Post No. 1,122 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 199

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:   -   (1) the counter to fear is genuine  EQ and clear thinking, expressed through calm, de-escalating speech,   -   (2) where problems exist, advocating for BPM responses, and being as BPM as one can be, are constructive solutions,   -   (3) peace is powerful, but it is a process requiring patient, persistent and nuanced nurturing, and a blend of conventional spiritual work, clearing nonBPM units, and physical world activism;

(c)   viewing the overall emotional state of the world from an elemental point of view, this week we need:
           emotionally (astrally), the stability and BPM strength of more BPM Earth;
           mentally, the clarity and acuity of more BPM Air;
           a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for more BPM Earth;

(d)   the rune for this week’s work is:

(e)   dealing with the 45^th 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 Burma, DR Congo and North Korea, 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   escalating political tension and emotional incompetence amongst some politicians (particularly the USA’s 45^th President, who is as economically blind as he is personally);   continued fear, including xenophobia, and grasping amongst citizens in all social classes;   reactiveness (pushing problems out of sight, especially refugees);   the growing chance of war in West Asia and starting on the Korean Peninsula;   continued simple mindedness given a more noble sounding name, lie “patriotism”, or “nationalism”;   relying on personally comfortable actions in political and other spheres (e.g., liking “norms”, or using social media unwisely) leads to a range of problems, including inappropriate political structures;   confusing vengeance and justice, and the abuse of power (silencing of victims) that leads to it;   workers remain under attack from blind and/or stupid managers, who are attacking their purchasers;   small mindedness and smallness of spirit continues to afflict many, particularly conservatives when they consider welfare;   abuses of power and attempted abuses of power continue;   the desperation of those who feel powerless continues to lead to unwise, harmful deeds;   violent threats continue to be seen as acceptable by some;   thinking of consequences and generosity of heart continue to be too limited, especially in the fields of foreign aid/intervention;   being overwhelmed continues to lead to lack of care for others;   the desire to belong continues to cause terrible acts, and attempted justifications and denial of others’ humanity (as well as war and violence, also in sex slavery);   pride and prestige and social status continue to afflict the world and too many of those on it;

   (g)   as all actions taken in pursuance of social status are evil, may we 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 the social filter bubbles around all nonBPM people lead to hubris and all the associated flaws, weaknesses, lack of attention and other mistakes;

   (i)   may all people allow themselves to rise above the lesser aspects of themselves and embrace their BPM greatness;

   (j)   may all who are in a position to prevent or stop war and all forms of violence have th courage and BPM inspiration and all else that they need in order to do so;

   (k)   may all thinking be clear, balance and mature, infused with a healthy and mature interaction with both BPM emotions and BPM spirituality;

   (l)   may no-one be overwhelmed, unsupported or abandoned;

   (m)   may all those who seek to do good be helped to unite with each other.

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;   “democracies will fall under the spell of populists like [the 45^th US President] if they fail to deal with the fallout of globalisation”;   “justice is the better part of greatness” (social media link - sorry);   the moral value of wilderness;   a call to “create a more equal society by prioritising ordinary workers … instead of the rich and powerful” – see also here;
     on the Rohingya crisis this week:
     -   Rohingya would rather die than be forced back to Burma;   the “repatriations” have been delayed, as the UN urges safeguards;   extreme violence against other minorities in Burma;   a “veteran US diplomat has resigned from a panel set up to advise [Burma] about the Rohingya crisis calling it a “whitewash” and questioning Aung San Suu Kyi's “moral leadership””;   the UN wants unhindered access inside Burma;
     on the North Korean nuclear tensions this week:
     -   an assessment of US pessimists and optimists – see also here and here;   “two Crisis Group reports examine the standoff and how to renew the diplomatic search for a more durable solution”;   the symbolic Doomsday Clock has been pushed forward by 30 seconds to two minutes before midnight - see also here, on a US government created fictionalised book about a nuclear attack, which led to a film which contributed to a US-Russian treaty;
     on the fallout from the USA’s recognition of (all?) Jerusalem as Israel’s capital:
     -   backstabbing Voldemort II now thinks that threatening more aid cuts (over alleged disrespect to the USA - which has shown an extraordinary insensitivity and incompetence that goes well beyond disrespect) will force Palestinians to accede to Israeli positions on “peace”;   support for violence has grown amongst both Israelis and Palestinians;   the USA may close the PLO office there;
     on other matters requiring particular attention:
     -   another article on underreported humanitarian crises (North Korea [food shortages and repression], Eritrea [drought and repression], Burundi [political unrest], Vietnam [typhoon]);
     -   a call for meaningful (selective) outrage, not more social media tags;
     this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists Burma, DR Congo and North Korea;
• 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 45^th US President below
     analyses this week include:
     -   the problem of relying on political “norms” – see also here;   an analysis of 300 years shows a cycle of booms followed by deregulation, crises, and re-regulation;   equality is more important than growth;   a populism of hope;   digital (technology) diplomacy;   a comparison of Russian and Chinese influence techniques;   a rebuttal of claims of an “epidemic” of rape committed by refugees;   a survey of US citizens’ attitudes towards sanctions;   continued scarcity of jobs on a global basis;   how to minimise “non-use of evaluations”;   an examination of casualised work – which FAILS to examine anything long term;   work “flexibility policies may have detrimental effects on health”;   the rest of the world is moving on without the USA;
     of concern this week:
     -   the USA has set digital privacy back by continuing warrantless surveillance;   the US health care approach increases income inequality;   concerns over Russian infiltration of political organisations (which has long been known of in Europe);   claims that the US FBI “lost crucial texts tied to Clinton probe”;   scavengers who ravaged naval wrecks have dumped the remains of sailors in an anonymous mass grave;   the US FBI “fears political attacks may imperil [the] work of field agents”;   Germany may be considering swapping tanks for a journalist being held by the Grand Sultanate of Turkey;   another article on the resurrection of the TPP;   how political influence will be used to stop a public health tax on sugar;   sloppy handling of sensitive personal information by a UN aid agency as new EU regulations force improvements to the sector;   concerns over tech companies possibly setting up Russian hacking;   ethical and environmental concerns over a mining company, Australian state government and environmental funds;
     -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: my home state; USA, Chile;
     in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:
     -   a social media outlet will notify people who were influenced by Russian propaganda;   US imperial possession Puerto Rica will privatise its catastrophic electricity authority;   a US court has ordered a US state to fix its gerrymander;   a conservative US judge has moderated his views – a bit;
     and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:
     -   concerns that Amazon Australia will also be a union-busting, worker-abusing site;   15% of Australians experience food insecurity – which is extraordinary given up to 40% of food is discarded before it reaches the market;   “the proportion of crimes allegedly committed by offenders from Sudan in Victoria has been overestimated by a federal parliamentary committee, Victoria's crime statistics agency has said”;   a carjacking victim has rebutted rumours that her attackers were Sudanese - they were white;   “the Australian Electoral Commission misled the public about the security of its data during the 2016 federal election and failed to ensure it had not been compromised”;   “Australia's financial regulator wants to go undercover on [the] dark web”;   the main problem with Australia’s NBN is shoddy government intent (“to provide an internet service that’s good enough just to download” an internet streaming service);   the neoliberals’ cut-backs have led to welfare recipients –who are compelled to call – waiting for longer times – especially country people (why does Centrelink have an absurd 16 minute target for answering?);   Australia has spent $31 billion on welfare (less than the military budget), with an alarmist –and/or ageist – tone suggesting the just over half spent on the elderly (who, surprise, surprise, tend to NEED more care, you idiots – and if there is a funding shortfall, why? Why haven’t you invested a portion of tax, for instance, for the future – like any good household?) is unearned;   the ALP’s outgoing President has called for an end to internal factionalism, leading to a call for the ALP to regain the ability to develop and articulate a big-picture vision for Australia that starkly differentiates it from the status quo;   reconciliation is required before becoming a republic;   ahead of an election in my home state, the opposition wants to make education more “intellectual” by scrubbing gender and sexuality truths - and racist versions of history will be reintroduced … and the truly appalling thing is that some voters will buy this rot;   concerns that the “basic right to strike in Australia is very nearly dead”;   a commissioner who doesn’t understand and is against advocacy appears to be trying to control charities’ spending;   the social classes in Australia;   management pressure on workers;
     -   other events relating to my home nation have occurred or are developing in: my home state, company tax rates;
• With regard to the 45^th US President (who is dangerous – see here on actions for US residents [and the useful principles]) this week (I avoid using the 45^th 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 45^th US President allegedly “ordered Mueller fired [in June, 2017], but backed off when White House Counsel threatened to quit”;   the US FBI is investigating whether Russia gave money to a notorious US gun association;   an opinion that Voldemort II will never testify to any enquiry;   the US Attorney-General has been questioned;   political bias in Voldemort II’s dealings with the FBI;
     -   another court case over the travel ban;   more fake news (misrepresentation, false assumptions, etc) from us administration;   concern that the US ICE has become a force for political repression – and that detainees are being forced into slavery (see also here);   a call for the US Congress to censure Voldemort II over his racism;   Catholic church resistance to the deportation of Salvadorian refugees;   the US administration will allow 1.8 million people to – slowly – become citizens for the wall against Mexico;   the “Dreamers” controversy also targets South Asians;
     -   Women’s March 2.0 - see also here;   a possible kindness backlash;
     -   the idiotic US government has shut down … which apparently “tarnishes” the 45^th US President’s “deal maker” image … but now it has re-opened, but the deal is divisive;
     -   the USA is now claiming it erred over China’s admission to the WTO in 2001;   the declining US-UK relationship;
     -   the US CEO’s efforts to help coal miners have, so far, mostly failed - but success here;
     -   the 45^th US President is (perhaps successfully) focused on image, rather than other forms of communication;
     -   a challenge to the US VP’s homophobia;
     -   a call for a US museum to cut ties to a climate change denialist;
• 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):
     -   violent extremist attacks/acts have occurred this week in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Libya, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 2 attacks in Iraq and 8 attacks in Afghanistan (out of a total of 26);   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in: Nigeria, Tunisia, Australia, Syria, social media - although this is also inhibiting the documentation of war crimes, the ASEAN-India Summit, Somalia - and here;
     -   an article on marginalising violent extremism online;   the current US administration’s policies – including more military autonomy – have increased civilian casualties (and thus fed the next insurgency … );   shame and Stockholm Syndrome may explain why some kidnapped girls did not return home;
     -   other violent extremist matters have also occurred in: Mali, France, Nigeria;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
     -   refugees want to get out of Serbia;   “risk of hunger and crime as [the] UN cuts food for refugees in east Africa”;   LGBT refugees;   lone operators, not criminal gangs, dominate people smuggling from Africa;   the EU has ruled that psychological tests cannot be used to assess LGBT asylum applications;
     -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in: Mexico, CAR, Syria;
• 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):
     -   on terminology;
     -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in: Brazil, Croatia (good news), India (good news), EU (good news);
     on white supremacist and other forms of racism and indigenous matters generally this week:
     -   death and gang rape threats to an indigenous MP;   support for constitutional indigenous recognition;   on Invasion Day: see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and “despite 230 years of inhumane treatment, First Nations people are not hateful” – but also here;   “time to 'consign to history' the relics of segregation”;   racism is creeping back into mainstream science;   because of the failure to address intergenerational trauma, the number of indigenous children in care has doubled since stolen generations apology;
     -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in: Australia, India (good news), USA;
     on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):
     -   a US politician and member of the ethics committee used public money to settle a sexual misconduct claim;   a US judge has said survivors of an abuser were “sister survivor warriors”;   support from a ground breaking US judge;   some surprising, atypical and positive “bottom up” responses to Me Too in the US military;   more sexist stupidity in sport;   abuse of a young woman in the CFA station – including by a liar/hypocrite who appeared to support White Ribbon day - was “not isolated”;   an abuser has been sentenced;   international enablers of revenge porn;   a men only club has been closed over sexual abuse;   techniques for avoiding unwanted male attention;
     -   on sexual harassment/misconduct this week - more accusations / descriptions of effects and commentary / responses / resignations: here, here, here, here, here, here;
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: UK (good news);
     on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:
     -   sex trafficking is a $2.5 billion industry in the USA;   former slaves can help warn women of risks;   the cruelty of smuggling orangutans;   legislation is causing abuse of home care workers in a US city;   the Catholic Pope has apologised for insisting on proof of abuse;   forced  labour in Thai fishing;   another case of animal cruelty;   the problem of child marriage;   business can help fight slavery;   HRW’s 2018 World Report;
     -   also on slavery / human trafficking this week: Asia (good news), Malaysia (potentially good news), India, UK, USA, Jordan, Thailand, Scotland (a US company), India, Argentina, India, Nigeria (good news);
     -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, differently abled, animal, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: Bangladesh, Russia, Europe, Mali, France, Gambia;
     -   opportunities to take action here;
• With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
     -   the problem of “use it or lose it” mentality in military spending;
     -   other war, violence or hate related matters have occurred or are developing in: Sweden;
• 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):
     integrity and change of religion (I particularly appreciate the comment that children “do not have the mental capacity and emotional maturity to make life-long commitments ... If you made a religious promise as a child – or if one was made for you – you have no ethical obligation to keep it”);
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     -   earthquake in Indonesia (and Alaska, but no harm from that one, it seems);   dozens have died from yellow fever in Brazil;   a measles outbreak in Indonesian-occupied West Papua;
• 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:
     -   conflicting claims over increasing algae and decreasing birdlife in a RAMSAR wetland;   native Australian bee honey;   as bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef starts early this year, money is being wasted on projects suggested by the tourism industry;   agricultural runoff (which has been known to be a problem since the 80s at least) affecting the Great Barrier Reef will – finally - be cut back;   an illegal wildlife trading “kingpin” has been arrested;   a conservative has argued for less confrontation over the environment;   environmental human rights in the USA;   a former car factory may be used to manufacture electric cars;   sharing photos on social media is putting wild areas at risk;   technology is “being used to improve tuna traceability to help stop illegal and unsustainable fishing practices in the Pacific Islands”;   the International Year of the Reef has started;   advanced work on turning waste into recoverable resources;   a study is underway into the effect of wind farms on people’s sleep;   air pollution in poor areas of the USA;   the massive threat of plastic to coral reefs;   potato biodiversity and food security;
     -   other environmental matters have occurred in: Peru;
     on technology and science matters this week:
     -   South Korea has banned anonymous cryptocurrency trades;   social media developers avoidance of their creations shows its addictiveness;   is facebook reaping its own karma?;
     -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: Australia, Australia, Russia, Morocco;
     on economic and financial matters this week:
     -   good advice for managers - that our neoliberal MPs need to read;   “in a distracted world, solitude is a competitive advantage”;   the business benefits of diversity and inclusion;   “companies that pay more tax deliver shareholders better returns”;   in the USA, sub-minimum-wage online tasks;
     on affordable, sustainable and decent housing and homelessness matters this week:
     -   experts say Australia’s housing is “severely unaffordable” (“virtually all” such markets “have restrictive land use regulation, usually urban-containment policy”);   Hong Kong is starting to build underground;   contract  workers;   lower prices in regional areas (I’d move … if the area definitely wasn’t homophobic/transphobic/racist/etc);   an opinion that “the corporate capture of residential real estate and its effects is the newest form of colonisation”;
     on health and medical this week:
     -   focus on health, not losing weight;   a victim of the US opioid epidemic is suing the manufacturers of an artificial opioid (this may be one of those cases I think won’t get anywhere – for legal reasons, not bias or similar - that might … );   the signs of stress (including a cold nose);   finally some common sense: wear loose clothes for exercising;   concerns that fines over hospital waiting times is impeding care;   afternoon naps are good;
     on other matters in the category this week:
     -   you DON’T need alcohol (or drugs) to dance;
• 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 … ):
     -   support for media;   a pernicious media technique;   an investigative journalist and news outlet are protecting, under journalistic privilege, confidential sources who contributed to a book about child abuse by a church figure;
     -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: Morocco, Israel;
• With regard to education:
     -   a missing five-year-old child was found - “petrified” - on a school bus, after five hours;   for the first time in its 800-year history, the UK’s University of Oxford admitted more women than men in undergraduate courses;
     -   other education matters have occurred in: Pakistan;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
     -   concerns over police stopping children and recording details and photographs (the claims about getting the kids’ permission are particularly disingenuous);   some criminal negligence trials are continuing in the case of a cost-cutting railway company that killed 47 people in a small Canadian town;   an opinion that “despite the controversy, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal is a success” (as an example of fair justice to Asia);   a former US police chief told recruits to shoot blacks as part of a ‘racist and threatening’ pattern;   a US police union is cutting back on “get out of jail free” cards given to friends and family, with concerns the name gives an impression of evading justice – which it does by unfair “benefit of the doubt”;   a police officer has been stabbed by a child abuser –who was shot and killed – in my nation;   a major drug bust;
    -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: my home state; Cambodia, Pakistan, my home state;

Location based News:

• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
     on Africa generally:
     -   surging violence in the Central African Republic has displaced 700,000 people, leaving 2 ½ million in need of help;
     -   Congolese forces have attacked churchgoers;   the UN has urged investigation of violence against protestors in the DR Congo;
     -   “Ethiopia adoption ban may curb trafficking, but [the] poorest families need support”;   Ethiopian security forces have killed seven people;   questions as to whether the closure of Ethiopia’s most notorious prison is progress or a smokescreen;
     -   the victims of the former dictator in Gambia are seeking justice - and the current President is open to that;   Gambia faces a resurgence in FGM and child marriage that the former despot banned;
     -   'backpack midwife' bringing healthcare in Kenya;
     -   a milestone in Liberia as a new President is inaugurated and the UN peacekeeping mission prepares to end;
     -   “mother-to-mother training in Malawi helps battle child malnutrition”;
     -   a call for Mali to “put justice and the fight against impunity at the centre of its actions to combat terrorism and insecurity”;   those blocking peace in Mali may be sanctioned;
     -   violent extremism remains a problem in Nigeria;   the intelligence agency has lost funds;   twice as many Nigerians are killed by land disputes as violent extremism;   the laws being used to restrict digital communication in Nigeria;
     -   Sierra Leone is maturing politically;
     -   Somalia has called for an easing of the arms embargo so it can fight violent extremists;
     -   more on South Africa's water crisis;   the lack of Terms of Reference is preventing a corruption enquiry, although some think progress is being made;
     -   Zambia is silencing dissent;
     -   although no-one had been granted immunity from prosecution, Zimbabwe’s former leader will be “left in peace” … ;
     on Sudan and South  Sudan:
     -   a 'lost generation' in South Sudan;   the USA is now giving up on South Sudan’s president;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   sex slavery in Argentina;
     -   closure of a Brazilian tip will leave 2,000 “trash pickers” stranded;   a record number of murders of LGBT people in Brazil;   the passport of a former Brazilian President has been seized;
     -   Chile's new president wants to slip back towards the notorious Pinochet;
     -   risks of slave descendants being driven off their land in Colombia;
     -   continuing protests over the recent election chaos in Honduras;
     -   Mexico is breaching non-refoulement and its own laws by sending refugees back to possible death;   although Mexico has recorded its highest ever number of murders (almost 30,000), it is not as violent as the 45^th US President portrays;
     -   Peru will allow roads through pristine Amazon rainforest;
• 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:
     -   China is angry over another US freedom of navigation exercise near a disputed island;   China has seized a Chinese-Swedish citizen from a train - despite the presence of two Swedish diplomats;   China is now trying to stamp out hip hop to “keep Chinese culture pure” .. ;   China is trying to compel – including by financial and other punishments - its idea of social “goodness”;
     -   North Korea busted sanctions via Russia;
     -   a backlash in South Korea against olympic cooperation with the North;   dozens have died in a hospital fire in South Korea;
     -   Hong Kong’s housing crisis (which is leading to homelessness);
     elsewhere in Asia:
     -   “Unions representing Bangladeshi textile workers have reached a landmark $2.3m settlement with a multinational apparel brand after it was accused of delays in remedying life-threatening hazards at its factories”;
     -   an article on a jailed Australian shows how appalling Cambodia’s prisons are;
     -   “a moderate Muslim mayor is refusing to bow to hard-line Islamist clerics”;
     -   a fatal avalanche in Japan was triggered by a volcanic eruption;   Japanese concern over Chinese naval movements in the East China Sea;
     -   an increased alert for a Philippines volcano;
     -   questionable conduct by one of the soldiers ruling Thailand;
     -   a Vietnamese official has been jailed for mismanagement over economic losses;
     and in the Pacific:
     -   concerns that traditional land as collateral for banks is “another land grab”;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU) (which need to step up, as the USA steps down):
     -   a call for Europe “to strengthen respect for human rights by regulating dual use technology exports”;
     -   a Croatian children’s storybook has families headed by same sex couples;
     -   a call for France to “stop sacrificing rights at the altar of fear”;
     -   Germany moves a step closer to getting a government;   Germany is “actively investigating the whereabouts of the key suspect in the July 2016 Turkish coup attempt”;
     -   an woman who, as a child, survived a Nazi death camp is Italy’s next Senator-for-life;
     -   Sweden is again distributing pamphlets “in case war comes”;
     -   an opinion that the UK’s economy is too weak (“tired”) for the dreamed-of renewal from Brexit;
• 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, Central Asia, and responses (see also elsewhere):
     Russia:
     -   concern over arson attacks on human rights groups;
     -   other events concerning Russia, eastern Europe or Central Asia have occurred or are developing in: UK;
• With regard to the conflict in Afghanistan (noting that Afghanistan was once a peaceful and modern society, even allowing women in miniskirts, before the Russian invasion – see here):
     -   the problems (including US arrogance) facing the ICC with its investigation in Afghanistan;   “erosion in the international consensus on rebuilding the country must be reversed before it’s too late”;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   India and Pakistan have met over border incidents;
     on India:
     -   one state will criminalise sex buyers as part of a crackdown on the sexual slavery of women and children (so long as this doesn’t also promote sex negativity … );   “in India where light skin is coveted, a new campaign is re-imagining popular Hindu gods and goddesses with a darker skin”;   Rohingyan slavery;   child slavery;   a free phone line is bringing legal aid to garment workers;   a film with an inter-religious relationship has been met with violent protests - see also here and here;   Republic Day;   three people tried to commit suicide to protest a death in custody;   India’s President has called for “a civic-minded society”;
     on Pakistan:
     -   the frustrating history of US CIA-Pakistani interactions;   a student murdered his school principal because the student wanted to skip school for hate rallies;
• With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and Northern Africa, the Middle East Eye, the Times of Israel, and other sources have:
     -   the silencing of online activists;
     on Israel and Palestine:
     -   the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is seeking more funding after the USA’s savage cuts;   the growth in angry defensiveness in Israeli media over the last ten years;   famine and desperation in Gaza;   Jordan has said the USA “now faces the challenge of getting Israel to make a significant concession in exchange for its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”;   South Africa has “accused Israel of being the world’s only apartheid state, triggering an angry Israeli reaction”;   the number of Arab students in Israeli Universities has increased from 10% to 16%;
     on the (forgotten / ignored / underreported) conflict in Yemen:
     -   80% of Yemen’s population, or 22 million people, need aid;
     on Syria (where the Assad Dictatorship has lost all pretence of legitimacy, and partition is needed):
     -   the attack by the Grand Sultanate of Turkey on Syrian Kurds  - which has killed 18 civilians, including women and children, and asked the US to stop backing the Kurds – has moved into the ground troops phase, leading to staggering calls by the Kurds for Assad dictatorship troops to help defend the area;   another article on rebuilding Syria;   200,000 internal refugees in the last month;   high numbers of Iranian soldiers and controlled troops in Syria;
     on Iraq (which was a peaceful and prosperous society before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here) and Kurdistan:
     -   a call for the Iraqi government to work with Iraqi tribes;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 76 people violently killed in the last week;
     on Libya:
     -   brutal summary executions (by a wanted war criminal) after a suicide bombing;
     on Iran:
     -   the Iranian air force has warned coalition vessels to stay away from military exercises;   research indicates that the response to any further protests will be even more violent;
     on Saudi Arabia:
     -   the battle for Saudi Arabia’s soul;
     on Turkey:
     -   (see also the section on Syria, and Germany);   Grand Sultan Erdogan’s outbursts are “symbolic of Turkey’s decline”;
     elsewhere in the region:
     -   “with dissent crushed, Egypt's presidential campaign is a subdued affair”;
     -   Jordan’s domestic workers are being “sold like commodities”;
     -   the problem of burning rubbish in Lebanon;
     -   hundreds of Moroccans have protested the trial of journalists;
     -   Oman is building a wall on its border with Yemen, but is also treatment sick and injured Yemenis;
     -   seven years after Tunisia’s revolution, relatives of hundreds of people who died and thousands who were injured are still waiting for justice;
     -   claims the UAE military has been ordered not to escalate the Qatar crisis.

Other News:

• trivia from sport: as every martial arts practitioner already knows, science has shown grunting in tennis gives 4.9% more speed on the tennis ball;
• even more trivial: face yoga … .

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.