Tuesday 30 August 2016

Post No. 923 - Some More Thoughts including on Abraham Lincoln

Firstly, let me apologise for not having got a Psychic Weather Report up yet: life - particularly my necessary day job - has intruded again, but I hope to be able to attend to that later today.

The background to this post is that I recently re-watched the 2012 film "Lincoln", which I often find inspirational, and then did a little internet surfing, which led me to this article from "The Atlantic" (online) magazine (which I will have to start paying regular attention to), about Abraham Lincoln's lifelong struggle with depression, an issue which appears to meet modern definitions of clinical depression and thus would today be a liability, and the benefits he got from that situation, which the article sums up as "the tools to save the [US] nation".

I'm not going to too much into details, other than to note that the article talks about the creativity which sometimes comes from "melancholy": the article also refers to Lord Byron, who was also "melancholic" and creative - who I have a sense of connection with (despite learning about discipline by being in the British navy during the time Byron lived), and it reminded me of a poem I wrote in my 20s about melancholy and the creativity I got from that.

This all serves to reinforce my profound suspicion of the expectation that people will be happy and cheerful and lighthearted when they are "good", a bias which has led me to leave or not join some groups in the (distant) past, and to be wary of anything promoting happiness - except for Buddhism, which I know requires facing up to the darker aspects of oneself (including, for instance, fear of extinction).

Hmm. Food for thought.

And, on food, I'm aware of the controversy over the so-called "paleo" diet, including doubts about what we actually ate then. Another thought which has come to mind is that one of the profound influences on our wellbeing and health is the mixture of bacteria we have in our digestive system - and a rumour I once came across that the "healthy bacteria" additives came out of an attempt to open the Asian market to cow's milk by introducing the bacteria that Asians lacked but most Westerners had as a result of millennia of using cow's milk.

Thus, although our basic biology may not have changed much since the "paleo" times, our biology has changed significantly because of the changes in the microorganisms in our digestive system.

Anyway, more food for thought, which has got me thinking of breakfast, so I'll toddle off now :)


I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting. I can either publish it and then correct it, or save and close the post and correct it when I reopen it, but that leaves an extra copy in my "drafts" folder ...

Love, light, hugs and blessings
I am revamping my former website, and getting at least one other underway (pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux … aka Morinehtar … would-be drýicgan or maga ... )
My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this site) is here, and my glossary/index is here. The reasons for my caution when using Wikipedia are here.

I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me for a few minutes at some time between 8 and 11 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate-clear for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour, and see also here and be flexible. 
May the best in me, my Higher Self,
and those of the Clear Light who assist me,
help me to keep myself grounded, centred and shielded,
to be Balanced and a Fulcrum of Balance,
a centre of Balanced Positivity and Spiritual Maturity,
with my aura continuously cleansed, cleared and closed,
repelling all negative or unwanted energies,
whilst allowing positive, balancing and healing energies in and through.
The real dividing line is not between Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who believe in coexistence, and those who don’t.
Tom Fletcher, Former UK Ambassador to Lebanon
  • All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, change, depression, evolution, health, inspiration, mental health and wellbeing, 
First published: Tysdagr, 30th August, 2016
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Tuesday, 30th August, 2016

Saturday 27 August 2016

Post No. 922 - Some Thoughts



This is going to be a bit of a rambling post where I touch on a few ideas.
Firstly, getting evidence in support of UFOs.
I’ve just watched a couple of videos on this – one an old, sensationalist programme from a few decades ago, and the other a newer, better programme, but one that still misses quantitative data – in my opinion.
The field of UFO investigation is an area which I think needs to learn from both paranormal investigators, and common, everyday, garden variety surveyors. For those people who are looking for UFO evidence, instead of just having a single, handheld video recorder, why not have – well, at least a blasted tripod, so the image is steady, but, even better, an array with say:
  • two video devices, each with graduated markings (like theodolites – hence the reference to surveyors), so, with a little bit of basic trigonometry, one can calculate the distance to something that is being recorded (do an internet search for optical naval and air range finders to get an idea of what this is about – or the binocular devices which used to be used to plot contours a few decades ago [which I tried once, and was banished from as I was so poor at it]);
  • something fixed on wide angle so one can compare any close ups with what was happening around the area of interest and to help with judgements of scale; and
  • infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) cameras (also with markings to measure angles etc).
I’ve heard people occasionally talking about IR and UV filters, and, frankly, that sounds like mumbo-jumbo to me: why not, since the exercise is about getting credible evidence, simply record the IR and UV in the first place, which is less subject to challenge?
Personally, I would also like to see such an array including recording of Doppler radar (to show atmospheric movement), a high speed camera, infrasound (IS), audible sound, ultrasonics (US), and maybe even some of the tracking controls of good telescopes, but it is going to be expensive and difficult to handle enough as it is (which is the massive argument against this – power demand would also be an issue … which is where the tripod comes in handy again, as it could allow for some decent car battery size batteries) – not to mention that to get a mappable recording of sounds that one could correlate to images one would need an array of microphones … and that, since sound is so much slower than light, the area covered by the sound recording would have to be much larger than that covered by the visual recording.
Next, having got your tripod mounted array, record jets and internally lit blimps and atmospheric phenomena so one has a set of data to compare subsequent recordings to for the purpose of eliminating such known explanations.
Having done all that, one has, of course, to then record some UFOs. Well, in much the same way that storm hunters have got fairly good at their chosen career/hobby (obsession?), some UFO trackers seem to have got the art of finding UFOs at least partially sorted – and there are areas where UFOs are known to occur more, which also helps.
It would be good for such recording to be done by teams of two – an enthusiast and an open minded nonbeliever. One of the issues that would crop up is that such arrays would need to be calibrated, possibly temperature compensated, and that the calibration would need to be done both before and after recording something to prove that instrument error is not an issue.
Ah well, I can but dream, I suppose … maybe if I have a big lottery win I could do this, but … I’ve heard you have to buy a lottery ticket in order to be able to win, so maybe not :) Anyone out there with money – or able to organise a crowd funder campaign – who wants to have a go at this? If there is:
  • theodolites are anything from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, or modern range finders are a few hundred dollars (but may not be good enough for this … );
  • security style IR recorders are a couple of hundred dollars or so;
  • UV recorders are $2,000 to $5,000 or more, but I don’t think those are linked to recording areas of the sky … ;
  • ultrasonic devices range between a few hundred and a few thousand (they’re used for, as an example, recording bats);
  • assume infrasound and audible recorders are between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, depending on quality – and likewise for video devices.
All up, I would expect a first assembly to cost around $10,000 - $20,000 (excluding the optional extras I listed), but it may be possible to get it under $5,000 with a bit of development, and then there would possibly be a small market of keen enthusiasts for these units.
Next, Ben Elton’s alternative history (sort of) novel Time and Time Again.
I was in an airport on another work trip ( * SIGH – oh to be able to retire and STAY HOME … or, at least, do the wandering I want to, rather than what I am told to do :) ) when I saw this novel, and quickly realised it was about using a science fiction device (time travel – explained in an appealing, quirky and unlikely way :) ) to prevent World War Part One.
This is a fascinating topic to me, as the world came so close to NOT going to war in that northern hemisphere summer of 1914, and, if it had been held off for 2 years, it probably would never have happened – which would have prevented World War Part Two (which is why I refer to those wars as Parts One and Two) and lots of other “bad” things, but slowed some other social changes for the better – as is discussed in Richard Ned Lebow’s fascinating book Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives!: A World without World War I, which outlines ways that the world could have been better or worse (I think I have posted about this book – and certainly I have posted about the topic elsewhere). Now, as I alluded to above, there were a whole series of things which went wrong that led to World War Part One (for instance, if Rasputin had not been injured and in hospital, he may have been able to talk the Tsar out of mobilising, as he had done two years earlier), but the single event which most people focus on is the actual assassination of Franz Ferdinand – the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who likely would have modernised it and made it more inclusive.
Mr Elton’s novel sets up a device for preventing that from happening, which is all good, and shows good awareness of the so-called butterfly effect, where a time traveller causes a small, seemingly insignificant change in the past, which leads to massive change later (which is well explored in Ray Bradbury’s short story The Sound of Thunder, which may be where the term originated), but then one of the key characters goes a step further, and suggests something I immediately react to with “No!, No! No! That could go all wrong!” – which it does, leading to series of escalating events, and an exploration of parallel realities, also explored in the reboot of Star Trek, and by Seth (channelled by Jane Roberts).
This is all very interesting, and was a good way to pass the time waiting for the flight (I had finished work a lot earlier than planned) and on the flight itself, but it got me thinking about the issue of creating new realities.
The concept, as explained in the New Age movement and some scientific circles, is, I consider, a little too open ended – I wonder if there is enough energy to sustain all the alternative realities which some people postulate could exist, and consider that such is possibly limited to major events (such as whether World War Part One occurs or doesn’t); on a smaller, more personal scale, I consider a lot of alternatives are explored in the astral, in  what are, in effect, role-playing scenarios – or, as the military would term it, “gaming out options”.
I am aware of having explored some quite long, complicated options that way (and it felt quite realistic), and consider that is far more likely for the smaller, personal decisions than that an alternative reality gets created.
Now, an example of passive-aggressive behaviour in the workplace.
We have a project team from another company working in our office (and had to move over to make room for them, actually): mostly it is OK, but there are examples of some transphobic tendencies, and, a few weeks ago, one of the senior people there was experiencing considerable frustration as a result of their email system not working. It was late, well after official knock off time, but that tends to happen in engineering (and is undesirable for a whole host of reasons), and he went through a series of helpdesk people who couldn’t meet his definition of “help” – which was an instant solution to the problems he was experiencing. He possibly thought he was being assertive, but his tone of voice was showing LOTS of suppressed anger.
Now, that problem is still continuing to last week, so it is major, and I can understand his frustration at not being able to meet a deadline as a result, but:
  • the conditions which apply to such on-line help, including timelines, are defined by the conditions of the agreement, NOT one person’s frustration: I would expect them to have at least a 24 hour turn around (I did hear a 48 hour period mentioned);
  • when one has more experience, one knows to allow for glitches like this, and thus try to get things done earlier, if possible;
  • the modern addiction to “fast tracking” projects is stupid for many reasons, including the stress it puts on people, the increased risk of mistakes, increased costs, and the lack of common sense flexibility – including, in particular, the lack of time for events such as that which had occurred in that instance.
The stress that this puts on people is indicative of the problem we have with stress more broadly in society, which is due in part to unrealistic expectations, such as those shown by the person concerned – all of which makes it a vicious cycle: expectation of quicker service leads to more stress which leads to mistakes which leads to more time pressure which leads to more stress, etc, etc, etc – and the same applies to doing things for less money, which also contributes to stress and has its own stupid cycle (e.g., people in households expect government to do things for less money, which leads to stress in those households – and I have seen cretins who expected things to be done more cheaply sympathising with household members who were suffering from the pressure that was being created).
It is stupid, and we all need to take a metaphorical step back, and slow down – and start to treasure thinking carefully about things, rather than trying to outdo others on time and/or money.
I have seen the decline in some industries as a result of this – and have a friend who pointed out to me that “Australia’s dirtiest station” would have been shut down a long time ago if the SECV hadn’t been sold off.
Now, after an intermission for tea, cooked by my partner’s other partner (we take turns) and with entertainment from the dog blowing bubbles in her water bowl (I kid you not :) - and, on pets, I would probably have got this post written in half the time if I hadn't been "helped" by our cats ... ) … the final topic.
Now, this came out of a dream which I woke from with a clear phrase in my mind: he would have thought America was an opprobrium. Researching this led me to Lee Harris (although I'm not sure that was where I was supposed to end up ... but I am currently reading "The Federalist Papers", as a result of watching "The West Wing", and may get to where the phrase was meant to lead me that way), who wrote The Next American Civil War: The Populist Revolt Against the Liberal Elite and Civilization and Its Enemies (some of this was perhaps similar to my views on not ignoring nonBPM  units), who was interviewed on the TYT channel (a US political channel, with TYT being, I think, an acronym for a media programme called The Young Turks) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDocIBFALGE.
I’m still thinking about that author’s messages: the call to treat reactionary people with respect is  worthy suggestion, but … his delivery feels “off” to me. I suspect a lot of what he is writing about could be dealt with in a BPM manner by having much better education on a whole range of issues, including progressive and reactionary worldviews, worldviews, personal change, social evolution, etc.

I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting. I can either publish it and then correct it, or save and close the post and correct it when I reopen it, but that leaves an extra copy in my "drafts" folder ...

Love, light, hugs and blessings
I am revamping my former website, and getting at least one other underway (pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux … aka Morinehtar … would-be drýicgan or maga ... )
My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this site) is here, and my glossary/index is here. The reasons for my caution when using Wikipedia are here.

I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me for a few minutes at some time between 8 and 11 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate-clear for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour, and see also here and be flexible. 
May the best in me, my Higher Self,
and those of the Clear Light who assist me,
help me to keep myself grounded, centred and shielded,
to be Balanced and a Fulcrum of Balance,
a centre of Balanced Positivity and Spiritual Maturity,
with my aura continuously cleansed, cleared and closed,
repelling all negative or unwanted energies,
whilst allowing positive, balancing and healing energies in and through.
The real dividing line is not between Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who believe in coexistence, and those who don’t.
Tom Fletcher, Former UK Ambassador to Lebanon
  • All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...
Tags: astral, astral travel, dreams, education, evidence, history, parallel realities, passive-aggressive, progressive, reactionary, society, stress, time magic, UFOs, war, 
First published: Laugardagr, 27th August, 2016
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Saturday, 27th August, 2016

Post No. 921 – For Sunday evening’s meditation-clearing



For everyone’s convenience:   the reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing are here;   a simplified blogiography of posts related to this work is here,   a list of themes I have identified here;   my changing the personality of oppressors and other world leaders post is here;   (see here for some investigation into evidence of the effectiveness of this type of work … and also here and here are interesting);   a range of information on emotions is here, and suggestions on how to work with emotions is here;   this copy of a speech to one of the Parliament of World Religions has excellent, helpful insights on generational transmission of harm, the cost of war, and ways to heal our hearts;   and   this post reminds us to be patient and persistent, like a “speeding oak” (and I like the comment about a sudden “shift” being just another form of apocalyptic thinking).
Now, the purpose of posting these news links (and, incidentally, these posts are the equivalent of a re-tweeting service, or, at best, a commentary site: I am NOT a journalist, and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias or trying to cover all [there are often more than two] sides of an issue – see here) is not only to inform:   it is also to stimulate a connection to nonBPM units that need to be cleared and BPM units that need to be strengthened, so that you can do the clearing / strengthening that is required.   That only works if you don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by this, so take it in small chunks if you need to, but remember to actively clear and heal! … including yourself.
Further to that, in the same way that activists used to argue that “the personal is political”, the energies we use and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that influence world events. If you want to, for example, improve the communication of nations, improve yours. To help stop abuses of power, be always ethical in your conduct. Want peace? Then work in an informed, understanding, intelligent and nuanced way for peace in yourself and your life.
There are some notes at the end of this post about other options for those who do not like this way of working, opportunities for healers, and the default plan for any time I am late getting my Psychic Weather Report up.
Now, the themes – short, medium and long term - that come to mind for my work this week, after I review all this news, are (and no apologies if this repeats the themes of any previous weeks – in fact, given the size of this task, that is to be expected):
(a)   based on my interpretation of information here and here with Saturn in Sagittarius contributing to finding an authentic balance (until 20th December, 2017), Uranus in Aries contributing to fresh and possibly radical starts (until some date in the Year 2018), and Pluto in Capricorn contributing to a transformation of power and business (and careers) (until some date in the Year 2024), conditions are ripe for a change for the better in world politics;
(b)   there is an enormous need to clear nonBPM energy – the thought forms, unattached energy and scars of the collective unconscious created by millennia of violence. This need includes rescuing those who have been trapped by that history, and healing the warped views, seemingly “inherent” biases, and other damage done by the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual violence committed on scales large and small in that timeframe;
(c)   viewing the overall emotional state of the world from an elemental point of view, this week we need more of the compassion of BPM Water;
(d)   the fear of personal inadequacy that underlies discrimination (sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, etc) has been prominent this week;
(e)   the need for hidden wrongdoing, including behind the scenes influence, to be brought to light is more apparent than it has been for a while, in part because of the problems and challenges facing those trying to do so (this excludes conspiracy theorists);
(f)   wrong perception is a major problem: it can be countered by meditation and contact with one’s true Higher Self – which is not the rabid smugness of socialised influences;
(g)   the survival of the human species is still at stake – not only from climate change, but also from inequity and the like;
(h)   genes are NOT destiny, which is wonderful;
(i)   glibness in responses / thinking is a problem – it leads to superficiality that verges on, or crosses into, stupidity;
(j)   duck showing personal responsibility to others (e.g., by removing term limits on political leaders) is a problem: we need to remember that there are balances in all of life, and one of those dynamic balances requires us to take personal responsibility where we can genuinely do so (no victim blaming!). That also extends to those who have more willingly helping those who have less, and supporting a BPM balance between the individual and the collective;
(k)   the growing US influence in Syria is a potentially good thing: it needs to be BPM guided so that it IS a good thing. Likewise for the USA’s potential influence in Yemen and Israel;
(l)   the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech;
(m)   peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient (not impatient!), persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;
(n)   where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, and constructive solutions - as is clearing nonBPM units;
I also take this opportunity to emphasise that it is absolutely VITAL that this psychic / metaphysical / spiritual work be performed non-violently and as is for the Highest Spiritual Good – which is part of being BPM – on all levels and in all ways. Always remember (see here): Do you fight to change things, or to punish? See also here, here, here, here, here, and my comments about “authentic presence” in this post.
News and other matters from this week include the following (opportunities/good news are shown in green; comments are shown in purple; WARNING: some of these links may contain triggers around issues such as violence, sexual assault, discrimination, etc).
  • Permanent issue: may all actual and potential BPM [1] Leaders be kept BPM safe, including keeping them undetectable to the nonBPM and keeping all their Significant Others inviolable against being used for indirect  psychic attack, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at influencing the world’s direction, development and unfoldment, all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
  • Permanent issue: may all humans recognise, irrespective of the appearance of difference, the essential shared humanness of other people, the inherent resilience, the dynamic power, the strength of BPM collaboration, and the opportunities of having a diverse, inclusive and welcoming population, and may all people choose fairness, when such decisions are before them;
  • Permanent issue: may all humans choose to live modestly – to forgo outdoing others, or trying to have more than they need - for the sake of an easier, more manageable life, if they cannot do it for the sake of the planet;
  • With regard to democracy, freedom and governance (e.g., here and here):
       -   concerns over foreign donations influencing politics (in Australia);   poor data is inhibiting governance in Africa, as the growth of democracy/freedom slows;   the need to evaluate the outcomes of government spending;   female politicians, the character pedestal, and falling off that;   some of the ways that citizens are trying to restore decency to politics;   an examination of the failure of privatisation;   an examination of the role that media / political mogul Roger Ailes has had in so many disastrous actions in the USA – “Ailes repackaged Richard Nixon for television in 1968, papered over Ronald Reagan’s budding Alzheimer’s in 1984, shamelessly stoked racial fears to elect George H.W. Bush in 1988, and waged a secret campaign on behalf of Big Tobacco to derail health care reform in 1993”, founded the appalling Fox News (and played a key role there until recently manoeuvred out), subject of sexual harassment charges, and suspected of being a key player behind Trump (is the old coot truly a bogeyman, or have others just learned and used his horrible methods? In any case, Ailes has created a massive amount of negative karma to deal with in his future lives);   the Victorian Supreme Court has ruled the state ombudsman's office has the power to investigate allegations Labor MPs misused their parliamentary entitlements;   a critique of NATO;
       -   the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office has evaluated how the IMF has handled recent crises, and found that it needs reform;   calls for police who facilitated child abuse in institutions to apologise;   after nearly two thousand deaths, the Philippines president is claiming there is no “declared” policy to kill suspected drug users … he just encouraged people to do so in election speeches … and using contract murderers …- see also here for a balanced view on this, including the reasons many Filipinos support it, and here for the first murder of child as part of this policy;   concerning allegations have been made that Australian Federal Police may be breaching parliamentary Privilege – see also here;   a controversial workplace agreement was voted on by just three casual workers;   a Bolivian government minister was murdered after being abducted by miners;   according to the UN, "divisive" and "anti-immigrant" rhetoric by UK politicians during the EU referendum helped to fuel a spike in race hate crimes in the weeks before and after the “Brexit” vote;   a fake grassroots campaign;
       -   the opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected talks over delayed elections, as the President seeks Rwanda and Uganda’s support to prolong his stay in office;   Nepal’s slow progress in investigating war crimes from its civil war will be investigated;
       -   social media is being used by Malaysians to call for better elections;
       -   an opinion that Australia is at risk of a “cold war mentality” with regard to China;   two decades after daringly rescuing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Australia has destroyed its credibility and derailed nuclear disarmament talks – see also here;   a new study shows two million Australians are experiencing high financial stress which prevents them from coping in difficult situations – which I can vouch for personally * SIGH * ;
  • With regard to violent extremism (aka, terrorism - e.g., Da’esh) (and, incidentally, I consider ALL people advocating hate or discrimination in response to violent extremism to actively be doing the work of violent extremists. This PARTICULARLY includes those cretins [including in the media, and Amnesty International] who use the acronym ISIS (see also here), which is actually the Greek name of the Egyptian Goddess Aset – and others (see also here and here) - and actively perpetuates the patriarchal and sacrilegious evil that violent extremists are trying to accomplish in this world – which will be countered, in part, by the sort of approach advocated by “Cure Violence”, and, in part, by addressing real and perceived disempowerment and acknowledging the variety in what provides genuine, BPM fulfilment as a counter to fanaticism as a source of meaning. I also am inclined, personally, to include here the last two millennia of neochristian and colonialist social engineering, which has led to suppression of women, child abuse, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc, as violent extremism, but that would take too much explaining. As a final point, I am deliberately avoiding the use of specific names of violent extremist groups as much as possible to reduce the publicity they get – I’m not a primary news source, and thus consider I can do so: any names that are needed are in the articles I have provided links to):
       -   violent extremist attacks have occurred in Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Thailand, Afghanistan, Somalia, Turkey, Colombia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and, according to this Wikipedia page, other attacks include 4 in Iraq;   prevention has or may have occurred in the UK; and actions have occurred against violent extremists in Nigeria (see here and here), Algeria;   more stupid bigotry against Muslim airline passengers, this time in the UK;   concerns over the vigilantes who are taking key actions against violent extremists in north eastern Nigeria;   Afghanistan has had an average of 77 security incidents every day in the first half of this year;
       -   defence of the “burkini” here and here;
       -   an analysis found that only 6% of the total deaths from violent extremism occurred in Europe, which had the highest deaths from violent extremism for around a decade, but has had had higher death tolls in the 1990s - and 20 times more people die in murders, 100 times more die in traffic accidents and about 600 times more die in accidents;   an assessment that broken education systems may result in radicalisation;   an analysis claiming Russia’s Tatarstan has resisted violent extremism by emphasising its own Muslim heritage and resisting outside forms;   a call for more focus on rehabilitation to prevent violent extremist recidivism in the UK;   what UK politicians want to change about the so-called “Prevent” programme;   the increased risks to the USA as direct a result of keeping Camp X-Ray at the Guantanamo Bay base open;  the breakthrough nature of a trial against a terrorist for cultural damage is discussed here and here;   divisions are emerging in a major violent extremist group in West Africa;
  • With regard to refugees:   a government Minister has broken ranks to say Australia has a "shared responsibility" for the people detained at Nauru's immigration detention centre;   only 16% of African refugees go to Europe – three quarters stay in Africa;   Denmark is considering repeating Australia’s mistakes … ;   Kenya’s decision to keep a refugee camp open has been welcomed;   another article on the possibility of Australia facing the ICC for abusing refugees, with reports of trauma rates exceeding those in conflict zones – which, in my opinion, we deserve, and must happen;   gunmen have attacked a refugee aid ship;   calls for a joint “European army” … (if that was for joint security and peacekeeping, I would support it, but NOT when it is for enabling xenophobia);
  • With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):
       -   scores of Turks have taken part in a peaceful protest in central Istanbul calling for justice over the murder of a transgender woman;   a plebiscite on same-sex marriage in Australia risks unleashing hate and division in the community and would create a dangerous political precedent that is “alien to constitutional tradition”, former High Court justice Michael Kirby has warned;   the government lies about LGBT people in Indonesia have led to proposals to change laws to increase and legalise transphobia / homophobia;   three Thai teenagers have been charged with a transphobic murder;   prejudice / ignorance has led to a petition calling for an end to an inclusive anti-bullying school programme – as calls mount in the UK for a similar Safe Schools programme;   bigotry at the olympics;   the dangerous proposal to hold a plebiscite on Equal Marriage in Australia is looking less likely;   a noted former judge has backed the Safe Schools programme, directly addressing the bigotry shown by large sections of an immigrant community in doing so;
       -   more racism in sport - see also here;   migrants to Australia report experiencing discrimination – particularly South Sudanese and New Zealanders;   an indigenous man was handcuffed to a hospital bed despite being in a coma;   indigenous incarceration has increased significantly in the last decade;   need for more diversity on TV;   an historic payout for loss of native title;   prize-winning Hungarian mathematicians, artists, philosophers and religious leaders have been handing back their state honours as a protest against a government decision to give a controversial journalist a medal;   this report is stating the obvious, that indigenous people are being forced to give up their culture to be successful in terms that white people consider successful;   according to the UN, "divisive" and "anti-immigrant" rhetoric by UK politicians during the EU referendum helped to fuel a spike in race hate crimes in the weeks before and after the “Brexit” vote;
       -   a police officer is alleged to have subverted justice by helping a “mate” find the mate’s ex-partner despite a restraining order;   some utter rubbish has been spouted in Dagestan in an attempt to justify female genital mutilation;   a mother has called out a school for their “slut shaming” talk;  some girls in Bangladesh are challenging cultural norms by learning to surf;   women are heterogeneous, and thus a win for Caster Semenya is a win for all women;   an independent review into workplace culture within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has found 46 per cent of women and 20 per cent of men reported having been sexually harassed – and over 60% have been bullied - within the past five years, which is apparently almost twice the national average;   there is still a pay gap of up to 5% for women doing the same work as men in Australia;   a call for genuine efforts to punish rapists – including government soldiers – in the recent violence in South Sudan;   female politicians, the character pedestal, and falling off that;   two AFL clubs, a university and a community organisation are set to trial a program aimed at improving respect for women in the workplace (note: the AFL’s existing programme is base on teaching players how to treat women with respect, but doesn’t address what this programme does);   a women-only Uber service;
       -   a singer in Malaysia has been charged with “insulting Islam”;   valid criticism of Australia for failing to raise human rights with Indonesia;   religious / cultural prejudice in Adelaide over Diwali – the wonderful festival of Lights!;   a call for the German Chancellor to press the President of Turkmenistan to end enforced disappearances and address other serious human rights problems in that nation;   boys from a German school, who had Hitler moustaches and Nazi swastikas, brawled with Jewish students at a disco in Argentina - and now, as decided by outraged school authorities and parents, they will have to visit a Holocaust museum together;
  • With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:   a police officer is alleged to have subverted justice by helping a “mate” find the mate’s ex-partner despite a restraining order;   an independent review into workplace culture within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has found 46 per cent of women and 20 per cent of men reported having been sexually harassed within the past five years, which is apparently almost twice the national average;   a suspected Islamist militant is to become the first person to go on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the destruction of cultural heritage;   a call for genuine efforts to punish rapists – including government soldiers – in the recent violence in South Sudan;   gender diverse police in India;   Peru is investigating murders by rogue police;   concerning allegations have been made that Australian Federal Police may be breaching parliamentary Privilege – see also here;   a twin brother of a murderer has – rightly, in my opinion – been jailed for being an accessory;   the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will allow Muslim women recruits to wear hijabs;   research indicates that using reformed offenders can help reduce recidivism;   an indigenous man was handcuffed to a hospital bed despite being in a coma;   indigenous incarceration has increased significantly in the last decade;   a TV programme has shown that members of the public, when given the same evidence as judges, tend to be softer in sentencing than judges – which has been consistently shown by other such exercises;   a doctor who drugged and assaulted a registrar in a hospital will be jailed;
  • With regard to press aka the media, and freedom of expression (keeping in mind that claims of presenting “both sides” of a debate can be WRONG if the other side is RUBBISH –as is the case on LGBTIQ issues):   a Burundian journalist is still missing;   shonky reporting on Palestinian deaths in the West;   the problem of the lack of diversity in Australian media – which may have enabled homophobic influences to help return the neoliberal party;   Wikileaks has exposed the personal information of hundreds of Saudi Arabian citizens, including rape victims, children, and the mentally ill, in the publication of a cache of government documents, according to a report by the Associated Press news agency;   a Kurdish journalist has been abducted and murdered in Kurdistan;   an Australian newspaper has breached its own Code of Conduct (ethics);   the risks faced b freelance journalists;
  • With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals and child labour? I was recently pleasantly to find IT manufacturers now making at least some effort in this regard. Do you suffer from FOMO? Are you being duped by modern mantras? Does your AI use ethics? Does your corporation misuse mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions? Do you understand embedded emissions?):
       -   suggestions that we deliberately help ecosystems physically move in response to climate change;   a critique (and criticism) of New Zealand’s environmental policies;   the town of Tyalgum may disconnect from the power grid;   coffee pods are dangerous for the environment;   Indonesian fires are causing problems again;
       -   NASA is providing free and open public access to a lot of its funded research;  a truck driver playing Pokémon Go has killed a pedestrian, and other players are – dangerously - intruding on a construction site;   increased use of on-line profiling;
       -   social media has been linked to an increase in psychological distress amongst young girls;   Liptember;   three young students have opposed lowering the driving age on the basis that 17 year olds lack maturity;   a review of the evidence in relation to A2 milk;
  • With regard to education:   a mother has called out a school for their “slut shaming” talk;   an assessment that broken education systems may result in radicalisation;   prejudice / ignorance has led to a petition calling for an end to an inclusive anti-bullying school programme – as calls mount in the UK for a similar Safe Schools programme;   a second grade teacher will no longer issue homework;   genes are NOT destiny – education and environment still matter;   according to a new study of more than 1000 girls who cared for electronic babies, those who completed the program were 1.6 times more likely to have a pregnancy;   an Indian school will install lockers so students no longer have to carry heavy bags;   concerns that proposed reforms to Australia’s student loans system will not stop abuse;   a noted former judge has backed the Safe Schools programme, directly addressing the bigotry shown by large sections of an immigrant community in doing so;   boys from a German school, who had Hitler moustaches and Nazi swastikas, brawled with Jewish students at a disco in Argentina - and now, as decided by outraged school authorities and parents, they will have to visit a Holocaust museum together;
  • With regard to the conflict in Afghanistan (noting that Afghanistan was once a peaceful and modern society, even allowing women in miniskirts, before the Russian invasion – see here):   a district in Afghanistan was briefly lost to violent extremists and then recaptured by government forces;   one of the many human faces of suffering caused in Afghanistan;   Afghanistan has had an average of 77 security incidents every day in the first half of this year;   Victoria’s TAFE system will be overhauled;
  • With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
       -   a Burundian journalist is still missing;   the United Nations Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide has expressed concern at inflammatory statements concerning the genocide in Rwanda that were made by a senior official of the ruling party in Burundi and cautioned that such statements could constitute incitement to violence;   consideration is being given to removing term limits on the Burundian presidency;
       -   the UN is increasing health aid to north eastern Nigeria, and calling for food aid to the 4 ½ million people who need it;   a rebel group says it is ready for talks with the government;   concerns over the vigilantes who are taking key actions against violent extremists in north eastern Nigeria;   US Secretary of State John Kerry has praised NGOs working in Nigeria for their unwavering commitment to build communities, fight corruption and transform the country;
       -   a new framework for dealing with malaria in Africa;
       -   growing fears in Mozambique following a resurgence of violence;
       -   the opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected talks over delayed elections, as the President seeks Rwanda and Uganda’s support to prolong his stay in office;   subsequently, the UN has noted a preparatory meeting has been held as a first step towards a national dialogue;
       -   Ethiopia’s gold medal winning marathon runner could be jailed for his anti-government protest gesture;
       -   poverty, drought and deforestation are threatening Malawi’s capital’s water supply;
       -   poor data is inhibiting governance in Africa, as the growth of democracy/freedom slows;
       -   a call for regional leaders to be held accountable for the aid which is critical for stability;
       -   a second Gambian opposition figure had died in detention;
       -   the United Nations envoy for Liberia has stressed the need for long-term, robust engagement by stakeholders, particularly the Security Council, towards a sustainable peace in the West African country;
       -   an examination of the tendency to shut down social media, particularly during elections or unrest, in Africa;
       -   attempts to increase the age limit on the presidency in Uganda have been rejected again;
       -   as Zimbabwe runs out of money, it has started sacking government workers;   more clashes in Zimbabwe;
       -   presidential elections in Gabon are being contested fiercely;
       -   an assessment of possible new leaders in South Africa;
       -   Kenya has developed since promulgating its new Constitution, but more needs to be done;
  • With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
       -   as China cracks down on corruption, three senior military officers have reportedly committed suicide;   an opinion that Australia is at risk of a “cold war mentality” with regard to China   the cold war in the East China Sea;;   the disturbing practice of “ghost weddings” in China, including the murders it leads to;   floating nuclear power plants … Goddess, No!;   China will now start meddling in Syria in support of Assad;
       -   Burma and China are improving their relationship, which may help reduce the ethnic comments in Burma (those conflicts, and the prejudice shown to the Rohingya, are why I am continuing to use “Burma”, rather than “Myanmar”);   calls for women to be included in peace talks;
       -   the government lies about LGBT people in Indonesia have led to proposals to change laws to increase and legalise transphobia / homophobia;   valid criticism of Australia for failing to raise human rights with Indonesia;
       -   South Korea may soon be no longer interested in reunification … ;   North Korea has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile into Japan's air defence identification zone;
       -   civilians are being targeted by insurgents in southern Thailand;
  • With regard to the conflict in Iraq (noting that Iraq was once a peaceful and prosperous society, before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here, and that it needs an emphasis on a secular society and citizenship – but also here, although based in Syria):
       -   the UN is preparing for a massive increase in refugees as a military offensive against Mosul begins;   Iraq’s Parliament has impeached the Defence Minister for corruption;   a play is challenging views of Iraq’s Mossadeq, who was overthrown by the coup in 1953;   a Kurdish journalist has been abducted and murdered in Kurdistan;
       -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 352 people killed in the last week;
  • With regard to the Libyan civil war:   the USA has deployed attack helicopters;   the proposed National Unity Government has failed a vote of no confidence;   a proposal to split Libya;
  • With regard to Russia:   an airport shop in Russia is selling model guns;   Russia is continuing to undermine civil society;   the FBI is investigating whether Russian hackers have carried out a series of cyber-attacks on the New York Times;   an examination of the complex relationship between Iran and Russia;   a Tatar activist in Crimea has been put into a psychiatric hospital;
  • With regard to South and Central America:   children are fleeing the gangs in Central America for the USA;   the visitors to Rio for the olympics are finding that violence is widespread; - and US swimming star Ryan Lochte has – rightly, in my view - been charged with making a false statement following his story about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics;   a Bolivian government minister was murdered after being abducted by miners;   the UN has promised to support Columbia’s determination to have peace, will may be an opportunity to curb abuses;   a critique of human rights abuses by the government which argues that they preclude the existence of democracy;
  • With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
       -   sickening abuse of a child in India – and other children;   a girl has had an indoor toilet donated when her alcoholic father wouldn’t pay for one;   gender diverse police in India;   the challenge of including overseas Indians in India’s economic growth;   actions have been taken to legally protect “Good Samaritans”;   India may form a single water authority;   a social activist has challenged the government’s commitment to manual scavenging;   calls for a ban on “pellet guns” in Kashmir;   data for India’s new submarines has been leaked or stolen from the French builder;
       -   the Indian Supreme Court has urged a political solution for Kashmir as the curfew continues;
      -   India is hardening its stance before talks with Pakistan;
       -   Pakistani paramilitary forces have raided the headquarters of a powerful political party in the port city of Karachi on Tuesday after its London-based leader incited supporters to storm the office of a television channel the day before;   Hindus are fleeing a Pakistani border town after someone (some idiot?) burned a copy of the Koran;
  • With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
       -   the trial of four Christian pastors for allegedly spying has commenced;
       -   a call for genuine efforts to punish rapists – including government soldiers – in the recent violence in South Sudan;   US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited in Kenya for talks with East African foreign ministers on ways to stop neighbouring South Sudan from sliding back into civil war, and has warned South Sudan aid will not continue if leaders do not seek peace;   the UN has started an independent special investigation into the violence in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, in July 2016, and the (lack of) response of the UN mission in the country – see also here;   more fighting has killed over 100 people;
  • with regard to the conflict in Syria:   US jets have scrambled to protect US supported forces which were under air attack by government forces, and has warned Syria not to fly near them – see also here, for a US military analysis (if it stops the barrel bombing, I’m all for it);   calls for the international community to end the near four year siege of Daraya, which has also been attacked by government forces using napalm (or similar) – see also here, about Aleppo;   the injured child whose photo caught so much world history is but one of many;   after five years of fence sitting, Turkey claims it is going to be more active in Syria … and has started by bombing both Kurds and violent extremists … ;   Kurds are making gains against Syrian government forces;   some Iranians fighting in Syria think the war may go on for many more years;   a rebuttal of a recent opinion piece on sectarianism;   the experiences of the brave, magnificent White Helmets in Syria;   talks may lead to a 48 hour ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Aleppo;   a deal has opened the possibility that civilians and rebels can leave Daraya;   a barrel bomb has killed 11 children in Aleppo;   reports that closer ties between Turkey and Iran facilitated Turkey’s involvement in Syria;   despite US pressure, Kurdish forces in northern Syria will not make way for Turkish forces;   China will now start meddling in Syria in support of Assad;   promising talks between Russia and the USA;
  • with regard to Turkey:   after five years of fence sitting, Turkey claims it is going to be more active in Syria … and has started by bombing both Kurds and violent extremists … and has evacuated a town near the border;   scores of Turks have taken part in a peaceful protest in central Istanbul calling for justice over the murder of a transgender woman;   an analysis of the growing violence in Turkey;   questions over the detention of a Canadian imam;   risks of severe psychological trauma to Turkish society as people defriend people on social media and shun neighbours for safety in the post-coup crackdown;   the USA has confirmed that Turkey has made a "formal" request for the extradition of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for last month's coup attempt, but specified the request was not linked to the failed putsch;   reports that closer ties between Turkey and Iran facilitated Turkey’s involvement in Syria;   groups of women at Universities in Turkey are arranging to defend themselves against harassment – forcefully;
  • with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:   revolution-inspired graffiti in Kiev, Ukraine;
  • With regard to West Asia / the Middle East, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
       -   danger of forced relocation of Palestinians;   shonky reporting on Palestinian deaths in the West;   Israel has attacked parts of Gaza in response to rocket attacks;   Egypt claims Russia is ready to host talks between Israel and Palestine;   the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern over the deteriorating health of a 35-year-old Palestinian man who has been on a hunger strike against his administrative detention since 15 June, after having already completed his 14-and-a-half years prison sentence;   untreated Gazan wastewater (“sewage”) has forced several shut downs of a major Israeli water treatment plant … ironically, and deservedly;
       -   more interference is preventing attempts to find those who were disappeared during Lebanon’s civil war;   an exploration of the decade of peace in southern Lebanon;
       -   Iran has arrested hundreds of social media users for “immoral” activities;   some Iranians fighting in Syria think the war may go on for many more years;   a US Navy vessel fired three shots to warn an Iranian military boat off in the Gulf;   an examination of the complex relationship between Iran and Russia;   reports that closer ties between Turkey and Iran facilitated Turkey’s involvement in Syria;
       -   the terrible problem of female genital mutilation in Egypt;   Egypt has created growing tensions with Palestine by its attitudes and behaviours;
  • With regard to the war in Yemen:   tens of thousands of Yemenis have rallied to support the Houthis (there is, I suspect, a need for a credible alternative force in Yemen beyond Houthi or government: people there can be validly unhappy with the two choices currently available, and I thought so before the war broke out);   more than three million people have been internally displaced in Yemen;   Yemeni forces are closing in on the besieged city of Taiz;   continuing concern over British weapons sales to the Saudis;  calls for investigations into human rights violations in Yemen;   the US Secretary of State has announced a new peace initiative in Yemen;
  • With regard to natural and other catastrophes:   floods in India – see also here, and here, for a call for an integrated, scientific approach;   for the first time since the Cold War the German government is advising citizens to stockpile food and water for up to 10 days use in a national emergency – which I consider ALL people in ALL nations should do – for TWO WEEKS, including Australia where disasters such as floods, cyclones or fires can cut communities off;   improved modelling of Australian bushfires;   tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea;   4 ½ million people in Nigeria need food aid;   an earthquake in Italy;   an earthquake in Burma;
  • With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story:   the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo has told the United Nations Security Council today that while opposition parties in Kosovo continue to try to generate, exploit and, if possible, prolong moments of ‘crisis,’ they appear to have become aware that the use of violence is counterproductive to their objective of gaining more political influence;   the United Nations envoy for Liberia has stressed the need for long-term, robust engagement by stakeholders, particularly the Security Council, towards a sustainable peace in the West African country;   the United Nations Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide has expressed concern at inflammatory statements concerning the genocide in Rwanda that were made by a senior official of the ruling party in Burundi and cautioned that such statements could constitute incitement to violence;   the importance of good infrastructure when dealing with natural disasters;   alcohol-fulled violence is most likely at home;
and from a range of other sites:
  • concerns have been raised over the wellbeing of a 102 year old scientist who has been told to leave his job;
  • some common sense comments about the recent kerfuffle over the Battle of Long Tan;
  • an examination of psychopaths in jobs;
  • this week saw the International Day to remember slavery and its abolition … although it still continues in various forms (18 million in India, 3.4 million in China, and so on) … ;
  • sporting coaches are potential agents for good;
  • a landmark new study supports changing laws to protect vulnerable youth.
Now, some relocated notes and other comments/information.
Remember that many others are very capably doing this type of work – for instance, the Lucis Trust's Triangles network (which has been running for many decades),   the Correllian Tradition's 'Spiritual War for Peace' (begun in 2014, and see also here and here), the Hope, Peace, Love and Prosperity Spell (also from the Correllian Tradition, in around 2007 or 2008),   the Healing Minute started by the late, great Harry Edwards (held at 10 AM and 10 PM local time each day, and has been running for decades);   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   and   also see here and here – even commercial organisations are getting involved (for instance, see here), there are online groups (e.g. here and here – which I’m not members of, and thus do not know the quality of) and even an app. No doubt there are many others, so, if you don't like what I am suggesting here, but want to be of service, there are many other opportunities for you. I also point out that more than just psychic work is required – activism in the physical world, even if it is “only” writing letters to politicians / the media will help, as will a whole range of other stuff. To stimulate some ideas on this aspect of service, see here , here and here, and, of course, here.
(Please note that I now specifically have a role for (absent) healers on Saturdays, as explained in the Psychic Weather Report posts. Anyone who wishes to be protector has a role every day :) , including – perhaps particularly - the first permanent issue I list below. At all times, on all levels and in ways, BOTH must ALWAYS be BPM in the way they perform such roles.)
If I am ever late getting my Psychic Weather Report up any week, the default plan is to build up energy in the “Shield of Hope” on Sunday, send energy to West Asia / the Middle East on Monday, and then extend that to include Europe on Tuesday, the USA on Wednesday, East and South East Asia on Thursday and Africa on Friday.
I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting. I can either publish it and then correct the altered formatting and re-publish it, or save and close the post and correct it when I reopen it prior to publishing it, but that leaves an extra copy in my "drafts" folder which I then have to clean up ...
Regular sources include the Daily Briefings of the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, “War on the Rocks” (a very US-focused site which also has articles I have concerns about, but also a surprising number of gems),  the Early Warning Project blog, the Justice in Conflict blog, the Political Violence at a Glance blog, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, the International Crisis Group, the Middle East Eye, The Hindu, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the BBC, Spiegel International, The Conversation, John Menadue’s blog, Wikipedia’s current events portal, Wendell Williams’ blog, George Monbiot’s website, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, the “Cure Violence” blog, the Inter Press Service Agency (IPS), the Lowy “Interpreter” blog (which occasionally has good links about what is happening in the Pacific), and others.
No signature block for these posts.