Saturday, 13 January 2018

Post No. 1,117 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 197



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 20th December, 2017), Uranus in Aries contributing to fresh and possibly radical starts (until some date in the Year 2018), and Pluto in Capricorn contributing to a transformation of power and business (and careers) (until some date in the Year 2024), conditions are ripe for a change for the better in world politics;
(b)   there is an enormous need to clear nonBPM energy – the thought forms, unattached energy and scars of the collective unconscious created by millennia of violence, including spirit rescue, and healing the warped views, seemingly “inherent” biases, and other damage created. Also, remember:   -   (1) the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech,   -   (2) where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, are constructive solutions,   -   (3) peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient, persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;
(c)   viewing the overall emotional state of the world from an elemental point of view, this week we need:
           emotionally (astrally), the empathy of more BPM Water;
           mentally, the intellectual rigour of more BPM Air;
           a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for more BPM Fire;

(d)   the rune for this week’s work is:
(e)   dealing with the 45th President of the USA 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 to promote 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. physical world activism (especially education) – 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 Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 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;   -   the political madness of regimes with authoritarian leaders;   -   and   small signs of hope;
(g)   all actions taken in pursuance of social status are evil: I’m aware of all the evidence that this is an evolved human characteristic, but we need to exercise our human characteristics of reason, self discipline and improvement to overcome that flaw, and the viciousness and destructiveness that go with it;
(h)   may we all have the intellectual and ethical rigour that these times demand;
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:   the entirety of this blog and all other spiritual work and physical activism I and others do;  
       on the Rohingya crisis this week:
       -   an investigation has confirmed that the Burmese army killed and raped hundreds of Rohingya in Tula Toli village on 30th August, 2017;   Burmese journalists have asked for details of the cases against two journalists arrested and released recently, over concerns of broader implications;   the appalling conditions facing Rohingya children who are still in Burma;   in an admission so tokenistic it is offensive, Burma has admitted to killing ten Rohingya "terrorists" ... ;
       on the North Korean nuclear tensions this week:
       -   the USA’s President may be open to talking to North Korea’s leader (and has claimed credit … !);   the coming talks;   on the basis of historical tactics, a call for caution over the upcoming talks – for which the North has excluded nuclear weapons … and the talks are reported to have led to breakthroughs;   the emerging role of the UN;   a detailed examination of why the US National Security Advisor is extremely concerned about the DPRK;   an opinion that sanctions drove North Korea to the negotiating table … hmm … - see also this opinion;   North Korea is doing more tunnelling at its nuclear test site … ;
       on the fallout from the USA’s recognition of (all?) Jerusalem as Israel’s capital:
       -   the US embassy move may have changed the basis of negotiations and possible solutions permanently – against the interests of Palestinians;
       on other matters requiring particular attention:
       -   bullying is “as damaging as child abuse – and needs [the] same resources”;
       -   a call to learn from the example of Nelson Mandela;   activism needs introverts;
       -   the USA is deliberately moving closer to being able to have a smaller nuclear war … ;
       -   “most of the depressed and anxious people … are in the 87% who don’t like their work” and “the depression … started to look not like a problem with their brains, but a problem with their environments”;   truly smart people don’t flaunt it;
       this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo;
  • 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, governance (e.g., here, here, here and here, and see also here) and ethics:
    Note: I have a section specifically for the 45th US President below
       analyses this week include:
       -   someone else reminding that marches are only one aspect of activism;   the growing use of social division and the ongoing use of panic/fear in my nation’s politics;   an opinion that a focus on cybersecurity in the context of election “hacking/influence” could be misleading, and an opinion in response that such a view is “fighting the last war” … ;   a consideration of world government (very interesting history of the concept. One option not considered is having weighted votes for representatives from each nation – also, what would be the equivalent of parties, and would that render the world political situation the same as it is now? … Talking is still going to be needed);   a critique of possible Democrat candidate Winfrey – who is a neoliberal … - see also this critique based on competency, and this take on the speech;   on the basis of “more than 64,000 economic estimates reported in 6,700 international economics studies”, a call for politicians “to be especially cautious of the results reported by any single economics study and not put too much faith on a reading of the reported research”, as “economics research … suffers from high bias [typically 100% bias] and low credibility”;   growing expectations that the USA will pull out of the North American trad agreement;
       -   for other analyses see: Europe, Germany (also here), Austria;
       of concern this week:
       -   grave concerns from experts over the "creeping Stalinism" of proposed changes to Australia’s official secrecy laws;   Australia’s indigenous work-for-the-dole scheme forces unemployed people in remote locations to work up to three times longer than city-based jobseekers to receive welfare;   the egg industry itself set new industry “welfare” standards … ;   the hypocrisy of racist claims over gangs in my home states has been shown by the lack of reaction to a riot by around a hundred non-African youths;   fears a court decision may empower more far right groups in the USA;   increased perceptions of corruption in Australia’s public service have led to renewed calls for a national anti-corruption body;   the US FBI is continuing to attack online privacy;   the Australian government’s proposed ban on foreign donations and new disclosure requirements for political campaigners – which I support in principle - are “likely” to face a constitutional challenge, and may prevent the charity sector using international philanthropy;   a new US loophole will allow corporations to dodge paying tax;
       -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: Turkey, Kenya;
       in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:
       -   the US Democrats have proposed measures to deal with Russian interference;   a challenge to one US state’s voter photo ID requirement has been rejected, on the grounds that the state had made getting photo ID reasonable;   a US state has been ordered to get rid of its gerrymander;   US Imperial Possession Puerto Rico has asked the US Department of Justice to investigate its power utility;
       and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:
       -   Australia’s neoliberal government lied over the advice – which was attempted to be kept secret - it had receive on negative gearing reform;   scorn has been poured on the claims of a South Sudanese man who has been criticising his community;   another article on the false perceptions, racism and hate towards people – particularly youths – of an African heritage (nice comment about the social media campaign showing people dining out), and some of the violence has been provoked by the media, who did not report their role;   an African-Australian community taskforce has been established to address youth crime (I thought one already existed, actually) - see also here;   the neoliberal government behind Australia’s duplicitous prime minister – claiming a support event for homeless was about love – has been asked not to pass an “'unnecessarily cruel' welfare overhaul”;   a growing row between Australia and China over what constitutes effective aid has caused offence in the Pacific and left Australia’s Foreign Minister with a difficult balancing act (noting that, in a presaging of Voldemort II’s actions, the cutbacks in Australian aid under an earlier neoliberal government allowed China to move into the Pacific in the first place … );   exploitation of workers “in a welfare system where services such as training are increasingly provided by for-profit companies” led to debt, despair and depression;   family violence rates have risen in remote towns afflicted with the Australian neoliberal government’s cashless welfare;   the victims of banks appear to still be shut out of the Royal Commission;
  • With regard to the 45th US President (who is dangerous – see here on actions for US residents [and the useful principles]) this week (I avoid using the 45th US President’s name for psychic reasons, but also use either “the USA’s CEO” or “Voldemort II” as an alias; also, the US Vice-President needs to be worked on – and typically takes about three times as much effort to clear of negativity):
       -   the euphemism covering the US President’s lack of time spent working;  an opinion on the (claimed) discomfort of US Republicans with intelligence;
       -   a former advisor – who has left his extremist right wing media position - has backed away from a comment that the US President’s son – who is facing scrutiny over Chinese and Israeli business dealings - committed treason – see also here;   a criticism of the 45th US President for failing to recognise that “the presidency requires him to subordinate his personal issues, impulses and interests to his public role”;   the Special Prosecutor may seek an interview with the US President – which would follow past examples, (although, after backing away somewhat, El Presidenté now thinks it wouldn’t happen ‘cos, in his happy space, “no-one’s found any collusion” … ) - and has hired a cyber expert;
       -   an examination of the 2016 election as a possible intelligence community failure;   claims the former British intelligence officer who raised Russian influence with the FBI was concerned that Voldemort II was being blackmailed;
       -   concerns that US voters may become used to Voldemort II’s violent style of politics (I’m not so convinced on this: politics has also been violent –physically so, at times – in the past, and the push of decent people for a more civilised world have led to progress so far);   an opinion that the anti-Voldemort II movement is losing its way … ;
       -   the USA is preparing to deport 200,000 Salvadorian immigrants back to the violent nightmare that the USA created - see also here;   moves  towards a deal allowing the “Dreamers” to stay (the reference to a “bill of love” is hypocritical and offensive in the extreme);   a US official “who has been a defender of refugees has been sidelined within the State Department”;   the callous brutality and rape of some US border thugs (aka “guards” or “agents”) – and the deaths they cause (as opposed to those who try to do their job well);
       -   the USA’s 45th President is trying to help farmers – but his immigration policies are viewed as harmful;
       -   a critique of claims over low unemployment rates for African-Americans and Hispanics;
       -   Voldemort II has slagged off at some nations when disparaging an immigration proposal, confirming his racism;   MP and activist anger has led to the postponement of Voldemort II's visit to the UK;   polls suggest the 45th US President’s “Muslim ban” has become unpopular amongst voters, as Camp X-Ray detainees at Guantanamo sue for religious discrimination, Muslims and Latinos band together, and a judge orders the release of detained Iraqi immigrants;
       -   the 45th US President’s surprise tweet on cutting aid to Pakistan caused chaos amongst officials;
  • 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 “Cure Violence”, 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 don’t name groups to reduce their publicity):
       -   according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 12 attacks in Iraq, 6 attacks in Afghanistan, and 1 attack in Syria (out of a total of 40);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in the online world;   prevention has or may have occurred in Jordan, Somalia;   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in: West Africa;   divisions between violent extremists in Egypt – and also in Palestine;
       -   Canada’s no fly list has fundamental flaws, such as failure use to unique identifiers such as birthdates or passport numbers which results in many “false positives” and six year children being detained as security threats;
  • With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
       -   a criticism of Australia’s heartless policies;   a refugee suffering an acute mental health crisis and a broken ankle that requires surgery has been waiting more than a year to be transferred from Australia’s Nauru gulag because he may never be well enough to return to Nauru;   Spain has failed to cope with new refugees;
       -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in: USA, USA (2nd), Lebanon, Israel, Uganda, Belgium;
  • 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 of observation and thinking – shown by the fact that NOT all people choose to discriminate unless they have been educated otherwise):
       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):
       -   some Queenslanders are showing their backwardness and bigotry by criticising training for Commonwealth Games volunteers to be inclusive;   LGBTI discrimination will be allowed in one more US state;   “Australia's only openly gay Imam is pushing for the country's first LGBTI-friendly mosque that would also act as a safe house and counselling centre” for the “"avalanche of misery" among LGBTI Muslims”;
       -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in: Ghana (colonial law), Ghana, Saudi Arabia, India (good news);
       on white supremacist and other forms of racism and indigenous matters generally this week:
       -   the earlier “me too” movement;   aboriginal stockwomen;   racist bias affects who gets kidney transplants;   praise for actor and activist Emma Watson for acknowledging white privilege;   the UN has urged world leaders to celebrate migration as a positive, and protect foreign workers;   a puerile and racist menu in New Zealand;
       -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in: Australia, Australia, Germany, Australia (good news), Australia;
       on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):
       -   some common mistakes on feminist social media;   a call to address the gender pay gap;   a call for an appropriate “due process” as part of dealing with sexual harassment;   a man who was fired for discriminating against women has started legal action against his former employer for allegedly discriminating against men (sour grapes? And stupidity [which he clearly is, given the remarks that got him fired]?) - see also this eloquent exposition and critique;   a senior journalist has resigned over a gender pay gap;   the Pope has encouraged women to breastfeed in the Sistine Chapel … ;   men at a recent major media event failed to mention the theme of the night being observed by women;   how to prevent sexual assault at music festivals;   a Canadian pub is giving a discount to women to help remedy pay inequality – with a privileged male backlash;   71 domestic abusers in one US state tried to buy guns (and were rejected);   the ways that “M Too”, which limits how sexual overtures or innuendo are used as performative tools for gaining power, can benefit men as well (this tactic worked well for workplace feminist activists [including me] in the early and mid-90s, until hardliners threw it out in favour of vengeance over change);   US courts are allowing companies to keep details of sexual harassment cases secret;   the Me Too movement has disrupted the creeping commodification of feminism;   a response (see also here) to the French women (brainwashed by the social conditioning of their era, or just guilty of bad judgement? And the pity is, some of what they said might have been worth considering, but never will because of their lack of understanding and Quisling-esque defence of harassment) who consider men should be able to commit sexual harassment;   an author has called out a writing group for its “fatphobic” treatment of another author;   “sexual harassment at the hands of landlords, property managers and others in the housing industry can drive poor women and their children into homelessness”;   support for an online men’s behaviour modification domestic violence programme – which cannot get accreditation;
       -   on sexual harassment/misconduct this week - more accusations / resignations and commentary / responses (note: these are not convictions): here, here, here, here, here (male victim), here, here but also here, here, here;
       -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: court systems, Somaliland, Australia, Syria;
       on religious rights this week:
       -   a neochristian and a so-called paranormal reality show have blamed witches for haunting – allegedly caused by “desecrating” (abandoned) so-called “sacred” space;
       on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:
       -   calls for Australia’s modern slavery law to include financial penalties;   more effective activism at a Hollywood event;   the epidemic of sexual assaults on people with disabilities – see also this, on sex education for adults with intellectual disabilities;   charges after social media captures a case of animal cruelty;   a nurse who used to care for disabled people writes of her experience with disability - and the particular problem of invisible disabilities;
       -   also on slavery / human trafficking this week: Nigeria, Jordan, India, UK, Qatar (still);
       -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, differently abled, animal, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: Uganda, Maldives, Viêt Nám;
  • With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
       -   the USA is looking to massively increase its already predominant selling of weapons of violence internationally;   no signs of progress in banning “killer robots”;
  • With regard to peace and/or spirituality generally (including survival after death, and good religion), development (in an “end poverty/thirst/hunger” sense – and being mindful of “intimate activism”) and the occasional nice story (and to get people to constructively remedy: fear of being single / asexual / off-grid or a rebel / innovator / non-conformist / true to yourself, belief in management  fads and fashions, distracting themself aka filling their time, and accept extraterrestrial UFOs):
       there is a gap between what businesses are promising and doing on SDGs;   a small town community has supported triplets who were born with muscular dystrophy;   a respected (by me) author’s thoughts on meditation (mine can be accessed here and here);   road deaths and injuries are holding back developing nations;   an article on being a Highly Sensitive Person – including the advantages;   support for making the world a better place by 2030 – and what that will take (we’ve got as far as we can with economic growth);
  • With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
       -   a caution to not rely solely on emergency announcements;   actions to help rough sleepers ahead of and during a heatwave (which killed hundreds of flying foxes);   a tsunami warning for an erupting PNG volcano as the 2,000 island inhabitants are evacuated to the mainland;   inadequate care of pets in heatwaves;   the cold snap in the USA is now resulting in alligators poking their snouts through ice to try to survive;   mudslides have killed 17 people in the USA;   cholera in Zambia;
  • With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues (such as conflict  minerals, environmental harm and child labour in smart phone , FOMO (which can be overcome) and addiction or unthinking pro-technology bias, second thoughts, social media making people miserable or envious, work and lifestyles causing depression, being duped by modern mantras and  management  fads,  “failing” at being well, AI ethics, corporate misuse of mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions, embedded emissions, plane pollution, bigger, flashier homes/cars– which means actively abusing the environment and society’s cohesion and contributing to financialisation, the need for agroforestry, the accursed “new is always good” groupthink of the computer world, abuse of workers by insisting on busy-ness, raising Prince Boofheads):
       on climate change and other environmental matters this week:
       -   types and densities of indoor plants for offices;   concerns over a raft festival on a contaminated river (the claims of no health effects are wrong, but there is also the issue that incidental contact from rafting is less significant than drinking litres of the stuff every day);   DNA is being used to jail rhino horn poachers and traffickers;   growing concerns over an oil tanker that is burning and at risk of sinking off the Chinese coast after a collision;   weather  disasters cost the USA $300 billion in 2017;   production of solar tiles has commenced;   the recently commissioned battery storage in an Australian state is exceeding expectations – leading to a surge of other big renewables projects;   concerningly, climate change has resulted in almost no male turtles in one hatching ground;   a call for better policy support of Climate Smart Agriculture;   a business group has decided - stupidly – to advocate for coal-fired power stations, but may lose a major mining company as a result;   “bringing the world’s dead zones back to life”;   New York City has commenced legal action against the oil industry over climate change (I admire the courage and intent of the move, but it won’t be an easy case to prove, given other influences and decisions by other people – including everyday people as much as politicians);   Cape Town’s current water crisis in indicative of water shortage elsewhere as well - responses are being developed, and some other technologies (smart water meters, drones and satellites to help spot leaks, diviners despite scientific doubts, some firms say they do work], and harvesting water from the air) are considered in this article;   pollution is suspected to be the cause of black snow in Kazakhstan;
       -   other environmental matters have occurred in: India, Fiji, Lebanon;
       on technology and science matters this week:
       -   long range wifi to track dementia patients and aid farming;   as France launches an investigation into planned obsolescence, activists want a tech company “to take responsibility for how its products are affecting children”;   the so-called “smart” phone was a boost to hostage taking;   a new so-called “smart” home robot failed at its launch;   another campaign against cyber bullying after yet another suicide (see also here, on responses, and here, on how parents can help) … and an article on the improvements the media is making on reporting suicide;   internet dirty (selling) tricks;   criticism of a clumsy, first world focused tech conference;   a social media platform will downplay messages from organisations;
       -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: Germany;
       on economic and financial matters this week:
       -   the use of cooperatives as an alternative to gig work enterprises;   “payday lenders” are breaching security practices;   concern over slower future economic growth (could affect reduction of poverty);   an opinion that low unemployment means wages “should” increase (good luck with that ... );   more (38%) Australian Uni graduates are being forced into part-time jobs by the persisting impact of the GFC and an oversupply of university graduates;
       on affordable, sustainable and decent housing and homelessness matters this week:
       -   “sexual harassment at the hands of landlords, property managers and others in the housing industry can drive poor women and their children into homelessness”;
       on health and medical this week:
       -   doctors are failing to consider privacy implications when sharing photos to help diagnoses;   the opioid crisis may lead some US cities to try safe injecting rooms;   in its latest attack on the poor, the USA will adapt work-for-the-dole to work-for-your-health-care;   an award-winning alcohol diversion program in one part of my home city has so far reduced repeat offending - including young people in the group recently accused of gangs - in the area by 30%;   an examination of what will help us grow more new neurones;
       on other matters in the category this week:
       -   the clash of children, noise and apartment living;   appalling abuse of a bike rider by the motorist who ran him down – and others;
  • With regard to press aka the media, and freedom of expression (claims of presenting “both sides” of a debate can be WRONG if the other side is RUBBISH –as is the case on LGBTIQ issues. Also, media can be unprofessional, but funding is an issue … ):
       -   a defence of free press;   world press freedom heroes;   a senior journalist has resigned over a gender pay gap;
       -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: Burma, Thailand, Burma (2nd), Burma (3rd), reporting of suicide, the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands;
  • With regard to education:
       -   “explicit direct instruction”;   a boost in funding for school mental health programmes;   social gerrymandering and profound unequalness in US school zones;   a female teacher who questioned a misogynistic school board was violently arrested by police;   the UN has urged a comprehensive approach to sexuality education (doesn’t appear to mention people who aren’t heterosexual … );   a backlash in  response to proposed savage cuts to regional education in one Australian state have led to a backflip;
       -   other education matters have occurred in: Australia;
  • With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
       -   a private prison in the USA has failed to understand the difference between criminal and civil offences, and thus is facing legal action over forced labour;   a ride sharing company developed, and used a couple of dozen times in 2015-16, a secret system to lock down staff computers during lawful, warranted police/tax raids, thereby preventing the collection of evidence;   fighting stereotypes and biases in court systems;   criticism of a court for bailing a teenager who assaulted a police officer;   one US State is reforming its criminal; justice system – including restoring civil rights;   a murderous Japanese gangster has been arrested in Thailand because of his tattoos;   a Federal-State dispute in the USA over the legalisation of marijuana;   a coronial investigation has cleared police officers of responsibility for road deaths from chases, as the drivers had the option of not fleeing police, but instead chose to drive in a reckless and dangerous manner, and five of whom had used drugs;
      -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: Australia, PNG, USA, Indonesia.
Location based News:
  • With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
       on Africa generally:
       -   the UN will investigate the fatal attack on peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);   criticism of political brinkmanship and refusal to compromise in the DRC;   Britain will join France’s counter violent extremism force in west Africa;
       -   homophobia/transphobia in Ghana on the basis of a colonial law;   Ghana has banned women with stretch marks from government jobs – because the stretch marks might bleed(!) during training … ;
       -   Ethiopia has intercepted arms being smuggled in;
       -   soldiers in the Ivory Coast have rioted;
       -   EU observers were forced to deliver their report on the Kenyan election – which raised issues such as bribery – from Europe;
       -   a cyclone has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Madagascar;
       -   former Nigerian slaves in Libya who have been returned home are speaking of their experiences;  an analysis of the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria;
       -   after a massacre of 13 men, Senegal will crack down on illegal timber trafficking;
       -   millions of Somali children have been vaccinated;   Somalia has launched a digital counter-extremism centre;
       -   unbelievably, Somaliland has only now passed a law against rape … ;
       -   an investigation has confirmed scores of civilians were killed by (Ugandan) soldiers in Uganda in 2016;   inadequate support for former female child soldiers in Uganda;   Uganda is trying to make financial services more accessible;   a report on the influx of DRC refugees to Uganda;
       on Sudan and South  Sudan:
       -   an examination of Sudanese-Egyptian relations;
       -   the struggle to survive in South Sudan;
  • With regard to South and Central America:
       -   quadrupled clean generation capacity in Chile has led to a 75% drop in electricity rates;
       -   inflation in Mexico;   the US State Department has ”warned Americans to completely avoid five Mexican states plagued by crime and drug cartel violence, putting the regions on the same level as war-zones such as Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan” (and that war is being supported by how many Americans’ forced-into=-hiding and in consequence untreated drug habits?);
       -   Venezuela’s crisis is spilling into neighbouring nations, leading to a call for pressure from those nations to resolve the crisis;   a rebuttal of the possibility of a coup d’état;   the opposition-run Parliament has banned the “petro” cryptocurrency;
  • With regard to China (may her growing middle class bring a love of peace and freedom), East and South East Asia and the Pacific (noting the risks of atrocities in North Korea and Burma):
       on China, 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:
       -   after decades of economic connection that – naïvely – was supposed to promote liberality, an opinion that the US has reached a “turning point” in its relationship with China;   better air quality in Beijing;   grave concerns as a major tech company prepares to give personal data to a government-owned company;   China has shut down the website of a hotel chain which admitted that Taiwan and Tibet are separate nations – after which the hotel chain capitulated (and lost my custom);
       -   growing struggles over food aid to North Korea;
       -   the US is training additional soldiers to fight in tunnels;   South Korea plans to ban trading in cryptocurrency;   South Korea has reassured the USA of the strength of their relationship as the latter says it will not take military action “while talks are happening” - and commits to “peace through strength” ... ;
       elsewhere in Asia:
       -   more calls for the release of two journalists in Burma, who prosecutors want to charge under the Official Secrets Act;
       -   Indonesia will “soften” its death penalty laws to provide extended stays (ten years – and five years is the limit above which the situation becomes cruel and unusual punishment) on death row for reformed prisoners, after which the sentence is commuted;
       -   the Philippines is the most dangerous nation in South East Asia for journalists;
       -   a cheap and stupid stunt by Thailand’s so-called “leader”;
       -   unprecedented repression of dissent during 2017 in Viêt Nám;
       and in the Pacific:
       -   comedy and drama are being used to educate on and change the devastating tribal fighting in PNG’s highlands;   the Bougainville Government has “imposed  an indefinite moratorium on mining at the troubled Panguna [copper mine] site”;   a PNG politician has called for an unconstitutional law and order measure to be re-implemented – as opposed to addressing corruption and training and equipping local officers;   another article on Fiji’s move towards climate resilience;   a “chief justice has been ambushed and attacked in another incident related to Papua New Guinea’s escalating problem with sorcery-related violence”;
  • With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU) (which need to step up, as the USA steps down):
       -   a call for consideration of a United States of Europe;
       -   an assessment of Austria’s xenophobic move to the place of fear: the political right;
       -   intense argument in Belgium over the breach of the non-refoulement principle by its xenophobic minister for asylum;
       -   an attempt to murder a German-Kurdish critic of Turkey has been made;   the German Foreign Minister has warned that “there are no vacuums in international politics and that when the US withdraws, Russia or China step in” – see also this call for leadership;   a clarification of issues in a debate over hate speech on social media;
       -   Dutch media have confronted the USA’s new foot-in-mouth prone Ambassador, telling him “This is the Netherlands, you have to answer questions”;
       -   urban Romania is slowly edging into the late 20th century;
  • 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):
       -   an opinion that the USA has “failed militarily” in Afghanistan because of the heroin trade – to which the CIA turned a blind eye in the 1970s … (I see this as more of an economic and governance failure – but failure it is, as the attempts to change the economy haven’t worked);
  • With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
       -   the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan have met;
       on India:
       -   social media apps are leading to young men killing rare wildlife;   a Kashmiri teenager who was blinded by the Indian army has passed her school exams;   “India's only openly gay prince has announced plans to open up his ancestral palace to Indians who have been ostracized for their sexuality or gender identity”;   a public transport strike has ended;   concerns over the “mysterious” death of a judge;   security concerns over the new ID database;   another teacher has beat a disabled student;   Israel has overlooked India’s vote to against the US Embassy move to hope relations will continue to be good;   although overall crime in Delhi is up, “heinous” crime is down;   India’s Vice-President has called for people to “overcome caste, region, religion and other social barriers and work for the development of the country”;   a caste boycott of a Dalit has been ended;
       on Pakistan:
       -   a furious hunt is underway in Pakistan for the man who raped and killed a young girl – but this is not the first such incident;
       elsewhere in South Asia:
       -   death threats against an activist in the Maldives;
  • With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and Northern Africa, the Middle East Eye, the Times of Israel, and other sources have:
       -   cracks in the Russia-Iran alliance;   a call for stronger regional cooperation;
       on Israel and Palestine:
       -   Israel wants a UN Palestinian refugee agency dismantled, but is cautious over the USA’s proposed funding cuts;   after the US cuts, Palestine is turning towards Europe;   the Israeli Prime Minister’s son has apologised for a controversial “drunken recording of him … suggesting his father helped push through a … deal to the benefit of a gas tycoon” – see also here;   Israel has approved hundreds more illegal settler homes;   a US city has pledged “to examine investments and contracts with companies whose practices may violate human rights [or the] city’s social and ethical values”;   Israel has issued new guidelines for blacklisting people who advocate boycotting Israel (“It should be emphasised that the fact that an anti-Israeli or pro-Palestinian organisation has a critical agenda towards the policy of the Israeli government does not constitute a cause for preventing entry into Israel” [my emphasis – point worth noting] and efforts to delegitimise Israel are a “significant threat” [I agree, but self-delegitimising doesn’t help either]), leading to this response (and others);   a former settler is now working against illegal settlements;   violent clashes have broken out as Israel searches, against a backdrop of calls for revenge and orders to connect power officially to the illegal settlement concerned, for the killers of a rabbi;   a Holocaust denier is on trial in the UK;   a new law to shut mini-markets in Israel on its Sabbath will now not be enforced;   an article on one of the Bedouin women of the Negev;
       on the (forgotten [or ignored] and underreported) conflict - and its consequences - in Yemen:
       -   the human-rights-abusing Houthi rebels have threatened to blockade a Red Sea shipping channel;   a summary of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen;
       on Syria (where the Assad Dictatorship has lost all pretence of legitimacy, and partition is needed):
       -   support for peace talks;   Russia has implied the USA aided recent drone attacks by rebels;   70,00 people have fled the assault on the last rebel held area (which is supposedly a de-escalation area … ) (is it the last? [it’s not, by the way] Reports keep making such statements, and then another crops up – last violent extremist, etc);   13 million people are in desperate need as the northern hemisphere’s winter approaches;   an assessment that the war in Syria will continue for at least another year;   women in Kurdish held areas are being liberated by the fight against violent extremists;
       on Iraq (which was a peaceful and prosperous society before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here) and Kurdistan:
       -   a critique of Iraq’s state of being;
       -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 76 people violently killed in the last week;
       on Libya:
       -   a cargo ship with 400 tonnes of explosives for Libya has been seized by Greece;   the challenges to holding elections in Libya – including ignoring the result if it doesn’t please one faction;
       on Iran:
       -   concerns over the fate of victims of the suppression of recent cost of living protests in Iran;   Iran’s President has said “young Iranian protesters were unhappy about far more than just the economy and they would no longer defer to the views and lifestyle of an aging revolutionary elite”;   as US experts back the P5+1 nuclear deal, Iran may reconsider cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog in response to US fickleness - and would retaliate if the US does back out;   Germany has urged the USA to “call out” Iran, but keep the nuclear deal;
       on Saudi Arabia:
       -   another eleven Saudi princes have been arrested – this time for protesting at cut backs in their economic privileges;   women have been allowed to watch sport in arenas (whoop-de-doo … ah well, it is a tiny bit of progress … );   the succession struggle could become violent;
       on Turkey:
       -   Grand Sultan Erdogan “faces certain prosecution if he loses elections. To avoid being ousted democratically, [he] has decided to end democracy in Turkey”;   Turkey has symbolically renamed a street where the United Arab Emirates' embassy is located after an Ottoman military commander the UAE foreign minister criticised;   Turkey has reinstated 1,800 civil servants wrongly accused (over an app) of being linked to the coup;   Turkey has issue a - possibly retaliatory - warning to its citizens not to travel to the USA for reasons including “arbitrary arrest” … ;
       elsewhere in the region:
       -   Egypt is upset over a US media article reporting covert Egyptian efforts to sway public opinion in support of the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital;
       -   Syrian refugees in Lebanon are becoming more vulnerable;   environmentalists have warned of Mediterranean pollution from Lebanese land reclamation;
       -   Jordan’s abused domestic workers are committing suicide;
       -   Qatar has accused the UAE of a cross border incursion;   abuse of domestic workers in Qatar;
       -   a Tunisian has been killed in protests over food prices and unemployment.
Other News:
  • a canal boat bookshop in the UK (if I wouldn’t wind up like the TV series “Black Books”, that’s a business I’d consider :) );
  • a video of a UFO over Iran (in January, 2017) – complete with (loud!) attempts to shoot it down;
  • some brain damage can lead to a better personality (and other brain damage can be overcome).
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 “CE 5  ET contact” movement started by Dr Steven M Greer, which is the one which appears to me to most capitalise on the teachings of “The Nine”,   the “Network of Light”  meditations;   the 1 Million Meditators movement,   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.
(I specifically have a role for (absent) healers on Saturdays, as explained in the Psychic Weather Report posts. Anyone who wishes to be protector has a role every day :). At all times, on all levels and in ways, BOTH must ALWAYS be BPM in the way they perform such roles.)
If I am ever late getting my Psychic Weather Report up any week, there is a default plan.
I apologise for publishing these posts twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting.
No signature block for these posts.
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