Causes.com
| 4.6.21

IT: Boycotting the Beijing Olympics, and... 🛂 Should the U.S. require 'vaccine passports'?

Join us and tell your reps how you feel!

Welcome to Wednesday, April 7th, walkers and riders...

Vaccine passports may become 2021's must-have item—or never-want item.

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These passes would allow individuals to share COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test status.

New York State has already launched the United States' first COVID-19 passport, a free digital pass known as the "Excelsior Pass."

In a press release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) office said:

"Secure technologies, like blockchain and encryption, are woven throughout Excelsior Pass to help protect the data, making it verifiable and trusted. No private health data is stored or tracked within the apps."

Meanwhile, a number of GOP-controlled states have instituted bans on COVID-19 passports, including Texas and Florida.

“We are not supporting doing any vaccine passports in the state of Florida,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

“It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society.”

Should businesses require vaccine passports?

Boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics?

The State Dept. signaled on Tuesday that it is considering a joint boycott with U.S. allies and partners of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

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Threats of a boycott are related to People’s Republic of China (PRC) human rights abuses against ethnic minorities, efforts to undermine democracy in Hong Kong, and belligerence toward Taiwan and other neighboring nations.

The Beijing Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 4, 2022.

State Dept. Spokesman Ned Price said at a press conference that, “It is something that we certainly wish to discuss,” and that “a coordinated approach will not only be in our interest but also in the interest of our allies and partners."

Do you support or oppose a boycott by the U.S. of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics?

SCOTUS & NCAA Rules Against Compensating Student-Athletes

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case challenging the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) rules that prohibit compensation of student-athletes beyond their athletic scholarships, which cover tuition and the cost-of-attendance and may include a stipend. 

The hearing occurred just days before the conclusion of the NCAA’s “March Madness” basketball tournaments and comes amid a broader push for the relaxation of rules to allow NCAA athletes to earn income by using their name, image, and likeness.

Known as NCAA v. Alston, the case involves a class-action lawsuit that alleges the NCAA’s rules against compensating college athletes violates federal antitrust law. The NCAA contends that allowing student-athletes to be paid and the resulting economic competition between colleges would “destroy consumer demand for college sports.”

Should athletes be allowed to earn income beyond what they receive from scholarships?

All the Memes Fit to Post

And, in the End…

Chase the clouds away for Public Television Day.

Here's Joe Biden (back when he was VP) and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, visiting Sesame Street:

Thanks to viewers like you,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at editorial [at] causes.com. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Causes.

  • 55
    Joyce
    04/19/2021

    No I don’t think companies and governments should mandate vaccines and punish people who don’t want an unknown,unpredictable medication in their bodies. The FDA has not approved any of these vaccines.

  • 394
    Jeanne
    04/09/2021

    I am more and more in favor of vaccine passports. I believe they will help people feel safer as they know the people around them are vaccinated also. I certainly want to restrict myself to venues where a vaccine is required for participants. If you don’t want a vaccine, stay home.

  • 38
    John
    04/08/2021

    Vaccine passports is a terrible idea! It goes directly against HIPPA laws!

  • 1,479
    Bonn77
    04/07/2021

    Yes. This is a no brained. The only way to know if someone has been vaccinated is with proof. Although like everything else there may be scams brewing. This needs to be officially done to guard against counterfeit passports.

  • 440
    Freethinker
    04/07/2021

    Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are censoring Uyghur voices and labeling firsthand accounts as disinformation. If more stories were able to be circulated I think the response to China would be completely different. It’s unfortunate that these companies and the media has that much control on world issues. The public is blind to so much. You’re better off not reading the news it’s a polluted vehicle and only clouds the mind and perspective of real ideas and thought.

  • 33
    DEBRA
    04/07/2021

    First COVID passports next tattoos on the arm. Even having the questions asked is a violation of HIPPA laws. How would congress liked to be asked multiple times a day if you’ve had COVID shot. If average Americans are forced to give up our privacy then we expect congress and the faux president go first we the people want you all to go first !

  • 2,915
    BR
    04/07/2021

    Vaccine Passports: Not sure this makes any sense. Fauci and other medical professionals are saying that even if you take the vaccine doesn't mean you can't get the virus or spread it. So, this serves the question: What does having a passport accomplishment?

  • 50
    P
    04/07/2021

    Uninformed people parrot the party line about needing ID to prove you have been vaccinated, but don’t need ID to vote. Nobody is saying you don’t need ID to vote.

  • 741
    John
    04/07/2021

    Absolutely they should require vaccine passports with new evidence that 1/3 of the cases of COVID-19 lead to mental illness there should be no doubt about it. I also believe that here in Georgia we should recall our governor he’s let the state down totally and he’s proved himself to be nothing but a licker and a puppet.

  • 34
    Rachel
    04/07/2021

    So we are looking to require proof of vaccination to be able to travel but no proof of ID to vote? It’s exhausting...

  • 128
    Wallace
    04/07/2021

    Yes!!! Let’s require vaccine passports!

  • 148
    Loretta
    04/07/2021

    Question for Republicans like Desantis and the rest... why no government to stop and check a deadly pandemic.... but senseless rules about gender... playing sports, bathrooms, treatments for surgery even with parental permission ?... yet we let children be present burning masks ... at anti demnot get vaccine ... spread the disease.... all oxymoronish but typical from morons....

  • 852
    Carolyn
    04/07/2021

    Yes. Vaccine passports should be required. The rights and safety of the group always trumps the rights of an individual.

  • 48
    Bob
    04/07/2021

    Vaccine passports should be required to attend large events. It might actually pressure those on the fence, or even those who believe whack job conspiracy theories. It’s what we’ll need to be able to open everything up. And if you refuse to get a vaccination, it means you don’t really care about the people around you, and you shouldn’t be allowed to go to events...

  • 215
    Daniel
    04/07/2021

    Yea I would not travel there knowing this is the Country that started the Virus.

  • 104
    Barbara
    04/07/2021

    In the world we live in now, proof of vaccination should be required. As soon as it is proven safe for children, it should be required for school as well. We have to do what is best for the greater good of mankind.

  • 93
    Randy
    04/07/2021

    Boycott China Olympics? It is Covid Central!!! Stay away from those germy folks!!

  • 150
    Lloyd
    04/07/2021

    Baseball hurt themselves pulling out of Georgia over ignorance, If they can read, Which it seems they can’t Georgia added to, not took away, hours to Vote Sports organizations are ignorant to become involved with Politicians The same goes for a Boycott of the Olympics in China Leave political matters out of Sports We have Sports to bring people together That is the goal of the Olympics Let the Olympics be as they were intended