You don't know what you don't know, until you know to go and look. And in a world of panic-posts, overwhelming statistics and carefully-cultivated fear, most people don't stop to THINK about what they're not seeing.
My brush with facebook censorship around coronavirus started from sheer necessity - as a small business owner in Thailand, our income has been decimated as everyone tries to #staythefuckhome. And so the logical extension of that was to put our new hand sanitizer products online, since, unlike Thailand, people are desperately short of hand sanitizer in many countries. As a solo mom with no possible government support from my birth country, my passport country or my country of residence (all different) and no child maintenance for 15 years now, online income MATTERS right now, to keep us in food & essentials like electricity & drinking water.
Interestingly, in the weeks BEFORE corona became more than a beer, I was asked by a leading large hotel here in Chiang Mai to produce a hand sanitizer for in-room sales to their guests. We're thrilled with the result and yes, the hotel was thrilled too and is supplying it for their (few remaining 😩) guests
Our product is different than most. We use only surgical grade, plant-based ethyl-alcohol 95 at a 70% ratio of product volume. We also use chemical-free freeze dried aloe vera extract, vegetable glycerin, colloidal silver, tea tree essential oil and lemongrass essential oil. We package only in aluminium, since high potency alcohol is a solvent, and we're not enamored with the idea of absorbing toxic plastic compounds through already degraded skin on dry hands. We have a 50ml Purse-pocket pack and refill bottles in several sizes.
A no brainer, right? We have supply of a high quality, fair trade, highly sought after product. Our website ships to 241 countries. DHL delivers Express in max 5 days almost everywhere in the world. Put it up on social media. How hard can it be??
March 20th, 2020. Facebook Bans More Types of Ads in Response to COVID-19.
Facebook is banning more types ads for products people need to stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. > This includes ads for:
Hand sanitizer
Surface disinfecting wipes
COVID-19 testing kids.
Previously, Facebook had already banned ads for medical face masks.
“This is anther step to protect against inflated prices and predatory behavior we’re seeing,” says Facebook’s Rob Leathern.
In addition, if Facebook detects abuse around these products in organic posts, that content will be removed too. Source
Facebook's official position:
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Facebook is supporting the global public health community’s work to keep people safe and informed. Since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a public health emergency in January, we’ve taken steps to make sure everyone has access to accurate information, stop misinformation and harmful content, and support global health experts, local governments, businesses and communities. Source
In practice, they are obstructing sale of much-needed products to help people stay safer. A bit like misdirecting thirsty people in the dessert by standing in front of the oasis so they can't see it and telling them there is no water.
Our Thai friends happily sewing and selling superb natural cotton facemasks (with filters)? Same problem.
Can't list in facebook marketplace or as a sponsored or paid ad. ONE complaint about the organic content of a personal post, and they have "violated community standards" and head straight to facebook jail. For 7 days, or 30 days. Or whatever. At FB's whim, no discussion.
Sadly that's the tip of the Natural Medicine censorship iceberg.
Don't even TRY to question the wisdom or safety of administering untrialed, fast-tracked #COVID-19 vaccines - that would place you under their anti-vaccine censorship category. You can read more about that official policy Here:.
But it seems the medical world, big pharma and certain governments are not satisfied with only Facebook censorship.
The World Health Organization has joined to expand censorship efforts.
WHO is also collaborating with tech giants like Google, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok to limit the spread of harmful rumors. It's pursuing a similar tactic with Chinese digital companies such as Baidu, Tencent and Weibo.
"We are asking them to filter out false information and promote accurate information from credible sources like WHO, CDC [the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and others. And we thank them for their efforts so far," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, in a briefing earlier this month. Source.
The HUGE question is, who decides what is false information?
The people standing by to make a killing (pardon the pun) with largely untested vaccines?
I can assure you that currently it's NOT "acceptable community standard" to post about colloidal silver as an effective anti-viral agent. Silly me for finding published clinical studies clearly to the contrary.
It's not acceptable to post about intravenous Vitamin C as a harmless frontline treatment for Covid-19, despite a great deal of clinical evidence and published, peer reviewed studies.
What about drinking bleach?
Saltwater gargles "sending the virus down to your stomach"?
My question is this: rather than suppression and censorship, why not simply refute the drinking bleach claim with a simple article outlining the risks to personal health and the damage to sensitive epithelial skin in the mouth and throat, along with POISON warnings?
It troubles me deeply that in a time when there is a global public health threat, mainstream social media blocks the possibility for people to think for themselves and to potentially use effective, natural medicine to improve their immunity and stay well.
How do I deal with this, as a concerned citizen and herbal business owner?
I blog about this stuff on naturalmedicine.io and hive.io. Decentralized & uncensored.
I get VERY creative with product descriptions. The hand sanitizers we have? I've called it a "Clean Hands Care Pack". And tried to be VERY indirect in the description. You can see what I mean in the product listing HERE. Yes, we DO have stock and can ship internationally asap with DHL, or with Kerry Express throughout Thailand. Full tracking provided.
I ask and invite people to share posts, like this one, especially to wake people up to what they're not seeing.
I continue to write simple blog posts, on my OWN website, simply stating and sharing clinical published research without personally making any medical or healing claims. Like this: Traditional Thai Herb Treats Symptoms of CoronaVirus & Respiratory Flu, Says Thai Hospital
And I continue to share on my mainstream social media good (and very carefully written) articles like this: Can Supplements Help Combat COVID-19?
If you're feeling hamstrung and impotent sitting at home with the drawbridge up, you CAN be part of the global community that resists this insidious censorship.
- You can join us on https://naturalmedicine.io (free account) to CREATE your own uncensored content; want to write more broadly than just natural medicine? Sign up at hive.io
- You can SHARE articles on mainstream social media which resonate and are well annotated and researched, and which assist and empower others;
- You can continue to BUY from individuals and small business who are OUTSIDE the control of Big Pharma and mainstream media.
- You can CHOOSE what you read and listen to, and make up your own mind.
- You can GET CREATIVE - a friend in Australia sent me health information this morning through FB's Messenger, but as a voice recorded file that evades their keyword censors.
Once you learn and appreciate just how heavily our news and information is censored, you can't help but start questioning everything and moving outside of that huge, controlling, monolithic system. It's time.
Freedom. Cherish it, empower others.
Hand sanitizer, we have no hand sanitizer,
now we are wiser, and stock more hand sanitizer,
by Thai Pure Naturals, we´ll all buy Thai Pure Naturals,
no matter what Facebook tells, we´ll all buy Thai Pure Naturals.
To be sung to the tune of Guantanamera
You're too funny... LOL. I shall be singing that in our product workroom tomorrow, I promise. Please get some virus Music Monday on for tomorrow to keep us all sane and laughing. Socially distanced hugs. x
You could make a video of you singing it,
turn it into a commercial and then world domination will only be a few months away.
I am far from surprised to hear about the mass censorship throughout Facebook and Google and the others. It surely is sad to see, but definitely doesn’t surprise me. I really appreciate your thoughtful workaround to the censorship by using less descriptive words. We must be creative during these times and you surely have it. Shared and Upvoted. I hope you and your family are able to get the necessary supplies and income you need during this time. Much love.
Community and creativity are our biggest assets in the information wars! Appreciating your role there - esp in the helpful tutorials and Hive content. Thank you!!
That really sucks, What is right what is wrong, who decides? These authoritarians, who never do anything without a benefiting agenda for themselves. FB, Insta, YouTube, Google are big time puppets. It is so important that the decentralized Social Media take over them.
In many parts of the world there is shortage of mask, sanitizers and other protective products, I wonder what they would gain by banning advertisements of these items.
It's a really powerful question - who exactly gains what by "protecting" the masses in this way, and by making sure that they have an increased chance of transmission....?
I can only think that their intention is to promote those companies from who they would benefit
Wow... reading this post of yours got me all rallied up! Seeing how Hive is still coming together, I thought it was perfect for re-hiving.
The decentralization and no censorship is FAAAAR more than just a remote political idea - it is real, now and crucial in this paradigm shift. No time to be frickin around at the edges with steem anymore, or pandering to autocrats, no matter how deep their pockets. Love seeing you buzzing in the Hive!
Sharing on Facebook!!!! I expect you will sell out of that care hands pack soon!!!
That would be nice, so that me and my girl can eat etc. 😆 But it's even MORE IMPORTANT that people in locked down, horrible situations with no hospital care have INFORMATION and CHOICES and the right to make personal health decisions NOT controlled by some corporate-government with a questionable agenda.
Appreciate the share, my dear.
Wow, this was really eye-opening!
Thank you for sharing your story! These days/weeks I have been thinking a lot of how censored and brain washed we (humans) are in this day and age.
Messages like these are important to be shared and heard. I'm sending you a lot of positive vibes and thoughts! <3
We honestly don't know what we don't know, unless we really start looking. It's quite shocking, really, that censorship is alive in the "information age".
Appreciate you stopping by. 😊
This stifling and fear mongering of natural products must be working. I noticed, today, that in the supermarkets the shelves are empty of anything disinfectant and hand soaps etc, except for the natural products, which there are quite a few left of.
We're not seeing ANY shortages or stockpiling, other than the imported Italian pasta running low. Strange, right? The ignorance is appalling and so many people assuming disinfectant and anti-bacterial = antiviral. You're right, tho, that the FUD factor is winning out for the vast majority.
And STILL almost no one talking about fresh foods, Vitamin D and sunshine for building natural immune function.
It seems the Thai people are less brainwashed!
oh boy.. centralization at its worst.. one decision effecting EVERYONE regardless of circumstance,.,.
as a wise man once said
"fu*ck facebook in the face!"
<3 im sure you will find other (better) channels to sell on..
You do gotta wonder at the agendas behind so much of what we're seeing, and not only from Facebook, although they've certainly been a pack leader. One day at a time.
How is the situation in Holland? No panic buying? We're going up to level 3 tomorrow - everything non essential closed, no one outside without masks and only leaving the home for "essential" business. I saw Holland has a significantly higher infection rate than we do here.... all the cheese??
It is absolutely insane that they are censoring the potential solutions to the problem SMFH this entire things gives me the perpetuated recession shivers!
SMFH is right. As is perpetuated recession. Urgh. Paradigm shift getting REAL UGLY ... all the crap needs exposing before it can be challenged and a new way ahead collectively created. Appreciate you stopping by to share the collective SMFH.
As always expect the worst and hope for the best but keep the helmet on... don’t want a concussion from head slaps 😉
cv is a hoax to bring in the new world order. I believe if I participate in it in any way for profit I will only bring on negativity to myself, which is why I am giving my stuff away for free and letting God pay me in other ways - which is my big FUCK YOU to the system - and my embracing of Natural Law - I am exiting the matrix stage left. Like the lillies of the field, the Creator cares for all His children.
We care for each other and yes, agree re the new world order agenda. Each of us comes from our own place of belief - all good. Trust you are well and happy.
I am doing well. I understand your dilemma with having to feed the kiddos. And the post is indepth and well-written concerns - all I am saying is that the Universe will provide everything you need - as I am sure you know..