Post No. 1,094 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 188

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) and mentally, the calm insight and ethical strength of more BPM Æther ;
           a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for the hard clarity and calming of out-of-control (unbalanced) passions that comes with more BPM Air;

(d)   for this week’s work I will use the rune Ansuz:

(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 Yemen, Burma and Afghanistan;   ongoing violent conflicts and crises in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, 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;   refugee and humanitarian crises, and the political madness of regimes with authoritarian leaders;   the crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia being played out in Yemen and Lebanon, trivialising the lives being devastated, and against internal power struggles inside both nations;   talks between China and the USA (and others);

(g)   greed for power;

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:
     -   this week on reversing the deliberate, well-funded, long-term strategy (from about the 70s) to make self-interest seem normal and a commitment to fairness (such as former US President Franklin D Roosevelt’s Four  Freedoms) an aberration:   every single person needs to commit to ethics, and being prepared to miss out or go without in order to not become stooges for the rich and powerful who want to tell us how and what to be. I also wish to draw everyone’s attention to this poem;
     -   a warning that there is an “urgent need to 'reconceive schooling' to ensure workforce not consigned to joblessness’” as a result of artificial intelligence;
     -   the problem of genetic discrimination in life insurance is threatening lives;
     -   my home state’s Disability Minister has urgently intervened to remove a young man with a profound intellectual disability from jail after for-profit providers refused to accept him;
     -   in my opinion, the United  Nation’s Human Rights Council needs to be smaller (not 47 nations – this is almost as much of a problem as the Security  Council  veto  power) to introduce real, regional competition for places, which would enable shonky nations to be shut out, rather than allowed in because there is a vacancy to be filled, and make it harder for blocs to subvert human rights;
     -   this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Yemen, Burma and Afghanistan;
• 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:   an interesting lecture on digital manipulation of democracy;   as Bill Gates says robots that take jobs should pay taxes, an excellent talk - a few months ago - on changes to Australian society, wages and the future of work;   an example of sloppy journalism which conflates socialism and communism;   another leak of confidential papers (the “Paradise Papers”) is causing embarrassment and ethical/legal concerns - see also here, an article on the effect of the leak ("What's happening is trust used to flow upwards to experts and authorities and regulators, and now it's flowing sideways to strangers and peers and colleagues and neighbours", “surveys found a "global implosion of trust", including trust of 43% in the media, 41% in government, 37% in company CEOs, and 29% in politicians”), and 3 proposals to fight such avoidance;   the benefits of recognising the property rights of the poor;   the threats of China and violent extremism to Westphalian sovereignty – see also here;   an examination of the 45^th US President’s first year, and what it signifies;   a rebuttal of claims that trade protectionism would hurt Australia’s economy (the comment about alarmists being focused on merchandise, and ignoring service, is interesting);   a report on statelessness;   another article on political courage;   a rebuttal of claims that voluntary assisted dying is a "legal slippery slope";
     -   for other analyses see: Indonesia, USA-Turkey, Europe;
     -   of concern this week:   as Australia’s Prime Minister tries to defend rejecting an indigenous advisory body on the basis of equality (!), the powerful backlash continues;   grave concerns over company pressure on drivers in one Australian state;   a controversial right wing politician has shown poor political judgment, and raised questions over his commitment to ethics, by continuing to seek the advice of a staffer who has been committed to stand trial for rape (although the former MP’s comment about people being innocent until proven guilty is correct – although that ignores the “higher standard” some positions require);   an Australian MP who was racially abused by a convicted white supremacist (who lost his job over his hate some time ago, and is being sued over alleged trademark infringement) has warned of the rise of white supremacist groups in Australia (the expressions and behaviour I saw is reminiscent of almost all bullies I have come across in my life: are we doing enough to stamp out such behaviour in schools?) - see this analysis on the personality cult and simple thinking behind one such group;   concerns about a right wing party candidate over jokes about domestic violence on the social media page of a business he owns;
     -   in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:   a crackdown on a cooperative tax avoidance scheme of multinational companies;   a call for US lawmakers who settle sexual harassment cases to resign;   a call for laws to match the internet economy;   a UK Government Minister has resigned for failing to disclose private meetings with senior Israeli officials during a personal trip;   a revelation that "days before the carbon tax took effect on 1st July, 2012, a French energy [company] transferred $1 billion in dividends out of Australia and back to UK parent companies" is likely to cause loss of trust –and reputation;
     -   good news this week includes:   former US President Obama has shown up for jury duty (which strikes me as a little unwieldy, admirable though it is);   a call for universal health cover in the USA;   Canada has stopped the attempt to resurrect the TPP;
     -   and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:   as a 9^th (and 10^th? 11^th?) MP comes under the dual citizenship cloud, Parliament moves closer to forcing MPs to make formal declarations on the matter, with a call for quick resolution fears it may lead to an early election, and a controversial call for a dismissal of the government - see also here, on attitudes around the world (personally, I consider dual citizenship a conflict of interest, but the current rules need to be updated – as a commentator said, if another nation declared all Australians to be also be its citizens, we would have no MPs), and this absurdist incident;   a state government will help repair a vandalised cemetery;
• 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.
     -   the USA will end a special status protecting 5,300 Nicaraguan immigrants from deportation in 2019, and may do likewise to 86,000 Honduran immigrants in 2018;   US agriculture will automate in response to the crackdown on immigrant workers;
     -   the US House of Representatives (Republican) Speaker has said that “special counsel Robert Mueller should not be fired or step down, and needs to be allowed to follow his Russia investigation to its end” – but the attacks on him are having an impact;   an examination of the 45^th US President’s attacks on the US justice system;   the Paradise Papers allegedly link the 45^th US President’s Commerce Secretary to Russia;   an article on others in the 45^th US President’s team who may be linked to Russia;
     -   former US President George HW Bush voted for Hilary Clinton … ;
     -   concerns over the impact of proposed changes on charity;   business charities have increased access under the current US administration;
     -   a rebuttal of false claims by the 45^th US President’s supporters that Hilary Clinton allowed Russia to gain control of the USA’s uranium industry;
     -   the USA has lost 60% of its career ambassadors since January;
• 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 Egypt, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 4 attacks in Iraq, 1 attack in Afghanistan, and 2 attacks in Syria (out of a total of 12);   prevention has or may have occurred in Turkey;
     -   an examination of possible responses following last week’s violent extremist attack in the USA;   recent leaks show a casino company tried to pressure a law firm into dropping anti-terrorism checks;   a former security agency head has warned that cracking down on online encryption could lead to more hacking;
     -   “rather than using military violence to defeat an enemy and produce a durable peace, [the USA] is using military forces to suppress violence and maintain a modicum of political stability [which] is more like [Imperial] police work, which assumes that crime is an enduring problem to be managed”;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
     -   on the Rohingya crisis this week:
     -   one third of Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh are vulnerable;   Rohingya fleeing Burma prefer boats to the trigger happy morons on the border;
     -   other refugee-related matters  this week:
     -   as the medical crisis on Australia’s gulag on Manus Island grows (see here for a medical ethics viewpoint), and Australia declines to accept New Zealand’s offer to take some refugees, a Green MP has called Australia’s Immigration Minister a terrorist;   PNG won’t restore services to the camp;   the Australian Human Rights Commission says Australia AND Papua New Guinea are responsible for fixing the refugee crisis on Manus Island;   refugees on Manus Island may be forcibly relocated;   interesting comments from a couple of years ago about refugees and asylum seekers in Australia;   a protest by refugee activists has disrupted train services to a sporting event;   South Sudanese refugees are giving Uganda’s economy a boost;  Italy is not integrating refugees;
• 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:   some older gay men and lesbians don’t support Equal Marriage – and I consider them wrong, on the basis they are viewing reality through a distorted lens;   in a surprising development, a key neoliberal Australian MP had told "conservative" colleagues cooking up an "alternative" Equal Marriage bill that those who fought against it should not be in charge of legislating;
     -   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):   a trans woman has been elected in one US state;
     -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in: Germany (good news);
     -   on white supremacist and other forms of racism and indigenous matters generally this week:   Australia’s largest (12,000 square kilometres) wooded swamp is being looked after by indigenous rangers;   tutors are reducing indigenous student dropout rates;   an attempt is underway to reverse the white washing of the history of indigenous massacres;
     -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in: (White) Australia;
     -   on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):   the need for experienced professionals to investigate sexual and gender-based violence crimes – see also here, on an appalling case of such in the DRC;   an analysis of sexual harassment in the workplace;   men in a US remand system are exposing themselves to their female lawyers;   sexual violence against women is on the rise;  a famously photo-shy singer has tweeted out a naked picture of herself after learning that someone was trying to sell it. Although the blurry photo was taken without her knowledge, the (sleazy?) photographer owns the copyright, and she could get into trouble … ;   sexual harassment in the Australian entertainment industry – see also here, here, and here;   the current wave of sexual assault and harassment allegations might lead to lasting change;   revenge porn legislation is heading to my home state’s Parliament;
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: India, US state governments, science, India;
     -   on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:   a palm oil company has announced changes to address modern slavery;   lists of “top” human  rights organisations;  the campaign against orphanage tourism is growing;   concern over the leniency of a penalty imposed on a jockey who punched his horse;   yet another tiresome debate over whether being considerate and aware/informed (i.e., so-called “political correctness”) has “gone too far” (it hasn’t – and words can kill!);   another animal cruelty case;   a US military instructor who abused dozens of recruits will be sentenced;   the rights of Uber workers have been upheld;
     -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: the US oil industry, Africa, Sicily, Ghana;
• With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
     -   the USA’s 377^th mass gun shooting this year – killing more than a score of people in a church – will not lead to any changes to gun laws, as someone with a gun fire at and apparently scared away the shooter – which ignores the limits on the killer if he hadn’t been able to get weapons in the first place (the US air force’s silence may have allowed him to get the guns in the first place, and he had a history of violence) – see also here;   a critique of the “issues management” approach of the USA’s gun advocates;   the gendered aspects of “smaller” gun law reform matters;   the concept of lawfare;   an opinion that the lessons from the successful anti-mine campaign cannot be used in the campaign to ban “killer robots” – which is active in Australia, this week;   the exposure of children and young people to violence;   the consequences of a child being wounded by a gun nut;
• 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):
     in doing some reading, I’ve noticed Article 26 of the UN Charter, which requires implementation of controls on armaments – which was overlooked during the Cold War, but how about now?;   universal jurisdiction;  depressingly, research suggests workplaces have the same popularity dynamics as high schools;   a homelessness charity feed service in a northern Australian city started by a Sikh after racist abuse will be extended after a service club decided to help;   stereotypes about masculinity show the importance of gender equality for peace;   an assessment of the role for former combatants in reconciliation;   developing nations are adapting agriculture ahead of climate change;   a call for the “private sector to be involved [in the SDGs] on a higher moral ground”;   giving circles;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     -   a typhoon in Viêt Nám;
• 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 or unthinking pro-technology bias? 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:   suggestions for the forthcoming climate talks;   a call by the UN for the world to live and do business differently, as "by 2030, the world will require 40% more water, 50% more food, 40% more energy and 40% more timber and fibre";   the USA is the only nation in the world that is backwards enough not to join the Paris agreement;   island nations are urging more action on climate change;   consideration of climate refugees;   a call for Australia to NOT water down illegal logging laws;   indoor pollution;
     -   other environmental matters have occurred in: Germany, India, developing nations;
     -   on technology and science matters this week:   Australians do not trust social media (good);   the problem of misinformation on the internet after major events;   two major Australian telecommunications companies have admitted deceptive conduct in relation to National Broadband Network (NBN) speeds (the problem lies to in the change of technology), and has offered compensation;   recommendations to stop using antibiotics in healthy animals;   managing the impact of the “fourth industrial revolution”;   the problem of surveillance apathy (giving up on privacy);   human error by the driver of another vehicle has caused an accident with a self-driving shuttle – see also this support for “driverless” cars;   some data on the percentage of scientists who are female;   concerns over disturbing children’s videos on the internet;   a social media company’s founding president is having major regrets (“God only knows what it’s doing to our children’s brains”), and no longer uses it;   a website dedicated to documenting and exposing fraud and misuse on a social funding website;
     -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: lawmaking, schools/future workforce;
     -   on economic and financial matters this week:   concerns over the time for consumer lending and pay day loan companies to implement desperately needed change;   the problem of learning from the last economic crisis – a bit like the criticism of fighting a present war based on outmoded ideas from the previous war;   “global financial regulators have decided to ditch a “too big to fail” gauge for assessing the riskiness of insurers”;
     -   other economic and financial matters have occurred in: schools/future workforce;
     -   on affordable housing and homelessness matters this week:   a short-sighted backlash against allowing people to ask if they can have pets (this is a mental health and rights issue);   examination of the successful push back by people in Barcelona against banks at the start of the GFC;   an examination of Australia’s housing affordability problem, and possible solutions;   after real estate agents whinged about investors getting out of the housing market, it appears first home buyers are getting a break;   another architect has shown people don't need McMansions to live in;   a community of nonconventional homes for largely vulnerable, including elderly, has been destroyed by an apparently uncaring developer (shades of the destruction of the lives of the marginalised to create New York’s Central Park);
     -   on health and medical this week:   in a big win for Australian patients, doctors with no surgical experience are likely to be banned from using the title "cosmetic surgeon";   a call for hospital patients to have better information;   a powerful film about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (formerly referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and the bigotry sufferers face;
     -   on other matters in the category this week:   Australia's largest hotel-apartment provider faces multi-million-dollar fines preventing unfavourable reviews by stopping emails being sent to unhappy customers;
• 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 … ):
     -   Australians born overseas prefer online sources;   a far right winger who violently attacked an Italian journalist has been arrested;
     -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: sloppy journalism, Zimbabwe, internet, Afghanistan;
• With regard to education:
     -   the increased fear caused by concealed (gun) carry law at Universities;
     -   other education matters have occurred in: indigenous education, India/USA;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
     -   a "united nations of networked offending" has killed one victim and traumatised others - and shows a need for better rehabilitation (there has been some concern over the ethnic description of the alleged offenders, but the only one whose ethnicity is known is white);   "police seize more than 10 tonnes of cocaine from Colombia's top crime gang, the biggest haul ever in the nation's long-running fight against drug trafficking";   two police officers have been instantly dismissed after they left a message on a woman's answer machine saying they hoped her child "would get raped";
    -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: India, India (good news).

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):
     -   reports of more civilian casualties are being investigated;   a television station in Afghanistan, which has the highest number of attacks on journalists, has returned to air just hours after an attack by violent extremists left at least one staff member dead;   attacks against places of worship in Afghanistan are increasing;
• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
     -   survivors of child marriage in West Africa;
     -   Burundi will not cooperate with an International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes;
     -   18 violent extremists are being tried for raping 46 children – as young as 18 months – in the DR Congo, allegedly because “a spiritual adviser told them that the blood of virgins would grant them supernatural protection” (I started to write something about this, but am too appalled. If guilty, they certainly MUST [including the so-called “spiritual” advisor] be locked away for life, but … the victims need care too. Something similar happened to one of my nieces [which is why I struggle with such matters]: they will need medical care and support);
     -   ethnic violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians;
     -   Ghana has received US$5 million to fight trafficking – particularly of children;
     -   despite a call for restraint, post-election punitive policing in Kenya;   concerns over a potential resource curse in parts of Kenya;
     -   concerns over potential civilian casualties from increased drone strikes in Somalia;
     -   a mass drug administration to prevent illness in Tanzania;
     -   a US citizen has been charged with subversion over social media post in Zimbabwe (was that deliberate, anger, or a case of appalling naiveté?);   Incredibly Ancient Despot Mugabe has fired his anticipated successor for “disloyalty”, and arrested four people who booed his wife;   a seed bank; 
• 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 call for Japan and South Korea to not develop nuclear weapons;
     -   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 long reach of China’s underhanded “soft power”;   a “Chinese company accused of financing forced labour, torture, and poaching has been linked to” illegal shark fishing;   Chinese butterfly smugglers have been jailed;   the USA’s 45^th President is playing nice with China, giving "credit" for working to benefit its citizens by an "unfair" trade, but the two nations have differing trade visions, with China being pro-globalisation, and the US pro-protection;   outrage over abuse of toddlers at day-care centres (the principle of caring for all members of family is a powerful force in China, so this is likely to be dealt with effectively);
     -   other events concerning China have occurred or are developing in: here;
     -   the US military says the only way to ensure North Korea’s disarmament is to invade it – which, whilst probably true militarily, would lead to war with China – and just hardened North Korea’s position;   the DPRK has described the “brutal sanctions” it faces as genocide;   after setting out unrealistic preconditions, the USA’s 45^th President has invited “a deal” with North Korea;
     -   elsewhere in Asia:
     -   an Indonesian couple who lost their baby to smoke-induced pneumonia is leading the fight against tobacco;   an examination of Indonesia’s Village Law;   Indonesia has closed a large brothel, and suggested those who work there get jobs in sharia hotels … ;   armed separatists have occupied five villages in West  Papua - see also here;
     -   Japan may be given US anti-missile weapons;   Japan is cracking down on “suicide websites”;
     -   the Philippines will buy weapons from Russia;
     -   an assessment of the long running insurgency in southern Thailand, and ways to stop it connecting to other violent extremists movements;
     -   just before it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum, the death toll from a typhoon in Viêt Nám has reached over 90, with devastation to match;   the young daughter of a well-known political prisoner in Viêt Nám, which is cracking down on dissent, has appealed to the wife of the 45^th US President to help free her mother;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU):
     -   the EU will discuss plans for a tax havens’ blacklists;   a tourist backlash;
     -   the former Catalan leader subject to a Spanish arrest warrant has turned himself in to Belgian police, and been released on bail pending a court appearance in a fortnight;   as the Catalonian referendum is annulled, the possibility that Spain may allow ALL Spaniards to have a say on future independence referendums is raised;
     -   concern over whether Germany will meet its emissions targets;   Germany will recognise a third gender;
     -   Italy is investigating whether 26 drowned Nigerian women were linked to sex trafficking;
     -   pressure is growing on the timing and details of the UK’s “Brexit”;
• 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 constitutional problems exacerbating the Kurdistan crisis;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 61 people violently killed in the last week;
• 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):
     -   hundreds of right wing extremists have been arrested at an unauthorised demonstration in Moscow;   Russia’s President has made a move on petulance-in-chief this week by accusing the USA of inventing doping allegations against Russian athletes in an attempt to influence Russian elections … ;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   protein plants for animal feed in Cuba;
     -   a prominent Venezuelan opposition politician has taken refuge in the Chilean ambassador's residence, after the Supreme Court stripped him of his immunity from prosecution on accusations of instigating violence – with opposition claims of political persecution;   repression in Venezuela now includes illegal home raids;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   meetings between India and Pakistan over border tensions;
     -   on India:
     -   questions and debate over naming and shaming on the basis of allegations of sexual assault;   extreme pollution has resulted in a public health emergency, including school closures, in New Delhi - see also here;   the recent refurbishment of Indian currency (referred to as “demonetisation”) was poorly founded (the claim to address illegal money was wrong, as less than 6% of illicit wealth was held in cash, fewer than 0.02% of all currency notes in circulation were fake so that wouldn’t be addressed [periodic design changes is better], and the claim that India's share of high value currency was inordinately large and aiding terrorist financing was also fallacious), and extinguishing 86% of cash led to a severe liquidity crisis;   it took six weeks for an eight year old with a spinal fracture to get to a hospital in India;   “get well” tweets to support a tourist couple who were assaulted;   one Indian film organisation has taken action to address sexual harassment;   a suggestion for more research – and other actions - to improve India’s economy;   a high turnout for elections;   criticism of US textbooks for reflecting Hindu nationalism;  lack of funding for stormwater;   migrants are being helped with their literacy;   dengue is up 300%;
     -   on Pakistan:
     -   an assessment of the gender divide in Pakistan;
• 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):
     -   another opinion that Syria is heading towards partition;   calls for a Syrian diplomat and legal advisor to be deported from the USA for being an apologist for the crimes of the Assad regime;   ISIL is also responsible for chemical attacks;   the Assad dictatorship claims the last violent extremist hold has fallen in Syria (so they will stop fighting, right? ... Right??) … and violent extremists have recaptured half of a town … ;   concerning claims that Iran is establishing a permanent military base inside Syria;
• With regard to Turkey:
     -   as the USA and Turkey resume issuing visas, criticism of the US response to “Turkey’s truculence”;   Turkey claims to have detained hundreds of suspected violent extremists;
• With regard to the conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
     -   fighting in eastern Ukraine may have a major impact on civilians;
• With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and North Africa, the Middle East Eye and other sources have:
     -   concerns of a possible (metaphorical) “explosion” in West Asia;
     -   on Israel and Palestine:   Israel says it is holding the bodies of five Palestinians killed after it blew up a tunnel, and wants to trade them for missing Israelis;
     -   elsewhere in the region:
     -   mass racial profiling in Algeria;
     -   Iran is in the grip of an ideological power-struggle;
     -   a special Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Jordan;
     -   Saudi Arabia hauled Lebanon’s Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia and forced him to resign - blaming threats from Hezbollah and Iran as he did so, with Iran blaming Saudi Arabia, following which the Saudis threatened to treat Lebanon as if Lebanon has declare war against Saudi Arabia, and warned its citizens to leave “immediately” … at least France’s President may be able to make a case for stability, and the US has backed claims that the missile fired against Riyadh was Iranian, but says Lebanon should not be used as a proxy. Meanwhile, concerns Israel may become involved … ;   a backgrounder on Saudi Arabia’s “corruption purge” – which has detained 201 princes and businessmen, four current ministers and tens of former ministers over an alleged $100 million in corruption … and still “isn’t democracy”;   an opinion that the current purge shows the ruthlessness (the have been allegations of torture already) of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, but see also here;
• 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):
     -   after intercepting a missile fired by Houthis in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has criticised the “dangerous escalation” – and Iran says it cannot transfer missiles to Yemen, but see here;   a criticism of a recent UN resolution on Yemen for having been watered down in critical ways;   Saudi Arabia has exacerbated the crisis by closing Yemen’s borders;   the UN has warned Yemen faces the world's largest famine in decades "with millions of victims" if aid deliveries are not resumed.

Other News:

• an article on the life of a recently passed former Australian Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, who was an environmentalist, international peace broker (he helped write Afghanistan’s constitution and broker the peace talks in Northern Ireland), High Court judge, ethicist (he was on the IOC ethics committee ), and made a "diverse and enriching contribution" (as Governor-General, he hand title to Uluru back to indigenous people) to Australia, earning five knighthoods along the way – I heard an interview with his son-in-law suggesting he was outstanding in his family life as well;
• the appalling behaviour at and other problems with a major Australian sporting event;
• sloppy mapmakers are leaving New Zealand off maps.

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.