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2021-12-04

COVID-19 - Strange Times!! How Can We as Common People Make a Difference?

The last few weeks have been a difficult period throughout the world. This for a number of reasons is looming to be a very threat to the system that has been built over several decades and centuries. Be it medical advancements, economic policies and stability, communication, globalization and life in general. We are seeing medical infrastructures of some of the powerful countries being tested and pushed to their brinks. We are seeing jobs lost throughout the world. Livelihoods damaged and dismantled. Kith and Kin of several thousands being lost. Children being forced to stay out of schools for prolonged periods. Exports, Imports strangled. Travel being curtailed and virtually waning down. All this in a matter of months. The world has seen pandemics in the past. But this one is different in several ways. The impacts this time happen way too fast. It is because the world is so well connected in the recent years that information passes around in a flash. There are positive and negative impacts this generates. People in general are more aware of the disease and hear the preparedness measures faster than before. Medical Science has made several strides and be it vaccine or treatment, every country learns from experience of other countries. The negative impacts however, the disease spreads way too fast way too soon because of how simple and frequent travel has become. Also, the global economy gets tested real hard again too quickly. Jobs lost left, right and center. Travel, tourism and restaurant business taking huge hits. Manufacturers and Suppliers with International dependencies run out of gas. Daily wage workers losing their livelihoods. And all at once. Governments come up with policies but how much ever they do, it can only help a fraction.

So, what can we do?

What can each one of us do? It is so critical that during these times, we as a society in general be there for each other and believe that we can beat this threat and come back stronger. And what little help each of us can do. If you are a medical professional, sanitary worker, law and order enforcer or a front-line essential worker? Big Kudos to you guys. You are the very pillars of hope amidst this crisis. Without you, this fight is dead and buried. If we do not fall into any of these sects, it is very important that each of us can commit to something other than the normal that would make even the slightest of difference. Here are some ways that I believe could help us and ones around us. There could be several other 1. First and foremost, if we are able to work remote, if we are retired, if we are kids or college grads with schools/universities closed or offering online classes, let us try to stay indoors as much as possible. It is the easiest we can do. Not forever. Until things come under control and manageable. 2. If we have doctors staying around us, least we can and have to do is check on them and their families, offer for any help that they may need. Or at the very least, not asking them to evict their households just because you own the land, they live on :-( 3. Staying healthy physically and mentally is another important duty. It keeps us sane and helps the people in front-lines to focus on the crisis predominantly. 4. Let’s make sure we stay in touch with our loved ones whenever possible to check on them and give them some compassion. This makes us feel better and not be lonely as well. 5. If we have maids, securities, cooks and helpers, let’s ask them to stay at their homes and continue to keep paying them. 6. If we are at a country that allow this, offer to help out seniors and those in need to purchase groceries and essentials if they are unable to travel out of their houses. Be safe in doing so. 7. It is also important we stay aware with what is happening around the world and update our preparations as and when the need changes. Agree that watching the news these days could be really depressing. So, a personal suggestion is to watch just as we need and not spin our heads in the news too long. Here are some links I use to keep track of what is happening: 8. If we are one of them who are having limited economic impacts due to this crisis for now, let us commit to offer monetary help to those who need in whatever little proportions we can. This is so critical for a prolonged time. Recessions and economic instabilities have the potential to kill several more lives than the pandemic ever can. I have tried my best to come up with a list that I found offer credible services during this crisis specifically. There are several more and I would love to add to the list if I receive suggestions. (Please email if you have any suggestions to add at selfrefractions@gmail.com)

COVID-19 Fundraisers Around the World

Global Fundraisers
  1. COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund – World Health Organization - https://covid19responsefund.org/
  2. Coronavirus Relief Fundraiser – Google - https://www.google.org/crisis/coronavirus-relief/
  3. Combat Coronavirus with the CDC Foundation – Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/donate/209858783442596/
  4. Coronavirus Response Fund – Save The Children . Org - https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?4008.donation=form1&df_id=4008&mfc_pref=T
  5. MSF – Doctors Without Borders – International Medical Relief Fund - https://www.msf.org/donate
  6. Coronavirus Relief Fund – Global Giving . Org - https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/coronavirus-relief-fund/
INDIA
  1. Help Daily Wage Earners hit by Coronavirus – Organization: CORO – Field: Livelihood and Medical Supplies - https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-luis-miranda?community=10177
  2. Battling Covid-19 Relief – Organization: CareIndia – Field: Livelihood and Medical Supplies - https://www.careindia.org/campaign-template/battling-covid-19/
  3. Donate so daily wage earners can feed their families - Mission Support Covid Hit Families – Organization: GiveIndia – Field: Livelihood and Medical Supplies - https://fundraisers.giveindia.org/campaigns/donate-so-daily-wage-earners-can-feed-their-families-mission-support-covid-hit-families
  4. Support our farmers & weavers as they deal with the COVID-19 outbreak – Organization: Chitrika – Field: Food - https://covid19.ketto.org/fundraiser/ChitrikaforCorona
  5. Help us Feed Labourers, Migrants and the Homeless – Organization: Karwan e Mohabat – Field: Food - https://covid19-afpi.ketto.org/fundraiser/help-labourers-and-migrants-in-delhi
  6. Covid-19 Relief Service – Organization: AkshayaPatra – Field: Food - https://www.akshayapatra.org/covid-relief-services
  7. YouthFeedIndia COVID-19 Relief Kits – Organization: SAFA – Field: Food - https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/SAFAforCorona?payment=form
  8. Covid-19 Relief and Learning Fund for Teach For India – Organization: Teach For India – Field: Education - https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-teach-for-india
  9. Help keep India’s most vulnerable children safe – Organization: Child Rights and You CRY.org – Field: Education - https://www.cry.org/urgent-appeal/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=61115&utm_content=website-homepage-orgnc-cvd-urgent-appeal
  10. Fight Corona with Bhumi - Support Low Income Families – Organization: Bhumi – Field: Education - https://fundraisers.giveindia.org/projects/help-bhumi-fight-corona1
Spain and Italy
  1. Donate to the Italian Coronavirus Appeal – EMERGENCY - https://en.emergency.it/donate/
  2. COVID-19 Coronavirus Emergency – Italian Red Cross - https://www.cri.it/emergenza-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR3CpxT3xlTQQ6IU4ETBl0LaqTMwgEdrWlBNpsVKFhhyajIvJI__xlwEwcE
  3. Coronavirus Emergency Fund 112 – La Stampa - https://www.specchiodeitempi.org/campagna/emergenza-coronavirus-fondo-112/5e6637f52f80539813cc269f#dona
  4. Coronavirus Emergency For Medical Supplies – Unicef Spain - https://www.unicef.es/donacion-emergencia-coronavirus
WE WILL STAY STRONG, COME OUT OF THIS AS A BRUISED BUT BETTER AND STRONGER SOCIETY. WE WILL REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BASIC LUXURIES THAT WE OFTEN UNDER APPRECIATE. THAT IS LEADING A NORMAL LIFE. GOING OUT, TAKING A WALK, TAKING YOUR KID TO A PARK, RECEIVING A PAYCHECK, ACCESS TO YOUR NEXT MEAL, HEALTH, DOCTORS, SCIENCE AND HOPE. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ANY AND ALL OF THIS. LET'S BE POSITIVE, DO OUR LITTLE BITS AND SPREAD SOME LOVE IN THESE STRANGE AND DIFFICULT TIMES.