Post No. 941 – 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 the spiritual integrity and commitment of more BPM Æther;

(d)   we always have lessons from history with us: some are more apparent at the moment because of parallels being drawn – rightly or wrongly - between Hitler and Trump, but others, around lack of purpose, control and materialism, are present despite not being so obvious;

(e)   another powerful lessons is of the need to be inclusive. Sadly, the failure of mainstream people – such as those most vitriolic at their loss through globalisation - to be inclusive, has created for them a spiritual need to experience being excluded: that, although it can be termed karma, as with ALL karma, is NOT an excuse to do nothing: it is a spiritual imperative DEMANDING that we – all of us, whether implicated in the lesson or not - get off our backsides and learn and help;

(f)   there are growing threats to peace, and thus a growing need for the nations, groups and peoples of the world to walk the tightrope of balance and nuance (and to recognise and treat violence as the contagious disease that it is);

(g)   a number of our problems have arisen as a result of failing to adapt to the coming future;

(h)   we need to be capable of, and prepared to, when necessary, defend the advances of the past;

(i)   a preponderance of the people who are dedicated to the concept of family are unbalanced about that, becoming obsessive and controlling to the extent of attempting to force others to hold to their ideas, and for all those in families to be tied to the ideologue’s views on what are acceptable priorities and commitments;

(j)   being blasé, glib or casual about what one can do, particularly as a result of change, can lead to pushing matters a step beyond what is acceptable or allowable – and that is an abuse of power;

(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;
• With regard to democracy (which requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable), freedom and governance (e.g., here, here, here and here):
     -   an assessment of the “shadow of Hitler”, including apt comparisons to Putin and US presidential candidate Trump;   an analysis of how Trump’s victimisation strikes a chord with those who have lost out from globalisation;   a call for US voters to unite for democratic values, not mob rule;   an analysis which – to simplify - suggests that the fall of communism led to an arrogance towards workers and thus forms of globalisation (neoliberalism) that left some workers worse off and thus to a rise in the current anti-globalisation movement;   a critique of the trivialisation of politics, major political parties viewing themselves as an invincible primary force and acting “increasingly like institutions corrupted by their own power”, and the failure of too many contemporary politicians to accept responsibility for moral as well as political leadership;   a call to take the appointment of a new Secretary-General as an opportunity to strengthen the UN Charter and reform the veto power in the Security Council;   an examination of the possible basis (“equality of belligerents”) and benefits of armed groups establishing courts (the show trials of Russia in the first half of the 20^th Century come to my mind when considering such prospects); an examination of the link to extreme right wings views and the rise in anti-Semitic and other racist tweets to journalists;   the decline of liberalism in Asia;   an analysis of the foreign policy advantage of democracies in conflict – attributed to constraints on leaders, and how this is being eroded by four trends;   consideration of the resource curse – particularly oil;
     -   more absurdity (and it is that, no matter how accurately it reflects what some uninformed / ill-educated / unthinking people may believe) from US presidential candidate Trump – who has been told to stop whining by US President Obama. Trump has subsequently stated he will not accept a losing result in the election, which raises the prospect of violence (is the bloke mentally OK? This is the sort of behaviour a child indulges in, not an adult: for him to be making such remarks seems to me to be far, far, far beyond just a political strategy). See also here, here, here, here, and here;   Kuwait’s monarch has dissolved Parliament;   abuses of power by a judge, and improper conduct (in my view) by staffer of US Presidential candidate Clinton;   an analysis of the dangers of US-Russian information and cyber warfare, and the growing threat from Russia – see also here;   Azerbaijan is cracking down on dissent;   the Ivory Coast has arrested opponents of proposed contentious changes to its constitution;
     -   an assessment of the challenges to having elections in Somalia;
     -   Indonesia will crack down on corruption;   Gabon has referred itself to the ICC;   Mauritania’s President has said a two term limit will stay;   officials from Ghana’s electoral commission plan to meet chiefs, elders and media as part of an engagement program to educate the public ahead of presidential, parliamentary and local elections;
     -      Australia has hundreds of thousands of children living below the poverty line;   the UN has said Australian government should urgently review the Border Force Act’s secrecy provisions and improve protections for whistleblowers in the immigration detention system;   a former Prime Minister has criticised proposals to allow a rapid fire gun into Australia on the basis of terrorist risks;   calls for Australia to be frank with China over trade and media agreements to confront China’s increasingly concerning “soft diplomacy”;   concerns over the impact Australia’s economic ties with China are having;   concerns over the growing debt of Australian households and government inaction;   thousands of young Australian workers are expected to join an $85 million class action against a sales and marketing company;   the compelling economic need for Australia to better manage public perceptions around migrant workers;   a call for Australia to get over its “cult of forgetting” on key national public holidays;
     -   this week’s atrocity alert lists Iraq, Central African Republic, Philippines, and Yemen;
• 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 Somalia, and, according to this Wikipedia page, 8 attacks in Iraq (out of a total of 28);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in Canada;   the idiot engineer who got elected to Australia’s Parliament wants to weaken gun laws;   right wing vigilantes in Bulgaria are pushing refugees back across their borders;
     -   this is the sort of simple-minded “us and them” thinking that drags our soldiers – and those supporting them - down to the same level as the violent extremists. Furthermore, it demeans our soldiers by belittling their capacities. See also here, on the benefits of “taking the high road”;   debate over a possible ban on face veils in Germany;   fears of a radicalised right wing group in Germany;
     -   an examination of the nuanced, complex response to violent extremism that the USA has adopted in Somalia;   an opinion piece arguing that Western military aggression is what has been driving violent extremism for several years;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):   Australia’s refugee gulags could officially be torture;   right wing vigilantes in Bulgaria are pushing refugees back across their borders;   70% of refugees crossing the Mediterranean become victims to human traffickers - which is why the journey needs to be managed, to avoid such risks;   the UN has said Australian government should urgently review the Border Force Act’s secrecy provisions and improve protections for whistleblowers in the immigration detention system;   doctors have been released to speak out about conditions and medical treatment in Australia’s immigration detention system, after a back down from the government on one of the most contentious elements of the Australian Border Force Act;   Mexico has stopped a lorry with over 100 dehydrated refugees;   Hungary is the latest government to try the mid-20^th Century Soviet tactic of denial as a cover up of abuse (of refugees, in this instance – which is a tactic that hasn’t worked so well for the Australian government, either);   Libya’s vigilante so-called “coast guard” has been killing refugees;   right wing-, tabloid and other fruit loop press have been trying vainly to discredit a report on the experiences of refugee children in Australia’s refugee gulags;
• With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):
     -   homophobia in Papua New Guinea has led to at least one murder;   the devastating effects of discrimination;   Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (although he has been too slow on this issue, overall Indonesia has been truly blessed with this - and the preceding - President) has broken his long silence to defend the rights of that nation’s besieged LGBT community, declaring that “the police must act” against any moves by bigoted groups or individuals to harm LGBT people or deny them their rights, and that “there should be no discrimination against anyone”;
     -   a racist mayor in the USA has resigned;   outstanding use of social media by indigenous activists; an examination of the link to extreme right wings views and the rise in anti-Semitic and other racist tweets to journalists;   the remains of indigenous Australians have been returned from the UK;   residents of the largely Inupiat city of Barrow, in Alaska, have voted in favour of reverting the community's name to Utqiagvik;   a witness giving evidence at the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory said when psychologists asked Aboriginal children in the protection system what made them feel safe, 85 per cent drew the Aboriginal flag, yet the protection system is all Western;
     -   a backward step: judging victims of rape by their sexual history has made a reappearance;   a woman is among the 242 police in my home state who are being honoured for 40 years of service (although I can see some dated attitudes along the way here, and wonder how many are left … );   an MA15+ rating for a documentary addressing body images has been overturned;   the problem of sexual assaults – along the lines of Trump - in France;   thousands of people in Argentina have walked out of work for an hour in protest over the horrific rape and murder of a teenage girl;   “It is possible to talk with children and young people about gender without activating a gender war”;   India’s supreme court looks set to declare triple talaq, and another law forcing women who re-marry their husbands to first sleep with another man, unconstitutional – although activists are pointing out the need for further reform;   areas with more poker machines also have higher rates of domestic violence;   an idiot at a weight loss group has launched an utterly stupid advertising campaign;   a Bush-appointed US Federal judge has blocked the US state of Mississippi from defunding Planned Parenthood;
     -   more human rights abuses in Thailand – including mob rule type violence against any critics of the former king;  a Serbian genocide denier has been elected mayor of Srebrenica;   a call for agriculture to adopt “climate-smart” practices to help reduce poverty - see also here;   the business downsides of being a bigot, and some suggestions on how to deal with that problem in oneself;   a young Australian school student has taken the UK’s “please offer me a seat” campaign (aimed at helping people with “invisible” disabilities, and with poor uptake because it labels such people) a step further by creating “need a seat – ask me” badges for others to wear;   a beach wheelchair has been invented (having tried to push a much bigger ex- who needed a wheelchair through sand, I quite like this invention);   the offices of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), an NGO that tracks forced disappearances, have been raided by security officials;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:   an increase in the number of security breaches in my home state’s police force;   a violent incident in a Brazilian prison has resulted in the deaths of 25 inmates;   although this woman’s personal conduct may have breached laws – and, perhaps, spiritual laws, which she will face the consequences of spiritually - these police – if they behaved as alleged – have committed sexual assault, physical assault, and are unfit to wear the uniform and should be JAILED. The fact that the woman is a police officer is of NO consequence whatsoever. Police have the power of life and death – both directly AND indirectly, and therefore need far, far, far greater accountability to reflect that power (on a small note, I haven’t worn skirts or dresses in public for a couple of decades because of the abuse I received from some police);   the use of computer algorithms to predict criminal risk and then set sentence is a miscarriage of justice – no matter how accurate it becomes in the future (it isn’t accurate now);   a woman is among the 242 police in my home state who are being honoured for 40 years of service (although I can see some dated attitudes along the way here, and wonder how many are left … );   claims UK police are not taking child protection seriously enough;   Indonesia will use chemical castration to deal with male child abusers (I consider their claims of eliminating the issue overly confident);   civilians with traumatic injuries can develop PTSD – see also here;   Queensland Police Service is refusing to say whether it has paid tax on one of its most lucrative private sector fundraising activities;   Philippine police have used tear gas to disperse about 1,000 protesters outside the US embassy in Manila, as footage emerged showing a patrol van driving at demonstrators after coming under attack – which shows the depth of anti-US sentiment, but the behaviour is being investigated and police have been appropriately suspended;   a US police officer has been stripped of his gun and badge after he shot a mentally ill black pensioner dead;   the Royal Commission has been told students at a posh school sexually assaulted other students – see also here, on how to best deal with such abusers;   senior police in the USA are acknowledging responsibility and leading the way on changes to fix the rifts between police and communities;   South Africa has announced it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court - see here, on the significance of this and the apparent tension between diplomacy and justice;   a UN investigation confirms DRC police have used excessive force against protestors;   Mexico’s drug cartels are no longer just drug cartels: they have moved into other areas of crime, making managing them much harder;   thousands of young Australian workers are expected to join an $85 million class action against the sales and marketing company;   an examination of moves to take action over war crimes in Syria and Iraq;
  Why has there been so much bad news about police this week? There are over ten thousand police in my home state alone, and I consider likely that most are being decent, and some would be doing outstandingly good work. Partly that is the sensationalist bent of the media, partly the seriousness of the flaws that are being reported, perhaps. At least the top cops “get” the issues and  are, in some cases at least, taking action.
• 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):   an examination of the link to extreme right wings views and the rise in anti-Semitic and other racist tweets to journalists;   Azerbaijan is cracking down on dissent;   valid criticism of journalists who build a career on Palestine and then leave Palestinians behind;   use of social media by journalists;   journalists in Brazil are being harassed after reporting on the high salaries of judges;
• 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?):
     -   the notorious plastic patch in the Pacific is worse than thought;   a call for agriculture to adopt “climate-smart” practices to help reduce poverty;   ducks will replace snail bait on a winery;   an explanation of how hydrofluorocarbons came to be used (to fix the ozone hole), and what is being done to remove them;   the harvesting of wild seeds;   consideration of using seaweed to feed cows;   a call to end fossil fuel subsidies;   scientists have accidentally found a way to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to ethanol;   the struggle to survive for farmers has led to increased killing of snow leopards;   a compulsory tree planting scheme in Tanzania;   Singapore’s mining of sand in Cambodia for land reclamation is causing massive environmental damage;
     -   the use of computer algorithms to predict criminal risk and then set sentence is a miscarriage of justice – no matter how accurate it becomes in the future (it isn’t accurate now);   outstanding use of social media by indigenous activists;   some common sense on how to achieve a more balanced attitude towards mobile phones;   the “Memory of Mankind” project;   facebook has stuffed up again with its puritanical vigilantism – having to apologise after removing a breast cancer awareness video;   use of social media by journalists;
     -   a report glibly says job insecurity is “the new normal”, with no acknowledgement of the harm that does;   thousands of young Australian workers are expected to join an $85 million class action against the sales and marketing company;
     -   an article on asexuality. In addition to being informative, I liked the comment “People are very uncomfortable when you sit outside the square and it's not the person who sits outside the square who has the problem”. Another aspect of this is the overpowering socialisation to be in  relationship (or be considered defective) which contributes to such problems as this;   a brilliantly written article on dealing with “imposter syndrome”;   claims that short-term rentals (i.e., Airbnb and the like) are increasing other rents and making housing less affordable;   rebuttals of some recent rubbish about younger people and the (lack of) affordability of houses here and here;   the declining affordability of housing is increasing homelessness in my nation;   an article on combatting the spread of rudeness (interesting comment, in the context of whether people were more or less likely to be rude after others being rude to them, that “ego depletion theory essentially states that self-control is a finite resource”);   a typical night for one homeless person;   areas with more poker machines also have higher rates of domestic violence;
• With regard to education:   therapy dogs to help with the stress of exams at University (I would like to have seen these when I was at Uni. In my very first exam, another student just a few desks away had an epileptic fit just as the exam started);   a school principal has been suspended after students attacked a Dalit student;   US teachers appear to be making excessive use of police on disciplinary matters;   criticism that a new evaluation scheme in India has massively increased teachers’ workload;
• 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):   violent extremists are putting gains for democracy at risk;   violent extremist envoys have travelled to Pakistan for discussions about possible peace plans with the Afghanistan government;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
     -   an article suggesting that Nigeria would have made concessions to secure the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls;   Nigeria's Government is negotiating the release of another 83 of the Chibok schoolgirls taken in a mass abduction by violent extremists in 2014, but more than 100 others appear to be unwilling to leave their Islamic extremist captors, possibly as a result of having been radicalised, or too ashamed to return home because they were forced to marry extremists and have babies, a community leader has said;
     -   attacks on peacekeepers in the Central African Republic;
     -   at least 16 people have been killed in a row over a disputed charge on the sale of caterpillars in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);   a UN investigation confirms DRC police have used excessive force against protestors;
     -   a new type of sweet potato being developed in Uganda may help prevent Vitamin A deficiency in millions of children;
     -   an assessment of the challenges to having elections in Somalia;   fighting in Somalia;
     -   recommendations for improving adherence to rules of war in Africa;
     -   South Africa has announced it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court – also see here, on the significance of this and the apparent tension between diplomacy and justice;
     -   an examination of Burundi’s plans to withdraw from the ICC;
     -   Gabon has referred itself to the ICC;
     -   the UN Security Council has welcomed a recent inclusive dialogue that involved political leaders, civil society and religious communities as part of a regional efforts to end the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau;
     -   nearly one million people in southern Madagascar are at risk of famine;
     -   Mauritania’s President has said a two term limit will stay;
     -   Ethiopia has detained over 1,600 people;
     -   officials from Ghana’s electoral commission plan to meet chiefs, elders and media as part of an engagement program to educate the public ahead of presidential, parliamentary and local elections;
     -   the Ivory Coast has arrested opponents of proposed contentious changes to its constitution;
     -   the growing cash crisis in Zimbabwe;
     -   a compulsory tree planting scheme in Tanzania;
• With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
     -   a critique of Australia’s involvement in the South China Seas dispute;   an analysis of how China’s flawed legal system led to the arrest of employees of an Australian company (but the Australian’s should have realised that activity was illegal);   concerns over the impact Australia’s economic ties with China are having;
     -   an analysis of relations between China and Burma;
     -   North Korea has had a failed attempt at a missile launch;
     -   more human rights abuses in Thailand – including mob rule type violence against any critics of the former king. See also here, for an assessment of the risks of instability;
     -   Indonesia will use chemical castration to deal with male child abusers (apart from the obvious issues with this, I consider their claims of eliminating the issue overly confident) and will crack down on corruption;
     -   Philippine police have used tear gas to disperse about 1,000 protesters outside the US embassy in Manila, as footage emerged showing a patrol van driving at demonstrators after coming under attack – which shows the depth of anti-US sentiment, but the behaviour is being investigated and police have been appropriately suspended;   the Philippines claims to have “separated” from the USA, which apparently doesn’t include breaking trade ties: the USA has asked for clarification;
     -   the decline of liberalism in Asia;
     -   Burma is blocking aid from reaching Rakhine;
     -   Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has broken his long silence to defend the rights of that nation’s besieged LGBT community, declaring that “the police must act” against any moves by bigoted groups or individuals to harm LGBT people or deny them their rights, and that “there should be no discrimination against anyone”;
• 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):
     -   a call has been made to protect civilians in Mosul, with a warning of a humanitarian catastrophe (the UN is helping some refugees) and mass executions by violent extremists suppressing a second revolt;   an article some of the problems (disunity) in the battle to retake Mosul from violent extremists, who are using human shields and reportedly in a “frenzy”;   an examination of moves to take action over war crimes in Syria and Iraq;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 315 people killed in the last week;
• With regard to the Libyan civil war:   a drug criminal is behind recent abductions;   Libya’s vigilante so-called “coast guard” has been killing refugees;
• With regard to Russia (which is currently actively supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria):   claims that a UK bank account for Russia’s TV channel; had been closed are wrong (the accounts were of a supplier);   Russia has promoted the government minister accused of enabling sports doping;   a Russian naval flotilla heading towards Syria will be shadowed (which is standard procedure);   an analysis of the dangers of US-Russian information and cyber warfare, and the growing threat from Russia – see also here and here;   “There can be no truthful understanding of current Russian Foreign policy which does not begin with its” – understandable and justifiable - “sense of betrayal by the West, on NATO expansion”;
• With regard to South and Central America:   Mexico’s drug cartels are no longer just drug cartels: they have moved into other areas of crime, making managing them much harder;   journalists in Brazil are being harassed after reporting on the high salaries of judges;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   a school principal has been suspended after students attacked a Dalit student;   Indian farmers can now use an app to hire a tractor;   India’s supreme court looks set to declare triple talaq, and another law forcing women who re-marry their husbands to first sleep with another man, unconstitutional – although activists are pointing out the need for further reform;   the Colombian vote against the peace treaty “highlights aspects of war crimes that international crimes lawyers tend to overlook” – see also here, here and here;   criticism that a new evaluation scheme in India has massively increased teachers’ workload;
     -   a critique of the pressure for the Indian film industry to discriminate against Pakistani actors – which has led to retaliation;   more violence – including deaths - on the India-Pakistan border;   a curfew has been reimposed in parts of Kashmir;
• With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
     -   the former Vice-President wants to return, but has been told he is not welcome, and a deal has been rejected;   almost daily ceasefire violations are occurring;   Israeli arms are perpetuating the conflict in South Sudan;   the number of South Sudanese refugees has doubled in the DR Congo;
• 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):
     -   a warning that Aleppo will be gone in two months, and that war crimes of “historic proportion” (including increased use of cluster munitions) are being committed there;   claims that nearby nations are pressuring “moderate” rebels to metaphorically move away from those considered violent extremist;   Syria and Egypt claim to have agreed to “fight terrorism” … ;   a detailed examination of the spreading influence of the war in Syria;   an examination of moves to take action over war crimes in Syria and Iraq;   a faction within the western-backed Free Syrian Army has been accused of torturing and murdering a Syrian army defector, in a months-long investigation that points to a wider trend of forced disappearances and abuse in rebel-controlled areas of the country;
     -   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 200
• With regard to West Asia / the Middle East, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     -   an interview with the former UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine;   UNESCO has adopted a resolution which does not use any Jewish name for Jerusalem (not helpful, people);   a detailed investigation into the circumstances and background around the killing of a Palestinian attacker by an Israeli soldier;   valid criticism of journalists who build a career on Palestine and then leave Palestinians behind;   Israeli arms are perpetuating the conflict in South Sudan;
     -   Argentina has issued another extradition warrant for an Iranian ex-foreign minister who is wanted in the deadly bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in 1994;
     -   Syria and Egypt claim to have agreed to “fight terrorism” … ;
     -   the stupidity of Egypt’s compulsory military service;   Egypt’s growing economic crisis;   the offices of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), an NGO that tracks forced disappearances, have been raided by security officials;
     -   tensions and risks of violence in Lebanon;
• 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):   another attack on a US warship (way to go with the bravado … you idiots!);   a 3 day ceasefire has been agreed, and aid is being delivered to Taiz;   an assessment of the options Iran has in Yemen;   UN experts investigating the double bombing of a packed funeral hall in the rebel-held Yemeni capital are accusing the Saudi-led coalition of violating international humanitarian law by attacking civilians, the wounded and medical personnel;   the efforts of one woman against the coming famine in Yemen;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:   a super-typhoon has hit the Philippines;   a call for the UN to fulfil its moral duty to help storm-ravaged Haiti;
• With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story:   some homeless runners were able to complete a marathon;   cut backs in the “Cure Violence” programme in Chicago resulted in an increase in violence. Could this model be successful in other nations (e.g., El Salvador)? Of course, that would require adequate funding and other resources … ;   Australia is becoming increasingly isolated from the move to ban nuclear weapons;   a call for a standing UN Peacekeeping Force;   the Colombian vote against the peace treaty “highlights aspects of war crimes that international crimes lawyers tend to overlook” – see also here, here and here;   an analysis of the foreign policy advantage of democracies in conflict – attributed to constraints on leaders, and how this is being eroded by four trends;

and from a range of other sites:

• an utterly clueless moron’s response to unemployment is “start your own business” (see here, on reduced incomes, and here on the need for finance – how does an unemployed person get that??!!!) … and shows a complete lack of understanding of the concept of civil society;
• nurses in Australia who ignore evidence to promote anti-vaccination messages will be prosecuted - as anti-vaccination people resort to sending violent and sexist messages to government Ministers;
• the US city of San Francisco has developed a new and controversial plan for homeless people (not as simple as the plan another city there had of giving homeless people homes);

(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.