Never place a Swiss timepiece on your wrist, if?

Switzerland votes 'yes' in the referendum on September 27, 2020 to curb EU migration. Switzerland prides itself on its neutrality and prides itself on being a true democracy, unlike many Western nations they go directly to the people to pass legislation. Unfortunately, the Swiss have not been immune to right wing populism spreading across Europe quicker than the coronavirus. (FYI, as of writing Swiss Covid-19 fatalities is 234 per 1M pop). The racist Swiss People's Party (SVP) happens to be the largest party (holds 53 seats in the 200-seat National council), so no surprises that they're hell-bent on taking the Swiss to a time when they were sucking up to a deranged maniac named Adolf. 

I know it's not sexy to take an interest in a landlocked nation that is so well off that their poor would be considered rich in most nations, but the world needs to intervene if they vote yes. More than ever we need nations that are neutral to the xenophobia sweeping the globe, it's bad enough that Switzerland has allowed a racist party to thrive, but due to their love of referenda they can still stop their disease at the ballot box. If the silent majority of Swiss don't stand up, then the SVP will have an ego that might change Swiss identity for the worse. To adventure junkies out there: don't you dare book a Swiss holiday in the Alps if racism wins. 

How a nation made up of four cultural identities (German, French, Italian, Romansh) representing the richness of Europe can even contemplate curbing integration is akin to an April Fools joke. What's the bet that the Swiss will laugh at America if it reelects a bigot, but they'll fail to realise that they're also just as ignorant.

On September 27, grab some Swiss chocolate, if curbing migration is struck down, then by all means feast on chocolate. If, however racism wins the day, never ever look twice at Nestlé, they can go bust for all I care. The Swiss will have the ultimate say, but we earthlings can voice our protest by boycotting all things Swiss, even Zurich Insurance, don't think I forgot about the 'sexy' world of insurance.

No disrespect to Roger Federer, but if he wants to be known as the greatest of all-time, the least he can do is campaign for the No vote, instead of hiding his wealth in Swiss banks to avoid taxes. China-US relations take up much of the world's oxygen, but we must not forget that many nations are making moves towards a more mono-cultural world. If a beacon of democracy goes down this path, then what can we expect of nations transitioning to democratic norms.

Context: 7 letter word missing amidst mass panic!

Time to put things into context: something social/mainstream media fail at miserably, especially during a pandemic. The border between Australia's two most populous states (New South Wales/Victoria) has been shut, due to Victoria's spike in Covid-19 cases, to add injury insult, it has also been ostracised from South Australia and Tasmania. (In an American context: picture Massachusetts being told to take a hike by New Hampshire and Rhode Island).

The news is going complete bonkers, forgetting to state one very important fact: extremely low fatality rate. As of writing, Victoria (pop. 6.3 million) has recorded 38 deaths, whereas, a US state with a similar population, Maryland (6.04 million) has had 3,377 deaths. 

Oh, there's that little detail where folk in Maryland are free to travel to neighbouring states, maybe a high death rate means more freedom - the world is indeed losing the plot!

Proving that not all is doom and gloom, here are two clips as evidence of life going on...I'll be heading back to my hometown of Sydney, but for now, sit back and enjoy/fall asleep as I give you a mini tour of Big M.

No. 16 tram is operating during the "end of the world" (20/07/2020)

St Kilda detour: let's all breathe and relax (20/07/2020)

Take a bow: France, Hrvatska, Mongolia (not so Atlanta)

Vive la France! (Happy Bastille Day)

Many Americans laugh at the French for being weak and lacking ambition, but what's so bad about a nation that is home to the aerospace mammoth Airbus and has the world's best healthcare, even accounting for 30,004 deaths (as of writing) due to Covid-19. whose engineering feats are the envy of the world. On this Bastille Day, let's all salute this proud nation for beating America to the post in an area that you would not expect: freedom. One look at the world of tennis provides evidence. This year's edition of the US Open (31 Aug-13 Sep) will go ahead without spectators, yet the French Open (20 Sep-4 Oct) will be at 60% crowd capacity. We are really living in the Twilight Zone when France beats America to the post in allowing humans to congregate. 

Hrvatska (Croatia) held elections (not exactly a sexy headline in today's doomsday news cycle).

Croatia is in no lockdown mode, 14 European countries have opened borders and Croatia is leading the way in attracting tourists, why not, when you’re arguably the prettiest nation on earth (refer to Dubrovnik and Split not to mention its 1000 islands dotting the Mediterranean). 

Note: For those playing Covid-19 death trivia at home, it has only had 119 deaths for a population of 4.1 million. Low in a global context, but high compared to a country like New Zealand with a similar population (4.9 million), which only has had 22 deaths.

Not only are they promoting tourism, but they also held parliamentary elections on June 5. It was another boil-over result, once again making a mockery of pollsters. The ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) retained power (taking 66 seats in the 151-seat parliament) due to its handling of Covid-19. The electorate sadly overlooked their fascist credentials, another example of how a pesky virus can help an incumbent. Even though HDZ didn’t win a majority, there are worrying signs, as they will use the support of a right-wing populist party such as the Nationalist Homeland Movement ( won 16 seats) to pass legislation. It doesn’t help that the progressive Restart Coalition had a bad showing, ending up with only 41 seats, 15 lower than the previous election. 

Mongolia needs to be on every front page (let me rephrase for Millennials: every instagram feed).

This democratic nation that balances modernity and nomadic life like no other never ceases to amaze. Not only is it able to handle China, North Korea, Russia without being bullied by their undemocratic norms, it now has the proud distinction of recording 0 Covid-19 deaths. Interesting how tourists from open societies flock to plastic illiberal cities (Dubai and Singapore) that practice the death penalty and suppress civil liberties overlook a city like Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia’s capital might not have the tallest skyscrapers, but it leaves these aforementioned cities in the dust when it comes to freedom.

America's ninth-largest metropolitan area is living through another kind of man-made disease.

The world survived the Spanish Flu and it will overcome this current pandemic, the key is to ignore the white noise and carry on, as these three countries have shown. Not that a virus is the only one doing damage, over the 4th of July weekend in Atlanta there were 31 shooting victims in 11 separate incidents, leading to 5 dead (including an 8-year-old girl) proved. If a major metropolis in the world's richest country is bloodletting, then we earthlings still have a long way to go. Maybe we're just oblivious to the fact that we're living through World War III.

Happy 4th of July from America's (unofficial) 51st state

 Fittingly, on America's 244th Birthday, I give you a 2:44 minute follow-up rant to Stars and Stripes detox.

Stars and Stripes detox

Preface: On July 21, 2018 I wrote about an obsession taking hold over earthlings, now living in a nation besot by it, I had to remind those of you suffering from short memories.

A gun wielding bandit shot dead in broad daylight by Victorian police on 28/5/20, and here I thought Australia banned firearms for civilians - please explain? (To coin a phrase from Australia's leading racist). We're all aware that Australians spend most of their lives worrying about the US or should I say lusting over the US (want proof: see the internet history of the average person, you'll find amazon to facebook dominating, not to mention all the iPhones being used), so it's no surprise the aforementioned incident received barely any attention compared to riots in the City of Angels.

I've said it numerous times, if you love the US so much then relocate. Instead of supporting American brands from afar or hating on their politicians, you can actually worship at the actual headquarters of all the brands that feed your addiction, and get to exercise your right to protest everything you hate about the President live and in person.

If it wasn't for the recent bushfires, Australia was barely a footnote in the minds of Americans, even ones who live in far uglier and crime ridden areas than the most dirty places in Australia. They couldn't give two hoots about our universal healthcare, pretty beaches or god forbid coffee houses (that's a dig at you Melbourne).

Fortunately for Australia, not many Americans are aware of the long history of Australian racism towards their native populace. If you want a quick summary of the shameful treatment, take a look at the life expectancy disparity between the indigenous and non-indigenous population. I would suggest fixing your own backyard before lecturing others, or else you'll become the very same ugly Americans you despise. 

I use Australia as one example of the American obsession possessing the globe, many other countries also suffer from it, but this nation across the Pacific is indeed America's 51st state. In lieu of it being the Queens Birthday holiday in Australia (don't get me started on how wrong this is), it's time the holiday is renamed Uncle Sam (a day Australians come together to celebrate how much of their lives are devoted to American worship).

Non-Americans, do me a favour, delete all American apps from your phone, halt the usage of all American websites and while you're at it cut out all the American entertainment/foods you consume - no more Maccas! See, it's so easy to detox from your Stars and Stripes addiction. I bet you a trillion dollars that none of you can survive without relying on the US, even by some miracle if you never google again, you'll still fall in the trap of contributing to Uncle Sam. I'd understand this obsession, if you didn't whine so much over the country that, let's face it, influences your life more than all other nations combined. Now, now don't go googling after this, unless of course you're a true hypocrite.