Corona virus victims
Are we just at the beginning of what lies ahead?
Every new day brings more news and more measures by Governments trying to contain and fight the Corona virus. New Corona virus victims are announced, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands explained that we may only just be at the beginning of it all.
Bill Gates has predicted this in 2015
Today I watched a TED Talk from 2015 in which Bill Gates, yes the very founder of Microsoft, and in that TED talk he predicted this Pandemic. This was in relation to Ebola and not to the Corona virus victims and crisis happening around us today. Still I was astounded how accurate he predicted it and even more maybe in how little has been done between then and now to prepare for this pandemic. Have a look here for yourself and give what he says some thought…
EU close borders
As the EU closes the borders (Schengenzone) in an attempt to keep more infected people from entering the EU, several countries like Italy, France and Belgium are locked down and more will probably follow soon. Schools have closed and are desperately trying to set up remote teaching, in which they are doing a great job. When the USA closed the borders all were critical about this measure, but now we see more parts of the world locking themselves from the outside world.
Social Distancing and Patient 31
Social Distancing is vital and we fully support the travel restrictions in place. If you read back how one person, now known as “Patient 31” spread the virus and how quickly this resulted in many new infractions, it is 100% clear that we all need to act responsibly in a time like this.
Nwabisa African Art trip to South Africa
We, Nwabisa African Art, had a trip planned to South African on April 10th to go and meet with artists with whom we cooperate and to meet new ones. There are projects running which we support and wanted to see. Due to travel restrictions, which are very valid, we will have to postpone our trip. That is a pity but not for the reasons you may think. Yes we would have enjoyed the trip massively…but this was a business trip with business aims.
Economic impact
Due to travel restrictions imposed by both the EU and South Africa, we will not be going to South Africa as stated, but let’s look at what this means. The impact of the Coronavirus is growing by the day and here in The Netherlands the Government, just as in many EU countries, has promised support to the businesses hit by the measures in place to combat the Corona virus. Which is just about every business, except maybe the grocery stores and some other suppliers of vital basic needs. This does not mean that they will still not get hit and suffer, but the impact will be less that when there would be no support.
Corona virus victims are not only to be found in hospitals
This brings me back to the trip we had planned. Our trip to South Africa was aimed at strengthening and building relationships with artists in South Africa. Not only those with whom we already cooperate, but also at meeting new artists and visiting projects and markets. The goal being to expand our portfolio and offering for you. The cooperation with these amazing artists is aimed at spreading their beautiful work across the world. By doing so we help these artists, their families, their communities and even their country.
This is where you come in…
The travel restrictions may make it impossible to go there, but the does not mean we cannot keep on supporting them. On the contrary, they need our support now more than ever before. This is where you come in…
By ordering their artwork from Nwabisa African Art, we can order new work from them and keep them economically safe and not have them become one of the economic corona virus victims. Of course we cannot keep them healthy, but we can do all we can to help them still have an income through which they can support themselves, their families, their communities and ultimately their country.
