For everyone’s convenience: the reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing
are here; a simplified blogiography of posts related
to this work is here, a list of themes I have identified here; my changing the personality of oppressors
and other world leaders post is here; (see here for some
investigation into evidence of the effectiveness of this type of work … and
also here and here are interesting); a range
of information on emotions is here,
and suggestions on how to work with emotions is here; this
copy of a speech to one of the Parliament of World Religions has excellent,
helpful insights on generational transmission of harm, the cost of war, and
ways to heal our hearts; and this
post reminds us to be patient and persistent, like a “speeding oak” (and I like the comment about a sudden
“shift” being just another form of apocalyptic thinking).
Now, the purpose of posting these news
links (and,
incidentally, these posts are the equivalent of a re-tweeting service, or, at
best, a commentary site: I am NOT a journalist,
and make NO claims to
objectivity or freedom from bias or trying to cover all [there are often more
than two] sides of an issue – see here) is not only to inform: it is also to stimulate a connection
to nonBPM units that need
to be cleared and BPM units that need
to be strengthened, so that you can do the clearing / strengthening
that is required. That only
works if you don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by this, so take it
in small chunks if you need to, but remember to actively clear and heal! … including yourself.
Further to that, in the same way that
activists used to argue that “the personal is political”, the energies we use
and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that
influence world events. If you want to, for example, improve the communication
of nations, improve yours. To help stop abuses of power, be always ethical in
your conduct. Want peace? Then work in an informed, understanding, intelligent
and nuanced
way for peace in yourself and your life.
There are some notes at the end of this
post about other options for those who do not like this way of working,
opportunities for healers, and the default plan for any time I am late getting
my Psychic Weather Report up.
Now, the themes – short, medium and long term - that come
to mind for my work this week, after I review all this news, are (and no
apologies if this repeats the themes of any previous weeks – in fact, given the
size of this task, that is to be expected):
(a) based on my interpretation of information here and here with Saturn in Sagittarius contributing to finding an authentic balance (until 20th December, 2017), Uranus in Aries contributing to fresh and possibly radical starts (until some date in the Year 2018), and Pluto in Capricorn contributing to a transformation of power and business (and careers) (until some date in the Year 2024), conditions are ripe for a change for the better in world politics;(b) there is an enormous need to clear nonBPM energy – the thought forms, unattached energy and scars of the collective unconscious created by millennia of violence. This need includes rescuing those who have been trapped by that history, and healing the warped views, seemingly “inherent” biases, and other damage done by the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual violence committed on scales large and small in that timeframe;(c) viewing the overall emotional state of the world from an elemental point of view, this week we need more Æther;(d) whilst I maintain democracy is the best form of governance we have, it needs to ensure that minorities and the vulnerable are protected;(e) the counter to fear is genuine EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech;(f) 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;(f) where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, and constructive solutions - as is clearing nonBPM units;I also take this opportunity to emphasise that it is absolutely VITAL that this psychic / metaphysical / spiritual work be performed non-violently and as is for the Highest Spiritual Good – which is part of being BPM – on all levels and in all ways. Always remember (see here): Do you fight to change things, or to punish? See also here, here, here, here, here, and my comments about “authentic presence” in this post.
News and other matters from this week
include the following (opportunities/good news are shown in green; comments are shown in purple; WARNING: some of these
links may contain triggers around issues such as violence, sexual assault,
discrimination, etc).
- Permanent issue: may all actual and potential BPM [1] Leaders be kept BPM safe, including keeping them undetectable to the nonBPM and keeping all their Significant Others inviolable against being used for indirect psychic attack, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at influencing the world’s direction, development and unfoldment, all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
- Permanent issue: may all humans recognise, irrespective of the appearance of difference, the essential shared humanness of other people, the inherent resilience, the dynamic power, the strength of BPM collaboration, and the opportunities of having a diverse, inclusive and welcoming population, and may all people choose fairness, when such decisions are before them;
- Permanent issue: may all humans choose to live modestly – to forgo outdoing others, or trying to have more than they need - for the sake of an easier, more manageable life, if they cannot do it for the sake of the planet;
- With regard to democracy (which requires protection of minorities and the vulnerable), freedom
and governance (e.g., here, here, here and here):
- an examination of the possibility of replacing US presidential candidate Trump; a pessimistic assessment of US President Obama’s “pivot to Asia”; the recent decision in favour of East Timor over Australia was not the clear cut win I and others hoped for; an analysis of the challenges for the new UN Secretary-General here and here; a list of nations in favour and against attacking non-state organisations in other nations; an opinion piece arguing for more professional militaries in Africa to help democracy; an assessment that populism is here to stay; a survey shows that US citizens are generally favourable toward international trade, globalisation, and the USA’s leadership role in the world; “What we badly need is to see intellectually astute and highly principled people like Gillian Triggs, Waleed Aly, or Julian Burnside governing in our parliaments”; an article on US presidential candidate Trump’s threatened abuses of power; evidence former Nazis perverted Germany’s justice system after World War Part Two;
- censorship by public humiliation in Chechnya; risk of large scale violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of political polarisation; concerns over the independence of the DRC’s voting oversight institutions; sexist abuse dissuades women from politics; the CEO of the USA’s 2nd largest bank has stood down over a sales scandal;
- three newly-elected Hong Kong MPs, part of a new generation demanding greater self-determination with at least 6 representative in the 70 member legislature, have been barred from the legislature after using a swearing-in ceremony to raise the contentious issues of independence and more democracy (by pledging allegiance to a "Hong Kong nation" or displaying a "Hong Kong is not China" banner), highlighting growing defiance of Beijing);
- there is a challenge to the Canada-European Union trade agreement on the basis that it gives too much power to corporations at the expense of democracy;
- a notorious Australian Senator – a bigoted engineer – has sledged a female journalist who recently died; criticism of the NSW government’s backflip on greyhound racing; restrictions on photography in Australia’s Senate have been lifted; Anne Aly, the first Muslim woman elected to Australia’s Federal Parliament, says she has found some common ground over lunch with controversial Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson;
I have been continuing to re-read the book “Crimes Against Humanity” (my copy is an older edition: Penguin, 2000, ISBN 0-14-02029-8) by Geoffrey Robertson, QC (yes, he of “Hypotheticals” fame), and that has led me to doing some thinking about the legal concept of uti possidetis. It seems to have worked quite well in some instances at preventing further wars – although I contend that improved international mechanisms such as the ICJ and even, to some extent, the UN also have a role to play in that, as does the spread and improvement of democracy. There are, however, a number of areas where the legal concept is hindering peace – several are listed in the Wikipedia article I linked to.
Mr Robertson is critical of this, largely on the basis that the principle has been abused by autocratic rulers to maintain their monopolies on power, and by others (including me) on the basis that it perpetuates the inherent miscarriage of fairness, equity and justice of colonial borders.
When I have researched those troubled places in Africa that were listed (Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, Nigeria, and very homophobic Uganda), I note that:
Sudan has been split into Sudan and South Sudan, which has largely reduced one set of conflicts, although the power struggle and resultant abuses and violence are continuing in South Sudan, and the R2P Monitor states that mass atrocities are occurring in Sudan between the government and indigenous populations in the south and west (South Kordofan, an oil producing area which is ethnically Nubian, Blue Nile [state] with over 40 ethnic groups and a referendum on self-determination deferred because of violence, and the ongoing tragedy of Darfur;
Angola seems to have ended its experience with large-scale violence (as far as I know);
the other three continue to have problems.
Looking at what is happening in those three, I am now of the view that poor governance is perhaps more of an issue than the nations’ colonial histories.
My impression is that experiences elsewhere suggest that focusing on a nation as a modern nation-state, pluralistic with respect for and inclusion of all, is an effective way to counter problems - such as the obvious problem of discrimination against minorities (perhaps most strongly exemplified by the Rwandan Genocide, but also the terrible events during the break-up of Yugoslavia, the killing fields of Cambodia, 1930s Ukraine, the Armenian Genocide [I hadn’t known about Mehmet Celal Bey, referred to as “the Turkish Oskar Schindler”, but I did know about the Australian soldiers who defended some Armenians around war’s end], the Holocaust, the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, the Yazidis and elsewhere -including many indigenous populations [e.g., here]. Also, I was interested to come across the old Minority Treaties of the now defunct League of Nations as I researched this topic), corruption, abuse of power, lack of effective (which largely means free, but not monopolised either) media, etc.
The latest R2P Monitor lists the DRC and Nigeria in the “imminent risk” category (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Burma are in the “mass atrocities are currently occurring” category, and South Sudan and Burundi are in the “serious concern” category). In Nigeria, progress is being made against the violent extremists in the north east (although the extremists have left massive humanitarian needs behind them), but violent extremism is reoccurring in the Niger delta area. In the DRC, the problems seem to be centred largely in the east, where an ethnic group – a minority in the overall nation – live in a region with significant economic resources (as is the case in South Kordofan).
The long accepted (several centuries) and widely supported legal concept of uti possidetis would make any attempts to change borders slow, difficult, and possibly dangerous, thus changing the issue to one of focusing on good governance (perhaps modernity?) is likely to be quicker, and less calamitous all round. If borders could be changed, however, my impression is that Sudan should lose more of its territory, and protection of minorities may require something along the lines of establishing modern nation-states (pluralistic with respect for and inclusion of all) or at least genuinely autonomous regions in eastern DRC and maybe northern Uganda.
It is important to note that, even if these regions were divided along pre-colonial “borders”, the resultant areas would still need to have good governance – including protection of minorities (who would be even smaller, as a result of the division into borders reflecting life before modern mobility).
To be clear and open, I support the formation of some form of Kurdistan, a Palestinian state, and consider some of the west African region (particularly Western Sahara, but also others) require changes. In all cases, new nations need, in my opinion, to be modern nation-states – pluralistic, with respect for and inclusion of all. See also here.
I also support the partition of Syria as a pragmatic action to end the war.
As I do my psychic work for peace, I will keep all this in mind. - 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 Turkey, West Asia, India, Afghanistan, and, according to this Wikipedia page, 3 attacks in Iraq (out of a total of 39 ); prevention has or may have occurred in Australia; and actions have occurred against violent extremists in Syria and Iraq, Germany, Afghanistan; fears a maximum security jail is facilitating radicalisation – see also here, over similar fears in Europe; increasing pressure has led to a decline of media activity by violent extremists;
- three Syrian refugees tied up a would-be violent extremist Syrian refugee to ensure police caught him; the wives and children of violent extremists are being detained by the Nigerian government in a fortified compound, and Syrian rebels havean internment camp for former violent extremists; - With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration): a Haitian refugee crisis in northern Mexico; the moron who helped create Australia’s refugee gulags has tried to defend them! See also here; anti-refugee protestors have targeted children attending school; Jordan will use a crane to drop supplies to Syrian refugees stuck on the other side of the border (I thought this has been done previously); three Syrian refugees tied up a would-be violent extremist Syrian refugee to ensure police caught him;
- With regard to human rights and discrimination (including
associated violence / crime):
- a new MP has called for Equal Marriage so her gay son can be treated the same as his brothers; transphobia and homophobia in Lebanon – and confusion about the two in the article; Germany will compensate men convicted for being gay; an archbishop has been silencing Equal Marriage supporters in his church;
- an examination of why racism has become more apparent; an indigenous woman shares her shame at being unable to speak her language when growing up; an indigenous-led suicide prevention plan is needed; social media support has buoyed a northern Australian cafe worker's spirits after a customer refused to be served by her because of the colour of her skin; Latino vs. Hispanic; a wonderful memorial; a thought provoking article by a US University Professor who prefers that his kids interact with drugs rather than police;
- the extent of hate against women (which included making rape and death threats against the 5 year old daughter of a feminist); a “bloke whisperer” is challenging Australian stereotypes about masculinity; an article published by the Medical Journal of Australia argues that existing abortion laws in the Australian staters of NSW and Queensland are ambiguous, outdated, leave both patients and doctors in a potential legal bind and should be reformed; Moroccan women are fighting endemic harassment; some of the reaction to US presidential candidate Trump’s appalling remarks about sexually assaulting women – see also here, here, here and here; the scope of India’s Domestic Violence Act has been broadened; a survey shows many girls consider it not worth pursuing their dreams; concerns over a proposed domestic violence disclosure scheme; the USA has mandated that all toilets must have baby changing facilities; sexist abuse dissuades women from politics; Somalia has its first female candidate for President; the First Lady of the USA has criticised US presidential candidate Trump over his defence of groping, as a major newspaper refuses to withdraw its reporting on the matter;
- the UN’s agricultural agency has unveiled a new manual that seeks to ensure that indigenous peoples, custodians of more than 80 per cent of global biodiversity, are able to freely give or deny their consent in development interventions that affect their natural resources or their way of life; a moderate Uighur intellectual referred to as “China’s Mandela”, who was jailed for life after opposing China’s draconian policies in its violence-stricken west, has been named the winner of a prestigious award known as the “human rights Nobel”; a land rights activist in Kazakhstan is on trial; Germany has ordered facebook to stop collecting WhatsApp data; the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for the nation to have a “serious conversation” about a bill of rights, suggesting that lawyers and the courts have continually failed to protect fundamental freedoms; violence in the Rakhine area of Burma; a travel agency will stop selling animal attractions;
Revenge is NOT activism –it may help one feel better in the very short term, but the sort of attack on a men this young woman in South Africa indulged in is sexist, shows her lack of maturity, and contributes actively to the deterioration of the struggle for gender equality and the move away from empowerment of all people to tit-for-tat spats. - With regard to crime, judicial
matters and policing: a cretin
who was using a mobile phone while driving punched another driver who told him
off; a French police officer is in a
life-threatening condition a day after a group of youths pelted petrol bombs at his
patrol car; allegations of homophobia
at a police station (irrespective of whether the allegations are proven or
not, I know it is difficult to manage a force of thousands of people, but doing
so – which means recognising that the bigots are just another form of corrupt
copper and getting rid of them – is crucial if police are to do their job,
which involves wielding a truly extraordinary power: if that doesn’t happen –
and it hasn’t yet – then people will not turn to the police. I know there have
been quite a few situations where I haven’t, because of fear of discrimination); a nationwide push is underway to change
compensation laws for those who slip or fall in public places, as changes
fifteen years ago are now said, by legal experts (did they argue FOR the changes in the
first place? There is a credibility test for those “experts”), to
have gone too far, leaving many injured people suffering with no support; the
UN Secretary-General has pointed out that the death penalty is NOT an effective deterrent, and has no place
in the 21st century; a
US Supreme Court case will examine
the expectation that jury deliberations will be confidential, and remain so
after a verdict has been reached, against the belief that explicit racial bias
taints legal proceedings to an unconstitutional degree; some disturbing statistics on sexual violence; concerns
over a proposed domestic violence disclosure scheme; evidence
former Nazis perverted Germany’s justice system after World
War Part Two; a rebuttal of applications to
prevent the Royal Commission of Child Abuse examining the neochristian Catholic
Church (the
material I have been reading on Rawls’ priority of liberties is relevant here); a thought provoking article by a US
University Professor who prefers that his kids interact
with drugs rather than police (the replies to the cross-posting on LinkedIn showed
some appalling racist, lack of understanding of statistics, conflation of
issues, false equivalences, and … probably what can best be described as
stupidity – although some, not all of which I agreed with, were considered. The
others should read this. By the way, I disagree with some parts of
the Professor’s article);
a(n expensive) cheap stunt
is being used to try to promote discussion over “space law”; a radical plan to name and shame juvenile
offenders in Victoria, floated by the State Opposition, could fuel gang
activity rather than address it, the state's police Chief Commissioner has
warned, as some thrive
on notoriety; proof that at least some of so-called drug dealers in the Philippines
have been framed;
I wish to live in a civil society – as do many people, who do not realise it. I do not want people starving on the street; I want people to be able to earn a decent income for a modest home and to be able to access good health care (unlike in the USA); I want those with power (especially in the media!) to be properly accountable. Where it goes a little further for me is that I expect people who have experienced misfortune – such as slipping in a public place – to not be driven to sleeping on the streets or not having adequate health care. There is a vengefulness in our society at present, a vengefulness I consider connected to the struggle to survive, which shows in resentment at money being spent on what some people are dismissing as carelessness – i.e., “why should I pay? They were careless!” Well, my argument is that payment is necessary so we can all share the benefits of a civil society – there may need to be restrictions imposed, such as forcing people to learn not to make avoidable mistakes, or accepting their personal contribution to events, but I still don’t want them reduced to destitution. - 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): the dangers facing journalists in Papua New Guinea; an opposition newspaper has closed in Hungary; censorship by [public humiliation in Chechnya; Burundi’s media crackdown is escalating tension and violence; renowned media personality Waleed Aly has called on the media to stop seeking short term gains at the expense of long term credibility;
- 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?):
- PNG villagers are celebrating their culture, which may be able to help with environmental protection; a former sheep station has become a major conservation reserve; a Western Australian supermarket has been forced to scrap a plastic bag purchase scheme after only half a day due to customer backlash; the UN’s agricultural agency has unveiled a new manual that seeks to ensure that indigenous peoples, custodians of more than 80 per cent of global biodiversity, are able to freely give or deny their consent in development interventions that affect their natural resources or their way of life; the opportunities associated with renewable energy in Australia; growing anger over environmental damage in Viêt Nám; an Alaskan village wants tourists to stay away and leave their walrus influx alone;
- the UK-based National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has said YouTubers had a "responsibility" to make sure relationships with young fans were appropriate; the problem of ever more intrusive data surveillance; a nuanced and thoughtful examination of privacy in the age of social media, which advocates that we “should both act responsibly and require others – businesses, individuals and governments – to act with respect. That requires law reform, for example mandatory reporting about data breaches, establishment of the privacy tort, higher standards regarding corporate negligence, and a less permissive approach by underfed watchdogs such as the Information Commissioner”; the problem of failing to use software to support, rather than replace, people; Germany has ordered facebook to stop collecting WhatsApp data; facebook is attempting to move into workplace communication – see also here; a report on a cyber-attack last year; a(n expensive) cheap stunt is being used to try to promote discussion over “space law”; the internet is helping people in rural areas access mental health help; commercial propaganda (aka marketing) is distorting the science about things like so-called “super foods”;
- over 600 dairy farmers have applied for relief funding; personal apps on work so-called “smart” phones are a risk;
- a coming “silver tsunami” of deaths is possibly an opportunity to help people die at home; challenges to the stereotypes of who is alcoholic; injury from loud noise (music); half of all Australian workers have experienced workplace bullying (on the basis of my personal experience, I consider that credible – but the situation is improving: it was worse in the past); lack of funding has closed the renowned mental health service Lifeline in the Northern Territory; an organisation is helping adults to make new friends; concerns over a plan to measure quality in the arts – particularly the potential for political abuse; a successful community garden in a remote Australian town; a suggestion to turn disused train carriages into accommodation for the homeless; claims that “positive thinking” can make you too lazy to achieve your goals; - With regard to education: China is endeavouring to make sure that even the poorest children have at least pre-school;
- 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; major attack by violent extremists is underway;
- With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other
sources) also has:
- Nigeria's security agency says it has seized $800,000 in cash in raids targeting senior judges suspected of corruption; a polio outbreak in north eastern Nigeria has le to plans to vaccinate 41 million children; Nigeria is talking to oil companies and seeking to make contact with the leaders of militant groups in an effort to end attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, President Muhammadu Buhari has said; the wives and children of violent extremists are being detained by the government in a fortified compound;
- Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency, blamed “foreign enemies” and withdrawn from a Somali base, following the recent violence;
- tear gas has been used in South Africa against protesting students;
- the UN peacekeeping chief has said that recent unrest in the Central African Republic demonstrates that the situation there remains fragile, “spoilers are still active, on both sides” and the international community must stand firm and support the Government’s efforts to ensure lasting peace;
- Malawi is making good progress on eliminating child marriage – which was celebrated by the visit of UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson;
- an opinion piece arguing for more professional militaries in Africa to help democracy;
- risk of large scale violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of political polarisation; concerns over the independence of the DRC’s voting oversight institutions; an opposition figure has been arrested over the recent violence; civilians have been killed in fighting in east DRC;
- Burundi’s media crackdown is escalating tension and violence;
- growing tension between Rwanda and France over an investigation into the events leading to the genocide;
- an African Union summit will aim to address piracy and illegal fishing;
- Somalia has its first female candidate for President;
- lack of clean water and sanitation are causing problems in Liberia; - With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
- China is endeavouring to make sure that even the poorest children have at least pre-school; a moderate Uighur intellectual referred to as “China’s Mandela”, who was jailed for life after opposing China’s draconian policies in its violence-stricken west, has been named the winner of a prestigious award known as the “human rights Nobel”;
- three newly-elected Hong Kong MPs, part of a new generation demanding greater self-determination with at least 6 representative in the 70 member legislature, have been barred from the legislature after using a swearing-in ceremony to raise the contentious issues of independence and more democracy (by pledging allegiance to a "Hong Kong nation" or displaying a "Hong Kong is not China" banner), highlighting growing defiance of Beijing;
- an analysis of Philippines president Duterte’s rise to power, and the limitations it places on democracy; proof that at least some of so-called drug dealers in the Philippines have been framed;
- violence in the Rakhine area of Burma;
- growing anger over environmental damage in Viêt Nám;
- concerns over 300 people have been disappeared in Bangladesh;
- Thailand’s King has died. He HAS a successor, but there seems to be doubt over what will happen next in that military dictatorship … ; - 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):
- growing tension between Iraq and Turkey over Turkish troops in Iraq (at the request of Kurds);
- and the Iraq Body Count project reports 181 people killed in the last week; - With regard to the Libyan civil war: a major haul of drugs has been stopped before it got to Libya; a ransom demand has been made for 3 hostages;
- With regard to Russia (which is currently actively supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria): Russia's deployment of nuclear-capable missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave, between Poland and Lithuania, is setting off warning bells in the Baltics and at NATO; a Russian TV host called “the Kremlin’s chief propagandist” has – hypocritically - warned that there could be “nuclear consequences” in response to the West’s so-called “impudent behaviour”; Russia and Turkey have pledged closer military ties after signing a gas deal; more myth making;
- With regard to South and Central America: Colombia’s President will donate the money he will receive with the Nobel Peace prize to the victims of the war against FARC;
- With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian
sub-continent), The Hindu
and other sources have:
- Indian police are investigating the parents of a 13-year-old girl who died after undertaking a religious fast for 68 days – see also here; concern over neglect of elephants; the scope of India’s Domestic Violence Act has been broadened; the Indian government has said that polygamy is not an essential part of Islam (as someone who is polyamorous, I argue that there is another option entirely. I also note those Muslim commentators who argue the practice is cultural and/or based on a misinterpretation);
- a call for India to “address the new normal” and win over the youth of Kashmir;
- a rebuttal of calls for India to impose a trade embargo on Pakistan; - With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
- the UN has called on warring factions to immediately end all hostilities near Yei, where an estimated 100,000 people are trapped in a deteriorating security situation; an ambush has killed at least 30 people; - 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):
- France has suggested Russia be prosecuted at the ICC (I don’t consider this a realistic nor a helpful comment: it is Assad who should be prosecuted); an analysis suggesting Russia’s strategy in Syria is being unravelled by its allies; calls for a no-fly zone have been rejected (I agree with the rejection, now that Russia is involved – it would be tantamount to a declaration of war. When this would have worked is just after the chemical weapons issue, when the use of barrel bombs was identified);
- according to this website (which I only found recently, and do not have any information about its accuracy, credibility or objectivity), deaths in Syria in the last 6 days amount to 98; - with regard to Turkey: Russia and Turkey have pledged closer military ties after signing a gas deal; Turkish military officers seeking asylum in Greece have had their claims rejected; growing tension between Iraq and Turkey over Turkish troops in Iraq (at the request of Kurds);
- with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east: the deal between Russia and Turkey may harm Ukraine;
- With regard to West Asia / the Middle East,
the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
- Russia and Egypt will conduct military exercises in Egypt;
- Saudi Arabia has cut off oil sales to Egypt; more on worker abuse in Saudi Arabia;
- culture wars in Iran; - 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): the US is reviewing its cooperation with Saudi Arabia ("US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank cheque") after a Saudi-led air strike killed over 100 people at a wedding; a US navy ship has been untouched by an attempted attack, which has nevertheless led to a military response; babies and toddlers are showing the effects of the coming famine; an examination of the pitiful response to the unfolding tragedy in Yemen;
- With regard to natural and other catastrophes: Haiti is in need of massive help after the cyclone; on World Mental Health Day 2016, the UN highlighted the importance of making mental healthcare available to everyone who needs it – with a particular focus on providing immediate support to those in psychological distress after a crisis; a polio outbreak in north eastern Nigeria has led to plans to vaccinate 41 million children;
- With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story: an argument that the United Kingdom should reduce, rather than revamp, its nuclear arms on submarines (which I would qualify slightly, in that some expenditure to upgrade systems can reduce the chance of the past accidents that have brought the world to the edge of nuclear devastation); this week’s R2P atrocity alert includes Burma, Syria and Yemen;
and from a range of other sites:
- an excellent challenge to small-mindedness by a nurse;
- a group of doctors have recommended challenging other doctors over some tests – and one situation that more use should be made of doctors – see here;
- former sex workers who consider they are safer outside brothels claim they are being harassed by pro-legalisation of brothel supporters;
- an indigenous observatory in Australia could pre-date Stonehenge and the Pyramids – and suggests at least some indigenous people were agricultural;
(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. On more
physical level, there is the United
Nations Online Volunteering page.
(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.
