JAN 27-FEB 2, UK 2021 VISION TIMES EDITION SCREENSHOT/YOUTUBE WORLD UK Trump Britain to Administration Host G7 in Final Hours Summit in Call Out China Cornwall in for Genocide June 2021

By Neil Campbell By Julia Jarvis

s the Trump he G7, or Group administration’s final of Seven, an Ahours wound down on intergovernmental Jan. 19, the President wished organisationT uniting the UK, the new administration luck Canada, France, Germany, and asked Americans to pray Italy, Japan and the US, as well for its success, while some of as the European Union, the the key members of his staff group's '8th member', will be put the Chinese Communist Lord Hunt slates the US Surgeon General's report, House of Lords, 20 December 2016 holding their annual summit Party (CCP) on blast for this year in Cornwall, during its persecution of Uyghur June 11-13. Muslims and Falun Gong The UK will use its current practitioners. G7 presidency to “unite Outgoing Secretary of UK House of Lords leading democracies to help State Mike Pompeo did not the world build back better mince words with Beijing, from coronavirus and create describing the surveillance Backs Bill Amendment to Combat a greener, more prosperous state in Xinjiang and the future,” said a statement from atrocities committed against the British High Commission. Uyghurs nothing short of for Forced Organ Harvesting in China "Coronavirus is doubtless 'crimes against humanity' and the most destructive force 'genocide'. we have seen for generations “This is a very serious and By Sellainne Cathry requirements. Other ways supported by Baroness states that, "Human tissues and the greatest test of the tragic set of actions that are must be sought to counteract Finlay of Llandaff, Baroness and cells are being used in modern world order we have taking place there in the and address the severity of this Northover, Lord Ribeiro and an increasing variety of new experienced," the Prime Western part of China… This n 12 January issue. The timing of The Lord’s Health Minister Lord Bethell, ways...However, using human Minister said. "It is only is forced labour, this is forced 2021, the House amendment to the Bill is seen seeks to give ministers the tissues and cells in different right that we approach the sterilisation, forced abortions. of Lords backed as significant because the UK power to introduce regulations ways also raises questions of challenge of building back The kind of things that we anO amendment to the has now left the EU and is prohibiting the UK healthcare safety, quality and efficacy, better by uniting with a spirit haven’t seen in an awfully Medicines and Medical enacting its own legislation. system, including British and presents new ethical of openness to create a better long time in this world,” said Devices Bill, aimed at helping The amendment was tabled companies involved in dilemmas." future." Pompeo in an interview with to combat China’s forced on 2 September 2020 by Lord healthcare as well as healthcare Lord Hunt said India, South Korea and Fox News America Reports. organ harvesting, that passed Hunt of Kings Heath. Lord practitioners, from being “Domestically, the Bill Australia will be attending Pompeo said that his through the Upper House. Hunt stated, "In a letter to unwittingly complicit in provides an opportunity to as guest countries the first department had conducted In 2013 the European me last night, the Minister China’s state sanctioned forced prevent British complicity in in-person G7 Summit in “an exhaustive review of the Parliament passed a referred to the World Health organ harvesting. such crimes and to send an almost two years. facts” and determined that resolution on forced organ Organisation’s view that China The amendment aims to important message to other the CCP has indeed not only harvesting (2013/2981(RSP)) is implementing an ethical rectify gaps in the current countries. My amendment Continued on page 2 committed the crimes they that put China’s transplant voluntary organ transplant UK Human Tissue legislation, is designed to deal with gaps have been accused of, but figures under the spotlight system”. He continued, “That which currently does not in current UK human tissue seek to “deny these people, not as originating from prisoners is simply not credible, and require appropriate consent legislation." This Medicines just the Uyghur Muslims, but of conscience. The UK Bill in fact is based on a self- for imported human tissues and Medical Devices Bill other faiths as well, the simple was initiated in the House assessment by China itself. and cells used in medicines. amendment marks the first ABOUT VISION TIMES capacity to continue to exist. of Commons in 2015 by A much more objective Human tissue and cells refer UK legislative response We are a borderless, largely “I’ve referred to this over concerned MP’s in preparation assessment comes from to all human material that following the China Tribunal volunteer community of time as the stain of the century. for the inevitable changes that the China Tribunal, which could be used for medicines, judgment. writers, analysts, online media experts, and It is truly that.” the UK would experience in March 2020 concluded, including organs. translators on a mission The Secretary of State following a Brexit vote. 'Forced organ harvesting The report Guide to Continued on page 2 to change what the world released a strongly worded The Chinese regime has has been committed for the quality and safety of pays attention to. We write with a mind to make the Press Statement on Tuesday utterly refused to honour, years throughout China on a Tissues and Cells for human world a better place. We titled 'Determination of adhere to or comply with significant scale.'" application authored by the value curiosity, honesty, and the Secretary of State on the European parliament's Lord Hunt's amendment, Council of Europe in 2013 connectedness, with a special focus on China. Atrocities in Xinjiang' where he called “the nature of the CONTACT US Chinese Communist Party” a ”Marxist-Leninist regime +44 207 183 0987 marketing.uk@ that exerts power over the visiontimes.com long-suffering Chinese people through brainwashing and China’s Sinovac PUBLISHED BY: brute force.” Kan Zhong Guo UK Ltd, London WC1N 3JP Continued on page 3 a Near Miss in Immunisation: Offered to Poorer Nations

BIOWORLD.COM By Helen L with The Lancet reporting them. The requirements for the peer review investigation Sinovac’s the WHO Trial Registration into the Sinovac Life Sciences COVID-19 vaccine Data Set (TRDS) set out in its hina’s in house Cor- vaccine, developed in Beijing, CoronaVac. published International Stand- onavirus vaccine, China, in November 2020. "A coronavirus ards for Clinical Trial Regis- Sinovac’s Corona- What stands out from this vaccine tries is that it should be mean- VacC was under the spotlight review, Safety, tolerability, and developed by ingful. recently as data from its clini- immunogenicity of an inac- China's Sinovac To be audited according to cal trials in Brazil showed that tivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has been found to WHO standards, clinical trials it was only 50.38% effective, in healthy adults aged 18–59 be 50.4% effective have three benchmarks: Self- according to Instituto Butan- years: a randomised, double- in Brazilian clinical audit, self-reporting and site tan, the Brazilian laboratory blind, placebo-controlled, trials, according visits. The WHO team inves- connected to the Sao Paulo phase 1/2 clinical trial is the to the latest tigating the origin of the virus Public health department. small sample numbers used, results released by in Wuhan had difficulties with Brazil’s total coronavirus which “followed the require- researchers." Beijing putting multiple obsta- cases have skyrocketed, and ment of the National Medical - BBC News cles in their way to stop them the country has now the third Products Administration in travelling to China to investi- highest number worldwide, China—ie, recruitment of at an estimated population of ian partners. This was appar- effective without publishing gate the outbreak of the virus in behind India and the USA. least of 20–30 participants in 1,450,000 people. The tiny ent at a Sao Paolo press con- any other data. This 50% effec- Wuhan. The trip finally started Brazil, one of the developing phase 1 and 500 participants sample size from the Chinese ference held in December to tiveness standard has also been on 14 January 2021 and ran countries on the World Eco- in phase 2.” state-backed study is in direct enthuse about the success rate adopted locally by the Brazil- into further delays. A WHO nomic Situation and Prospects The actual number of phase contrast to the 195 participants of CoronaVac from the Brazil- ian Health Regulatory Author- site visit to audit Sinovac’s 2014 list, was operating clinical 1 participants was 143 with in phase 1 and 21,999 partic- ian clinical trial but Beijing’s ity Anviva. clinical findings in Jiangsu trials of CoronaVac alongside 600 phase 2 participants. ipants in phase 2 of the com- gagging orders meant that the remains highly improbable. a vaccine from AstraZeneca The study was carried out in parative Pfizer-BioNTech tri- researchers could only refer Lack of international signoff and the University of Oxford. Jiangsu Provincial Centre for als for the UK vaccine. to the World Health Organ- The WHO has only allowed China’s small data sets Disease Control and Preven- The Chinese Government isation (WHO) standard for five Chinese vaccines approved Continued on page 4 Initial reactions to the Cor- tion (CDC) in Suining County, has kept a tight grip on what general use, by saying that the for export since 2014 and the onaVac trials seemed positive Jiangsu province, China, with can be reported by its Brazil- vaccine was more than 50% CoronaVac is not among [email protected] VISION TIMES +44 207 183 0987 2 | JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 UK www.VisionTimes.com Britain to Host G7 Summit in Cornwall in June 2021

PTI VIA INDIANEXPRESS.COM

Continued from FRONT On December 15, 2020, UK indispensable partner for the Foreign Secretary Dominic United Kingdom as we work In June 2020, when the U.S. Raab had formally invited to boost jobs and growth, held the presidency over the India to attend the G7 Summit confront shared threats to G7, President Donald Trump in 2021. our security and protect our invited Indian Prime Minister British Prime Minister Boris planet.” Modi to attend the next, Johnson plans a visit to India This is the third consecutive planned to take place in the known as the 'pharmacy of year Australia has been U.S., G7 summit. the world' before the G7 to invited to the G7 Summit. Modi responded that he build on working together Australian Prime Minister commended Trump for his during the pandemic. Johnson Scott Morrison, whom Boris “creative and far-sighted and Modi are understood to Johnson invited to attend the approach, acknowledging the speak regularly. According summit in December 2020, fact that such an expanded to the Press Trust of India, said that the invitation was of forum would be in keeping the country is responsible for great importance, especially with the emerging realities of providing medical supplies to in the light of the ‘metaphoric the post-Covid world”. 133 countries in support of meteor’ of the coronavirus In reaction to India’s challenges with COVID 19. pandemic and economic Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Boris Johnson. invitation to the 2020 G7 The UK was the first G7 recovery efforts. also invited South Korea to the foundations of the democratic of their three-day meeting in summit the Chinese state- member to invite India to a "This is the meeting of the G7 summit. societies. southwestern France in 2019. run Global Times wrote on G7 Summit in 2005, and the largest liberal, market-based The 10 leaders will represent On Jan. 17 Hong Kong-based The summit in Cornwall June 5, 2020, “The idea of G7 first P5 member to support democracy economies," the over 60% of the people living English-language newspaper will be an opportunity to see expansion carries geopolitical a permanent UN Security Australian Prime Minister in democracies around the South China Morning Post, whether tough US policies calculations with an obvious Council seat for India. As the told the Seven Network on world. owned by Chinese Alibaba towards China by former attempt to contain China. The current president of Brazil- 16 December, "It is good for There is a growing opinion Group, re-published a video President Donald Trump will US is keen on roping India in Russia-India-China-South us to get together to line up that an alliance of democracies titled “China condemns G7 hold up with the new U.S. not only because the latter Africa (Brics) forum and on these issues and see how is necessary to stop Chinese ‘meddling’ in Hong Kong administration. has become the fifth-largest G20 president in 2023, “India we can continue to support communist party’s divide and affairs” first published in Britain also takes over the economy in the world, but also will play a key role driving the recovery of the world conquer in pursuit of a world August 2019. In this video presidency of the UN Security because India is considered an in multilateral cooperation economy." domination campaign against the Chinese foreign affairs Council in February 2021. important pillar for the US' helping to build back better Boris Johnson accepted democratic states which spokesman conveys the CCP's Boris Johnson has indicated Indo-Pacific Strategy. The US around the world”, said the South Korea’s offer to attend utilises strategic investments indignation over ‘irresponsible that he is seeking to boost the has long sought to strengthen British High Commission. this year’s P4G summit on and takeovers, cultivated comments’ by the G7 leaders UK’s international presence India's role as a counterbalance Boris Johnson stated that “As green growth and sustainable influences, ideological who had expressed 'deep on the new, post-Brexit road to China in the Indo-Pacific a key player in the Indo-Pacific development in May 2021, and propaganda and authoritarian concern' over Hong Kong in to the future. region. “ region, India is an increasingly in the letter the Prime Minister technologies to erode the very a joint statement at the end

‘SMART Health Cards’ Raise Concerns About Invasive Tech MYHEALTHWALLETAPP.COM join the CommonTrust countries, jurisdictions and claimed at the time to have By Neil Campbell In the SMART Network. Airlines included other destinations (airlines, the virus under control in Health Cards in the move were JetBlue, ships, public transport, China, with lockdowns and framework, The Vaccination Credential Lufthansa, Swiss International hotels, venues, events, offices, other measures mostly lifted, 'Issuers' will Initiative (VCI) emerged on Airlines, United Airlines, and schools…) [who] agree to “the small square barcodes generate a Thursday touting itself as Virgin Atlantic. publish and maintain their have remained in place and a “coalition of public and certificate Christoph Wolff, Head health entry requirements are still ruling peoples’ lives. private partners committed distributed to of Mobility at the WEF, using a standard machine The implications for citizens to empowering individuals citizens in their said; “As the Forum, we are readable format in the is data privacy, although the with digital access to their digital Health committed to bringing our CommonTrust Registry.” VCI states that “It is an explicit vaccination records based Wallet app, health, supply chain, aviation, This type of monitoring design goal to let the holder on open, interoperable which they will and maritime sectors together system is already in place in only disclose a minimum standards.” then be able to ensure the success of this Communist China. In April amount of information.” The VCI backed by to present to a global common utility… The of 2020, CNN covered a story Big data censorship on free companies like Microsoft, The 'Verifier' when CommonTrust Network is the titled “China is fighting the movement in Communist Mayo Clinic, Salesforce, Oracle, required kind of concrete, swift, cross- coronavirus with a digital QR China has impacted concerned and The Commons Project sector collaboration needed code. Here’s how it works.” In Brits. They have already set up intends to use the SMART to enable a unified action to the report, the AT&T owned a petition titled 'Do not rollout Health Cards specification to restore confidence in travel. broadcasting giant posited, Covid-19 vaccine passports' have citizens present proof of Siloed efforts will only create “Imagine your daily routine on the Government website, vaccination via either a digital more confusion and hinder the being entirely dependent on to protest that they may be wallet or a printable QR code provided on the webpage, a initiatives will take root in the industry’s recovery.” a smartphone app. Leaving restricted from entering format to “safely enable people participant would use their workplace and corporate sales CommonPass and the your home, taking the subway, establishments if they choose to return to work, school, Health Wallet to scan a QR world. He claims Salesforce will CommonTrust Network are going to work, entering cafes, not to receive a vaccine. events, and travel.” code when checking in to an “help organisations easily and both formally recognised restaurants, and shopping The arms-length In the SMART Health issuer. The code would register safely customise all aspects of on the WEF’s website. malls — each move, dictated Government funded Cards framework, 'Issuers' their identity via their app to the vaccination management The initiative relies on a by the colour shown on your innovation organisation will generate a certificate the test they are about to take lifecycle and integrate closely 'CommonTrust Registry', screen. Green: you’re free to Innovate UK has had filings distributed to citizens in their or the vaccine they are about with other coalition members’ which is described as “enabled proceed. Amber or Red: you’re from 8 tech companies digital Health Wallet app. They to receive. Following the offerings, which will help us all by a global registry of trusted barred from entry.” to develop e-vaccination will then be able to present to a procedure, the results would get back to public life.” laboratory and vaccination “Relying on mobile passports according to The 'Verifier' when required. be electronically assigned to According to Breitbart, data sources, standard formats technology and big data, the Mail who reported that the As for who the 'Issuers' their Health Wallet, allowing the VCI uses work from for lab results and vaccination Chinese government has used Department of Health and will be and how they will be them to pass scrutiny from The Commons Project’s records, and standard tools to a colour-based ‘health code’ Social Care said, 'As with other determined, the framework 'Verifiers'. international CommonHealth make those results and records system to control peoples’ vaccination programmes, a describes the pilot project Oracle’s Executive Vice and CommonPass systems. digitally accessible.” movements and curb the vaccine record card will be as a 'willing set of issuers' President Mike Sicilia said The Project is working with The Registry is composed spread of the coronavirus,” issued to patients with the with “define[d] expectations/ in a VCI Press Release that The Rockefeller Foundation in of two parts, 'DataSources', stating that “in many cities, relevant details about the requirements,” while in a the process “needs to be as partnership with the World which formally cites citizens without the app vaccine, including the date live setting, …a network of easy as online banking.” Bill Economic Forum (WEF). Apple Health for iOS and wouldn’t be able to leave their of their vaccination and their participants would define Patterson, Client Relation In November, The CommonHealth for Android, residential compounds or vaccine type.” and agree to a formal Trust Management SAAS provider Commons Project and the as well as 'other digital wallet enter most public places.” Framework.” Salesforce’s Executive Vice WEF announced the Airport apps' such as SMART Health The article added that In an example scenario President, implies that these Council International would Cards, and 'Destination Rules' although the Chinese described as “Participating Communist Party (CCP)

harvesting of prisoners of rest of the world”. UK House of Lords Backs Bill Amendment to Combat conscience. The Bill will now go A similar bill amendment back through the House of Forced Organ Harvesting in China was started by Marie Rimmer Commons and is expected to MP in the House of Commons become law this year. Continued from FRONT and we must hope that it sends voiced their heartfelt concerns outlined in a report by the where it lost the vote. It was Once the Bill becomes law, it a strong and clear message about the forced organ Institute to Research Crimes then tabled again in the House is anticipated that human body Baroness Northover, the internationally. Thus far, as harvesting from Falun Gong of Communism (IRCC) titled of Lords where it received tissue and organs that have Liberal Democrat Lords the noble Lord, Lord Hunt practitioners and Uyghurs in 'The Economics of Organ overwhelming support. been forcibly harvested cannot Spokesperson for Foreign said, it is enabling, but the China. Lord Alton of Liverpool Harvesting in China'. The Lord Hunt of Kings enter the UK for medicines or and Commonwealth Affairs Government will know that and Lord Collins of Highbury report claims that numerous Heath who introduced the medical testing. and one of the co-signatories many will be monitoring this made powerful speeches Western medical and amendment said, “Today we to the amendment said, “This area, we need to see those throughout the debates. pharmaceutical companies welcome wholeheartedly what is the first time the United regulations in place." The Lords raised concerns are profiting from supplying the Government have done Kingdom Government will During the Bill stages in the surrounding the export of China with devices that and the very important signals enact legislation in this area, House of Lords, many peers medical devices to China could assist in forced organ that are now being sent to the

+44 207 183 0987 VISION TIMES [email protected] www.VisionTimes.com WORLD JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 | 3

ALEX WONG / GETTY IMAGES U.S. Secretary of State Mike Trump Administration Pompeo (R) shakes hands with State Department in Final Hours Ambassador at Large for International Call Out China for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback (L) during a press event at the State Genocide Department success in keeping America safe ever we must unify around our May 29, 2018, in Continued from FRONT and prosperous.” shared values and rise above Washington, D.C. “Four years ago we launched the partisan rancour and forge Pompeo recalled the a great national effort to our common destiny.”

Nuremberg Trials at the end rebuild our country, to renew Trump called himself the MINGHUI.ORG of World War II that brought its spirit, and to restore the “only true outsider ever to Mounting evidence Hitler’s perpetrators of allegiance of this government win the Presidency” because tells a terrible tale crimes against humanity and to its citizens. In short, we he “had not spent [his] career of murder and genocide to justice, leading to embarked on a mission to as a politician, but as a builder mutilation in China. the elimination of the Nazi make America great again for looking at open skylines Witnesses and Party and fascism from the all Americans.” and imagining infinite Chinese physicians world’s stage. He noted that the “This week we inaugurate possibilities.” reveal that trials “prosecuted perpetrators a new administration and we While Trump will join tens of thousands for crimes against humanity, extend our best wishes. And a small club of presidents of Falun Gong the same crimes being we also want them to have who only served one term, practitioners perpetrated in Xinjiang.” luck, a very important word,” he lauded his 'America First' and Uyghurs On a similar note, U.S. Trump said. principles that benefitted a are being killed Ambassador at Large for Trump’s approval rating on diverse range of Americans: for their organs, International Religious leaving office was 51 percent “We reignited America’s job which are sold and Freedom, Sam Brownback, according to Rasmussen creation and achieved record transplanted at challenged the CCP for its Reports, although all other low unemployment for enormous profit. 21-year-long persecution of the polls show his approval rating African Americans, Hispanic spiritual practice Falun Gong, between 29 percent and 47 Americans, Asian Americans, as well as the forced organ percent. Trump expressed women, almost everyone.” harvesting of its adherents. in the 19-minute address his “Income soared. Wages been that we are here to serve “...crimes against their government listen.” Brownback wrote: “What does gratitude to his family, Vice boomed. The American dream the noble everyday citizens Donald Trump recognised the number 6,600 mean? It’s President Mike Pence, and his was restored and millions were of America. Our allegiance humanity, the the external threats the the approximate number of wife and family, Chief of Staff lifted from poverty in just a few is not to the special interests, country constantly faces, but practitioners that Falun Gong Mark Meadows, and all White short years. It was a miracle.” corporations, or global same crimes said the most dangerous factor report the CCP arrested in House Staff. But what the 45th President entities. It’s to our children, America faces today “is a loss 2020. How many times will the The president again emphasised the most our citizens, and to our nation being perpetrated of confidence in ourselves, CCP harass and arrest Falun condemned the riots in the passionately was the values itself,” he said. in Xinjiang.” a loss of confidence in our Gong practitioners for refusing U.S. Capitol during the Jan. America’s founding fathers “We restored the principle national greatness. A nation to renounce their beliefs before 6 Joint Session of Congress, left to posterity more than 200 that a nation exists to serve is only as strong as its spirit.” the world confronts this saying that “all Americans years ago. its citizens. Our agenda was that every citizen is entitled to “No nation can long thrive injustice?” were horrified by the assault “Above all, we have not about right or left, it equal dignity, equal treatment, that loses faith in its own In his farewell address, on our Capitol.” reasserted the sacred idea that wasn’t about Republican or and equal rights because we values, history, and heroes, President Trump wished “Political violence is an attack in America, the government Democrat, but about the good are all made equal by God. for these are the very sources the incoming Biden-Harris on everything we cherish as answers to the people. Our of a nation, and that means the Everyone is entitled to be of our unity and our vitality,” administration luck and asked Americans. It can never be guiding light, our north star, whole nation. treated with respect, to have Trump said. Americans to “pray for its tolerated. Now more than our unwavering conviction has “We fought for the principle their voice heard, and to have What Trump Accomplished in Four Years On Jan. 20, Trump left early in the morning with a departure ceremony to send him off. The White House has published a report listing what Donald J. Trump has achieved for America in his four years as the 45th President of the United States.

ECONOMIC BOOM HEALTHCARE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Seven million new jobs were created and middle-class Medicare Advantage premiums were lowered by 34 per- Trump was the first U.S. president to convene a UN 1family income rose by $6,000. Jobless claims hit a 50-year 6 cent, the lowest level in 14 years. Trump eliminated Oba- 11 meeting to end religious persecution. He blocked the low. Seven million people went off food stamps. The wealth macare taxes. Association Health Plans allowed employers to Johnson Amendment that sought to interfere in pastors’ free- of the bottom 50 percent of Americans surged by 40 percent. cut the cost of health coverage for workers by up to 30 percent. dom of speech. He signed an executive order aimed at promot- DOW touched 20,000 in 2017 and 30,000 in 2020 for the first Drug prices were reduced for the first time in 51 years. ing religious freedom worldwide. He called out and punished time in history. communist China for large-scale human rights abuses and reli- RESPONDING TO THE CCP VIRUS gious persecution of Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, Chris- MIDDLE-CLASS TAX RELIEF Trump’s administration repatriated more than 100,000 tians, and others. Tax reform benefited 6 million American workers as 7 Americans who were stranded abroad due to the coro- 2 their wages and bonuses rose. A family of four making navirus outbreak. Millions of doses of vaccines were made avail- MILITARY AND VETERANS $75,000 per year benefited from an income tax savings of over able by late 2020. Trump temporarily suspended all H1B and Trump secured three pay raises for military per- $2,000. Trump almost eliminated the Death Tax and Estate Tax. H2B visas, ensuring more jobs for Americans rather than for- 12 sonnel and their families. He established the Space The child tax credit doubled. The business tax rate was brought eign workers. He approved more than $525 million in forgivable Force. He defeated ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq. He signed down from 35 percent to 21 percent. loans to 5.2 million small businesses, supporting the jobs of 51 a $110-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the largest ever. million Americans. 160 million relief payments were distributed. He took action against the Assad regime for its use of chem- ENERGY INDEPENDENCE ical weapons against civilians. Homelessness among veterans Trump turned America into a net energy exporter for the BORDER POLICY decreased by 49 percent in 2019 when compared to a decade ago. 3 first time in 70 years. The U.S. became the world’s num- 400 miles of a border wall was built, dropping illegal More than 600,000 veterans were employed through American ber one oil and natural gas producer. Lower electric bills and gas 8 crossings by over 87 percent. Trump’s administration Job Centre services. prices saved an average American family $2,500 per year. From blocked refugees originating from dangerous, terror-afflicted 2016 to 2019, wind energy production rose 32 percent. regions from migrating to the U.S. Trump implemented rules BOOSTING EDUCATION to combat “birth tourism.” Trump promoted a pro-American lesson plan. He DEREGULATION POLICIES 13 allocated $200 million per year for the education The Trump administration eliminated eight regulations AMERICA’S INTERNATIONAL POSITION of women and minorities. He signed the FUTURE Act that 4 for every one new regulation. The reforms added $1,300 Trump made NATO allies agree to a $400-billion increase approved $255 million annual funding for Historically Black per annum to an average American household. The government 9 in defence spending by 2024. He withdrew from the dis- Colleges and Universities (HBCU). He enacted the Strengthening modified the fuel economy regulations of the Safer Affordable advantageous Iran Nuclear Deal. Trump became the first presi- Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, giving Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles rule, lowering the price of new dent to meet with the leader of North Korea. He recognised Jeru- 13 million students access to high-quality vocational education. vehicles by $2,200. Cutting red tape in the healthcare sector ena- salem as the capital of Israel and moved the American embassy bled Americans to save 10 percent on prescriptions. into the city. He established peace agreements between Israel and FEDERAL JUDICIARY Arab nations like Bahrain and UAE. He strengthened American Trump nominated and confirmed more than 230 FAIR TRADE DEALS policies against communist and socialist nations like Cuba and 14 federal judges. All the Court of Appeals vacancies Trump withdrew the U.S. from trade policies like the Venezuela. He secured hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World were filled for the first time in 40 years. Environmental protec- 5 TPP and NAFTA that were costing American jobs. He Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. tion: America achieved the largest carbon decline in the world introduced a USMA deal with Canada and Mexico that will in 2019. The reduction in carbon emissions made air cleaner create more than 550,000 new jobs in 10 years. He made China SAFER COMMUNITIES by 7 percent between 2017 and 2019. Trump withdrew the U.S. agree to buy an additional $200 billion worth of American goods Since 2016, murder and violent crime rates have from the Paris Climate Accord, after which America cut down every year. He took steps to punish Chinese companies that steal 10 fallen by more than 7 percent and 5 percent respec- more carbon emissions than any other country in the world. and then profit from American IP. He entered into 50 agree- tively. Trump created a White House position dedicated exclu- ments with various nations to boost exports of American agri- sively to fight human trafficking. He set up a task force to inves- cultural products. tigate missing Native American women. Helping American families and workers: More Americans began benefiting from Child Tax Credit; almost 40 million families received $2,200. He enabled federal workers to get 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Forty companies committed to providing up to 16 million jobs. [email protected] VISION TIMES +44 207 183 0987 4 | JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 CHINA www.VisionTimes.com COVID-19 May Have Escaped From Wuhan’s High-Security Biolab, US State Department Says

HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES By Leo Timm Neither transparent This aerial view nor consistent "Any responsible shows the P4 According to Chinese official country would laboratory (C) ultiple researchers accounts, the first known cases on the campus at Wuhan’s high- of the COVID-19 appeared in have invited of the Wuhan security biolab, the December 2019. However, the world health Institute of M Virology in Wuhan Institute of Virology Communist Party authorities (WIV), developed symptoms muzzled early reports about investigators to Wuhan in indicative of COVID-19 the virus, claiming for weeks Wuhan within China's central months before Chinese that there was no evidence days of an Hubei province authorities announced that it could transmit among on May 13, the outbreak at the end of humans. Chinese leader Xi outbreak. China 2020. Opened 2019, according to a fact Jinping and other officials instead refused in 2018, the P4 sheet released by the U.S. only admitted human-to- lab, which is part Department of State on the human contagion on Jan. 20, offers of help — of the greater evening of Friday, Jan. 15. 2020, after the Chinese New including from Wuhan Institute The announcement adds Year migration was in full of Virology weight to a common held but swing and multiple cases were the United States and conducts difficult-to-verify theory that confirmed abroad. — and punished research on the the novel coronavirus outbreak “Any responsible country brave Chinese world's most began when the pathogen would have invited world dangerous escaped the confines of the health investigators to Wuhan doctors, scientists, diseases. high-security bioresearch within days of an outbreak,” and journalists facility, rather than jumping the State Department said, virus, and the next one.” facilities are suspect. The State Biologics, a Hong Kong-listed naturally from animals to “China instead refused offers who tried to alert As of Jan. 16, the pandemic Department fact sheet notes pharmaceutical company. humans. of help — including from the the world to the has sickened nearly 100 million that in 2009, the SARS virus In March 2020, CanSino It also comes as the World United States — and punished dangers of the people worldwide. More than was accidentally released Biologics announced that it Health Organisation begins brave Chinese doctors, 2 million are dead. from a Beijing lab studying was developing a vaccine for its long-delayed onsite scientists, and journalists who virus." the coronavirus that in 2002 SARS-CoV-2. Leading the investigation of the SARS- tried to alert the world to the Coronavirus politics and 2003 spread from China development of the vaccine CoV-2 virus and its origins dangers of the virus.” and the Wuhan P4 lab around the world and killed was Chinese military Major in China. U.S. Secretary of The Chinese authorities - US State The WIV’s presence in the more than 10,000 people. General Chen Wei and her State Mike Pompeo said his initially claimed that the Department same city where SARS-CoV-2 A special report released team of researchers who department was making coronavirus jumped naturally infections were first registered last May by China political had previously been sent to available the “new information from animals to humans, has fuelled widespread risk consultancy SinoInsider, Wuhan. concerning the activities possibly in unsanitary speculation since the in examining the available According to Taiwan-based inside China’s government conditions at a wet market in possible ‘gain of function’ beginning of the pandemic. evidence and the CCP’s Chinese economist Wang Hao, laboratories in 2019”, so as to Wuhan, which is located in the experiments to enhance Last May, Pompeo said reaction to COVID-19, one of the four controlling assist the WHO efforts. central province of Hubei. transmissibility or lethality.” U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded that there was shareholders of CanSino According to the top The State Department “Despite the WIV presenting 'enormous evidence' to suggest a strong possibility of the Biologics became a member of diplomat, Washington “has says that WIV had been itself as a civilian institution, a lab origin for the virus, but pathogen having escaped the Chinese People’s Political reason to believe that several researching coronaviruses the WIV has collaborated on did not elaborate at the time. from the Wuhan P4-level Consultative Conference in researchers inside the WIV similar to SARS-CoV-2 since publications and secret projects China watcher Bill Bishop bioresearch lab in September March 2018. Major General became sick in autumn 2019, at least 2016. Pompeo said the with China’s military. The tweeted on Jan. 15 that 2019. Chen’s research into the before the first identified case Institute, which is the only WIV has engaged in classified according to a source, the The SinoInsider report, vaccine could have begun in of the outbreak,” Pompeo’s P4-security level bio-research research, including laboratory initiative to expose the links which focuses on the effects of September or October 2019, statement reads. facility in China, was not animal experiments, on between the coronavirus and the pandemic in Chinese elite with well-informed CCP That the employees suffered forthcoming about its study of behalf of the Chinese military the WIV went beyond Mike political circles, notes several officials driving up the stock symptoms consistent with the pathogens, and that WIV’s since at least 2017,” the State Pompeo, who would have suspicious coincidences. These price of CanSino Biologics by COVID-19 “raises questions links to the Chinese military Department said. left office on Jan. 20 along include the holding of drills providing the company with about the credibility of WIV made it particularly suspect. According to the fact sheet, with the rest of the Trump concerning the accidental an influx of investment. senior researcher Shi Zhengli,” “Since the outbreak, the the Chinese Communist administration. release of a coronavirus at the who claimed a 'zero infection' WIV has not been transparent Party (CCP) continues to “Will be interesting if/how Wuhan Tianhe International rate among the lab’s staff and nor consistent about its work “withhold vital information team Biden follows up on these Airport in September 2019, students. with RaTG13 or other similar that scientists need to protect allegations,” Bishop wrote. and the sudden increase in [corona]viruses, including the world from this deadly Safety standards in Chinese the stock value of CanSino

how many booster shots will be needed to build up immu- China’s Sinovac a Near Miss in Immunisation: nity over time. An attractive initial low cost for the vaccine will be impractical to sustain Offered to Poorer Nations in the long term for developing nations induced to rely on the Chinese Government. Continued from FRONT College of Medicine in the US its expansion plans for Nigeria, parency over Brazil's clinical the previous three decades, the It should raise alarm bells described the move as “vaccine Kenya and South Africa with trial effectiveness and lack of number of elders aged 65 plus for the authorities Brazil is one of four devel- diplomacy” and that “it was 0.1% of all donations, while the reporting of the phase 3 data in Hong Kong has increased by China is no stranger to issues oping nations conducting important the World Health grant making charity vehicle for peer scrutiny and WHO the equivalent of 276%. surrounding vaccine manu- clinical trials with Indonesia, Organisation signed off on of China Merchants Group, approval. The Sinovac clinical trials in facturers. In 2017, Chinese Turkey, Chile and the Philip- Chinese vaccines before wide- valued at USD 1.3 billion and In December, citizens were Jiangsu left out people over 60 children across the main- pines also testing Sinovac for spread distribution.” "Doing headquartered in Hong Kong told they could choose from years old. The median age of land were injected with faulty use at home. Brazil has con- this ahead of WHO prequali- pledged USD 1.5 million or three different vaccine man- the phase 1 clinical trials was vaccines for diphtheria, teta- ducted the largest clinical trial fication makes me concerned," 0.01% of all donations. The ufacturers, including Pfizer- 40 years old. The median age nus and whooping cough. In of the Sinovac vaccine with he told ABC News. UK Government on the other BioNTec, Astra Zenica and of the phase 2 clinical trials 2018, its manufacturer, Chang- 13,000 participants reporting Abusing its Alliances hand gave USD 2,624.2 bil- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. The issues was 45 years old. These sub- chun Changsheng Biotechnol- a 50.38% efficiency, Indone- It would appear that China lion or 25.8% of all donations in Hong Kong with the impo- jects were healthy. Further, the ogy Company later had to pay sia says that it is 65.3% effec- is using its recent donor rela- between 2016 to 2020. sition of the National Security study concentrated heavily on USD 1.3 billion in fines and tive with 1,600 people, while tionship with GAVI the Vac- By doing "global public Law by China that bans pro- cataloguing side effects from its license to produce vac- Turkey has tested 1,322 people cine Alliance, as a way to bol- good", Xi Jinping is courting tests amongst other crack- the injection. cines revoked, which sent it with an efficacy rate of 91.25%. ster President Xi Jinping’s the poorer nations in an appar- down measures looks ready Age may shed light on the into bankruptcy for falsify- Bloomberg reported that the overseas expansion strategy ent noble gesture but, buyer to be challenged once more low results achieved by the ing records for a rabies vac- Turkish values were erroneous by offering a low cost solution beware. The ancient Chi- as people react with distrust Brazilian phase 3 trial, which cine produced by the com- after the study revealed only to the more expensive Pfizer nese saying tells us that, a bad to the news of Sinovac's inclu- studied “Healthcare profes- pany. A Chinese research 29 participants. The fluctuat- or Moderna mRNA vaccines, beginning makes a bad end- sion on the government pro- sionals who work in direct article published in Science- ing rates need further investi- at 90% efficacy but requiring ing (不善始者不善终). The curement list. contact care of people with Direct’s Vaccine Journal in gation but international scien- refrigeration; options not nec- Sinovac vaccine uses inacti- Civil Service Secretary Pat- possible or confirmed COVID- August 2019 concluded “that tists voiced concerns at the lack essarily available to develop- vated virus cells and The U.S. rick Nip promised to strictly 19 cases” and “Adults (18-59 public confidence was signifi- of phase 3 clinical data availa- ing nations. Department of Health and review all vaccines procured years) and Elderly (60 years cantly affected by the vaccine ble for them to review despite China's donation to GAVI Human Services (HHS) web- by Hong Kong to placate con- and above).” scandal, particularly for vac- the mass roll-out of vaccines. between 2016 to 2020, was site states that “It is well known cerns. The Sinovac research- cine producers and drug reg- 1.8 million doses were just USD 5 million, repre- that inactivated vaccines usu- The Economic Letter 2019/02 ers themselves described the ulators,” and “to build public shipped to Brazil for the trial, senting only 0.05% of all dona- ally don’t provide immunity from the Office of the Govern- limitations of their study that confidence for vaccination, while Indonesia has been tions during the same period. (protection) that’s as strong as ment Economist of the Hong included “Lack of data on regulators have to reform reg- gifted 1.2 million doses of Chinese social media plat- live vaccine.” Kong Special Administrative immune persistence.” Hence, it ulatory practices and manu- Sinovac “free of charge.” Dr form TikTok used its pledge Where does that leave Region of the time stated that will be impossible to quantify facturers have to ensure vac- Peter Hotez, professor and of USD 10 million for its first Hong Kong? “Hong Kong’s present stage how long any potential immu- cine quality.” Dean of the National School donation to encourage vaccine Hong Kongers are con- of population ageing is sim- nity provided by the Coro- of Tropical Medicine at Baylor awareness in Africa alongside cerned with the lack of trans- ilar to that in the UK.” Over navac injection lasts for and

+44 207 183 0987 VISION TIMES [email protected] www.VisionTimes.com CHINA JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 | 5 COVID-19 May Have Escaped From Wuhan’s North Korea’s Undisclosed Aid from China High-Security Biolab, US State Department Says Revealed by Leaked Government Documents

GETTY IMAGES By Vision Times Staff Development Co., owned by the Jilin government, pro- posed a project construction eaked internal gov- period from 2015 to 2017 in a ernment documents Chinese project site in North Lobtained by The Epoch Korea, which would be funded Times have revealed details by the Jilin Academy of Agri- about the financial and agri- cultural Sciences. cultural aid provided to North The document stated the Korea by Communist China. agriculture project to be an China still remains North “aid to the North Korean gov- Korea’s biggest trading part- ernment,” and had an invest- ner, despite trade reductions ment of 9.97 million yuan due to the Chinese Commu- (about $1.5 million) from nist Party (CCP) virus. China. The document sup- One of the documents, pub- ported this by pointing out lished in 2016, showed the North Korea’s rice, corn, and CCP’s funding of 15 projects vegetable production being in Jilin, the northeastern prov- hindered by its lagging pro- ince bordering North Korea. duction technology as well its With the goal of developing lack of agricultural machinery North Korea’s economy, most and details. of these projects were classi- North Korea was willing fied as “overseas investment” to provide construction land by the Jilin provincial gov- and experimental land free of ernment, while two projects, The total investment from million) into an electrical invest in the trade zone pro- The other leaked docu- charge, handle Chinese worker involving cement grinding China into the cement grind- project, and 31.5 billion yuan ject, but instead used Hong ment, published in 2014, dis- immigration processes and stations in Pyongyang and ing stations was about 1 bil- (about $470 million) into an Kong companies to advance played China’s exportation of land permit procedures, and the Rason Special Economic lion yuan ($150 million) each. island Trade Cooperation the development of a mutual advanced agricultural technol- provide Chinese workers with Zone (SEZ), were classified as China has also invested 468.6 Zone project in North Korea. trade zone, according to a 2018 ogy to North Korea. It revealed office space and accommoda- “contracted projects.” million yuan (about $69.82 China also did not directly South Korea report. that Jilin Jinong High-tech tion, the company said.

in the current pandemic is disappointing. Instead of WHO Arrives in China for CCP Virus China reforming its policies/ practices, it was the WHO that altered its approach to Investigation, but Beijing Blocks Inspector accommodate Beijing. If interventions in China had ADOBE STOCK begun three weeks earlier, By Prakash Gogoi & Helen L test, nucleic acid test, and the view. Kilgour is the former transmission of COVID- third test for IgM antibodies. Canadian Secretary of State for 19 could have been reduced The passengers have to obtain Asia-Pacific, a noted human by 95 per cent, concluded a n Jan 14. only the double-negative test results rights and democracy activist study by the U.K’s University 13 members of at least two days prior to who co-authored several books of Southampton.” 15 strong World boarding and this new ruling and reports with human rights Beijing’s gaslighting efforts HealthO Organisation (WHO) delayed the scientists. lawyer David Matas on forced to convince the West that they investigation team arrived in Earlier, WHO head Tedros organ harvesting from Falun are incapable and changing China to study the origins of Adhanom Ghebreyesus Gong practitioners in China. the narrative so that the virus the Coronavirus classified as expressed disappointment Both men were nominated for appeared to originate in Italy SARS-CoV-2. Two members at China’s delaying tactics the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 comes when the number of were detained in Singapore when it came to allowing for this work. new COVID-19 cases are as their COVID-19 tests the investigating team In his column for the Toronto growing in Hubei Province showed positive results. After into the country. China Sun on Jan 23, Kilgour wrote outside the Chinese capital. a second round of tests, one of downplayed the incident as a that the Chinese Government According to The Guardian, the scientists has rejoined the 'misunderstanding'. Virology, the lab that some say figurehead in my eyes — a covered up the outbreak of the the growing coronavirus team. After a two-week quarantine, is the real origin of the Virus, tool, to put it bluntly. It is now Virus. President Xi Jinping infections pose serious In November, China the investigators will visit and hospitals that treated the looking for the source of the also stopped the WHO challenges for the Communist implemented the 'double- Wuhan’s wholesale meat first set of patients. virus, and the first anniversary publicising the crisis which Party Leader as China gets negative' test, which requires market in Wuhan from where Meanwhile, some Chinese of the outbreak has passed, and would have saved lives so ready to celebrate the incoming people to produce negative the Virus is believed to have citizens are critical of the all [evidence]is gone…” said that Beijing could stockpile Chinese New Year of the Ox. results for a nucleic acid test spread (according to heavy WHO visit, saying that the Zhang Hai, a Wuhan resident supplies of personal protective and serum IgM antibody test. propaganda by the Chinese investigation team is too late whose father died from the equipment and other medical Passengers from Singapore Government). They also plan and will not find anything virus to The Epoch Times. devices to corner the market. to China must take a serum to visit the Wuhan Institute of useful. “WHO is just a David Kilgour echoed this “The WHO’s behaviour

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / CC0 2.0 and freedoms that the Polish Mexico: President Obrador Preparing for Global constitution guarantees to them,” he said in a statement. Action Against Big Tech Censorship Notably, Poland was the first European country to break By Prakash Gogoi incite violence and all that, but and other influential foreign- ments in the U.S. are swiftly from Communism and has this cannot be used as a pre- ers. He predicts that targeted moving to divest their funds held fast to freedoms neces- text to suspend freedom of censorship by companies like away from these tech firms. sary for a healthy representa- ikening big tech to the expression… How can a com- Facebook and Twitter will drive Notably, the administrations tive democracy. Ziobro’s state- LSpanish Inquisition, Mex- pany act as if it was all-pow- users towards newer platforms of Florida and Tennessee are ment also emphasised: “The ican President Andres Manuel erful, omnipotent, as a sort of and that in a few years these exploring ways to get rid of freedom of speech and free- Lopez Obrador has announced Spanish Inquisition on what companies will be complain- all debt and equity they hold dom of debate is the essence of that he will spearhead a global is expressed?” Obrador said to ing about how they destroyed in companies like Facebook, Obrador wants to lead a democracy; there is no democ- fight against big tech censor- Associated Press. their business model, eradicat- Twitter, Apple, Amazon, and global fight against tech racy if the state does not guar- censorship. ship by online giants. The Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s ing billions of dollars’ worth Alphabet. antee freedom in these two announcement comes after Foreign Relations Secretary, of shareholder wealth. The In Poland, the ban on Trump user for speech that is consid- areas….” major American tech plat- revealed that they have already shares of Facebook and Twit- has triggered the government ered legal according to Polish In Trump’s view, the big tech forms like Facebook and Twit- received responses from offi- ter have already taken a com- to speed up a proposed law law, the firm can be fined up to censoring tactics are a move ter banned the account of Presi- cials in the EU, Latin Amer- bined plummet of $51 billion to counter big tech censor- 50 million zloty (approx. $13.3 that will only end up anger- dent Donald Trump, triggering ica, Africa, and Southeast Asia. dollars in market value in the ship. The plan is to create a million). ing more Americans. Trump concerns worldwide that free President Obrador has course of only two trading ses- Free Speech Board that will Zbigniew Ziobro, the Polish noted that he has been warn- speech would be curtailed and instructed the drawing up of sions, that is, two days. be composed of five people Minister of Justice, noted that ing about the threat of big tech dictated by tech behemoths. a joint proposal to curb big Faced with this loss of value, selected by the parliament the function of the Free Speech censors for a long time but Obrador revealed that he is tech censorship. Obrador also Facebook and Twitter don’t through a three-fifths major- Board will be to prevent cen- wasn’t taken seriously, and already contacting various gov- asked his Facebook followers to seem to be flinching, which ity. Each of them will have six- sorship by social networks and now they have banned his ernments around the world to switch to Telegram. makes one wonder: Could year terms. Social media users not to act like censors them- accounts. He feels that con- take action on the issue. Steven Mosher, president of their moves have been incen- can approach the Free Speech selves. “Polish citizens, while servatives are getting increas- “I can tell you that at the the Population Research Insti- tivised in some way, or was Board in the event of any plat- carrying out such discussions ingly enraged at the biased first G20 meeting we have, I tute, pointed out that the tech pressure somehow irresisti- form unjustly banning content and debates on the internet… way in which the mostly Sil- am going to make a proposal companies are underestimat- ble? In light of the plummeting or deleting their account. If it should have a guarantee of icon Valley-based companies on this issue… Yes, social ing the influence Trump has value and the questions this is found that the tech com- their basic rights that ensure are censoring content. media should not be used to among overseas governments raises, various state govern- pany took action against the the respect for their civil rights

[email protected] VISION TIMES +44 207 183 0987 6 | JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 Wisdom & Wellness www.VisionTimes.com Plato’s ‘Philosopher King’ - a Virtuous Benevolent Ruler and economical collectivism. In Plato 's dialogue Repub- SANZIO /WIKIMEDIA By Vision Times Staff Taking inspiration from lic the idea of a just City-State “Until Socrates, whose teach- presented with a concept of philosophers are ings, never written down by ‘guardians’, benevolent ruling Plato ( 428/427 BC - 348/347 Socrates himself, were largely class, who possess a strong love kings, or the kings BC), a student of Socrates, the passed down by Plato, he used of knowledge, virtuous and and princes of this teacher of Aristotle, was an the form of vivid and life- selfless, living communally, Athenian philosopher dur- like conversations between like soldiers, without forming world have the ing the Classical period in Socrates and other members families, possessing no prop- spirit and power Ancient Greece. His Platon- of society to convey his, Plato’s, erty, dedicating their lives to ist school of thought and the original and visionary ideas. the happiness and prosperity of philosophy, and Academy was the first insti- Like Socrates, Plato believed of the state. ‘Guardians’ would political greatness tution of higher education in that virtue and wisdom could be raised and nurtured from and wisdom meet the Western world. not exist without each other, among the best children of It is not possible to overesti- and therefore were the same society, most promising mor- in one, ... cities COPY OF SILANION/WIKIMEDIA thing. He stipulated that since ally and intellectually, who will never have all virtues are one, being iden- would grow to become the tical to knowledge, one can- best not only in virtue and rest from their not possess one virtue without knowledge but also in sports evils - no, nor possessing the others, there- and military arts. ‘Guardi- the human race, fore philosophers, individuals ans’ would include qualified of a higher knowledge, possess women as well as men. as I believe - and all these virtues together. At the core of Plato’s views then only will this on the ideal, highest knowl- edge that the philosophers are our State have a “Excellence is to pursue is a theory of Forms, possibility of life or Ideas, a world view that the and behold the not a gift, but a tangible, physical manifesta- Detail of Plato (left) walking along with Aristotle from The skill that takes tions of things are not as real School of Athens by Raphael. light of day.” and significant as their immu- - Plato, practice. We do table and absolute forms, or among others in all respects, and happiness of the State. Plato. Luni marble, not act rightly ideas. Forms are the highest the one who can gain access They know the true essence The Republic Copy of portrait made by and most perfect prototypes to and comprehend the knowl- of Beauty, Temperance, Good- Silanion ca. 370 BC for because we are of any objects or qualities. edge of Forms. Knowledge of ness, Generosity and Justice, the Academia in Athens excellent, in For example, there are count- Forms is only true and uni- being guided by supreme wis- mate the Plato’s influence on fact we achieve less instances of beauty in the versal, never changing knowl- dom which in turn, will allow own right - perfect, incorrupt- the last two thousand years world however these are only edge. Ability to possess the them to guide and educate ible gold standard of an ideal of development of the West- excellence by pale, forever morphing imita- highest knowledge which, in those over whom they rule. ruler by which the rulers of the ern philosophical and politi- acting rightly.” tions of a Form of Beauty, per- turn, translates into the high- The idea of a benevolent, vir- world should appraise them- cal thought; he could be rightly fect and unchangeable. est virtue, makes the ‘philos- tuous, all-knowledgeable king selves and with which they called an intellectual father of – Plato ‘Philosopher King’ is the opher kings’ the most capa- is very appealing even if not should strive to align. modern politics and philoso- philosopher, virtuous, compe- ble and qualified to rule with feasible. ‘Philosopher King’ phy, particularly of political tent and most accomplished wisdom for the prosperity can be seen as a Form in its

A human brain is one of the most sophisticated machines on the planet against which even Amazing Psychological Ways a supercomputer is no match. However, our brains are affected by psychological phenomena that can fool us into a certain way of thinking 7Our Brains Are Affected or condition we may not have thought of. By Vision Times Staff perfect, the reality seems to because the reality of Paris to happen. This was tested blind. However, such primitive form of vision be that people usually like (a normal, bustling big city out in a classroom setting people also experience a usually seen in animals that individuals who are imperfect. with normal-looking people) by psychologist Robert unique phenomenon called lack a visual cortex. 1. The Baader-Meinhof This is the result of the Pratfall diverges radically from the Rosenthal. 'blindsight'. Such people Phenomenon Effect, which posits that those romantic Paris portrayed in “At the beginning of the might walk across the room or 7. The Uncanny “Baader-Meinhof is the who make mistakes are Japanese media, in which year, all the students took an cross over multiple obstacles Valley Hypothesis phenomenon where one perceived as more likeable all Parisians are pencil-thin assessment test, and Rosenthal casually as if they had eyes. People might be happy stumbles upon some obscure than those who never commit fashion models, and the led the teachers to believe They might even catch a ball to see a robot that roughly piece of information — often any mistakes. When this was very air of Paris is suffused that certain students were tossed at them. It is speculated resembles a human being. an unfamiliar word or name — tested out on subjects who with magic,” according to capable of great academic that this Beyond a certain point of and soon afterward encounters heard recordings of a quiz, the Psychology Today. achievement. Rosenthal is a human similarity, people the same subject again, often theory was confirmed. chose these students at start feeling revulsion. repeatedly,” according to Damn Some of the recordings 4. The Choice Paradox random, regardless of the But once the Interesting (collection of true included the sound of a person Sometimes, we have to actual results of the IQ tests. robot is almost stories from history, science and knocking over a coffee cup choose from several options. At the end of the year, when indistinguishable psychology) For instance, you while answering the question. Even if we make the correct the students were retested, from real might see a new style of handbag The subjects rated them as decision, we might end up the group of earmarked humans, on your way back home from highly likeable, above other feeling unhappy about it. high achievers did indeed people end up work. people who never made a This is the paradox of choice. show improvement over feeling empathy Starting tomorrow, you sound. This concerns every type of their peers,” according for the robot. might see it everywhere, in a decision, whether it is about to Buffer. The phase where newspaper ad, on a billboard, 3. The Paris Syndrome career, life, shopping, and so The teachers apparently the robot’s motion while scrolling through Some tourists who visit on. The more options we have got so influenced by and appearance are social media, in the hands of Paris often end up with the and the more effort we have to Rosenthal’s suggestions that between 'barely human' a passenger in the metro, with Paris Syndrome. This mostly put in to make a choice, the they subconsciously ended and 'fully human' is called a lady who is paying the bill at happens with Japanese more our happiness from the up giving greater attention, the uncanny valley. a coffee shop, and so on. The tourists who experience decision declines. opportunities, and feedback People tend to find fact that you saw something delusions, paranoia, nausea, to the selected students. such robots in new recently apparently makes hallucinations, etc., when they 5. The Pygmalion the 'uncanny your brain more alert to notice visit Paris for the first time. Effect 6. Blindsight valley' it the next time it comes across. “French psychiatrists The Pygmalion Effect When the visual cortex strange speculate that about 20 says that when you expect of the brain gets and 2. The Pratfall Effect Japanese tourists a year something to happen with damaged, a person eerie. Though we are asked to be suffer these symptoms all your heart, it is likely becomes completely

+44 207 183 0987 VISION TIMES [email protected] www.VisionTimes.com FEATURE JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 | 7 The Goodness of Perseverance

By Tatiana Denning too much about it. I just did “That is why you fail,” alone are omnipotent. The invested, making perseverance what I had to do. replies Yoda. slogan ‘press on’ has solved, impossible. Looking back, I’m not “Perseverance and always will solve, the he dictionary definition even sure how I did it. The It’s good for your health problems of the human race.” Reflecting back and of perseverance lets important thing is, somehow Not only does perseverance is trusting in looking ahead Tus know that it is I did it. I don’t attribute it to help you achieve your the face of Perseverance in action Though I didn’t realise it at continued effort; to do or being intelligent or book- goals, it also improves your They say that what doesn’t the time, my hardships taught achieve something despite smart, to being savvy or health. A study published uncertainty kill us makes us stronger. me not only how to persevere, difficulties, failure, or having common sense, or to in the Journal of Abnormal When you persevere, you but that I can persevere. As opposition; the action or any special gift. I attribute it Psychology, which followed and seemingly develop the capacity to face difficult as things may get, condition or an instance of to perseverance. thousands of Americans over and endure life’s challenges. I’m grateful for the lessons. My persevering; steadfastness. an 18-year period, found that insurmountable Like all things, the more you hardships have tempered me, Perseverance. It’s not What perseverance is not those who had higher levels of do it, the better you get. strengthened me, and helped something you are really Psychologist Angela perseverance and optimism odds.” So what are some ways we can mold me into a better person. taught, and sometimes you Duckworth, professor at the had less depression and anxiety strengthen our perseverance? I draw inspiration from the are not even sure if you have University of Pennsylvania than their counterparts. First, you need to know your founders of our great nation, it — until you are called upon and author of Grit: The Power Nur Hani Zainal, the lead before finally inventing the light core values. By having a strong who endured incredible to dig deep and find it. of Passion and Perseverance, author of the study, told Science bulb. moral compass, composed of hardship and exhibited For me, one of those times I likens perseverance to grit. Daily: “Perseverance cultivates Of course, in Edison’s view, honesty, integrity, and ethical tremendous perseverance. needed to dig deep was during Grit, she says, is “passion and a sense of purposefulness that he had not failed 10,000 times, behaviour, you will be filled They held an unshakable belief my medical training. Before perseverance for long-term can create resilience against but rather proven 10,000 ways with the conviction needed in their cause — because theirs starting medical school, I knew goals.” or decrease current levels of his invention wouldn’t work, to help persevere in the face of was a cause based on not only it would be tough, but little Let’s first consider what major depressive disorder, before finally discovering the hardship. When your starting strong moral convictions, but a did I know just how tough. perseverance, or grit, is not. generalised anxiety disorder, one that would. He viewed point is upright, you can better deeply held faith in our country Between medical school, Duckworth says: “Grit isn’t and panic disorder. his numerous attempts as develop an uncompromising and, more importantly, our internship, and residency, I talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t “Our findings suggest that stepping stones, famously resolve and ability to look Creator. endured things that I would how intensely, for the moment, people can improve their saying: “Many of life’s failures at the big picture, always May you show the same have previously said I could you want something.” mental health by raising are people who did not realise reminding yourself of what courage and unwavering not. It’s not impulsivity, or or maintaining high levels how close they were to success matters most. determination to do what’s Medical training required laziness, or complacency, and of tenacity, resilience, and when they gave up.” Next, take action, even if it’s right and hold on even when sacrificing time with family, it’s not being afraid of failure or optimism.” President Abraham just a small step. You can then we think you cannot. May being on duty for long rejection. It’s not being stopped Perseverance can also help Lincoln showed undaunted use small victories as well as you never lose hope — even days and late nights — and by uncertainty or what you you stick to healthy routines, perseverance during his past successes to strengthen in the face of overwhelming even nights with no sleep don’t know, and it’s not being such as eating a good diet or lifetime, losing elections your resolve. difficulties. at all. It required learning hampered by hardship. exercising. And while even eight times before becoming It’s also important not to As you enter a new year and regurgitating massive those who are determined may president of the United States. overthink things. I know and reflect upon where you amounts of information with a What is perseverance fall off the track, they can pick The Biblical figure Job went I’ve sometimes suffered from would like to improve, making sleep-deprived brain, working It’s said that perseverance is themselves up and get back to from prosperity to suffering “analysis paralysis,” something perseverance a regular part of while having pneumonia so one of the greatest attributes a business. unimaginable hardships, that can lead to your mind your life would serve you well, as not to burden others with person can possess. People who are determined which he endured thanks defeating you. Remember, and make for a great New my responsibilities, being In fact, religions tout are also more likely to only to his unwavering faith you don’t have to believe Year’s resolution. humiliated and yelled at by their virtue. The Bible says: push through pain or other and perseverance. And I everything you think. If your Let us end with some residents and attendants, and “And not only that, but we challenging health problems recently wrote an article on thoughts aren’t aligning with inspiration from a snippet of being threatened by patients also glory in tribulations, and still achieve their goals. family friend Larry Cluff, who you want to be, you Rudyard Kipling’s poem If, “who knew people.” knowing that tribulation who has shown tremendous should work to eliminate and which is full of wisdom. Training in inner-city produces perseverance; and Drawing inspiration determination in the face of replace them. Philadelphia meant that perseverance, character; and from others living with brain cancer. Being consistent and murders, stabbings, robberies, character, hope” (Romans 5:3- We learn the skill of Our first president, George keeping a schedule also helps, If you can force and drug overdoses were 4), while the Buddha declared: perseverance through Washington, was known for rather than doing things only the norm. There was even “Endurance is one of the most practicing it and through uncommon valour and his when you feel motivated. your heart a bombing at the 7-Eleven difficult disciplines, but it’s to watching others demonstrate dogged determination to see This requires self-control and and nerve down the street. Security was the one who endures that the determined behaviour. the American experiment resisting temptation despite frequently called on to deal final victory comes.” In fact, the best way to instil succeed. The Revolutionary what you may think you want and sinew with belligerent patients, or Perseverance, or grit, implies persistence in our children War was marked by setbacks at the moment. walk us to our cars when our a certain ruggedness, a mental may be to model it ourselves. on and off the field, but his You must also face your To serve shifts were over. toughness, and an ability to A study in Science looking tireless efforts to train and fears and push through them. Most days during my suffer and endure the most at 15-month-old infants lead the Continental Army While your first instinct may your turn internship, I was too busy difficult of hardships. It’s the discovered that “seeing just led to success over what was be to run away, how will you long after to even take a two-minute ability to get up, brush yourself two examples of an adult commonly held to be the ever learn to overcome fear if bathroom break, let alone off, and find a path forward, working hard to achieve her superior forces of Great Britain. you strive to avoid it? Staying they are gone stop for food or water. With despite what the naysayers may goals can lead infants to work Even nature offers lessons optimistic in the face of fear the motto of “see one, do one, say, and even what our own harder at a novel task relative in perseverance, whether it be and hardship, while learning And so hold on teach one,” I had to learn, on minds may say. to infants who see an adult the slow drip of mineral-rich from the negative and working the spot, how to inject, poke It’s a belief that sometimes succeed effortlessly.” water over centuries to form to improve yourself, is also when there is and prod patients by day, while defies logic and reason — Not only can you draw stalagmites and stalactites, important. This is where self- nothing in you by night, I had to learn, with a lesson Jedi Master Yoda inspiration to persevere from the emergence of a sprout of reflection is critical. only one other equally scared teaches young Luke Skywalker direct observation, but you can pale green grass after a forest One thing you should never Except intern, how to manage a floor in the iconic Star Wars movie also draw it from the stories fire, or the slow formation of a do is become trapped in full of ill patients. My program The Empire Strikes Back. of others. diamond from a piece of coal discouragement. You must the Will was known to be hardcore, and To demonstrate the error For example, Henry Ford due to nothing more than manage your frustrations this was part of being “thrown in Luke’s thinking, Yoda experienced multiple failed pressure and time. and worries, and control which says into the fire,” as they called it. telekinetically lifts Luke’s business attempts, resulting in In the words of our 30th your thoughts and actions. to them: While going through it starship from a murky swamp. five bankruptcies, before finally president, Calvin Coolidge: It’s also important that you all, there were times when I Luke, who believed his ship finding success with the Ford “Nothing in the world can take responsibility for your ‘Hold on!’ questioned if I could make it. was hopelessly lost, exclaims: Motor Company, while Thomas take the place of persistence… actions; otherwise, you will But I didn’t let my mind think “I don’t believe it!” Edison failed over 10,000 times Persistence and determination feel detached rather than truly

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[email protected] VISION TIMES +44 207 183 0987 8 | JAN 27-FEB 2, 2021 Arts & Culture www.VisionTimes.com Su Shi, the Ancient Poet Who Put the People First

Translation by Lucile Guo we have to be afraid of?” And so the generals led the soldiers out with scoops and shovels ne of the greatest lite- to build dikes and erect dams. rati of ancient China, Living out of his little hut, the ancient poet Su Su Shi directed flood O蘇軾 Shi ( ), also known by control efforts day his alias Su Dongpo (蘇東坡), and night, never was not just an accomplished returning to his main man of letters, but also a dedi- residence even when pass- cated and decisive leader. ing by as part of his work. Su Shi (pronounced roughly Torrential rain poured down “soo shrr,” not “sushi”), lived constantly, and at times, the in the 1000s, during the city wall barely remained Northern Song Dynasty. above water. His poetry, calligra- Under the example phy, prose, painting, set by Su Shi’s lead- and other works ership, the army have a unique place and the people of in the long river of Xuzhou worked Chinese culture. together, finally diverting the In addition to his extraor- flood and saving the city. dinary literary achievements, When the floods died down, Su Shi was a wise and decisive Su Shi attended to unrest imperial official. He often took throughout Xuzhou and had it upon himself to aid the peo- wooden revetments erected to commander was imme- ple in times of hardship or dis- help mitigate future flooding. diately punished with exile, aster. and the atmosphere An example of this is when Enforcing disci- in the military Shu Shi had just been trans- pline and the law returned to ferred to the city of Xuzhou, Su Shi also applied the normal. in eastern China. Floods law strictly to enforce fallen Then came from the Yellow River were standards of military disci- time for the approaching the city, hav- pline. After Emperor Zhezong spring review of the troops. ing breached the riverbank in assumed the throne in 1085, However, the military bureau- Cao village. Facing the flood, Su Shi requested a job as mag- crats had long let the ranking Su Shi built a small thatched istrate and was sent to Ding- protocol fall into disuse. See- hut atop the Xuzhou city walls zhou, an area on the border ing their organisation in this so that he could better observe with the Khitan Liao empire. state, Su Shi ordered that the the disaster and make deci- In Dingzhou, both civil and old ranks be reinstated, and sions. military officials were corrupt; that the inspection ceremony Su Shi said: “The sur- the law was nonexistent. The be carried out with all offic- vival or demise of the military academy cannibal- ers and men wearing uniforms country depends on ised the soldiers’ rations and according to the proper hier- its morality, not its bonuses, the soldiers were archy. strength. The lon- arrogant and disobedient, and gevity of a dynasty the old magistrate did not dare A poet of the people lies in the respect they to do anything to bring them Su Shi was a man of the peo- have for their traditions, not into line. ple and took hardship with joy. whether they are wealthy or Upon his arrival in the Although he was frequently was turbid and poor.” region, Su Shi took a series of reassigned to new locations saline. Starting in The water rose higher and measures to rectify this sorry during his career, he never the Tang Dynasty higher up the city walls, and state of affairs. He appointed complained and fulfilled his (the empire pre- it soon seemed they might corrupt officers to new posi- duties the best he could no ceding the Song), collapse at any moment. The tions where they would have matter where he was. local administra- wealthy residents of Xuzhou fewer opportunities to com- While stationed in Hang- tors had dug wells hurried to leave the city. But mit their malfeasance, ren- zhou in eastern China, the and drawn fresh Su Shi said: “If the rich leave, ovated the barracks, and city faced a three-in-one water by dredg- it will demoralise everyone in cleaned up the mili- disaster: drought, fam- ing the West the city. As long as I am here, tary culture. He pro- ine, and plague at the Lake. The efforts of the flood will never destroy the hibited drinking and same time. Bai Juyi, an official and also city wall.” Seeing that the pre- gambling, saw to it Su Shi restored a renowned poet of the Tang, fect did not waver, the wealthy that the clothes and and improved on to link the lake with the returned to Xuzhou. rations for the ser- the infrastructure Grand Canal had paid off and Su Shi then called up the geants would not be around the West allowed agriculture in the army. When he arrived at the seized, and used var- Lake (Xi Hu), bring- area to thrive. military base, he told the com- ious other means to restrain ing prosperity to the people of However, constant manding officer: “The over- the soldiers’ conduct. Hangzhou. dredging of the West flowing river is about to bring However, those in the mili- Su Shi allocated 2,000 taels Lake was neces- down the city wall. The situa- tary establishment were fright- of silver from the public sur- sary to maintain tion is urgent. Although you ened by Su’s actions. A number plus and allocated 50 taels of the supply of water are imperial guards [respon- of soldiers raised complaints his own gold to set up a char- for irrigation. After the chaos people built a shrine to hon- sible for national, rather than about their commander. The ity hospital, which treated the following the end of the Tang solution: Su Shi had farmers our his deeds and show their local defence], please do your unrest caused concern among impoverished and needy. In empire, there was no one to cultivate water chestnuts on gratitude. Su remained mod- best to help.” the officers. Su Shi said: “Let the spring of the next year, he do the dredging. Both the the surface of the lake, block- est, saying that he had merely The officer responded: “The me handle this personally. Let- sold rice at a reduced price, lake itself and the connect- ing sunlight from the under- done his job as a magistrate. flood is coming, but not even ting you file a complaint would had porridge and soup pre- ing canals were covered in water weeds and halting their Su Shi said: “The survival the prefect is afraid, so what do cause chaos in the army.” The pared, and sent officials to take aquatic weeds and mud. The growth. or demise of the country doctors to the neighbourhood wells were also clogged due to While an effective leader depends on its morality, not to treat the sick. Many peo- lack of maintenance. who knew how to get things its strength. The longevity of ple’s lives were saved through Knowing that the lake was done, Su Shi was not adept at a dynasty lies in the respect this timely aid and the plague the key to solving the drought political manoeuvring and they have for their traditions, receded. and by extension end hunger, typically lost out amidst the not whether they are wealthy Hangzhou first Su Shi had two canals dug and intrigues of the Song impe- or poor.” became a metrop- a 12-mile-long embankment rial court. The great poet was Throughout his life, Su Shi olis in the Song constructed to retain the lake- exiled from Hangzhou. met with setbacks and polit- Dynasty. But water and increase its depth. But 20 years later, when Su ical misfortune, but never prior to this The wells were re-drilled, and Shi returned to the gave up on the principles of time, the area the West Lake embankment city, he found that true and good governance. was consid- also served as a convenient the people of He validated these prin- ered remote avenue for traffic. It became Hangzhou had ciples with his actions, and back- known as the “Lord Su Cause- his portrait and expressed ward. Because way.” hanging in them with of its coastal loca- The weeds were eradicated almost every his verses. tion, the spring water by a simple and productive home. Some

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