3D-printed horn on its beak. The animal was brought in by previous owners with a broken horn. They hoped that the animal park could mean something to the bird. The horn is made by Utrecht University.
According to Texel Zoo, the horn is important for a silvery-cheeked hornbill, because it protects against any head injuries. “He was very vulnerable,” said a spokesman. “Only a thin membrane still protected the veins. When he bumped, he started to bleed enormously.”
Utrecht University performed a CT scan on the bird to make the correct fit. “This was the first time here in the Netherlands, a horn will not break easily,” says a spokeswoman for Texel Zoo. According to her, information from abroad about the printing of beaks could be used to see how a horn could be made.
In December, the bird was successfully operated and then monitored. “We weren’t sure how it would react, if the horn would stay on and if there would be any complications. The horn has passed all the tests and the bird is behaving the same as before.”
It is not known how the horn on the beak of the animal broke.
Silvery-cheeked hornbills are from Africa.
Coronavirus crisis, the Americas update
This 3 April 2020 video from the USA says about itself:
‘There is a direct correlation between the way the Trump administration handles this crisis and how many Americans will die’ — This doctor slammed Trump for his response to COVID-19 after she contracted the disease on the job.
In US news and current events today, this doctor was infected with COVID-19 while on the job. Now, she’s calling out Trump for jeopardizing our nation’s health. Dr. Dara Kass is an emergency medicine doctor in New York City. While she is recovering, Kass says she has growing concerns for how the Trump admin is responding to the pandemic.
Navy fires captain who warned of COVID-19 spread on aircraft carrier. By Jessica Goldstein, 3 April 2020. The move is a clear statement that saving lives in the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be allowed to interfere with the war aims of US imperialism.
More Ford, FCA workers die from COVID-19 in Detroit area. By Tim Rivers and Marcus Day, 4 March 2020. The workers were hourly employees at Ford’s Livonia Transmission Plant and FCA’s MOPAR parts distribution center in Center Line.
GE Appliances and GE Aviation workers fight unsafe conditions in Kentucky and Massachusetts. By Jerry White, 3 April 2020. Anger is boiling over at the GE Appliances Park in Louisville, Kentucky and at GE Aviation, where the companies are keeping workers in infected plants.
Louisiana ranks fourth in the US for coronavirus deaths: here.
Coronavirus hits Seattle, Washington homeless shelters. By Julio Patron, 3 April 2020. As the pandemic rips across the United States, COVID-19 cases are beginning to be reported among the homeless population in Seattle.
As schools close down amid COVID-19 pandemic. Marist and SUNY Geneseo students face homelessness. By Alex Findijs, 3 April 2020. The crisis that has emerged at schools and colleges around the country in the face of the pandemic has laid bare the harsh realities of life for millions of youth and students.
Mounting protests in Canada’s construction industry over lack of safety measures to counter COVID-19. By Penny Smith, 3 April 2020. A petition launched by a construction worker in Ontario calling for the shutdown of the entire industry quickly secured over 50,000 signatures.
Honduran doctor warns of “collapsed health care system” as coronavirus toll grows. By our reporter, 3 April 2020. “Now we face this COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrates tragically that the armored tanks of the police and warships of the Navy are incapable of saving lives”: here.
Greater flamingos in Spain
Online horse racing, cycling this weekend
This 6 February 2020 video from Belgium about cycling is called Tour of Flanders 2020 – Course Elite Men.
Wikipedia writes:
2020 Tour of Flanders
The race was scheduled to be held on 5 April 2020 in Belgium, serving as the 14th event of the 2020 UCI World Tour, but was postponed due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
However, on 2 April the organisers wrote there would be a Tour of Flanders after all. By professional cyclists on their home trainers at home, online. The participants will ride a virtual rendition of the hilly last 32 kilometres of the race.
On Sunday 5 April, 15:30, this virtual cycling race will start on the Internet and on Belgian TV. 13 cyclists will participate, including Belgian Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet, Wout van Aert, Italian Alberto Bettiol who won last year, and Dutch Tour de France stage winner Mike Teunissen.
Then, there is this tweet from Britain.
Dutch NOS radio says today (translated):
The most famous and most iconic horse race in the world will be held on Saturday, but then via an animation. The virtual version of the Grand National is even broadcast live on television.
And – as usual with a serious horse race – you can also bet on that. This time, the proceeds will go to fighting the coronavirus.
Due to the coronavirus, the 173rd edition of the event, which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, drew 700 million viewers and is part of British culture last month, was canceled.
Virtual race result often equal to real race
The virtual race has been held since 2017 to get an indication of the real race. “Using the most modern technology and algorithms, we ask the computer to make history,” said producer Rob McLoughlin. …
Forty horses are participating in this year’s virtual race. It is mainly horses that would also participate in the real race. Eg, Tiger Roll, the winner of the past two editions.
But there is also a unique participant: Red Rum. That horse died in 1995 and, together with Tiger Roll, is the only horse that has won the Grand National twice in a row (in 1973 and 1974). So now they are competing against each other for the first time.
Contrary to the dead horse Red Rum in the 2020 Grand National, there will be no dead cyclists participating in the 2020 online home trainer Tour of Flanders. So, no chance for Achiel Buysse (1918-1084; winner in 1940, 1941 and 1943); Jaap Eden (1873-1925); Fausto Coppi; Jacques Anquetil or others.
Coronavirus crisis, how wildlife reacts
This 3 April 2020 video says about itself:
Wildlife is Returning to Cities
This video is a treasure sent to us, and we take great pleasure in sharing it with you. It is the bittersweet message that the Earth is sending us… yet again. It is as though we were being sent to our rooms to think about what we’ve done to the world.
“Life can survive without us quite nicely, thank you. But we cannot survive without Life.” – Stuart Scott
This 16 March 2020 video says about itself:
Venice canals run clear again in unexpected silver lining of coronavirus lock-down measures
There have been very few positive stories to come out of the coronavirus crisis, but footage filmed on Monday in Venice is evidence of what a small amount of downtime can do to one of the cities in the world worst hit by over-tourism.
The canals of Venice have made headlines multiple times over the past months due to its inability to cope with over-tourism, massive amounts of cruise ships and pollution.
As Italy went into complete lock-down the coronavirus outbreak halted the influx of tourists to ‘The Floating City’. March would normally see approximately 700,000 tourists arrive. However, footage obtained by Ruptly highlights how in a matter of days Venice‘s canals have began to clear up, fish have returned to the streams and the city’s famous old nickname “La Serenissima” (The very serene one) is once again relevant.
Clearing the canals of ferries, gondolas, motor-boats and the waste that comes from their engines, as well as water buses has had an undeniable impact on the local environment and will reignite the discussion of over-tourism in the city once the coronavirus crisis reaches its end and normality resumes. If any good can come of an international crisis such as the one we currently live in, one can only hope that images such as these will push governments towards establishing a better balance between tourism and the environment.
Venice is the capital of the Veneto region, one of Italy’s worst hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Veneto is currently reporting 2,473 cases of coronavirus with 70 deaths thus far. In total Italy has been Europe’s worst-hit region with 27,980 cases and 2,158 deaths to date.
