Post No. 797 – For Sunday evening’s meditation-clearing

For everyone’s convenience, I’ve shifted the reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing to this post. I have a simplified blogiography of posts related to this work here, a list of themes I have identified here, and my changing the personality of oppressors post, which I am contemplating expanding to include some key people to work on, is here. (Also, see here for some investigation into evidence of the effectiveness of this type of work, which shows variability [and mentions causes] and cycles in the energetic/consciousness response … and also here is interesting.) A range of information on emotions is here, and suggestions on how to work with emotions is here.

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. 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.

Also, 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.

Finally, remember that many others are 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 the website was recently updated to include many more activities), 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 10Am and 10PM local time each day, and one can pay to be officially registered. This also has been running for decades);   and   also see here and here, and even commercial organisations are getting involved (for instance, see here). 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.

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 20^th 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, we need the continued thoughtfulness of BPM Air, the hope of BPM Water, and the strength and stability of BPM Earth;

(d)   connection and disconnection, unity and disunity, are issues for all groups: connection and unity are goof for BPM groups, but not for nonBPM groups, as it makes them more effective in a harmful way. What is the ethical, BPM way to facilitate disconnection and disunity in nonBPM groups, and how do we discern the difference between BPM and nonBPM groups?

(e)   despite the apparent problems of the world now, there has been progress – including significant progress from historical eras;

(f)   short term responses – including ALL hate actions - continue to result in what the perpetrators consider to be tactical gains at the expense of true strategic gains;

(g)   fear of lack of adequate prosperity is an issue to be addressed – in conjunction with the overuse of resources and violence that is destroying this planet. EVERY single act of consumerism / materialism is DIRECTLY contributing to this problem;

(h)   the need for BPM accountability and – visible – BPM justice remain important –particularly when considering forgiveness. There can be a balance, however, and there are examples of this. This applies to the personal, the global, and everything in-between;

 (i)   unfettered access to accurate, relevant information is also vital: this if where good (BPM) journalism has a place, and where those who are acting to constrain or stop that are so wrong. On the other hand, gossip, whether deliberately malicious or not, and all other invasions of privacy are acts of control and other forms of evil;

(j)   ALL power MUST be used responsibly –it must never be abused, or held back where doing so results in abuse of those unable to defend themselves, or used based on incomplete or inadequate action (which is what happens when taking action on the basis of personal biases – from the personal to the global level);

Specific energy related suggestions are also provided below, in the Section discussing R2P recommendations for Yemen: From an energetic point of view, I will be focusing on healing the pain caused by past events (as stated in the section of Syria, “it is very difficult, after all, to shake hands with opponents who are killing one’s families and neighbours”), with a view to focusing on all involved a better future for the current generation of children. This does not mean there will be agreement on anything, but it helps motivate people to find a solution to current tensions and issues. The Goddess Aset will be useful, as will be God Tyr/Tiw. Any work I do on forgiveness will not be the glossy, simplistic, New Age rubbish: I will keep in mind the need for BP M justice, and for BPM justice to be seen to be done, as well as the issues around “we train people how to treat us”.

I will also be doing whatever psychic work I can to counter that prospect that al-Qaeda and Da’esh may unify in Syria, in response to increased military pressure.

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, all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
• an agreement has been reached in Paris on changes to manage climate change – see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here;
• with regard to democracy, freedom and governance:   despite the headline, this article suggests that profound dissatisfaction with the available choices is driving voters in France to “try” other parties (I’ve often felt voters should be able to tick a box “none of the above”, which should be set up as an option with the potential to then force a repeat election) - see also here;   a very good article on Australia’s foreign policy;   talks between north and south Korea have broken down;   a call for critical evaluation of political speak – particularly as (apparently) “agility and disruption are being conflated with comfort and certainty” (Really? Could anyone be that stupid??);   one day after the holding of the Central African Republic’s Constitutional referendum, the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, briefed the Security Council, and said the referendum was held successfully in the majority of the country, but there localised incidents as well as violence and intimidation of voters and electoral staff which prevented the holding of the referendum in some towns. Further attempts by spoilers need to be contained, but there are positive signs. Later in the week, it was reported that voting on the Constitutional referendum was extended in polling stations in eight locations that had faced several challenges on Sunday, and that the National Electoral Authority (NEA) announced that 90 per cent of voters are in favour of the new Constitution, according to partial election results related only to the capital Bangui;   a call for President Alpha Condé of Guinea to use his second term to intensify the fight against impunity, strengthen the judiciary, and promote equal respect for the rights of all Guineans;   President Alassane Ouattara, the victor in Côte d’Ivoire’s October presidential election, has begun to formulate a reform agenda for his second term;   a call for Australia to ensure safeguards are created in relation to the power to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals;   voters in the USA are becoming increasingly partisan;   a possibility of a power sharing deal to break the impasse in Lebanon;   France’s Prime Minister has promised action to address the “danger” of the Front National;   fear politics in the USA;  a questioning of whether or not Rwandans will truly express themselves in the imminent referendum;   Kyrgyzstan is considering – in fits and starts - political reform;   some thoughts on the formation of nationalism;   tobacco company Philip Morris’ case against Australia’s plain packaging laws has been lost – which is a relief in terms of concerns over Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS);  an assessment of new Australian Prime Minister Turnbull’s deliberate eschewing of former PM Abbot’s politics of fear, with acknowledgement of the influence of Nassim Taleb – particularly “Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder”;   an abuse of power in the USA on the part of one of the Democratic party contenders;   Indonesian President Jokowi is said to be furious at the corruption revealed by a recent court case;  a critique of the effect of healthcare privatisation on patients (nursing ratios, size of hospitals and specialisation of doctors may be more significant than whether it is private or public);   unconstitutional changes to a Polish tribunal may lead to major protests;
• with regard to Da’esh and violent extremism generally (and 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 that acronym ISIS, which is actually the Greek name of the Egyptian Goddess Aset – and others - and actively perpetuates the patriarchal and sacrilegious evil that Da’esh 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):   in a concerning development that I have written about elsewhere, “anti-racism” protestors have turned violent;   an excellent article on the problem of “echoes of Cronulla”;   in a rare speech at the Pentagon, US President Obama has claimed the USA is hitting Da’esh “harder than ever”;   a call for the Australian government to demonstrate the need for indefinite detention, based on a review of existing provisions, and a call for a Charter of Rights;   Saudi Arabia claims to have organised a 34-nation Islamic coalition against terrorism – although Pakistan was initially surprised at being listed, then belatedly confirmed that it is in, and one opinion is that this is a “paper tiger” for domestic consumption, and see here for some other concerns;   hate attacks in the USA;   the importance of countering gender inequality as an essential part of the fight against violent extremism;   the experiences of Muslims in France after recent terrorist events, including harassment, community debates, calls for unity and hate attacks – and attacks on Muslims in the USA have increased;   a possible new UN resolution on cutting off funding to Da’esh, after an earlier one has been ignored – see here for an analysis of where Da’esh gets it money;   an analysis of Da’esh’s affiliated organisations;   Australia’s security head has asked MPs to tone down their anti-Islam rhetoric;   an extremist and excessive hate reaction to a lesson on West Asia / the Middle East that included Arabic script has resulted in the closure of all schools in the US state of Virginia (does anyone in the USA – and elsewhere - remember past mistakes along the line of winning a war and losing the peace?);   an assessment that the defeat of Da’esh in Iraq is just a matter of time;   a call for our leaders to pivot towards peace;
• with regard to refugees:   the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has described the refugee crisis as an "historic test" for Europe;   the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, has stressed the need to understand the root causes behind the current high levels of people being driven from their homes;   the number of refugees in the world has now exceeded 60 million, and, in a message for International Migrants Day, the Secretary-General said 2015 will be remembered as a year of human suffering and migrant tragedies: over the past 12 months, more than 5,000 women, men and children lost their lives in search of protection and a better life, while millions have been made into scapegoats and become the targets of xenophobic policies and alarmist rhetoric;   Denmark’s plan to seize refugee’s assets to make them pay for keep has been condemned as cruel and extreme – and, appallingly, Australia has had a variation of this in place for decades;
• with regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):   Tunisia has jailed six people for being same-sex attracted;   an excellent article on the problem of “echoes of Cronulla”;   a domestic violence organisation calls on the AFL to “walk the walk”;   China’s feminists continue to be abused by that regime – which shows how backward the regime there can be, at times;   human rights organisations have called on President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to reject a vague bill which could be used against human rights organisations on trumped up charges;   a call for the European Union to press for concrete and measurable improvements on human rights at its upcoming bilateral dialogue with Vietnam;   17 women have been elected to municipal positions in Saudi Arabia, although much remains to be accomplished in the cause of equality;   the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein , said today that he is concerned at the extremely high number of arbitrary arrests and short-term detention of individuals, including human rights defenders and dissidents, in Cuba in recent weeks;   an investigation by Beni-Butembo military prosecutor’s office in Eringeti, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), supported by the UN, found that 375 violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law were committed during recent attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group active in the Eastern part of the country;   21 Ecuadorian protestors, concerned over restrictions on free speech, have been jailed for “issuing expressions of discredit and dishonour against policemen”;   a Japanese court has enforced feudal expectations that women will change their surnames to their husbands after marriage;   the problem of street harassment of women;   mixed reactions to a new video calling on men to take action to address disrespect and violence against women amongst their peers and children;   an extreme example of abuse in the construction industry – but less extreme abuse is widespread;   a personal history of racist abuse in Australia;   an update on the quest for justice in Baltimore for Freddie Grey;   Tasmania will finally apologise and expunge all past convictions for gay sex;   more racist abuse on trains - with bystanders and victim standing up for themselves well;   the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - which includes civil society, private sector, and government participants, and facilitates discussion on human rights and the Internet – has been renewed for another 10 years;   Brazil has taken out Survival International’s notorious “Racist of the Year” award for the 2^nd year in a row;
• with regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:   a security breach (“human factors” again) has allowed a breach of the Australian Federal Police headquarters;   a former police officer says reform won’t happen unless external factors come to bear;   calls for no-fly zones over prisons (common sense, I would have thought);   with 907 murders in August and a trend towards 6,000 murders in its 6.4 million people this year (including over 50 police officers), El Salvador is the most violent nation not at war – because of gang violence, which the nation needs help to address;   praise for the professionalism and restraint of British police during a recent terrorist attack – particularly when compare to US and Israeli responses;   there are still concerns over the lack of transparency in the private prisons system;   a case of mistaken identity shows some of the problems with vigilantes;   concerns over the manner in which two replacement Supreme Court Justices have been appointed in Argentina – but not the Justices themselves;   the AMA is asking why a country as wealthy as Australia cannot solve its incarceration crisis;
• with regard to media and freedom of expression:   55 journalists have been killed so far this year;
• with regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals?):   industry heavy weights have joined forces to encourage the ethical and safe development of artificial intelligence;   the UN Development Programme has launched its latest Human Development Report, saying that fast technological progress, deepening globalisation, ageing societies and environmental challenges are rapidly transforming what work means today and how it is performed, and urged governments to act now to ensure no one is left behind in the fast-changing world of work;   satellite imagery has been used to assist the agricultural recovery from the southern India floods;   an analysis of why people return to facebook;   grave privacy and security concerns over the Australian government’s proposed biometrics system;
• with regard to education:   concerns that China’s policy of constructed “special needs” schools fails to meet the “full inclusion” requirements of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which China ratified in 2008, best practices as identified by the international disability rights community, reinforces rather than mitigates stigma against children with disabilities, and arbitrarily narrows the opportunities for higher education and employment that children with disabilities may wish to pursue;   an extremist and excessive hate reaction to a lesson on West Asia / the Middle East that included Arabic script has resulted in the closure of all schools in the US state of Virginia;
• 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):   the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has condemned the Taliban’s attack at the Spanish Embassy compound in Kabul as an attack against the entire international community;   a gloomy assessment by the USA of Afghanistan’s progress in 2015;   the Afghan Taliban say they have unleashed "special forces" in an increasingly bloody battle with fighters from Da’esh;
• with regard to Africa (where I am still looking for a comprehensive local source of news, one akin to the Middle East Eye or The Hindu) generally, in addition to mentions elsewhere:   fighting in Galkayo, Somalia, is taking a heavy toll of civilians;   the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said he is deeply alarmed by the latest bloody events in Burundi, which seems to have taken a new step towards outright civil war, with tensions now at bursting point in Bujumbura;   the situation and peace process in Mali remain fragile, but some local groups have been taking promising initiatives;   the UN Secretary-General said that he has received the Report of the External Independent Review of the UN Response to Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the Central African Republic, and he accepted the broad findings of the Panel’s report- which is that the UN failed to respond meaningfully when faced with information about reprehensible crimes against vulnerable children. He has asked his Special Representative for the Central African Republic to resign, and intends to urgently review the Panel’s recommendations and act without delay to ensure that systemic issues, fragmentation and other problems are fully addressed. Some, however, of these recommendations will require the involvement and approval of Member States;   the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has urged the international community to take robust, decisive action on the situation in Burundi, to avert a civil war that could have serious ethnic overtones as well as alarming regional consequences;   the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) reports that, another camp from the armed group Force de Résistance Patriotique de l'Ituri (FRPI) was taken over in Ituri province;   a new report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has documented the negative impact of some traditional and cultural practices – including female genital mutilation or FGM, forced initiation into secret societies, accusations of witchcraft, and trials by ordeal and ritualistic killing – in Liberia on human rights;
• with regard to China and East Asia:   China’s feminists continue to be abused by that regime – which shows how backward the regime there can be, at times;   a call for China to drop all charges against a prominent human rights lawyer;   US politicians are claiming Chinese president Xi Jinping is turning China into a “nightmare”;   Chinese fishing vessels are deliberately destroying Philippine reefs;   Australia is continuing to defy China’s disputed claims of sovereignty in the South China Seas – see also here, for an overview including relevant international law;   China has protested US weapons sales to (the free and independent nation of) Taiwan;   an excellent analysis of China’s worldview (including the century of humiliation; the view of cultural characteristics as being inherent and unchanging; the idea of history as destiny; and notions of filial piety and familial obligation as they apply both inside China and to China’s neighbours), and how this informs its actions, and commentary on responses (e.g., don’t appease, even if that has longer term impacts);   the United Nations has condemned the “long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights” in North Korea;   concerns that China’s policy of constructed “special needs” schools fails to meet the “full inclusion” requirements of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which China ratified in 2008, best practices as identified by the international disability rights community, reinforces rather than mitigates stigma against children with disabilities, and arbitrarily narrows the opportunities for higher education and employment that children with disabilities may wish to pursue;
• with regard to the conflict in Iraq (noting that Iraq was once a peaceful and prosperous society, before the USA / CIA backed revolution – see here):   Da’esh has launched counter-attacks in Ramadi – see here for a summary map of the situation in Iraq with regard to fighting;   an assessment that the defeat of Da’esh in Iraq is just a matter of time;   a call for Germany to proceed with legal action against the USA over torture in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, on the basis that US action has been ineffective;   friendly fire has killed or injured 10 Iraqi soldiers; 
• with regard to the Libyan civil war:   the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Martin Kobler, said that the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement is due to take place on 17^th December 2015, as Libyan leaders reject Western pressure to sign the deal – see also here and here;   reports on the subsequent signing – see also here;
• with regard to Russia (see also Syria):   a comment on Putin’s popularity which points out that, for the first time in over a century, the Kremlin’s views align with the conservative majority;   Russia will exclude Ukraine from a trade bloc of former USSR states;   in another concerning although possibly minor event, a Russian naval ship has fired a warning shot across the bows of a Turkish fishing vessel;  an exposé of Russia’s misinformation – including domestically -in relation to its Syrian involvement;
• with regard to Sudan and South Sudan:   the UN has been accused of a “shocking” failure to protect civilians;   the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the country, Ellen Margrethe Løj, urged the parties to fully respect the permanent cease fire, and implement the peace agreement in “letter and spirit”, saying the delay in the implementation of the peace agreement is affecting the people of South Sudan, who have already known terrible suffering in the last two years, and she urged the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) to send their advance team to Juba to participate in the Joint Monitoring Commission and to engage in discussions on the establishment of the transitional security arrangements, including the Joint Integrated Police;   a report on the experiences of child soldiers;
• with regard to the conflict in Syria:   in a blow to peace, Syria’s Assad has refused to negotiate, as a graphic report by HRW shows some of the abuses the government has committed;   an excellent critique of international proposals for peace negotiations;   Russia’s involvement has boosted the Syrian government’s morale;   Stephen O’Brien, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, has said that the UN needs sustained humanitarian access to all people in need, with or without local agreements – 4.5 million live in areas that are hard to reach, with 400,000 of those in sieges;   a project has started thinking of future recovery / rehabilitation in Aleppo;   an exposé of Russia’s misinformation – including domestically -in relation to its Syrian involvement;   a critique of options for peace in Syria, with calls for participants to work off their minimalist demands rather than wish lists, a call for the minimalist accountability of barring those who committed abuses from public office, distributed, participatory governance rather than the previous centralist, top-down version, and dealing with atrocities before a deal as “it is very difficult, after all, to shake hands with opponents who are killing one’s families and neighbours”;   the Syrian opposition will be represented by a key Assad defector – the former Prime Minister – in any future peace talks;   a call for a “third way” in Syria;   the intensified campaign against Da’esh in Syria risks causing an alliance between Da’esh and al-Qaeda (to say the least, this would NOT be good: I will be doing whatever psychic work I can to counter that prospect);
• with regard to Turkey:   two protesters have died in south-east Turkey in a clash between police and Kurdish demonstrators over a curfew imposed as part of a security crackdown;  Turkey will open a military base in Qatar;   in another concerning although possibly minor event, a Russian naval ship has fired a warning shot across the bows of a Turkish fishing vessel;   a recommendation that Turkey and the PKK resume peace talks;   Turkey claims to have killed over 50 PKK militants;
• with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:   Russia will exclude Ukraine from a trade bloc of former USSR states;   a summary map of the situation in Ukraine with regard to the fighting;   in a move with potential International Monetary Fund ramifications, Ukraine won’t make a $3 billion debt repayment due to Russia because Moscow refused to agree to terms already accepted by other international creditors, Ukraine’s Prime Minister has said;
• with regard to the war in Yemen:   the Houthis are still crushing dissent in areas they control, have killed dozens in a rocket attack just before the ceasefire – now to be extended (as reports emerge of Saudi and other violations),and some fear any peace deal will only be used by the Houthis to re-arm as concerns emerge over Da’esh and it becomes apparent that some are fighting only to be paid and thus help themselves and their families survive;   reports that the Saudi-led coalition has been bombing schools;   the UN Secretary-General has welcomed the start of the Yemen peace talks in Switzerland under the facilitation of his Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed;   prisoner swaps have occurred – possibly the first benefit of the peace negotiations;   more violence as the peace negotiations are assessed as being on the brink of failure - although this article suggests the continuation of the talks is indicative of both sides’ need for peace;   on the 3^rd day of the UN-sponsored negotiations for Yemen in Switzerland, the participants have reached an agreement which allows for a full and immediate resumption of humanitarian assistance to the city of Taiz;   on the 4^th day of the talks, the Houthis do not attend, on the basis that the Saudis – who are making gains – have broken the ceasefire, and questions are asked as to whether or not the decision makers are attending;
• with regard to natural and other catastrophes:   Typhoon Melor has killed at least 3 people in the Philippines;   five humanitarian crises largely overlooked in 2015: the hidden displacement in Central America, South Sudan refugees, Central African Republic conflict, Yemen and El Niño; coffee rust is aggravating poverty in El Salvador;

Also from the Daily Briefings of the United Nations (UN) (and other sources):

• at the opening of the General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Review of the Outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Secretary-General referred to information and communication technology (ICT)as an engine for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and tressed that as we celebrate remarkable ICT achievements for development, we must focus on bridging the digital divide, including the gender digital divide. He also called for a strengthened global culture of cybersecurity;
• at an event marking the 10^th Anniversary of the Central Emergency Response Fund, the Secretary-General said that investing in the CERF is investing in life and in our shared humanity, and appealed to the international community to keep the Fund vibrant so that people caught in crisis may regain the path of dignity and opportunity;
• the Secretary-General today appointed Catherine Pollard, the Under Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), as the new Coordinator for Multilingualism,;
•  Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, welcomed the agreement on 15^th December between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) on truth, justice, reparations and non-repetition for the victims of the conflict;
• more than 16 million babies were born in conflict zones in 2015 – 1 in 8 of all births worldwide this year – the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said;

From other sites (note that articles from these sites may have already been provided):

• Human Rights Watch also has:   a call for stronger international law to better control incendiary weapons;   a call for Cambodia to further revise the proposed union law, as changes still do not provide adequate protection for workers;   some action is finally being taken on Azerbaijan’s abuses;   a call for better protection of migrant workers in West Asia / the Middle East;
• the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) also has:
    - an occasional report, aiming to give background, offer analysis, track international response and suggest necessary action, for five nations in immediate crisis (“mass atrocities are occurring and urgent action is needed”: Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Lake Chad Basin, and Burma), one nation at imminent risk (“the situation is reaching a critical threshold and the risk of mass atrocity crimes occurring in the immediate future is very high if effective preventive action is not taken”: Burundi, South Sudan and the Central African Republic), and five nations for which there is serious concern (“significant risk of occurrence, or recurrence, of mass atrocity crimes within the foreseeable future if effective action is not taken”: Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya);
     Recommended actions from the occasional report for the nation of Yemen, where the Houthis violently blocked the transition process in 2014, and a Saudi led coalition responded in early 2015 (I will work through other nations from the report in coming weeks) are:
      - all parties to the conflict must uphold their Responsibility to Protect vulnerable populations regardless of their tribal, religious or political affiliations, and respect the difference between military and civilian targets;
      - all parties to the conflict must respect agreed "humanitarian pauses" in order to ensure access to vulnerable civilians in desperate need of food, water and medical supplies;
      - the UNSC, GCC and all parties to the conflict need to ensure that Resolutions 2201 and 2216 are fully implemented and that Yemen returns to the previously agreed political transition process. All perpetrators of sectarian attacks and potential war crimes in Yemen should be held accountable for their actions;
      - the UN Human Rights Council should establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate serious violations of international human rights law in Yemen;
      - From an energetic point of view, I will be focusing on healing the pain caused by past events (as stated in the section of Syria, “it is very difficult, after all, to shake hands with opponents who are killing one’s families and neighbours”), with a view to focusing on all involved a better future for the current generation of children. This does not mean there will be agreement on anything, but it helps motivate people to find a solution to current tensions and issues. The Goddess Aset will be useful, as will be God Tyr/Tiw. Any work I do on forgiveness will not be the glossy, simplistic, New Age rubbish: I will keep in mind the need for BP M justice, and for BPM justice to be seen to be done, as well as the issues around “we train people how to treat us”.
• the US-based and -centric “War on the Rocks” blog (which I have found may also have other articles that I have concerns with - and thus do not provide links to, unless I want you to think … :) ) also has:   with 907 murders in August and a trend towards 6,000 murders in its 6.4 million people this year (including over 50 police officers), El Salvador is the most violent nation not at war – because of gang violence, which the nation needs help to address;
• the Justice in Conflict blog has:   after 20 years, the tribunal investigating the Rwandan Genocide has closed, with questions and concerns about its legacy and, in particular, the fate of the incredibly sensitive archives – and likewise for the tribunal investigating th war in the former Yugoslavia;
• the Political Violence at a Glance blog has:   a review of the real role of women in violence – both as “good” fighters and as terrorists – and the need to move away from the “warrior-male and helpless-female binary” rubbish, which “robs women of credit for their frequent role in nation building and development during periods of conflict”;
• the International Crisis Group has:   a recommendation that Turkey and the PKK resume peace talks;   an analysis of the domestic political situation in Iran which finds that an attempt by other nations to “push” Iran in any direction may backfire badly;   the situation and peace process in Mali remain fragile, but some local groups have been taking promising initiatives;
• the Middle East Eye also has:
     more death and injuries in Jerusalem - and see also here;
     a Qatari hunting party in southern Iran has been kidnapped, although some have subsequently escaped;
     Saudi Arabia has pledged $8 billion to Egypt;   the families of political prisoners in Egypt are organising a campaign for blankets;   the rift in the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is widening;
     an analysis of the significance of oil and gas over the last few decades of conflict in West Asia / the Middle East;
     where the Arab Spring originated in Tunisia, the situation has started going backwards;
     although the United Kingdom has concerns about extremist links of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group will not be banned;
• Also on West Asia / the Middle East:
     the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continues to be gravely concerned at the unrelenting violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel, which has led to the deaths of 21 Israelis, 117 Palestinians and two foreign nationals, with thousands more injured;   an analysis of the domestic political situation in Iran which finds that an attempt by other nations to “push” Iran in any direction may backfire badly;   a Palestinian initiative to change Israeli hearts and minds by meeting face-to-face;
• The Hindu also has:   the vulnerability of the elderly to natural disasters, and other articles related to the recent floods here;   India wants the World Trade Organisation to urgently discussion the issue of trade-distorting farm subsidies in rich nations, and the adverse impact of this on millions of resource poor and subsistence farmers in developing nations;   moves to capitalise economically on the connection between India and Japan – see also here;   more tension in Uttar Pradesh state following a series of mass protests by Muslims against alleged comments by a Hindu leader;   a critique of the recent nuclear agreement between India and Japan;   India would join a UN-led mission against Da’esh;   an analysis of the patron-client and “freebie” attitudes of local politics which led to inadequate spending prior to floods in southern India;   claims of a ”new beginning” as India and Pakistan “have agreed on a new bilateral comprehensive dialogue to address all outstanding issues through peaceful means”;   “The saddest aspect of the political turmoil in [the State of] Arunachal Pradesh is that its key actors have revived unedifying practices that one would have thought the Indian polity had left behind some years ago: dissident ruling party legislators joining hands with their political rivals to bring down an elected government, holding parallel or unauthorised Assembly proceedings, and the Governor playing a partisan role”;   Punjabi farmers continue to have concerns;   the European Parliament has called upon the European Union (EU) and its member states to launch “targeted sanctions” against “certain members” of the Maldives government and their “leading supporters” in the business community;
• Also on the Indian sub-continent:
     Indian exports of military equipment are soaring;   cancer, not violence, is the biggest killer in Kashmir;
• the BBC also has:   questions for both Sweden and Uzbekistan after an Uzbek assassination attempt in Sweden;  the USA and Cuba have agreed on a resumption of commercial flights;

and from a range of other sites:

• an excellent opinion piece on how humanity has regressed, and the need to confront our own problems;
• the Laos Government is determined to dam the Mekong, despite concerns from neighbouring nations;
• a call for a re-run of the community unity shown over the siege in Sydney one year ago – see also here;
• the use of sport to address community violence in Wadeye (more on the indigenous resistance leader Nemarluk, mentioned in the article and still fighting in the 1930s and 40s, here);
• controlling illegal fishing has helped to restore Indonesia’s fish populations and fishing industry;
• the loss of jobs in Canada’s oil industry has led to a spike in suicide rates; 
• the world in the past was actually far more violent than the current world;

[1] BPM = Balanced Positive (spiritually) Mature. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see here, here, here and my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. I'm also exploring use of h2g2, although that doesn't appear to be as extensive (h2g2 is intended - rather engagingly - to be the Earth edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").

[3] I apologise for the formatting: it seems Blogger is no longer as WYSIWYG as it used to be, and there are a lot of unwanted changes to layout made upon publishing, so I often have to edit it immediately after publishing to get the format as close to what I want as possible.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr, Pagan Energy Worker, Wéofodthegn

(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.

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.

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

• If your “gut” (your instinct/intuition) is telling you something is wrong, but logic and the available evidence is saying otherwise, the proper conclusion to draw is that you need better, more personally credible evidence. Your “gut” could be wrong, right, or missing the nuances / “shades of grey” . So could the available evidence.
• All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...

Tags: activism, discrimination, energy work, magick, meditation, nonviolence, peace,  society, violence, war,

First published: Laugardagr, 19^th December, 2015

Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Saturday, 19^th December, 2015