1/8 In early 2020 UNEP commissioned me to explore COVID-19 origin. Initially I thought: "I'm wrong" [I've long been on record as sceptical of a fresh pandemic other than HIV, except maybe 1957 flu scale]; I assumed Holmes, Farrar, Daszak etc were correct. H/v, by circa Sept 2020 2/8 I concluded (via DRASTIC's work) Shi Zheng Li was either lying, had a v. poor memory, or deliberately was spreading misinformation, perhaps to serve CCP. I documented this in an editorial in J Human Security Dec 2020. I then linked with "Paris group" librelloph.com/journalofhuman…

🧵on conflicts of interest (COIs), Lancet, EcoHealth Alliance (EHA) & origins of COVID-19, a catastrophe for world health and for global development, by a former co-editor of journal EcoHealth, who co-authored editorial (May 2012) on "dual use research link.springer.com/article/10.100… 1/n of concern" (DURC) - more generally called "gain of function" (GOF), also relevant to creation of potential pandemic pathogens (PPPs) as warned (2014) by cambridgeworkinggroup.org.
Sept 2020: Lancet COVID-19 Commission (LCC), published thelancet.com/journals/lance… statement of (2/12)

In 2020 UNEP commissioned me to lead a 70 page report, funded by govt of Norway, into origin & implications of the pandemic. Called "Covid-19 - a warning" it had 34 named reviewers. UNEP are now delaying its publication; I can only speculate why, but I have 2 main theories 1/3 1. It speculates & reviews evidence of a lab origin, and it criticises gain of function; 2. It doesn't strongly link covid to either biodiversity loss or to climate change (though each is remotely plausible) - hence, I think, this unsettles some UNEP power holders. Either way 2/3

1/6 I tweet into the wilderness, I know. Every day I hear horrible stuff re the pandemic. I have excellent reasons for thinking COVID-19 was caused by a lab leak - and even if it wasn't, the next one could be. I also have excellent credentials; I worked with Peter Daszak as 1 of 2/6 4 co-editors of the journal EcoHealth (2010-13); I have circa 300 scientific papers, chapters & letters to my name; almost all relevant to ecological change and future health (many as 1st or sole author); I am lead author for a 25k word report, in press, for UNEP on cause &

1/14 By far, best summary of this sordid story that I have read. Some snippets: "The evidence assembled by #DRASTIC amounts to what prosecutors call probable cause—a strong, evidence-based case for a full investigation."
newsweek.com/exclusive-how-… 2/14 @TheSeeker268 posted @ydeigin 's theory on Reddit, which promptly suspended his account permanently. .. .. recently discovered a massive Chinese database of academic journals and theses called CNKI. (Shortly after, China blocked access to that database).

1/n U.S. govt has reason to believe several researchers inside WIV became sick in autumn 2019, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses. This raises questions re credibility of Shi Zhengli’s claim of “zero infection” 2017-2021.state.gov/fact-sheet-act… 2/n CCP prevented independent journalists, investigators, global health authorities from interviewing researchers at WIV, including those who were ill in the fall of 2019. Any credible inquiry .. must include i/views with these researchers & full account of unreported illness.

1/n Thread (rumination) on conflict of interest (COI) dailycaller.com/2021/01/18/pet… "Dr. Peter Daszak admitted on Friday (ie Jan 15) through a spokesman that he issued the [Lancet] statement to protect Chinese scientists from online criticism.” Let's assume PD did, though with others. 2/n Lancet letter written when Chinese scientists receiving death threats; letter .. a show of support .. they were caught between important work trying to stop an outbreak & "crush of online harassment” ["Daszak’s spokesman told The Journal"].