Post No. 1,125 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 200

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 healing of more BPM Earth;
           mentally, the rigour of more BPM Air;
           a plot of the elemental influences on a causal/spiritual level follows, and shows a need for more BPM Water;

(d)   I’ve created a bindrune for this week’s work, which 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 DR Congo, Afghanistan and South Sudan, 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   a resurgent violent extremist, human rights abuse and democracy threat in Afghanistan;   Turkey is continuing its descent into barbarity – along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt (other places, such as Libya and South Sudan, are already there);   people continue to refuse the discomfort of evolving into being better, more caring, inclusive and mature people;   inconvenient consequences (especially of violence and harsh economic measures) are ignored, rather than thought through;   people continue to be constrained by their socialisation – or, as it is called these days, filter bubbles;   the too often denied (which makes one vulnerable to the reality) class warfare continues to be resent and active – especially in so-called advanced / industrialised nations;   technology continues to be ineptly handled;   inappropriate hero worship is a problem – especially ideological;   naiveté and lack of nuance;   there are actions and signs of caring and forethought;   some people who have learned from their mistakes have tried to teach others; addiction to the illusion of power remains;   manipulation  through implications of inadequacy (especially around patriotism) remain;   symbols continue to be mistaken for causes;   hate is still being manifested for anyone who is, or is considered to be, different;   too many people continue to think angry abuse is an effective action;   people continue to be and feel overwhelmed;   psychic / spiritual impressions continue to be mistaken for mundane world matters such as thoughts of natural approaches / conspiracies;   addiction to formulae, rather than considering matters on their merits, continues to be present;   simple failure to think (i.e., stupidity) continues to be active;   religion continues to divide and be misused to justify abuse and hate and anger;   all or nothing attitudes (i.e., you are either with me wholeheartedly or otherwise you are against me) impede many things;   pseudo-intellectuality remains;

(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 we be dedicated to calmly, maturely and objectively meeting all that life brings our way – including the discomfort of evolving into better, more caring, more clear-thinking and understanding of nuance, less judgemental, inclusive and mature people;

(j)   may we find ways to constructively deal with our pain and to transform and beneficially use our anger;

(k)   may we see through the superficial to the universal and to truth;

(l)   may subterfuge be brought into the light of Truth;

(m)   may we work for social equity and justice for all;

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;   “the emperors of neoliberalism claim to be addressing inequality, but stay silent on fair wages” as an alternative forum is held by activists in a Kenyan slum (I know that place! I did some work on a treatment plant nearby);   an examination of why violent conflict has declined (especially after the Cold War) finds reduced ethnic violence is a key;
     on the Rohingya crisis this week:
     -   a diphtheria outbreak;   an opinion that the now thoroughly discredited Aung Sang Suu Kyi remains the West’s best hope of getting change in Burma;   devastation of Rohingya – particularly children – is likely to lead to generations of effects;   more mass graves in Burma;
     on the North Korean nuclear tensions this week:
     -   an opinion that, as nuclear weapons didn’t embolden Pakistan, nuclear weapons may not embolden North Korea;   the false alarm of an incoming missile in Hawaii recently was not an accidental key stroke: it was a series of human errors, including failure to sack one person ten years ago;   a possible US Ambassador to South Korea is out of the running after pointing out the dangers of a pre-emptive strike (but here is an opinion that the USA is preparing for war against North Korea, which others consider not the threat it is portrayed);
     on other matters requiring particular attention:
     -   “I’ve been sectioned and know plenty of ‘nutters’ but none is a bombastic bully like [the 45^th US President]. Politics and psychiatry don’t mix” - with a reminder that the “use of psychiatric detention for political ends in the Nazi era, the Soviet Union and China is well known. Less so, are instances in the US”;
     -   white supremacists and neo-nazis in the USA are borrowing techniques from religious violent extremist and Marxist/Communist groups;
     -   the ACTU says a generation of Australian workers “is at risk of not experiencing basic employment rights such as annual leave” (“the Fair Work Act, put in place in 2009 in an effort to remedy the [evil] Howard-era Work Choices changes, was of its time, the situation had changed after the global financial crisis”);   new wristbands provide Amazon management with new workplace surveillance capabilities;
     -   the USA's CIA is as concerned about China as Russia - which it expects to target this year's US (“mid-term”) elections;
     -   police stopped a car share company revealing details of a breach of security where people's details had been stolen;
     this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists DR Congo, Afghanistan and South Sudan;
• 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 revived Trans-Pacific Partnership is less bad, but still overblown, according to this analysis (which also includes a reminder that a previous trade deal has s****ed our health system);   as public views on privatisation are firmly and consistently negative and support renationalisation, a consideration of how to do so (although the policy has been a disaster, I would limit such moves – utilities only, and look to find a middle ground);   an opinion that democracy is healthier than thought;   the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2018 (which I am yet to read);   a statistical correlation between the decline in strikes and wages growth in Australia;   an argument for more Federal MPs in Australia;   a backgrounder on “why businesses want the ear of government”;   an examination of the (poor) state of democracy at all levels in the USA;   rural areas can be progressive;
     of concern this week:
     -   an opinion that dysfunctional politics are “seriously affecting US national security”;   concerns that the USA is planning for never ending war;   female world leaders often use impromptu meetings in bathrooms to share their frustrations about the shallow way they are treated;   Australia has decided to increase its export of death and profit from bloodshed by increasing its arms dealing; - see also here;   a fitness tracking app can potentially reveal the location of secret military bases;   future (cyber) interference in US elections could be worse;   a website glitch that may have helped insider trading is being investigated;   a flawed ethics investigation in the USA;   a “former Treasury official has written a scathing critique of the [Australian neoliberal] government’s attacks on Labor’s negative gearing policies, saying the government has been creating “alternative facts” to promote its own argument” (“This is a 21^st century illustration of the saying attributed to Joseph Goebbels, that if a lie is big enough, and it’s repeated often enough, it can become accepted as the truth”);   the “chief advocate of [an aid body] has compared the Australian government’s foreign donations bill to attempts to stifle dissent in Vladimir Putin’s Russia”;   “cash bonuses are at least partly responsible for the scandals plaguing the financial services industry”;   rebuttal of a lie that pokies are essential to an Australian public holiday’s events;   a notorious right wing, Holocaust denying troll was given a ticket to the US State of the Union;
     -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in: Poland, USA, Venezuela, Australia, Ireland, Kenya, Kenya;
     in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:
     -   a demand for transparency on housing deals;
     good news this week includes:
     -   Canada has created the position of Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise;   an Australian Labor government “would set up a National Integrity Commission in its first … to restore people’s trust in the political system”;   a call for electricity assets to be returned to public ownership;   Australia’s DFAT has published the 4^th edition of its Human Rights Manual (from a quick look, this seems OK, but I need to go through it more carefully to see how it truly is on indigenous and LGBTIQ rights);
     and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:
     -   the government of a social troglodyte, climate denialist, former neoliberal Prime Minister considered cutting the dole (i.e., unemployment support) off to everyone under 30 (because, of course, there are plenty of jobs - sarcasm, Joyce), but the then Social Services Minister dissuaded then with some truths about homelessness and youth crime;   expectations of ”a big fight on industrial relations this year”, as the unions continue to be disadvantaged;   concerns that plans for relocation of some government experts in one state are an attempted distraction;   a warning that the benefits of the USA's tax cuts are illusory (other factors enabled the benefits), short term, and unsuited for Australia;   a warning that an extension of the required number of hours in Australia's work-for-the-dole will endanger jobseekers;   a submission has detailed the techniques and pervasive influence of China in Australia, but questioned whether the foreign interference bill would help - see also here;   in Australia, 250 ALP branches passed a motion calling for strong new national laws and an independent agency akin to a “Reserve Bank for environmental management”;   the Australian neoliberal government's “plan to use a $3.8bn fund to underwrite an expansion of arms exports made little economic sense because manufacturers had no trouble securing funding from private sources”;   a ludicrous suggestion that the Senate be Australia's anti-corruption body;   my home state’s recent blackouts during a heatwave “appear to have been caused by fuses blowing in substations rather than being a problem with supply”;   “Australian bureaucrats have launched an investigation into how top-secret documents were left in a second-hand shop” – the documents have now been returned;   the government was allegedly warned of the safety risks of the home insulation installation scheme introduced in response to the GFC - which is being disputed (in court) by the former PM concerned;   Australia's attorney general may get the power to block prosecution of journalists under the government’s proposed secrecy laws after warnings the bill may criminalise reporting (like the safeguard his predecessor set up around reporting on special intelligence operations);  becoming “a top arms exporter fits neatly into a national narrative that has become hostage to ‘Anzac birthers’” (also referred to as “Anzackery”);   “immigration department staff who illegally detained two Australian citizens in 2016 and 2017 were poorly trained, ignored critical information, and took no responsibility for flawed decisions” (there were another 220 cases … );
• 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):
     -   “US officials and military lawyers who helped set up and run the notorious prison at Guantanamo Bay have warned that [the 45^th US President] risks repeating a $6bn mistake by keeping it open”;
     -   an opinion that, if the 45^th US President lied about trying to sack the Special Prosecutor investigating alleged Russian influence on the 2016 US Presidential election, it would be grounds for impeachment (yes it would, but did this consideration get beyond floating ideas?) - see also here;   the USA's FBI's deputy director, whom US President Donald Trump repeatedly accused of political bias (over a donation by a Clinton supporter to his wife’s [unsuccessful] election campaign), has resigned;   the FBI is investigating a second memo on alleged collusion between the 45^th US President’s election campaign and Russia;   the US administration was warned not to release a memo alleging bias against the 45^th US President by an FBI agent – who actually was key to the reopening of the investigation against Candidate Clinton;   the 45^th US President has walked away from sanctions against Russia … ;
     -   more criticism of the 45^th US President;   as Democrats fail to understand the emergency facing Dreamers, Trump’s xenophobic push to a nation without immigrants is inciting racist violence;   an article on the 45^th US President’s “supreme court whisperer”;   a rebuttal of claims the USA has an immigration problem;   racist elements of the 45^th US President’s “State of the Union” speech were “camouflaged by using non-white enforcers and victims and contrasted with policies that are at the top of the Democratic agenda – such as citizenship for “illegal immigrants””;   temporary protection of SOME Syrian refugees has been renewed … ;   an opinion that the 45^th US President is failing at “Presidential power is the power to persuade”;
     -   the 45^th US President is now claiming the EU’s trade policies with the USA are unfair … this will be a tougher fight;
     -   a reminder that the 45^th US President is subject to checks and balances;   lessons from Planned Parenthood’s overcoming of alt right attacks for the US Democrats;
• 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 (major attack), Afghanistan, and, according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 4 attacks in Iraq, 4 attacks in Afghanistan, and 1 attack in Syria (out of a total of 32);   violent extremist threats are or may be developing in Egypt;   and actions (Note: there are many others that don’t reach the media I read) have occurred this week against violent extremists in: Algeria;
     -   condemnation of US decision to keep Camp X-Ray at the Guantanamo Bay base open;   an appeal for the quarter million people in the Lake Chad basin affect by violent extremism;   “US officials and military lawyers who helped set up and run the notorious prison at Guantánamo Bay have warned that [the 45^th US President] risks repeating a $6bn mistake by keeping it open”;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
     -   appalling abuse of power by a former Australian Immigration Minister;   a backgrounder on the woman helping save refugees from the Mediterranean, who has received death threats and is now being charged over alleged connections to people smugglers;   more rescues of refugees in the Mediterranean (I heard an interview with one of those involved, who described spending half an hour reviving a four year old);   abuse of a refugee in Australia’s Manus Island gulag;   dozens of refugees have drowned off the coast of Yemen;   Italian crime gangs are finding people smuggling more profitable than drugs;   slavers are using the chaos at European refugee centres;
     -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in: USA, Sudan, Turkey, Libya (a shipwreck);
• 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):
     -   Indonesia has become a “no go” zone for LGBT people;   a married gay couple have been driven out of Russia by death threats and “having the electricity and internet reportedly cut off by plainclothes police”;   “Jamaica has banned a Holocaust-denying pastor from [the USA] who has called for gay people to be stoned death, after outcry from activists”;   diversity in an Australian town;
     on white supremacist and other forms of racism and indigenous matters generally this week:
     -   concerns that electronic gang databases effectively discriminate against young men of colour;   a rebuttal of more neoliberal nonsense (that land rights only exist if Australia was settled, not invaded);   “the removal of children from Indigenous communities is skyrocketing and has become a "national disaster"”;   indigenous retention in schools is up 15% over the decade but is still well below the non-indigenous rate;
     -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in: Australia;
     on sexism this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone):
     -   the entire board of the US Gymnastics authority will now resign following the conviction of a former team doctor of extended sexual abuse – see here, on how he got away this appalling crime;   an article on consent;   appalling rumours about the USA’s UN Ambassador are not being criticised;   Australia’s cashless welfare card would trap people in domestic violence;   a major media outlet’s sexism has left its reputation in tatters;   a caution against the lies in the backlash against the Me Too movement;
     -   on sexual harassment/misconduct this week - more accusations / descriptions of effects and commentary / responses / resignations: here, here, here, Ireland, Turkish agents in Syria;
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in: India, India, India, Liberia;
     on religious rights this week:
     -   religious rights / Islamophobia matter have also occurred in: DR Congo;
     on workers’, children’s, privacy, and other forms of human (and other – e.g., animal) rights this week:
     -   an animal testing scandal at an already troubled car manufacturer;   a call for stronger protection to prevent lobsters and crabs being cooked alive;   New Zealand will investigate child abuse of wards in state care;   a Vietnamese boy was enslaved and forced to grow cannabis in the UK;
     -   also on child abuse, particularly neochristian and other institutional, this week: India, the neochristian catholic church - see also this rebuttal of their claims;
     -   also on slavery / human trafficking this week: Gambia/Libya, UK, EU, Hong Kong, Germany;
     -   other workers’, children’s, privacy, differently abled, animal, and other forms of human or other rights matters have also occurred in: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Egypt, USA, Thailand, CAR (good new), Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Turkey, Bahrain, mobile phone apps, Turkey, Nigeria, Cambodia, Russia, Chad;
     -   opportunities to take action here;
• With regard to war, violence and hate generally:
     -   more stupidity in the USA on guns (having armed teachers puts violent students at risk, places ideological pressure on teachers, and fails to acknowledge the problem that most people  – especially “good” people - cannot shoot another person);   I normally admire Elon Musk, but this stunt is irresponsible and dangerous;   gun owners in one US city are resisting plans to register their weapons;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     -   risks of mudslides at an erupting volcano in the Philippines;   people are getting into trouble in northern Australia’s monsoon;   a ferry loss off Kiribati;   US cuts and donor complacency are putting gains against malaria at risk;   south east Asia is aiming to eliminate measles by 2020;   conflicts and disasters have forced 59 million young people into illiteracy - see also here;   a warning that drug-resistant malaria “will spread without urgent action”;
     -   other events concerning disasters have occurred or are developing in: Kiribati;
• 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:
     -   questions over the scientific accuracy of some of the environmental findings of an Australian state’s fracking enquiry;   the need to focus on native bees;   a man is installing solar-power streetlights after his community couldn’t afford to keep them on;   climate smart agriculture: lessons from Africa for the world (apologies if I have posted this previously);   Greenland is adapting to climate change;   “environmental protection has reduced sharply since the federal Coalition won power in 2013”, and environmental “ “solutions” are often illusory and the actual threats keep rising, away from the scrutiny of the political and news cycles”;   “shoppers in states that have banned single-use shopping bags are reportedly buying reusable plastic bags then throwing them away”;   everything old is new: tourists will – finally - again have to exercise a modicum of awareness and common sense (over tourism industry screams, no doubt);   the climate change target may be exceeded in the next five years;   suspicions that a controversial coal company altered a lab report (reduced the suspended solids from 834 mg/L to 806 mg/L - still 8 times the limit, so it is difficult to see what the benefit of doing this would be: was it just an internal lab QA check on the original, which I know does happen occasionally?) while appealing the $12,000 fine for a coal spill;   “mining companies will receive more than twice as much in fuel tax credits as [Australia's neoliberal] government will spend on environment and biodiversity programs this financial year”;   polar bears are lacking food;   tens of thousands of crown of thorns starfish have been removed from the Reef;
     -   other environmental matters have occurred in: Cambodia, Chile (good news), Australia, Cambodia, Vanuatu;
     on technology and science matters this week:
     -   the sale of fake social media followers is being investigated;   a call for digital disconnection on weekends;   yet more privacy problems with mobile phone apps;   the family of a man whose murder was broadcast on facebook has sued the social network for negligence and wrongful death;
     -   other technology and science matters have occurred in: Australia;
     on economic and financial matters this week:
     -   “as workplaces become increasingly difficult and damaging environments”, an opinion that “labelling a co-worker a psychopath fails to account for how our workplaces can encourage bad behaviour”;   the damage Amazon does to poor cities;
     on affordable, sustainable and decent housing and homelessness matters this week (why are politicians with “investment properties” not admitting a conflict of interest and staying out of housing affordability debates?):
     -   the stories of some homeless people in the UK;   when it is too late, a long term caravan park resident has won a case against a developer;   standing up to landlords;   an analysis shows “a small, powerful group was making huge profits from the property market, while the disadvantaged experienced rising homelessness and housing stress”;
     -   other affordable housing and homelessness matters have occurred in: Australia;
     on health and medical this week:
     -   another article on face blindness;   “while the US suffers a much discussed overdose epidemic, less attention is paid to the fact that much of the rest of the world misses out on vital painkillers such as morphine”;   3D printing of prosthetics;
     on other matters in the category this week:
     -   claims Australia’s childcare business has become saturated in recent years – without lower prices;   “time-banking”, which is a model for trading skills, goods, and labour;   a former gambling addict has “lost a landmark court case in Australia, after her claims of being misled were rejected” (I’m not surprised, but the woman and her team are hopeful this is like the early cases against the tobacco industry … );   the devastating problems caused to some by a failing public transport system;
• 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 … ):
     -   the ABC is dismantling its historic sound and reference libraries and sacking some specialist librarians to save on wages;   robo-journalism - including its errors;
     -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in: Burma, Kenya, Indonesia;
• With regard to education:
     -   children are starting school depressed and anxious;   appalling failures around teaching the truth about slavery in the USA;
     -   other education matters have occurred in: Australia;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing:
     -   questions over gun store security in my home state after the violent theft of dozens of handguns;   a help-dodgy-directors dodge tax business has shown it is dodgy by going belly up;   some small businesses are still overcharging customers paying for goods by card;   a US state will get new safety standards for its jails – and will finally make them public;   an argument for giving victims a say in parole hearings;   the photos at this incident seem to show police further traumatising the child victims by searching them in the usual appalling US fashion;
    -    other crime, judicial and policing matters have occurred in: Italy.

Location based News:

• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
     on Africa generally:
     -   how to end malnutrition in Africa (social media link - sorry);   legal questions about Nigeria’s extradition of 47 Cameroonian Anglophone separatists;
     -   a vicious thug (“warlord”) has been sentenced to life by the Central African Republic;   rebels will allow some state officials in;
     -   tension between the DR Congo and mining companies over tax;   the DRC President claims he will stand down next year … ;
     -   the quest for justice in Gambia includes those who were forced to take the former president’s fake AIDS “cure”;   more warnings against the risk of slavery in Libya;
     -   ongoing problems from a major toxic waste discharge a decade ago in the Ivory Coast;
     -   a concerning political stunt in Kenya;   Kenya has silenced media coverage at an opposition event;
     -   a partial ban on FGM in Liberia … for one year … ;
     -   economic disaster in Namibia;
     -   Nigeria’s military has killed dozens of people in air attacks;
     -   the South African city of Cape Town is preparing for when it runs out of water;   nearly 1,000 miners who were trapped below ground by a power failure that stopped the lifts to the surface are being rescued;
     -   claims of corruption amongst Tanzanian judiciary … ;
     -   Zimbabwe is trying to get back its exiled farmers;   members of the opposition have been attacked;
     on Sudan and South  Sudan:
     -   major problems with the EU’s deal with Sudan to stop refugees;   a continued need for sustainable solutions for Darfur’s 2.7 million internally displaced people;
     -   South Sudan’s opposition will continue fighting if talks fail;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   after more than two decades of land acquisition by US philanthropists, Chile has created five sprawling national parks, spanning 10.3m acres, to preserve vast tracts of Patagonia;
     -   “Jamaica has banned a Holocaust-denying pastor from [the USA] who has called for gay people to be stoned death, after outcry from activists”;
     -   Mexico will try yet more army troops to quell drug gang violence that has led to record numbers of murders;
     -   Venezuela has banned the opposition from coming elections;   the USA's opinion is that Venezuela may experience a coup, although there is no intelligence suggesting that ... (shades of Bush’s suggestions in Iraq, followed by non-support, anyone?);
• 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:
     -   as China ends its “era of hide and bide”, a note that “in 12 out of 16 cases since the 1500s, geopolitical rivalry has ended in war” (that is a call to BPM action to make it 12 out of 17);
     -   other events concerning China have occurred or are developing in: Australia;
     -   the effect of sanctions on humanitarian aid to North Korea;   North Korea has thrown a tizzy;
     elsewhere in Asia:
     -   Burma’s panel of international advisors has chosen not get involved in the case of two Reuters journalists charged with violating the Official Secrets Act;   a Burmese official in a town where seven people were killed in rioting has been murdered;
     -   more stupid tourists have got themselves into trouble in Cambodia;   concerns over the jailing of environmental activists in Cambodia;   calls to quash the conviction of environmental activists;
     -   Indonesia has become a “no go” zone for LGBT people;   the need for internet infrastructure in parts of Indonesia;   an Australian journalist has been expelled from the Indonesian province of Papua after her tweets about junk food being sent to malnourished kids hurt the (poor little) soldiers feelings;
     -   a Japanese woman who was forcibly sterilised in the 1970s at the age of 15 under a now-defunct eugenics law (victims, as young as nine, were sterilised because of mental illness or conditions such as leprosy) is suing the government;   eleven people have died in a fire at a welfare home;
     -   the mass killing programme in the Philippines is slowing down;
     -   harassment of human rights defenders in Thailand;
     and in the Pacific:
     -   seven survivors but dozens missing (mostly students – the islands’ future) from a ferry lost near Kiribati;   PNG is seeking the return of artefacts from Australia;   all nations in the Pacific are basically free, except for Fiji and Papua New Guinea;   Vanuatu has banned single use plastic bags, but there may be an influx of cheap goods;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU) (which need to step up, as the USA steps down):
     -   the USA is planning on smaller nuclear weapons to deter Russia from launching an attack in Europe;
     -   a nazi scandal in Austria;
     -   denialists in Bosnia-Herzegovina are trying to re-open a motel that was the scene of appalling human rights abuses;
     -   division over xenophobia and religious hatred in the Czech Republic;
     -   continued debate in Denmark over charges for teenagers who shared a non-consensual video of a couple having (consensual) sex;
     -   France’s diplomatic limelight under its new President;
     -   a strike in Germany;   yet another scandal in Germany’s car industry;   inequity in Germany;
     -   Ireland, having decided the viciousness of their Equal Marriage referendum needs to be repeated, will hold a referendum on abortion;
     -   an article on organised, brutal criminal thugs in Italy;
     -   Poland’s government is heading into Holocaust denial territory by banning criticism of its citizens;
     -   an opinion that the UK’s nuclear deterrent is not a military asset, and funding should be cut;
• 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:
     -   the clearly politically terrified Russian government has had the opposition leader arrested within moments of arriving at a protest rally;   a Crimean leader claims the area has returned to Russia “for ever”;   a married gay couple have been driven out of Russia by death threats and “having the electricity and internet reportedly cut off by plainclothes police”;   more stupid Russian pilots;   a call to release human rights activist held on baseless accusations;   the IOC is “in the dock as Russia rejoices in absolution of its doping damned”;   the 75^th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Battle of Stalingrad;
• 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):
     -   Afghanistan is mourning the scores killed in a violent extremists attack;   violent extremist “fighters, whom US-led forces spent billions of dollars trying to defeat, are now openly active in 70% of Afghanistan” - see also here;   judges at the International Criminal Court are “deciding whether to authorise an official war crimes inquiry into events in Afghanistan”;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     -   “the fragile peace along the de facto border dividing India and Pakistan in Kashmir is crumbling”;
     on India:
     -   another horrific (trigger warning) case of child abuse from India - the land where bigotry has created 21 million unwanted girls and 63 missing women ... (a radio interview I heard suggested that the problem – which is worse in urban areas – is due to the push for traditionalism – which, as far as I am aware, is due to Modi’s mob … );   an Indian taxi driver has been arrested for allegedly molesting a tourist;   a bus accident has killed at least 36 people;   more appalling abuse (virginity tests!) of women in one India state;   employers are fighting against giving workers decent conditions;   tensions after the murder of a man in an interfaith relationship;   an opinion on Indian-Chinese relations;   attacks on Kashmiri students;   religious  tensions in the city of Ayodhya;   India’s budget;   editorial support for the new health care scheme;   a girl has been offered to the Moon as a bride … ;   menstruation taboos exist among men and women;
     elsewhere in South Asia:
     -   “the Maldives’ top court has ordered the release of nine key political prisoners in a surprise move that has cleared the way for exiled former leader Mohamed Nasheed to run for president” … but he’s not out yet … ;
• With regard to West Asia (aka “the Middle East”) and Northern Africa, the Middle East Eye, the Times of Israel, and other sources have:
     on Israel and Palestine:
     -   “challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of the Jewish state, itself created as a harbor for Jews fleeing anti-Semitic persecution in Europe and the Middle East” as it prepares to deport thousands of African refugees;   Israel is using legal action to attempt to silence critics in other nations;   an article asking what Israel is so afraid of;   Israel arrested a Palestinian girl from the West bank and sent her to Gaza … ;   the ongoing damage caused by Israeli sexual abuse of Palestinian women prisoners;   to “counteract a crippling economy, Gaza residents are helping each other out by forgiving debts”;   a rocket launched from Gaza (these still happen – and must stop!) led to retaliation;   more violence in Jerusalem;   Israel will develop medium range missiles;   Israeli police are investigating death threats against a Palestinian teenager who was arrested for slapping a soldier;
     on the (forgotten / ignored / underreported) conflict in Yemen:
     -   after defeating government forces, separatists declared loyalty to the government … ‘   Saudi influence over disintegrating Yemen;   UAE influence;
     on Syria (where the Assad Dictatorship has lost all pretence of legitimacy, and partition is needed):
     -   as Turkey’s attack on Syrian Kurds – including deliberately mutilating women - threatens to destabilise and overturn the entire region, the USA will now abandon its former allies;   fighting continues to take a terrible toll on civilians;   “a hospital built under 20 m of rock in a rebel-held part of central Syria has been wrecked by a powerful air strike”;
     on Iraq (which was a peaceful and prosperous society before the UK / USA / CIA backed revolution – see here) and Kurdistan:
     -   the USA has “suspended maintenance of Abrams tanks in Iraq following accusations that the Iraqi army had given at least one of the tanks” to a controversial militia;
     -   and the Iraq Body Count project reports 76 people violently killed in the last week;
     on Libya:
     -   a shipwreck off Libya may have drowned ninety refugees;   east Libyan groups are preventing the return of displaced people;
     on Iran:
     -   more women have been arrested in Iran for - courageously - protesting against the country’s compulsory hijab rules;   5,000 people were arrested during the January protests;
     on Saudi Arabia:
     -   one of the billionaire princes arrested on “vague” corruption charges has been released as the purge winds down, but the scars will linger for years and human rights activists have been jailed – except, perhaps, for the more than $100 billion richer brigands at the top of that feudal state … ;   abuse of women human rights defenders;
     on Turkey:
     -   (see also the section on Syria);   a call for the release of human rights defenders;   concern over the rise of pro-government vigilantes;   what to do about rising hostility towards Syrian refugees in Turkey;   as civils society continues to struggle under the crackdown, Turkey has finally released Amnesty International’s local chair;   an assessment of Turkey's incursion into Syria to suppress Kurds;
     elsewhere in the region:
     -   fears for the life of a jailed activist in Bahrain;
     -   harassment of human rights defenders in Egypt;   more on how social media is silencing Egyptian activists;
     -   the US has delivered helicopters to boost Jordan’s defences;
     -   US sanctions on six people and seven financial entities that are linked to a Lebanese group;
     -   more protests in Morocco over another coal miner’s death.

Other News:

• Orcas (“killer whales”) can imitate human speech.

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.