Tag Archive for: waging optimism

An epidemiologist offers Coronavirus answers as infections spike

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I’m not sure what the impact of months of strain from a mysterious killer that has upended our lives has caused, but I know the lack of consistent clear coronavirus answers has increased the emotions, financial and physical impact in disastrous ways. 

As an epidemiologist who worked on the front lines against numerous diseases including the effort to turn the tide against the spread of HIV/AIDS, I knew this one would require more than anyone wanted to admit in the early stages.

I wrote my prescription for health back in March. I think it’s even more valuable today as we reach a new level of the outbreak within the United States. I have also been doing Facebook live sessions where I apply my experience, research and expertise to answer your questions and give you clear, actionable coronavirus answers you can trust. 

In these Q&A sessions, you can get useful answers to critical questions, like what’s the safest way to travel, why is the age of infections going down, and should you wear a plastic facemask. There will be more to come, as I remain committed to helping as many as I can until this terrible pandemic is finally in check here in the United States and around the world. 

WHAT: Facebook Live Chat on COVID 19 pandemic

When: Mondays July 13 and 27 at 3 pm 

Join us and invite others.

 

One thing I can do: provide reliable coronavirus answers

So why do I do this? Do you remember back in February and March when we heard this pandemic “was like the flu,” would “disappear like a miracle” and a whole bunch of other bad information? 

Back then, I was stressed. I worried for my family. I worried about the misinformation and politicization of our national response. I felt the fear, which I know I can only counteract in two ways: 1) Work for a solution and 2) Wage Optimism. 

Both get harder each day and more urgent. So I keep at it. 

By Waging Optimism, I reject the fear and focus on a dream of what the world will be when we rally together and find real solutions to the ills that plague us: the climate emergency, racial injustice, a broken democracy, and a lack of coronavirus answers. This is why I formed Build a Movement 2020 because I knew it would take a grassroots effort that is willing to tackle all of these issues to make real, lasting, systemic change. 

We can and will overcome and work toward a solution. In the weeks ahead we will grapple with two historic challenges: finally altering the course of our 244-year-old racial injustice and ending the worst of the impact of COVID-19. We can and will do both. 

 

What can you do during troubling times?

You can help. You are needed. Every one of us can play a role in turning us away from these bleak, divided and confusing times. Part of what BAM 2020 does is help you do just that. We have action items through our Action Center that allows you to contact legislators in under a minute, to tweet to them urging action and to connect to others (like our Covid-19 Emergency Response Facebook Group). 

You can help spread accurate information about critical issues like the climate emergency or help people connect with the #BreatheWithMe initiative. It takes a little more than a couple of seconds on social media to share these posts and encourage your friends and family to get engaged. 

You can help people get accurate coronavirus answers simply by sharing this post and telling them to read it! 

This is how democracy works. We don’t let our leaders dictate to us what we can do, we dictate to them what they WILL DO! 

Aren’t you tired of the failures of our political leaders? How many more (like George Floyd killed by police or the more than 100,000 people killed by COVID-19) have to die before we all realize enough is enough?! I’m ready for a little rebellion right about now. How about you? 

 

How can I help? By providing trustworthy coronavirus answers

If you’re still reading it means you care! You’re committed to a future like the one I envision on the first pages of Waging Optimism. The vision I’ve been working toward throughout my career of waging justice! 

Like you, I ask myself constantly what can I do. What’s my small part? As I mention above, in the specific case of COVID-19, I can help people have trustworthy answers. Information is power and I want you are loved ones to have as much of it as you can.

Feel free to reach out through our contact page if you have a question you’d like me to answer in the weeks ahead.

As we know, we’re in the grip of this pandemic right now. Don’t grow weary. Grow together. Let’s #endcovid19 together. 

COVID-19 Heightens Need to Build a Movement for Change

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When Build a Movement 2020 launched last year, we focused on five pillars. We took pains to explain how inter-connected these issues are and how systemic change across each would ensure meaningful progress in all.

Then came the COVID-19 global pandemic that has impacted every facet of our lives. This is a health crisis that has created an economic crisis, a health care crisis and a crisis that tests the very nature of our democracy. The lessons we learn in this great battle will teach and train us for the larger issues to come.

But only if we listen and learn. Only if we truly build a movement that can effectively pair legislation, activism and social impact in meaningful ways.

As you know I’m an unreformed optimist, which is why I didn’t wait to publish part 1 of Waging Optimism. I believe a realistic optimistic, action-centered approach to these great crises will help us realize a new world that is safe for humanity, that ends this pandemic, that restores our climate and that builds a new democracy that works for every citizen.

We can’t accept half measures.

We’ve seen this interconnected play out in the news at a time when every headline is COVID-19.

We’ve seen a planet that’s getting well even as we get sicker. This is our Climate Restoration pillar.

We’ve seen an economy painfully learning to adapt to new realities that will become more sustainable in the future. This is our Sustainable Development pillar.

We’ve seen our democracy’s inability to move beyond partisan politics for a national response despite ample time to better prepare for this crisis and save more lives. This is our Heal America pillar.

We’ve seen people from all walks of life come together on Facebook live conversations, Zoom organizational meetings, shared content and progressive action to build a COVID-19 Emergency Response Group. This is the Gender and Health pillar.

To solve one, we must work together to solve all. The vision I have for 2030 seems more likely now than when I first wrote it in the opening pages of Waging Optimism.

We can build a movement that can ensure change across the pillars that makes each stronger.

I invite you to join this Earth protecting, humanity saving, democracy building, Purple Tsunami of historic change.

Click here an add your name to our pledge.

Click here and contact your legislators to demand rapid testing for COVID 19.

Visit the Dr Paul Zeitz Facebook page at 3PM eastern Mon., Wed. and Friday for a live chat and reliable information about COVID-19 that can help you and your loved ones stay safe.

Repost this article to your social networks and invite other to take action as well.

My prescription for health in a time of coronavirus

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In this unprecedented global health crisis, information is an antidote to panic. Your health and safety in a time of coronavirus will be improved by using proper information for proper steps of action.

By understanding the changes coming within our communities, states, and country, we can act together in solidarity even as we practice acts of kindness and responsibility like social distancing, work from home, canceling events and other significant changes to our way of life.

I’m an epidemiologist. I once founded and served as the Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance that helped build the cross-partisan political will to combat the global AIDS pandemic. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, we all were able to work together to forever alter the course of this deadly disease.

We can and will do it again. Now. Here’s my prescription for health in these troubled times of the coronavirus.

coronavirus prescription

RX: health in a time of coronavirus

  1. Take a healthy dose of optimism three times a day. Refills are unlimited. Based on a lifetime of experience working on crises just like this, I can tell you, it starts with one of the hardest, but most critical steps. It starts with Waging Optimism. I’m an unapologetic optimist. I’ve seen the power of my mindset at work. It’s the match the ignites of seismic change for good. My guide to Waging Optimism is here and can support you to be courageous and make a commitment for under a dollar.
  2. Waging Justice once a day: We don’t have to sit back, afraid and do nothing. We don’t have to binge Netflix. We can use our time to take action by Waging Justice for all. Every day we can exercise our rights and responsibilities as Americans. This is how easy it is: Contact your government leaders and legislators in Congress, in your State, and in your local governments , right now in less than a minute and demand they 1) Protect the People, 2) Test the People and 3) Heal the People during this coronavirus pandemic. Click here. 
  3. Waging Love daily: Humans are social animals. We need each other. At a time of pandemic we may easily slip into fear, isolation, and blame. Instead let’s transform this destructive approach that worsens our problems (and empties shelves of toilet paper from local stores!).  Please reach out to your friends and families and send messages of love and hope. Share your optimism with others who may be afraid. Urge others to join you in action online. Spread love far and wide. Post this and tag me @drpaulzeitz so I can send you back a heart emoji! Every little action beats back the fear that threatens us all.

A movement of systemic change

I’ve dedicated my career to catalyzing large-scale movements. I launched Build a Movement 2020 with the idea of giving back power and control to “we the people,” as  our very existence at stake. It was not an accident that we launched with five pillars, three of which are at play today, right now, this instance to threaten our existence: climate restoration, restoring democracy and health for all. 

Our problems are inexorably linked. Today it’s a coronavirus, but it’s also the unprecedented warming of the Arctic and our broken democracy that has failed to protect and defend our lives and our survival.   We need to win the battle against the coronavirus, we need to ensure the survival of humanity by restoring the climate, and we need to establish authentic democracy here in America. 

We are living in a transformative moment in human history. You are a part of it. We are the solution. Together we can heal America. Can you join us? Simply text BAM2020 to 52886 and take a ten-second pledge to Waging Justice, Waging Optimism and Waging Love and ensure the survival of humanity. 

We can do this. We will. But it starts with a start. A text. A pledge. A commitment. An act. It starts now. It starts now-NOW!

Healing America: Waging Optimism

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If you were sick and your physician said you had to take urgent action to remain alive, would you sit around and debate it? Not if you wanted to get well. If I were your doctor I’ll tell you to start by waging optimism and taking action! 

Well, here we are, at the conclusion of this Healing American series. The time for debate is over. The next government of the United States will be elected in less than 400 days. This is the time for action. 

In part one of this Healing America series, we recognized the urgency and illness. 

In part two, we diagnosed the cause. 

In part three, we decided to become a miracle cure.

In part four, we set a course for bold action, with America 2.0. 

So, how do we get from where we are today, a sick and dying nation embroiled in political scandal and ineffective government to where we will be upon signing an America 2.0 constitution as soon as possible? 

We start WAGING OPTIMISM and taking action. 

  • We build a movement together. Click here now to take our pledge and get started.
  • We call all justice-hearted Americans mobilize in mass, peaceful, non-violent demonstrations between now and Constitution Day.
  • We make our presence felt at the Democratic and Republic Conventions when the candidates for the President are formally chosen.
  • We demand candidates that will support our America 2.0 Constitution.

Now, it’s time for action.

waging optimism

Who am I to call you to action?

I’m a doctor and the father of five sons.

I am committed to ensuring that my family and all of your families have the opportunity to pursue the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.

My work for the last 30 years has been to hold the United States government accountable. I’ve been waging justice for all Americans and I want you to join me.

I’m an optimist to the core. I’m Waging Optimism now because I’ve seen what happens when people come together, like the time we changed the course of the AIDS epidemic. Like the Climate Justice movement that is making a huge push to save our planet.

On Martin Luther King’s birthday earlier this year, I launched Build A Movement 2020 (#BAM2020) to spark a patriotic revolutionary political movement. The pillars of BAM2020 can be seen here. (Link to blog with pillars). 

I commit my life to healing America and I know we can do it. 

But who I am isn’t as important who you are. 

Will you be the person who at this moment in history took bold action to demand life, liberty and justice for all? 

Will you wage optimism with me? 

Let Justice Ring!