Parents' Facebook fight over swine flu school closures
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Outraged Bahraini parents have launched a Facebook campaign against the government decision to close all schools because of swine flu until next month.
Senior schools in the kingdom will not open until October 4, while pupils at intermediate schools will have to stay at home until October 11.
The worst hit are nurseries and special needs centres which have to remain closed until November 1, under rules to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus announced by Bahrain’s health and education ministries last week.
The decision has been met with criticism by parents who say it is damaging to their child’s education.
Parent Cairis Crossan, whose five-year-old son was due to start school this month, launched the ‘Let’s get the children in Bahrain back to school NOW!’ campaign, on the social networking site.
The page now has more than 76 fans and counting.
"I would like to see a large response from parents," she told the Gulf Daily News.
"We want to get the point across that we are aware of the risks of swine flu, but that with adequate precautions, like those that have already been put in place, we've got to get on with life and let our children get back to school.
Crossan said that the ministry's directives were "scaring" people into thinking the swine flu situation was worse than it really is.
"At least if the children were in the classroom, they could be monitored carefully by taking their temperature, as is already being done."
READERS' COMMENTS
Posted by henrik on Thursday 24 September 2009 at 08:09 UAE time
Correct we have a pandemic, but we are in my opinion reacting like we face at total disaster.
If the governments used the same effort to reduce the amount of people killed in the traffic it would have a much more positive impact on our life.
I hate to see parents and children wearing masks to avoid being sick and when they leave the mall by car the kids are seated without seatbelts.
In the same time we can fill our lungs with smoke from cigarettes - if you want to save some people from dying forbid smoking or make it more expensive.
Posted by Simon, Dubai, Dubai on Wednesday 23 September 2009 at 16:06 UAE time
The link below is long but copy it into your browser. a quick overview is below but the link speaks volumes...
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Drug-industry investigators have uncovered documents exposing an international drug ring, operating from New York City, is behind the H1N1 swine flu fright and vaccination preparations.
Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz and Sherri Kane, an investigative journalist, have released evidence in legal affidavits that leaders of a private global biotechnology "trust" are behind the pandemic flu, including its origin and alleged prevention via vaccinations. Their documents, being sent by attorneys to the FBI this week, evidence industrialists are operating a crime ring within the "Partnership for New York City" (PNYC), and are behind the pandemic's creation, media persuasions, vaccination preparations, and health official promotions
http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=647%3Alen-horowitz-files-pandemic-charges-against-rockefeller&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64?=en
Posted by Simon, Dubai, Dubai on Wednesday 23 September 2009 at 14:48 UAE time
Just thought I'd add my two pennith...
With regards to FLU deaths...the UK has, on average, in excess of 19,000 natural flu deaths each year. The expected death toll from Swine Flu is expected to be less than this figure. That is interesting given the HYPE of a pandemic.
China, with arguably the most densly populated cities in the world have only had 12,000 reported cases of Swine Flu and NO reported deaths...again, interesting.
Over 40% of Doctors in the USA and UK are refusing to take the Swine Flu Vaccine themselves because...as reported in the mainstream media...they do not believe it is safe.
The USA had an outbreak of 'FLU' back in 1976...the vaccine killed more people than the Flu itself. The company who made that vaccine in 1976 was 'Baxters'...the WHO have entrusted Baxters to produce the vaccine for Swine Flu.
The vaccine that is being suggested for use will NOT be tested prior to being given to the general public in the UK. Interesting to note that the Pharmacutical companies sought and have been granted immunity from prosecution should their vaccine prove to cause death after taking. (SKY NEWS INTERVIEW)
Many scientists have come forward suggesting that although the Swine Flu is a very real 'Flu'...it has been bio-engineered.
Every 'recorded' Flu known to man has started its journey from East to West...Swine is travelling from West to East...
I only add the above points because its interesting when you start to disect the headlines and the mainstream media coverage how often the HYPE is projected to instill fear and panic...All the above points can be googled from very credible sources.
I don't believe that the UK or USA type mainstream media panic will work or will be used over here in the middle east...there is an air of treating the Swine Flu outbreak as something to be dealt with rather than to create drama and panic...which is how it should be
Posted by Paul Welsh, Ystradgynlais, Wales on Wednesday 23 September 2009 at 14:28 UAE time
"Diseases always exist but this one is a pandemic. Personally I have never heard someone dying from flu."
Check out this link if you believe flu hasnt always killed people!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic
Meri, please do get a grip of history with regards flu before posting such ill informed comments. Swine flu is causing a very very tiny amount of deaths in comparison to previous flu pandemics. No need to panic!! The more we disinfect this world and try to avoid things like viruses (which occur in their billions around us every day, quite naturally) the worse things will become.
Dont you think that in this day and age infections are more prevelant now than ever, ever asked yourself why? Too much disinfectant, too much protection of kids from "germs", over use of antibiotics etc etc. Lets all get back to basics and build our own natural immunity (especially in kids) by going easy on the things that kill "germs". They are not all bad.
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