The test that proves water is wet
“For the title, I hesitated between ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’ and ‘science is advancing by leaps and bounds’. The Maison de la Culture d’Arlon announces with ‘enthusiasm’ its participation in a (new) ‘test show’ on 5 June, under the aegis of our friends the virologists.”
“400 people will take a test during the day, and if they test negative, they will be able to attend a show by Bruno Coppens, wearing masks. I’m laughing already.
This ‘testing’ will in fact involve 800 people, since one person in two will be deprived of the show, assigned to another ‘test group’ that will later be compared with the first.
Some win, some lose.
I can already predict the result for you: the first group will laugh their heads off, the second group will sulk.”
“This initiative, presented as a step towards the deliverance of the cultural sector, in fact contributes to its ostracisation, and raises a number of questions and comments.
1/ What is the ‘scientific’ purpose of ‘proving’ that 400 ‘negative’ and masked people, shut in a theatre for two hours, have no chance of infecting each other?
2/ What is the point of carrying out in Wallonia a new ‘test’ which, however absurd, has already been carried out elsewhere in Europe and on a larger scale?
3/ What is the point of carrying out such a ‘test’ in Arlon when, twenty kilometres away, in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, all theatres and performance venues are open?
4/ What is the use of validating health protocols which, while they may be applicable on a one-off basis for a ‘test’ evening, are totally incompatible with the ‘normal’ functioning of a cultural venue? Does anyone really believe that people are going to spit into a test tube in the afternoon so they can go to the pictures in the evening? Who is going to pay for this infrastructure and this logistics? Who is going to pay these additional costs?
5/ Why should the cultural sector alone have to submit to these exorcism rituals, when supermarkets are preparing their sales in ‘open bar’ mode, and public transport, packed at rush hour, is not even equipped with a bottle of hand sanitiser?
6/ Why does part of the cultural sector, instead of denouncing these inconsistencies and absurdities, cheerfully take part in this masquerade?
7/ Do the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the cultural administrations, which are organising this whole circus, really have nothing more urgent and more useful to offer us than ‘test evenings’ to demonstrate that water is wet? How can one, at the same time, claim to ‘support culture’ and perpetually multiply the obstacles to its reopening?
8/ How much longer are we going to accept being made fools of like this?”
“Claude Semal, 16 May 2021.”
“Below, the enthusiastic call from the Maison de la Culture d’Arlon and ‘goforculture’.”
“Maison de la Culture d’Arlon is feeling overexcited.6h·”
"CULTURE IN DANGER AND YET SAFE // Dear audience, On 5 June, we will have the pleasure of opening the doors of the main theatre to you once again to offer you a unique experience, a FREE test event supervised by Yves Coppieters. With the aim of evaluating how culture can restart, a series of test events is being held throughout Belgium. In the province of Luxembourg, it is the Maison de la Culture d’Arlon that, after a long-term effort, has been selected to carry out this test.
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS ACTION? · To demonstrate the non-spread of the virus in a theatre· To demonstrate that a venue can be filled and that maximum capacity limits are pointless WHEN AND WHERE? On the evening of 5 June 2021, in the main hall of the Maison de la Culture.
WHAT’S ON? The excellent Bruno Coppens THE PRINCIPLE? Around 400 ‘covid-negative’ people will attend Bruno Coppens’ show free of charge and 400 other people will not take part in the evening (they will, however, be offered admission to another show at the start of the season). The aim is to be able to compare the spread of the virus between a group that went to the theatre and a second group that did not THE PROCEDURE? Depending on the number of requests, the 400 spectators will be drawn by lot to attend Bruno Coppens’ show free of charge (they will have to pay a booking fee of 20 euros, which will be refunded at the end of the procedure). The selected people will be asked to take a rapid test during the day on 5 June and will only enter the theatre with certification that they are ‘Covid negative.’ On 12 June these people will come back to be tested a second time. They will then be refunded the 20 euros paid in advance. In addition, on the day of the show, 400 other people will also be invited to get tested. This second group will not go to see Coppens’ show but will be invited to see another show free of charge at the start of the season. The name of this show will be revealed soon. On 12 June these people will come back to be tested a second time. They will then receive an admission ticket for this free show.
HOW TO REGISTER? It is of course your active participation that will make this project a success! To take part, simply register via this link: https://www.goforculture.be
Thank you in advance for coming and we look forward to seeing you again! The team”
Read the full article here:
https://www.asymptomatique.be
Photo source:
https://www.qwant.com