COVID Fight Gets a Boost, US Backs Vaccine Patent Waiver See Page 10 2 Friday Local Friday, May 7, 2021
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FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18429 RAMADAN 25, 1442 AH FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 Fajr 03:34 Shurooq 05:02 Dhuhr 11:45 Asr 15:20 Maghrib 18:28 Isha 19:53 COVID fight gets a boost, US backs vaccine patent waiver See Page 10 2 Friday Local Friday, May 7, 2021 PHOTO OF THE DAY Colorful tassels hanging at a shop in Souq Al-Mubarakiya. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat The Other Virus and its Variant our minds. We stop trusting experts or anyone, for that in a pandemic, let us repeat, it is fatal. It is understandable IN MY VIEW matter. We deny everything unless it comes from our own to be afraid. The whole world has been shaken by this virus. mind. And we self-appoint our mind as intelligent, aware, But for us to tell people the virus is not that dangerous or, and the main source of all our information-even though FNI at worst, doesn’t exist, or that the vaccine is unnecessary is By Nejoud Al-Yagout and COI both originate in the mind. What results is that all downright cruel. To tell people that if they take the vaccine reason has been taken over and we become vulnerable to they will become hypnotized by the government and killed [email protected] misinformation. What’s worse is not only that these two off, one by one, is more dangerous than Covid itself. To be viruses are contagious, but those struck by any of the two an anti-vaxxer is anyone’s right. variants want to spread it to others. But to be an anti-vaxxer and tell others not to take the e are in the midst of a pandemic, a pandemic If we are struck by FNI and COI, everyone is an idiot vaccine affects us not just individually, but collectively, as Wthat has yet to go away. 2021 is a whole lot more except us. Scientists have no idea how science works. Only the pandemic has proven. One of the most paradoxical promising than last year with the vaccine, but we do. The majority of the medical establishment is fraudu- symptoms of FNI and COI is the constant complaint that we are still facing countless deaths, and we all know people lent. If you need medical advice, come to us. Everyone is fear-mongering is everywhere. But let’s be honest. What is being admitted to the ICU, along with tragic stories of sui- out to get us, we think, because we are important, and we scarier: Telling people that our government consists of rep- cides, families separated, loss of jobs, failing businesses and are dangerous because of the knowledge we contain (self- tilian aliens and they are all out to get us; or telling people people with no access to oxygen. But there is another virus taught from Internet University and WhatsApp College). that the vaccine assures us that we will not experience which, for now, has no cure. It is a virus which is inconspic- And then, when our antibodies or reason are weakened, severe symptoms or die if we take it? Which is scarier: the uous and travels among all of us. At any moment, any of us and we become immune to the vaccine of common sense- notion of a plandemic or the pandemic itself? can become infected with it. The virus is known as fake we join the cult of us vs. them. This planet is fragile. Sometimes, we feel paranoid, news-itis (aka FNI). And we can label its mutation as con- When we are exposed to either FNI or COI, or both, we sometimes we are swayed by fake news and conspiracy spiracy-itis (COI). FNI and COI are so pervasive that peo- begin to see ourselves as experts and saviors. Entangled in theories. And that’s okay. But what’s dangerous is when we ple can no longer tell truth from lies. the web of I-am-free-and-you-are-a-puppet, we begin to begin spreading news without verifying it, when we create There are symptoms which the two viruses have in convince ourselves and try to convince others that we are panic among communities, and when we endanger the lives common: Both bring with them arrogance, anger, paranoia the true leaders of humanity, shepherds who have come to of others because we don’t believe viruses are real, or we and can even cause tension among families. In worst case wake the world up from its stupor of stupidity. We follow think everyone is out to get us. Whether we like it or not, scenarios, the critical care version of Fake News-it is and anyone who creates hysteria, and look up to anyone who the virus is here. It’s real. If you don’t believe it, ask front- conspiracy-it is, victims cause pandemonium on the streets galvanizes others to dissent. Not for one moment does it line workers. Ask those who are grieving for their loved in the form of insurgency, violent protests and even death. cross our minds that maybe, just maybe, we are the ones who ones. And, while you’re at it, ask about the efficacy of the There is an inherent obsession with viewing the world as are being brainwashed. No, that thought would not occur vaccine. a horror show and we are the ones who can direct it back because we are aware and the rest of the sheeple are not. Perhaps the only cure for someone with FNI or COI is to a utopia, if people would only listen. And the most Now, under normal circumstances, the illness of fake pondering the question, day and night, night and day: What assailant symptom of both variants is believing our egos, news and its mutation can be discarded. But in a pandemic, if-just what if-I’m wrong? 4 Friday Local Friday, May 7, 2021 By Shakir Reshamwala Al-Muzaini, 50, launched the Nemati tributorship of the product. For ex- than three months of validity to sup- food bank to collect and distribute ample, they have to import 10 con- pliers. This too generates a lot of ood waste is a major problem in nearly-expired (but perfectly edible) tainers even though actual waste. Places like the Turkish Mar- FKuwait, and a poor disposal foodstuff to needy families. consumption is only of seven con- ket (where near-expiry foodstuff is system only compounds it. “Food waste is generated by tainers. Financially, the traders can sold) do not take everything. So we “Forty percent of food is wasted households, restaurants, hotels, bear this loss, but a lot of food is convince companies to give these around the world due to rampant markets and traders. As for the latter, wasted,” Muzaini told Kuwait Times. products to us instead of throwing consumerism, enough for three they are obliged to import a certain “Most supermarkets also have a them away,” he explained. meals a day for 800 million hungry quantity of foodstuff to retain the dis- policy to return foodstuff with less people. We have to manage food to Key partners feed everyone,” said Mohammad Nemati works with eight major Yousef Al-Muzaini, Chairman of food companies, and has distributed Mabarrat Al-Birr Al-Khairiyyah, a 20 tons of foodstuff to thousands of Kuwaiti charity. beneficiaries in the past two months. His uncle Ahmad Al-Muzaini “The private sector works with me as founded the society in 1988 to dis- a partner. They have the knowhow tribute leftover food collected from and expertise to run operations,” restaurants and hotels to those in Muzaini said, gesturing to food han- need. Due to health and safety re- dling instructions, logistics charts Mohammad Yousef strictions on the handling of cooked and floor plans pasted on a wall. Al-Muzaini food, the charity later shifted to dis- Muzaini is very meticulous in his tributing packaged and frozen food- work, making sure only those who stuff. Earlier this year, Mohammad are really needy receive the rations. Friday 5 Local Friday, May 7, 2021 Volunteers pack foodstuff donated by companies at a repurposed marriage hall. Walk-ins are not entertained — recip- buried in landfills also releases ients have to first register with Ne- methane gas, which is toxic,” he told mati online and take an appointment Kuwait Times. before they can show up. But companies are still hesitant to The charity operates out of a cav- donate foodstuff and actually prefer ernous marriage hall in Riqqa that to discard it due to a variety of rea- has been converted into a ware- sons including improper storage, lo- house, where a mix of products is gistical problems and potential resale packed in boxes that are given away. of the products by the beneficiaries. Outside the hall, two large refriger- To bring them onboard and convince ated trucks are parked, containing them to be a part of this charitable frozen products like whole chicken, cause, Muzaini also buys products mixed vegetables and French fries. from these companies, on the condi- A steady stream of cars arrives in tion they donate their near-expiry the parking lot, where volunteers stocks. “So for an invoice of say KD hand the occupants the food boxes, 1,000, I will only pay KD 200 for cer- cartons of frozen chicken and bags tain products, with the remaining of frozen produce. Nemati has a few near-expiry foodstuff given for free.” paid employees, but most of the work The products Muzaini buys are is done by volunteers, mostly Kuwaiti mostly daily staples like rice and oil, youths.