Post No. 820 (A) – For Sunday evening’s meditation-clearing - news and commentary

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 and other world leaders post 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, it is absolutely VITAL that this psychic / metaphysical / spiritual work be performed non-violently – 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.

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);   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   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.

(Please note that I now specifically have a role for (absent) healers on Saturdays, as explained in the Psychic Weather Report posts. Anyone who wishes to be protector has a role every day :) , including – perhaps particularly - the first permanent issue I list below. At all times, on all levels and in ways, BOTH must ALWAYS be BPM in the way they perform such roles.)

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, this week we need more Æther;

(d)   governance, to be good, must be of benefit to the people governed, and also must be SEEN to be of benefit – which requires credible, effective explanation and debate;

(e)   unintended consequences are a major problem in life, on all levels, however failure to address issues can be catastrophic, and the abdication of responsibility for governance is a problem in some democracies – as are similar duck-shoving problems elsewhere in life. Don’t ignore things because they seem too small to be bothered;

There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.

John F. Kennedy

(f)   minority groups have and are taking action against problems: now it is time for the majority to match their efforts;

(g)   the “low blow” continues to be a problem everywhere in life, as do abuse of, and addiction to, power;

(h)   consider the signs of depth and genuineness of commitment when assessing the actions and words of nations, groups and people;

(i)   there is too much unwillingness to see – or even look;

I also take this opportunity to repeat that it is absolutely VITAL that this psychic / metaphysical / spiritual work be performed non-violently – which is part of being BPM – on all levels and in all ways. Always remember (see here): Do you fight to change things, or to punish? See also here, here, here, here, here, and my comments about “authentic presence” in this post.

News and other matters from this week include the following (opportunities/good news are shown in green; comments are shown in purple; WARNING: some of these links may contain triggers around issues such as violence, sexual assault, discrimination, etc).

• Permanent issue: may all actual and potential BPM [1] Leaders be kept BPM safe, including keeping them undetectable to the nonBPM and keeping all their Significant Others inviolable against being used for indirect  psychic attack, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at influencing the world’s direction, development and unfoldment, all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
• Permanent issue: may all humans recognise, irrespective of the appearance of difference, the essential shared humanness of other people, the inherent resilience, the dynamic power, the strength of BPM collaboration, and the opportunities of having a diverse, inclusive and welcoming population, and may all people choose fairness, when such decisions are before them;
• Permanent issue: may all humans choose to live modestly – to forgo outdoing others, or trying to have more than they need - for the sake of an easier, more manageable life, if they cannot do it for the sake of the planet;
• With regard to democracy, freedom and governance (e.g., here and here):   a good example of a politician handling a protestor well, and constructively;   an excellent critique of the need for security for a range of reasons, rather than surveillance, by a highly respected and very capable person;   an assessment of Viêt Nám’s National Congress, and the possibility of change;   the violent racism being shown to refugees – and their supporters - may tear Europe apart; in a major backward step, African nations will withdraw from the International Criminal Court;   the eagerness of presidential candidates in Uganda to protect their votes is giving impetus to moves to address vote rigging;   disappointment in a state government’s anti-corruption legislation;   in a major blow to good governance, France’s Justice Minister, who well known for taking principled stands against threats to cherished republican values, has resigned over a proposal to strip some people of their French citizenship;   crossbench senators have voiced concerns about potential changes to Senate voting rules, with one accusing the Government of wanting to "silence any dissenting voices";   a criticism of the assumptions underlying conclusions that Australians are not engaged with politics;   large corporations and high income groups are pressing the Australian government to increase the GST in order to reduce company tax and taxes for high-income groups;   pressure is growing on Thailand’s military for a return to democracy (good luck with that … The whole situation arose because a few refused to accept democracy and wanted to go back to being ruled by a king);   the refusal of senior Immigration Department and Operation Sovereign Borders officials to answer questions from Senators on claims Australian authorities paid people smugglers to turn back a vessel last year is (in my view) an attack on the integrity of the Australian political system;   Malaysia’s controversial Premier is tightening his grip on power;   an assessment of the thorny issue of tobacco in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with pro-tobacco nuts in the US Congress on one side, and humanity on the other, and the broader problem of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), which, in my view, undermines the sovereignty of nations;   a call for indigenous people to support Australia becoming a republic;   the Egyptian Google employee whose anonymous facebook page helped to launch the Tahrir Square revolution in early 2011 has said “I once said, ‘If you want to liberate a society, all you need is the Internet.’ I was wrong”;   as presidential elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) draw closer, renewed fighting between communities has sparked tensions;      a review of the possibility of true democracy in Uganda;   India has a law – currently being reviewed by the judiciary – which prevents MPs crossing the floor …;
• With regard to violent extremism (aka, terrorism - e.g., Da’esh) (and, incidentally, I consider ALL people advocating hate or discrimination in response to violent extremism to actively be doing the work of violent extremists. This PARTICULARLY includes those cretins [including in the media, and Amnesty International] who use the acronym ISIS, which is actually the Greek name of the Egyptian Goddess Aset – and others (see also here) - and actively perpetuates the patriarchal and sacrilegious evil that terrorists 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):
     an assessment of terrorist groups in Egypt;   India has claimed most terrorist attacks on its soil start in Pakistan;   a review of terrorism in the Sahel, and what is needed to combat it - see also here;
     terrorist attacks have occurred in Nigeria (a major attack with particularly heinous details), Nigeria (again), Nigeria (again), Kenya, India, Syria, Somalia, possibly on a Somali plane (with brilliant flying by the crew to land safely), Somalia (again), Afghanistan, Cameroon, and prevention has or may have occurred in Germany;   Pakistan has closed 182 “madrassas” (schools) suspected of having links to terrorism;   African Union nations have pledged funds to fight terrorism in Nigeria, which is having problems with money and credibility;   Iraq is planning on building a wall around Baghdad to stop terrorist attacks;   a commentary on Indonesia’s deradicalisation programme;   some Indian states have launched a deradicalisation programme;   Tunisia has lifted a night time curfew which was imposed after recent terrorist attacks, as the security situation is considered to have improved;   Timbuktu has rebuilt the historic mausoleums which were destroyed by terrorists;   a call for greater international support of nations suffering from terrorism and violence;
     US President Obama has criticised inexcusable anti-Muslim rhetoric, and others also push back at this bigotry – typically associated with fears over terrorism - see also here;   the violent racism being shown to refugees – and their supporters - may tear Europe apart;   the problem of returning (former) terrorists – who must be managed constructively, not as we do with other criminals, who are too often forced into recidivism through lack of education / support / job opportunities (some nations do this fairly well, with jobs and support – I think Denmark is [or was] one);   research shows that positive / “relatable” portrayals of Muslims in TV shows reduces prejudice;
     in a major blow to good governance, France’s Justice Minister, who well known for taking principled stands against threats to cherished republican values, has resigned over a proposal to strip some people of their French citizenship;   new laws that could criminalise reporting on intelligence activities by journalists may breach the constitution and should be amended, Australia’s national security monitor has found;   another article states that, despite changes, the proposed Australian intelligence law will still curb press freedoms;   concerns over how a subpoena issued on a minor was handled;
• With regard to refugees:   an excellent critique of Australia’s immoral, unethical and illegal approach to refugees, which suggests an approach used in the past: regional collaboration (is this another case of the loss of institutional  memory?);   commentary that Australia’s economic boom periods have been when we welcomed immigrants – which has a bearing on our current xenophobic reactions against refugees;   parts of the USA are having positive experiences with Muslim refugees;   support for refugees in Norway - see also here;   the violent racism being shown to refugees – and their supporters - may tear Europe apart;   Europol fears that many the more than 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children who have disappeared in Europe may have been abducted by sex trafficking rings or the slave trade;   Jordan is at a crisis point as a result of the number of refugees it is trying to cater for;   the victim of a heinous incident of child abuse may be returned to Australia’s refugee gulags, where the child’s abuser still is;   where are the thousands of Syrian refugees Australia said it would take in?;   a critique of the High Court’s decision in favour of Australia’s refugee gulags;   Australian churches have said they will offer sanctuary to refugees to prevent them being deported to Australia’s refugee gulags (I suspect that the legal status of such sanctuary has declined with the modern separation of church and state, and thus such acts may wind up being a delaying action only) - see also here;   a leaked document suggests that the Australian government may be going to become even more hardline on refugees;   the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the reportedly dire living circumstances in France of some 4,000 refugees and migrants in what it calls the Calais "jungle" and nearly 2,500 others on the edges of Dunkirk;   most refugees in Europe are peaceful;   “The history of asylum seeker policy in Australia will be remembered as a story of how successive governments legislated their lies to justify a world of make-believe borders and imaginary compliance”;
• With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):
     it appears certain that Aung San Suu Kyi will continue the human rights abuses against the Rohingya people (and the Karen people?) in Burma. Her situation illustrates the problems some leaders can have with change: they need to take their people with them - which is an issue Australian Prime Minister Turnbull may have with regard to refugees. A more fundamental issues in both cases is: do the leaders know that they are supporting something which is immoral, or do they agree with it? If the former, there is hope they can cause change; if the latter, they are part of the evil problem;
     an analysis of Stan Grant’s recent, powerful speech on the racist foundations of the Australian dream and the living effects of history;   a call for greater respect in seeking solutions to the problem of racism;   Canada’s first Sikh Defence Minister, Harjit Sajjan, was heckled in Parliament with an Opposition member shouting that MPs needed an “English-to- English” translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as “racist”;   concerns that indigenous children who have been removed - without consultation / investigation - are not being placed in culturally appropriate care;   the problem of “blackface” – which some idiotic spectators in Australia seem not to have known or cared about;   signs of some redress for the Bushmen of the Kalahari in Botswana;
     Australia’s new Prime Minister is failing on equal marriage;   people who received criminal convictions for having gay sex before homosexuality was decriminalised in Victoria are set to receive a long overdue formal state apology, while protestors in Italy want to take a step backwards, into hate;   a launch has been held for six commemorative stamps promoting the UN Free & Equal campaign promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people;   brilliant support by the US Girl Guides to a trans girl – as opposed to the idiots in the Boy Scouts;
     court action is forcing multinational corporations to admit their connection to child slavery;
     a call to end the crime of FGM;   on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the heads of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have issued a joint statement calling on the global community to do more to protect the wellbeing and dignity of every girl, and to end the practice of FGM;   the importance of not losing sight of the importance of women’s rights and safety, after the mass sexual assaults in Cologne – see also here;   a philosophical criticism of the modern “pick up criminals” movement, based on a century old book which predicted both the movement and its failure;   a former elite soldier claims he was sexually assaulted during training; ;   a grossly mishandled “investigation” (read: whitewash) of an incident where a footballer threatened a woman (the use of former police officers, who appear to have been bullying, is highly inappropriate);   a Malaysian ex-diplomat, who used his diplomatic status to avoid prosecution initially, has been convicted of indecent assault (this, sadly, does illustrate the concerns which underlay attempts to “educate” over clashing cultural values);   the global headquarters of the orthodox Jewish movement is attempting to interfere in the investigation of child abuse in Jewish schools in Australia (have they seen what happened to the catholic church after it tried to do that?);   the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has identified seven new possible victims of sexual exploitation and abuse –see also here, for a call for prosecution of UN officials associated with any possible cover up, and here;   discrimination and the need for feminist personal trainers in the fitness industry;
     an excellent article on the need for legal protection to ensure both the dignity of people suffering discrimination, and democracy;   failure to implement a European Court judgement ordering a prisoners release, and “arbitrary application of the law in Azerbaijan […] to silence critical voices” has triggered a rare move by the secretary general of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, to launch an official inquiry into Azerbaijan’s implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights;   the European Parliament has condemned the use of torture and the death penalty in Bahrain, demanding the release of a man sentenced to death after allegedly confessing under torture;   a call for the Guinean government to protect the privacy of mobile phone users;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:   in a major backward step, African nations will withdraw from the International Criminal Court;   the US Justice Department has announced an investigation into the San Francisco police force, eight weeks after the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old black man provoked fury in the city;   a call for the United States Congress to adopt a blue ribbon task force’s recommendation to repeal most federal mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses – which is probably in line with the growing acknowledgement of the failure of the “war on drugs” approach;   the Brazilian judicial system is being pressured to defend injustices;   collaborative reform appears to be having promising results with regard to US police forces;   there were a record number of people exonerated in the USA in 2015, which has been credited to more prosecutors are actively looking for wrongful convictions;
• With regard to 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):   veteran current affairs journalist Kerry O'Brien has criticised the state of Australian politics and the media, saying interviewing has become too much of a "gladiatorial" sport: "The health of the democracy can partly be measured by the health of its media and I don't think the health of our government, of our democracy, is great right now", he said;   criticism of the ABC’s approach to “balance”;   media representatives from around the world will meet in the French capital this week to discuss how to reinforce the safety of those working in the sector;   concerns over freedom of the press in Pakistan, as the crackdown on the press in Uganda worsens;   the challenges of journalism following the mass sexual assaults in Cologne;
• With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals? I was recently pleasantly to find IT manufacturers now making at least some effort in this regard):   criticism of a facebook “challenge” and assumptions around motherhood;   changes to the natural environment will have to be accepted as a result of climate change;   internet trolls are causing a resurgence of hard copy fan zines;   a better way, more transparent, almost Pagan way to have meat (the reference to growing one’s own vegies is also good – that is something more people should do);   some cafés are refusing to serve customers who are on their mobile phone (good!);
• With regard to the conflict in Afghanistan (noting that Afghanistan was once a peaceful and modern society, even allowing women in miniskirts, before the Russian invasion – see here):   a possibility of improvements for journalists in Afghanistan;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
     the Secretary-General attended the African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia. He also conducted a number of meetings with Heads of State and other officials, and the situation in Burundi was central in many of these. During a press conference, he urged all parties, particularly Burundian political leaders, including President Nkurunziza, to engage in inclusive dialogue and listen carefully to the concerns and aspirations of Burundian people;   the UN Secretary General also told African leaders that they should not use legal loopholes or undemocratic constitutional changes to "cling to power" - see also here;   the possible re-emergence of the African Peer Review Mechanism, which was designed to help the continent’s leaders urge each other to better governance and, in its prime, included uncomfortable truths, such as the 2007 one which warned about rise of xenophobia in South Africa;
     the African Union has failed Burundi by backing off on peacekeepers – see here, here and here;   there have been attempts to smuggle weapons from Democratic Republic of Congo through Rwanda to rebels in Burundi;
     challenges facing Nigeria;   a call for Nigeria to focus on protecting people, not territory;
     the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has said it will not summon Rwanda to respond to allegations that it is supporting insurgents against Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza;
      France hopes to end its military operation in the Central African Republic this year;
     a general opposed to Uganda’s current long-term president has been arrested;
     the opposition in Mozambique is blaming the current government for violence, and claiming it will rule after the coming election – with an apparent inference of taking power by violence - see also here;
     children have been abandoned at a school in Somaliland to avoid starvation;
     MONUSCO and the DRC will resume joint operations against rebels, but no word on how the disagreement over human rights abuses one year ago has been resolved;   Congolese troops killed two United Nations peacekeepers after civilians accused the Tanzanian UN troops of providing supplies to Islamist Ugandan rebels in east DR Congo;   tribal children in the African rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo have been paid in glue to sniff, and alcohol, in return for menial work;
     the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) reports that a former UN Police camp in Timbuktu has been attacked by unknown assailants;
     a British helicopter pilot was fatally shot by elephant poachers while flying an anti-poaching mission in Tanzania – see also here;
• With regard to the Colonialist Chinese Empire and East and South East Asia:   an assessment that the Colonialist Chinese Empire’s views of the USA are ambiguous;   the Colonialist Chinese Empire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that foreign military ships entering what the Colonialist Chinese Empire has unilaterally declared as Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea must seek authorisation in advance before sailing through such seas;   the United Nations has released $8 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for severely under-funded aid operations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;   the almost impossible challenges of having wrongful convictions reversed in the Colonialist Chinese Empire;
• With regard to the Indian sub-continent, The Hindu and other sources have:
     an editorial on the considerations around euthanasia;   an excellent article on the need for legal protection to ensure both the dignity of people suffering discrimination, and democracy;   the Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal against the criminalisation of LGBT people;   the Supreme Court has lashed the Gujarat government for ignoring a duly constituted law;   reacting to submissions by BJP MLAs in the crisis-hit Arunachal Pradesh that a Governor’s official acts cannot be scrutinised threadbare by the judiciary, the Supreme Court on Thursday said court cannot be expected to watch quietly from the sidelines if “democracy is slaughtered”;   the problem of female foeticide;
     a woman in north east India is challenging the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is considered to have led to state-sanctioned violence;   an article on security for Indians outside India – which mentions the evacuation of 170,000 Indians from Kuwait just after the Iraqi invasion in 1990;   accusations of assault have been made against forestry officials who charged with protecting tigers and forest dwelling people;   a racist assault following a car accident – which has led suspension of some police;
     “for rural India to be vibrant, the way forward seems to be to simultaneously address the twin challenges of reviving the dynamism of the farm sector by building its climate resilience on the one hand and creation of quality employment in non-farm segments of the rural economy on the other”;   a review of the past successes and current undermining of a jobs scheme;
     the Tamil People’s Council, a forum of Tamil political parties and groups, has proposed that Sri Lanka be converted into a federal republic;   the Sri Lankan national anthem will now also be Tamil;   the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has begun a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka, at the invitation of the Government;
    India has donated a patrol boat to the Seychelles, and firmed up naval cooperation with Thailand;
     vehicles have passed through the main border point between Nepal and India after frustrated residents forcefully removed barriers set up by Madhesi protesters who blockaded the border to demand changes in the new Constitution;
• 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):   a total of 849 Iraqis were killed and another 1,450 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in January, according to casualty figures released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq;   growing concerns over atrocities by Shia militias, and calls to protect mass graves, which are evidence of crime;
• With regard to the Libyan civil war:   Algeria is taking a quiet role in the search for peace in Libya;   expressing concern for people affected by conflict in Libya during the winter months, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya has called for more support – only 1% of the necessary funding has been received;   the abuses committed by terrorists in a town they control;   growing terrorist influences are increasing the concerns of the US led coalition – and thus the risk of external intervention inflaming the current fighting;
• With regard to the New Russian Empire (see also Syria):   a Western security-based assessment of the New Russian Empire;   the New Russian Empire has been going into Turkish air space again;   more attempts by the New Russian Empire to kill LGBT children;   the New Russian Empire submarine activity has reached Cold War levels;   the New Russian Empire is courting a terrorist group in Afghanistan for intelligence;   the New Russian Empire is pushing Sweden towards NATO;   an opinion that the New Russian Empire has launched a hybrid war aimed at destabilising the West and dividing Europe;
• With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:   South Sudan government troops killed about 50 people by forcing them into a shipping container in baking heat, ceasefire monitors said in a report noting the latest atrocities in two years of war;   the South Sudanese government is trying to gain assistance in fighting against sanctions imposed for its atrocities and abuses;   the number of internally displaced people in Darfur is increasing, according to African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID);   Uganda and Sudan are supplying weapons to opposing sides in South Sudan;   the Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, has voiced his concern over the recent passing of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Bill by the country's legislature, which limits the number of foreign aid workers eligible to work in the country;   a weekly radio programme focusing on issues affecting women and children in South Sudan is having a real impact on people’s lives;
• with regard to the conflict in Syria:   the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that an estimated 12,500 people are besieged in the villages of Foah and Kafraya, in Syria's Idleb Governorate, where residents have faced a deterioration of the humanitarian situation over the last months;   Iranian Hercules transport aircraft appear to have joined the New Russian Empire air drop effort to sustain a besieged government-controlled enclave in eastern Syria;   Syrian refugees in Lebanon appear to be putting religious differences aside –for the moment, at least;   talks have commenced in Geneva between some of the key parties, but faltered before the arrival of the HNC (rebel) delegation, which meant the talks were officially underway, before being deferred for several weeks. The Special Envoy for Syria has established an independent Women’s Advisory Board to the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, and will issue invitations to Syrian women and civil society representatives;   an assessment that Dictator Assad has copied Colonial Empire Israel’s diversionary focus on process, rather than peace, in negotiations;   there have been reports of intensified fighting and airstrikes in Aleppo governorate in recent days and UN agencies have received reports of the displacement of thousands of people from towns in the north-east of the area, reports that refugees are fleeing the advancing Syrian government forces at the risk of freezing to death – see also here;   why partitioning Syria may not be the right answer – including an assessment that communal harmony may not be totally lost;   an assessment that attempting to create safe zones would not work;   a plea to go beyond number counting when considering aid for Syrian refugees;   some aid has been delivered;   the city of Homs looks much as many German cities did at the end of World War Part Two;   donors have pledged $10 billion in aid, but the focus is shifting from immediate humanitarian to job (not in Lebanon), education and long term assistance, which is good as aid providers say money is not the problem, and aid is piling up in Damascus – also, see here for an analysis of the possibly dodgy motivations of those making donations;   the US Secretary of State has demanded that Russia stop bombing the opposition;    an assessment that Turkey may be manoeuvred by events into committing ground forces to Syria;   Saudi Arabia has said it would commit troops to a ground war against terrorists;
• with regard to Turkey:   the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed his concern over the actions of security forces and the clampdown on the media in Turkey;   human rights activists, independent journalists, academics and others in Turkey are sounding the alarm bells over a dramatic worsening of human rights conditions in the country, and are urging Germany, as a key European Union member, to listen and act;   Syrian child refugees are working illegally in Turkey – which is finally getting around to issuing work permits, and few purchasers are showing any signs of caring;   The New Russian Empire has been going into Turkish air space again;   Turkish Police have arrested two men suspected of plotting a suicide attack, including the man believed to be behind the 1996 killing of a top industrialist;   Turkey is complaining about support for Kurds outside Turkey;   Turkey has acquitted a professor charged over an exam question relating to a jailed terrorist, which was case that raised major concerns about freedom of speech;
• with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:   aid organizations have expressed concern over the thousands of civilians – mainly elderly and vulnerable Ukrainian citizens – facing difficulties every day in crossing the so-called ‘contact’ line, and the Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine urged the Government to keep checkpoints open, noting their closure has an immediate impact on people’s lives, directly increasing hardship and humanitarian need;   accusations of corruption and dysfunction in the Ukrainian government;   increased violence is aiming at increasing pressure on the Ukrainian government;   a review of the New Russian Empire-Ukraine, and recommendations for how other nations approach the situation;
• With regard to West Asia / the Middle East, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     an EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined a terrorist group is suspected of planting a bomb on a Russian passenger plane that was downed in late October, 2015;   a cartoonist who was arrested for mocking Egyptian President al-Sisi has been released;   an Egyptian judge has resigned, claiming the Justice Minister is making reform impossible;   Saudi Arabia overturned the death sentence of Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh on Tuesday, although he will still face eight years in jail and 800 lashes;
     an explanation of the massive of scale of Colonial Empire Israel’s settlements (one covers 50 square kilometres) and why they have made a two state solution impossible;   the Secretary-General has expressed alarm over recent statements from the Hamas leadership in Gaza about the group's intention to continue building tunnels and firing rockets at Israel;   the credibility of the Palestinian Authority is in decline;   Colonial Empire Israel (CEI) government funds have been secretly transferred to far-right organisations – which has had to back down on one of their more extreme claims - leading a smear campaign against groups opposed to the occupation;   for the first time ever, women will be allowed to pray with men at the “Western Wall”;   Palestinian medical staff are still respected in Israel;   CEI forces have demolished at least a dozen buildings, 10 of which had been constructed with funds from ECHO, the European Commission's humanitarian arm, leaving a number of families homeless - many of whom are cave dwellers, and argue their ancestors have lived on the land since long before Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967;   the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid in the occupied Palestinian territories, Robert Piper, has said that he is deeply concerned about the continued practice of administrative detention in Colonial Empire Israel jails and detention centres;   concerns are growing over the health of a Palestinian, being held without charge, who is on a hunger strike;   the violence continues – see, for instance, here;   security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and CEI is reportedly fraying;   a rebuttal of (idiotic – grossly unbalanced and, frankly, hypocritical) claims that closing down businesses operating in CEI’s West Bank colony would be collective punishment: this is collective punishment;   Russia's growing influence over the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah alliance may help prevent any sudden escalations with CEI, according to the CEI’s “defence” forces;   an analysis of the CEI’s recent (“shrill”) diplomacy;  in an unprecedented move, CEI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the speaker of the CEI parliament are to file complaints with the ethics committee against three Palestinian Israeli politicians who met with relatives of Palestinians killed while allegedly carrying out attacks on Israelis;
     relatives of two missing Tunisian journalists plan to travel to the area in Libya that they disappeared, and have sought help from the government without success;
• With regard to the war in Yemen:   the Houthis are continuing to deny food and humanitarian aid to the besieged city of Taizz;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:   the USA will provide $97 million in drought and famine relief in Ethiopia;   the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General, Margaret Chan, has declared the cluster of microcephaly cases and their possible association with the Zika virus to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that upholding women’s human rights is essential if the response to the Zika health emergency is to be effective, and added that laws and policies that restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services in contravention of international standards must be repealed and concrete steps must be taken so that women have the information, support and services they require to exercise their rights to determine whether and when they become pregnant (stopping rape might also be useful … );
• With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally:   a review of efforts to end the civil war in Colombia;   speaking about conflict prevention, the Secretary-General has stressed that the conflicts in Syria and Yemen showed that the idea of a so-called winner had lost all meaning. Everyone is losing, and the biggest victims are the innocent civilian populations. He noted the start of the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva and urged all parties to put the people of Syria, are bearing the brunt of the conflict, at the heart of their discussions, and above partisan interests;   the need for greater equality in order to achieve peace;

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

• the Deputy Secretary-General has spoken at the opening of the Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, where he underscored young people’s crucial role in shaping the 2030 Agenda, calling them agents of change whose contributions will bring benefits both to themselves and to society;
• while receiving an honorary doctorate, the UN Secretary-General said that, across the world, there is a strong sense that we are off track and in a deep mess; the challenge facing the international community is to move from a pattern of reaction to a culture of prevention, which, in turn, must mean a heightened focus on preventing violations of human rights - but today, he warned, in many places and in many respects, the human rights compact is under assault or has broken down completely;
• the Secretary-General has said that he has seen the reports that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) notified several international organizations of its intention to launch a satellite in the coming weeks, and has called upon the DPRK to refrain from using ballistic missile technology and work for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula;

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

• Human Rights Watch also has:   a call for Germany to use its one year role as chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to reinforce its underpinning principles of human rights and rule of law, thereby promoting long term human security;   criticism of the inaccurate and unjustifiable ordeal of “virginity testing” for rape survivors;   allegations that both the Somali government and terrorists placed civilians at excessive risk from conflict-related and other abuses during 2015;
• 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:   a review of the book “Blood Oil: Tyrants, Violence, and the Rules that Run the World”;
• the Political Violence at a Glance blog has:   an article on aspects of recovery after war (which notes that civil wars average a 7 to 12 year duration);

and from a range of other sites:

• an interview with Waleed Aly, who makes the interesting comment that Europe has never really tried multiculturalism;
• about 9,000 US citizens a year move to Canada for a better life;
• links on events in the Pacific here, here, here and here;
• rivalry between police and army may be a problem in Burma;
• Indonesia’s need to improve research and peer-reviewed publications on pressing topics such as finding innovative ways to empower impoverished communities;
• a claim that US President Obama is a “master” of geopolitics … ;

Regular sources include the Daily Briefings of the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, “War on the Rocks”, the Early Warning Project blog, the Justice in Conflict blog, the Political Violence at a Glance blog, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, the International Crisis Group, the Middle East Eye, The Hindu, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the BBC, Spiegel International, The Conversation, John Menadue’s blog, Wikipedia’s current events portal, Wendell Williams’ blog, George Monbiot’s website, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, the “Cure Violence” blog, the Inter Press Service Agency (IPS), and others.

No signature block this week owing to the length of the post.)