Slack / Private Message Drop — page 687

[Kristian Andersen] > How did Jamie Metzl become the world 's authority on work on deadly pathogens? I'm glad he confirmed to Jim that this is all about shutting GOF down though - good to know. [2021-04-07 18:46:03] [Robert Garry] It's more than just GOF research though. It's all work on deadly pathogens. I think that the fight over shutting down work on viruses is a fight worth having. [2021-04-07 18:48:45] [Kristian Andersen] It's basically virology as a whole... That'll do some good, surely. [2021-04-07 19:05:11] [Eddie Holmes] Other than reducing the burden of disease and increasing the lifespan of the human species what has virology done for us? [2021-04-08 00:23:50] [Eddie Holmes] More from the journo: [2021-04-08 00:24:00] [Eddie Holmes] > "And also at the private zoo DIRECTLY behind there. The zoo basically surrounds the property of the rescue center. It was shut on Jan 22, 2020, the day before Wuhan was locked down. > > Interesting tidbit - if you look into the zoo's company records online https://www.tianyancha.com/company/1249116838, one of their three main investors is the company that runs this notorious tiger farm in Guangxi: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/aug/25/us-diplomat-china-tiger-farm and the director of the zoo is the same as the supervisor of the tiger farm." [2021-04-08 06:11:09] [Robert Garry] Interesting stuff Eddie - focanuba - I believe this means "follow the animals," in the Kuhnian dialect. [2021-04-08 06:14:06] [Robert Garry] As for the NYT Gorman BS - do you think any country is going to sign on to "a global regulatory system overseeing aggressive work with dangerous or deadly pathogens everywhere?" May be time for some virologists to speak up about crap like this: "Whereas many virologists and disease specialists want to collect and study viruses as a way to learn more and be more prepared for outbreaks, Mr. Metzl said he and others wanted more restrictions on virus studies." [2021-04-08 06:15:05] [Andrew Rambaut] The USA doesn't sign up to anything international at all [2021-04-08 06:43:05] [Kristian Andersen] When they say "international" what they mean is "everyone, except us". [2021-04-08 07:34:29] [Robert Garry]