DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME

In the face of the coronavirus spread, climate activists have to proceed without street protesting – their most powerful tool for raising awareness. Greta Thunberg, now recovering from COVID-19, invites activists to protest online via #DigitalStrike. Looking for something to do today? Make a sign and join in.

More Air Pollution = More COVID-19 Fatalities
In case you don’t have enough to worry about, a new Harvard study shows that even tiny increases in air pollution mean coronavirus gets more deadly. For instance, just one more microgram of particulate matter PM 2.5 per cubic meter of air could boost death rates by 15%.
The good news? Seville’s air quality has dropped from moderate to good in recent weeks. The bad? That improvement will likely disappear when we all go back to work.
Many are viewing the coronavirus as a message from Mother Earth that she’s through taking our abuse. Instead of listening to her, or to scientists, the White House is using the pandemic to weaken environmental regulations. They insist the pandemic a separate issue, when in fact it is a very large canary in the global coal mine.
—Karen McCann

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Is democracy at risk if voters are at risk? Wisconsin voters cast ballots during the primary election on Tuesday. (AP photo by Morry Gash)

Don't Stand So Close To Me
We have a friend here who is so happy that we are still in the US, and is completely baffled that we don't want to hang out. "You're free tonight, aren't you?" He's always calling to report that he's heard of another shop that's open. "They've got Ben and Jerry's! I'll pick you guys up and we'll go!"
Until these past weeks, I never would have believed that it was possible to so completely extinguish the social life of a community. Or, for that matter, my own.
—Kathy Sherretts

Wait for it:
Forge: Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting by Julio Vincent Gambuto
This will be over soon—and when it is, every brand in America will come to your rescue, dear consumer, to help get life back to the way it was before the crisis.

You heard it here first:
Librivox: A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (Audio, 129 min)
“But it seems that the Government had a true account of it, and several councils were held about ways to prevent its coming over; but all was kept very private. Hence it was that … people began to forget it as a thing we were very little concerned in, and that we hoped was not true; till the latter end of November or the beginning of December 1664…”
Or read it here: A Journal of the Plague Year on Project Gutenberg.

Vulnerable populations:
Rolling Stone: The Coronavirus Is Also Attacking the Ballot Box by Jamil Smith
Republicans have long tried to disenfranchise the voters least likely to elect them, and now the coronavirus is here to help.

Winners and Losers:
Salon: These are the industries that are thriving in spite of the pandemic by Nicole Karlis
The pandemic-spurred economic slowdown hasn't hit all industries equally — and some are doing better than before

Just for fun: Fact-intensive
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Voting in a Pandemic Year
Read the plan to ensure that the 2020 election is free, fair, accessible, and secure, from the Brennan Center for Justice
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Learn More About Candidates and Issues! 

• Progressive Action, Global Exchange (PAGE) 
• Americans of Conscience Checklist
• ClimateRecovery.org​​

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