Got another interesting email the other day, similar to the ones I’ve received from Newspapers planning hit-job articles – common enough when you discuss science and data since March 2020. But this time it’s coming from a corporate think-tank outfit – the London-based Institute for Strategic Discussion (ISD). At the end of this post I’ll share a summary of the organization sent to me by an Irish investigative-type network associate – very interesting. But firstly here’s the email I received:
EMAIL from ISD received Nov 3oth:
Name: Institute for Strategic Dialogue
Email: xxxxxx@isdglobal.org
Message: Dear Mr Cummins,
I am writing to you about an upcoming report due to be released by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue that makes references to you.
In order to ensure fair reporting, we would like to give you the opportunity to comment on the statements made about you in the report.
Specifically, the report states that:
You were “until 2020, a ketogenic diet influencer, who pivoted towards criticizing lockdowns and pandemic restrictions”;
You use your YouTube and Twitter accounts to spread “claims that experts say are based on faulty science”;
You posted a video in September 2020 that “falsely claimed that the pandemic had run its course by June due to people already being immune to COVID-19 after exposure to similar viruses.”
If you would like to comment on any of the statements made above, please reply to this email by 1pm GMT, Friday, December 3rd.
Regards,
Institute for Strategic Dialogue (no person signed the email)
MY REPLY EMAIL within the deadline:
You were “until 2020, a ketogenic diet influencer, who pivoted towards criticising lockdowns and pandemic restrictions”;
Please see attached bio for fair representation. Further, in March 2020 I began analysing Covid 19 and the political response to same. Note that I had initially supported restrictions and actually called for – amongst others – more robust mask wearing recommendations. I am on the record since March/April 2020 on this, e.g. please watch a minute or so from this point (published April 14th 2020): https://youtu.be/
You use your YouTube and Twitter accounts to spread “claims that experts say are based on faulty science”;
My position would be very much aligned with the Harvard/Oxford/Stanford expert professor-lead Great Barrington Declaration, which proposes that focused protection for the susceptible would be a far more scientific solution to the pandemic challenge. Ref: https://gbdeclaration.
You posted a video in September 2020 that “falsely claimed that the pandemic had run its course by June due to people already being immune to COVID-19 after exposure to similar viruses.”
