Virtually all my podcasts so far today have mentioned the Corona Virus at some point. The general impression I’m getting is that we’re headed for a pandemic and most countries are not ready for it. the United States of America, the worlds’s most powerful nation, is particularly unprepared.
One would think with all the technology we have now, and the advancement of medical science, that we would be able to develop at least a vaccine, if not an outright cure, for something that threatens the world’s population in such a way. Unless, of course, we already secretly have the cure/vaccine. The Divided Kingdom of Great Britain is renown for the ability to materialise a ”cure” for anything the minute it arrives on the isles. There are great minds churning away in Cambridge and the Imperial College at this moment I’m sure.
I heard some companies have also submitted possible vaccine samples to their governments for analysis. It’s looking good, and terrible at the same time.
It’s the Olympics this year! I’m always amazed how quickly four years turn around. This year, though, there’s a problem - it’s in Asia - Tokyo to be precise. While Japan has only reported very few cases (one death I think) for now, the games are happening in July and August. There are already talks of cancelling this year’s Olympics! Imagine that - the Olympic Games, cancelled!
It got me thinking. If the authorities are considering cancelling something like the Olympic Games, things are getting really serious. Here in the UK, we often have a false sense of safety when things are happening ”so far away”, but I do live in the most connected city in the world!
You are literally two flights away from any country on the planet from London
This means London is at high risk. We already have an outbreak in Italy, which is our neighbour, globally speaking. Also, the virus has arrived here too. To be honest, I’m sure the virus was already in labs here (maybe even before the outbreak in China), since scientists keep these things for whatever reason, in their stashes. I’m quite certain they even have smallpox.
Anyway, back to my thoughts. This morning I made a list of things I would need to keep myself going for one month in the event of a pandemic in a place like London. It’s surprisingly extensive, and I’ll be doing a video about it probably. Those of you that live in more isolated areas like the countryside have it good. Living in a crowded part of a highly populated, well connected city is the worst case scenario.
I don’t think things will get that bad, but it never hurts to prepare. Besides, if you do it now, you won’t have to put yourself at risk when the rush begins.
AFRICA
Surprisingly enough, the safest place to be in this pandemic season is anywhere on the African continent. As far as we can see so far, there have been very few cases of the virus, and no deaths. The one guy that caught it in China and travelled home with it has made a full recovery. There was another case reported today in Algeria, North Africa.
There is a theory that the virus is unable to survive the African heat. There are also other (conspiracy) theories about why there are so few to no cases on the continent. It may be that reporting isn’t as transparent as it is in Europe and America, that’s possible. However, there are also very few cases in other ”hot” places, such as parts of South America and the Caribbean. In theory, Australia should be looking good too, since they’re still in summer time right now and most of the country is hot as hell. Time to take that extended vacation?
Sadly the virus has found it’s way to one of my beloved Canary Islands
MARKET CRASH
The stock market has nosedived, mostly due to the effects of the virus. China is an economic powerhouse on our planet and their economy has been notably slowed by this event. Companies have been unable to output products at their usual volume which has affected the global economy. Even the world’s most valuable company, Apple, is reporting a loss due to the outbreak.
Direct sales have also plummeted as people avoided buying from Alibaba and other such online stores. Even Amazon and eBay have felt the slowdown since most of the products sold on those sites are also from China - directly or indirectly.
Chinese restaurants have reported a massive reduction in traffic - which is silly since they are no more risky than, say, McDonalds..
Sadly, I think this has also caused a crash in the cryptocurrency market.
I would have expected the opposite to be honest. Bitcoin, aka Digital Gold, is the perfect storage of value at times like this. Nothing physical to deal with, near instant transfers globally, resilient and resistant to bank runs, and so on. I think the reason why the crypto market, led by Bitcoin, followed the nosedive is because the same people are speculating in both markets. The general “get out” sentiment hence came across from stocks to crypto.
Anyway, I better go. They’ve probably finished changing the oil in my car.
Peace and Love ✌🏿
Adé
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