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 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) I’ve created a bindrune for this week’s meditation from Dagaz, Mannaz and Tiwaz, which is:(e) the major events this week are: the crisis in The Gambia; the lead up to the inauguration of Trump as US President;(f) the critical test being faced by the world and all people on it this week is: commitment to ethics;(g) the counter to fear is genuine EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech;(h) 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;(i) 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):
- analyses this week include: outgoing US President Obama warns not to underestimate US President-elect Trump; an examination of the ongoing spread of populism; a longer term examination of populism; an opinion piece on a “new era of politically sanctioned patriarchy”; the importance of learning the lessons from Trump’s elections – e.g., better telling stories; an editorial that departing US President Obama did make a difference; a call for the UN security council to declare water a “strategic resource of humanity” and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations; an examination of the possible impact of a Trump administration in the USA on the economic alliance “BRICS” – with an excellent quote from Gore Vidal;
- of concern this week: - The Gambia’s President-elect will stay in a neighbouring nation until his inauguration in the Embassy in that nation (this is a measure of the concerning problems about a transfer of power there following the recent, disputed elections … ) … and a state of emergency has now been declared as 45,000 people flee - see also here - as Senegal and Nigeria make shows of force on their shared borders to force the current President to accept the result. Senegal has asked the UN to back action by ECOWAS; another privacy breach – this one by my home state government; a far right party in German has provoked outrage with unacceptable remarks about the Holocaust; concerns that a corrupt oligarchy is developing in Hungary; after funding cuts ended a suicide prevention programme for a Canadian First Nations people, suicide has become a problem; US President-elect Trump may have pre-empted moves towards banning nuclear weapons;
- in the grey area or neutral this week: Kenya is trying to re-establish confidence in its electoral Board; a well considered defence of the USA’s FBI Director Comey in relation to investigations of Hillary Clinton’s emails, and associated announcements; a warning that the USA defunding the UN would be a massive mistake;
- good news this week includes: “US civil rights activists vowed on Saturday to defend hard-fought gains in voting rights and criminal justice during the presidency of Donald Trump, kicking off a week of protests ahead of the Republican's inauguration”; a call to always speak out against hate; US President-elect Trump has asked over 50 key Obama appointees to stay on; “The New York attorney general moved on Thursday to protect immigrants from potential deportation under Donald Trump, issuing a raft of legal advice on the eve of the incoming president's inauguration”; Germany has rebuffed criticism by US President-elect Trump;
- and in my home nation this week: finally, some common sense with the intention to change a highly flawed “welfare debt recovery” policy that was based on inherently flawed attempts to use technology incorrectly … but the scheme will be extended to aged pensions, and the Ombudsman has started an enquiry; a state government will apologise for a rail disaster – forty years after the fact; a rejection of the call for a national identity card in Australia; an audit has made scathing criticisms of the management of contracts for Australia’s refugee gulag; immigration – including refugees – is the only reason Australia has avoided economic recession after the 2008 GFC – this is an argument that has been put in favour of accepting refugees and maintaining immigration, together with pointing out that new people are predominantly younger, thus helping with problems of ageing populations; the political limits on charities; the definition of privacy in Australian law has been severely curtailed; concern over the linkage of innovation to free market economics; a call for more electoral reform to restore trust;
- this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists The Gambia; - 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 the USA, Mali, Afghanistan, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 5 attacks in Iraq (out of a total of 22 – the incident – terrible tragedy though it is - in my home city Melbourne is NOT a terrorist event); and actions have occurred against violent extremists in Pakistan, Libya; Islamophobic threats have led to an Australia Day billboard showing women in hijabs being taken down; the Nigerian airforce has accidentally killed civilians in an air strike against violent extremists; violent extremists are adapting commercial drone technology for violent use;
- a notorious neochristian church has lost its charitable taxation status; the US CIA has released its revised rules – in full, for the first time – on the surveillance of its own citizens; an analysis of a recent piece of Islamophobic drivel; violent extremism is harming Turkey’s economy; a call for the UK to apologise to the victims of rendition;
- concern that Europe is entering a permanent state of emergency; - With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):
another massive drowning of refugees off Libya; an audit has made scathing criticisms of the management of contracts for Australia’s refugee gulag; some young criminals who are in my home state on refugee visas have been referred to the Commonwealth Government for consideration of deportation. This is obviously an extremely serious matter on several counts, and the article does a reasonable job of outlining those; immigration – including refugees – is the only reason Australia has avoided economic recession after the 2008 GFC – this is an argument that has been put in favour of accepting refugees and maintaining immigration, together with pointing out that new people are predominantly younger, thus helping with problems of ageing populations; there is a risk of a generation of Syrian children – refugees in Turkey – missing out on education; the UN has launched a new strategy to help refugees in Europe; a series of very interesting maps on refugees and migrants in Europe; the appalling abuses being experienced by African refugees; another call for Europe NOT to adopt Australia’s notorious refugee gulag system; the avoidance of facts by those who are anti-refugee; there are far more refugees inside Africa than are heading for Europe – many are trying to get to South Africa; “An Italian MP has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the joint British-Italian operation that led to a man being held on suspicion of people smuggling despite fears he is the victim of mistaken identity”; sexual assaults are being allowed to run rampant in refugee camps in South Sudan; - With regard to human rights and discrimination (including associated
violence / crime):
- on homophobia/transphobia this week: a returned services organisation in Australia has a history of being notoriously bigoted: this shows those problems still exist – although there may yet be some change in the offing … ; an LGBT dance party has been held as a protest outside the house of the notoriously homophobic incoming US vice-president;
- on racism this week: a call for fake Aboriginal-style souvenirs to be banned; an ancient indigenous site in my home state has moved closer to being declared a World Heritage area … ; an African-American marching performing at Trump’s inauguration has endured an initial backlash, but subsequently has raised much-needed funds; a Queensland University employed a rapist for three months after he pleaded guilty; welcome of the appointment of an indigenous person as the first Australian Minister for Aged Care and Indigenous health, but there is still a need for improvement; Queensland police are appealing a court decision that they were racist in their response to the death of an indigenous man on Palm Island;
- on sexism this week: Kenyan “grannies” are being taught martial arts for self defence; “A Pakistani singer has been praised after stopping his concert mid-song to rescue a girl from the audience who was being harassed”; justifiable outrage after a video of a gang rape was circulated in Somalia; a PNG man who intervened in a domestic violence attack is now trying to address the plague of DV in that nation; an Indian woman who is campaigning against abuse of men in India has experienced a backlash – see also here, here, and here, and also here, here, here, here, and here; the UN has urged Saudi Arabia to use its economic plan to boost women’s rights; Russian MPs are considering weakening domestic violence laws (why? Are they insecure males, or do they not believe wife beating happens, or do they think wife beating is acceptable?); sexual assaults are being allowed to run rampant in refugee camps in South Sudan; a march for women’s rights is expected to be a major event;
- on other forms of human rights this week: an interesting examination of myth and history in relation to tolerance; Swiss police have arrested pro-Tibet demonstrators; an interesting article about using the concept of “belonging” in considerations of diversity (mind you, I would be reluctant to be part of a “town hall” conversation on sensitive matters in many of the workplaces I have been in over the years); claims that aged care home residents are being denied psychological care; a call to always speak out against hate; “An Italian court has given life sentences to eight South American former political and military leaders over the disappearance of 23 Italian nationals during the 70s and 80s”; my home city’s struggle with a growing homelessness crisis; a “second wave” of bomb threats against Jewish centres; “Nearly 80 rights groups on Wednesday accused Facebook (FB.O) of "racially biased censorship" and failing to be more transparent about its removal policies and cooperation with law enforcement, adding to criticism the company has faced in recent months”; India has – belatedly – decided to ratify two key ILO conventions protecting children against labour (exploitation); the need to remember physical health for people with mental health issues; an activist has been jailed in Armenia after police responded violently to a peaceful protest; a warning against giving rights to robots; - With regard
to crime, judicial matters and policing:
there is no question that this is a terrible tragedy, but it does also show the more extreme effects of not supporting people: if one wishes to prevent such tragedies from happening again, there are many things which need to be considered, and going beyond anger at the perpetrator to look at such issues is one (I recall having an argument years ago with someone I knew over a similar case where a father drove for 100 metres over rough paddock in order to drown his kids: my opponent was determined that it was an accident, which is ludicrous beyond all belief [keeping one’s foot on the accelerator for such a long time over rough ground?], and I still wonder what motivated her stance. That also shows a slew of other issues which can cause such tragedies – possessiveness/using kids as weapons, possibly “mini-me” parenting, etc – in addition to financial pressures and mental health problems shown by the current case); a New Zealand father has – quite rightly – been charged over taking his daughter out of the country (as a sailor, I have never heard such unadulterated BS as the claim that he couldn’t steer the boat with only one rudder. If he was genuinely having problems [say, the rudders were jammed], then you lower the sails and call on your radio for help: if you don’t have a radio, you wait, rather than actively sail away form help. Alternatively, you use the skills I and many other kids learned and steer the boat using the sails! This appears to me to have been a kidnapping, pure and simple, with an excuse that thinks everyone is an uninformed idiot when it comes to sailing); “Australia's police commissioners are considering issuing an apology to victims of child sex abuse following the release of a royal commission report later this year”; the retiring chief of London's Metropolitan Police has warned that "stop and search" policing tactics can be counterproductive and alienate key people in the communities that authorities need to reach out to, and said that he was able to reduce crime and increase arrests in London over the past five years while radically reducing - by 70% (compared to the two years leading up to the 2011 London riots)- the use of the policing method that was praised by Donald Trump during the recent US election campaign; an article on Indonesia’s undercover wildlife crime investigators; China has said police and judges must have “absolute” loyalty to the Communist Party (shades of the Cultural Revolution? Probably not – but autocratic, counter-productive and wrong); a bipartisan approach may lead to a US state abandoning the death penalty; extrajudicial police “killings” in the Philippines have now included a South Korean businessman; Queensland police are appealing a court decision that they were racist in their response to the death of an indigenous man on Palm Island; - 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):
Swiss police have arrested pro-Tibet demonstrators; more threats to Afghan journalists; - 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?):
- another (these calls have been made by many people over the decades) call for the environment to be INTEGRAL to economic decision making; millions could benefit from increased marine conservation; 7% of the world’s “pristine” forests have been lost this millennia; my home state’s Environment Protection Authority will be boosted; another record hot year; a Mexican environmentalist has been murdered; rehabilitating the mine site at the Hazelwood Power Station when it is closed will cost over $700 million – which is the first realistic estimate I have come across of such activities: it is reprehensible that no-one has been honest (or accurate) about such costs to date; unusually (“taking a calculated gamble”), New Zealand is importing a foreign insect species to control an invasive and destructive foreign plant species – see here for a review of this method and lessons learned from past disasters; my home city’s tram network will be using solar power by the end of 2018; a journalist has become despairing over climate change;
- facebook is attempting to deal with the fake news problem – in Germany, at least; “Nearly 80 rights groups on Wednesday accused Facebook (FB.O) of "racially biased censorship" and failing to be more transparent about its removal policies and cooperation with law enforcement, adding to criticism the company has faced in recent months”; the enormous problem of e-waste in Asia; more deaths from selfies in India; justifiable outrage after a video of a gang rape was circulated in Somalia; identify theft has increased, and is a particular problem for people aged over 55 (NEVER put your true birthdate on social media!); another privacy breach – this one by my home state government; violent extremists are adapting commercial drone technology for violent use; concerns about the digital world; a reminder not to lose our humanness;
- expecting poor parents to buy electronic devices on top of trying to survive is morally wrong – and, in a nation where education is supposed to be free, legally questionable; the eight richest people in the world hold the same wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population – which, in addition to showing problems with inequity, is a test and an opportunity for those wealth people, at least some of whom appear to be trying to use that wealth – at least partly – for good outcomes. See here for a fact check on this claim, and also, Bill Gates is helping to distribute Warren Buffet’s fortune to charity; the elitist World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland is facing challenges over globalisation (see here and here for their views on risks), but technology and automation could be a bigger problem – see also this criticism. Also, the forum has been asked to fund vaccines against the next three possible global health emergencies, and the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General has called for a new generation of partnerships with the business community to limit the impact of climate change and to reduce poverty; unpaid internships (which I consider immoral) are harming poorer job seekers; immigration – including refugees – is the only reason Australia has avoided economic recession after the 2008 GFC – this is an argument that has been advanced previously in favour of accepting refugees and maintaining immigration, together with pointing out that new people are predominantly younger, thus helping with problems of ageing populations; a critique of productivity problems; an opinion that wage inequality is a greater threat than automation;
- I’d love to live in a floating city, but NONE of these designs looks capable of surviving a cyclone; going to Uni is not the only way to get a decent job; the global diversity of thinking; processed foods are causing an increase in obesity in South and Central America; - With regard to education:
expecting poor parents to buy electronic devices on top of trying to survive is morally wrong – and, in a nation where education is supposed to be free, legally questionable. See here an informed and interesting opinion on this; a heart-warming story about clowns who used laughter to help teach kids in Afghanistan, and are now touring Australia; a secret university in Iran is helping the Baha’i, who are discriminated against and assaulted; a Queensland University employed a rapist for three months after he pleaded guilty; teachers have been kidnapped in Afghanistan; - 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 all-female Afghani orchestra has performed at the World Economic Forum in Davos; more threats to Afghan journalists; a call for half a billion dollars in aid; teachers have been kidnapped in Afghanistan; - With regard to Africa, the Africa
Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) also has:
- there are far more refugees inside Africa than are heading for Europe – many are trying to get to South Africa;
- an article about a free trade agreement in Africa (this is one of the few situations where such an agreement has, in my opinion, the possibility to do more god than harm);
- The Gambia’s President-elect will stay in a neighbouring nation until his inauguration in the Embassy in that nation (this is a measure of the concerning problems about a transfer of power there following the recent, disputed elections … ) … and a state of emergency has now been declared as 45,000 people flee - see also here - as Senegal and Nigeria make shows of force on their shared borders to force the current President to accept the result. Senegal has asked the UN to back action by ECOWAS;
- justifiable outrage after a video of a gang rape was circulated in Somalia;
- Malawi is investigating a maize purchase from Zambia which allegedly had an inflated price;
- Kenya is trying to re-establish confidence in its electoral Board;
- the Nigerian airforce has accidentally killed civilians in an air strike against violent extremists;
- France is considering a United Nations Security Council draft resolution that would set up a sanctions regime for Mali to target opponents of the June 2015 peace deal signed between the Malian government and rebels; an article on the growing violence in Mali;
- members of the youth league of Burundi’s ruling party have been accused of beatings, torture and murder;
- Uganda’s government says hundreds of members of a Congolese rebel group have fled a military camp where they had been awaiting amnesty since the signing of a peace deal with Congo’s government in 2014;
- violence is continuing in, and continues to tarnish the previously excellent reputation of, the Ivory Coast;
- Cameroon is at risk of guerrilla warfare;
- Ethiopia’s ruling party will meet with the nationally registered main political opposition for a dialogue aimed at long-term stability; Ethiopia has called for humanitarian aid;
- Sierra Leone has only two psychiatrists;
- an excellent critique of South Africa’s foreign policy; - With regard to China and East and South East Asia:
- China has set air quality targets which are more than double the WHO standard (these are a revision of the current limits, and show that China is working towards the WHO standards in achievable steps. In the West, there is a lot of arrant rubbish made about setting ambitious goals and trying to achieve them – an idiotic GP who took that approach wound up stopping an ex- of mine doing anything about her health because the goals were unachievable, and I’ve seen similar demotivation by excessive goal setting in companies: if the WHO goals were adopted by China now, it would lead to resentment and despair, not the “inspiration” that Western goal setting idiots believe happens. I commend China for her pragmatism and realism, and look forward to further changes in the future); the Philippines has filed a low-key diplomatic protest over China’s reported installation of anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on an artificial islands in the Philippines economic zone; “China will build a new model of relations with the United States as part of its creation of a "circle of friends" around the world” – which, if it includes transphobic/homophobic meddling of the type shown last election in Australia, will be a concern – bit it COULD be OK, or even good, if done with genuine respect on China’s part for other nations/cultures; China has said police and judges must have “absolute” loyalty to the Communist Party (shades of the Cultural Revolution? Probably not – but autocratic, counter-productive and wrong); China’s economic data is being questioned; China is continuing to politically outmanoeuvre everyone else on the South China Sea – see also here;
- a revisionist Japanese book which denies the Nanking massacre has – quite rightly – been strongly criticised;
- Swiss police have arrested pro-Tibet demonstrators;
- Taiwan fears it may be invaded as a result of the incoming US administration;
- the Philippines President Duterte has said he will impose martial law, if the drug problem remains “virulent” (that may well address the symptoms, but it will only continue to hide the causes); an assessment of the possibility of ending the long-running insurgency in the southern Philippines; the Philippines has filed a low-key diplomatic protest over China’s reported installation of anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on an artificial islands in the Philippines economic zone; extrajudicial police “killings” in the Philippines have now included a South Korean businessman;
- an article on Indonesia’s undercover wildlife crime investigators; an assessment of the election of Jakarta’s governor as a “test for moderate Islam and democracy”; Indonesia’s courts have said that adultery is NOT a crime;
- most households in East Timor fear eviction in the next five years owing to economic problems; an assessment of the possibility that East Timor may lose most from ending the oil agreement with Australia;
- a call for ASEAN to take action to stop the persecution of Rohingya; - 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):
- Kurds are staking a claim for a larger share of Iraq; the battle for Mosul is continuing;
- and the Iraq Body Count project reports 221 people killed in the last week; - With regard to the Libyan civil war:
another massive drowning of refugees off Libya; another article on a Libyan general’s approach to Russia for funds – which has responded with a show of support; - With regard to Russia (which is currently actively supporting an
– in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria), Russian
influenced nations and eastern Europe, and responses:
- Russia is annoyed that a few hundred US marines have been allowed into Norway; “U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday it is in the world's interest for the United States and Russia to have a constructive relationship, but Russia's return to an "adversarial spirit" under President Vladimir Putin made that difficult”; another article on a Libyan general’s approach to Russia for funds – which has responded with a show of support; Russia’s continuing attack on NGOs; Russian MPs are considering weakening domestic violence laws (why? Are they insecure males, or do they not believe wife beating happens, or do they think wife beating is acceptable?);
- Serbian provocation of and threats towards Kosovo;
- one of US President-elect Trump’s senior advisor has clarified that only parts of NATO have become obsolete - not all of it – in response to world changes; - With regard to South and Central America:
- processed foods are causing an increase in obesity in South and Central America;
- more political infighting in Venezuela, which has conducted military exercises on the basis of a claim that it may be invaded for its oil … ;
- more murders in Brazilian jails (this is making the jails more of a concern than the favelas, at the moment); a prominent Brazilian Supreme Court judge – who was overseeing a massive corruption investigation at the state oil company, Petrobras - has died in a plane crash;
- more violence in Mexico (actually, that should be “more reported violence” – this has caught the media’s attention, but there have been disturbing levels of crime in Mexico for many years); a Mexican environmentalist has been murdered; another assessment of Mexico’s preparations for the incoming Trump administration; claims that children were given water instead of chemotherapy are being investigated; - With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian
sub-continent), The
Hindu and other sources have:
- an assessment of MPs with criminal pasts in India; more deaths from selfies in India; an article on India’s stepwells; an assessment of the possible relationship between India’s Prime Minister Modi and incoming US President Trump; the Indian Supreme Court has confirmed the obvious, which is that churches cannot veto divorce laws; India is expanding the use of 3D pedestrian crossings; good commentary on the misguided attempt to perpetuate the modern version of bull fighting in an Indian state; India has – belatedly – decided to ratify two key ILO conventions protecting children against labour (exploitation);
- “A Pakistani singer has been praised after stopping his concert mid-song to rescue a girl from the audience who was being harassed”; the leader of a violent extremist group has been killed by security forces;
- a call for Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion to be disbanded; Bangladesh’s struggle with climate change;
- Sri Lanka and New Zealand are considering a free trade agreement; - With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
- UN experts have endorsed the USA lifting sanctions against Sudan, noting the improved attitudes in that nation;
- the failure to achieve an arms embargo against South Sudan is considered to be an example of the limits of US power; sexual assaults are being allowed to run rampant in refugee camps in South Sudan; - 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):
- “Syrian rebel groups have decided to attend peace talks backed by Russia and Turkey in Kazakhstan to press for full implementation of a ceasefire they say has been widely violated by the government and its Iranian-backed allies”; the UN says the ceasefire has not resulted delivery of aid to all areas that need it; there is a risk of a generation of Syrian children – refugees in Turkey – missing out on education; Iran is reaping lucrative economic rewards from aiding Dictator Assad in Syria; an examination of the lead up to the recent ceasefire in Syria, and hard work still remaining to achieve peace; another piece of heritage has been destroyed by violent extremists; Iran has called for more cooperation with Saudi Arabia after successful working together on Lebanon, particularly in Syria and Yemen; - With regard to Turkey:
an assessment of secular vs. religious pressures in Turkey; there is a risk of a generation of Syrian children – refugees in Turkey – missing out on education; violent extremism is harming Turkey’s economy; the problem of the weakened Turkish military; another opinion that democracy in Turkey is under threat; calls for the release of a UN judge who has been jailed in Turkey, as that is delaying a genocide case; Greece says progress has been made on Cyprus, and has urged Turkey to stop being aggressive; - With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in
the east:
“Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for a worldwide effort to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare and urged the United States to "be great again" by demonstrating leadership on issues such as global security”; refugees are waiting for the war in Ukraine to end so they can return home; - With regard to West Asia / the Middle East and North
Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
- France has held a multi-national conference on peace between Israel and Palestine, which has reaffirmed the two state solution – see also here … and my nation’s government is – and I am appalled by this - distancing itself from that; Israel has deployed an upgraded missile defence system; deaf children in Gaza are being discriminated against; “A political activist who was accused of anti-Semitism at the [UK] Labour Party conference in September by a pro-Israel MP has been exonerated in undercover footage seen by Middle East Eye”; “A Jewish rabbi has called for right-wing [ostensibly pro-Israel] "infiltrators" on UK campuses to be banned, after an incident in at University College London in which a man attacked Islam as a "violent religion" at a pro-Palestine rally”; a new water treatment plant will give 75,000 people in Gaza safe drinking water; hundreds of Palestinians have protested against the possible relocation of the US Embassy; an Israeli-German artist has combined Instagram and historical photos to powerfully shame those who are cheapening Holocaust sites by taking selfies; Poland’s President is denying any guilt for his nation’s part in the Holocaust;
- a secret university in Iran is helping the Baha’i, who are discriminated against and assaulted; an examination of the possible problems between Iran and the USA under the new US administration; Iran is reaping lucrative economic rewards from aiding Dictator Assad in Syria; Iran has called for more cooperation with Saudi Arabia after successful working together on Lebanon, particularly in Syria and Yemen;
- the UN has urged Saudi Arabia to use its economic plan to boost women’s rights;
- middle class Egyptians are turning to buying second hand goods; - 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):
direct conflict deaths in Yemen are at least 10,000 (there are a LOT of other deaths – especially from the resultant famine); Iran has called for more cooperation with Saudi Arabia after successful working together on Lebanon, particularly in Syria and Yemen; - With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
I’ve been aware of the benefits of donating money rather than goods to disaster areas, but who on earth could possibly be so STUPID (yes, the word does apply, in this instance) as to think high heels would be in any way beneficial???; an earthquake in Italy is being described as “a catastrophe” – and survivors had problems getting rescuers to take them seriously – see also here, and here for new thoughts on what happens after major earthquakes; a burning building in Iran has collapsed, killing dozens of firefighters; - With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and
the occasional nice story:
the US Secretary of State has visited the place in Viêt Nám where he killed a man, and talked to others involved in that particular fight (one of the things I’ve done is work through a year lighting candles on the anniversary of each bomber I shot down - in a previous life - in World War Part Two, making sure no-one from those lanes is still earthbound, and starting energetic reparations as best I can. I commend Secretary Kerry for his actions); twenty years of “clown doctors” for kids; a call to always speak out against hate;
and from a range of other sites:
- the USA’s CIA has made more easily available a trove of declassified documents – including Uri Geller’s psychic work, UFOs, the CIA’s role in Nelson Mandela’s arrest in 1962 and other interferences in Africa (some of this has been on their blog before, or in a book). See also here;
- the UN has launched a conference to examine using treated wastewater for irrigation – which seems ludicrous to me, as we’ve been doing that safely and successfully for decades in my home state, and there are well established WHO guidelines on this;
- wishful thinking – that Trump had been magnanimous … (well written, and a nice reference to the film “Invictus”);
- interesting observations in a review of a South African comic’s book;
(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.
