Thursday 7 January 2021

"Clap for Heroes" .... to clap or not?

The originator of the weekly "clap for carers", recognising and honouring NHS and other healthcare staff for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, has announced it is to resume on Thursday.

The original "clap for carers" started as the UK went into its first lockdown in March 2020 and it ran for 10 weeks, taking place every Thursday at 8 p.m.

Millions of people stopped what they were doing each week to applaud NHS staff, carers and other health workers, sometimes playing instruments or bashing pots and pans. I joined in but without the percussion!

Annemarie Plas, a Dutch national living in south London, who started "clap for carers", announced an end to it in May 2020 because of concerns it was becoming politicised. However, yesterday she tweeted that she was relaunching the weekly clap. She wrote: “We are bringing back the 8 p.m. applause in our third lockdown. I hope it can lift the spirit of all of us.

I am not sure about this.

I think I would much rather see people ….

  • Stay at home
  • Stop being irresponsible, selfish, uncaring and disrespectful
  • Stop breaking or pushing the boundaries of the rules and guidance
  • Stop listening to right wing populist ideology and conspiracy theories from some politicians, journalists and other commentators (who also less than coincidentally are often climate change sceptics and Brexit fanatics) regarding the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic, the efficacy of vaccination and the essential restrictions on our freedom during this national emergency
  • Accept the vaccine as soon as it is offered 
  • Listen to the NHS staff, carers and other health workers and do what they are asking us all to do

I think I would much rather see the Government ….

  • Demonstrate some basic competency in political leadership
  • Cease reacting to and playing catch-up with events
  • Show decisive and timely decision-making by responding effectively to clear scientific evidence
  • Provide clear and consistent communication to the public and to the education sector and businesses
  • Stop cronyism and the corrupt procurement in the provision of contracts to their friends, supporters and donors and instead more fully engage the public sector and competent and experienced companies and other organisations
  • Learn the lessons for the future by building preparedness and resilience in order to effectively tackle future pandemics
  • Substantially invest in our health and care services, pay proper living wages for all health and care workers and pay them bonuses for their care, commitment and sacrifice

I would suggest that you only clap if you have genuinely supported NHS staff, carers and other health workers by ….

  • Adhering to all the rules and guidance

  • Minimising social interaction

  • Maintaining social distance

  • Wearing a face covering

  • Not having all and sundry round to your home

  • Not travelling off to your second (or third) home

  • Not going to parties

  • Not crowding a beach

  • Not engaging in any other irresponsible and selfish action putting yourself and others at risk

























💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature


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