Coronavirus: social, economic and other changes as a result of the pandemic

[Jazzrook]

Wasn't sure where best to post this as it isn't solely about choirs

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/20/unholy-row-as-leading-london-church-axes-musicians-using-covid-as-a-cover

However they are presented, there is no doubt that Covid-19 will be used as a reason to bring forward or formulate plans to change, reduce, cease previous activities, as in the article. While much of this is understandable and may be inevitable, one can't help wondering how much is seizing an opportunity to push through changes quickly and without opposition, which otherwise would be subject to lengthy consultations, discussions, negotiations, delays and defeat of some sort?

Who was it who said "Never let a good crisis go to waste"?

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

Shame on St Martin in the Fields. This is a stain on their reputation. Time to fire off an indignant email folks?

Have to say I sent one on the Friday before the National Trust chief executive came out on a media round to explain what they were considering (closing / "repurposing" many of the buildings in their care) and why. I presume the reaction of members and (in) the media caused them to pay attention to the gathering storm.

Lets hope there will be a storm of emails or letters (or both) and it will cause the church to reflect on the implications of what its doing..... Contact details here:

https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/contact/

I appreciate, though, that St Martins is probably only one institution using this disruption to force through changes.

I always used to have so much respect for St Martins and its establishment, but this seems part and parcel of a process of ethical decline there, in my view - having listened to Sunday morning services broadcast from over the past few years in growing embarrassment at its evident in-house music policy, along with its version of "the Christian message".

[kernelbogey]

The Guardian reports
One-third of professional British musicians are considering giving up their careers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
according to a Musicians Union survey.

[DracoM]

..and tell me about next year's cricket and this season's footie!! 6mths off..............phew!

[teamsaint]

So, how do people feel about the military being called upon to " help out" ?

Not really great, is it ?..... to say the least.

[Bryn]

So, how do people feel about the military being called upon to " help out" ?

Not really great, is it ?..... to say the least.

'Workers in uniform' helping out behind the scenes to free up the diminished complement of police these days? Far better than having them interfering in the affairs of other countries, I reckon. I did not object to them helping out during the floods, and other emergencies, either.

[teamsaint]

'Workers in uniform' helping out behind the scenes to free up the diminished complement of police these days? Far better than having them interfering in the affairs of other countries, I reckon.

Well, yes........there is that........

[Richard Barrett]

The Guardian reports
One-third of professional British musicians are considering giving up their careers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
according to a Musicians Union survey.

Well, it's pretty serious. I've spent most of my professional life depending on freelance performing and composition work, supplemented by varying amounts of teaching work. In the past two years I've been promoted in my teaching positions as far as I'm prepared to go (any more would start eating into time and energy for music-making) so that I can manage on that if necessary. Everything else has disappeared since March; it's now picking up slightly but obviously nowhere near the previous level - organisations won't be that keen on commissioning new works when they already have a backlog of material they haven't been able to put on yet. If I still had to rely on those earnings I would be in serious trouble. I can only imagine what's going through the minds of people less fortunate than me.

[Richard Barrett]

'Workers in uniform' helping out behind the scenes to free up the diminished complement of police these days? Far better than having them interfering in the affairs of other countries, I reckon. I did not object to them helping out during the floods, and other emergencies, either.

Quite. I don't think most people sign up for the armed forces out of a deepseated wish to travel abroad and kill people. Whereas the police force seems to be a magnet for racists with violent tendences.

[Bryn]

Quite. I don't think most people sign up for the armed forces out of a deepseated wish to travel abroad and kill people. Whereas the police force seems to be a magnet for racists with violent tendences.

While I have certainly encountered some in the 'Police Service' who fit the mould you describe, such do not make up anything like the majority, in my experience. The same applies to my experience during my short stint in the Army There was certainly a minority who lusted after the chance to fight and potentially kill those they were sent to engage with, but most were simply recruited from the dole queue.

[Richard Barrett]

While I have certainly encountered some in the 'Police Service' who fit the mould you describe, such do not make up anything like the majority, in my experience.

Nor of course did I claim that they do. Luckily there are not too many racists with violent tendencies in society at large, but I would think that those that there are might well find the police a more attractive career choice than accountancy or nursing.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Its a shame that its thought necessary to plan for the use of military in policing functions, even if they have no contact with the public in the streets and homes. In the past its been stated that the military would be used to protect defence and nuclear installations, allowing the deployment of the MOD police to help mainstream police forces. As well as supporting in roles not requiring contact with the public - that could include custody suites etc (as once arrested, its not exactly inflammatory to see a military person involved).

Some of the comment in response to Johnson's TV broadcast, struck me as wilfully misunderstanding the likely situation. Rather like saying "its too complicated" - say those who use their Mobile 'phone for multiple uses such as the ticktocking, instagramming under 40 (or over ) year olds. Perhaps I'm wrong but I just feel a lot of that sentiment is conveying dislike of the limitations on freedom. Limitations necessary to limit the pandemic, minimise disruption to education and workplaces, save lives and help NHS personnel (many of whom have had enough of NHS employment and would like to leave).

Which politician is going to come clean and say they will protect care receivers, hospital patients. Some support to the rest of the vulnerable in their homes (or living on the streets) as best as can be done but all these, and everyone else needs to know they're taking their chance with the virus and the availability of hospital care should they draw the short straw and find their life threatened by the infection (whether they knew, or should have known they were vulnerable or not).

For one thing that politician will be able to envisage, all too clearly, never being able to campaign in a public space - for fear of the queue of relatives waiting to jump on them and accuse them of murder in front of obliging TV Cameras. To say nothing of their "place in history".

So we get a moving target of infection rates and variation of restrictions taking account of the need for the economy, education and essential society activities to continue. No doubt partly influenced (in this government) by the desires of backbench MP and financial donor sentiments.

I'm not tired of reading about the restrictions (over 2 nations when I visit Scotland - only rarely at the moment) or the range of scientific opinion and evidence.

I'm tired and dispirited about the behaviours and opinions of people who just want to follow their own wishes, without regard for others.

In saying this, I'm not aiming my remarks at Teamsaint. I haven't followed his contributions over 17 pages here, 378 pages on the main thread to get a correct appreciation of his position. But there are a significant number of those who don't agree with government issuing rules, and object that they should be penalised for not following them - so understanding those views have their place in the conversation I would suggest.

[LHC]

So, how do people feel about the military being called upon to " help out" ?

Not really great, is it ?..... to say the least.

It may be worth noting that we have a much smaller police force than most other countries, so they really aren’t equipped to police the new restrictions without some assistance from the armed forces To release them from more mundane policing duties. Indeed, the relative paucity of police numbers in the UK is probably one reason why we had a much less strict lockdown than our European neighbours.

For example, in England and Wales we have 211 police officers per 100,000 people. In Germany that number is 381, in Spain it is 533, France 429, and Italy 456.

[Pulcinella]

It may be worth noting that we have a much smaller police force than most other countries, so they really aren’t equipped to police the new restrictions without some assistance from the armed forces To release them from more mundane policing duties. Indeed, the relative paucity of police numbers in the UK is probably one reason why we had a much less strict lockdown than our European neighbours.

For example, in England and Wales we have 211 police officers per 100,000 people. In Germany that number is 381, in Spain it is 533, France 429, and Italy 456.

In Italy, right after their lockdown, their police were on the streets, enforcing their outdoor rules (only essential shopping, etc). My partner, not having printing facilities where he was staying, had to find one (not difficult!) to ask for the permission to travel document he needed to get to the airport the following day.
Italy also immediately banned betting, I think, and on the first day of lockdown shops that were allowed to stay open opened a couple of hours later than usual, with immediate social distancing and restrictions on the amounts of goods you could buy, so there was no panic buying.
Their military was drafted in to help clear bodies when the number of deaths was very high, I seem to recall.
Italians seem quite comfortable having to carry ID on them at all times, too.

[Cockney Sparrow]

It may be worth noting that we have a much smaller police force than most other countries, ........

Interesting - even the austerity reductions would not have radically changed those proportions. I must have read somewhere that European police forces, on the whole were smaller than ours, which leads to the deployment of water cannon and teargas as control mechanisms - but not so.