https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-...220232022/
EXCERPTS: An intriguing survey published by EKOS Research, a Canadian social and economic research company found a seemingly surprising correlation between how likely people are to refuse COVID-19 vaccination and support for Russia...
[...] According to the survey ... just 2% of Canadians who received 3 doses of vaccine believe Russia was justified in invading Ukraine. However, among those who refused the vaccine, the number jumps to 26%. The perception of Russian war crimes is similarly skewed: among the fully vaccinated, 88% believe Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, compared to only 32% for the unvaccinated.
So what gives, is this a coincidence, or are vaccine hesitancy and pro-Russia support linked? The more you look into it, the more they seem linked — and it’s not just in Canada, everywhere you look, a similar pattern emerges.
In Australia, antivaxx groups are awash with conspiracy theories and accounts praising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an attack on the “deep state.”
In the US, Russian-linked disinformation is spreading on vaccine hesitancy groups, and even some high-profile media (most notably Fox News’ Tucker Carlson) pivoted from antivaxx rhetoric to pro-Kremlin rhetoric.
In Europe, it’s more of the same. In the Czech Republic, groups of Czech activists that organized mass demonstrations against COVID-19 measures now openly support Russia in its aggression towards Ukraine, while in Scotland, high-profile vaccine hesitancy groups are peddling theories that Ukraine is run by Nazis...
[...] QAnon, the political conspiracy group that believes a global cabal conspired against Donald Trump, suggests Russia invaded its Western neighbor fight child sexual abusers in Ukraine, and the outlandish theories don’t stop there.
[...] It’s expected, on one hand, that people who believe one conspiracy theory are more likely to believe another. ... In some cases, people behind prominent antivaxx groups ... have business ties to Moscow. QAnon members are spreading the same messages that the Kremlin wants. Just like we had an infodemic to go with the pandemic ... disinformation creeps in to justify the invasion.
The speed with which former pandemic conspiracy theorists have turned to pro-Russian points in Europe has been stark... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: An intriguing survey published by EKOS Research, a Canadian social and economic research company found a seemingly surprising correlation between how likely people are to refuse COVID-19 vaccination and support for Russia...
[...] According to the survey ... just 2% of Canadians who received 3 doses of vaccine believe Russia was justified in invading Ukraine. However, among those who refused the vaccine, the number jumps to 26%. The perception of Russian war crimes is similarly skewed: among the fully vaccinated, 88% believe Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, compared to only 32% for the unvaccinated.
So what gives, is this a coincidence, or are vaccine hesitancy and pro-Russia support linked? The more you look into it, the more they seem linked — and it’s not just in Canada, everywhere you look, a similar pattern emerges.
In Australia, antivaxx groups are awash with conspiracy theories and accounts praising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an attack on the “deep state.”
In the US, Russian-linked disinformation is spreading on vaccine hesitancy groups, and even some high-profile media (most notably Fox News’ Tucker Carlson) pivoted from antivaxx rhetoric to pro-Kremlin rhetoric.
In Europe, it’s more of the same. In the Czech Republic, groups of Czech activists that organized mass demonstrations against COVID-19 measures now openly support Russia in its aggression towards Ukraine, while in Scotland, high-profile vaccine hesitancy groups are peddling theories that Ukraine is run by Nazis...
[...] QAnon, the political conspiracy group that believes a global cabal conspired against Donald Trump, suggests Russia invaded its Western neighbor fight child sexual abusers in Ukraine, and the outlandish theories don’t stop there.
[...] It’s expected, on one hand, that people who believe one conspiracy theory are more likely to believe another. ... In some cases, people behind prominent antivaxx groups ... have business ties to Moscow. QAnon members are spreading the same messages that the Kremlin wants. Just like we had an infodemic to go with the pandemic ... disinformation creeps in to justify the invasion.
The speed with which former pandemic conspiracy theorists have turned to pro-Russian points in Europe has been stark... (MORE - missing details)