Earth is taking a break 🌏
US reopens, Apple is back, and Johnson & Johnson to pull talcum powder.
Hi 👋, Tanvi here.
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Let’s go ahead and get started:
Stock market summary: 😍
US - S&P 500 up 1.67% 🔼
India - Sensex up 2.67% 🔼
An apple a day keeps the virus at bay 🍎
Y’all remember browsing around in Apple showrooms? That shit was so much fun. But sadly that is not going to be the scenario anymore. Shopping experience is set to change drastically at Apple. 😷
Apple is opening some of its stores and here’s whats going to be different: 🤔
Temperature checks mandatory at the door
More frequent cleaning of surfaces
Masks mandatory for shoppers and for staff
Limited number of people to be allowed inside
Some locations to allow curbside pickup and drop offs
Apple has around 510 stores worldwide out of which 271 are in the USA. All of them were forced shut when the pandemic struck. As some countries have eased lockdown restrictions, Apple has now considered opening its stores too.
The first store to reopen last week was in Boise, Idaho in the USA. Outside the US, nearly a 100 have been opened over the past month including in China, South Korea, Australia, Austria and Germany.
However, Apple’s management is also not ruling out the possibility that the company may have to shut down stores in case the situation worsens sometime soon.
How many of you noble souls are excited about the SE? Read more…
The USA is back in business 👩💻
All the 50 states in the USA (with Connecticut being the last) have reopened and are back in business, partially or completely. The coronavirus had thrust the country and the world’s largest economy into a forceful lockdown, that has resulted in nearly 3.5 Crore (20% of working population) people losing their jobs by now.
As it turns out, the government is quite unsure about easing the lockdown amidst fears of a second wave of the virus, but the costs of not doing anything and sitting around for the virus to recede, while the economy keeps on hurting isn’t ideal.
Many states however are resorting to their own modifications. In Washington DC, the stay at home orders are in effect until June, but several states down South have much weaker restrictions. In states like Georgia, restaurants, salons, gyms and other businesses have been open for a couple weeks now.
Some enthusiasts, like the Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy is planning on opening all businesses. This includes opening places where chances of a crowd forming are very high. He was also reported saying that masks will not be made mandatory in social gatherings. A little too fast there Mike.
But even if the restrictions are eased, the question is will people be comfortable going out in crowded places, with no vaccines and treatments in the near horizon?
We don't think so.
People vs. Johnson & Johnson 👎
Johnson and Johnson has decided to discontinue the sale of its baby powder in US and Canada as it happened to be a target of multiple lawsuits from cancer patients who accused the product of being contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
The product had been critical in shaping the brands wholesome image over the years, but for decades had been subject to consumer wrath. The company said on Tuesday that it will allow existing bottles to be sold by retailers until they run out.
In the December of 2018, independent investigations by Reuters and NY Times had shown multiple evidences of management being aware and fretting over the presence on mild amounts of asbestos in the product. This came despite the company vehemently denying the carcinogen’s existence in court hearings.
The powders main ingredient is talc which is known for its softness. Asbestos can sometimes exist underground very close to talc and chances of a mix up during mining are very high. Due to pushback, the company had even developed a cornstarch alternative to the powder back in the 80s.
Obviously, the company denies all accusations and blames faulty testing and ill equipped researchers for these findings. J&J has spent billions in trying to defend its products, in fees and fines over the years and now just gave up amidst the pandemic situation deciding the battle was no longer worth fighting.
It is still unsure whether the company will stop selling the product outside of US and Canada, like for example in India. Read more…
CO2 has been in a lockdown too 🌍
For the first time since the epidemic began, we come bearing good news. While we may have to wait much longer for a vaccine, the delay is proving beneficial to nature.
Daily global emissions of CO2 fell 17% by early April according to a study published in Nature climate change.
How did it happen?
Amidst the mandatory lockdown and work from home, major sources of CO2 such as factories, cars, planes have come to a standstill globally, adding little pollutants to the nature.
While it may not be enough for the decades worth of damage we have done, the break may provide strong evidence in the favor of climate initiatives that forces global governments to take action more swiftly.
We’re finally giving mother earth a much deserved break.
What else are we Snackin’ 🍿
😨 India records over 5,600 cases in 24 hours, biggest single day spike
👎 Rolls Royce to cut 9,000 jobs worldwide
😖 Colleges with no virtual classes are responding with plan on shortening semesters
Tweet of the day -
When you are learning a new skill, or are trying to start a new project, you are bound to run into walls frequently that will make the task at hand seem insurmountable.
Majority of people give up in the first or the second go. However, real change only comes from persisting through these roadblocks.
Consistency and plain old dedication is key to getting anywhere in life. As we repeatedly do things, our mind tends to become numb to the little progress we make, and as a result we tend to overlook signs of change.
But with time, as you measure your life in chunks of weeks, and months, the little actions you took start adding up. Little problems that seemed like big hurdles become distant memories. All you are left with is the NEW YOU.
Consistency of doing something everyday is grossly underrated, use this to your advantage. This can be easily applied to anything you started new during this slowdown. If its a project, do share it with us.
If you’re still looking for some motivation, do consider looking at our previous issues here and here.
Hope you took a thing or two away from today’s edition. 😀
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