Saturday 12 August 2017

Post No. 1,059 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 175


Information and Summary/Analysis:
Note: I am NOT a journalist, and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias. Furthermore, I do not hold copyright to any of the articles I link to, nor do I claim authorship, except for those links to material I have written for this and my related blogs, and my commentary in these posts. (I try to make sure quotes are shown using quotation marks.)
The purpose of posting these news links 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.
As part of that, note that there are key uncooperatives to be cleared (rescued): you should ONLY address those that are within your ability – if you get a sense (e.g., through meditation) or are told by your BPM Guides/Higher Self to back off, do so, and content yourself with clearing the smaller nonBPM units within your capability – which will weaken those uncooperatives. More importantly, there are many people doing this sort of work, and others are quite likely to be able to clear the uncooperatives concerned.
That is also one of the many reasons it is OK to take a break or cut back this work if you need – in fact, doing so will help you deal with the next point, which is …
… the energies we use and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that influence world events, so it pays to address those as well, to the extent that one can, or to at least stop oneself projecting them into the psychic soup.
The reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing are here;   see also here,   here,   here,   (here and also here and here are interesting),   here, here,   here,   and   this post reminds us to be patient and persistent, like a “speeding oak”.
There are some notes at the end of this post about other options for those who do not like this way of working.
Finally, one of the biggest concerns I have about spirituality in the world now is that the concept of agape type love has been perverted into both a quest for emotional warm fuzzies, and an excuse to avoid doing the hard work of improving oneself and all that one does. On that, it may help to consider the simplification that one cannot love perfectly until one has learned how to perfect. (And one of the concerns I have about those resisting change is that they are so shallow / superficial /stupid that they thing their actions have ONLY the meaning of their [limited] conscious intention … )
The themes that come to mind for my work this week, after I review all this news, are:
(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, including spirit rescue, and healing the warped views, seemingly “inherent” biases, and other damage created. Also, remember that:
           1. the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech,
           2. where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, are constructive solutions,
           3. peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient, persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;
(c)   viewing the overall emotional state of the world, I am going to continue using Wolfsangle – on all levels;
(e)   dealing with the 45th US CEO / President, for whom I use the alias Voldemort II, requires:
           1. eroding (i.e., slow, patient and persistent clearing of the little bits one can SAFELY cope with – remember, you are but one of many) the nonBPM influences feeding his arrogance and mind-set, and strengthening Voldemort II’s BPM Guides and giving them whatever BPM help they need to present a BPM alternative – for which my “changing the personality of oppressors” post is useful – with a view to promoting what would seem to be a change of heart,
           2. lifting the nonBPM influences from the shoulders of Voldemort II’s marginal supporters, allowing them to “come to their senses”, which may result in them feeling bewilderment/shame, and simultaneously strengthening the BPM influences around them (e.g., their BPM Guides) to counter them backsliding,
           3. to address the others, physical world activism (especially education) is required. As well as doing what one can there, help those who are doing this work (e.g., sending them “positive vibes”) and look for nonBPM blockages that can be cleared (e.g., setting up a BPM vortex above meetings to draw away external nonBPM influences/energies/units, so that the audience can listen as they are, without any obsession/possession);
(f)   the major events this week are:   as attraction to violence continues to be inadequately addressed, there are risks of mass atrocities in Kenya, the Central African Republic and Yemen;   the rising tensions between North Korea and the USA;   ongoing suffering in other troublespots;
(g)   “just a few minutes of common sense thinking, INSTEAD of addiction to being tough or a “cruel to be kind” cretin, would save so many of these UNNECESSARY and AVOIDABLE problems”;
(h)   remembrance in leaders of the innocents in their nations;
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 past week follows:
   news items are presented in the following sections (there is overlap, and items may appear more than once):
    - Permanent and Thematically Arranged News,
    - Location Based News,
    - From a Range of Other Sites;
   opportunities/good news are shown in green;
   comments are shown in purple; and
   WARNING: some of these links may contain triggers around issues such as violence, sexual assault, discrimination, etc.
Permanent Issues and Thematically Arranged News:
  • Permanent issue: may all actual and potential BPM 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 resources (including an assured income, given the power that nonBPM forces have in the structures of the material world), opportunities and assistance (including 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 actual and potential BPM Violence Interrupters (and Interrupters of hate / fear / anger) of be kept BPM safe, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at containing and stopping – along the lines of the Cure Violence model - the spread of violence (and hate / fear / anger), all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
  • 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;
  • Permanent issue: may all humans be in better communication with the better parts of their nature;
  • Matters warranting particular attention:
       -   the UN Security Council has unanimously approved sanctions which could cut one third of North Korea’s income - to the  anger of North Korea (the DPRK) and the USA’s equally extreme counter-threats, which would be a p***ing-up-the-wall contest that the two “giants” (Voldemort II and Kim ⅓) who lead those nations seem to love, except that it appears the DPRK may have miniaturised nuclear weapons, and thus have an active ICBM, and non-nuclear strikes may be being contemplated … on the other, one of the DPRK’s prisoners has been released , which might be a goodwill gesture … ;   China has stressed the limits of the sanctions and criticised the USA for arrogance, and “China's foreign minister has told his North Korean counterpart that [North Korea] should stop carrying out nuclear and missile tests” - see also here, and this analysis, which includes reports of diplomatic tensions between China and the DPRK;   an opinion that “contain, deter and transform” will work on the DPRK (noting that some transformation has already worked);   a blunt warning not to rush into war;
           All of this means it is up to those people in the world who are more balanced (including me, when I am less cranky :) ) to work at rational steps to ensure peace in this region: those who are familiar with this blog know I advocate for psychic work to strengthen BPM and clear nonBPM units, but it is ALWAYS necessary to take action on ALL levels of Reality, including things like letters to politicians urging mature action, with awareness of the consequences for our children. I mentioned last week, I think, that the US Secretary of State has sunk a key part of a post of mine looking at the history of efforts to restrain North Korea by stating the US doesn’t want to invade *, but the research I’ve done so far suggests that talking gets further than sanctions, although external pressure (sanctions) is, in my view, needed when the DPRK is trying to get too much. This was summed up well by one character in the TV series "The West Wing" – Leo, speaking in Episode 19 of Season 6 (at 33 min. 23 sec.): "When we've tried reforming a communist regime through embargo and severing relations, we've always failed. When we sought change through engagement and trade, we've succeeded."
     * Incidentally, I’ve seen one article suggesting that the US Secretary of State and President are playing a version of “good cop, bad cop”: they may well be – I know I’ve used that tactic myself [playing both roles in different situations] quite a few times: it has limits, but there are times it can work, and, IF they know what they are doing and don’t misjudge, IF that is what is happening, it     MIGHT work … depending on how China reacts to it …
       -   the real medical differences associated with gender;
       -   the problems of inequality (I think we should be using “inequity”, actually … );
       -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Kenya, the Central African Republic and Yemen;
  • With regard to democracy (which requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable – and remember Gandhi’s question about whether one is fighting to change things, or to punish, and the list of 198 methods of nonviolent action), freedom and governance (e.g., here, here, here and here, and see also here):
    Note: I have a section specifically for the 45th US President below
       -   analyses this week include:   (valid) concerns over damaging leaks;   in the era of “weaponised artificial intelligence”, concerns about the fate of democracy (and the upbeat comments in this article are particularly jarring);
       -   of concern this week:   a viciously extreme set of expectations around social media for Australian Commonwealth public servants – including responsibility for other people’s responses (I hope this is legally challenged);   the problem of politicians thinking they know better than experts;   a current, massive scandal involving a major Australian bank (“ignoring money laundering for drug syndicates, turning a blind eye to terrorism financing and abjectly ignoring statutory reporting responsibilities for more than three years on three quarters of a million accounts” – ASIC will investigate) has laid the ground for a Royal Commission on banks – noting the coupled problems of overpaid executives and compliant boards;   controversy over a politician meeting with a suspected mafia figure, who has demanded an apology and compensation for the allegations (this is a timely reminder that the person concerned has not been charged, and people are generally entitled to a presumption of innocence until found guilty {except when it comes, in my view, to potential child abuse, where preventative caution is important – and I also note there may be other legislative situations that apply, as seems to be suggested in these articles]), followed by the politician in question referring himself to the anti-corruption commission and subsequent allegations that a “Liberal insider [who has now resigned] conspired to funnel donations” from the alleged mafia figure;   appallingly bad political judgement from Britain’s Labour Party leader, who has expressed sorrow for the violence in Venezuela, but refused to criticise that nation’s President;   a former MP was receiving a salary from a lobby group in the months before he left Parliament;   more anti-voter steps in the USA;   a far right wing Australian politician who has refused to admit that he was a British citizen when elected has finally admitted that, and his eligibility will now be determined by the courts;   Russian cyber-attacks did cause some US polling problems;
       -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: South Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Maldives;
       -   good news this week includes:   a progressive Jewish women’s group has started in the USA;
       -   and other matters in my home nation this week:   politicians in my home state have been told to behave better;   thirteen recommendations have been made by the Victorian Council Of Social Services to reduce power costs;
  • With regard to the 45th US President (who I consider seriously dangerous, even if his administration looks like a Schoolyard Squabble Squad) this week:
    I deliberately avoid using the 45th US President’s name for valid psychic reasons: however, to both simplify my typing and remind people that he is dangerous (actually, I consider him evil), I will use either “the USA’s CEO” or “Voldemort II” (or a combination – and the “II” is because the Harry Potter series had Voldemort I) or a variation thereof – in this section, at least - as an alias.
       -   an analysis which finds that Voldemort II’s “quiet achievements” - about which he has launched his own news channel - are enough to keep his supporters happy … ;
       -   Voldemort II is still trying to kill the Iranian nuclear deal;   an assessment that Voldemort II could make the USA internationally irrelevant - see also here;
       -   an extremely concerning debate about rethinking the Goldwater rule (banning diagnosis at a distance) over Voldemort II’s extremism (the solution is political, not following your opponent to the depths);
       -   a caution that attempts to protect ion the Special Prosecutor examining alleged Russian interference could backfire;
       -   one US sanctuary city is responding to threats of funding cuts with legal action;   more deaths despite fewer crossings at the US-Mexican border;   Voldemort II is going to deny asylum to an Afghani woman who was shot by her husband;
       -   claims the USA is chasing leakers, not journalists … ;   another comparison between Watergate and Voldemort II’s leaks problem;
       -   Voldemort II has reduced protection for an endangered bird;
       -   other matters relating to US CEO Voldemort II: climate change report, health emergency, West Asia, Venezuela;
  • With regard to violent extremism (VE) (aka, terrorism - e.g., Da’esh) (ALL people advocating hate or discrimination in response to violent extremism are actively doing the work of violent extremists. This 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 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):
       -   violent extremist attacks/acts have occurred this week in Afghanistan, France, Syria, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 14 attacks in Iraq and 2 attacks in Afghanistan (out of a total of 33);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in the Philippines (from Indonesia), Pakistan;   prevention has or may have occurred in Pakistan;   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in Somalia;
       -   a hostage who was released has denounced ransom payments;
       -   a regional airline has called for Australia not to give in to the panic that terrorists want;   an article on the changing balance between privacy and security shows 9 in 10 people are sheeple (my interpretation: the article is more balanced and objective, but still naïve about security and the harm that security does);   foreign violent extremists return from Syria “disappointed” by the groups they joined;   a rebuttal of claims that Da’esh is directly linked to Islam;
  • With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):
       -   Médecins San Frontières is committed to saving lives on the Mediterranean Sea, but will not sign the Italian “Code of Conduct” because of concerns that aspects such as the ban on transferring refugees to other vessels;   one refugee in my nation’s refugee gulag has been assaulted (and the guard charged, for once), and another has died;   pending a post mortem, a refugee who died in Australia’s gulag system had no injuries, and appears to have died of natural causes (but still should not have been there, and should have had medical help for the illnesses he had);   a call for civil society to help the nations of the world to work together in 2018 for the Global Compact on Migration;   UN search and rescue missions have saved 1,000 refugees in the deserts in Niger;   scores of teenaged African refugees were murdered (by drowning) by people smugglers off the Yemeni coast – see also here;   Spain may overtake Greece this year in numbers of refugees arriving by sea;   Canada is erecting temporary tent shelters near its US border for hundreds of Haitian asylum-seekers admitted after the earthquake in 2010, whose future legal status in America is unclear thanks to Voldemort II;   the need to address the mental health of refugees;
       -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in: Libya, China;
  • With regard to human (and other) rights and discrimination (incidentally, I consider it vital to identify people who are bigots as they clearly have flaws in their powers of observation and thinking – shown by the fact that NOT all people act hatefully without education/lobbying/the restraint of laws):
       -   on homophobia/transphobia this week (noting that trans kids are the same as cis kids of the trans kids’ true gender) :   my nation has not legalised Equal Marriage yet, but is in trouble with the UN (again) for not allowing Equal Divorce;   Australian’s neoliberal idiots have decided to go down the “kill-them-with-hate-speech-and-attacks” line of a postal plebiscite before bowing to the inevitable and accepting the inevitability of Equal Marriage – and the massive pain it is going to bring as a result of the outpouring of hate has already begun , although some MPs are trying to stop the hate … We are in this appalling, backward state because of the absolute evil of John Howard and Tony Abbott, the utter stupidity of Nicola Roxon, and the staggering ineptness and duplicity of Malcolm Turnbull – who, according to one article could become the Prime Minister who broke the nation’s heart, but these four already have done exactly that!;   some key LGBT figures will not take place in the postal plebiscite (although I was initially unsure, a comment that a boycott is exactly what the bigots want has led me to decide to vote. If you, Dear Reader, are in Australia, I urge you to check your enrolment [and learn how to use the snail mail, if you need to – it won’t hurt you to know], and vote for compassion, reason and democracy by voting yes);   the Equal Marriage debacle continues the signalling to the world that Australia is no longer a beacon a human rights;
       -   on racism this week:   as a coroner is told a 15-year-old Indigenous boy in state care who drowned and then was mauled was suffering foetal alcohol syndrome disorder, an indigenous community wants their alcohol ban lifted to end a home-brew epidemic;   “Dr Yunupingu's vision is for an Australia at peace; an Australia truly settled. We live next to each other he says, black and white, but we have never truly been comfortable. Dr Yunupingu says we need a "final settlement" or, in his language, Makarrata; coming together after a struggle” – see also here, on the call for a constitutional referendum;   a racist social media argument about ethnic diversity in the ancient Roman Empire has devolved into threats and abuse;   Tunisian fishermen have prevented a ship carrying European far-right wingers from docking, objecting to the far-right wingers' racism;   evidence from a prisoner of war camp that Germany was already heading down the racist path in World War Part One;   vulgar sexism at a Chinese food place;   an attack by drunks on police has been described as out of character with the nature of those indigenous camps;   an article on planet-wide indigenous rights;   US police have been committing acts of violence against women of colour – including rape and other sexual assault (including strip searches);
       -   other racism problems have also occurred in: Australia, Turkey;
       -   on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):   the problem of the loss of men in school teaching;   women have rated train stations in my home city for safety (or the lack thereof);   in the USA, as has been done in my nation for years, a major sporting organisation will now require athletes and coaches to complete sexual violence education;   “Increasingly liberal attitudes to sex have allowed for greater public celebration of sexual diversity, but the desires of heterosexual men still dominate urban environments [and] ‘Sexual entertainment districts’ make the city a more threatening place for women”;   a call to remove the stigma from sex work;
       -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: India, India (yet again), the cyber world, education (good news);
       -   on religious rights (including Islamophobia) this week:   a US city has paid compensation after a Muslim woman was searched by a male police officer and had her hijab forcibly removed (just a few minutes of common sense thinking, INSTEAD of addiction to being tough or a “cruel to be kind” cretin, would save so many of these UNNECESSARY and AVOIDABLE problems);
       -   other religious rights / Islamophobia matter have also occurred in: Indonesia, Burma;
       -   on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:   there is a conflict between the neochristian Catholic Church’s public promises of compassion to survivors of child sexual assault and its private instructions to lawyers for strenuous defence;   an Australian state government will close a tent city for homeless people, after the city agreed to help them move to a “safe space” that has not yet been found;   Italy has urged Australia to phase out “mulesing”;   inappropriate toilets are forcing some disabled people have catheters inserted surgically (I can relate to the deliberate dehydrating of oneself when travelling, but in my case, that is because of toilet keys and the effects of diabetes);   “for the first time in its 31-year history, a deaf team has participated in the Youth Parliament of Victoria”;
       -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: an internet company, Australia, my home state, Indonesia, Gaza (good news);
  • With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
       -   a Canadian police officer bought the suit a shoplifter was trying to steal for a job interview for the shoplifter (this is a feel good story, but (a) why was he reduced to that situation, and (b) does this others ideas on how to get out of being charged?);   Italian firefighters are suspected of having lit fires for financial gain;   three even more despicable than usual rapists have been found guilty;   two major international drug syndicates have been dealt a blow;   a riot in an Australian prison;   body cameras showing police in one US city planting evidence is threatening 40  court cases;   allegedly corrupt Customs officers have been charged (again, I remind that, in order to prevent lynchings and dictatorships like the USSR, people are entitled to a presumption of innocence);   “Middle Eastern factions” (not refugees) are increasing their violence in a suburb of my home city;
      -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: Venezuela, Australia, India, USA (violence against women of colour);
  • 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: having an “equal say”, or a “right to respond” MUST be assessed in the context of what is happening overall in society – NOT solely in one limited incident. Also, funding is an issue … ):
       -   the Rory Peck Trust has provided freelancers with safety and first aid training in Nairobi, one-to-one safety advice on the first-ever day of surgeries in London (I am pleased to see my donations put to good use);   “CNN has parted company with a conservative commentator after he tweeted a Nazi salute at a prominent liberal critic”;
       -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: Israel, Australia, China, USA, India, the West Bank;
  • With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals, environmental harm and child labour? [IT manufacturers are making some effort in on those – in response to activist pressure.] Do you suffer from FOMO or addiction? Are you having second thoughts about technology? Is your social media making you miserable or envious? Are you being duped by modern mantras? Are you “failing” at being well? Does your AI use ethics? Does your corporation misuse mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions? Are you afflicted by management  fads? Do you understand embedded emissions? Do you want a bigger, flashier home/car than people had 50 years ago – which means you are actively abusing the environment and society’s cohesion and contributing to the problem of financialisation? Are you accursed with the “new is always good” groupthink of the computer world?):
       -   on climate change and other environmental matters this week:   my nation is starting to catch up with zero emission garbage trucks;   mangroves support coastal communities around the world, but are being threatened by pollution;   “households [can] get more out of their solar panels by effectively using their hot water system as a battery”;   recycling companies are reusing half or less of their product as “cheap imports leave market in crisis”, and “threatening to seriously damage the community's faith in the billion-dollar recycling industry”;   cigarette butts could recycled into asphalt for roads;   extensive pollution from illegal drug farms;   illegal cross-border dumping of municipal waste – with possible collusion from one state’s EPA;   single use plastic food containers will be banned in one city;   questions over some nations’ climate change data;   a leaked, draft report says the USA is already experiencing the effects of climate change – no matter what cretins like Voldemort II say;   fish caught close to industrialised areas have more pollutants in them … (no kidding Einstein [sarcasm, Joyce]);   the secret owners of a "Panamanian shelf company" have lost a legal bid to stop the EPA from clearing a notorious tyre stockpile ahead of the fire season;   a trivial fine for a mining company’s environmental breach (what were the numbers? If this is going from, say, 2 mg/L SS to 16 mg/L [ppm], I can understand the low fine, but if is going from 100 mg/L to 800 mg/L, the situation is more serious);   “a farmer has been awarded $7 million in damages for losses caused by a neighbour's negligent spraying” (GOOD!);   twenty tonnes of insecticide contaminated eggs have been sold in Denmark;   climate change over the past 50 years is causing floods in Europe to be up to 15 days earlier in some places (and later in others);      the world needs indigenous people as stewards of their land, and ways that indigenous people are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ending hunger;   a call to use better language to describe the natural world;
       -   other environmental matters have occurred in: the Pacific, the USA;
       -   on technology and science matters this week:   another gloomy set of predictions (including robots committing robberies) by an artificial intelligence scientist;   concerns that although iGen are physically safer they are psychologically at risk;   a now former internet company employee showed his inability to think clearly: gender and other forms of diversity aid in achieving cognitive diversity;   parents have been challenged to limit their “screen time” when they're with their kids;   a supermarket chain has double dipped from customers’ accounts, and will take 24 hours to return the money (and what about consequential losses?);   an article on how scientists can communicate better;   the concept of the “splinternet”;   disruptions to technology is forcing ship navigation to resort to old and other back-up methods;   sleep deprivation is worst amongst the young;   a voice recognition machine has failed when confronted with a native English speaker with an accent;   sexist virtual assistants and racist "algorithms of oppression";   “people generally think that editing human genes might be OK, but most think that there's a clear line that's shouldn't be crossed when it comes to changing traits that would be passed down to new generations”;
       -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: China (hack proof messaging), US election;
       -   on economic and financial matters this week:   a travel company has removed, instead of paid, money into one of its victims accounts, and is refusing to accept the consequences of its ineptness;   home-work boundary flexibility;
       -   other economic and financial matters have occurred in: my home state;
       -   on affordable housing and homelessness matters this week:   Australia’s housing bubble is not looking good … ;   a FactCheck has found that claims poorly heated Australian homes cause more winter deaths than in Sweden is overstated, as other factors influence this (and the issue of inadequate insulation, not just heating, needs to be examined!);   “the opportunities, risks and possibilities of social impact investment for housing and homelessness” – see also here;
       -   on other matters in the category this week:   a city dweller has lived off the land for a year;   in the USA opioid addiction is killing almost 150 people per day – declaring emergencies have been found to help, and will be extended;   street art is being used to fight back against graffiti vandals;   there is a risk of a measles outbreak at a school with 200 students who – STUPIDLY!!! - have not been immunised;   emotions are a potential factor in road deaths – and other traffic accidents (the driver being investigated in this instance is male, which challenges the old stereotype that men’s main driving problem is being drunk, and women’s is being upset – BOTH behaviours are wrong, and both are done by all genders);
  • With regard to education:
       -   an Australian school facing a measles outbreak appears to be run by an anti-vaxxer;   free sanitary product dispensers at high schools in one Australian state;   the problem of the loss of men in school teaching;
  • With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
       a call for intensified efforts on nuclear disarmament;   in my nation, “gun laws are collapsing, gun control advocates say, as they compile a stocktake on states and territories' compliance with the National Firearms Agreement” (when I was campaigning in support of those laws, which was in the bad old days that letters to the editor came with addresses, there was a gutless gun nut in the USA who wrote to my home address [but without providing his address] spouting off about the US constitution as it if it was the constitution of my nation – I can only hope his level of utter stupidity is not too common amongst gun advocates) - see also here, on the shot gun that started the rot;   the racist violence being inspired by an old Australian movie and its current TV remake;   from the Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council on her recent visit to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “While we may debate the humanitarian-development nexus philosophically here in New York, without resources flowing to both sectors simultaneously and a real investment in early recovery, we can neither sustain peace nor prevent future gender-based violence, and it is in that spirit, that I encourage donors to respond to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s reintegration challenges at this time, based on need, and need alone”;
  • With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
       an earthquake in China;   cholera in South Sudan;   a train crash in Egypt has killed dozens;   drought in Ethiopia;   heatwave in Europe;
  • With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, development (in an end poverty/thirst/hunger sense) and the occasional nice story (are you crippled by the fear of being single or asexual or off-grid or in any other way a rebel / innovator / non-conformist / true to yourself, or believe in management  fads and fashions? Do you distract yourself and fill your time to avoid finding real meaning? If so, you have a spiritual problem, and a need to constructively remedy that):
       a survey shows many people think atheists are less moral (which I consider utter rubbish – and shows the superficiality of some people’s thinking [the counterargument pointing to the excesses of some religious people, such as child abusers and those of crusades and violent extremists is equally fallacious);   another article on Give Directly;   the importance of youth in creating a peaceful world;   the benefits of breast feeding;   the world needs indigenous people as stewards of their land, and ways that indigenous people are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ending hunger;   aboriginal meditation – Dadirri, or “deep listening and silent awareness” – is used to help westerners (which sounds like what I have done most of my life :) ).
Location based News:
  • 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):
       two violent extremist groups have jointly made an attack;   an all-female TV station has started in Afghanistan;   examination of attempts to build a modern democratic nation in Afghanistan;
  • With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
       -   Burundi has – optimistically - called for refugees to return;
       -   thousands have fled a burned refugee camp in the Central African Republic;
       -   evidence that the “Democratic” Republic of Congo (DRC) government has participated in massacres;   27 people have been killed in violent protests in the DRC;
       -   drought in Ethiopia;
       -   despite calls for calm ahead of Kenya’s vote, at least three people have died in violence;   “Kenya's electoral commission has denied opposition claims its IT system was hacked”;   calls for observers to defer commenting until the entire election process is completed;
       -   the UN has suspended activities in Nigeria after one of its buildings was searched by soldiers;   the economic impact of violent extremists in north east Nigeria now amounts to $9 billion;
       -   a secret ballot was used for a no-confidence motion on South Africa’s president – which he survived (in general, I like secret ballots, but not in Parliaments: this is an extraordinary measure, and, while it has advantages in this situation, the fact that it is even being considered says nothing good about the state of South Africa’s governance);
  • With regard to China (may her growing middle class bring a love of peace and freedom), East and South East Asia and the Pacific (noting the risks of atrocities in North Korea and Burma):
       -   on China and the DPRK (North Korea):  
       -   the problems faced by investigative journalists in China;   calls for a coming South China Sea code of conduct to be legally binding;   concerns and question about procedural failings and human rights issues (hooding and handcuffing) of fraud suspects who were deported from Fiji to China;   China is extremely displeased by another freedom of navigation exercise performed by the USA in the South China Sea;   “China has successfully sent "hack-proof" messages from a satellite to Earth, protected by exploiting quantum physics”;   a Chinese company is advertising “quality refugee boats” … ;
       -   most news about the DPRK this week is provided above, in the “matters warranting particular attention” section;   a FactCheck on Voldemort II’s tweets about the DPRK;
       -   elsewhere in Asia:
       -   criticism of the UN handling of the Rohingya crisis;
       -   “amid concern of growing religious conservatism across Indonesia and an increase in anti-Chinese sentiment, a massive statue in East Java has been covered after protests from local Muslims”;   survivors of the notorious (and oft ignored) 1965 Indonesian crackdown (including the massacre of half a million) on communists appear to have grounds for their fears that they will be caught up in the Government's current extremist crackdown;   perspectives on Indonesia’s peatlands;
       -   and in the Pacific:   the impacts of climate change on the Pacific, and some of the possible actions in response;   “Papua New Guinea's National Court has ruled that police can arrest the [nation’s] Prime Minister on a charge of official corruption” … and an appeal has stayed the warrant;   commentary on the results of PNG’s recent elections;
  • With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU):
       -   two Chinese tourists have been arrested for making Hitler salutes outside the German parliament;
       -   a new centrist party is being considered in the UK;
  • 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 and here):
       -   eastern Mosul is starting the recovery process, but western Mosul is devastated;   the terrible task of recovering the dead bodies in Mosul (which is matched by the need for spirit rescue);   rivalry between Iran and the USA in Iraq is growing;   increased aid for those returning to Mosul;
       -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 110 civilians violently killed in the last week;
  • With regard to the Libyan civil war:
       an east Libyan city under siege is facing critical shortages;   Libya has ordered all foreign vessels out of its territory (making, as far as I am concerned, Libya solely responsible for all preventable refugee deaths in that zone);
  • With regard to Russia (which is currently supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria), Russian influenced nations and eastern Europe, and responses (see also the section on Europe):
       a gravely concerning article alleging Russian interference on professional social media, with some extraordinary other allegations;   despite recent sanctions and retaliations, the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister have met and discussed the sanctions, the retaliation, Ukraine and Korea – and the USA is optimistic about resolving their differences;   a job applicant has been rejected for looking too gay;   a call for the USA to learn “to walk and chew gum in its relations with Russia”;
  • With regard to South and Central America:
       -   a call for Brazil’s problems to be given more attention by the West;
       -   a UN team recovering munitions from FARC in Columbia was ambushed;
       -   suspicions Cuba has attempted to deafen US and Canadian diplomats;
       -   Peru has expelled Venezuela’s Ambassador;
       -   Venezuela’s Chief Prosecutor has been fired by the new assembly and ordered to stand trial;   Venezuelan authorities are hunting for 10 men who escaped with weapons after a rebellion (or attack?) at a military base;   some Venezuelan government websites have been hacked;   Venezuela’s opposition is being squeezed out of options to take action … so is civil war next?;   the USA claims to be considering military option in Venezuela … (invasion?);
  • With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
       -   an examination of “strategic competition” in South Asia;   examination of Indian-Chinese tension and the effect on other nations in the region;   another example of stupid victim blaming in India - rather than blaming the cause, which is appallingly sexist attitudes;   a female journalist has been sexually assaulted;   an article on India’s internet censorship, which – in a volatile nation – is being justified on security grounds;   communal riots have occurred after stones were thrown at a religious parade;   the epicentre of cybercrime in India;   claims that orders for Muslim schools to video their Independence Day celebrations are an attempt to test their patriotism;   the need for reasonable speed in justice;   economic concerns;
       -   continuing political problems in the Maldives;
       -   a Pakistani violent extremist group has started a magazine for women who want to be VEs… ;
  • With regard to Sudan and South  Sudan:
       -   concerningly, Sudan, a nation with an appalling human rights record , sanctioned for the abuses it has committed for years in Darfur, and with a leader subject to warrants for arrest for crimes against humanity, has been invited to US-Egyptian military training exercises in October;
       -   cholera in South Sudan;   a regional protection force has started deploying;
  • With regard to the conflict in Syria, where Assad’s regime has, in my opinion, lost all claims to legitimacy, and it is time to consider partition (see here, here, here and here):
       Syria has murdered a renowned pro-democracy activist - two years ago;   a former war crimes prosecutor is quitting the United Nations commission investigating human rights abuses in Syria because it "does absolutely nothing";   US led air strikes in Syria have killed over a score of civilians;   600,000 displaced Syrians have returned home this year – but see also here;   a critique of the reality (including shortcomings) of sanctions;
  • With regard to Turkey:
       a detailed (and critical) examination of Turkey’s strategy in Syria – see also here;   although Turkey has granted permission for a German politician to visit a military base with German soldiers, the politician – understandably – wants security guarantees - see also here;
  • With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
       displaced Ukrainians are facing uncertainty;
  • With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
       -   on Israel and Palestine:   Israel will shut down their local Al Jazeera outlet amid “accusations of inciting violence”;   a Gazan with an artificial leg from birth has taken to show jumping;   criticism – including expression of grave concern - of the response by Israel’s prime Minister to investigation of possible corruption;   the USA is trying again to get negotiations going;   Gaza is facing “an increasingly dire situation”;   the Palestinian Authority has imposed on-line censorship;   Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and four European nations will hold a joint fire and rescue exercise;
       -   elsewhere in the region:
       -   one family’s search for a cousin who has been disappeared in Egypt;
       -   “an Iranian drone has flown dangerously close to a US fighter jet as it was about to land on a carrier in the Gulf”;   Voldemort II is still trying to kill the Iranian nuclear deal;   the daughter of an Iranian opposition leader (who is under house arrest) has held an apt art show;
       -   “Jordan is waiting to see what legal action Israel takes against an Israeli embassy guard accused of a deadly shooting in [Jordan] last month before it allows [Israel’s] ambassador back”;   an assessment that Jordan is moving towards an inclusive, green economy”;
       -   concerns over the confluence of despotism (“are you’re a government or a gang?”), neoliberalism and climate in Morocco, where elites have been suppressing change;
       -   on the current Gulf crisis: as Qatar is criticised for actions such as “hosting the Taliban for talks aimed at reconciling the warring factions in Afghanistan”, claims have been made that Saudi Arabia also tried to do the same, and that the UAE did;   an examination of the energy aspects of the crisis;   Qatar has removed visa requirements for people from 80 nations (not including the USA – I wonder about those nations currently blockading Qatar?) for time-limited stays;
       -   allegations that “Tunisia’s democratic transition was nearly "liquidated" by the same forces behind the Egyptian coup”;
  • With regard to the conflict in Yemen (unlike Iraq, I cannot find a source of regular information on casualties in Yemen, but the hardship and deaths from food, water and medical shortages that concerns me just as much – if not more, and I don’t know if such sites would report that; it is also important to remember that there are multiple sides in this dispute – and opponents to the government are not necessarily Houthi or violent extremist):
       Yemen has called for Saudi Arabia to allow more aid in;   calls to ease the blockade of Yemen’s main airport, following which the besieging Saudi-led coalition asked the UN to take over from the Houthi occupiers … (and the likely Houthi response is .. ? Get real!);   now, in the midst of war, Yemen’s blood bank may close … .
Other News:
  • “I might be mad but it keeps me sane” - crocheting vintage objects.
General Comments/Information
(Dear Reader, please remember, I expect you to think when reading this blog, and I reserve the right to occasionally sneak in something to test 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' (see also here, 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 (running for decades);   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   and   also see here, here and here – even commercial organisations (for instance, see here), online groups (e.g. here and here – which I do not know the quality of) and even an app.    Thus, if you don't like what I am suggesting here, but want to be of service, there are many other opportunities for you – including secular opportunities: e.g., see here, here and here.   Again, activism in the physical world is also required - see here, here and here, 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 :). 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, there is a default plan.
I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting.
No signature block for these posts.
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