Saturday, 1 July 2017

Post No. 1,045 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 169



Information and Summary/Analysis:
Note: I am NOT a journalist, and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias. Furthermore, I do not hold copyright to any of the articles I link to, nor do I claim authorship, except for those links to material I have written for this and my related blogs, and my commentary in these posts. (I try to make sure quotes are shown using quotation marks.)
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.
As part of that, note that there are key uncooperatives to be cleared (rescued): you should ONLY address those that are within your ability – if you get a sense (e.g., through meditation) or are told by your BPM Guides/Higher Self to back off, do so, and content yourself with clearing the smaller nonBPM units within your capability – which will weaken those uncooperatives. More importantly, there are many people doing this sort of work, and others are quite likely to be able to clear the uncooperatives concerned.
That is also one of the many reasons it is OK to take a break or cut back this work if you need – in fact, doing so will help you deal with the next point, which is …
… the energies we use and manifest in our daily lives contribute to the larger soup of energies that influence world events, so it pays to address those as well, to the extent that one can, or to at least stop oneself projecting them into the psychic soup.
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”.
There are some notes at the end of this post about other options for those who do not like this way of working.
Finally, one of the biggest concerns I have about spirituality in the world now is that the concept of agape type love has been perverted into both a quest for emotional warm fuzzies, and an excuse to avoid doing the hard work of improving oneself and all that one does. On that, it may help to consider the simplification that one cannot love perfectly until one has learned how to perfect.
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:
         emotionally (astrally), the stability more BPM Earth;
        mentally, the clarity and objectivity more BPM Air;
        a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for the compassion of more BPM Water;
(d)   for this week’s work I will use the rune Berkana:

(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:   Philippines President is increasingly going to be a test for the world: support for his actions against violent extremism risks getting entangled in his popular mass murder programme, and some years from now, we could be facing another Hussein or Afghanistan;   as attraction to violence continues to be inadequately addressed, there are risks of mass atrocities in the “Democratic” Republic of Congo and Iraq;   the 45th US President continues to cause problems, including clumsy attempts to increase the USA’s global dominance – increasingly to the concern of his erstwhile supporters/colleagues;   intra-Palestinian problems are more apparent this week;
(g)   prejudice continues to show –including a bias that some forms of violence are acceptable, but there are also some steps towards inclusion and acceptance;
(h)   there has been some good thinking about the nature of society and governance, and some good challenging of abuse of power;
(i)   the need for education on issues remains apparent;
(j)   climate change scientists are acting on their fears for the future – although that has been, in some cases, overwhelmed by the primal self-replicating DNA urges;
(k)   pragmatism has its place – which is perhaps a bit like the joke about moderation: it’s great, unless it’s overdone … ;
(l)   the need to know and be prepared to admit our personal limits is apparent this week;
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:
       -   the risks of conflict as a result of climate change;
       -   a warning on internet / digital privacy rights – with a suggestion that “your best shot, then, is to join a movement – such as a citizen group – to raise awareness or a watchdog organisation that guards against the mishandling of private data by telecommunication companies”;
       -   an accidental breakthrough could drought proof crops;
       -   an example of a politician irresponsibly abusing his power, and some suggestions about nonviolent responses;
       -   the 45th US President has rescinded a government grant to an organisation that aims to rehabilitate neo-Nazis – is that because he thinks right-wing violence, white supremacy and Islamophobia is OK?;
       -   a human rights expert has said the trade off between human rights and security is a “false debate”;
       -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists the “Democratic” Republic of Congo and Iraq;
  • 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:   a call for a nonpartisan political system to be prepared and automatically triggered in the event of external interference with an election;   an article on the US process of impeachment;   a review of philanthropy, going back to John D Rockefeller, which suggests philanthropy undermines democracy, and that the “cure” may be for philanthropic foundations to “serve as “an extra-governmental form of democratic experimentalism,” piloting risky or unproven policies, testing them, then presenting them to the public “for a stamp of democratic legitimacy” ”;   a review of the predictions made when Hong Kong was handed back to China twenty years ago … which doesn’t leave me with any notable optimism - see also here;   a questioning of why (some) politicians (seem to) get away with telling lies;   an opinion piece on the rise of sectarianism in US politics from the viewpoint of the loss of “we the people”;   a review of the spread of demands for self rule;
       -   of concern this week:   the UK Conservative Party has agreed to a $1.6 billion deal with a socially backwards party in Northern Ireland in order to hang on to power;   religious branch stacking by Australia’s neoliberal party;   an Australian government department is dragging its heels on computer security;
       -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: Papua New Guinea (PNG), my home state, PNG (2nd);
       -   good news this week includes:   the UK Labour party has connected with young voters at a major music festival;   a community activist group is combining training with its national conference;
       -   and other matters in my home nation this week:   although there are strong public concerns, experts consider the 2016 census fail  doesn’t mean we cannot trust the information obtained;   dissension within the Australian Greens over education funding;   indigenous leaders have called for meaningful discussion over plans for the Murray-Darling river basin;   the experiences of growing up under the widely criticised, culturally insensitive, intervention plan in Australia’s Northern Territory;   a couple of summits will be held on use of digital technology in governance;   it appears the Greens may have factions (which is extremely disappointing);   a regional version of participatory democracy in my home state (government media release);   Australia’s Reserve Bank governor has urged workers to seek bigger pay increases (for the sake of the economy);   Australia’s military has formed a cyber warfare unit;
  • With regard to the 45th US President (who I consider seriously dangerous, even if his administration looks like a Schoolyard Squabble Squad) 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 (actually, I consider him evil), I will use “Voldemort” – in this section, at least - as an alias.
       -   Voldemort is trying to increase the USA’s global dominance through energy export policies;   a criticism of Voldemort’s strategy towards China;
       -   Voldemort is now trying to discredit the special prosecutor looking into alleged links between his campaign team and Russia, and possible administration interference with an investigation;
       -   the US Supreme Court has allowed part of Voldemort’s contentious travel ban, although "upon further review, fiancés will now be included as close family members" – an analysis here;   the human face of those deported by Voldemort’s regime;   one US city will have to compensate an “undocumented immigrant” for violating its “sanctuary city policy”;
       -   members of Voldemort’s own political party have delayed the bill to remove medical benefits from millions of Americans over concerns (e.g., “will harm some of their vulnerable constituents … too much government interference”) with aspects of the Bill, criticised some of his latest personally offensive abuse of women journalists (see also here) – this has now blown up into a full blown fight, with accusations of threats and questioning of Voldemort’s fitness to rule), and want to keep some taxes on the wealthy;
       -   a conflict of interest may become apparent if Voldemort’s golf courses benefit from winding back the EPA;
       -   India’s Prime Minister has outmanoeuvred Voldemort’s infamous handshake by giving him a hug;
  • 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 the UK (cyberattack), Ukraine, the cyber world, Poland, Lebanon, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 5 attacks in Iraq, 1 attack in Afghanistan, and 1 attack in Syria (out of a total of 25);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in Africa;   prevention has or may have occurred in Saudi Arabia, France, Egypt, Australia;
       -   suggestions that my nation should join the fight against violent extremists in our region (any such action needs to go beyond only military, and include social/cultural/legal/judicial/administrative action to address attractors – i.e., divert them beforehand, and heal them afterward … which may be a problem in the case of the regime of President Duterte in the Philippines – who is still popular with voters);   the terrible abuses of hostages in the violent extremist occupied city in the southern Philippines;   a US skyscraper “said to be controlled by Iran” will be sold and the funds directed to the victims of violent extremism;   a dual American and Portuguese citizen who was found guilty ten years ago of kidnapping a radical Egyptian in  2003 when she was a CIA agent and part of the CIA’s extraordinary renditions programme will return to Italy for sentencing;
       -   concerns that the siege in the southern Philippines is being used to train other violent extremists;   concerns over forcible radicalisation in the prisons of an Australian state;
  • With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration):
       a Syrian refugee has fulfilled his dream of opening a cultural centre – in the Netherlands;  200 refugees have been saved off Libya;
       other refugee-related matters have also occurred in: Libya, Libya (2nd), Cameroon;
  • 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) :   Australia’s Prime Minister is being pressured to remove a member of the neoliberal party – or to resign: the haters would be satisfied with either - who said he supported Equal Marriage … and then said he didn’t … ;   the history of the evolution of acceptance in a formerly homophobic and transphobic regional area;   Germany has adopted and Malta is close to allowing Equal Marriage;   thousands are expected at a Pride March in Israel;
       -   other homophobic/transphobic matters have also occurred in Turkey;
       -   on racism this week:   a report by a US journalist on the state of indigenous affairs in my nation;   an inquest examining more than a dozen indigenous youth suicides has heard profoundly disturbing evidence of despair;   indigenous leaders have called for meaningful discussion over plans for the Murray-Darling river basin;   the experiences of growing up under the widely criticised, culturally insensitive, intervention plan in Australia’s Northern Territory;   “The dangers of an obsession with the 'Aboriginal middle class' ”;   “as Australia's resources boom wanes, several Indigenous communities that were once promised prosperity have been left grappling with a legacy of endemic poverty and questions about how mining money has been spent”;   a new US study shows black girls are not given the presumption of innocence;   the history of the indigenous revolution of Australian art;   the reintroduction of the Māori New Year: Matariki (the Māori name for the seven sisters constellation, which is a shorthand reference);   the racist and classist bias of most parenting advice;   differing views over why more Tasmanians are identifying as indigenous;
       -   other racist problems have also occurred in primary schools;
       -   on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):   blind recruitment is failing to overcome gender inequality;   “soldiers have described [their experience of domestic violence] in a powerful new Australian Army video produced to help stamp out domestic and family violence”;   an article on female thought leaders;
       -   on other forms of human (and other) rights this week:   a warning on the appalling, imported practice of (unpaid) internships (“One of the distinctions between an employee and an intern, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman, is that if the work "would otherwise be done by an employee, or it's work that the business or organisation has to do, it's more likely the person is an employee"”);   possible responses to problems in the aged care industry in my nation;   one family’s exclusion of an autistic member;   the World Bank has funded projects in Uzbekistan which rely on forced child labour;   concerns that the USA has taken Burma and Iraq off the list of nations with child soldiers prematurely, and again failed to add Afghanistan;   an international review of approaches to providing aged care;   another report on abuse of workers at a factory;   recommendations for improved public housing in my home state;   the ongoing nightmares of children who have been abused by violent extremists;   concerns that disability advocacy could be lost;
       -   other human or other rights problems have also occurred in: Poland, Chile;
  • With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
       there has been an increase in drug treatment in my nation, but alcohol remains the biggest social problem;   a powerful neochristian figure has been charged (it is important to remember the presumption of innocence – see here, particularly with regard to concerns over influencing trials, here, and here) with child abuse crimes committed last century;   a new US study shows black girls are not given the presumption of innocence;   gravely concerning revelations over how children have been treated in another Australian state’s detention system, with the government accepting “all 83 recommendations”;   a suggestion to use better use technology to stop phone scams – much as things like machine learning to better identify spam has made email safer, as it is less reliant on people not being naïve;   two disgraced MPs in my hone state are now under formal investigation for abuse of Parliamentary allowances;   also in my home state, a judge has “described mental health services for prisoners as "totally under-resourced" ”;   “An international drug syndicate used a drone to conduct counter-surveillance on police before seven members were arrested”;
       other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: India;
  • 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 … ):
       a study claims that it is “the combination of "information overload" and our "limited attention" spans that contribute to the spreading of” fake news and hoaxes;   as three journalists resign from a US news network after it “retracted an article alleging a Trump aide was under investigation by Congress”, a reported has criticised the White House over fake news claims – and defended his criticism;  criticism of Voldemort’s latest personally offensive abuse of women journalists (see also here);   a critique of government subsidies for media;
       other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: here, the Philippines;
  • 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:   climate scientists are acting in their personal lives on their fears for the future by moving – and reconsidering whether or not to have children  see also here;   a project has been launched to plant a 100,000 trees a day using drones;   a bunch of primary school kids has had the brilliant idea of artificial orcas to dissuade sharks from going close to swimming beaches;   a shark monitoring project has just tagged its 100th shark;   indigenous leaders have called for meaningful discussion over plans for the Murray-Darling river basin;   a “forest fire in southern Spain is threatening a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its biodiversity and endangered species”;   “Climate change will aggravate economic inequality in the United States, essentially transferring wealth from poor counties in the Southeast and the Midwest to well-off communities in the Northeast and on the coasts”;   a review of the current state of scientific evidence relating to bees and neonicotinoids;   a handbook has been prepared with “detailed plan and evidence-based recommendations for driving change in energy efficiency across all sectors of the Australian economy”;   increased use of natural gas comes with increased GHG emissions;   a European heat wave has been intensified by climate change;   an article on “weather index-based insurance” (less expensive than traditional insurance) as a climate resilience aid for small farmers;
       -   on technology and science matters this week:   new allergy tests are allowing increased use of penicillin, and thus stopping the spread of antibiotic resistant bugs;   my home state’s police have used a social media alert for a missing child for the first time;   a major internet company has been fined a record amount by the European Union for anti-competitive policies online shopping;   a couple of summits will be held in my nation on use of digital technology in governance;   in my home state, cyclists using phones will now be fined;
       -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: Australia, Australia (2nd);
       -   on economic and financial matters this week:   a warning to consider whether saving $200 by using a cheap airline was worth putting your life at risk;   the business benefits of contact with nature;   Australians are working past retirement age to pay off mortgages (and get enough money to survive, even if they rent … );   a suggestion to boost affordability of housing where it is most needed;   a multinational internet company’s “explanation” as to why they abused their power was “our users wanted us to” … ;   measures to reduce harm from gambling have been funded in my home state (government media release);   a conflict is likely between Germany and the USA at the next G20 summit;
       -   on other matters in the category this week:   a charity has been using unwanted complimentary hotel toiletries into packs for the homeless;   as someone who was adopted because of social pressure (on whites – I’m not indigenous) in the 1950s to a very loving couple, the only issue about this story is not being told, as far as I am concerned;   a new playground for kids has been designed to help “parents to see that [children] getting a scratch or a bruise is OK”;   an organiser of the 24-7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space shut down by Sydney recently said they had “been in Martin Place for six months, we serve between 450 and 500 meals every day. We house from 38-65 people a day. In the time we've been here we've housed 171 people, we've found 91 people jobs”;   a critique of the exploitation and moral questionability of watching a specific TV show;   the neighbourhood benefit of pets;
  • With regard to education:
       dissension within the Australian Greens over education funding;   a bunch of primary school kids has had the brilliant idea of artificial orcas to dissuade sharks from going close to swimming beaches;   a study has shown the subtle forms of disadvantage remote schools experience;   a review of education inequality in Australia – and see here for an example of one response to this issue;   misuse of a children’s book on the Stolen Generations in primary schools;
  • With regard to war and violence generally:
       the moral injury aspect of PTSD for journalists and soldiers;  the connection between genocide and suicide;   a successful anti-violence programme for fathers (government media release);   an examination of what can be done to reduce the much higher risk of murder for men;
  • With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
       a landslide has killed many people in China;
  • 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 report on a series of workshops on links (including opportunities) between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and media and business;   a nuanced critique of the “Asian miracle” and its collapse;   the vital importance of education in achieving sustainable peace;   an online publication on achieving peace in West Asia and northern Africa (which I have not read as yet);   the US Institute of Peace has honoured a US division for a peace deal in 2007 that halted communal fighting, “continues to underpin the relative stability of that area a decade later”, and offers a way to sustain peace elsewhere in Iraq.
Location based News:
  • 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):
       concerns that the USA has taken Burma and Iraq off the list of nations with child soldiers prematurely, and again failed to add Afghanistan;   after the US says it withdrew too quickly from Afghanistan, Europe will provide more troops;
  • With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
       -   thoughts on peacebuilding, youth and change in Zimbabwe;
       -   Médecins Sans Frontières have restarted aid in Somalia;
       -   political struggles between Gulf states is now impeding peace and interfering with nations in the Horn of Africa;
       -   the UN has ended its 13 year mission in the Ivory Coast;
       -   South Africa’s ruling party is meeting over divisions about President Zuma;
       -   the “Democratic” Republic of Congo will not hold part of its independence day celebrations as a result of security concerns;
       -   Cameroon has forced hundreds of refugees back to Nigeria;
       -   the European Union will not increase aid to Nigeria, saying the nation is not poor;   there has been a major increase in Nigerian women trafficked to the Belgian sex trade;
       -   more talks are aiming at ending Guinea-Bissau’s two year political deadlock;
       -   Senators are abandoning Kenya’s “powerless” Upper House;
       -   an Ethiopian in the USA has started an online map to record deaths;
  • 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):
       -   a report has found that China is not using the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to advance its strategic agenda;   claims that China has further militarised the South China Sea;   a criticism of the 45th US President’s strategy towards China;   tensions between India and China over a road near a disputed border area;
       -   North Korea (the DPRK) wants South Korea’s former President dead - by any means;   an analysis best summed up by a quote in the article: “Seoul’s fear that Donald Trump could draw it into a catastrophic conflict on the Korean Peninsula “brings to mind Charles de Gaulle’s admonition during the Cuban missile crisis that being a U.S. ally ran the risk of ‘annihilation without representation’ ” ”;
       -   a review of the predictions made when Hong Kong was handed back to China twenty years ago … which doesn’t leave me with any notable optimism - see also here;
       -   the USA has made a US$1.4 billion arms deal with Taiwan;
       -   concerns that the siege in the southern Philippines is being used to train other violent extremists;   the terrible abuses of hostages in the violent extremist occupied city in the southern Philippines;   the fight against online abuse of journalists in the Philippines;   the “fraught” history of Islam in the Philippines;   a report that Philippines police are using hospitals as a cover up for their extrajudicial murders;
       -   concerns that the USA has taken Burma and Iraq off the list of nations with child soldiers prematurely, and again failed to add Afghanistan;
       -   some soul searching in Thailand after tacky cashing in on a grisly murder by three women with “beautiful face, but cruel mind”;
       -   and in the Pacific:   corruption and the economy are the key issues in the election campaign in Papua New Guinea (PNG) – which has been cancelled in Port Moresby after an official was found with a large amount of cash … and more chaos after thousands found they had been taken off the electoral rolls;   the UN mission to aid the Solomon Islands after a near civil war a decade ago is ending;
  • With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU):
       -   “German Muslim schoolgirls who went on a visit to Holocaust memorials in eastern Poland say they were racially abused by locals”;   Germany and Malta are close to allowing Equal Marriage;
       -   a poorly judged decision by France’s President to snub the media on Bastille Day;
  • 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):
       -   one counterattack by violent extremists in Iraq has failed … but another has been more successful;   the story of a US volunteer helping to rescue civilians in Iraq;   concerns that the USA has taken Burma and Iraq off the list of nations with child soldiers prematurely, and again failed to add Afghanistan;   following the Kurdish Regional Government passing the Law of Minorities, Iraq's Kurdish Jews have both hope and scepticism;
       -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 635 civilians violently killed in the last week;
  • With regard to the Libyan civil war:
       a UN aid convoy in Libya has been attacked;   more than a score of refugees have drowned off Libya;   hundreds of violent extremists are feeding off the fighting in Libya (illustrating the premise of the Cure Violence model);
  • 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:
       the Russian and US Presidents will meet next week;   Israel’s speaker, a former refusenik, says Russia has not engaged in soul-searching about its dark past;
  • With regard to South and Central America:
       -   Colombia’s FARC has officially ceased to be an armed group, and will form a political party;
       -   Brazil’s President has “rejected” a bribery charge at his trial;
       -   yet further violent escalation of the crisis in Venezuela, with a police helicopter used to launch an unsuccessful grenade attack against that nation’s Supreme Court building;   a comprehensive review of the situation in (“undemocratic”) Venezuela, and what could possibly be done;
       -   a review of what has caused or contributed to the growing epidemic of violence in Mexico;
       -   Chile’s apology to its Mapuche Indians is considered inadequate;
  • With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
       -   India’s Prime Minister has outmanoeuvred the 45th US President’s infamous handshake by giving him a hug;   a drought in an Indian state is human made;   India has introduced a GST;   tensions between India and China over a road near a disputed border area;   allegations that police are “targeting and harassing” close relatives of two editors who have been sentenced to jail but are on the run;   the retiring police chief of an Indian state has admitted corruption affects between 1% and 5% of police;   another article expressing concern over India’s sedition law (for criminalising dissent);
       -   another article on women and students demonstrating – sometimes violently - against Indian forces in Kashmir;
       -   an idiot in Pakistan who was one of hundreds of people stealing petrol from an overturned tanker lit a match – killing over a hundred people;
  • With regard to Sudan and South  Sudan: (new links)
       -   continuing calls for: the UN Security Council (UNSC) and other member nations to review their entire approach to the endemic conflict and ongoing atrocities in Sudan including expansion of the arms embargo, abiding to the AUHIP Roadmap, nations with major investments in Sudan (including China, Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia) to press the government to fulfil its commitments, and nations which are party to the Rome Statute of the ICC to deny President Bashir entry to their country or comply with ICC warrants and arrest him (both the sense and the actuality of impunity are prolonging this conflict: all nonBPM units contributing to that must be cleared, and any BPM units which can oppose that need to be helped. Ideally, the clique at the head of this hydra, along with key figures further down the chain, would be given a change of heart, but, sadly, that isn’t going to be the best way to reduce suffering overall – particularly given the time needed for that);   a comprehensive review of the arguments for and against sanctions on Sudan;   the UN will cut back its peacekeeping force in Darfur … ;
       -   one of the key issues here is that, despite idealists wanting pressure to be maintained until the ultimately desired end state is achieved, people are people – human, and there can be times when some sort of acknowledgement of progress is needed as a carrot – encouragement to keep going in the right direction. On the other hand, this has been abused too many times in the past … ;
       -   continuing calls for: the African Union to establish the hybrid court, an arms embargo, and implementation of all provisions of the August 2015 peace agreement and UNSC Resolution 2304, including making sure the UN mission is adequately resourced and UN compounds are inviolable;   South Sudan’s government will not allow aid to rebel areas … ;
  • With regard to the conflict in Syria, where Assad’s regime has, in my opinion, lost all claims to legitimacy, and it is time to consider partition (see here, here, here and here):
       a couple of the sides fighting in Syria, including the Assad Dictatorship, have held (partial) prisoner amnesties to celebrate the end of Ramadan;   concern over growing civilian casualties in the fighting around Raqqa;   confirmation that sarin (or “a sarin-like substance”) was used in a chemical weapons attack in April;   an article on Iran’s use of the Syrian conflict to further its own aims;
  • With regard to Turkey:
       the Sultanate of Turkey has banned a Pride march again – leading to violent suppression by police;
  • With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
       claims a recent global cyber attack was a cover for installation of malware in Ukraine;
  • With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
       -   a call for the Palestinian President to resign;   after the death of three babies, the Palestinian Authority will again allow Gazans to be treated in Israeli hospitals;   the UN is trying to end the Gazan electricity crisis by getting a deal between the Palestinian organisations in dispute;   a caution that Israel’s support of Syrian rebels could backfire;
       -   a conservative news article on behind the scenes tensions over the US response to the Saudi-Qatari crisis;   “a former grand mufti of Egypt has predicted Qatar will be destroyed within two years , using a bizarre historical reference as proof and comparing modern Qataris to an early Islamic sect that was massacred by its rivals”;   political struggles between Gulf states is now impeding peace and interfering with nations in the Horn of Africa;
       -   an article on Iran’s use of the Syrian conflict to further its own aims;
  • 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):
       secular Yemenis are afraid of being murdered, as was a student;   Yemen’s government says it will investigate claims of torture in UAE detention centres … ;   hopes the cholera break is at the half way point, with over 200,000 cases.
Other News:
  • a group of people caught a young person who fell from a theme park ride (this is a good ending: I know of other people – in Asia – who have been injured by bravely trying to do the same for falls from much greater heights, but with sadder outcomes);
  • a sporting organisation has appealed - successfully - against the perceived leniency of a sentence on a striking charge, with several commentators showing that they do not understand how good legal systems work, and claims by others that this could lead to the player being abused for his religion by idiots (now, although this situation is not part of the criminal judicial system, it is worth noting that character evidence is routinely used to determine whether or not people should be given leniency in criminal cases, once guilt has been determined. In that situation, such considerations are part of assessing issues such as likelihood of rehabilitation vs. risk of recidivism. This sporting situation could be argued to already include such considerations, as the pre-published punishments include reductions for pleading guilty early, thereby saving time, money and inconvenience - which could also be argued to be a commercial inducement – and does open the matter to strategic considerations along the lines of “is it worth pleading guilty, whether guilty or not, to be sure a player is back for a big game?” I suspect the raising of the issue of judging others character as a difficulty says more about the people who raised it than any others: many people in real life have no problems either judging the character of people - or thinking they can do that, and key legal people are selected, in part, on their ability to do exactly that, whereas those who are saying this is difficult either may be people who have lacked that ability, or fear the judgements that others would reach – after all, sportspeople are NOT inherently “good” or even better people … One other point is that this does set a precedent, and I would expect this to crop up in future trials);
  • in the “oh dear” category, an elderly person has thrown coins at a jet’s engine for good luck … leading to hours of delays.
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, 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.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,