Covidiot Cruisers in the Solomon Islands

[Dsanduril]

Let’s see, the Italians use aerial patrols and naval interdiction to turn back boats with people trying to bypass immigration rules. The Australians use satellites, aerial patrols, and naval interdiction to prevent “irregular migrants” arriving by boat. The Americans are building a giant wall to prevent people on their southern border from expressing their “individual liberty.” And yet somehow the Solomons are the ones that are “creepy and Orwellian?”

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by SalingSue

"self protection" from a little sailboat sitting at anchor?
Paranoia is not healthy, nor conducive to individual liberty

Let's see, let's go sail up the Hudson or Delaware Rivers unannounced in foreign flagged little sailboat and anchor in a quiet spot for a couple of days.

I'm sure everything will be just dandy in the Land of Free...

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

Let’s see, the Italians use aerial patrols and naval interdiction to turn back boats with people trying to bypass immigration rules. The Australians use satellites, aerial patrols, and naval interdiction to prevent “irregular migrants” arriving by boat. The Americans are building a giant wall to prevent people on their southern border from expressing their “individual liberty.” And yet somehow the Solomons are the ones that are “creepy and Orwellian?”

I think you misread my quote, for I clearly said that it is their country and their rules. I personally think that it was dumb for these two boats to ignore the rules especially given that many countries have reasonable ways to allow for entry.

What is creepy and Orwellian is asking people to spy on each other like the Stasi did. In the '30 and 40's the National Socialists had a person on each street known as the Blockleiter who's job was to do just that. In addition to spying, they were to spread propaganda, encourage people to submit to state policies, and other such "socially acceptable" things. The communist Chinese are transitioning to an entire society based upon social credit using such tactics.

The Australians are quite concerned about this Wuhan virus, yet they have put in place very reasonable rules to allow yachts to enter. They did this without the need to ask people to spy on each other.

[daletournier]

I know one of the boats quite well.

They had no intention of stopping in the Solomons, they were very low on water, watermaker issues. They tried repeatedly to contact authorities, but it seems VHF isn't monitored, they had no intention of going a shore, they anchored and waited. I've been told this by the captain of one of the boats. I know Mike was in communication with authorities of the various nations on route prior to leaving fiji, hes not a stupid man and not one that is disrespectful regarding the law.

I'm not making a judgement of right or wrong , they are just trying to get home like many others out there, he didnt stop to make a Utube or to be a tourist, it's a complicated world at the moment.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

.........

The Australians are quite concerned about this Wuhan virus, yet they have put in place very reasonable rules to allow yachts to enter. .......

Err NO, we are not concerned in any way about a Wuhan virus in Australia.

I have no idea why you would think we are but I can assure you we aren't!!!!!

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Err NO, we are not concerned in any way about a Wuhan virus in Australia.

I have no idea why you would think we are but I can assure you we aren't!!!!!

I apologize if I was in error. If that is the case, why do they have a number of restrictions with regards to entry? I was just told by a commercial that there are strict quarantine procedures for him and his crew when they arrived in Australia, and Australia just made an adjustment in procedures for yachts coming from parts of the South Pacific.

Did I misunderstand your comment? Are you differentiating between the Australian people and Australian government officials?

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I know one of the boats quite well.

They had no intention of stopping in the Solomons, they were very low on water, watermaker issues. They tried repeatedly to contact authorities, but it seems VHF isn't monitored, they had no intention of going a shore, they anchored and waited. I've been told this by the captain of one of the boats. I know Mike was in communication with authorities of the various nations on route prior to leaving fiji, hes not a stupid man and not one that is disrespectful regarding the law.

I'm not making a judgement of right or wrong , they are just trying to get home like many others out there, he didnt stop to make a Utube or to be a tourist, it's a complicated world at the moment.

Thanks for providing some of the background of this story as such is almost always missing from the media reports. Your post helps the rest of us to maintain perspective.

[Dsanduril]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

....What is creepy and Orwellian is asking people to spy on each other like the Stasi did. In the '30 and 40's the National Socialists had a person on each street known as the Blockleiter who's job was to do just that. In addition to spying, they were to spread propaganda, encourage people to submit to state policies, and other such "socially acceptable" things. The communist Chinese are transitioning to an entire society based upon social credit using such tactics.

How is the US Department of Homeland Security’s If you see something, say something program any different? It comes complete with a Congress-designated National Awareness Day, “training” (propaganda?) on recognizing “suspicious activity”, and numerous methods of reporting to the central authority.

[daletournier]

One other thing, I read upstream that they left French Polynesia and Fp has a major covid issue. The reality is when they left Fp there was no covid problem, I know this because they left the same hour as I did, they also had a covid test the day before with me and crew. The covid issue came after we left.

Also upon arrival in Fiji they had another covid test. When I left Fiji there was no community transmission of covid.

I know yachts that have shown no respect for border closures, have left places like Fp and just arrived elsewhere deliberately not giving a s.....I can a sure you Mike is not one of these people. Hes a decent guy.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

I apologize if I was in error. If that is the case, why do they have a number of restrictions with regards to entry? I was just told by a commercial that there are strict quarantine procedures for him and his crew when they arrived in Australia, and Australia just made an adjustment in procedures for yachts coming from parts of the South Pacific.



Did I misunderstand your comment? Are you differentiating between the Australian people and Australian government officials?

The Australian government (and to a lesser extent, the Australian people) are very concerned about the introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it's associated illness COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).

We take it seriously which has resulted in zero community transmission for some weeks now (120+ days locally). All the cases that are currently being reported in Australia are occurring inside quarantine accommodation ie from people who have entered Australia and who are still in quarantine.

There is no Wuhan virus in Australia or elsewhere. AFAIK, it only exists in the minds of some US citizens.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Dsanduril

How is the US Department of Homeland Security’s If you see something, say something program any different? It comes complete with a Congress-designated National Awareness Day, “training” (propaganda?) on recognizing “suspicious activity”, and numerous methods of reporting to the central authority.

You ask an excellent question, and in many (most?) ways it is not different. It started out with specific concerns that were somewhat reasonable. It has been 20 years since the towers came down, yet the threat continues and supposedly continues to grow.

When it first was promoted, they focused on specific fairly reasonable things, such as abandoned boxes, unattended bags or luggage, etc. They had a series of posters showing suspicious boxes left under seats with no one around, an unattended suitcase or backpack in the middle of a station platform, etc.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, it soon changed to include all sorts of activity, and is constantly expanding its list of activities from the boogeymen we should be scared of. Again, at first the list was specific but then it grew, like a cancer. Now, the list includes things like taking pictures, flying an airplane, and other normal activities.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

In the '30 and 40's the National Socialists had a person on each street known as the Blockleiter who's job was to do just that.

Someone please close the thread! I'm calling Godwin's Law*.




* https://www.oxfordreference.com/view...10810105009431
"A law that states that as the length of a thread proceeds on a newsgroup the probability of a comparison with Hitler or the Nazis approaches one. A number of groups have the tradition that when this happens the discussion is regarded as over. "

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Wotname

The Australian government (and to a lesser extent, the Australian people) are very concerned about the introduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and it's associated illness COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).

We take it seriously which has resulted in zero community transmission for some weeks now (120+ days locally). All the cases that are currently being reported in Australia are occurring inside quarantine accommodation ie from people who have entered Australia and who are still in quarantine.

There is no Wuhan virus in Australia or elsewhere. AFAIK, it only exists in the minds of some US citizens.

Viruses are traditionally named after the area they are discovered. Examples of this include Marburg (Marburg, Germany), Spanish Flu, Zika (Zika forest in Uganda) Norovirus (Norwalk, Ohio USA), Lyme Disease (Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA), and many others. The list is fairly extensive. Covid-19 is now being supplanted in some cases with SARS-Cov2. Much like another famous disease, it is easier to say Spanish Flu than H1N1 and prevents confusion.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by StuM

Someone please close the thread! I'm calling Godwin's Law*.

Well played!!

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I know one of the boats quite well.

They had no intention of stopping in the Solomons, they were very low on water, watermaker issues. They tried repeatedly to contact authorities, but it seems VHF isn't monitored, they had no intention of going a shore, they anchored and waited. I've been told this by the captain of one of the boats. I know Mike was in communication with authorities of the various nations on route prior to leaving fiji, hes not a stupid man and not one that is disrespectful regarding the law.

I'm not making a judgement of right or wrong , they are just trying to get home like many others out there, he didnt stop to make a Utube or to be a tourist, it's a complicated world at the moment.

Apoligies to your friends for suggesting that they were covidiots if this was indeed an emergency stop.

It does raise two questions though... idle curiosity has me wondering what the destination is if - having left Fiji - the Solomons are on your track.

The other involves over reliance on their water maker.... and what appears to have been a very small reserve ..