At least as a temporary measure without allowing the British and Irish Governments to use the pandemic as an excuse to put these questions off the political agenda indefinitely.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, stated on the Andrew Marr Show, Sunday 28th November that although independence was still a priority she was making “fighting the pandemic the priority” for the time being. The Scottish Government (such as it is) unlike the Irish (Government of a nation state) will not allow Westminster to fudge independence for Scotland indefinitely, but for now recognises that fighting the pandemic must take preference.
I have recently come to echo these sentiments as people are queuing up for hospital beds and the number of reported cases grow daily across the island of Ireland. I came to this conclusion before the latest variant of Coronavirus came to light, the Omicron type discovered in South Africa. But this does add to the concern. I think, like the Scottish First Minister, we should, without dropping the argument for a 32-county plebiscite or, at least, a border poll on unification, take a similar line to that of Scotland. We should continue monitoring the levels of Covid-19 infections, because governments are not always as honest as they might be and may wish to keep this ship sailing forever, so for the time being should all efforts not be put into at least getting a handle of the pandemic? By the same token do not believe implicitly all which comes out of the mouth of NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) or Dail Eireann.
As we know a new variant of the virus has come to light over the last few days in South Africa and some neighbouring countries sending western governments into supreme panic mode, with no good cause. South Africa has a population of 59 million, about four million higher than England, and according to Doctor Angelique Coetzee who first came across Omicron, there have “been very few hospitalisations” in South Africa with people suffering from the new strain, the effects which appear much milder than previous strains. So why the knee jerk reaction?
As we know a new variant of the virus has come to light over the last few days in South Africa and some neighbouring countries sending western governments into supreme panic mode, with no good cause. South Africa has a population of 59 million, about four million higher than England, and according to Doctor Angelique Coetzee who first came across Omicron, there have “been very few hospitalisations” in South Africa with people suffering from the new strain, the effects which appear much milder than previous strains. So why the knee jerk reaction?
Many South African Scientists are echoing Doctor Coetzee’s views that there is no evidence, as of yet, that this strain is in any way more deadly than its parent. On the contrary, and maybe this is being a little over optimistic, if these scientists are saying there is “no need to panic” over the existence of Omicron because hospital cases are lower than they were with the original strain, could it not mean that these new strains are not going to be the threat of their predecessors? I say new strains because, and let’s be real, many more could be lurking but does this mean they are going to be as deadly? More contagious does not mean more potent! Cautious optimism from a non-qualified person, which is me, but sometimes looking for the silver lining is a good thing. That said, and until more is known about this new strain, best take the cautious approach and not be too complacent. Remember the common cold is highly infectious but nowhere near as deadly as the flu virus can be! Could the same rule apply here?
Even without the hitherto little known of Omicron the case numbers throughout the planet are rising, and this is despite the roll out of the so-called vaccines. Looking at the records of cases it appears to me the vaccines are about 80% efficient, which is far better than no protection at all, so still get the jab and booster is my own belief. Given all the problems with Covid-19 and the emergence of Omicron and who knows how many other strains (be them less harmful or not, we do not yet know) should all energies not be put into combatting the pandemic which may mean, and I repeat only for the time being, putting the question of an Irish unification poll on the backseat of the car, without dropping the debate?
Even without the hitherto little known of Omicron the case numbers throughout the planet are rising, and this is despite the roll out of the so-called vaccines. Looking at the records of cases it appears to me the vaccines are about 80% efficient, which is far better than no protection at all, so still get the jab and booster is my own belief. Given all the problems with Covid-19 and the emergence of Omicron and who knows how many other strains (be them less harmful or not, we do not yet know) should all energies not be put into combatting the pandemic which may mean, and I repeat only for the time being, putting the question of an Irish unification poll on the backseat of the car, without dropping the debate?
This does not mean throw it out of the vehicle, just place it on the backseat. When, and this should be monitored, the virus has become manageable again then the question will be given the front passenger seat again, so to speak. Neither do I mean we do not speak of the subject as we must keep doing that and keeping unification alive but do not push for a 32 county plebiscite or border poll immediately. Such a poll would cost money, money which could be and should be spent on health. A plebiscite and/or a border poll would also include a mass mobilisation of people which surely would increase the dangers of infection. People would have to attend the polling booths, mix with each other at a time when this may not be most advisable. The same applies to the six counties protocol, and negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom, both of whom should be working together on one issue, again for the time being, and that is fighting this pandemic.
There are those, on the republican and loyalist sides, who would want a poll on unification immediately and would wish to continue demonstration against the “Northern Ireland” Protocol no matter what. What does a united Ireland matter if half the population are dead, and the other half seriously ill just for the want of waiting a few months? Or a united Ireland where every citizen must spend their lives behind closed doors on lockdown, what use is that?
There are those, on the republican and loyalist sides, who would want a poll on unification immediately and would wish to continue demonstration against the “Northern Ireland” Protocol no matter what. What does a united Ireland matter if half the population are dead, and the other half seriously ill just for the want of waiting a few months? Or a united Ireland where every citizen must spend their lives behind closed doors on lockdown, what use is that?
Governments have handled this pandemic terribly to say the least, giving misinformation out and changing their minds every verse end, so we as republicans, socialists and communists are better than this, aren’t we? Of course, there will be many loyalists and a few unionists who will wish to continue putting their communities at risk by demonstrating against the EU Protocol applicable to the six counties despite the population there voting to remain within the European Union back in 2016. Such demonstrations are not helping the fight against the pandemic, though the right to protest must never be removed, but common sense should prevail!
Doctor Cillian De Gascun, a Medical Urologist claims Omicron “is probably present in Ireland.” The fear is “because it is so far removed from the original virus is that we will see more reinfections even in people who have been infected before and will see an impact on vaccine effectiveness”. Despite Dr De Gascun's fears it is wildly believed in medical circles the vaccines will still be effective against Omicron. At the moment it appears according to scientists in South Africa early signs show it may not be as deadly as the previous strains, so let us look on the bright side and not be forced into a state of panic by the negative thinkers, cautious as they may be, while at the same time we should be prioritising our political agenda and is at the moment an immediate plebiscite or border poll, let alone the Protocol our first priority?
Perhaps we should be exercising our efforts into forcing the profit hungry companies like Moderna and Pfizer who produce these vaccines into dropping Intellectual Property Rights which would allow sub-Saharan African countries, where this latest Omicron strain originates, to produce their own vaccines. They have perfectly good scientists, equal to their European or US counterparts, who just lack the tools to produce the required vaccines. It is because companies like the aforementioned, who put profits and their own personal greed above combating this virus, old or new variant. Whether you believe the negative views of Doctor Cillian De Gascun and, it appears Tony Holohan, or the more positive approach, certainly to the new variant, of Dr Angelique Coetzee and others around the globe, the fact remains that poorer countries are not getting vaccinated. This is because they are not allowed to produce their own vaccines under Intellectual Property Rights which are held by the Pfizers and Modernas of this world. Even the USA under Joe Biden has called for these rights to be lifted but the EU is refusing. The question is why? Could it be because profits come over and above all other considerations, including the pandemic?
Doctor Cillian De Gascun, a Medical Urologist claims Omicron “is probably present in Ireland.” The fear is “because it is so far removed from the original virus is that we will see more reinfections even in people who have been infected before and will see an impact on vaccine effectiveness”. Despite Dr De Gascun's fears it is wildly believed in medical circles the vaccines will still be effective against Omicron. At the moment it appears according to scientists in South Africa early signs show it may not be as deadly as the previous strains, so let us look on the bright side and not be forced into a state of panic by the negative thinkers, cautious as they may be, while at the same time we should be prioritising our political agenda and is at the moment an immediate plebiscite or border poll, let alone the Protocol our first priority?
Perhaps we should be exercising our efforts into forcing the profit hungry companies like Moderna and Pfizer who produce these vaccines into dropping Intellectual Property Rights which would allow sub-Saharan African countries, where this latest Omicron strain originates, to produce their own vaccines. They have perfectly good scientists, equal to their European or US counterparts, who just lack the tools to produce the required vaccines. It is because companies like the aforementioned, who put profits and their own personal greed above combating this virus, old or new variant. Whether you believe the negative views of Doctor Cillian De Gascun and, it appears Tony Holohan, or the more positive approach, certainly to the new variant, of Dr Angelique Coetzee and others around the globe, the fact remains that poorer countries are not getting vaccinated. This is because they are not allowed to produce their own vaccines under Intellectual Property Rights which are held by the Pfizers and Modernas of this world. Even the USA under Joe Biden has called for these rights to be lifted but the EU is refusing. The question is why? Could it be because profits come over and above all other considerations, including the pandemic?
One thing is for certain this virus, old and new strands, will not go anywhere until these lands peoples are vaccinated, so give them the tools to do so. This is an important issue because if we do not campaign for this then western governments, including Ireland will put, at best only limited pressure on these companies for fear of upsetting them. Ireland is part of the EU and should be demanding the Union bear every possible pressure on the profiteering giants to lift Intellectual Property Rights on these vaccines. Instead, the 26-county government is applying at very best mild criticism of the EU for not doing enough. Perhaps energies would be better spent on these demands instead of demanding an immediate border poll, important as it is, on Irish unification.
It is time to get real, not only with the pandemic, but the companies who produce the vaccines and their puppet representatives in various parliaments and the European Union who are blocking large portions of the worlds populations from producing their own vaccines. As the saying goes, when it is convenient, “nobody is safe until everybody is safe” and that surely means universal vaccination and equality of access to vaccines.
It is time to get real, not only with the pandemic, but the companies who produce the vaccines and their puppet representatives in various parliaments and the European Union who are blocking large portions of the worlds populations from producing their own vaccines. As the saying goes, when it is convenient, “nobody is safe until everybody is safe” and that surely means universal vaccination and equality of access to vaccines.
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Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist |
