Post No. 935 – For Sunday evening’s meditation-clearing

For everyone’s convenience:   the reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing are here;   a simplified blogiography of posts related to this work is here,   a list of themes I have identified here;   my changing the personality of oppressors and other world leaders post is here;   (see here for some investigation into evidence of the effectiveness of this type of work … and also here and here are interesting);   a range of information on emotions is here, and suggestions on how to work with emotions is here;   this copy of a speech to one of the Parliament of World Religions has excellent, helpful insights on generational transmission of harm, the cost of war, and ways to heal our hearts;   and   this post reminds us to be patient and persistent, like a “speeding oak” (and I like the comment about a sudden “shift” being just another form of apocalyptic thinking).

Now, the purpose of posting these news links (and, incidentally, these posts are the equivalent of a re-tweeting service, or, at best, a commentary site: I am NOT a journalist, and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias or trying to cover all [there are often more than two] sides of an issue – see here) is not only to inform:   it is also to stimulate a connection to nonBPM units that need to be cleared and BPM units that need to be strengthened, so that you can do the clearing / strengthening that is required.   That only works if you don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by this, so take it in small chunks if you need to, but remember to actively clear and heal! … including yourself.

Further to that, in the same way that activists used to argue that “the personal is political”, the energies we use and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that influence world events. If you want to, for example, improve the communication of nations, improve yours. To help stop abuses of power, be always ethical in your conduct. Want peace? Then work in an informed, understanding, intelligent and nuanced way for peace in yourself and your life.

There are some notes at the end of this post about other options for those who do not like this way of working, opportunities for healers, and the default plan for any time I am late getting my Psychic Weather Report up.

Now, the themes – short, medium and long term - that come to mind for my work this week, after I review all this news, are (and no apologies if this repeats the themes of any previous weeks – in fact, given the size of this task, that is to be expected):

(a)   based on my interpretation of information here and here with Saturn in Sagittarius contributing to finding an authentic balance (until 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 of the slow steadiness of BPM Earth;

(d)   reflection is showing the last few decades have not been as good as the advocates of change claimed it would be, with growing inequity leading a range of problems. Whilst there was a valid need for change, there was a – with apologies to Buddhism – “Middle Way”, or a balanced approach. Now, while we cannot go back to how things were – and should not, because there were things that needed to be changed, we cannot continue with our current flawed political-economic-social thinking, and thus there needs to be change – the pendulum, in a sense, needs to swing back to the centre;

(e)   Syria, Yemen, the Pakistani-Indian border and some areas in Africa are of particular concern, as US presidential candidate Trump shows how unsuited he is to the role he is seeking, and Philippines president Duterte has started to balance his near-genocidal violence and butchery with some sensible comments about international relations;

(f)   the UN is one of the greatest forces for peace and development in the world today – despite its flaws. Notwithstanding the good work it does, its flaws need to be addressed, but the claim it is not democratic is a furphy: if true democracy was implemented, votes would be weighted according to population, and thus any removal of the veto in the Security Council would become meaningless;

(g)   we need more mature, not old, spirituality – even if it is dressed up in a religious guise, as long as it is mature (shown by aspects such as inclusivity) rather than old, it could potentially be of great benefit;

(h)   abuses of power (e.g., corruption) are an ongoing problem: I content that democracy is the best way of fundamentally addressing that in the long term PROVIDED it has adequate measures to protect the vulnerable/minorities against the majority;

(i)   we need to seek, personally, to be outstanding examples of ethical behaviour and compassion, and then, once we have done that consistently, we should – perhaps gently, at first – seek to hold others to the highest standards. However, if at any time people are committing harm (e.g., genocide, or the abuses of Syrians by the Syrian government), then we need to act decisively, promptly and as BPM forcefully as is needed to protect those who are being victimised;

(j)   nations and/or large groups can be psychologically scared and spiritually diminished, just as much as individuals and/or small groups;

(k)   the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech;

(l)   peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient (not impatient!), persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;

(m)   where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, and constructive solutions - as is clearing nonBPM units;

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

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

• Permanent issue: may all actual and potential BPM [1] Leaders be kept BPM safe, including keeping them undetectable to the nonBPM and keeping all their Significant Others inviolable against being used for indirect  psychic attack, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at influencing the world’s direction, development and unfoldment, all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
• Permanent issue: may all humans recognise, irrespective of the appearance of difference, the essential shared humanness of other people, the inherent resilience, the dynamic power, the strength of BPM collaboration, and the opportunities of having a diverse, inclusive and welcoming population, and may all people choose fairness, when such decisions are before them;
• Permanent issue: may all humans choose to live modestly – to forgo outdoing others, or trying to have more than they need - for the sake of an easier, more manageable life, if they cannot do it for the sake of the planet;
• Events warranting particular attention, or fitting into too many categories:
     the benefits – including creativity – of allowing ourselves to be bored;
     villagers are fleeing Punjab, fearing another war between India and Pakistan (these are people living in the energies of that hot spot, and probably best able to assess the risks: I therefore consider this to be a serious risk);
     the World Bank has admitted the growth of global free trade has not been a success for all;   “Addressing poverty, inequality, and economic recession needs progressive counter-cyclical macroeconomic policies, with wage and social protection programmes”;
  In the 1980s, I disagreed with many people over economic “rationalism”. Now, I can see that the argument was even more important than I realised, with economic “rationalism” being a toe in the door for neoliberalism and small-mindedness and the politics of fear. If I had my time over again, I would fight even harder against that first evil step – but I would hope I could do so with nuance, because the arguments against were completely stuffed up. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for me to do that right now, and no doubt there will be more … utopia is still some way off.
• With regard to democracy, freedom and governance (e.g., here and here):
     -   an excellent assessment of the motives of the nations involved in the Syrian conflict (with a link to an also excellent and comprehensive [long] assessment of US President Obama’s views and insight on West Asia [aka the “Middle East”], US influence and other world events generally) – see also here;   a very good analysis of US presidential candidate Trump’s popularity, attributing that clearly and directly to his extremism – and this linked article is also particularly good in terms of insight into political propaganda – sorry, I mean “advertising”;   a call for reform of the UN (particularly the SC veto power) which notes that the members of the UN Security Council are in breach of Article 24 of the UN Charter;   an assessment of the issues being stirred up by US presidential candidate Trump, including anxiety (with a reference to a word new to me: kakistocracy, or “government by the worst persons”);   inequalities exacerbate climate change impacts on the poor and vulnerable, as the UN agriculture agency says declining prices could thwart international efforts to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty unless steps are taken to guarantee decent incomes and livelihoods for small-scale producers;   improved technology (accuracy of targeting, in particular) may make nuclear proliferation more likely;   a critique of Jordan’s recent, low-voter-turnout, unsatisfactory-in-many-ways elections;   a call for the EU to invest more in Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan for the sake of stability;   an assessment of “questions about the limits of accommodation in a liberal multicultural society” raised by a father’s objection to some aspects of his children’s public education (in Canada);   an examination of China’s hypocritical interference with Australia’s internal affairs;   an examination of the banality and evil of Australia’s cruel policies towards refugees;   an examination of the need for change for CEOs, including the possibility of abandoning pay-for-performance in favour of the concept of stewardship;   an interesting map of attempts in the USA by vested interest to pre-empt grassroots improvements to society;   a graph of changes in income over the last few decades (sometimes modified to look like an elephant – the “globalisation elephant”);   the experiences of a woman who took on corruption in Spain’s “ruling elite” (I can relate to this: there have been very few times I haven’t suffered as a result of standing up for ethical principles);   the story of an indigenous man who survived the nuclear bomb tests at Maralinga, which was wrongly thought to be an area without people;   an article arguing that the world has changed and left the era of “grand strategy” behind – see also here;   an examination of the ICC and how to judge its success;   an examination of the implications of the referral of Kenya for failing to cooperate with the ICC (see also here and here);   possible piecemeal progress on the Russian-Japanese dispute over the Kuril islands;   an examination of aristocracy vs democracy;   an argument that Brexit is robbing people in the UK of the EU citizenship;   a criticism of privatisation of electrical networks (which I personally support – partly because I know that, without privatisation, Hazelwood power station would have been closed by now, and partly because of some of what I saw in the water industry. There were some benefits, but there was also a middle way that was possible, if people had been freer of ideology);   a call for India to cherish civil society;
     -   the UK will allow its troops to break human rights laws;
     -   a review of a pessimistic book on democracy;
     -   Liberia has a new law creating parliamentary seats reserved for women, young people and people with disabilities;   many developing nations share philosophies aimed at sustainable development;
     -   criticism of Australia’s inconsistent approach to prosecuting war criminals;  as with this author, I am glad the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague brought down its decision last week against Australia in a long running dispute with East Timor over sea bed oil (I have written a few letters supporting the East Timorese over the years :) );   criticism of the Americanisation of Australia;   allegations that Australia has had a culture of systemic safety of life at sea negligence, and that this is being shown by a current enquiry;   a rebuttal of concerns that focus on reducing GHG emissions had caused or significantly contributed to an Australian state losing electrical power;   a dispute between Australia’s Attorney-General and Solicitor-General has become politicised - see also here and here;
• With regard to violent extremism (aka, terrorism - e.g., Da’esh) (and, incidentally, I consider ALL people advocating hate or discrimination in response to violent extremism to actively be doing the work of violent extremists. This PARTICULARLY includes those cretins [including in the media, and Amnesty International] who use the acronym ISIS (see also here), which is actually the Greek name of the Egyptian Goddess Aset – and others (see also here and here) - and actively perpetuates the patriarchal and sacrilegious evil that violent extremists are trying to accomplish in this world – which will be countered, in part, by the sort of approach advocated by “Cure Violence”, and, in part, by addressing real and perceived disempowerment and acknowledging the variety in what provides genuine, BPM fulfilment as a counter to fanaticism as a source of meaning. I also am inclined, personally, to include here the last two millennia of neochristian and colonialist social engineering, which has led to suppression of women, child abuse, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc, as violent extremism, but that would take too much explaining. As a final point, I am deliberately avoiding the use of specific names of violent extremist groups as much as possible to reduce the publicity they get – I’m not a primary news source, and thus consider I can do so: any names that are needed are in the articles I have provided links to):
     -   violent extremist attacks have occurred this week in India (Kashmir), Afghanistan, Syria, Mali, Somalia, Belgium, Niger, France (call for Islamophobia), the UK (hate towards an anti Islamophobia monitor), Turkey, India (Kashmir – 2^nd), Kenya, and, according to this Wikipedia page, 1 attack in Iraq (out of a total of 19);   prevention has or may have occurred in India; and actions have occurred against violent extremists in Syria;   a hostage in Yemen has been freed;   a Syrian refugee and former prisoner of violent extremists is helping track the violent extremists down;
     -   doubts over an alleged interview with a violent extremist;   a (simplistic, but worth considering) call for the USA to apologise and admit its interventions in West Asia were about oil, not religion;   support for grassroots counter-radicalisation movements;
     -   an assessment that “lone wolf” violent extremists tend to pick and choose from ideologies;   some common sense remarks about living with Muslims;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):   with a voter turnout of 43% (less than the 50% required for validity), Hungary appears to have rejected refugees;   Italy has rescued over 6,000 refugees;   claims that Hungary’s treatment of refugees is a disgrace to its history;   allegations that Australia has had a culture of systemic safety of life at sea negligence, and that this is being shown by a current enquiry;   an examination of the banality and evil of Australia’s cruel policies towards refugees;   changing efforts by journalists to keep people engaged with the refugee crisis;   the UN has criticised Nauru over its role in Australia’s refugee gulag there;   an examination of where the hate for refugees in Germany comes from (it appears to be focused in the former East Germany, and to be associated with life under communism and unfulfilled expectations afterwards);   an examination of the way that Australia’s anti-refugee policy diminishes us all and is creating a shadow on our national psyche;   an Eritrean journalist, a refugee in Ethiopia, is attempting to dissuade other refugees from the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing;
• With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):
     -   an Australian MP has links to a virulently homophobic Ugandan church;   Tasmania is pushing ahead with homophobia-enabling legislation as mental health advocates call on the commonwealth to drop the Equal Marriage plebiscite;
     -   a conservation project is also helping indigenous Australians;   the Australian government’s remote employment scheme is doing “more harm than good” in Indigenous communities, due to a lack of consideration of how it would work (including requiring meaningless tasks), a peak employment body has found;   the successful “No More” campaign and the failure to support it;   the story of an indigenous man who survived the nuclear bomb tests at Maralinga, which was wrongly thought to be an area without people;   an article on an indigenous culture festival, and how all of Australia can benefit from indigenous culture;
     -   renting in Melbourne and Sydney beyond the finances of many women;   an idiotic male has gone to extraordinary lengths to out a woman writing under a pseudonym – which just set back my plans to do some writing when I retire;   two male football players have been ordered to train with the women’s team after making sexist remarks (I’m not sure this is going to lead to a constructive outcome … what about talking to them?);   Pakistan has closed a loophole which had allowed some who murdered women to get off on the basis of it being a so-called “honour” killing;   ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has released a report warning that the worldwide disparity between unpaid household chores assumed by girls aged five through 14 as compared to their male counterparts, amounts to 40 per cent more time, intensifies as girls reach adolescence, and leads to a sacrifice of important opportunities to learn, grow and just enjoy childhood;  more sexist abuse from US presidential candidate Trump (this is about behaviour which the TSA regularly does);
     -   the UN’s torture prevention body has urged Kazakhstan to focus more on the rehabilitation of prisoners rather than punishment, as part of efforts to ensure that people deprived of their liberty are protected against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;   an Islamic school was won a five year court case in the USA, which supporters claim will protect the rights of Muslim Americans;   the UK will allow its troops to break human rights laws;   reports that Yahoo acquiesced to (possibly legal?) requests to do spying on behalf of the US government – see also here;   the top UN human rights forum has agreed to set up a commission of enquiry to identify perpetrators of killings and torture in Burundi and ensure that they are brought to justice;   criticism that Australia’s corporate social responsibility documents are just window dressing;   a call for Viêt Nám to free a prominent blogger;   claims of previously unreported methods of torture that shed new light on the earliest days of the CIA program;   South Australian MPs are investigating decriminalising brothels (I know people who have been forced into the sex trade because discrimination left them no other options – which makes fixing the discrimination the issue, and was one of the reason I was so strongly in favour of legislation protecting trans people in the late 1990s, and one other person –a cisgender woman – who has been at times in the sex trade because she liked sex. It’s a complex situation, particularly when human trafficking aka slavery (e.g., see here) is added into the mix, and decriminalisation has the chance to break some of the unsavoury links);   those who are not doing so well in society are more likely to have sleep problems;   the RSPCA will adopt recommendations to improve performance;   a writer and human rights activist has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Iran for writing – but not publishing - a story about stoning;   an example of white male privilege;   Archbishop Desmond Tutu has revealed that he wants to have the option of an assisted death;   two human rights lawyers have been jailed in Tajikistan;   Germany is failing to control online hate speech;   an examination of the ICC and how to judge its success;   concerns that the ICC may have watered down the types of cases it will take on;   a Pakistani Christian woman’s appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn her death sentence in an infamous 2010 blasphemy case will be heard next week;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:   criticism of Australia’s inconsistent approach to prosecuting war criminals;   dashboard video shows US police trying to run down a homeless man with mental illness before fatally shooting him;   nine Australian men who stripped to either togs or underwear with the Malaysian flag will face court – and deservedly so!;   police officers accused of assault have also been accused of fabricating their counter claim;   the too often ignored problem of children sexually abusing other children;   13,000 police officers have been reportedly purged (how many are left?) in Turkey;   Germany is failing to control online hate speech;   an examination of the ICC and how to judge its success;   an examination of the implications of the referral of Kenya for failing to cooperate with the ICC (see also here and here);   concerns that the ICC may have watered down the types of cases it will take on;   following the hospitalisation of a police officer, US police have expressed concern over the backlash against police use of weapons – which fails to look at the broader picture, including racism (and ALL of its effects) and the different approaches taken elsewhere in the world (which have not been tarnished by the USA’s addictions to guns, allegedly constitutional);
• 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):   Omani journalists have been silenced over articles alleging corruption;   a call for Viêt Nám to free a prominent blogger;   German prosecutors have dropped an investigation into a TV comedian accused of insulting Turkish President;   two East Timorese journalists are going on trial in a criminal defamation case brought by the country's prime minister that has alarmed press freedom groups;   “don’t feed the trolls” is still the best approach, apparently;   a writer and human rights activist has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Iran for writing – but not publishing - a story about stoning;   more silencing of independent media in Turkey;
• With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals, environmental harm and child labour? I was recently pleasantly to find IT manufacturers now making at least some effort in this regard. Do you suffer from FOMO? Are you being duped by modern mantras? Does your AI use ethics? Does your corporation misuse mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions? Do you understand embedded emissions?):
     -   an abalone diver has been filming encounters with great white sharks;   a conservation project is also helping indigenous Australians;   idiots have become blasé about crocodiles in northern Australia;   inequalities exacerbate climate change impacts on the poor and vulnerable;   a view that fighting local pollution is also fighting climate change;   air pollution may increase traffic accidents by impairing drivers;   trees thought to be extinct have been found at a royal residence in Scotland;   a rebuttal of concerns that focus on reducing GHG emissions had caused or significantly contributed to an Australian state losing electrical power, and a balanced, informed and detailed assessment here;   a council in the north of New South Wales has admitted negligence after residents of several towns were notified of elevated uranium levels two years after the levels were confirmed;   a farm has started selling mushrooms that don’t meet the normal expectations of visual perfection;   water buybacks may lead to the closure of a school in  dwindling town;   an agreement has finally been reached to limit GHG emissions from the aviation industry – although there is more to do, and the industry is not “green” by any stretch of the imagination;   coffee producers in Costa Rica are using science to adapt to climate change;
     -   “don’t feed the trolls” is still the best approach, apparently;   Germany is failing to control online hate speech;   small companies are finding a way to provide Internet services in rural areas;
     -   fear for their futures for workers who know they will lose their jobs soon – and the loss of mechanical engineering that will lead to could adversely affect Australia (see also here, on how we could have learned from the USA and used foreign investment, and here, on the poor prospects for jobs);   , the UN agriculture agency says declining prices could thwart international efforts to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty unless steps are taken to guarantee decent incomes and livelihoods for small-scale producers
     -   an examination of the increase in IQ over the last century;   paediatricians in Australia’s Northern Territory fear unchecked use of lead shot or pellets used for hunting water fowl is causing an outbreak of elevated lead levels in children;   the snobs who buy coffee because they’re too good to stir a spoon or two of instant into hot water are trying to make that a good thing by organising “coffee trails” … ;   lies and other problems on budget applications as people struggle to have a place to live;   a proportion of Australians continue to have problems with binge drinking – including a proportion of young Australians;
• With regard to education:   a critique of over and under funding of Australian schools;   water buybacks may lead to the closure of a school in  dwindling town;
• 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 call for Afghanistan’s foreign donors to press the government to safeguard gains in education and promote civilian protection;   the threats to LGBT people in Afghanistan – which is part of why I declined a work assignment there a few years ago. Bigots rarely comprehend that they actually also miss out as a result of their hate;   a follow up on the appalling bombing of a hospital in Kunduz one year ago;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
     -   the top UN human rights forum has agreed to set up a commission of enquiry to identify perpetrators of killings and torture in Burundi and ensure that they are brought to justice;
     -   an examination of the implications of the referral of Kenya for failing to cooperate with the ICC (see also here and here);
     -   dozens have been killed and injured in Ethiopia's Oromia region after security forces confronted protesters at a festival;   an assessment that the protests could lead to change;   an Eritrean journalist, a refugee in Ethiopia, is attempting to dissuade other refugees from the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing;
     -   Zimbabwe is tightening its crackdown on mobile phone apps – including increasing prices;
     -   the situation in Congo continues to deteriorate: see here, here, and here;
     -   the United Nations warns that conditions in Central Africa’s Lake Chad basin are threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, among them many children;
     -   violence in the Central African Republic has led to deaths and hindrance in the delivery of aid;
     -   Mali’s stability is still at risk;
     -   the USA is investing at least $50m in a military air base in Niger that will be capable of deploying drones;
     -   Turkey has opened a military base in Somalia;
     -   companies are responding to questions about human rights abuses in their cobalt supply chains;
     -   European observers were allegedly spied upon during Gabon’s recent elections;
     -   Liberia has a new law creating parliamentary seats reserved for women, young people and people with disabilities;
     -   President Paul Kagame has picked a team of eminent persons he will work with as he leads efforts to reform the African Union into a more credible and self-reliant body;
     -   Ethiopia and Djibouti have launched the first fully electrified cross-border railway line in Africa;
     -   the UN has found that civilians living in areas of northern Nigeria recaptured from violent extremists still have very worrying protection/vulnerability issues (children beg for food and money; no safe place to sleep; widowed mothers with as many as 10 children struggling to work or earn money), live in fear that the insurgency group could attack them again, and lack the most basic assistance, with women particularly at risk;
• With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
     -   an assessment that China is currently in clear violation of four of the tribunal’s rulings on the South China Seas, and fully compliant with one, and it is uncertain whether China is in compliance with the rest of the tribunal’s rulings;   China is believed to have its sights on the United Nations’ top peacekeeping job, a position that would “place a country with an abysmal human rights record in charge of the world’s second-largest expeditionary force of more than 100,000 peacekeepers deployed in hot spots around the world”;   an examination of China’s hypocritical interference with Australia’s internal affairs;   although they still have concerns (e.g., corruption), the Chinese people have been found by a survey to be increasingly optimistic about the future;   a nuanced examination of the relationship between Australia, China and the USA;
     -   a Hong Kong democracy activist has been detained in Thailand;
     -   children in flood ravaged North Korea are particularly vulnerable as winter closes in;
     -   the Philippines’ populist president – he has a “very good” rating from a poll - is dancing with the notion of possibly re-pivoting towards China and Russia, away from the USA – and the Foreign Minister has advised that the President of the Philippines wants to liberate his country from a "shackling dependency" on the United States which cannot guarantee its help when Philippine sovereignty is under threat (which may well be a fair point);
     -   Burma has scrapped a stringent law which had been used by the former military leaders to silence opponents;   the USA has eased sanctions against Burma (incidentally, I won’t use the term “Myanmar” until fair treatment of minorities exists);
• 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):
     -   concerns that political deadlines are overriding issues on the ground in the campaign to retake Mosul, where 1.2 to 1.5 million civilians (including hundreds of thousands of children) will be at risk;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 320 people killed in the last week;
• With regard to the Libyan civil war:   the continuing air bombing campaign in Libya;
• With regard to Russia (which is currently actively supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria):   an assessment that US-Russian relations may have deteriorated to “unsalvageable”;   Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a halt to an agreement with the United States on plutonium disposal;   the Russian hackers who “released” medical records of sportspeople may have altered some of that data;   Russia may restore bases in Viêt Nám and Cuba;
• With regard to South and Central America:   voters (37% turnout) in Columbia have rejected the peace deal with FARC over concerns about impunity and other matters, but Colombia and FARC have asked the UN for help to continue the ceasefire, and the President of Columbia – someone who has experienced a major personal conversion - has won the Nobel Peace Prize for the peace agreement with FARC;   more on the gang violence in El Salvador;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   an Indian state has stopped defying the Supreme Court and starting releasing water;   more on the recent arrest of violent extremists;   a view that fighting local pollution is also fighting climate change;   an amnesty has allowed people to declare previously hidden assets;   an article alleging that India’s focus on having sons is resulting in lots of lonely men (that certainly seems credible – and not only in traditional Indian cultures. However, those men still have lessons to learn, and opportunities to have a good life, and I consider that a MAJOR flaw in many people is their inability to cope with being alone – I know of mental illness and even suicide [of a close friend] as a result of that flaw) - see also here;   a call for India to cherish civil society;   an examination of the early stages of Gandhi’s life (based on my personal experience of profound change, and the profound changes I have seen in people like Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, and even Mandela, I am inclined towards the “he change” line of argument);
     -   amid a war of words over “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control – see here, here, here, and here - and the arrest of a soldier in Pakistani territory, an assessment that India may have discussed steps for de-escalation with high-level contacts in Pakistan;   Indians and Pakistanis travelling across the border all want peace;   villagers are fleeing Punjab, fearing another war between India and Pakistan (these are people living in the energies of that hot spot, and probably best able to assess the risks: I therefore consider this to be a serious risk);   Pakistan has said (again) that Kashmir is not an integral part of India (this dispute has been going so long I am tempted to say make the region a separate nation … );   a call for political leaders to exercise restraint;
     -   Pakistan has closed a loophole which had allowed some who murdered women to get off on the basis of it being a so-called “honour” killing;   a Pakistani Christian woman’s appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn her death sentence in an infamous 2010 blasphemy case will be heard next week;
     -   the Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province has charged elements in the south of plotting his murder;   tension between workers and owners of Sri Lanka’s tea estates;   Sri Lanka has argued it did not withdraw from a regional cooperation summit;
• With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
     -   South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring nations may not be safe;   South Sudan’s political and military elite are frustrating the realisation of justice as the African Union drags its feet in establishing a hybrid court to prosecute those who committed atrocities in the three-year civil war;
• 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):
     -   an excellent assessment of the motives of the nations involved in the Syrian conflict (with a link to an also excellent and comprehensive [long] assessment of US President Obama’s views and insight on West Asia [aka the “Middle East”], US influence and other world events generally);   a 7 year old girl has been tweeting from inside Aleppo;   “bunker-buster” bombs in Aleppo mean no-one is safe, as the largest hospital there is completely destroyed;   as negotiations are stopped, US frustration with Russia over Aleppo has become undiplomatic, but the USA is paying the price for not getting militarily involved before Russia;   Russia has sent a missile defence system to its base in Syria (I thought it had done that some time ago, actually);   the UN Special Envoy for Syria has offered to go to eastern Aleppo, which "may be totally destroyed" within two months, and personally escort up to 1,000 rebel fighters out of the city to try to bring an end to bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces, saying that history will judge Syria and Russia if they use the excuse of 900 fighters former Nusra Front fighters as an "easy alibi"  the lives of hundreds of thousands;   an opinion piece on the problems of “trying to do something” in Syria – particularly Aleppo, which, although good, fails to acknowledge R2P or the option of partitioning Syria (see here and here);   the squabbling and work around accountability for war crimes in Syria;   the nightmarish experiences of a gravedigger in Aleppo;   another White Helmet has been killed;
     -   according to this website (which I only found recently, and do not have any information about its accuracy, credibility or objectivity), violent deaths in Syria in the last 6 days amount to 139;
• with regard to Turkey:   as 13,000 police officers are reportedly purged (how many are left?), Turkey is left in fear by the response to the failed coup (the response by civilians on that night was still magnificent, and courageous – a violent military coup is not the way to create a stable democracy, but the response since then – by the government - has let those brave people down … );   German prosecutors have dropped an investigation into a TV comedian accused of insulting Turkish President;   more silencing of independent media in Turkey;
• with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:   abuse of Crimeans under Russia;
• With regard to West Asia / the Middle East, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     -   a call for the EU to invest more in Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan for the sake of stability;
     -   an assessment of a very statespersonlike part of US President Obama’s speech at Shimon Peres’ funeral;   Palestinians expressed their dismay at a Palestinian Authority Supreme Court ruling that excluded the Gaza Strip from the next local elections, which many consider aimed at excluding Hamas;   the USA has strongly condemned new plans for more Israeli settlements in occupied territories;   Israel is taking more hardline action against Palestinian solidarity activists;   concerns over a looming war between Israel and Hamas, as an Israeli government minister calls for annexation of the West Bank;
     -   a critique of Jordan’s recent, low-voter-turnout, unsatisfactory-in-many-ways elections;
     -   a clarification that Saudi government workers will be paid according to the Gregorian calendar instead of the Islamic Hijri calendar, making the working month longer as part of cost-cutting measures;
     -   Omani journalists have been silenced over articles alleging corruption;
     -   a writer and human rights activist has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment in Iran for writing – but not publishing - a story about stoning;  partial continuance of sanctions and lack of transparency in the economy have hindered Iran capitalising on the benefits of the recent nuclear agreement;
• With regard to the war in Yemen (unlike Iraq and Syria, 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):   unsurprisingly, there is a growing famine in Yemen;   a civilian ship carrying aid, wounded and passengers has been attacked by the Houthi;   a cholera outbreak in Yemen;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:   more floods in Australia, and storm damage;   the problem of statelessness will exacerbate the suffering from a cyclone that hit Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing  hundreds of people, and has subsequently moved on to the USA;   children in flood ravaged North Korea are particularly vulnerable as winter closes in;   a cholera outbreak in Yemen;
• With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story:   China is believed to have its sights on the United Nations’ top peacekeeping job, a position that would place a country with an abysmal human rights record in charge of the world’s second-largest expeditionary force of more than 100,000 peacekeepers deployed in hot spots around the world;   a whale has freed herself after being stranded;   the President of Columbia – someone who has experienced a major personal conversion - has won the Nobel Peace Prize for the peace agreement with FARC;

and from a range of other sites:

• a life insurance company has refused a payout despite a Coroner finding that the person had NOT committed suicide;
• FINALLY someone has designed a decent hospital gown;
• an assessment of the issue of replication in psychological studies;
• unfair schemes giving people the impression they can “buy” a home;
• an examination of the abuse / misuse of sound – particularly for war or torture, which ends with a comment that one band has sued the USA for unauthorised use of its music at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay;
• an actress has spoken out about the prevalence of rape and sexual violence (“crime porn”) in contemporary TV drama;

On a personal note, I’ve signed up at the United Nations Online Volunteering page – lots of opportunities, and variable hour requirements.

(Dear Reader, did you note and reject any use by me of pejorative terms? If not, please re-read this and do so – remember, I expect you to think)

Now, some relocated notes and other comments/information.

Remember that many others are very capably doing this type of work – for instance, the Lucis Trust's Triangles network (which has been running for many decades),   the Correllian Tradition's 'Spiritual War for Peace' (begun in 2014, and see also here and here), the Hope, Peace, Love and Prosperity Spell (also from the Correllian Tradition, in around 2007 or 2008),   the Healing Minute started by the late, great Harry Edwards (held at 10 AM and 10 PM local time each day, and has been running for decades);   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   and   also see here and here – even commercial organisations are getting involved (for instance, see here), there are online groups (e.g. here and here – which I’m not members of, and thus do not know the quality of) and even an app. No doubt there are many others, so, if you don't like what I am suggesting here, but want to be of service, there are many other opportunities for you. I also point out that more than just psychic work is required – activism in the physical world, even if it is “only” writing letters to politicians / the media will help, as will a whole range of other stuff. To stimulate some ideas on this aspect of service, see here , here and here, and, of course, here.

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

If I am ever late getting my Psychic Weather Report up any week, the default plan is to build up energy in the “Shield of Hope” on Sunday, send energy to West Asia / the Middle East on Monday, and then extend that to include Europe on Tuesday, the USA on Wednesday, East and South East Asia on Thursday and Africa on Friday.

Regular sources include the Daily Briefings of the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, “War on the Rocks” (a very US-focused site which also has articles I have concerns about, but also a surprising number of gems),  the Early Warning Project blog, the Justice in Conflict blog, the Political Violence at a Glance blog, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, the International Crisis Group, the Middle East Eye, The Hindu, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the BBC, Spiegel International, The Conversation, John Menadue’s blog, Wikipedia’s current events portal, Wendell Williams’ blog, George Monbiot’s website, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, the “Cure Violence” blog, the Inter Press Service Agency (IPS), the Lowy “Interpreter” blog (which occasionally has good links about what is happening in the Pacific), and others.

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

No signature block for these posts.