Post No. 971 – For Sunday evening’s meditation-clearing

Note: 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: these posts are the equivalent of a re-tweeting service, or, at best, a commentary site, and are posted for the purpose of assisting in the clearing of nonBPM (“unbalanced/unbalancing”, or spiritually immature”) energies.

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, as mentioned above, 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 ethical combination of BPM Æther and BPM Air;

(d)   No bindrune this week’s meditation;

(e)   the major events this week are:   a reminder of the conflicts which exist outside of Syria;

(f)   xenophobia and xenophobic-like thoughts, emotions and actions are plaguing governments, largely in response to such problems in everyday people;

(g)   the failure to proactively and ADEQUATELY explain (which means sufficient to be understood by the recipient, NOT “to the level that the explained thinks SHOULD suffice) progressive matters and their implementation has directly contributed to reactionary events such as the election of Trump in the USA;

(h)   unaccountable power continues to be a problem;

(i)   taking things a step further, or trying to outdo others, is a problem throughout society;

(j)   change for the sake of change is NEVER good: change must be nuanced, well-thought out, and implemented with responsiveness to the lessons/problems being encountered – particularly with regard to technology;

(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:
     a reminder of the conflicts happening elsewhere in the world, outside of Syria (the death toll given for Yemen is too low – it shows only direct casualties, and people are dying at a horrendous rate from famine and other problems caused by that war) – see also here and here. Also of relevance, these suggestions for the new UN Secretary-General;
• With regard to democracy (which requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable), freedom and governance (e.g., here, here, here and here):
     -   analyses this week include:   a critique of immigration as nation building vs. gate keeping;   as well as impacting on the economy, inequality is impacting on politics and our lifespans;   a critique of a manual covering international law and cyberwar which suggests the manual has problems;   a criticism (bordering on a US-centric whinge) of the European Union’s management of the transfer of data out of the EU;   the reasons Canada has continued to be an opening and welcoming nation;   moving beyond GDP to SDGs;   a warning on the myths associated with budget surpluses;   an examination of the connection between (poor) strength of governance and maritime piracy, including the effect of poorer data collection when governance declines;
     -   of concern this week:   the US Congress has weakened ethical oversight of itself;   Thailand’s army is claiming it will respect the outcomes of the coming election, but their record does not inspire confidence … ;   police and soldiers have violently fought each other in Papua New Guinea, and an investigation has been launched;   the incoming US administration will remove healthcare that has recently been extended to 20 million US citizens who had not been covered previously, although some provisions MAY be kept … - see also here;   a Turkish fashion designer who is critical of the current government in that nation has been attacked by passengers at an airport (where was security?) before being arrested by police;   another warning against allowing metadata to be used for civil cases;   a US sheriff has proposed using what I consider slave labour – undermining legitimate companies in the course of doing so – to build US President-elect Trump’s proposed wall against Mexico;   The Gambia’s army will back the current President if he refuses to step down – see also here;
     -   in the grey area or neutral this week:   a singer may perform at US President-elect Trump’s inauguration provided she can sing a protest song about racism;   Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president has been put on trial in absentia in France for alleged corruption - will this lead to a reduction in any corruption?;   police have spoken to Israel’s Prime Minister over allegations of corruption;   the South Korean scandal appears to have caught another person;   India has announced elections in five states;   the Indian Supreme Court has banned seeking election on the basis of religion, caste or language, which could be problematic in unforeseen ways;
     -   good news this week includes:   an excellent law in one US state will give hairdressers and the like training on the prevention of domestic violence, and provide them with legal protection;   a political agreement has been reached in the Democratic Republic of Congo;   the election of a President in Haiti has been welcomed;
     -   and in my home nation this week:   “Coalition Governments invariably engage in social engineering. The compact between government and citizen is being destroyed”;   Australia has allowed two refugees in its refugee gulag system to be bashed;   an assessment of the disappointing state of climate change politics in Australia;   the government’s clumsy and insensitive and too often WRONG attempts to recover alleged overpayments of welfare has necessitated more training of workers to handle aggression from terrified people – see also here, for an example of the personal experiences, and comments on the “cataclysmic” error rate here. These failures have also been referred to the Solicitor General;   Indonesia has (partially) suspended military cooperation with Australia over material about the Indonesian occupied land of West Papua, strange allegations that Australia is recruiting “agents of influence”, and unendorsed training material which – unacceptably - insulted Indonesia’s five founding principles of Pancasila — belief in one god (which I disagree with), a just and civilised humanity (which REQUIRES inclusivity of LGBTI people), the unity of Indonesia (but not adjoining or occupied lands), democracy guided by inner wisdom (provided that is BPM), and social justice for all Indonesians;   a call for Australia to avoid “facile” arguments when considering the relationship with China;
     -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Burma;
• 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/acts have occurred this week in Bangladesh, Turkey, Burundi, Bahrain (jailed violent extremists freed), Turkey (2^nd), Syria, Mali, Somalia, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 4 attacks in Iraq (out of a total of 27);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in Burma;   prevention has or may have occurred in Nigeria, Tunisia; and actions have occurred against violent extremists in Nigeria (recovery of another Chibok girl), Yemen;
     -   claims that the Assad dictatorship has infiltrated a notorious violent extremist group;   the USA has added the son of a now deceased terrorist to its list of terrorists;   “A new Czech Interior Ministry team set up this week to monitor and [analyse] "hybrid threats" to security such as disinformation campaigns has come under fire from the office of the country's own president”;   appalling suffering in the Lake Chad area as a result of violent extremist activity;
     -   an assessment of “Buddhist extremism” vs. “Islamist extremism”;   an analysis of the risks of counter-violent extremism measures in Germany in response to recent attacks “going too far”;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):
     Australia has allowed two refugees in its refugee gulag system to be bashed;   Italy’s anti-mafia police are working to keep the mafia out of people smuggling refugees;   an assessment of Syrian refugees in Australia;   a disabled Syrian refugee has had a new start in German;   the problems facing refugee parents in Greece;   the notorious founder of a private “security” group wants to militarise Europe’s approach to refugees;   a Macedonian border guard has fallen in love with and married a refugee;   refugees in Eastern Europe are being left at risk of freezing to death;
• With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated violence / crime):
     -   on homophobia/transphobia this week:   documents released over Australian cabinet discussions on allowing gay and lesbian members to serve openly show the sloppy thinking and lack of understanding of the senior military on this issue – and I note that, three decades later, the military still has too much bigotry, not just homophobia;   a trans man has won a court case for unfair dismissal in China;
     -   on racism this week:   a singer may perform at US President-elect Trump’s inauguration provided she can sing a protest song about racism;   a video may result in Burmese police being charged for beating Rohingya prisoners;   Burma has claimed to have found no evidence of genocide against Rohingya … they’re just fleeing for the hell of it, rather than fear of their lives, I suppose (sarcasm);   the descendants of people who were massacred by Germany in Namibia a century ago have started a legal case against Germany in the USA;
     -   on sexism this week:   an excellent law in one US state will give hairdressers and the like training on the prevention of domestic violence, and provide them with legal protection – see also here, for a call for similar in the UK;   South Korea has taken down a very ill-judged website which attempted to increase its birth rate (a very bad idea) by, in effect, advertising the biological availability of wombs … (what about making the society one that people feel safe enough and supported enough to have families?);   discrepancies between prize money for men and women at a sporting event;   another person has found the advantages of outing trolls to their Mums;   mass sexual assaults have occurred on New Year’s Eve in an Indian city – see also here, and also here, on the victim blaming of “acting like Westerners”;   the problem of “bride prices” in China;   a magazine and actress have been praised for not air brushing away cellulite;   a loophole effectively allowing rape via child marriages has been brought to the attention of the Indian Supreme Court;   the devastation caused by letting a rapist go free - and this includes a police officer actually laughing at some of the victim’s testimony, and suspicions of racism;   the investigation into sexual assaults by French soldiers in the Central African republic appears to have been flawed;   fears of a campaign of murder against women in Yemen;   a Pakistani province has launched an app to enable women to report harassment;   Brazilian men are being helped to become better fathers to reduce gender violence;   Mexico will allow babies to be registered with maternal surnames;   in a rare event, two bystanders have stopped the violent, public beating of a woman in China;   6,000 imams in Afghanistan have been given gender sensitivity training;   the imminent US defunding of “Planned Parenthood” affects more than just abortions – the clinics also provide much needed health care on other issues;   the ongoing discrimination against women and children in Afghanistan – which is being resisted;
     -   on other forms of human rights this week:   French workers will get the legal right to disconnected from emails outside of working hours;   the life experiences of a victim of school bullying;   hundreds of Iranians have marched to demand the release of a student activist;   some excellent thoughts on how to respond to the bigotry of neochristians;   the former Prime Minister of Kosovo has been arrested for alleged war crimes;   exotic pets have been banned in the UAE;   another warning against allowing metadata to be used for civil cases;   four people have been charged with a hate crime for attacking a disabled man – and live streaming it;   34 jobs have been lost to robots – with up to 5 million being lost by 2020 (this is an impact on workers’ rights and the right to human dignity);   a US sheriff has proposed using what I consider slave labour – undermining legitimate companies in the course of doing so – to build US President-elect Trump’s proposed wall against Mexico;   the US Army will ease restrictions making serving harder for some minority groups;   a critique of a manual covering international law and cyberwar which suggests the manual has problems;   “A human rights abuses complaint against WWF, the world’s largest conservation organisation, is to be examined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation” which appears to be a case of anti-poaching guards against the indigenous hunter-gatherers;   concerns over the possible exit of the UK from European Union human rights agreements;   an examination of the possibility that “political correctness” in the USA has “gone off the rails” (“has produced a generation of liberals and progressives narcissistically unaware of conditions outside their self-defined groups”) (my response to this is: (a) some of the concern comes from laziness and unwillingness to change, (b) most PC stuff is necessary – and the issue over pronouns is one such issue, (c) some of this has – as with almost anything – been subverted, (d) it is unquestionable, in my opinion, that this has driven people to the right – and that REFLECTS POOR EXPLANATION / EDUCATION IN ADVANCE OF IMPLEMENTING NEW STEPS OF CARING, and (e) some of this is the sense of having been ambushed owing to lack of prior explanation);   a reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in North Korea;   Kurds have shut down a group helping Yezidis;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
     an excellent law in one US state will give hairdressers and the like training on the prevention of domestic violence, and provide them with legal protection – see also here, for a call for similar in the UK;   one person is dead and two on life support after taking a drug at a party;   an excellent (noting that car accidents are costing us $27 billion each year) suggestion for special “tourist plates” for international drivers here on holidays;   illegal fireworks have killed two people in my nation (I know a few people who decry the ban on fireworks in most Australian states, but I recall the injuries that did actually happen –including to people I knew when fireworks were legally available);   twelve people have been murdered in a domestic violence incident in Brazil;   a review after a prison death and escapes in Australia (and another death) and unspeakable violence after mismanagement that includes abuse in a prison in Brazil – see also here;   Italy’s anti-mafia police are working to keep the mafia out of people smuggling refugees;   armed men have broken 100 prisoners out of a jail in the Philippines;   another case of excessive and inappropriate force against a black student in a US school by a police officer;   another warning against allowing metadata to be used for civil cases;   four people have been charged with a hate crime for attacking a disabled man – and live streaming it;   a US sheriff has proposed using what I consider slave labour – undermining legitimate companies in the course of doing so – to build US President-elect Trump’s proposed wall against Mexico;   a critique of a manual covering international law and cyberwar which suggests the manual has problems;   a criticism (bordering on a US-centric whinge) of the European Union’s management of the transfer of data out of the EU;   the devastation caused by letting a rapist go free - and this includes a police officer actually laughing at some of the victim’s testimony, and suspicions of racism;   a call for better policing in India;   an examination of the connection between (poor) strength of governance and maritime piracy, including the effect of poorer data collection when governance declines;
• 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: having an “equal say”, or a “right to respond” MUST be assessed in the context of what is happening overall in society – NOT solely in one limited incident):
     a dual Canadian-Turkish citizen has been detained for insulting Turkey’s President on facebook;   Apple has facilitated Chinese censorship by removing a newspaper app;
• 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? Do you want a bigger, flashier home/car than people had 50 years ago – which means you are actively abusing the environment and society’s cohesion?):
     -   China will ban the domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017;   some utterly EXCELLENT comments about the stupid houses we Aussies keep building- to which I would add the significance of heat mass, use of geostabilisation, importance of verandahs, and that houses everywhere need both heating and cooling issues to be considered (I've been cold in houses in Queensland, and far too hot in houses in Melbourne);   an assessment of the disappointing state of climate change politics in Australia;   the invention of artificial fertilisers just over a century ago is responsible for keeping half today’s world population alive – which is tremendous, from a human point of view, but utterly disastrous from an environmental point of view;   coral bleaching will become an annual event;   a call has been made for better implementation of anti-pollution laws in India;   “US Navy-trained dolphins and their handlers will participate in a last-ditch effort to catch the last few dozen of Mexico’s vaquita porpoises to save them from extinction”;   China is continuing its massive investment in renewable energy;   the Arctic’s “freakishly” warm winter is being attributed to human activity;
     -   the fight back against drones;   another person has found the advantages of outing trolls to their Mums;   emergency service workers are finding people in car accidents with mobile phones embedded in their bodies;   another warning against allowing metadata to be used for civil cases;   four people have been charged with a hate crime for attacking a disabled man – and live streaming it;   34 jobs have been lost to robots – with up to 5 million being lost by 2020;   a critique of a manual covering international law and cyberwar which suggests the manual has problems;   a criticism (bordering on a US-centric whinge) of the European Union’s management of the transfer of data out of the EU;   implementation of Kenya’s proposed biometric identification system may delay elections (what other problems does it lead to?);   a warning that children may give away personal information and not understand the conditions when they sign up to things on the internet;   crowdfunding has been used for community projects connecting people to their heritage;   the imperative of putting human connection AT THE CENTRE of technology;
     -   an article on the ways that modern (anti-competitive?) business practices are pushing out of existence artisan tradespeople;   the impact of automation and robots on the future of work;   moving beyond GDP to SDGs;
     -   an article suggesting that Japan’s culture of overwork MIGHT be finally changing;   the “archaeology” and benefits of a polite society, using Japan as a case study;   French workers will get the legal right to disconnected from emails outside of working hours;   consumption of “stuff” does not give happiness;   a medical study indicates that people living near major roads have higher rates (7% higher when within 50m of the road) of dementia;   parents introducing their kids to alcohol reduces the chance of them binge drinking (the article’s concerns about kids having full serves are, in my opinion, overblown);   giving babies peanuts (NOT whole, and under medical supervision) early reduces the chance of developing allergies;
• With regard to education:
     an article on the Japanese practice of apologising for others’ behaviour – beginning with parents apologising for criminal adult children (there are some children who can be and are influenced by their parents – for better or worse, and there are some children who are never going to be greatly influenced by their parents. Thus, I consider there may well be some cases where apologies are warranted, but, in the majority of cases, they’re probably NOT … );   the life experiences of a victim of school bullying;   a rural suicide has resulted in a programme similar to the excellent “Safe School” programme, but for non-LGBTI kids;   another case of excessive and inappropriate force against a black student in a US school by a police officer;   a trans and gender diverse friendly set of policies will be introduced in an Australian state;   a US state has removed a text book with an inaccurate (fanciful) description of slavery (how did it come to be there in the first place?);   a call for education to teach peace;   the successful transformation of one school in the UK;   more than forty websites giving fake Uni degrees have been closed;   the importance of reflecting multiculturalism with ethnic mix in schools;
• 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):
     an Afghanistan Minister has been suspended for not cooperating with a corruption enquiry;   6,000 imams have been given gender sensitivity training;   the ongoing discrimination against women and children in Afghanistan – which is being resisted;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
     -   the first assassination for nearly two years has occurred in Burundi;   mixed reactions to the interest of the Burundian President in changing the constitution and running for another term;
     -   Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president has been put on trial in absentia in France for alleged corruption - will this lead to a reduction in any corruption?;
     -   two peacekeepers have been killed (speculation: why is that not described as murder?) in the Central African Republic;   the investigation into sexual assaults by French soldiers in the Central African republic appears to have been flawed;   trust is being built between religious communities in the CAR;
     -   a political agreement has been reached in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
     -   The Gambia’s army will back the current President if he refuses to step down – see also here;   more repression in The Gambia;
     -   ten thousand prisoners have been pardoned in Ethiopia;
     -   Nigeria’s economic measures have led to a tax on anti-malarial drugs;
     -   implementation of Kenya’s proposed biometric identification system may delay elections (what other problems does it lead to?);
     -   a political crisis is developing in Lesotho;
     -   many Liberians fear the nation could fall back into civil war;
     -   the descendants of people who were massacred by Germany in Namibia a century ago have started a legal case against Germany in the USA;
     -   community divisions have occurred in Kenya over a coal-fired power station;
     -   appalling suffering in the Lake Chad area as a result of violent extremist activity;
• With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
     -   China will ban the domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017;   the problem of “bride prices” in China;   Apple has facilitated Chinese censorship by removing a newspaper app;   a trans man has won a court case for unfair dismissal in China;   China has criticised “extreme” tariffs imposed on its products by rival economies;   China is continuing its massive investment in renewable energy;   in a rare event, two bystanders have stopped the violent, public beating of a woman in China;
     -   North Korea is claiming to be close to testing an intercontinental ballistic missile – see here for an assessment of North Korea’s claim;   a reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in North Korea;
     -   the South Korean scandal appears to have caught another person;   South Korea considers China is indirectly retaliating against its decision to purchase a US missile defence system;
     -   an article on the Japanese practice of apologising for others’ behaviour – beginning with parents apologising for criminal adult children (there are some children who can be and are influenced by their parents – for better or worse, and there are some children who are never going to be greatly influenced by their parents. Thus, I consider there may well be some cases where apologies are warranted, but, in the majority of cases, they’re probably NOT … );   an article suggesting that Japan’s culture of overwork MIGHT be finally changing;   consideration of restarting of nuclear power stations in Japan is opposed by around 60 – 70% of people, post-Fukushima;   the “archaeology” and benefits of a polite society, using Japan as a case study;
     -   two Indonesian executives have resigned after a pilot was drunk – which is a problem (drunk pilots) that has also occurred in Canada. The pilot in Indonesia was only relieved after the passengers rioted, however, which is a major concern – at least that wasn't the case in the Canadian incident;   Indonesia has (partially) suspended military cooperation with Australia over material about the Indonesian occupied land of West Papua, strange allegations that Australia is recruiting “agents of influence”, and unendorsed training material which – unacceptably - insulted Indonesia’s five founding principles of Pancasila — belief in one god; a just and civilised humanity; the unity of Indonesia; democracy guided by inner wisdom; and social justice for all Indonesians;
     -   Thailand’s army is claiming it will respect the outcomes of the coming election, but their record does not inspire confidence … ;
     -   a video may result in Burmese police being charged for beating Rohingya prisoners;   Burma has claimed to have found no evidence of genocide against Rohingya … they’re just fleeing for the hell of it, rather than fear of their lives, I suppose (sarcasm);   a warning that the abuse of Rohingya is making Burma a target for violent extremist groups;
     -   armed men have broken 100 prisoners out of a jail in the Philippines;   Russia and the Philippines are developing closer ties;
     -   an assessment of “Buddhist extremism” vs. “Islamist extremism”;
• 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):
     -   tactics indicate that violent extremists are running out of steam in Mosul;   2,000 Iraqis are fleeing Mosul every day;   the efforts of poets to maintain culture and adapt to death;   Iraq has launched a new offensive against violent extremists on its western border;   allegations that violent extremists in Iraq are trying to commit genocide;   a critique of attempts to better integrate the Iraqi army to prevent abuses;   child soldiers are still being recruited by some groups on Iraqi territory;   Kurds have shut down a group helping Yezidis;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 145 people killed in the last week;
• With regard to the Libyan civil war:
     “Expressing concern at escalating tensions and threat of renewed conflict following developments in central Libya, the United Nations envoy for the country urged all parties to work together on reconciliation and to refrain from any rhetoric that could inflame the situation”;   more violence in Libya;   Chad has closed its border with Libya;
• With regard to Russia (which is currently actively supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria):
     an examination  of the tools Russia uses for influence outside its borders;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   Venezuela has released a small number of jailed opposition figures – see also here;
     -   twelve people have been murdered in a domestic violence incident in Brazil;   Brazilian men are being helped to become better fathers to reduce gender violence;   unspeakable violence after mismanagement that includes abuse in a prison in Brazil – see also here;   an investigation has shown serious violations of labour rights at coffee farms linked to certification systems;   native seeds are being used to safeguard against the effects of drought in north-east Brazil;
     -   pay sent home to Mexico by workers in the USA has peaked ahead of the Trump administration taking power;   the experience of one Mexican city with a wall on the US border;   the Mexican MP who arranged Trump’s visit and was then sacked has been appointed Foreign Minister as the nation prepares for the incoming US administration;   Mexico will allow babies to be registered with maternal surnames;   “US Navy-trained dolphins and their handlers will participate in a last-ditch effort to catch the last few dozen of Mexico’s vaquita porpoises to save them from extinction”;
     -   the election of a President in Haiti has been welcomed;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   mass sexual assaults have occurred on New Year’s Eve in an Indian city – see also here, and also here, on the victim blaming of “acting like Westerners”;   a loophole effectively allowing rape via child marriages has been brought to the attention of the Indian Supreme Court;   India has announced elections in five states;   a call for better policing in India;   a call has been made for better implementation of anti-pollution laws in India;   the Indian Supreme Court has banned seeking election on the basis of religion, caste or language, which could be problematic in unforeseen ways;
     -   Sri Lanka’s Consultation Task Force has reported and recommended mechanisms for reconciliation;   Sri Lanka has delayed a joint venture with a Chinese company;
     -   a Pakistani province has launched an app to enable women to report harassment;   Pakistan will release over 200 Indian fishing people it arrested a year ago for entering a disputed border area;   over 150 activists have been arrested for trying to support Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws;   Islamabad has opened its first bike lanes;
• With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
     -   Sudan says it has reached an agreement with rebels in Darfur;
• 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):
     -   the UN Security Council has backed the Russian-Turkish plan for a ceasefire and peace talks in Syria - see here for an analysis of the plan, and here for the importance of including all rebel groups;   ceasefire breaches have led the opposition to declare that they might withdraw from the plan – which is a test of Russia’s ability to control the Assad dictatorship – and a call for the UN to ensure the breaches of the ceasefire stop;   an article on the possibility of Syria being divided between Iran, Turkey and Russia (which I consider will likely be the only way some form of peace can be realised in the short-medium term);   the UN has called for the optimism as peace holds in Aleppo to be built upon;   warnings of war crimes over the interruption of Damascus’ water supply;   claims that the Assad dictatorship has infiltrated a notorious violent extremist group;   bias in media reporting on Syria;
• With regard to Turkey:
     a Turkish fashion designer who is critical of the current government in that nation has been attacked by passengers at an airport (where was security?) before being arrested by police;   an examination of the division in Turkey;   the first convictions for the failed coup have led to life sentences;   a call by a Turkish resident for perseverance;   a dual Canadian-Turkish citizen has been detained for insulting Turkey’s President on facebook;   Turkish officials are questioning the presence of US forces at an airforce base in southern Turkey as a result of perceived lack of support for Turkish operations in Syria;   more people are being arrested over the coup as emergency rule is being extended to allow continued purging of alleged Gulen supporters;
• with regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
     Ukraine will ban a French Presidential candidate who supports Russia’s invasion of the Crimea;
• With regard to West Asia / the Middle East and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     -   an opinion piece arguing that the Arab Spring could happen again;
     -   police have spoken to Israel’s Prime Minister over allegations of corruption;   an Israeli soldier who shot and killed a disarmed and incapacitated Palestinian has been found guilty of manslaughter - and the judges who made the decision have had to be been given protection. See also here;   a warning that US President-elect Trump is likely to be serious about relocating the US Embassy to Israel;   Israeli police are searching for a “visibly religious” Jewish man who stabbed a Bedouin;   Israel’s intelligence agency is looking for more female agents;   France has denied planning a UN resolution on peace;   the US House of Representatives have passed a resolution condemning the UN’s resolution against Israeli squatters (my term);   a call for an Orthodox Jew to consider those suffering in Syria and elsewhere (with an interesting story about an Orthodox Rabbi who took part in anti-Viêt Nám War demonstrations because he “couldn’t pray” – every time he opened his prayer book, he saw images of napalmed children – and also a Prayer for World Peace);   allegations that some Israeli officials are supporting a “shoot to kill” policy;   an interesting perspective on the differences between the Obama administration’s and Trump’s attitudes towards Israel;
     -   hundreds of Iranians have marched to demand the release of a student activist;
     -   protest against an austerity plan in Algeria;
     -   a prediction that the Egyptian President will walk himself over a political precipice this year;
• 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):
     fears of a campaign of murder against women in Yemen;   three Yemeni soldiers have been killed in clashes against violent extremists;   another reminder regarding the famine in Yemen;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     a storm in the USA has killed several people;   concerns over Fiji’s management of a recent tsunami warning;   safe water is now available in Haiti for those affected by a cyclone last year (why did it take so long?);   a major step forward in the development of an anti-malaria vaccine;
• With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story:
     community donations will help a 91 year old woman keep her soup kitchen – which she founded 38 years ago – continuing after an accident wrote her van off;   campaigns against certain types of weapons, including a growing campaign against so-called “killer robots”;

and from a range of other sites:

• the new UN Secretary-General has commenced with a call for peace;
• another army is working on a laser weapon ... ;
• US President Obama will transfer more detainees out of Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay;
• a call to stop gossiping;
• a 17 year old in the UK - who has been volunteering since he was four – has received a New Year’s honour for his work to prevent violence by organising social media debates and live events to connect young people with decision makers in the police, schools, politics and the media;
• the use of art to teach empathy to medical students.

(Dear Reader, please remember, I expect you to think when reading this blog, and reserve the right to occasionally sneak in something to test that)

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, 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.