Oops! RE: Why The Brazil Variant Is Worrisome

Plus: Invisible vaccine man; Wuhan one year later Goats and Soda Oops! We forgot to give you the story that we highlighted in the subject line of this email! Here's the story: [Why Scientists Are Very Worried About The Variant From Brazil]( Thank you for bearing with us. Happy Friday, dear readers! -Team Goats and Soda editor's note Malaka Gharib/ NPR This week, in the middle of a pandemic, I had a strange subject on my mind: monkeys in a barber shop. It began when there were reports of a fire in Baltimore last Saturday night at the Edmondson Village Shopping Center. That’s my hometown. My brother asked, “Didn’t we used to get our haircuts there?” And yes, we did. Then he said, “And weren’t there … [monkeys in the barbershop]( My first thought: That’s bananas! But … in a minute the memories came flashing back. While we sat in barbershop chairs and had our locks trimmed, we could happily stare at a glass enclosure with three small primates. When I shared this memory with a friend, she said, “Wow, and I thought we had the great childhood because the shoe store gave out balloons!” Of course now I recognize how horribly and abhorrently cruel it was. And who can even imagine the potential health risks of housing monkeys in a barbershop, both for the monkeys and for humans. But conjuring up this long-lost memory gave me a moment of escape from the stresses of the pandemic world we live in -- a flashback to a simpler time and place even if 21st century me is appalled. Is there a moral to this monkey story? For me, it was just a welcome relief to think about something other than variants and ventilators. We’re always looking for stories that can offer this kind of escape – like this [gorgeous roundup of photos of our beleaguered but beautiful planet.]( Oh, and definitely don’t put monkeys in a barbershop! Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- reader feedback Kaz Fantone for NPR [Opinion: Why I'm An Invisible Man In The Global Vaccine Campaign]( Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor of Nigeria was excited when news came of the coronavirus vaccines -- until he learned how long it would take for Africa to get a good supply of doses. He shared his perspective in an opinion piece for our blog -- and many people went on to share their insights via Twitter. Here's a sampling: "I've been thinking a LOT about #vaccine #equity. Why should a healthy person who isn't a front line worker get vaccinated before a doctor/nurse in #Niger, where I served as a @PeaceCorps volunteer decades ago? Rich nations failed our #COVID19 response & are now failing the world." -[@popclimatenexus]( "Nigeria is a large country &has strong research base. It has resources. Nigeria can afford its own vaccine. Some of Covid19 vaccines are based on old methods, no rocket science. Self reliant, vocal for local is what will take poorer countries forward. It’s not too late." [-@diwan_vinod]( "The equity and vaccine debate was misguided from the first day. No country can do public health without public works and infrastructure (education, health system, research and development, etc). Every country needs to lay down the building blocks. Today is a good day to start." [-@kobinnaa]( "Soon we must all agree that the West is a failure. It has wreaked global chaos. It is grotesque that a vaccine developed in part by a university that gained its preeminence through wealth generated by slavery is being commodified by a similar disregard for humanity." [-@dpnflynn]( Join the conversation with [Nsofor on Twitter here](. in the news Hector Vitamal/AFP via Getty Images [Wuhan Lockdown Memories 1 Year Later: Pride, Anger, Deep Pain]( Jan. 23 marked the one-year anniversary of the strict lockdown imposed on the first epicenter of COVID-19. Here's what residents have to say about their experience. ['Everything Broke': Global Health Leaders On What's Gone Wrong During The Pandemic]( Six takeaways from discussions at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's Executive Board. [China And Russia Want To Be Vaccine Leaders. How's That Going?]( The two countries are vying for a role in ending the pandemic by offering their vaccines to countries that can't afford or obtain other vaccines. But vaccine experts have a few concerns. [What Formerly Poor Indians Think Of Netflix's 'White Tiger' Movie]( The movie, based on an award-winning novel, traces the unlikely journey of a poor villager in search of wealth. Does it ring true to those who know what it's like to be poor in India? links we like - A wealthy couple in Canada -- he's a casino executive, she's an actor -- [posed as local motel employees to get a vaccine meant for indigenous people.]( Now they face a fine and possible jail time. The Guardian reports. - Philanthropist Bill Gates had predicted that a pandemic would strike. He and his wife, Melinda, share their perspective about the coronavirus pandemic in [the annual letter from the Gates Foundation.]( They write that "hope is on the horizon," emphasize the import of focusing on women in the global response -- and call for the creation of a "global alert system" to prepare for any future pandemics. Note: The Gates Foundation is a funder of this blog. - The New Yorker reports on a Kenyan ecologist's efforts to [save her country's wildlife.]( - Are you friend or foe? [Naked mole rats can tell by a unique squeak.]( NPR reports. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]