Russian x-risks newsletter summer 2021

post by avturchin · 2021-09-05T08:23:11.818Z · LW · GW · 4 comments

Contents

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There were not many x-risk-related events in this period in Russia.

Covid mortality reached all times high in Russia, despite obvious lies about the number of deaths: they are almost always 799 a day. This is mostly due to the delta variant and failure to vaccinate most people. As a friend said: “My organisation is making up all numbers. Why I should believe the numbers from the other Russian organisation about vaccine efficiency?” However, citizen scientists showed that only the Sputnik vaccine actually works, and two other Russian vaccines, Covivak and Epivak, have near-zero efficiency. No foreign vaccines are allowed in Russia.

I have revaccinated with Astrazeneca in Montenegro and had some small peripheral neuropathy in the leg as a side effect. Revaccination with Sputnik is also open in Russia, but Russian vaccination certificates are not accepted in most countries.

Smoke from large forest fires in Yakutia region reached the North Pole. Russia has one of the largest forest reserves in the world and it was suggested decades ago that artificial fires in them could cause an effect similar to nuclear winter and be used as a climatic weapon.

As it typically happens, aeroplane accidents peaked in August, with 8 different aircraft crashed, all Russian made, but no large ones. This is due to the peak in tourism and tests as well as the peak of hot weather. 

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