Owing to the word count, I've split this week's Gnwmythr's News into two parts: the other part can be found here.
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):
“A group of Afghan women have launched a social media campaign to protest the country's custom of erasing women's names”; - With regard to Africa, the Africa
Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
- the problem of male rape, focusing on Africa; transparency and accountability in Africa; two Muslim majority African nations (Guinea and Senegal) will establish diplomatic ties with Israel; “Germany sees itself as a close partner of Niger and the entire Sahel region in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking”;
- “the US military has opened an inquiry into allegations of torture and murder of suspected [violent extremists] at a Cameroonian army base used extensively by [US] troops”;
- “UN human rights investigators have issued a new report documenting the killings of more than 250 people, including 62 children, in [the Democratic Republic of] Congo over three recent months that could turn into “wider ethnic cleansing’ ”;
- Ethiopia has lifted a state of emergency;
- the man in charge of Kenya's computerised voting system has been murdered; Kenya’s next – well scrutinised – elections is likely to be violent;
- the USA will sell weapons to Nigeria;
- the fatal problem of lead in Senegal;
- Rwanda is voting;
- Zambia has arrested a critic of its President; - 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):
- on China and the DPRK (North Korea):
- China wants its military to be a more elite force; a Chinese bank is being investigated as part of a money laundering probe in Europe; allegations that a major US phone and internet services company has facilitated Chinese censorship; China has built its biggest floating solar project (I want Australia to do something similar on Lake Argyle of the Ord River project, and export the energy to Asia); a critique of China’s Chairman of the Communist Party and President finds his strongman approach has pushed China backwards politically; more censorship in China; “China's government has been condemned for the ‘enforced disappearance’ of late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo's widow”; as tensions grow with China, which claims to have reduced troop numbers, India says it is still talking;
- following predictable reactions to recent missile test by the DPRK (North Korea) (and noting a comment I’ve heard on the radio that this is a two stage system, with three stage system yet to be tested – both base on an operational Chinese design), a radio interview with an expert on China raises the option of cutting off cash to Chinese banks to pressure China … but would that lead to change? – see also here; one airline is staying further away from North Korea after the recent missile test had a (ten minute gap) near miss with one of its planes; the USA has said it is not seeking regime change (which is good to hear, although that sinks a good part of a post I have been working on :) ), and is not North Korea's enemy; the Philippines’ President has launched a typically foul mouthed tirade against North Korea; there are indications US talks with China on sanctions against the DPRK may be getting somewhere, and the talks may be expanded at the UN;
- elsewhere in Asia:
- H1N1 flu in Burma;
- an examination of Japan’s politics and views of security;
- the Philippines’ President has launched a typically foul mouthed tirade against North Korea; HIV rates have gone up in the Philippines (which pre-dates the current President);
- "Germany has expelled Vietnam's press attaché over the suspected kidnapping of a man ... at Berlin Zoo";
- and in the Pacific: after a chaotic election period, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has been returned to power –facing anger over the conduct of the election and questions over its validity; claims illegal logging is continuing in PNG; examination of the effectiveness of anti-corruption messages in PNG and Indonesia; - With regard to Europe and the European
Union (EU):
- integration projects for established and new Dutch residents;
- "Germany has expelled Vietnam's press attaché over the suspected kidnapping of a man ... at Berlin Zoo";
- Greek paperwork is denying refugees their rights – which contrasts with the extraordinary generosity shown on Lesvos;
- tensions between Moldova and Russia are increasing;
- after Poland updated its "de-communisation" legislation to include banning "totalitarian" symbols, Russia has threatened that Poland will face “asymmetric” sanctions if it removes monuments glorifying the Soviet victory in World War (part) Two; the USA “has reaffirmed [it's] commitment to the security of the Baltic states if they face any aggression from Russia”; Poland’s future in the EU is uncertain; - With regard to the conflict in Iraq (noting that Iraq was once a peaceful and
prosperous society, before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here, and that it needs an emphasis on
a secular society and
citizenship – but also here, although based
in Syria and here):
- a filmmaker who was kidnapped and tortured by violent extremists twice in one day, and then by US the soldiers who freed him, has made a film based on his experiences; a US court has ordered retrials of four (non-military) US men found guilty of a mass murder of Iraqi civilians; an opinion piece arguing that “prosecuting Blair over Iraq would be a victory for dictators” (so if you really want th is to be about regime change, do so openly, and with proper planning! Don’t cover it under lies and other BS!! And yes, there are questions over the failure of leaders to act on R2P, including about their morals, but DON’T LIE when promoting action – the means ALWAYS affect the end);
- and the Iraq Body Count project reports 110 civilians violently killed in the last week (and 1,498 last month); - With regard
to the Libyan civil war:
Israel’s support of a Libyan “strongman” has now included military action on his behalf; Italy is “helping” Libya to reduce refugee numbers … - see also here; - 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 (see also the section on Europe):
Russia has extended its sanctions against the USA to include blocking access to one US Embassy property; Russia has accused the USA of starting a trade war with its latest sanctions; tensions between Russia and Moldova are increasing; ongoing homophobic and transphobic hate in Russia; “the US military is moving toward more global exercises to better prepare for a more assertive Russia and other worldwide threats”; - With regard
to South and Central America:
- Brazil's President has survived a corruption vote; Brazil may ‘modestly’ overhaul pensions;
- Venezuela has experienced more violent - and deadly - protests as many people boycott the controversial vote for a "constituent assembly" – see also this analysis and history; Venezuela has claimed the recent vote was fair, but the company that supplied Venezuela's voting system says it was tampered with;; the USA has imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s leader; the USA holds Venezuela's President " 'personally responsible' for the safety of two seized opposition leaders"; how Venezuela’s Chief Prosecutor went from ally to critic of the government; Venezuela’s controversial assembly has held its first session … ; - With regard to South Asia (aka
the Indian
sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources
have:
- there has been a major drug bust in India; hair thieves in India; a helicopter taxi service;
- more on the partition that, 70 years ago, created India and Pakistan; India’s new Aadhaar system will include death certificates (there is such bureaucracy around death certificates elsewhere); a recent ban of cattle slaughter had not been considered by Parliament; as tensions grow with China, which claims to have reduced troop numbers, India says it is still talking; praise for a supervisor of the Public Distribution System for his fairness and scrupulousness; the need for the anti-dowry law to become effective; the need for an anti-lynching law; concerns over India’s more security focused foreign affairs policy;
- Pakistan's parliament has elected former petroleum minister Abbasi to replace former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was removed for not declaring a source of income; allegations of sexual harassment in Pakistan’s parliament will be investigated; - With regard to Sudan and South Sudan:
- Sudan has asked Egypt to get Libya to stop supporting rebels in Darfur;
- another report on the abuses committed by South Sudan’s government – see also here; a call has been made for foreign governments to pressure South Sudan end the epidemic of rape; Japan’s defence minister will resign over claims of a cover-up on that nation’s South Sudan peacekeeping risks; at least 17 people have starved to death in one South Sudanese state; - With regard
to the conflict in Syria, where Assad’s regime has, in my opinion, lost all
claims to legitimacy, and it is time to consider partition (see here, here, here and here):
the experiences of one Syrian woman; a British man fighting violent extremists in Syria killed himself rather than be taken captive (I recall watching a TV programme where some foreign fighters said they would do that, and for exactly the same reason – to prevent violent extremists creating a painful spectacle on social media with their death. The judge described the man as heroic, and that does, perhaps, apply: there are times when evil must be fought); fighting against violent extremists in Raqqa is intensifying; the USA ending support to rebels might be as good thing, based on past conflicts; - With regard
to Turkey:
an assessment that Turkey’s Grand Sultan Erdogan has misinterpreted Germany, thus putting Turkey’s economy at risk; Turkey has put hundreds of people on trial over the failed coup a year ago - many of whom are facing life sentences; - With regard to the conflicts
in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
separatists in eastern Ukraine have strengthened their alignment with Russia; a (stupid) German band that played in occupied Crimea faces consequences; - With regard to West Asia (aka “the
Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle
East Eye and other sources have:
- on Israel and Palestine: there is a possibility of corruption charges against Israel’s Prime Minister; “the Israeli army [has] arrested a Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament”; Israel’s support of a Libyan “strongman” has now included military action on his behalf; violence in Hebron; a call for Jews to empathise with the Yazidis; an assessment of the risks in this region, with a call for proactive, not reactive, leadership; Israel is considering underground barriers to block violent extremist tunnels (belowground warfare has been a part of war for centuries, but it will likely become more significant); - elsewhere in the region:
- an Egyptian activist-artist (listen to the songs – they’re powerful); some of the environmental warnings about the new Suez Canal appear to have manifested;
- criticism of a coming referendum in Kurdistan;
- Iran is now funnelling weapons to Yemeni rebels via Kuwaiti waters;
- "Jordan's lower house of parliament has voted to scrap a law that allowed rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims";
- George and Amal Clooney will help 3,000 Syrian refugee children to attend school in Lebanon; an art project conceived by a former resident is helping transform a neighbourhood in Lebanon; action may be launched against violent extremists on the Lebanese-Syrian border;
- Qatar has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the other Arab nations which have imposed a trade boycott against it; an assessment that “the Gulf crisis may serve not only as an object lesson in the risks of Trump’s unpredictable approach, but the seeds of disorder and chaos it sews”; the crisis facing Qatar is a humanitarian opportunity;
- “the Saudi government has been forcibly relocating residents of [a] restive city”, including demolishing homes, as fighting continues; Note: reports on Saudi activities also in the section on Yemen; - 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 million malnourished children in Yemen are at risk of cholera; Iran is now funnelling weapons to Yemeni rebels via Kuwaiti waters; more civilian deaths from Saudi air attacks; “thousands of desperate Yemenis are being recruited by Saudi Arabia to defend its borders against Houthi rebels … as Saudi forces stay far from the fighting, orchestrating air attacks on Yemeni targets”;
Other News:
- an article on the BS – sorry, I mean “myths” around cats - such as them being solitary, needing a litter before de-sexing, and cannot be happy indoors, etc.
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.
