Author: author below

By Erin Rebello

With the current quarantine in place you’re probably finding yourself with a lot of free time. What do you plan to do with your spare hours? Play video games? Bake? Sew? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably going to end up doing a lot of reading! Although some people dislike reading, it’s quite possible that they aren’t reading books that they’re actually interested in. Personally, I love indulging in a good fiction book to help me unwind, and with all the stress in the world, it makes sense to relax with reading. Books allow you to step away from the world and dissolve into the universe that the author has created. Listed below are a few of the books I’ve read and loved over the years, and I recommended all of them for a good ol’ quarantine reading session!

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This novel is told through the eyes of Amir, a Afghani boy living in Kabul. While the novel starts off fairly positive and cheery, as you continue through the book and Amir starts growing up, the reality of the dire situation in Afghanistan becomes clearer and clearer. Although this novel and its characters are fictional, you should know that a lot of the stuff in the book- as scary as it may seem- happens in real life. The author, Hosseini, is an Afghan-American, and is not afraid to get authentic with his audience.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. If you’re into an engaging plot and incredible character development, this novel is for you! It tells the story of two very different families who come into each other’s lives through what can only be described as fate. Although it is purely fiction, Little Fires Everywhere succinctly summarizes modern-day socioeconomic issues including poverty, income disparity, and saviourism through its storyline and plot dynamics. An absolute must-read in my opinion!

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Although it is just one of Atwood’s many written works, The Handmaid’s tale is easily her most popular (and controversial) book. The book is written from the perspective of Offred, a young woman living in the dystopian universe known as Republic of Gilead. Although she once had a loving family, she is now only wanted for her ability to bear children, and is kept in a house with many girls in the same horrific situation. Overall, The Handmaid’s tale is a cautionary tale that highlights the importance of women’s rights and bodily autonomy and the ongoing need for feminism. If you enjoy this novel, you might be interested in reading the recently-released sequel, The Testaments.

IT by Stephen King. If you’re into horror and are looking for a loooong read, look no further than the novel IT! In recent years, this novel was released as a movie, and for good reason, too! Stephen King is an engaging writer who really knows how to concoct a good horror book! I highly recommend any Stephen King novel and that includes IT! If you’re looking for something a bit shorter, Stepehen King has written almost 100 books, so you’re sure to find something that you enjoy. My personal recommendations would have to be Carrie, The Shining, and Finders Keepers.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. If fiction isn’t really your thing and you’re trying to learn something new, I highly suggest Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrass Tyson. Right off the bat, the cover art looks amazing, but you should know that the contents are even cooler! Astrophysicist and author Neil DeGrass Tyson artfully explains the nature of various aspects of the universe and cosmos is a way that the average person can understand. This book is a gateway for curiosity and makes the reader want to learn more and truly push the envelope!

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. If I had to only recommend a single book, it would be this one. I bought the book on a whim because someone else recommended it to me, and I have to say that it’s an absolutely stunning book. The story is told from the perspective of both Finch and Violet, and discusses themes of mental health, relationships, and the hardships of being a teenager. Each and every page is filled with emotion, and although I’ve cried more than once while reading it, I highly recommend it!

COVID-19 has dominated the headlines. Story after story, from the promising to the frightening, have revolved around the pandemic. Nonetheless, this is still the same world from mere months ago. Many of the same problems and opportunities remain. As huge a matter COVID-19 is, the climate crisis is still the biggest long-term problem facing humanity. The pandemic has had a positive short-term impact on the environment and offers promise for the long-term. At the same time, it is a reminder of the daunting challenges we face.

Since the shutdowns and social distancing measures began, there has been less activity and a decrease in carbon emissions. This includes everything from driving to flights, and shopping to working away at an office. But circumstances have suddenly changed. The air has been measurably cleaner. When California starting implementing its measures, there were noticeable drops in nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere within just weeks. Satellite data has also demonstrated reduced pollution across China after the economic shutdown. It is clear that human activity has drastic impacts on the planet, and that we are capable of scaling back and changing our ways.

The human impact on the environment is large and long-lasting. Concentrations of carbon dioxide were at 413 ppm (parts per million) in 2019. A year later, despite the shutdowns of the pandemic, they have increased to 416 ppm. The positive impacts are temporary and could quickly disappear once the COVID-19 measures are ended. As renowned Canadian environmental activist David Suzuki noted, “the COVID crisis is a crisis for human beings, but the climate crisis is a crisis for life on the planet.”

As difficult as it can be during a time like this, it is important to think long-term. As our economies come back to life after this pandemic, it is crucial that there be an ambitious global framework put in place to tackle the climate crisis. The UN’s annual climate summit was set to take place in November 2020 but has been delayed. The countries in the Paris Agreement were to meet to introduce stronger goals in emission reductions. These goals currently come up far short, and it is essential that the world not fall further behind. Meanwhile, The European Union has been pressured to put a hold on important initiatives such as a carbon trading program and emissions-cutting deadlines. China has already implemented postponements on similar measures. These are delays that the planet cannot afford.

There is plenty of hope. The measures taken to address the economic problems of the pandemic must help speed up the shift to cleaner energy sources. Economic stimulus programs around the world must focus on these investments. Bailouts for the financial industry must require banks to invest less money in fossil fuels. This is an opportunity to greatly advance green packages, more eco-friendly construction projects, cleaner transportation, and more. This will not happen naturally. We have to fight and push for our politicians to take these bold steps.

The COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a generation-defining event. However, the world is far more complex than a single issue. This is a very short-term problem in comparison to the climate crisis. We must take this time to reconsider how we treat wildlife, what we put into the atmosphere, and how we are preparing for the future. Humanity will beat this pandemic. We now have the opportunity to take what we have learned and transform our future. We can finally properly address the climate crisis, by giving it the same urgency and action as we have done for COVID-19.

Sources

Baker, Rochelle. “David Suzuki on applying COVID-19’s lessons to climate change.” Canada’s National Observer. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/04/17/news/david-suzuki-applying-covid-19s-lessons-climate-change

Chavez, Luciana Tellez, and Daniel Wilkinson. “How Covid-19 Could Impact the Climate Crisis.” Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/16/how-covid-19-could-impact-climate-crisis

Tenenbaum, Laura. “Sorry, Climate Change Hasn’t Gone Away Just Because of COVID-19.” Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauratenenbaum/2020/04/06/sorry-climate-change-hasnt-gone-away-just-because-of-covid-19/#6eb6d8904e7b

UN News. “First Person: COVID-19 is not a silver lining for the climate, says UN Environmental chief.” https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061082

As of April 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there have been 2,160,207 confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout the world, with 146,088 recorded deaths so far. In Canada, the number of cases has surpassed 34k. There’s no doubt how this virus has devastated the world, and if measures to curb it aren’t followed to the tee, the cases and deaths will keep rising.

While it has brought terrible effects to how we work, study, socialize, travel, shop, and others, there are members of our communities who experience far harrowing results of the pandemic, such as inadequate health care, food insecurity, shelter and housing limitations, and others.  As such, we can lend a hand to the vulnerable by informing ourselves of the issues they face during this crisis and work together to ease their burdens.

Youth

Our youth may bear the brunt of this pandemic as their way of life has been disrupted and they may not have the maturity and life experience needed to deal with the stress that comes with this particular crisis. Thus, their mental health could be greatly affected, and we can lend a hand as much as we can by donating or supporting organizations that support the cause to protect our youth from this crisis, like the Kids Help Phone.

In addition, kids who live in low-income neighbourhoods across the country may be faced with health and food insecurity issues as well. Before the coronavirus hit, it was estimated that more than one million Canadian children were affected by food insecurity, and the number will likely increase as COVID-19 continues its rampage. You can help by reaching out to organizations like The Breakfast Club of Canada which started emergency fund and campaign called #FeedKidsNow. Other organizations to keep in mind are Canadian Feed the Children, UNICEF Canada, Canadian Centre for Child Protection, Adopt4Life, and SOS Children’s Village.

Economically disadvantaged communities

Food insecurity has long been an issue in Canada, something that’s surprising given that it is considered a developed nation and its abundance of resources. Unfortunately, according to Statistics Canada, at least 9% of Canadian households or 3.2 million individuals faced food security issues from 2017 until 2018. That number will only increase given the effects of COVID-19 to food supply.

Fortunately, there are a slew of food banks and organizations that recognizes this problem and are determined to work to solve it, like the Daily Bread Food Bank, Canada’s largest group of food banks.  Other groups that are making an effort to provide individuals access to food are Food Banks Canada, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Calgary Food Bank, Ottawa Food Bank, Leftovers Rescue Food, North York Harvest, Second Harvest, The Stop, and Feed Nova Scotia.

Seniors

Since WHO declared the novel coronavirus 2019 as a pandemic, there hasn’t been a day that goes by where we hear of news of a senior being affected. Our elderly population are among the most likely to develop severe complications or worse, die from the virus. At the same time, a number of them are also dealing with feelings of loneliness or isolation as their contact to the outside world have been limited.

You can help the seniors within your community by offering to get their supplies and drop those off at the door or encouraging them to use technology to connect with their loved ones. Other senior members of our population face financial and food insecurity, so reach out to organizations like Meals on Wheels, HelpAge Canada, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society, St. Michael’s Extended Care Society, and Seniors First B.C. to help.

Indigenous communities

Majority of indigenous communities in Canada don’t have access to immediate health care like us in urban centres, and thus many of our indigenous brothers and sisters are bracing themselves for the full impact of the pandemic. They would benefit from receiving emergency supplies and being provided with transportation of people with health conditions. Emergency food services like KahnawakeShakotiia’takehnhas Community Services for the Mohawk community in Quebec, which recently launched a large food drive also help them deal with food insecurity.

Other groups who focus their aid to help the First Nations are Water First, True North Aid, Native Women’s Association of Canada, Anishnawbe Health Foundation, NiijkiwendidaaAnishnaabekwewag Services Circle, Raven Trust, and The Circle.

People with disabilities

During this pandemic, we can’t ignore our brothers and sisters with physical and intellectual disabilities. Most of them rely on social services and with the physical distancing rules in place, they have limited access to their support workers, or worse, no access at all. Fortunately, there are local organizations such as the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, which provides COVID-19 resources, or national non-profits such as the CNIB Foundation to help them with social services, health care, and information.

Other organizations with the same goal in mind are CNIB Foundation, March of Dimes Canada, Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Variety – The Children’s Charity of Ontario, and Disability Alliance B.C.

SOURCES

https://www.vicnews.com/news/covid-19-threatens-the-food-security-of-millions-of-canadians/

https://www.macleans.ca/society/coronavirus-where-to-donate-and-how-to-help-canadas-most-vulnerable/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all,” the Emperor says to Mulan to encourage her to remain optimistic and not give up the fight against a common enemy in the Disney class “Mulan.” The world now faces the greatest enemy it has ever encountered in recent times in the form of a pandemic as the number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 2 million and still counting. However, despite this heartbreaking catastrophe, we’ve seen heroes and heroines left and right that gives us hope and reassures us that things will get better soon. They’ve proven that flowers bloom even under the direst of circumstances.

We’ve seen this altruistic heroism in everyday folk—healthcare workers, sanitation workers, grocery and supermarket clerks, mail carriers, journalist, community workers, truck drivers, and a lot more—as they remain dedicated and focused to their duties to the public. These people deserve a salute as they sacrifice their time to be with their families and their own health to ensure the world keeps on turning.

We’ve also seen individuals give us a glimmer of hope that the world is still a good place despite what’s happening and that all we have to do is remain faithful and strong and keep working together. Below is a look at these uplifting stories that show there’s a silver lining.

The kindness postcard

Social media is an efficient way for us to connect with each other during this time, and that’s what exactly what Becky Wass of Cornwall in the U.K. did—with a traditional twist. Wass created a postcard that said “Hello! If you are self-isolating, I can help” to encourage people to let her know if they need help with shopping or sending mail or simply wanted a phone call to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. Wass’ husband posted an image of the postcard on Twitter with the #hashtag #viralkindness, and it quickly went viral. Around the world, a similar gesture is happening where people offer help for grocery shopping and the like for those who are unable to.

Impromptu concerts

Music always manages to bring people together, and before Lady Gaga curated the “One World — Together At Home” concert as a tribute to healthcare workers and other frontline workers worldwide, the folks over at Siena, Italy had the same thing in mind back in March 13, only a few days after COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Italy, however, was already hit hard at that time, and thus the neighbourhood decided to warm everyone’s heart by singing an Italian song on their balcony. Since then, a lot of countries followed suit, including Canada. Perhaps the most noteworthy concert has been of Andrea Bocelli on Easter Sunday who serenaded everyone while located in Milan’s Duomo cathedral. Catch him on youtube “Amazing Grace” and you’ll get chills… the good kind of chills.

Connecting with visuals

The elderly population continues to bear the brunt of the novel coronavirus 19, and because they are in high risk of contracting complications, most hospitals and healthcare facilities implement a no-visitors policy, while ensuring that the healthcare professionals who attend to them are properly equipped from head to toe, from masks to face shields to protective suits. A doctor in Dallas, Dr. Elizabeth Paulk, sensed that this can be truly devastating for the patients, thus she and her team come up with visuals to introduce herself and her team. These include their names and greetings, and she personally shares a personal photo of her with her two kids. Other similar gestures have popped up around the world were healthcare workers arrange phone calls or video conferences for patients and their loved ones.

Saving with stories

While efforts from celebrities to spread a positive message doesn’t always work out and deliver embarrassing results (a good example is Gal Gadot and her friends singing John Lennon’s “Imagine”), there are those whose efforts are successful and praise-worthy. Two of those leading the charge are American actresses Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner who launched Save with Stories via Instagram where they and their friends read children’s books aloud to raise money for charity. The page already has more than 200k followers and over 100 celebrity readers.

The wedding must go on

People always say that love conquers all, and this is something a Michigan couple believed in strongly. After the outbreak thwarted Amy Simonson and Dan Stuglik’s wedding plans, they decided that the show still must go on. So they enlisted the help of Menasha Packaging Co. to make cutouts that resemble guests. The cutouts came in all kinds of shapes–tall and short, young and old, with long hair, short hair and ponytails—and they were placed in an empty church to align with the state’s physical distancing orders. It wasn’t exactly the wedding of their dreams but it came close. Other couples around the world have also decided the virus is not reason enough to stop their respective weddings, some even choosing to get married in balconies and other creative ways.

SOURCES

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/getting-married-amid-covid-19-this-couple-found-a-crafty-solution-to-save-their-big-day-1.4880479

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid19-coronavirus-reading-books-online-social-media-authors/

https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2020/04/14/a-phone-call-a-song-small-gestures-soothe-covid-19-stress/

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-compassion-the-kindness-postcard-and-other-heartwarming-gestures.html

https://globalnews.ca/news/6673940/italy-singing-coronavirus-quarantine/

We all know that COVID-19 has changed our lives. While it has obviously turned things upside down, there’s no excuse not to  educate one’s self about the pandemic and delve deep into facts, not tall tales. It’s also a helpful activity to enrich our vocabulary and adapt it to what’s going on in the world now. Below is a look at COVID-19-related lingo that has inched their way into our daily vocabulary.

Epidemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an epidemic as an occurrence of health-related events in a specific region that’s beyond normal in terms of the number of cases. Variables like the surrounding population, previous experience, exposure, time and location are considered for the WHO to qualify an illness as an epidemic.

Pandemic

A few months from now after we all this is over and done with, asking “Where were you on March 11 when Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General , declared COVID-19 as a pandemic?” That was the day that changed everything. A pandemic is described  as a worldwide spread of a new disease, and thus referring to this novel coronavirus 19 as a global pandemic is redundant.

Lockdown

China, Italy and France were the first countries to know this jargon through personal experience. It refers to the government-imposed ban on any movement inside the country and the closing of all nonessential businesses.

Shelter-in-Place

While not as commonly used as lockdown, shelter-in-place has found its way into our daily vocabulary when California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a shelter-in-place, or stay-at-home, order on March 19, which mandated social distancing and enforced home isolation.

Flattening the curve

This is certainly a term we look forward to hearing when we watch the news. Flattening the curve refers to a collective action to decrease or slow down the number of new cases. Flattening the curve measures include social distancing and self-isolation.

Mitigation

Once a virus spreads quickly, the focus isn’t how to get rid of it completely, it shifts to how to lessen its severity and slow down its spread. Mitigation measures include testing people displaying minor to major symptoms and identifying their contacts if the results are positive.

Essential vs. Nonessential businesses and services

In Canada, the responsibility of categorizing what would be essential businesses and services vs. non-essential fell primarily on provincial or territorial governments. Essential refers to businesses and services that need to operate despite the impositions on quarantine and physical distancing because we can’t do without them. These include health care, grocery and supermarkets, transportation, sanitation, social services, courier and mail, banks, and others. Non-essential are those we can do without for the meantime like salons, theaters, gyms, museums, casinos, sports venues and others.

Nonessential Travel

Non-essential travel is any domestic or international travel that is recreational or personal in nature, such as heading to Buffalo, NY for shopping.

Self-Quarantine

Since COVID-19 symptoms manifest any time between 1 day to 14 days, people who have come to contact with those who contracted the virus are recommended to self-quarantine for at least 14 days to see whether or not they will become ill and contagious. Self-quarantining involves staying at home at all times, not accepting any visitors, practicing social distancing measures in your household and outside, and not sharing personal things like utensils.

Self-Isolation

Self-isolation is a term used when someone has been confirmed to have COVID-19 and they have to stay away from the uninfected.

Social Distancing

Social distancing, which is probably the favourite term that has come out of COVID-19 times, refers to the conscious decision to create ample physical space (at least 6 feet) between people to  avoid spreading illnesses. Social distancing can sometimes be referred to as physical distancing.

SOURCES

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-03-17/coronavirus-glossary

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/03/20/covid-19-in-pandemic-word-definitions-shift-and-new-lexicon-emerges

https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/know-the-terms-a-complete-covid-19-pandemic-glossary/707048