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Ways to Save the World
How can you help fight the evil virus and help the people suffering from the economic disaster? Here are some ideas if you need them. But if you don’t need them, please consider adding them in comments–someone else might need your ideas!
First, stuff you’re already doing might be a tremendous help. Do what you can to stay healthy so you’re not the next one who needs help. If you still have an honest job, keep up the good work! That job is a huge priority right now; the unhappy world needs all the economic productivity it can get!
Second, those of us who can afford to make a financial contribution can find lots of worthy causes. Samaritan’s Purse built the field hospital in Central Park. I’m a fan of Baptist Global Response. There are worthy homeless ministries and food banks from your corner of North America all the way to Hong Kong.
Third, some of us can donate blood.
Fourth, help your neighbors, friends, and family. Donate eggs or toilet paper. Mow someone’s lawn if the cops aren’t gonna hassle you too much over it.
Fifth, sew masks. Them things are central to the (relatively) good numbers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea.
Sixth, get 20 antibody tests if you can afford them, and join the movement to get people who likely have immunity back into the world (@iwe).
Seventh, whatever I left out. You tell me!
Published in General
Love this. Thank you.
Those are one
strainantibody or the other. There’s this combination test, but it’s Chinese.Does that mean it’s not a reliable indication of immunity, and this is actually not a good strategy?
Rico-Catholics, you must have some good charities to recommend.
I don’t know. I saw a graph that showed one antigen peaking early in infection, then another really lingering after recovery. I’m looking for a test that senses both antigens – I think it’s a worthwhile investment but I’m going to search a little more.
As for strategy, I think serological testing is of as much value to most of us as a test for active virus, and I think it’ll be part of the trilogy that lets us crack this from a public health perspective: serum tests, contact tracing, and targeted quarantine.
Catholic Relief Services
These days it’s hard to find a charity that isn’t tainted by government money, just as it’s hard to find a college that isn’t tainted by government money. There are some that I used to support before they became extensions of the government.
Catholic Relief Services ok by your lights?
I don’t remember. I think it was at one time. Some of the Lutheran equivalents that I used to support are ones I no longer contribute to.
Samaritan’s Purse to the interdenominational rescue!
And there’s this new antibody test!
@saintaugustine did you (or anyone) manage to round up any of those? I found several websites, but no direct sales, just a form for contact info. I’m not ready to move to misrepresentation, so I quit at that point each time.
I gave them some money, right when Cuomo started bitching about them potentially not helping gays and lesbians.
The antibody tests? I never bothered; extra price and hassle to ship to me here in Hong Kong.
@iwe bought the Ray Biotech tests, I believe.
Things have changed now. There may be many good antibody test options now.
Hopefully mass testing begins soon to get a better idea of the deaths/infections rate, and to get people back to work.
I know Khurram. He’s a good guy.
You might already be giving a ton to a local food bank. Or you might be jobless and poor yourself. You can find your own ways to save the world.
But just in case–if you can and want to help, 50 USD would make a difference. (You’d have to learn how to do a Western Union money transfer, and you’d have to email Khurram so he knows how much to expect and what transaction number to pick up at the bank. Or PM me, and I’ll get him the information.)