Post No. 1,248 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 243

For the sake of my health, until I retire or change to an easier day job , I have cut back these posts.

Information and Summary of News with Opinion / Advocacy / Analysis:

Notes:

(1) I am NOT a journalist (this blog was created for spiritual reasons, including a course), and make NO claims to objectivity or freedom from bias.
(2) 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. 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 Uranus in Aries contributing to fresh and possibly radical starts (until March 2019), 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)   dealing with the 45^th “President” (i.e., CEO) 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 that person’s BPM Guides and giving those BPM Guides 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 that person’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);

(d)   the major events this week are:
       (i)   as attraction to violence continues to be inadequately addressed and the search for humans rights abusers continues, the risks of mass atrocities in   Burundi, Iraq and North Korea,
       (ii)   ongoing violent conflicts and crises in Syria, Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq, Burma, Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan (Darfur and South Kordofan), Yemen, Egypt (Sinai), Kurdistan, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Mali, DR Congo, Burundi, Kashmir, Baluchistan (Pakistan and Iran), India (Maoist and other insurgencies), the Maghreb (Africa), Ukraine, and elsewhere;
      (iii) refugee and humanitarian crises;   -   the political madness of regimes with authoritarian leaders – and all who put or keep them there;   -   and, specific to this week,     complacency over others’ suffering;    media coverage that was not perfect;     delusional reactionaries are continue to inflict their stupidity on all, and drag humanity and human life down their sinkhole;     macho-type contests in the application and enforcement of power;     the short term view tends to be more supported than the long term vision;     bad and missing communication are impeding governance, sending us backwards, in many ways;     attempts at accountability are being frustrated, although some are successful;     hypocrisy;     misuse and abuse of power / influence / skills, including active lies and deceit by elites and those who hold power;     lack of preparation for future unpleasant (or worse) events;

(e)   may all reactionaries and authoritarian people be BPM healed of their flaws, and may all people of decency be BPM guided on how to manage such problem people, including BPM minimising or preventing the harm that they do, as well as BPM contributing to their BPM healing;

(f)   may people never be BPM threatened by difference;

(g)   may BPM accountability NEVER be impeded, especially of hypocrites and those who are misusing or abusing power / influence / skills;

(h)   may people always BPM see through the lies and deceptions of the powerful;

(i)   may all people calmly BPM prepare for the future;

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; those without news deleted each week):
   -   Permanent Issues and Thematically Arranged News:
          permanent issues;     particular attention;     democracy, freedom, governance, and ethics;     the USA and POTUS45;     violent extremism;     refugees;     human rights (including homophobia/transphobia, white supremacism, trafficking and children’s rights, sexism, religious rights, workers’ rights, animals’ rights, and privacy, differently abled and other rights);     war, violence and hate;     peace;     spirituality and psychism;     natural and other catastrophes;     modern lifestyle (including climate change and environment, technology and science, economic and financial, housing, health and medical);     media;     education;     crime judicial and police;

   -   Location-based News:
         Africa;     South and Central America;     mainland China, East and South East Asia, and the Pacific;     Europe;     Ukraine;     Russia and Central Asia;     Afghanistan;     South Asia;     West Asia and northern Africa;

   -   Other Sites;

   opportunities/good news (in my opinion) are shown in green;

   comments (by me) 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 and their Significant Others be kept BPM safe, undetectable and inviolable against indirect  psychic attack, and may they have all the BPM resources (including an assured income), opportunities and assistance for them to be BPM effective, 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 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 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, and may we all exercise our human characteristics of reason, self discipline and improvement to overcome the often evil flaw of seeking social status;
• 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 (see also here, here, and here) :     the entirety of this blog and all other spiritual work and physical activism I and many others do;
     on the Rohingya  genocide this week:
     -   complacency over genocide;     “will the world help the Rohingya to attain justice?”;
     on other matters requiring particular attention:
     -   this week I found nothing in the news on Ukraine;
     -   the USA has been accused of obstructing climate change talks –and its idiotic claim of economic savings has been rebutted by Germany;     a large coal company is trying to shut down a small community organisation on social media;
     -   following, threats to Canada over the arrest of a senior Chinese executive at the USA’s behest (see this US perspective on the alleged legal aspects of the case), China has apparently detained (disappeared?) a former Canadian diplomat and another Canadian man for abuse under the guise of interrogation – killing a chicken to scare a monkey?;
     -   “the impending collapse of a Cold War-era treaty banning US and Russian intermediate-range missiles is spurring broader concerns about the very future of arms control”;     an examination of recent US statements regarding the treaty – see also here;     how to counter hybrid warfare;
     -   an examination of the rise of right wing extremists;     after the report of an investigation was suppressed (“on a technicality”), staff and former staff of fire-fighting services “share [their] alleged bullying, discrimination experiences” (as an outsider looking in, they appear to have severe problems of type that predominate in macho-associated organisations: stop dithering, admit the evil – and it is evil, and get on with openly, transparently, and accountably fixing your evils);     police in one Australian state are “offering a $1 million reward for information on the death of [an] American mathematician . . . almost 30 years to the day after he died during a gay hate attack”, back in the gays when police were plagued by homophobia and caused the gay rights movement in Australia to take off in response;     a Factcheck on claims removal of indigenous children has increased by 400%  it is “only” a 46.5% increase . . .  ;     anti-Semitism in Australia’s capital has left Jewish people “ afraid to go out in public or wear their religious clothing” (the workplace abuse is particularly disturbing);     as the “International Criminal Court [is] urged to investigate [the neochristian] catholic church for the cover-up of child sexual abuse”, and a survivor is “shocked and appalled” to learn that the catholic church lied when it said a paedophile teacher who abused him was dead, a controversial Australian archbishop currently facing charges over child abuse “is one of three ‘more elderly cardinals’ [another of whom is also facing allegations of child abuse] who have been removed by [the “still  quite  significantly  misogynistic but promising” Pope] from his advisory body”, with no moves to replace any of them;     “a social media video showing police officers violently yanking a toddler from his mother's arms [she was sitting on the floor because of a lack of chairs] at a Brooklyn food stamp office has horrified public officials while clients of the facility say it is indicative of how the city treats social-services recipients”;     concerns over gamers’ defence of a man – with a history of violence - who allegedly assaulted his wife;     a violent attack in my home city may feed recent problems with racism;     “at a time of growing global awareness about injustices against women, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded . . . to two people who have brought attention to the most extreme forms of violence they can face” - see also here;
     -   Australia’s new anti-encryption laws will, despite claims to the contrary, allow targeting of those who have committed minor crimes;     the ACCC’s proposal will change how big tech companies can make money;
     -   the International Monetary Fund has warned that “storm clouds are gathering for next financial crisis” and the “global banking system is not prepared for another downturn”;
     -   in a “case [that] has reignited debate about the country's own colonial past and raised questions about whether the Netherlands [“more than perhaps any other nation, the Netherlands is held up as the global capital of justice”] has fully acknowledged its own history of abuse”, the “Dutch Government [has appealed an] order to compensate Indonesian farmer after torturing him as a teen” during its colonial occupation;
     -   in an inflammatory decision of staggering stupidity, “the Australian Government will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but will not immediately move its embassy from Tel Aviv.” (at least they included the critical word “West” that was missing from Voldemort II’s decision);     “Australian Army veterans advising [the UAE] army [which has been] accused of war crimes”; (we helped the Indonesian Kopassus commit atrocities too, and we have provided assistance to the genocidal military in burma . . . are we planning on learning any time soon?);
       this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists   Burundi, Iraq and North Korea;
• With regard to democracy (which can be measured [as can goodness],     requires  protection of minorities and the vulnerable   -   and are you fighting to change things [by 198 nonviolent methods], or to punish),     freedom,     governance (e.g., here, here, here, here, here)     and     ethics:
  Note: I have a section specifically for POTUS45 below
     analyses, research and commentary this week include:
     -   “what happens to charities when the end goal is to become redundant?”;     a deeper look at an incident where misuse of power in response to developer pressure has been alleged;     an opinion that “we are crying out for authentic leadership” (I would say “good”, rather than authentic);     “the global infrastructure financing gap”;     an “examination of how individual UN bureaucrats balance their loyalty to the international system, and why their personal integrity and loyalty affect the work of the organisation”;     analysis of data on various nations’ public sectors;     trends from survey data show growing dissatisfaction with democracy in Australia, largely over conflict-driven politics – see also here;     “trends in use of non-standard forms of employment”;
     of concern in my nation (Australia) this week:
     -   Australia’s authoritarian/reactionary “homophobic, anti-women, climate-change denying” neoliberal government “has been accused of unlawfully locking up an Aboriginal man [who was born overseas] in immigration detention and moving to banish him from Australia — the second such case in about four months”;     the response of Australia’s reactionary, neoliberal government to a one-sided review of “religious freedoms” – which also shows a lack of understanding of the situation of LGBT kids (subsequently referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission for review) – has overridden a conclusion of the report, and divided his colleagues – see also this thoughtful, contextual review (to provide a balanced context, my assessment is that – surprisingly - ~80% of the report is reasonable, ~10% neutral, and I have grave concerns over the remaining ~10%);     my home state’s “anti-corruption watchdog has charged four people — including two former electorate officers — with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice, as it investigates claims a former Labor MP's office rorted printing allowances”;     concerns about public secrecy as the aged care industry is kept informed prior to the royal commission;
     also of concern this week:
     -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in:   Nigeria,   Brazil;
     in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:
     -   “the former CEO of a regional Victorian council has been convicted after pleading guilty to five charges of financial deception”;     US-China trade talks are continuing – see also here;
     good news this week includes:
     -   “success in diversity: the strength of Australia’s multiculturalism”;
     -   other good news has occurred:   Yemen;
     on development (in an “end poverty/thirst/hunger” sense):
     -   development news has occurred:   Colombia;
     and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:
     on the Royal Commission into banks, and similar matters:
     -   one of Australia’s “big four” banks has been “hit with another $335 million blow as[the]  fee-for-no service scandal widens and downsizing costs mount”;     the outcomes of the latest tax transparency report;     the problem of “synchronised” behaviour between Australia’s big four banks, which has been carefully created to dodge through details of existing law;
     on other matters:
     -   calls – here and here - for soul searching by parties that didn’t do well in my home state’s recent elections;     the Australian Tax Office has gained access to Swiss bank accounts of Australians (while this is potentially good in terms of holding the wealthy to account, how, given Switzerland’s much vaunted secrecy provisions, did this happen?);     after pressure from the cross bench, Australia’s neoliberal, evangelical  zealot prime minister has announced a Clayton’s (“pseudo”) anti-corruption commission;     “the owner of a rural property . . . has defended his bid to close a public road on his land, saying he and his wife are having to deal with late-night hooning, threats of physical violence, illegal hunting and piles of human excrement left in buildings because there are no public amenities”;    a judge has scolded “the barrister for two men running a religious guild on illegally cleared land, saying their ‘time has absolutely run out’ after they failed to adhere to a Land and Environment Court ruling”;     “three of the Northern Territory's largest construction companies received more than $10 million of taxpayer funds through an Indigenous employment program that was later shut down over allegations of widespread fraud, an ABC investigation can reveal”;     the problem of Chinese personal shoppers known as daigou is continuing – especially over tins of baby formula;     a nuanced examination of debt levels;
• With regard to the USA and their schoolyard BULLYING, unpresidential 45^th “President” (“POTUS45”) (see here on actions for US residents; the VP is at least as bad):
     -   a review of options now that “prosecutors have tied [POTUS45] to a federal crime for the first time”, now that a Russian has been jailed, and as a “cascade of sentences” start flowing;
     -   POTUS45 has threatened to shut down the US government if he doesn’t get his wall;
• 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, and good old fashioned police work.     I don’t name groups to reduce their publicity):
     -   according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 3 attacks in Iraq, 12 attacks in Afghanistan,   and   8 attacks in Syria   (out of a total of 46),   including   France;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration) and people seeking asylum:
     -   a rebuttal of claims by Australia’s ultra-reactionary, uber-conservative Home Affairs Minister that treating asylum seekers with decency “would ‘trash’ offshore processing”;     concerns over the new Global Compact on migration;
     -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in:   Morocco;
• With regard to other human (and other) rights and discrimination     (incidentally, bigots clearly have flaws of observation and thinking – shown by the fact that NOT all people choose to discriminate [and there’s this]):
     -   Thailand – which recently exported a Cambodian activist who made an anti-trafficking film - says it has not received an extradition request for a Bahraini granted asylum in Australia but arrested in Thailand at Bahrain’s request on charges thought to be politically motivated;     the story of “one of some 250,000 Australians who were forcibly put up for adoption between 1950 and 1975 under forced adoption policies” (I was another);
     -   in addition to opportunities below on child abuse and human trafficking, general opportunities to take action on human rights here, here, and, this week,   here,   here (Australia only);
     -   other human rights matters have also occurred in:   Colombia,   Nigeria;
     on HOMOPHOBIA/TRANSPHOBIA     (including heteronormativity and cisgender-normativity and noting that trans kids are the same as cis kids of the trans kids’ true gender):
     -   rabbis in the USA;
     -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in:   Indonesia;
     on white supremacist and other forms of RACISM / CULTURAL DISCRIMINATION and Indigenous matters generally this week:
     -   “poor health in Aboriginal children after European colonisation [has been] revealed in their skeletal remains”;     yet more racism in sport;
     -   other white supremacy / racism problems have also occurred in:   a US “beauty” pageant;
     on TRAFFICKING, and CHILDREN’s and associated human rights this week:
     -   a female teacher who abused a male student has been jailed;     a Thomson-Reuters exclusive reports that the UK’s “anti-slavery drive [has been] ‘thwarted’ by [the] failure to replace [the] commissioner”;     Cambodia is making progress in cutting back child labour in fashion factories;     Malaysia will act on illegal overtime;     another article on girls being kidnapped to be child brides in China;
     -   also on child abuse, including institutional, this week:   here,   here;
     -   also on slavery / human trafficking this week:   UK,   fishing industry,   Disney in China;
     -   opportunities to take action this week;
     on SEXISM this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone, and the potential value to women of using anger):
     -   “the answer for women who feel worthless is not ‘you are beautiful’ “;     “a man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during an overnight flight”;     “Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai vows to never stop advocating for girls' education”;     a man has been jailed for murdering woman who declined an arranged marriage;     the adverse impacts of sexist business propaganda (aka “advertising”);
     -   on sexual harassment/misconduct/violence this week, see:   here,   here;
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in:   South Sudan,   UN;
     on ANIMALS’ rights this week:
     -   a camouflaged puppy farm has been found and the abuser has plead guilty;
• With regard to war (noting that economic ties do NOT prevent war), violence and hate generally:
     -   evidence showing the devastating impact war has on children’s health;     the USA is dominating the global weapons industry;
• With regard to spirituality    and/or     psychism generally     (including empathy, revolutionary love, survival after death, good religion, UFOs, being single / asexual / off-grid / non-conformist / true to yourself,     overcoming: belief in management  fads and fashions,   filling time / distraction):
     -   the problem of abusive “folk wisdom”;     “being a good loser takes practice, so start teaching your kids early”;
• With regard to overcrowding and “modern” lifestyle issues     (such as conflict  minerals,     environmental harm and child labour in smart phones,     FOMO [which can be overcome], addiction or unthinking pro-technology bias (news is NOT always good),     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,     life options,     AI ethics, corporate misuse of mindfulness as a distraction from working conditions,     embedded emissions,     plane pollution,     bigger, flashier homes/cars and financialisation,     the need for agroforestry,     insisting on busy-ness,     raising Prince Boofheads,     trying to force everyone to have children):
     on climate change (our World War III?) and other environmental matters:
     -   “fashion labels sign UN-backed pledge to reduce emissions 30pc by 2030”;     an Australian city has put “food, not developments at the top of the city-fringe menu” (when I first graduated, the company I worked for did something similar for a small Queensland town – ah, the return of the good ol’ days :) Sadly, my current home city gave that up at the hands of developers many decades ago . . . );     an Australian state with an often controversial pro-logging stance has, “in recognition of the natural and cultural significance of giant trees . . . a policy to protect all trees 85 metres or taller, as well as the very large fat trees with stem volumes greater than 280 cubic metres”;     a move to use, rather than discard, culled animals;     “delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been secured with state and federal governments agreeing to . . . up to 450 gigalitres [being] returned to the environment, provided it does not have a negative socio-economic impact on river communities”;     the importance of hollow bearing trees (“and why they can’t be replaced with nesting boxes”);     the ongoing problem of mountaintop removal “mining”;     “concerned over the rate of biodiversity loss, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for a new deal for nature and people in order to accelerate and integrate action between three core areas: biodiversity, land degradation, and climate change”;     “efforts to make agriculture climate-resilient must be scaled up and consolidated”;
     on technology and science matters:
     -   a criticism of social media “for being smart enough to give her pregnancy ads in the months leading up to the birth of her son, but supposedly blind to the tragic outcome” (a stillbirth - is that also a reflection of the predominantly male nature of those environments?);     “synthetic biology: A call for a new culture of responsibility”;     the blurring of satellite imagery;
     on health and medical:
     -   death and hospitalisations after drug use at a music festival – and the authoritarians/reactionaries in that state’s government are still refusing to move from harmful measures to harm minimisation;     “ADHD prescriptions are going up, but that doesn't mean we're overmedicating” (on the basis that 5% of children have ADHD, but “only” 1 in 4 are medicated);     lessons from Ebola outbreaks;
     on other matters in the category:
     -   an article on time pressures (which are because people are buying in unthinkingly to the “be busy” hoopla) and a gravely concerning response to import BUSINESS  practices into the HOME;     airlines are making another attempt to stop people causing delays and safety problems by taking excessive “hand” luggage onto planes;
• 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 … ):
     -   “Time Magazine has just announced its “Person of the Year” for 2018, and for once, it isn’t one person. This time it is four people and a newspaper”;     inaccurate reporting on sexual assault allegations;
• With regard to education:
     -   evaluating education policy;
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing     (noting that an uncle of mine resigned when corruption was not comprehensively cleaned out of the police force he served in, I also have high expectations of police [to match their powers], and I consider all violence, abuse of power and failure to understand the impacts of their actions [e.g., see here and here] by police – who are under incredible pressure –is, nevertheless, undermining and weakening all police and what they are trying to achieve):
     -   “a series of damning findings” after the investigations of an incident where “on a 33-degree day, a woman was forced to have her baby alone while pleading for help for over an hour to the guards watching through a gap in the locked cell door”;     a stupid decision about alleged excessive force 30 years ago (he was defending people that a rioting crowd of bigots were trying to kill!) led to a police officer quitting - with PTSD;     a retail worker and store helped a victim defeat a vicious scam;     “disturbing”" evidence about breaches of what is widely accepted as normal, responsible serving of alcohol practices at one pub – see also here;     festive season presents for children have been destroyed by vandals.

Location based News:

• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
      on Africa generally:
     -   according to the USA’s hardline, right-wing, hawkish national security adviser, the USA “plans to counter the rapidly expanding economic and political influence of China and Russia in Africa”, and “will seek an end to UN peacekeeping missions in Africa that do not bring long-term peace”;
     on specific African nations:
     -   the USA has “demanded an immediate end to violence in Cameroon on Thursday and a speedy start to talks between the government and Anglophone separatists without preconditions”;
     -   peacekeeping in the Central African Republic has been extended;
     -   a call to avoid  excessive force in elections in the DR Congo;
     -   “Ethiopian military officials [have] announced they are moving troops away from the border with Eritrea, months after the former rivals made a surprising peace”;     “for the first time in decades, there are no Ethiopian journalists in prison”;
     -   “armed men on motorbikes killed more than 40 Taureg civilians this week in northern Mali, where clashes over land and scarce water are common”;
     -   “Gorongosa National Park, in central Mozambique . . . is rising anew from the ashes and ruination of war”;
     -   another call to end the impunity in Nigeria for killings of Shia Muslims;
     -   an evidence-based assessment of the most effective ways to finance health in Rwanda;
     -   “several people are reported to have been killed in southern Somalia as violence erupted following the arrest of a former [violent extremist] commander set to contest regional elections”;
     -   the UN is investigating systemic sexual violence across South Sudan;     “to ensure that September’s peace agreement does not meet the fate of previous failed attempts at peace, a broader political settlement that shares power across the country’s groups and regions is needed”;     the USA has “imposed sanctions . . . on a retired Israeli major general for allegedly supplying weapons and ammunition to both the government and the opposition in South Sudan”;
     -   “protests grow ahead of Togo term limit referendum”;
     -   Uganda’s “opposition [has vented] concerns about repression”;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   Brazil’s new suspiciously anti-democratic government may back away from international aid;
     -   the arrest of a violent guerrilla after two decades on the run has shown “how much Latin America — post Cold War — has moved away from its support for guerrilla movements, which were born under vicious, right-wing dictatorships” (actually, they weren’t all right wing), but France has angered Chile by granting the violent guerrilla political asylum;
     -   Colombia’s work on achieving the SDGs;     rape, kidnapping and murder are continuing after the peace agreement;
     -   the UN has launched an emergency plan for millions of Venezuelan refugees (who hasn’t this been done previously? This crisis has been underway for years);     the public health emergency in Venezuela;
• With regard to mainland China (may her growing middle class bring a love of peace and freedom),     East and South East Asia     and     the Pacific     (and noting the risks of atrocities in North Korea and burma):
     on increasingly totalitarian mainland China, and also 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:
     -   an utterly stupid viral video in China;
     -   other events concerning China have occurred or are developing in:   Australia;
     -   façades of civility and friendliness as troops inspect “the sites of their rival's frontline guard posts to verify they had been removed, as part of inter-Korean engagement efforts that come amid stalled US-North Korea nuclear disarmament talks”;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU) (which need to step up, as the USA steps down):
     -   “France's 'yellow vest' protests end another weekend of rioting with 1,200 people in custody”;
     -   the continuing  saga of Brexit in the UK;
     -   “around 2,000 Hungarians protested . . . against new legislation allowing employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours per year of overtime, a reform its critics have dubbed the ‘slave law’ ”;
• 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):
     -   a “young Afghan . . . fan [of an international sports star has been] forced to flee home after being threatened by” violent extremists;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     on India:
     -   India’s Supreme Court “holds that there is no substance to the allegation that the government showed any ‘commercial favouritism’ ‘ in a recent contract for jet fighters;     an Indian state has enacted “legislation to prevent persons in power from exploiting subordinates sexually”;     “four years of mismanaged politics have plunged [Jammu and Kashmir] into its worst ever cycle of violence and confusion”;     an opinion that “India urgently needs the return of a thriving legal culture that uncompromisingly calls out political posturing”;
     elsewhere in South Asia:
     -   a call for an end to Sri Lanka’s political crisis;
• 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:
     -   the inaugural  Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize has been awarded to an Australian Professor  for his “persistent and courageous advocacy for the human rights of all Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, the refugee camps and the Palestinian diaspora generally”;     some, but not all, short term rental services have delisted illegal houses in the Israeli-occupied West Bank;     depression in Palestinians;     Islamophobic statements by the son of the Israeli Prime Minister;     “as ‘attacks beget attacks’ in West Bank, army must break [the] cycle of terror”;     cost of living protests;     following a violent extremist attack that killed two Israeli soldiers, events have included (criticised) rock throwing, a violent attack on a Palestinian bus driver, and a call for a guerrilla war;     Palestinian police have used batons and stun grenades to suppress a Palestinian protest;
     -   other violent incidents this week include:   this,   here,   this;
     on the  conflict and the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis in Yemen:
     -   as Australia is revealed to have been supplying the coalition also, a “US official [has opposed] ditching support for Saudi-led coalition in Yemen” (this is exactly the sort of blinkered vision and authoritarian/reactionary thinking that has allowed every genocide since the Armenian, and is going to kill countless people for the sake of political points);     “Yemenis are left so poor they kill themselves before the hunger does”;     “peace talks in Sweden have led to [a] truce in the port city of Hodeidah” which is “considered the first step on an uneasy path to peace” - see also here, here (on separatist demands), and this call for a UN Security Council resolution . . . and reports that fighting has resumed . . . ;
     on Syria (where the Assad Dictatorship has lost all pretence of legitimacy, and partition is needed):
     -   “although the overall intensity of violence in Syria has decreased, civilians continue to be killed by air and ground-based strikes”;     looting and thuggery in war-torn areas of Syria;
     elsewhere in the region:
     -   the EU “has condemned Egyptian authorities for human rights abuses and is urging them to lift restrictions on free speech and assembly, halt mass trials and stop sentencing minors to death, and release political prisoners”;
     -   “Iran-linked hackers have tried to break into private emails of nuclear scientists and US sanctions officials”;
     -   a call to revive the UN’s mediation on Iraq’s disputed internal boundaries;     jailed children of violent extremists in Iraq may be returned to Turkey;
     -   “the US Senate has delivered back-to-back votes against Saudi Arabia and a rare rebuke of [POTUS45’s] response to the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi”;     “Saudi Arabia, armaments and conflict in” West Asia;
     -   concerns about alleged foreign Arab influence (including an alleged risk of a coup) in Tunisia.

Other News:

• “a dog that survived the catastrophic wildfire in Northern California apparently protected the ruins of his home for almost a month until his owner returned” (it was fed and watered by a volunteer);
• a 68 year old albatross is moving towards her 37^th chick.

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 [see Psychic Weather Report]. 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.