Saturday, 27 May 2017

Post No. 1,032 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 164


Owing to yet another crazy week at work – and a few personal matters –my research for this week’s Gnwmythr’s News is not as widespread as I aim for – my apologies.
Information and Summary/Analysis:
Note: I am NOT a journalist, and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias:   the purpose of posting these news links 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. Also, the energies we use and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that influence world events, so address those as well. The reminders / explanations about Sunday’s meditation-clearing are here;   see also here,   here,   here,   (here and also here and here are interesting),   here, here,   here,   and   this post reminds us to be patient and persistent, like a “speeding oak”. Finally, there are some notes at the end of this post about other options for those who do not like this way of working.
The themes that come to mind for my work this week, after I review all this news, are:
(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, including spirit rescue, and healing the warped views, seemingly “inherent” biases, and other damage created. Also, remember that:
        1. the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech,
        2. where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, are constructive solutions,
        3. peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient, persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;
(c)   viewing the overall emotional state of the world from an elemental point of view, this week we need – on all levels – more BPM Earth;
(d)   This week I will continue with Erda:

(e)   dealing with the 45th US President, for whom I use the alias Voldemort, requires:
           1. eroding (i.e., slow, patient and persistent clearing of the little bits one can SAFELY cope with – remember, you are but one of many) the nonBPM influences feeding his arrogance and mind-set, and strengthening Voldemort’s BPM Guides and giving them whatever BPM help they need to present a BPM alternative – for which my “changing the personality of oppressors” post is useful – with a view to promoting what would seem to be a change of heart,
           2. lifting the nonBPM influences from the shoulders of Voldemort’s marginal supporters, allowing them to “come to their senses”, which may result in them feeling bewilderment/shame, and simultaneously strengthening the BPM influences around them (e.g., their BPM Guides) to counter them backsliding,
           3. to address the others, physical world activism (especially education) is required. As well as doing what one can there, help those who are doing this work (e.g., sending them “positive vibes”) and look for nonBPM blockages that can be cleared (e.g., setting up a BPM vortex above meetings to draw away external nonBPM influences/energies/units, so that the audience can listen as they are, without any obsession/possession);
(f)   the major events this week are:   the widespread focus on the violent extremist attack on children at a UK event;   growing intolerance and enforced groupthink in China, partially offset by a human rights advance elsewhere in Asia;   signs of some changes in the US administration, offset by a continuance of problem stances and behaviours – and balanced partly by ongoing investigations;   more holding to account of people who have abused power (including in a tribunal case involving members of my family standing up to such people :) ) or failed to properly exercise power, but problems such as suppression of dissent are continuing;   a key step towards indigenous rights in my nation;   the fight over access to information, degradation of our world’s physical environment and the struggle for true inclusivity are also continuing;
(g)   the personal insecurity (based on ways of thinking / perceiving, and emotional responses) that is behind some people’s quest for power / belonging continues to be a problem;
(h)   rigidity of thought continues to be a problem – partly from upbringing, partly from being overwhelmed, partly from exhaustion, and also from other causes;
(i)   the struggle for survival – exacerbated by population growth - continues to push people into situations of risk;
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 past week follows:
   news items are presented in the following sections (there is overlap, and items may appear more than once):
    - Permanent and Thematically Arranged News,
    - Location Based News,
    - From a Range of Other Sites;
   opportunities/good news are shown in green;
   comments are shown in purple; and
   WARNING: some of these links may contain triggers around issues such as violence, sexual assault, discrimination, etc.
Permanent Issues and Thematically Arranged News:
  • 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;
  • Matters warranting particular attention:
       an online video on critical thinking;   job insecurity as an alleged “motivation” tool backfires;   the newly-elected head of the World Health Organisation has stressed that the original reason the UN health agency was set up nearly 70 years ago remains true today: providing healthcare for all: “All roads should lead to universal health coverage”, and "this mantra should be the WHO’s “centre of gravity”";
  • With regard to democracy (which requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable – and remember Gandhi’s question about whether one is fighting to change things, or to punish, and the list of 198 methods of nonviolent action), freedom and governance (e.g., here, here, here and here, and see also here):
    Note: I have a section specifically for the 45th US President below
       -   analyses this week include:   an analysis of “the overall widespread pattern of governments at war with internet freedom”;
       -   of concern this week:   “Australia, Japan and other members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership have agreed to pursue their trade deal without the United States” (will this include the dangerous measures now that the USA is not included?);   concerns over hidden help to army mutineers in the Ivory Coast;
       -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: Venezuela (see below), Zambia, China (2nd);
       -   in the grey area or neutral this week:   the corruption trial of South Korea’s former President has commenced;
       -   good news this week includes:   a Chinese student has praised “the fresh air of democracy” while graduating from a US University;   a more secretive approach adopted by one Australian state's anti-corruption body is intended to avoid the "Star Chamber" flaws;
       -   and other matters in my home nation this week:   this sort of response to frustration at other people’s hate doesn’t help or achieve anything useful;   incredibly, one member of a notorious right wing Australian political party has broken ranks to support Muslim immigration (possibly because he defected there from another party?);   disturbing claims – disputed by the party concerned - about a far right extremist party's financial plans;
       -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists South Sudan and the Central African Republic;
  • With regard to the 45th US President (who I consider seriously dangerous, and NOT at all a buffoon) this week:
    I deliberately avoid using the 45th US President’s name for valid psychic reasons: however, to both simplify my typing and remind people that he is dangerous, I will use “Voldemort” – in this section, at least - as an alias.
       -   in a change of tone, the 45th US President has “called on Middle Eastern leaders to combat a "crisis of Islamic extremism" emanating from the region, casting the fight against terrorism as a "battle between good and evil" — not a clash between the West and Islam”;   in another major change of position (during the campaign, he said the Saudis are "people that push gays off … buildings"), Voldemort is being friendly with Saudi Arabia;   an examination of the 45th US President’s prospects with regard to peace (which includes: “the Palestinians argue they have already made the largest concession, recognising Israel's right to exist and conceding 78 per cent of their land during the 1993 Oslo accords, but Israel has argued it wants the Palestinians to recognise Israel as an official Jewish state and to end all violence before negotiations can restart”);   Voldemort has met with the leader of the Palestinian Authority;   Voldemort has ruled out allowing Iran to ever have nuclear weapons;
       -   when Voldemort called President Duterte of the Philippines, Voldemort praised the organised mass murder campaign which has been disguised as a “war on drugs” … and told Duterte of nuclear submarines near North Korea … ;
       -   the USA is continuing to insist that Europe pay more for NATO;
       -   Voldemort's “fired national security adviser has refused to hand over files to a Senate panel probing alleged Russian political meddling”, invoking his legal right against self-incrimination;   “Former CIA Director John Brennan has said an investigation into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and the Kremlin is "well-founded"”;   Voldemort’s son-in-law, a senior White House adviser, is claimed to be under scrutiny by the FBI’s investigation of Russian influence;   claims Voldemort will set up a “war room” to repel allegations about Russian involvement;
       -   an assessment that the USA "can do more damage inside the [Paris Climate] agreement than outside it";   despite pressure from other G7 nations, the USA still won’t commit to the climate deal;
       -   in the USA, Hispanic people are claimed to be "too scared to spend";   a US appeals court has refused to reinstate Voldemort’s travel ban;
       -   the USA will cut spending on healthcare for the poor and other social spending;   Voldemort's budget plans to balance the US budget within a decade are perhaps uncertain, after a former US Treasury Secretary said it contains “egregious” accounting errors;
       -   Voldemort's support appears to be eroding, as a key Republican describes Voldemort as a “complete disaster”;
       -   the 45th US President might introduce paid parental leave (at last in the USA);
       -   the 45th US President has called the violent extremists behind the attack in the UK “losers”, as they would like being called monsters;
       -   Voldemort’s bullying has now extended to physically pushing another leader;
       -   the US administration has broken with a 20 year tradition by refusing to hold an event marking Ramadan;
  • With regard to violent extremism (VE) (aka, terrorism - e.g., Da’esh) (ALL people advocating hate or discrimination in response to violent extremism are actively doing the work of violent extremists. This 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 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):
       -   violent extremist attacks/acts have occurred this week in Thailand, the UK, Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia, Greece, Egypt, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 8 attacks in Iraq and 4 attacks in Syria (out of a total of 34 - with 3 of those having higher death tolls than the UK attack, up to 141 people);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in the UK;   prevention has or may have occurred in: Australia;   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in Yemen;   as Uganda and the USA decide the LRA is weak and irrelevant, locals are not so sure;   internet trolls have been circulating fake news about the violent extremist attack in Manchester;   "The head of the ABC has condemned a "vicious and offensive" online journal article suggesting the Manchester bombing should have taken place at the national broadcaster's Sydney headquarters" - and I agree with this sentiment:  the person who posted it should be sacked, and possibly charged (the AFP have been notified), especially as the ABC has had to consult with security experts and reassure staff at that building;
       -   fury at US leaks of details of the investigation into the Manchester, UK attack, an outline of how that could be damaging, but later in the week British police resumed sharing information a promise to investigate and prosecute "to the fullest extent of the law" those responsible;   also on the Manchester (UK) attack, see here and here, on the communal response, here, for claims warnings were “missed”, here, on the shared responses between Marawi and Manchester, and here, on spiritual practices for coping with hard times. I am angry – no, I’m furious at the targeting of children [and have been busy clearing as many nonBPM units as I can], but I’m also very aware of the children that are being killed elsewhere … ;   the Philippines has asked Russia for modern weapons to – allegedly - fight violent extremism;   martial law has been declared in the southern Philippines after separatists allied with violent extremists to capture a city – and may become national …;   a legal challenge to US government surveillance will be allowed to proceed;   Egyptian forces have attacked "terrorist training camps" in Libya in retaliation for a violent extremist attack;   the G7 has called on internet giants to crack down on extremist content;
       -   in a change of tone, the 45th US President has “called on Middle Eastern leaders to combat a "crisis of Islamic extremism" emanating from the region, casting the fight against terrorism as a "battle between good and evil" — not a clash between the West and Islam”;   the 45th US President has called the violent extremists behind the attack in the UK “losers”, as they would like being called monsters;   data on deaths from violent extremist attacks in Europe;   an enquiry into a fatal Sydney siege a couple of years ago (sometimes portrayed as a violent extremist event, which seems to be what came out of the enquiry, but also used to be portrayed as the result of mental illness … or both) has criticised police handling of the event (and, in particular, an advisor who exceeded their qualifications and was not up to date on violent extremism), but the report also – quite validly - points out that the perpetrator was the only person responsible for the deaths. Police have accepted the criticism;   a report on the sex slaves of violent extremists in Somalia;
  • With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):
       in a major turn around, "the Immigration Department has contradicted its earlier version of what happened during a shooting on Manus Island on Good Friday, revealing that nine people were injured as "many" shots were fired into the refugee compound by PNG defence force personnel";   two members of Australia’s neoliberal government have supported calls “for a dramatic increase in Australia's sponsored refugee resettlement program”;   as Australia's neoliberal government hypocritically launches a bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, the Immigration Minister adopts alternative facts to indulge in refugee-bashing (but there are questions which need answering);   extreme vetting interviews by the USA of refugees in Australia's refugee gulag "began with an oath to God to tell the truth and proceeded for as long as six hours";   sensitive CCTV footage from Manus Island has been leaked to a notorious right wing extremist journalist, but the Immigration Department has refused to investigate, after cooking up a lame procedural excuse;   the United Nations children’s agency has urged the leaders of G7 industrialized countries to adopt its six-point action plan for the protection of refugee children;   "More than 30 asylum seekers — mostly toddlers — have drowned after around 200 people without life jackets fell from a boat into the sea off the Libyan coast";  as part of a project to humanise refugees, a reminder that they all want to go home (I would actually put that as extremely, but some have been too traumatised to return to the places where they were traumatised);
  • With regard to human (and other) rights and discrimination:
       -   on homophobia/transphobia this week (noting that trans kids are the same as cis kids of the trans kids’ true gender) :   140 men have been arrested in a raid on a gay club in Indonesia;   the lies told to intersex people by doctors;   more transphobia in the USA;   a mediaeval, barbaric and homophobic case of cruel and unusual punishment has been carried out in Indonesia;   divisions in a local council over flying a rainbow flag show many people do not understand the impact of such “gestures”;   Taiwan’s highest court has upheld Equal Marriage;   more homophobia in sport;
       -   on racism this week:   a former football player who suffered appalling racist abuse has sat for a portrait for this year’s Archibald Prize;   after three days of deliberation, the Uluru Statement from the Heart has been issued, rejecting the idea of constitutional recognition outright in favour of a treaty, and calling for a referendum for a voice in Parliament;   20 years after the Bringing Them Home report, Indigenous children are worse off than before;   the context, lead up to, vote and after the ‘67 referendum giving Australia’s indigenous people (limited) legal recognition – and a critique of moves to extend that to Constitutional recognition, and a call for compensation for the Stolen Generations;   myths about the 1967 referendum - see also here;   in the USA Hispanic people are claimed to be "too scared to spend";   more racist abuse on public transport (PT) - with a very apt comment that this is the "tip of the iceberg" - which emphasises again why I do not use PT;   “a pair of prominent Aboriginal elders have been immortalised in a street art mural”;   traditional healers of the Ngaatjatjarra-Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara land (known as Ngangkari) and Western medical practitioners are working together;   an examination of why my nation does not have a treaty with its indigenous people – the only Commonwealth nation not to (a lot goes back to the blindness [bias? bigotry?] of Captain Cook);   my home state has apologised to its Chinese people for the racism shown during the gold rush era;   incredibly, one member of a notorious right wing Australian political party has broken ranks to support Muslim immigration;
       -   on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):   an article on the problem of child marriage;   “Women's servitude blights Philippine society”;   more sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits against a notorious right wing extremist media outlet;   yet more sexism in sport – at least the organisation may respond;   double standards around compulsory veils for women when visiting the Pope;   a sporting club’s President has been stood down over appalling racist remarks;   Norway has created the world’s first women-only special forces unit;   Voldemort might introduce paid parental leave (at last in the USA);   a women only screening of the “Wonder Woman” movie has been met with protests by men - who do not realise this simply balances the scales a little against all the things women are excluded from –see here, here, here,
       other sexist problems have also occurred in: Romania;
       -   on other forms of human (and other) rights this week:   soldiers suffering from mental illness are still being criticised by their (ignorant and emotionally incompetent) comrades;   a ban on revenge porn (which advocates want to widen to “image based abuse” – but give very poor explanations of) is closer … ;   the numbers of teachers in one Australian state being sacked for “sexual misconduct” has increased – even more concerning in light of the Royal Commission into child abuse;   an end to net neutrality – but fake submissions were made on that;   with apologies for using a social media link, excellent thoughts on age discrimination - and also, an example of why I don't like in apartment blocks;   the USA will cut spending on healthcare for the poor and other social spending;   my home state's "protective services officers" will be given powers closer to those of police - which could lead to "an increase in harassment and arbitrary profiling of vulnerable people";   a profile of the leader of a Dalit group, thousands of whom have recently protested in Delhi against recent caste riots in a northern;   “children who grow up poor are much more likely to hit puberty earlier than more well-off kids” - which I think goes back to a famine-vs-feast aspect of our DNA: if times are tough, perhaps we are programmed to become fertile earlier to more likely to increase our species’ chances of survival;   a guide to ethical recruitment of foreign workers;   survivors of child abuse are nervous about the proposed compensation scheme - which already diverges from recommendations (the payment cap has been reduced);   following a report into human rights violations by peacekeepers in Kosovo, the UN will establish a Trust Fund to implement community-based assistance projects;
       other human or other rights problems have also occurred in: China, Burundi, China (2nd), the USA;
  • With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
       the numbers of teachers in one Australian state being sacked for “sexual misconduct” has increased – even more concerning in light of the Royal Commission into child abuse;   concerns over the future of jury trials in the internet age;   my home state's "protective services officers" will be given powers closer to those of police - which could lead to "an increase in harassment and arbitrary profiling of vulnerable people";   Bahraini police have killed a protestor as part of their suppression of dissent;   drugs are still rife in Bali, Indonesia;   an enquiry into a fatal Sydney siege a couple of years ago (sometimes portrayed as a violent extremist event, which seems to be what came out of the enquiry, but also used to be portrayed as the result of mental illness … or both) has criticised police handling of the event (and, in particular, an advisor who exceeded their qualifications and was not up to date on violent extremism), but the report also – quite validly - points out that the perpetrator was the only person responsible for the deaths. Police have accepted the criticism;   treatment of disturbed teenagers in my home state will be toughened – subject to the actual details, this will no doubt please voters, but I do not know if it will change anything for the better;   yet another prisoner – found guilty after key defence items (sin in logs at a prison facility) mysteriously went missing … - in the USA has been exonerated after 24 years – how fortunate he hadn’t been legally murdered;
       other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: India, the cyber world, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Venezuela;
  • 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. Also, funding is an issue … ):
       more sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits against a notorious right wing extremist media outlet;   A “Republican candidate in a special congressional election in [the USA] has been charged with a misdemeanour for assaulting a Guardian reporter”, with other media backing the journalist and criticising the neochristian multimillionaire for his anti-media stance;   “Several companies have pulled adverts from [a right wing media] show after … coverage of a debunked election murder conspiracy”;   the G7 has called on internet giants to crack down on extremist content;
       other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: Bahrain;
  • With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (is YOUR smart phone free of conflict  minerals, environmental harm and child labour? IT manufacturers are making some effort in on those. Do you suffer from FOMO or addiction? Is your social media making you miserable or envious? Are you being duped by modern mantras? Are you “failing” at being well? Does your AI use ethics? Does your corporation misuse mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions? Are you afflicted by management  fads? 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 and contributing to the problem of financialisation?):
       -   on climate change and other environmental matters this week:   plastic rubbish is a danger to seals, and microfibres are a widespread danger ;   the so-called “doomsday vault” for seeds will be modified after climate change linked flooding;   a controversial coal mine has been postponed until the relevant Australian State Government gives "clarity" over lower or deferred royalties (the prospect of giving up hundreds of millions of dollars appears to have been the last straw for many people … );   alkaline hydrolysis as a green alternative to cremation I’d consider that);   a short sighted action which is trying to stop natural processes;   Switzerland has embraced the move to renewable energy;   a panicky allegation that politicians have panicked over renewable energy (actually, they just haven’t responded / thought – panic isn’t the issue);   predictions of higher sea level rises;   a proposal to allow "climate shares" to be traded, which has its origins in the use of water trading in my nation;   an assessment that the USA "can do more damage inside the [Paris Climate] agreement than outside it";   a call for politicians to "please ease off on ‘announceables’ until after the electricity market review";   a good – and timely – article on what to do with autumn leaves (I always use them as mulch);   announcing a major revision to its Disaster Resilience Scorecard to bring the mechanism into alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is seeking to increase the number of cities and towns with the capacity to reduce their disaster losses by 2020;   a group of surfers - including some who lost limbs to shark attacks - is trying to stop shark culls after attacks;   China is causing concern over its intentions in the Antarctic;   despite pressure from other G7 nations, the USA still won’t commit to the climate deal;
       -   on technology and science matters this week:   concerns over the future of jury trials in the internet age;   an unsettling article on the use of ECT for some severely self-harming children;   an end to net neutrality – but fake submissions were made on that;   an unvaccinated child has created a health crisis (and the parents should be charged, in my view);   debate over facebook’s editorial policies (some of which look concerning to me);   proposals to extend the "My health" online services (ordinarily, I would be wary, but this interview includes the use of "bank level" security [hopefully with two factor authentication] and may be OK ... provided you don't HAVE to own a so-called "smart" phone);   the strengths and weaknesses of - somewhat disturbing - sentiment analysis;   the need to recycle old phones;   warnings over a DNA service’s conditions;   an examination of the staggering – and concerning - flow of data through facebook;   the G7 has called on internet giants to crack down on extremist content;
       -   on economic and financial matters this week:   support for limiting tax advice deductions at $3,000;   “Workplace contentment is too often incorrectly attributed to the aesthetics of the office, disregarding more influential factors such as job security or work satisfaction”;   “Many lower-wealth retirees would be left worse off if they take up the Government's proposed new scheme to help them downsize their home”;   “children who grow up poor are much more likely to hit puberty earlier than more well-off kids” - which I think goes back to a famine-vs-feast aspect of our DNA: if times are tough, perhaps we are programmed to become fertile earlier to more likely to increase our species’ chances of survival;   more than one quarter of Australian households are renting - many on a lifelong basis - from the "private sector", and experience problems (examined in the article) such as constant fear and anxiety from the insecurity;   another short sighted article saying retailers need to adapt to faster life (there is a price for that lifestyle);   a business person's views of "the perils of short-termism";  my home city's apartment market is slowing down (I heard a good radio interview this week with an MP [a Liberal politician who supports Equal Marriage and indigenous rights] who was arguing that a slow transition to a more affordable market was necessary to avoid a panic in the market: I’m not entirely convinced, but it’s worth a listen);   a call to extend the retirement age (which is untenable for physical labourers);
       -   on other matters in the category this week:   growing old at home is becoming more popular – and may be less expensive;   an entertaining Indian road safety ( for helmets) campaign using Darth Vader;
  • With regard to education:
       the numbers of teachers in one Australian state being sacked for “sexual misconduct” has increased – even more concerning in light of the Royal Commission into child abuse - and see here, on that problem in the USA;   “A pregnant US teenager branded "immoral" by her [neochristian] school and barred from its graduation ceremony is to have her own event, organised by her parents”, as others criticise the lack of Christian compassion;   in an utterly appalling incident, teachers at a school in Texas, USA “are being disciplined after handing out an "award" declaring one student "most likely to become a terrorist"” (for that professional incompetence and disregard of a student’s welfare, they should be sacked. This also does nothing to help Texas’ exceedingly poor reputation … );   a student has criticised punishing an entire class on the basis that it contravenes a Geneva Convention … hmmm, interesting – well handled by the father;
  • With regard to war and violence generally:
       during a Security Council debate on the protection of civilians in armed violence, the UN Secretary-General warned that parties to conflict are treating hospitals and clinics as targets, rather than respecting them as sanctuaries;
  • With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
       a call for aid to stop the spread of cholera in Yemen;   violence has put the health of 24 million children in northern Africa and West Asia (aka “the Middle east”) at risk;   nearly half a million children are at risk of malnutrition in the “Democratic” Republic of Congo;   a UN conference on risk reduction has opened;   mudslides in Sri Lanka have killed 91 people and injured over 100;
  • With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally, and the occasional nice story (are you crippled by the fear of being single or asexual or off-grid or in any other way a rebel / innovator / non-conformist / true to yourself, or believe in management  fads and fashions? Do you distract yourself and fill your time to avoid finding real meaning? If so, you have a spiritual problem, and a need to constructively remedy that):
       a near half billion dollar philanthropic donation - but see here for a critique;   some thoughts on developing Emotional Intelligence;   "we aren’t built to live in the moment";   the UN has warned that budget cuts by the USA (from 28.5% to 25%) will “make peacekeeping impossible” – and open the way for China to step up and fill the gap?;
Location based News:
  • With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
       -   “Simplifying the requirements for a business license, offering incentives to tax payers, and tackling official corruption are among the recommendations by the United Nations agricultural [organisation] to cut informal trade among African countries and boost economic prosperity, particularly for women”;
       -   Africa Day - see also here;
       -   more allegations that The Gambia's former president stole "at least" $50m;
       -   as Uganda and the USA decide the LRA is weak and irrelevant, locals are not so sure;
       -   gender violence in South Africa;
       -   Burundi is attempting to enforce heterosexual marriage aka “morality” … ;
       -   an Ethiopian will be the next director general of the World Health Organization;
       -   concerns over the state of democracy in Zambia;
       -   nearly half a million children are at risk of malnutrition in the “Democratic” Republic of Congo (DRC);
       -   concerns over hidden help to army mutineers in the Ivory Coast;
       -   a report on the sex slaves of violent extremists in Somalia;
       -   the UN has called “for additional humanitarian aid in the Central African Republic, where nearly the entire population of the city Bria was forcibly displaced last week”;
       -   gatherer-hunters “in Kenya have won an eight-year court battle against the government's plan to evict them from their ancestral land in the Mau Forest”;
  • With regard to China (may her growing middle class bring a love of peace and freedom), East and South East Asia and the Pacific (noting the risks of atrocities in North Korea and Burma):
       -      Taiwan’s highest court has upheld Equal Marriage – the first in Asia;
       -   “China is once again prey to political groupthink and fear”;   a lawyer who was disappeared by China in 2015 is still missing;   a Chinese student has praised “the fresh air of democracy” while graduating from a US University;   the USA has undertaken another “freedom of navigation” exercise in the South China Sea and China does another jet interception in the air;   China is causing concern over its intentions in the Antarctic;
       -   North Korea (the DPRK) has fired another missile … ;   “United Nations experts investigating violations of sanctions on North Korea have suffered a "sustained" cyber attack by unknown hackers with "very detailed insight" into their work”;   the USA has warned that the DPRK is on the path to obtaining a nuclear armed ICBM;   a bill has been introduced to the US Congress to ban travel to the DPRK;   a good outline of the biggest military threat the DPRK currently poses to SOuth Korea: artillery;   -   South Korea has fired at a drone from the DPRK;   the corruption trial of South Korea’s former President has commenced;
       -   “Women's servitude blights Philippine society”;   the Philippines has asked Russia for modern weapons to – allegedly - fight violent extremism;   martial law has been declared in the southern Philippines after separatists allied with violent extremists to capture a city – and may become national … ;
       -   the Christian governor recently sentenced to jail for blasphemy will not appeal, to avoid the risk of protests and violence;
       -   and in the Pacific:   a simple health programme is stopping preventable deaths in East Timor;   the impact of harder economic circumstances on political campaigning in Papua New Guinea (I always respond with scepticism over claims that glitz and glamour are necessary for anything … but, then again, maybe people are that stupid … );   PNG's population doubling - as expected in the next 18 years - will be unsustainable;
  • With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU):
       -   the USA is continuing to insist that Europe pay more for NATO;
       -   Greece has failed to secure a deal to unlock the next instalment of its multi-billion-dollar bailout after talks with Eurozone finance ministers broke down;
       -   “Romania has been criticised over its lack of commitment to tackling domestic violence in a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights”;
       -   “Russia's state-owned railway monopoly is refusing most requests to take cargo from Russia to ports in Latvia, industry executives said, a serious blow to the Baltic state which depends on the transit trade” (economic blockade?);
       -   following a report into human rights violations by peacekeepers in Kosovo, the UN will establish a Trust Fund to implement community-based assistance projects;
       -   Germany is cracking down on anti-vaxxers;
  • 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):
       -   the USA has admitted to 105 civilian deaths from an air attack on two snipers in Mosul in March, when the attack exploded munitions that violent extremists had hidden in the building;   Iraq is investigating “claims that its forces abused and killed civilians in the battle for Mosul, and will take legal measures against anyone proven to have been "negligent"”;   more information on chemical weapons attacks by violent extremists in Mosul;   10,000 people a day are fleeing Mosul;
       -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 205 civilians violently killed in the last week;
  • With regard to the Libyan civil war:
       a call for rival groups to stop fighting in Tripoli;   Egyptian forces have attacked "terrorist training camps" in Libya in retaliation for a violent extremist attack;
  • With regard to Russia (which is currently supporting an – in my opinion, based on R2P principles - illegitimate regime in Syria), Russian influenced nations and eastern Europe, and responses:
       “Russian cyber criminals used malware planted on Android mobile devices to steal from domestic bank customers and were planning to target European lenders before their arrest”;   the Philippines has asked Russia for modern weapons to – allegedly - fight violent extremism;   “Russia's state-owned railway monopoly is refusing most requests to take cargo from Russia to ports in Latvia, industry executives said, a serious blow to the Baltic state which depends on the transit trade” (economic blockade?);
  • With regard to South and Central America:
       -   the violence in Venezuela now has included setting a person on fire;   the history leading up to the current "irreconcilable" split in Venezuela;   why Venezuelan parents are keeping their children at home (basically, the endemic and widespread violence);   “Deepening her split with unpopular President Nicolas Maduro's government, Venezuela's chief prosecutor [has] accused security officers of excessive force and condemned the use of military tribunals to judge protesters”;   “A student who died at an anti-government protest in Caracas last month was killed by a tear gas canister fired by the National Guard, Venezuela's chief prosecutor [has said]”;
       -   Brazil's President has asked the Supreme Court to proceed with an investigation against him for obstruction of justice and corruption;   violent protests in Brazil;
       -   “a 22-year-old woman from Mexico's Tarahumara indigenous community has won a 50km (31 miles) ultramarathon [sic] wearing only sandals”;
  • With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
       -      an entertaining Indian road safety ( for helmets) campaign using Darth Vader;   appallingly, a military officer accused of using a – now terrified - man as a human shield in Indian-administered Kashmir has been given an award;   an investigation into the Indian Prime Minister’s yogi;   a profile of the leader of a Dalit group, thousands of whom have recently protested in Delhi against recent caste riots in a northern town;
       -   mudslides in Sri Lanka have killed 91 people and injured over 100;   fears over crippling debt to China;
       -   controversy over proposals to increase fines for Ramadan fast breakers in Pakistan (which is seen as a furtherance of the growing intolerance problem);
  • With regard to Sudan and South  Sudan: (new links)
       -   “The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan [has] urged the Security Council to unite behind a common strategy for advancing the political process and peace in the crisis-torn country”;
  • 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):
       wounded Syrians are risking retribution by getting medical treatment in Israel – which is still technically at war with Syria;   a call for civilians to be spared from attacks on violent extremists;
  • With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
       -   “Protecting cultural diversity is vital for peacebuilding in the Middle East [i.e., West Asia] … highlighting the need for both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ power”;
       -   an examination of the 45th US President’s prospects with regard to peace (which includes: “the Palestinians argue they have already made the largest concession, recognising Israel's right to exist and conceding 78 per cent of their land during the 1993 Oslo accords, but Israel has argued it wants the Palestinians to recognise Israel as an official Jewish state and to end all violence before negotiations can restart”);   the 45th US President has met with the leader of the Palestinian Authority;   “the United Nations human rights chief [has] expressed serious concern about the health of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons as their hunger strike entered its 38th day without resolution”;   “Three men accused over the killing of a leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas have been put to death by the group in the Gaza Strip”;   a warning that, unless the crisis in Gaza is de-escalated, the consequences will be devastating for Israelis as well as Palestinians (and the environment);
       -   the 45th US President has ruled out allowing Iran to ever have nuclear weapons, and has said Iran is driving Israel and Arab nations closer, but Iran has said it is essential to regional stability;
       -   in another major change of position (during the campaign, he said the Saudis are "people that push gays off … buildings"), the 45th US President is being friendly with Saudi Arabia;
       -   protests in Tunisia have turned violent;
       -   Bahraini police have killed a protestor as part of their suppression of dissent;
       -   Egyptian forces have attacked "terrorist training camps" in Libya in retaliation for a violent extremist attack;
  • With regard to the conflict in Yemen (unlike Iraq, 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):
       a call for aid to stop the spread of cholera in Yemen.
Other News:
  • a social media founder has urged a University’s graduating class to “help create a new social safety net to allow creative risk-taking”.
General Comments/Information
(Dear Reader, please remember, I expect you to think when reading this blog, and I reserve the right to occasionally sneak in something to test 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' (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 (running for decades);   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   and   also see here and here – even commercial organisations (for instance, see here), online groups (e.g. here and here – which I do not know the quality of) and even an app.    Thus, if you don't like what I am suggesting here, but want to be of service, there are many other opportunities for you – including secular opportunities: e.g., see here, here and here.   Again, activism in the physical world is also required - see here, here and here, here, and, of course, here.
(Please note that I now specifically have a role for (absent) healers on Saturdays, as explained in the Psychic Weather Report posts. Anyone who wishes to be protector has a role every day :). 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, there is a default plan.
I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting.
No signature block for these posts.
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