Post No. 1,090 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 186

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. (And one of the concerns I have about those resisting change is that they are so shallow / superficial /stupid that they thing their actions have ONLY the meaning of their [limited] conscious intention … ) See also here and here.

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 20^th December, 2017), Uranus in Aries contributing to fresh and possibly radical starts (until some date in the Year 2018), and Pluto in Capricorn contributing to a transformation of power and business (and careers) (until some date in the Year 2024), conditions are ripe for a change for the better in world politics;

(b)   there is an enormous need to clear nonBPM energy – the thought forms, unattached energy and scars of the collective unconscious created by millennia of violence, 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), more of the personal security of BPM Earth;
           mentally, more of the critical self-reflection of BPM Air;
           a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for more of the focused and aware critical thinking of BPM Air;

(d)   for this week’s work I will be using the rune Yr:

(e)   dealing with the 45^th President of the USA (aka the USA’s CEO) 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 the USA’s CEO’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 the USA’s CEO’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 – e.g., this. 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:   as attraction to violence continues to be inadequately addressed, the risks of mass atrocities in Burma, Kenya, Afghanistan and Syria;   ongoing violent conflicts and crises in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan (Darfur and South Kordofan), Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Kurdistan, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Mali, Burma, DR Congo, Burundi, Kashmir, Baluchistan (Pakistan and Iran), India (Maoist and other insurgencies), the Maghreb (Africa), Ukraine, and elsewhere;   the resurgence of Nazi and similar ideologies of hate;   expectations of another Israeli-Lebanon war;   possible North Korean nuclear madness;   the struggle for democracy, peace and stability in Africa;   more undermining of democracy in the USA;   continuing ineffectiveness regarding the Rohingya;   continuing breaches of obligations to refugees;

(g)   there is a slow but sure fight back against fake news;

(h)   efforts to improve human rights – including overcoming white supremacism, sexism and other forms of bigotry – are continuing, with a few steps forward, some backward;

(i)   action against climate change continues to be inadequate;

(j)   technological advances continue to be abused;

(k)   backsliding in living standards continues to be inadequately, ineffectively or inappropriately addressed;

(l)   lack of scrupulousness is a notable issue this week - particularly evading accountability, or enabling others to evade accountability;

(m)   fear continues to underlie much of the hate in the world;

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 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 resources (including an assured income, given the power that nonBPM forces have in the structures of the material world), opportunities and assistance (including 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 actual and potential BPM Violence Interrupters (and Interrupters of hate / fear / anger) of be kept BPM safe, and may they have all the BPM opportunities and assistance (so-called “good luck”) for them to be BPM effective at containing and stopping – along the lines of the Cure Violence model - the spread of violence (and hate / fear / anger), all as is for the Highest Spiritual Good;
• 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;
• Permanent issue: may all humans be in better communication with the better parts of their nature – especially those who need that more than other, better people;
• Matters warranting particular attention:
     -   an article on the devious dangers of current Nazi ideology and movements, and how to fight them;
     -   as a renewed warning is issued that North Korea may conduct an atmospheric nuclear test in the Pacific, political discussions in the USA are now including the possibility of nuclear war;
     -   a UN-mandated report has found it “appears plausible” that an external attack or threat may have led to the plane crash that killed former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, whose ethics have been linked to a new Global Ethics Day;
     -   deliberate famine should be a war crime;
     -   an assessment that another war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is inevitable, and will be devastating;
     -   “the rise of religious fundamentalism and the far right poses a serious risk to global gender equality”;
     -   the USA and Russia have both taken action against the human rights campaigner responsible for the Magnitsky Act;
     -   a majority of whites in the USA believe discrimination against them exists, a minority say they have experienced that – but 84% believe discrimination against others exists (all of which says the message about unearned advantage [aka “white privilege”] needs to be sold more credibly);
     -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Burma, Kenya, Afghanistan and Syria;
• With regard to democracy (which can be measured [as can goodness], and requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable – and remember Gandhi’s question about whether one is fighting to change things, or to punish, and note this 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 45^th US President below
     -   analyses this week include:   financial illiteracy is a policy failure (see also here), but could be successfully connected to teaching maths;   a post 2016 Presidential campaign survey of voters suggests there may be little or no “middle” or common ground – or interest in any - between the disparate groups of angry people in the USA;   interviews with former US politicians suggests they left because of the dysfunction;   a critique of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations (including better education, a carbon price, and consumer control of and access to data) to boost productivity and living standards;   a critique of current activist approaches – including their failures;   an article on challenges to liberalism from low population growth which misses the obvious point: basing the economy on growth is wrong;
     -   for other analyses see: here (Columbia), Europe;
     -   of concern this week:   an Australian activist group is being accused – incorrectly, in my view – of having political affiliations (the problem is the extreme irrationality of the neoliberals, which make, in my view, any rational activist likely to be opposing them);   senior Australian officials are – rightly - concerned about acquiescing to China’s global trade domination;   in one state, boat skippers can be drunk if they’re anchored … (ever hear of emergencies – such as drunk passengers going overboard, which require an anchored boat to get under way?);   revelations that an aged care and retirement home sector award scheme was fraudulent;   threats were required to get a social media platform to agree to label election ads;   limitations have been placed on compensation to child abuse survivors;   in the USA, election data was destroyed days after a lawsuit was filed against state officials;   the failure of democracy in Burma;
     -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: Ethiopia;
     -   in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:   New Zealand’s new government has a mix of progressive and conservative policies, including banning foreign home buyers  – see also here;   the state of investigations into alleged Russian interference in US elections – and possible responses;   union offices have been raided as part of investigations into union payments to an activist organisation – and calls for the leak about that to be investigated by police (the leaker has resigned);
     -   other events in the grey or neutral area have occurred or are developing in: Italy;
     -   good news this week includes:   a suggestion for banks to banks to have a ‘representative of the poor;   better communication is improving some aspects of US electoral practices;
     -   and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:   problems have been admitted as the NBN tries to fix its technology;   a call for east coast states to ignore voter impatience and copy West Australia’s principled stand a decade ago against gas companies;   a perspective on missing the manufacturing capability, rather than Australian cars;   stronger anti-money laundering laws may include Bitcoin;   the cretin who set the “yes” case back by head-butting an obnoxious former Prime Minister is potentially facing up to ten years jail;   a Parliament House security manual has been lost by a contractor … ;   the status of lobbying law reform;   we are not closing inequality gaps;   financial, socialisation and other gender issues which may affect the assisted dying proposal;   an obvious point: it is not “un-Australian” to investigate the actions of special forces in Afghanistan;   some workers are still getting left behind by low unemployment rates;   a five year prediction of economic growth factors – which misses the fact that addiction growth is inherently of concern;   Australia’s neoliberals have lost their majority as several MPs are found ineligible because of dual citizenship;
     -   other events relating to my home nation have occurred or are developing in: indigenous  rights;
• With regard to the 45^th US President (who I consider seriously dangerous, even if his administration looks like a Schoolyard Squabble Squad – see here on practical, physical actions for US residents [and the principles are useful elsewhere]) this week:
  I deliberately avoid using the 45^th 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 either “the USA’s CEO” or “Voldemort II” (or a combination – and the “II” is because the Harry Potter series had Voldemort I) or a variation thereof – in this section, at least - as an alias.
     -   an examination of the background and details of the USA’s 25^th Amendment, which can enable removal of their President;   Republican politicians have excoriated the 45^th US President – see also here;   the Special Prosecutor investigating alleged Russian influence is “following the money”;   the US Congress will investigate the 45^th President’s – stalled – alleged voter fraud commission;   staggering “thinking” from supporters of the 45^th US President tries to shift blame to an “alt collusion” version of reality … ;
     -   a retiring US Senator has made a blistering attack on Voldemort II – see also here, and here;
     -   ALL levels of the US administration lack diversity;   empowered bigots are making schools unsafe;   immigration officers claim to be frustrated by the (absurd) laws;
     -   a pregnant widow has confirmed the USA’s CEO stuffed up his condolence call to her;
     -   changes to political traditions around the selection of US judges (political conventions have always worried the hell out of me) - and other possible erosions of independence;
     -   during the election campaign, an advisor to the 45^th US President also tried to have a Turkish cleric discredited;
     -   other matters relating to the USA’s CEO: refugees, media;
• With regard to violent extremism (VE) (aka, terrorism) (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 Mali, Nigeria, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 3 attacks in Iraq (out of a total of 7);   prevention has or may have occurred in the UK;   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in: the Philippines, Australia, Mali, Somalia (preparations);
     -   airport workers at Australian airports will be subject to increased random checks;   the USA will impose additional security measures;   the USA has broadened an interpretation of which citizens can be subject to physical or digital surveillance to include “home-grown violent extremists”;
     -   cyber terrorism could target health care systems;   a Muslim FBI undercover agent’s experiences;   analysis of where violent extremists fleeing Syria/Iraq may go to;   interesting reflections by a former Prime Minister (three years ago);
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
     -   on the Rohingya crisis this week:
     -   any Rohingya returning to Burma would lose land and crops;   more on the horrors in the refugee camps – including the health challenges;   surprisingly, Bangladesh has chosen the International Organization for Migration to lead international relief efforts, not the UNHCR;   grave concerns over the extensive personal and biometric data being collected from the Rohingya refugees;   even the USA is considering sanctions on Burma’s military – and has spoken directly;   Burma’s actions are akin to ISIL’s (Da’esh);
     -   other refugee-related matters  this week:
     -   Australia’s Cambodian refugee resettlement agreement has undermined our diplomatic influence;   the USA will delay processing refugees;   a call for Australia to deploy police to protect refugees in its Papua New Guinea gulag (PNG has sent police … );
• With regard to human (and other) rights and discrimination (incidentally, I consider it vital to identify people who are bigots as they clearly have flaws in their powers of observation and thinking – shown by the fact that NOT all people act hatefully without education/lobbying/the restraint of laws):
     -   on Australia’s postal survey around Equal Marriage, and the homophobia/transphobia (including heteronormativity, cisgender-normativity and the suppression of the religious freedom of those religions that support Equal Marriage by neochristian supremacists) resulting from that, this week  – and I am going to note that Australia’s current pus for equal “debate” IGNORES the FACT that there have been DECADES and CENTURIES of distortions, lies, attacks and hate speech against LGBTIQ people– if the current “debate” gives equal air time, then it is UNFAIRLY biased against the “no” case. Furthermore, after the fearmongering and conflation of this and transphobia, this is no longer just about marriage, it is about whether bigotry is simply being given a new, less overtly violent face (this “conversation guide”, is, however, quite good):   experts have rebutted the no campaign’s homophobic (“MA” rated) and extraneous material messages about kids – it is discrimination that does the harm;   74.5% of voters have responded to the postal survey (if the “no” vote is successful, Equal Marriage will be set back by at least another electoral cycle);
     -   on homophobia/transphobia (including heteronormativity and cisgender-normativity) this week (and noting that trans kids are the same as cis kids of the trans kids’ true gender):   criticism – including evidence – of a sporting body’s rejection of a trans woman;
     -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in: Nigeria;
     -   on white supremacist and other forms of racism and indigenous matters generally this week:   notwithstanding a commitment to a referendum on constitutional acceptance of indigenous people as part of getting elected to the UN Human Rights Council, Australia has rejected a proposal for an indigenous advisory body to be enshrined in the constitution – see also here, here, and here;   a Tasmanian area rich in Aboriginal heritage;   an 8x10m painted indigenous artwork/map, used to overcome the language-culture divide in an ultimately successful land claim, has returned to the desert;   a call for an Australian sporting teams new jersey, rich with indigenous symbols, to “be matched by practical action on behalf of Indigenous people”;   the bones of Alaskan natives are finally being returned home;   indigenous storytelling and stargazing;   a survey of the details and extent of discrimination against African Americans – who have been warned by an advocacy group against using one US airline;   the legacy of Tuskegee study, which involved doctors letting black men die from syphilis is continuing to cause problems in the USA;   the scope, breadth and violence of racism and white supremacists in the USA, where police killings of black people have been described as reminiscent of 19^th and 20^th Century lynchings;   a critique of the effectiveness of Australian spending on indigenous matters;
     -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in: Australia, tech industry, Poland;
     -   on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):   an ad has finally confronted period taboos;   another large US company is reviewing a possible history of sexual harassment;   measures to address sexual assault on public transport in my home state – and a call to broaden that campaign;   the effect of the imbalance in power on consent;   a call for constructive change out of the recent sexual assault revelations in the USA;   a six year wait for breast reconstruction;   a challenge to the idea of using business performance to justify equality measures;
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: tech industry, PNG, Bahrain;
     -   on religious rights (including Islamophobia) this week:   a Pagan challenge to a US Council’s neochristian display has been upheld;   anti-Semitism amongst Italian sports fans;   anti-Pagan discrimination at a doctor’s office;
     -   other religious rights / Islamophobia matter have also occurred in: USA;
     -   on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:   on the basis that health care is a human right, a call for protection of medical workers;
     -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: Africa, Syria, Peru, Queensland youth detention centres;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
     -   a driver tried to run down a police officer to escape a speeding fine … ;   a prisoner decided to take justice into his own hands and attack another prisoner (there are inherent problems with vigilantism – including attacking the wrong people and, in this case, failing to see issues such as setting precedents for others to indulge in cruel and unusual punishment, going backwards as a society, etc);   police are investigating a religious community which appears to have smuggled out an alleged child abuser;   a reasonable argument for using software (aka “algorithms”) to free up resources and give initial guidance to people;   lack of resources is hindering the Australian Federal Police;   police will take action over a schoolyard attack (I wish such anti-violence and anti-bullying attitudes had been in place when I was in school – better late than never);   the US state of California's chief justice has recommended the “unsafe and unfair” money bail system be replaced;   more concerning reports from youth detention centres – including doubts over self-harm attempts;   police ignored a wife who tried to report her (subsequently divorced) husband for child abuse;   the USA may try to change the notion of criminal intent … ;
    -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: Malta, Indonesia, US universities, Uganda, Tanzania, PNG, Spain;
• 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 … ):
     -   an inconclusive report on the future of “fake news”;   concerns that the 45^th US President’s assaults on good journalism are “a strategy that comes directly from the pages of Orwell or Kafka”;
     -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: India, public transport, PNG, South Korea;
• 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 – in response to activist pressure.] Do you suffer from FOMO or addiction? Are you having second thoughts about technology? 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? Are you accursed with the “new is always good” groupthink of the computer world? Do you abuse workers by insisting on busy-ness? Are you raising a Prince Boofhead? Keeping in mind that, although I am a Pagan now, but have been a Buddhist, maybe the lesson of Buddhism that one must first recognise that one causes much of one’s own suffering is applicable … ):
     -   on climate change and other environmental matters this week:   more acidic oceans from climate change will affect all ocean life – especially the young;   the growing loss of biodiversity;   measurements are underway to see how far toxins were spread by Tropical Cyclone (aka “hurricane”) Harvey;   a video on using passive solar (active solar is better!!!) to reduce the effects of (US) homes on climate change;   a review of pastoralism and its future;   the US EPA has stopped scientists speaking on climate change;   a pollution tax on London motorists;   what caused the changes of heart of former climate change sceptic scientists;   moves towards more eco-friendly “smart” phones;   climate change impacts on health;   consider times of use when placing solar panels;   concerns over re-launch of a weedkiller;   the environmental impact of period products;   Africa’s Great  Green  Wall project – see also here ;
     -   on technology and science matters this week:   unconscious bias, racism and sexism have given the tech industry a toxic mentality and output;   the USA has issued a warning that sophisticated hackers are targeting energy and industrial firms;   apps on so-called “smart” phones are being used to spy on partners and enable domestic abuse;   a new ransomware attack;   more abuse by internet trolls;   “deep cleaning” – and a warning;   “CAPTCHA” technology can be broken;
     -   on economic and financial matters this week:   bodies sold to science in the US are being sold;   loss of jobs to drones;   predictions of future jobs in the USA leave a lot of people out in the cold;
     -   on affordable housing and homelessness matters this week:   further confirmation of what older, single (and in a relationship, in at least one case :) ) women want to live in;   Australian apartment house prices will fall (are they fire-safe? Do they have adequate privacy and personal space?);   moves to house the homeless in the US is being set back by high prices (so use tiny houses);
     -   on health and medical this week:   a criticism of fat bashing – including of oneself;   the experience of having a new born;   a call for more people to be able to access palliative care;   eradication of polio is closer;   an examination of why opioid addiction is such an emergency in the USA – including this;   robot pharmacists is a backwards step;   thoughtful criticism of the implementation of the NDIS;   lack of vaccinations is allowing whooping cough to spread;   people cope with surgery better in the afternoon;
     -   other health and medical matters have occurred in: aged care, India;
     -   on other matters in the category this week:   urban foraging;   “embodied” philanthropy;   this is one of those annoying half-right articles: choosing to live alone is NOT wrong, nor – if done for spiritual reasons – necessarily harmful, and it is NOT a new phenomenon – just look to mediӕval Europe, for instance. Those people who need to be connected should be respected considered, but so should those who don’t –and all people must become capable of being alone for periods of time without problems for the sake of their spiritual maturity;   asexuality;   the problem of parent shaming;   young people’s views on community;   a warning over safety in farming;
• With regard to education:
     -   a refutation of the call for performance funding of university lecturers;
• With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
     -   the lack of personal financial impact makes US citizens unlikely to reign in their leaders’ hawkishness;  firearms-related deaths and injuries increased 70 percent in one US state after gun shows in a less regulated neighbouring state;   the trauma of children being forced to take on parenting roles;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     -   a Pagan Chaplain has joined a Red Cross disaster care team;   plague in Madagascar;   landslide in Malaysia;   typhoon in Japan;   a 90% successful typhoid vaccine;   the deep and lasting effects of drought;   concerns over a strange decision by Puerto Rica for repair of its utilities;
• With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally (including survival after death, and good religion), development (in an “end poverty/thirst/hunger” sense) 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 former childhood friend has helped a drug addict recover;
     other events concerning peace, spirituality and development have occurred or are developing in: Columbia.

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):
     -   the Red Cross is scaling back because of elevated violence;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
     -   at the current rate, ending child marriage in West and central Africa will take a century;
     -   Burundi plans to give its President another 14 years, and has withdrawn from the ICC;
     -   warnings of religious division in the Central African Republic, where one quarter of the population have been displace;
     -   militia and political unrest are displacing people in the “Democratic” Republic of Congo;
     -   the son of Equatorial Guinea’s leader as been found guilty of embezzlement;
     -   at least ten people have been killed while protesting in Ethiopia;
     -   security has been tightened for the re-run of Kenya’s elections – which has had a poor turnout, and four deaths;
     -   stigma is worsening plague in Madagascar;
     -   more peacekeepers in Mali have been killed, but so have more than a dozen violent extremists;
     -   homophobia in Nigeria;
     -   as recovery continues, Somalia plans to attack the violent extremists;
     -   ancient treasures in the self-declared state of Somaliland are at risk;
     -   police abuse in Tanzania is stopping public health measures to contain HIV/AIDS;
     -   in Uganda, former child soldiers are trying to rebuild their lives;
     -   the World Health Organisation has reversed a staggering piece of stupidity by removing Zimbabwe’s Ancient Despot Mugabe from a good will ambassador role;   the challenges facing widows in Zimbabwe;
• 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):
     -   Asia has more billionaires than the USA;
     -   on China, Hong Kong, the DPRK (North Korea) and South Korea (which need to accept their partition – for now – and sign a peace treaty), Taiwan, and the free but invaded and occupied nation of Tibet:
     -   the extent of Chairman (and President) Xi’s (allegedly?) “anti-corruption” purge;   dissidents in China have been given isolated “holidays” during the recent Communist Party Congress;   Chairman Xi’s ideology has been “enshrined”;  the torture of a lawyer in China;   as expected, Chairman Xi has overhauled military leadership;
     -   other events concerning China have occurred or are developing in: Australia;
     -   a comparative assessment of North Korea’s aggression under Kim⅓;  an analysis advocating for emphasis on the coercive part of coercive diplomacy – for now;   North Korea will release some capture South Korean fishermen;
     -   other events concerning the DPRK have occurred or are developing in: USA;
     -   the problem of political influence on South Korean media;
     -   two jailed democracy activists have been released on bail in Hong Kong;
     -   elsewhere in Asia:
     -   in what may be a mistake, Indonesia's military chief has been stopped from boarding a plane for the USA;   hundreds of people have been publicly flogged;   scores of people have been killed and injured by a fireworks factory explosion;
     -   a typhoon in Japan has killed two people;   a review of why Japan’s current government has been re-elected – and its promise to “deal firmly” with North Korea, which it describes as a critical threat;
     -   a landslide in Malaysia has killed 11 construction workers;
     -   the siege of Marawi in the Philippines appears to be over;   a centenarian tattoo artist;
     -   and in the Pacific:   outrage at the apparent domestic violence murder of a PNG journalist;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU):
     -   an examination of Europe’s growing conservatism;
     -   the Czech Republic has elected a “populist” government – see also here;
     -   attitudes to work in Germany;
     -   two of Italy’s provinces want greater autonomy;   anti-Semitism amongst Italian sports fans;
     -   Poland has objected to a visit by a white supremacist from the USA;
     -   after a nervous week, Spain has – with key support - imposed direct rule an hour after Catalonia declared independence - which may lead to civil disobedience;
• With regard to (the conflict and other matters in) Iraq and Kurdistan (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 as said Iranian-backed militias in Iraq should go home, but Iraq wants them to stay;   possible divisions within Kurdistan;   rebuilding and recovery in Mosul;   Kurdistan has offered to freeze the referendum results;   Iraq has announced a 24 hour ceasefire with Kurdistan;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 68 people violently killed in the last week;
• With regard to the Libyan civil war:
     -   a water crisis;   the continuing violent struggle for power – see also here and 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’s opposition leader has been released from jail;   claims that Russia’s President is on shaky (political) ground;   the US State Department is only belatedly complying with sanctions .. ;
     -   other events concerning Russia have occurred or are developing in: Syria;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   excessive pre-employment checks in South America;
     -   a high turnout for elections in Argentina;
     -   a review of Brazil’s President;
     -   a critique – with recommendations – of the current state of Columbia’s peace process;
     -   “while Peru has made great strides over the past decade in reducing poverty, it needs to stand up firmly for human rights to ensure an economy that is sustainable and benefits all”;
     -   four out of five Venezuelan opposition governors broke with their coalition’s official position to swear themselves in before the highly controversial (perceived as anti-democratic) Constituent Assembly;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   some of the stories – including appalling casual sexist and religious abuse – from Kashmir during the Partition of India;   more Pakistan-India border tension;   the monsoon is imminent;
     -   on India:
     -   a previously arrested Indian cartoonist says free speech in India is “not in good condition”;   a public rape in India;   resistance to the court order to stand for India’s national anthem before films;   hundreds of languages found in India;   progress against the parasitic infection leishmaniosis;   a young classical singer will perform after a life battling cerebral palsy;   a critique of plans to boost India’s economy;   a critique of India-US ties;
     -   on Pakistan:
     -   an arrest warrant has been issued for Pakistan’s former Prime Minister;   the USA has given Pakistan an ultimatum over violent extremist safe havens;
• With regard to Sudan and South  Sudan:
     -   South Sudan has asked the USA to help fix its relationship with Sudan;
     -   the USA is considering how to pressure South Sudan into peace (withdrawing aid may not work);
• 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):
     -   hypocritically, Russia, which has performed appalling bombing missions, has accused the US of destroying Raqqa;   as the northern hemisphere’s winter approaches, who will rebuild Raqqa?;   Russia has blocked (as a cover up?) an extension of the investigation of chemical weapon use in Syria;   confirmation that the Assad Dictatorship killed dozens of people in a gas attack last year;
• With regard to Turkey:
     -   the trial of human rights activists on allegations – possibly politically motivated - of terrorism has commenced;
     -   other events concerning Turkey have occurred or are developing in: USA;
• With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
     -   a suspected assassination attempt;
• With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     -   the USA's "train and equip" strategy has led to diminished US influence - contrary to this - and a more complex mess in West Asia;
     -   on Israel and Palestine:   the Israeli government’s agenda for the next Parliamentary session includes “weakening the supreme court’s powers of judicial review, cracking down on left-wing civil-society organisations, expanding Jerusalem’s boundaries to include more Jewish settlements and allowing the government to forcibly deport mainly African asylum seekers” – and defining Israel “as a state that belongs not to its citizens – as is the case in a liberal democracy – but to all Jews around the world, including those with no connection to Israel”;   a Palestinian women’s council has “taken charge” in a West Bank village;   claims of an assassination attempt against a Palestinian official;   a call for a sporting body to stop UAE competitors discriminating against Israel;   concerns over corruption in Israel;
     -   elsewhere in the region:
     -   Bahrain has jailed the relatives of a human rights activist;
     -   after an abusive and unfair process, an Iranian-born Swedish doctor has been sentenced to death by Iran for allegedly spying for Israel;   other events concerning Iran have occurred or are developing in: Iraq;
     -   as part of its diversification away from oil, Saudi Arabia will spend $500 billion on a new nine-sector business zone and megacity;   ahead of women and 3^rd generation residents, Saudi Arabia has given a robot a passport … ;
• With regard to the (forgotten or ignored) 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):
    -    Saudi Arabia has now decided someone it funded for years is a violent  extremist;   child soldiers in Yemen;   the continuing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Other News:

• a former patient has become Australia's best mental health nurse;
• while looking for any CIA response to the release of papers on the assassination of President John F Kennedy (Russia thought the USA was heading towards a coup; the information on Cuba didn’t really add a great deal, I thought), I came across their advice on how to take photos of UFOs.

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.