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Post by admin on Apr 2, 2020 5:56:25 GMT
I realize that this may stray a little into the political arena - though that is not my intention. But having had some very interesting personal correspondences come about from the April 1st edition of the Sword Buyers Digest, there is a thought I keep coming back to and am surprised to see that it isn't taking shape..
Most of you are too young to remember, but in the 1980s Irish Singer Bob Geldof - stunned at global inaction in the face of mass starvation in Ethiopia - bringing together pretty much the whos who of the 80's singers together to raise funds with music and the song 'Feed the World'
My question - why is something not happening like this for SARSCOV2?
In the age of the internet, why can't we find ways to 'go viral against the virus' and Crowdfund a real solution?
Imagine a crowfunded, worldwide project to create independent laboratories operating as an NGO whose SOLE purpose is to research, attack and eliminate viral reservoirs in humans and animals STARTING with SARSCOV2 and rolling on to tackle every other damaging virus and bacteria from there?
Social distancing, etc are all well and good to help stop round 1, but will we be willing to do this again for round 2? Or round 3? Or a new virus strain that certain scientists had been warning people about for decades but only NOW are being heard after the horse has already bolted? Use AI, give the best minds in the world the best resources with the best funding free of commercial interests and who knows how much good could come from this?
People like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jack Ma, etc could get the ball rolling - but imagine, if you wanted to crowdfund something, what could be more worthy than a "Band Aid" approach than this?
If something like this pops up, I will get right behind it.
There is something just a little 'creepy' about the idea that I cannot put my finger on. Perhaps too Utopian - and there is always a danger when we play god with any virus that we could get shocking results (yes, insert 'I am Legend' ad al here). But if we had some strong ethical goal posts set up and proceed at a slow but steady pace, surely it offers a genuine solution to stand our ground and fight..
Would be curious to see what you guys think of the idea and if you have heard of anything like it coming through the grapevine?
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Post by RufusScorpius on Apr 2, 2020 11:17:45 GMT
I think the reason for the indaction is because tragedies are usually localized and other areas that aren't affected can send money and supplies. With the corona virus, everybody everywhere is affected and each is trying to help themselves first. There is little to give to others at this point.
Now, my personal opinion that belongs to me alone and does not represent anybody else or any organization: I believe these uber-rich famous people can give up most of their fortunes for the causes they champion instead of asking the rest of us to do that on their behalf. They can lead by example and show the rest of us the way. Instead, they usually end up profiting off the fund raising- either directly with monetary gain, or through positive public relations. In other words, I couldn't care less what these people think, and I care even less about what they want me to do. And that is my opinion, for what it's worth.
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Post by MOK on Apr 2, 2020 16:38:20 GMT
A project like that would require a whole lot more than just crowdfunding money. You also need an entire TEAM of trained people with certifiable expertise and experience in everything from project management through international law to hands-on medical R&D - and that last one in particular is not only an advanced scientific field but also strictly regulated (for a large and varied host of EXTREMELY GOOD pragmatic reasons). Plus all the requisite facilities, equipment, supply chains, licenses and so on. And you absolutely, positively need to have all of that lined up BEFORE you start crowdfunding!
Fundraising is one thing. Actually doing something with the money is quite another.
PS. And all that's quite apart from the... uh... highly debatable actual merits of Band Aid, to put it politely... (Among all the other things it's also the direct cause of "Do They Know It's Christmas", which IMO could be classified as a crime against humanity all in its own right. Only half joking.)
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Post by RickDastardly on Apr 2, 2020 17:44:07 GMT
...I believe these uber-rich famous people can give up most of their fortunes for the causes they champion instead of asking the rest of us to do that on their behalf. They can lead by example and show the rest of us the way.
Agreed 1000% with that! I've said it for years, watching the mega-rich and top 'celebrities' telling the rest of us to give to charity.
By chance I heard just moments ago in the UK government's daily live broadcast:
"Hancock said Premier League footballers can indeed “play their part” by taking a pay cut."
Yep - and so could a lot of politicians!
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Apr 2, 2020 20:49:58 GMT
streamaid.twitch.tv/This happened few days ago. Watched few glimpses of it as things like that are really not my thing. Had some pretty big celebs in it too. On the few occasions I turned in it had 100,000 - 150,000 people watching. Got lucky and saw John Legend performing by accident, he is so talented musician. Some other really great ones appeared too but I just rather watched other stuff than this fundraiser.
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Post by theophilus736 on Apr 3, 2020 3:53:27 GMT
Because the solutions aren't going to come from people giving away their money on the internet or musicians.
The people who can come up with solutions are already working in the places where they can. Anyone can buy food and pay for shipping. That's not the case with virology.
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