Truth matters

A challenge for a new year

I have always had an inquisitive mind. I love to learn, to investigate and to understand. Perhaps that is why I remember, from quite a young age, having feelings of indignation at injustice. I suppose I was learning to be a truth-seeker. I didn’t like to be told, particularly by those in authority, that something was so without explanation. I wanted to know that the something was true, and that there was good reason for it to be so. Or not.

Years later and not much has changed! Asking difficult questions, probing for answers and digging to reach truth has generally served me well. However, it has not always led me down easy paths and has resulted in a few skirmishes along the way! I have learned through experience that seeking truth can be costly, but it is worth it. Truth matters, it really does.

Truth is not relative. It exists, it can be found and it holds the key to many good and righteous virtues and endeavours: justice, freedom, reconciliation, wisdom.

As we begin a new year, and after almost three years of ‘covid narrative’, it is time to work hard for truth to be brought into the open for all to see. It is time to push back against censorship and the maligning of those who are speaking truth to power.

There are many areas of concern in our culture and society where a quest for truth is needed, but I am going to focus here on perhaps the most topical, pressing and serious. Last year I wrote a piece looking back on two years of covid measures and every aspect of that article still stands today. The quest for truth has continued and it has become increasingly difficult for those in authority to hide or suppress it, much as they continue to try.

The core issue, as I see it, is as follows: the emergence of a new virus led to the unprecedented decision by many governments across the world to use fear and propaganda to force and coerce their populations to obey whatever measures and restrictions they deemed necessary, including the roll-out of an experimental vaccine using novel gene-based technology.

Vaccine concerns

When the vaccines were given ‘emergency use authorisation’ (which was at the end of 2020 in the UK), a number of experts warned that the risks of side-effects were unknown, particularly in the medium to longer-term. Plenty of interested observers, including myself, could see this was a grave concern. Sitting back watching the experiment unfold has been excruciating and heart-breaking. For that is what it has been: a massive experiment on entire populations.

It has been particularly disturbing to watch as clear red-flag safety signals have been disregarded by the authorities who are tasked with monitoring the safety of medical procedures. For example, the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. Their ‘yellow card’ reporting system enables medics and patients to report any suspected adverse reactions or side-effects from any medical drugs or procedures. It is well acknowledged, including by the MHRA itself, that only a small percentage of such cases are reported through the system, but it can still flag up patterns and safety signals for investigation.

At the time of writing, over 1.5 million individual reactions to covid vaccines in the UK have been reported, comprising 476,215 cases of adverse drug reactions, 353,922 of which are classed as ‘serious’, and 2,404 fatal. Reactions include cardiac disorders, immune system disorders, nervous system disorders, pregnancy conditions (including miscarriage and stillbirth), blood disorders and reproductive system disorders. Despite these astonishing figures, the vaccines are still promoted by the authorities as ‘safe and effective’ and the MHRA has recently approved them for babies of 6 months and over. In fact, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently said in the House of Commons “I believe covid vaccines are indeed safe and effective”.

However, increasing numbers of health professionals and scientists around the world do not agree. There are many I could choose from, but here are just a few:

Dr Aseem Malhotra is a British consultant cardiologist and world renowned expert in the prevention, diagnosis and management of heart disease. He has written two papers published in the Journal of Insulin Resistance, entitled ‘Curing the pandemic of misinformation on Covid-19 mRNA vaccines through real evidence-based medicine’ (part 1 & part 2). He concludes:

“There is a strong scientific, ethical and moral case to be made that the current covid vaccine administration must stop until all the raw data has been subjected to fully independent scrutiny. Looking to the future the medical and public health professions must recognise these failings and eschew the tainted dollar of the medical-industrial complex. It will take a lot of time and effort to rebuild trust in these institutions, but the health – of both humanity and the medical profession – depends on it”. Dr Aseem Malhotra.

Dr Malhotra was originally an advocate for the vaccines in early 2021, but the sudden death of his father from a heart attack prompted him to investigate the emerging data on vaccine harms and particularly cardiac problems. He says that analysis of Pfizer’s own original trial data shows a rate of serious adverse reactions of 1 in 800, which means it should never have been approved. Dr Malhotra is calling for the immediate suspension of the vaccine roll-out, and says this may prove to be the greatest miscarriage of medical science in our lifetime.

Dr John Campbell is a British retired Nurse Teacher and A&E nurse, with a PhD which focused on the development of open learning resources for nurses nationally and internationally. He has a teaching channel on youtube with over 2.5 million subscribers. Dr Campbell has been carefully considering the emerging data and published studies, and has reached the following conclusion, given in a recent statement:

“The UK government authorities should pause the current mass-vaccination programme until a full population-scale risk:benefit analysis is carried out and published for free and open peer review”. Dr John Campbell.

Dr Campbell was recently interviewed by Neil Oliver, where he explained the journey he has taken to reach this point, and his concerns regarding the mRNA vaccines and the levels of excess deaths we are seeing in the UK and other countries.

Dr Geert Vanden Bossche is a Belgian virologist and vaccine research specialist and member of the Voice for Science and Solidarity. In July 2022 he made a video outlining his stark warning to parents, in addition to the fact that children don’t need the vaccines and existing concerns around adverse reactions:

“I am really begging you, I’m begging you to not vaccinate your children against covid-19 …I’m not exaggerating when I am telling you that this could be a death sentence for the child … these vaccines are going to compromise the innate immune system of your child”. Dr Geert Vanden Bossche.

Dr Vanden Bossche outlines the risks the mRNA vaccines pose to the developing immune systems of children, which could have serious long-term implications for them.

Dr Peter McCullough is an American cardiologist and epidemiologist and one of the most published cardiologists in America. He has been vocal throughout the covid pandemic, advocating for early treatments for covid and speaking out against censorship. Dr McCullough has warned of the dangers of myocarditis and heart damage from the mRNA vaccines, the evidence for which in peer-reviewed papers is now overwhelming. In a recent interview he said that criminal prosecutions should be made, beginning with the advertising of the vaccines as ‘safe and effective’. All medications should outline the proposed benefits and risks, which in this case include fatal myocarditis, blood clots and neurologic damage.

Doctors for Patients UK (DFPUK) was launched in September 2022, bringing together UK doctors who are dedicated to practising ethical, evidence-based, patient-centred medicine. They have compiled a video sharing their individual perspectives and serious ethical concerns, and calling for the government to halt and investigate the mRNA vaccines.

Professor Norman Fenton is a British statistician who has been analysing the emerging data on issues around covid since the spring of 2020. Together with fellow statistician Professor Martin Neil they have conducted an exploratory analysis on the 2022 excess mortality data. They looked at five possible causes for the excess deaths:

• covid in 2022

• long-covid from 2020/21

• lockdowns

• healthcare quality

• covid vaccination programme

Their conclusions (with caveats and noting that this is exploratory analysis) are as follows:

• covid has caused some excess deaths (showing the vaccines are not effective) but is not the main driver for the excess deaths

• there is no evidence that long-covid is causing excess deaths

• there is weak evidence of the negative effect of lockdowns in terms of excess deaths

• there is no evidence that healthcare quality is a driving factor for excess deaths

• there is a clear signal that the vaccination programme is causing at least some of the excess deaths. Therefore the vaccines do not look to be safe.

This exploratory study clearly shows the need for taking seriously the concerns of growing numbers of medics, scientists and observers who are calling for the vaccine programme to be suspended and thoroughly investigated.

As I write, in January 2023, the latest figures for the first week of January for England & Wales show a 30% higher death rate than that of the same week in 2019. There have been over 7,000 excess deaths in the latest three week period. That is 7,000 more deaths than would normally be expected. These are official figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) and quoted by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. These numbers are extremely concerning and they are not being caused by covid. It is also very worrying that excess deaths are being seen across all age groups, not just in the elderly who are of course most vulnerable to death.

Conclusion

Why does all of this matter? It matters because people are dying — people who would not normally be expected to die. It matters because people are being injured and harmed and their voices are being censored and ignored. It matters because we have been lied to by those in positions of authority on a grand scale, and we continue to be lied to. It matters because the truth is being deliberately hidden, obfuscated and denied — by people in politics, the media, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies and even in charities and churches. It matters because truth matters; it matters to God and it should matter to us all.

In the spring of 2020 I wrote in my journal that we are in a battle between good and evil. As a Christian, I know that battle is the reality of life in this world. However, I also know that ultimately the battle is won through Jesus Christ, and that evil has been defeated. Therefore hope prevails, light overcomes darkness and truth wins. We all have a part to play in this battle, and we have to decide which side we are on; there is no fence on which to recline.

What I admire about all of the medics and scientists I have mentioned earlier, and there are many more, is that they are determined to seek the truth and speak out about what they find, no matter the cost. There are others who are doing the same in their own walks of life, even if they are in the minority. Many have faced censorship, derision in the mainstream media, accusations of ‘conspiracy theory’ and ‘anti-vax’ insults, loss of careers, damaged reputations, and being ostracised by colleagues, friends or family.

One example is the MP Andrew Bridgen. In December 2022 he made a powerful speech in the House of Commons outlining his concerns regarding the covid vaccines and the mounting evidence of the harms they are causing. It was notable that only a handful of MPs bothered to turn up to listen. Mr Bridgen concluded his speech with the following words:

“As the data clearly shows to anyone who wants to look at it, the mRNA vaccines: they are not safe, they are not effective and they are not necessary. I implore the government to halt their use immediately and, as I have demonstrated and the data clearly shows, the government’s current policy on the mRNA vaccines is on the wrong side of medical ethics, is on the wrong side of scientific data, and ultimately…it will be on the wrong side of history.” Andrew Bridgen MP.

Mr Bridgen has since been vilified in the mainstream media, criticised and derided by many of his Westminster colleagues, and thrown out of the Conservative party. It seems that freedom of speech, serious debate and intelligent scrutiny of government policy is no longer permitted. Perhaps this is because Mr Bridgen has uncovered too many uncomfortable truths. He has spoken out courageously and in spite of the negative consequences he knew were likely to result from his actions, because he knew it was the right thing to do.

Each of us, even if we have no platform from which to speak and no influence to bear, we can make a difference by seeking and speaking truth just where we are. It is not always easy, and it can be costly — I have experienced that myself. But it is worth it.

In his brilliant book Live not by Lies: A manual for Christian dissidents, Rod Dreher quotes an old Russian proverb ‘One word of truth outweighs the whole world.’ Dreher states:

“It is up to us today to take up this challenge, to live not by lies and to speak the truth that defeats evil. How do we do this in a society built on lies? By accepting a life outside the mainstream, courageously defending the truth, and being willing to endure the consequences. These challenges are daunting, but we are blessed with examples from saints who’ve gone before”. Rod Dreher, Live not by Lies.

The Bible is very clear that truth matters to God. In the book of Proverbs it states:

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful”. Proverbs 12:22.

God himself is the source of absolute truth, which brings freedom and can be found in Jesus who said:

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. John 8:31-32.

We must continue to pursue the truth in the issues we face in our world, and have a questioning mind. We are unlikely to find the truth in the mainstream media, or in the simple messaging imparted by those in authority around us. We need the wisdom to see through their motivations, distractions and deceptions. Above all, we need to stay close to God and live as he calls us, walking the narrow path of light and truth in Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul had a dramatic conversion to Christianity, turning from a zealous persecutor of Christians, to become a follower of Jesus and enduring great persecution for his faith. He said this in his letter to the Ephesians:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them … Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. Ephesians 5: 8-16.

So take up the challenge! Choose to live in the light, and pursue goodness, righteousness and truth. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it, and may God bless you as you do!