Their Story Matter with Sara Troy and her guest Mark Bello, on air from April 7th
During a business trip to India in 2011, Mark Balla made an unexpected discovery, a discover that was to turn his understanding of our world upside down. He was so shaken by what he learned that he felt unable to simply walk away.
More often than not, when people are confronted by a major issue with global implications you will hear them say “What can I do? I’m only one person.” Mark decided that such a response would be unacceptable, and he made up his mind to get involved. Within three years he had walked away from paid employment, delivered a TED talk, founded a charity, joined a Rotary Club and started a project that has since impacted directly and indirectly on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
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After completing a degree majoring in Linguistics in the 1980s, Mark Balla took a job working for Lonely Planet Publications, first as an editor and later as a travel writer. Among others, Mark was involved in writing travel guides to various European and Latin American countries.
After leaving Lonely Planet, he spent a number of years working in the commercial shipbuilding industry with a particular focus on trade exhibitions and trade publishing. In the early 2000s, Mark and his wife Annie started their own business in the CD and DVD manufacturing industry. The business grew strongly and was eventually sold to an Australian based supplier. The buyer established a joint venture manufacturing business in India and asked Mark to join the board. This is where his Indian adventure began.
Mark and Annie live in Melbourne, Australia. They have two adult children and a cat. Mark has a complicated relationship with both the cat and his golf handicap. He is an enthusiastic member of the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central where he will be club president in 2020/21. He and Annie are avid travelers, both believing that the world is far too interesting a place not to have a good look at it.
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I have been interviewing incredible people for 8 years now and with nearly 7 years of my own podcast network “Self Discovery Media”, I knew it was time for expansion and to create a platform where we could focus my podcast guests’ services to the world with their Why Show, and What their services are show.
We are activating our guests unique Self Discovery one show at a time.
The Orchard of wisdom Podcasts are at your fingertips, just waiting to inspire and invite you in discovering just how awesome you really are and how to navigate through life into joy, enrichment, and personal abundance.
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Discovering Communities is making a difference in the lives of others? Here at Discovering Communities, we share the knowledgeable wisdom that serves humanity’s growth. We believe that when we invest in people, it encourages us all to become all that we can be in our own self-discovery finding our meaningful purpose benefiting our global nations.
We invite you to explore all we do here at Discovering Communities that not only serveS humanity in its support but celebrates it too. Come and see how we support those in transition in life and those who are helping them to further this platform of Self liberty, dignity, self-love and self-empowerment.
Well if you told me that I would be doing podcasting hosting for 8 years already way back then, I would not have believed you.
My first show with Authentic You media was live and a disaster, but I prevailed 13 months of live podcasting, before going to my own network PLV Radio. That name changed 2 years later to Self Discovery Radio, then 3 years after that Self Discovery Radio/TV as I went into videos too. Shortly after that I changed it again to Self Discovery Media.
I have learned so much about myself, about human nature, about health, wealth, love and empowerment through the years that it inspired me to develop another platform to enhance my guest’s knowledge even further afield.
So two years ago, Self Discovery Community was blueprinted. Time always dictates when things should be ready to go further, and it took two years to find someone who would build a platform that could cope with the advancement.
It was meant to be ready for my 8 year anniversary on April 4th, but my developer is behind due to external pressures and working with someone who does not get technology. ( as you can see by these sites I did myself)
So Discovering Communies.org will come to pass soon, but as I promised to deliver this content by now, I have made a makeshift site to hold the content for now till the new site is ready. Here you will find the platform of intent and invite, we are open for business and as Self Discovery Media merges with the community sites, it will be easier to find those wonderful Mentors with their services, and our inspiring guests who share their Why with us on their extraordinary life journeys.
Sara Troy on Sara’s View Of Life, on air from March 26th
There is so much confusion out there, and many think this is a one-time thing, so I decided to gather facts on what has been before and will most likely happen again. Prospective is needed here, understanding, caution, common sense and due diligence.
Now that the World Health Organization has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, shutting down cities and even an entire country, many people want to know more about what they can do to fight COVID-19.
Canada confirmed its first case on Jan. 25 and as the new virus makes its way around the world, here’s a breakdown of what it is, who is most at risk, and most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.
The coronavirus is the next in a long line of pandemics that have shaken the world. Diseases and illnesses like the Spanish Flu, Zika, Cholera, Smallpox, Asian flu, the Bubonic Plague and Black Death have all wreaked havoc on societies and killed millions.
Global Pandemics
The earliest recorded pandemic in history was in 430 B.C., Athens. In 1918, the Spanish Flu claimed a dark spot in the history books. 500 million people, or a third of the world’s population was infected, and 50 million died.
The Spanish flu pandemic, from 1918 to 1920, claimed 100 million lives. It is considered the worst in history. The Black Death claimed the lives of over 75 million people in the 14th Century.
The Black Death killed 30-60% of Europe’s total population.
Some viruses are present in animals but rarely spread to humans. Sometimes an event can happen that makes this possible.
Health authorities are concerned when a case arises of an animal virus passing to humans, as this can be an indication that the virus is changing.
Swine flu and bird — or avian — flu, refer to viruses that were common in pigs or birds, but not in humans, until an antigenic shift occurred.
In recent years, there has also been concern about viruses that have been linked to camels (causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS) and monkeys (Ebola).
If an influenza pandemic were to emerge today, the following problems could arise:
People today are more international mobile and more likely to live in cities than in the past, factors which increase the risk of a virus spreading.
Faster communication increases the risk of panic and the chance that people who may be infected will travel in an attempt to escape the disease, potentially taking the virus with them.
It can take months or years for a vaccine to become available because pandemic viruses are novel agents.
Medical facilities would be overwhelmed, and there could be shortages of personnel to provide vital community services, due to both the demand and illness.
Medical science has advanced rapidly in recent years, but it is unlikely ever to offer full protection from a possible pandemic, because of the novel nature of the diseases involved.
The following are all potential causes of concern:
Viral hemorrhagic fevers
Viral hemorrhagic fevers, including the Ebola and Marburg viruses, could become pandemics.
However, close contact is needed for these diseases to spread.
Modern surveillance systems, lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 to 2015, and an experimental vaccine that is currently available for people who may be affected by the disease, offer hope that, in future, new cases will be dealt with swiftly and that the disease can be contained.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a major concern. Resistant strains of tuberculosis are among the most worrying.
Each year, almost half a million new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are estimated to occur globally.
SARS and MERS
SARS, caused by a coronavirus, has come close to generating a pandemic in recent years. Health agencies and government bodies prevented the disease from becoming more than localized epidemics. SARS has not been eradicated, however, and may return.
Another respiratory disease, MERS, is also a matter of concern, although the number of cases so far has been relatively small, with only 2,494 reported cases between September 2012 and November 2019, according to the WHO.
Influenza
Wild birds are a natural host for a variety of influenza strains. In rare cases, these influenza species can pass from bird to human, sparking epidemics with the potential to turn into pandemics, if left unchecked.
Avian flu (H5N1) is an example of this. The strain was first identified in Vietnam in 2004. It never reached epidemic levels, but the potential ability of the virus to combine with human flu viruses is a concern to scientists.
Ebola
The largest Ebola epidemic the world has ever seen affected Liberia and surrounding countries in West Africa in 2014 to 2015. Huge efforts to contain the problem prevented it from turning into a pandemic.
Ebola has recently resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa, and the WHO is monitoring the situation.
Medical science has advanced rapidly in recent years, but it is unlikely ever to offer full protection from a possible pandemic, because of the novel nature of the diseases involved.
Flu home remedies, use these for the Covid 19 virus too.
When a person has flu, it is essential that they:
stay at home
Wash hands and face and surfaces often
avoid contact with other people if possible
keep warm and rest
consume plenty of liquids and healthful foods
avoid alcohol
stop smoking, as this raises the risk of complications
The flu virus transmits through droplets of liquid. A person can pass the virus on to another person who is up to 6 feet away from them when they cough, sneeze, talk, or breathe.
A healthy individual can pass on the virus a day before they, themselves, have symptoms. In other words, it is possible to pass on the flu before you know you have it. The infected individual can continue to transmit the virus for up to 5–7 days after symptoms appear.
People with a weakened immune system, older people, and young children may be able to pass on the virus for longer than this.
Flu is most contagious in the first 3–4 days after symptoms appear.
How long is flu contagious? Find out here. Medical News Today NewsletterStay in the know. Get our free daily newsletter
What is COVID-19?
It’s the illness that’s caused by a viral respiratory infection. The virus that leads to COVID-19 is known as SARS-CoV-2????.
Dr. Allison McGeer, a clinical scientist with Sinai Health System in Toronto, said SARS-CoV-2 probably started showing up in China in November 2019.
The World Health Organization says Chinese officials first reported cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause to the WHO Country Office on Dec. 31, 2019.
Although using soap to thoroughly cleanse your hands is best, “if hand sanitizer is all you have, use that,” said Bogoch.
“Go for the hand sanitizer that has about 70 per cent alcohol,” he said.
How does it spread?
The World Health Organization says the virus is spread from person-to-person through small droplets from an infected person’s mouth or nose.
“If you get the virus on your hands, this virus does not infect you through your skin,” said McGeer. “It has to then be transmitted to your eyes, mouth or nose.”
That’s why it’s so important to keep your hands away from your face, said Bogoch.
“It’s actually hard to do that in practice, but if people are mindful and don’t touch their faces… they’ll come into less contact with this virus,” said Bogoch.
Should you be stockpiling toilet paper? Food?
COVID-19 isn’t a gastrointestinal virus, said McGeer.
“We’ve seen quarantines in China and Italy … but there’s not been a circumstance in which there have been shortages of food or basic supplies or life-saving medication.,” she said.
If you do get sick, you will need to stay home for two weeks.
Having enough food for 14 days is key, said McGeer. You should also refill your prescriptions so you have enough medication to last through a quarantine.
What are the symptoms?
Though many people infected with COVID-19 may have few or no symptoms, the government of Canada’s website says those symptoms include:
Fever
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Pneumonia in both lungs
7. What happens if you get infected?
Stay home, say both McGeer and Bogoch.
The government of Canada website also outlines that if you need to see a doctor or go to the hospital because your illness is severe, call ahead or tell officials that you have a respiratory illness right when you arrive.
The bottom line is this, follow the guidelines, with social distancing, washing hands, washing surfaces, clothes, and foods. Support each other, keep upbeat and do not give in to fear, but ignite common sense and mindfulness, and we will prevail, not only healthy but more mindful of our practices and what we need to do to change things.
As I drive around and see all the Blossoms in bloom, I realize that nature is taking back her planet and that nature will always prevail. The Covid 19 Virus is but and an invitation to wake us up because it is shaking us up to step it up in making massive changes in all aspects of our lives.
While the virus is shutting our lives down, it is healing the planet with less pollution from us, we are seeing nature reclaim its place with the dolphins in Venice and lakes and rivers running cleanly and everyone able to breathe more fresh air.
We have learned a valuable lesson in cleanliness, the simplicity of washing our hands can save lives. We have seen the negative impact on this planet with our pollution with our cars and industries. We have had to wake up to the fact that we the humans are indeed the true virus on this planet and that we have to stop being so nonchalant and entitled and realize we created this mess, and we can with changing our ways, clean it up again.
Let us step up and show Mama Nature that we can respect this wonderful planet of her’s, and we can give back and not just take. Let us look at our opulence and re think what we eat, how much we eat, how much we buy, how much we waste.
This is a time of reflection, a time of new connections, within our selves, with each other and with this divine planet.
A Gift of time in this Isolation
With the gift of the internet, we can reach out to each other and support each other during these toubled times. We can listen (right here on this network) to the wisdom of solutions in healing us and this planet. We can enjoy our home, our family, our animals, and open up conversations that we have not had time for in the past.
I do hope we come out of this stronger, in spirit, in body, in mind, and in action, for actionisim is needed right now, and that is one of planning to live our lives in a more respectful way in all aspects of our lives.
Let us stop being the virus on this planet, and let us start looking forward to all the solutions and connections that are just waiting for us to implement.
I ask at this time for you are to stay strong, to not panic, to choose this time to look forward to living life differently and to respect and support each other while we navigate these turbulant waters. We will come out of this stronger, wiser, and with more empathy and concideration for each other and planet.
My love and support is with you always, may you step into your faith and trust we will grow stronger for this. Let us send prayers to all those on the front lines, for with out them we would not survive at all. My love goes out to all how are effected in any way, and stay strong, you are not alone.
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