Post No. 1,336 – Gnwmythr’s News Ed. No. 266

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” 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 his mind-set, and strengthening 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);
      4. Ensuring opposition to POTUS45 is unified, cohesive and FOCUSED, NOT fractured or divisive;

(d)   the major events this week are:
       (i)   as attraction to violence continues to be inadequately addressed, the search for humans rights abusers continues, and further to the current map of genocides, this week there are risks of mass atrocities in   Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, and healthcare in armed conflict,
       (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,     a regime that has been notoriously violent for centuries may be easing its vehemence against its minorities;     environmentally damaging companies have taken advantage of neoliberal governments;     insecurity and other emotional problems;     some action is being taken on the climate crisis, but some others are worsening the problems;     naiveté;     denial of problems;     misuse and abuse of power and influence – sometimes violently;     forcible imposition of nonBPM values;      control;     lack of empathy;     fear;     irresponsibility and carelessness, including with risks to others lives or wellbeing;     placing personal convenience and refusal to change above human rights;     lack of understanding of how people function –or lack of nuanced understanding;     preferring popularity over principles;     lack of understanding on human rights;     failing to act for BPM principles;     more hyper-macho posturing and prancing, disturbingly, much of it for popularity;

(e)   may all people be BPM respectful, thoughtful, and appreciative;

(f)   may all people take BPM action on matters, actively responsible, and refuse to be a passive, inactive or head-in-the-sand bystander;

(g)   may all people be BPM mature, incisive, and responsible;

(h)   may all people be BPM proud of BPM challenging abuse, wrongness, and evil;

(i)   may all people take the BPM long and broad view;

(j)   may all people have the BPM courage to be BPM honest;

(k)   may all people understand the difference between BPM and nonBPM, and actively challenge the nonBPM while actively supporting and promoting the BPM;

(l)   may BPM change and justice be achieved;

(m)   may all else that should BPM asked for, also be done;

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 and migrants;     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 crisis 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;     “why  Hegel knew there would be days like these”;
     on the Rohingya  genocide and similar matters this week:
     -   internally displaced Kachin people in northern burma may be able to go home . . . (hmm . . . really? Reliable source, but there is a need for a change in the heart [or developing a heart, perhaps] of burmese generals more so than just the mechanics);
     on other matters requiring particular attention:
     -   a major oil company took advantage of the election of POTUS45 to push for drilling rights in environmentally sensitive areas, despite recent oil spills;     “buying too much stuff is driven by uncertainty”;     “everything we need for a sustainable world already exists” – about, in part, a film, but also dealing with emotions about crisis;     Malaysia has begun sending non-recyclable plastic back to its nation of origin, and the Philippines is threatening to do the same, and “fifteen years ago, all the Slovenian capital’s waste went to landfill, but by 2025, at least 75% of its rubbish will be recycled” – see also this, on the push to a circular economy;     “Chinese industrial areas [have been] identified as a major source of illegal ozone-depleting CFC gas”;     “preserving biodiversity [is] vital to [reversing the] tide of climate change”;     poorer African nations want permission to sell stockpiles of ivory (their need is valid, but perhaps the international community should pay a fair price and then destroy stockpiles of old ivory – don’t put it onto the market);     “people . . . will need to work drastically fewer hours to avoid disastrous climate heating unless there is a radical decarbonising of the economy”;     “everyone loses when we sideline the people at the forefront of the transition to a zero-emissions economy”;     the start of a new series on the chemical toxicity of modern life;     another climate crisis protest – with one participant showing staggering naiveté about how protests are meant to work (they have ALWAYS annoyed and disrupted some people, which is part of the intended effect to force an increased level of attention, and they have NEVER been meant to impress anyone with how protestors have taken time out of their lives etc. If you want to protest in the street, do so, but UNDERSTAND that – if you don’t want to protest in the streets [e.g., over concerns it will be counterproductive against decision makers, as was the case with Margaret Thatcher], or because you think it is about getting social support, then likewise, do so, but understand what you’re doing, how it will work, and why – see also my thoughts here);     “breathing walls” and other ideas for greener cities;
     -   against a background a data showing “500 prosecutions for choking, strangulation or suffocation in a domestic setting” in three years, after a newspaper showed an image of a female politician in crosshairs, another MP tweeted “violence against women is a national scourge and suggesting any public figure is in the ‘crosshairs’ is irresponsible and potentially dangerous ... please apologise” – which they initially refused to do;     within 24 hours, a young female Senator has received a death threat and two suspicious packages;     a tech company is being urged “to pull ads for anti-abortion clinics that ‘deceive women’ ”;     a TV series has left a US state that banned abortion, and other fightbacks are under way;     actions to address violence against female politicians;     “schoolgirls in the Democratic Republic of Congo were raped, forced into marriage and used as human shields by militias who believed they had ‘magical powers’ ”;     “women's rights under attack in Europe” – and the USA, with the fight against Roe vs. Wade gathering pace;     staggering opinions that rape is justified under some circumstances;     “two CWA members [have painted] over [a] slogan on van that encouraged sexual violence”;     Japanese women are trying to use an app to defend themselves against the daily groping on public transport;     a reminder that business profits can increase by up to 20% when more women are hired;     “Norway will make history this week as the first country to raise money for theme rather than a specific country in crisis by hosting the pledging conference; Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Crises”;
     -   the connection between housing and mental health;
     -   the far right hate group in the USA behind many of that nation’s backward steps;     as the aftereffects of the Christchurch massacre include more fear and increased security at US mosques, a warning that “Islamophobia helps [violent extremists] recruit”;
     -   ignorance and transphobia in Indonesia – and in the USA here, and here, and, with homophobia, in former British colonies;
     -   another mining dam in Brazil is at risk of collapse;
     -   as a court challenge to the privacy breach of facial recognition gets underway in the UK (see also here), “opposition to Amazon's sale of its facial recognition technology to US police forces is set to come to a head at its annual general meeting” (but was unsuccessful – overwhelmingly so);     a social media platform “is under fire in Africa for undermining democracy, with critics saying the social media giant has allowed its platform to be weaponised for co-ordinated misinformation campaigns” – and they also appear to be showing sexism/ageism in their application of rules about removing fake videos;     “digital assistants . . . perpetuate gender stereotypes and sexist and misogynist behaviour”;     “sexual violence continues in conflict and so must our care for survivors”;
     -  “in Syria, it is suspected that children whose fathers fought for [a] terrorist group . . . are being held in unidentified ‘settlements’ and ‘secret detention facilities’ away from their mothers”; the Assad regime may be using chemical weapons again;
     -   “sex trafficking’s tragic paradox: when victims become perpetrators”;     a call to “end criminalisation of child trafficking victims” in the USA;
     -   “an Anglican bishop has branded the religious statements of Australian rugby union player . . . as hate speech” (this is one of the many points being missed by those cretins who think the player’s extremist views are a matter of free speech);
     -   “the internet is dividing, and countries and companies will soon be forced to make a stark decision about their online futures: whether to choose the Western approach or a model shaped by the Chinese Communist Party”;
     -   POTUS45 is moving to pardon convicted war criminals in the US military, and, “declaring a national emergency because of tensions with Iran, swept aside objections from Congress . . . to complete the sale of over $8 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan”;
     -   “German Chancellor . . . says Europe needs to push back against the far right, amid a political crisis that has claimed Austria's government”;
     -   the OECD has described the US-China trade war as “a clear and present danger” to the world economy;
     -   after aggressive action on both sides (e.g., this and this by the USA, and these allegations -  to Democrats alarm) and warnings that commercial jet planes were at risk, the USA now claims that “the potential of attacks by Iran has been ‘put on hold’ by US counter-measures” (Iran is a regionally significant – violent – influence, but I’m not convinced on any of this: was Iran’s threat greater than usual, were the US actions really directed by that threat, and is the threat really over? I’m more inclined towards Iran’s violent influences being toned down a little but still likely to continue, and . . . I hope the post-Viêt Nám US military wouldn’t be manipulated into actions for political reasons – there’s too many aware people in it, but have any other nations found similar intel?);     the risk of the USA stumbling into war with Iran;     Iraqis want to stay out of US-Iranian tensions;     calls for the UN to launch talks;
     -   in Libya, where “water supplies to the 2.5 million residents of Tripoli were restored two days after they were cut off by gunmen”, “why backing one militia against another is not the solution” - see also here, on the banking crisis threatening to exacerbate the crisis, and this warning of permanent division (would that really be so bad?);
     -   a critique of the failings of the Saudi-led coalition’s (including the US role and its flawed “oversight” of weapons sales generally) bombing campaign in Yemen (warning: some of video is graphic);
       this week’s atrocity alert at R2P lists   Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, and healthcare in armed conflict;
• 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, here)     and     ethics:
  Note: I have a section specifically for POTUS45 below
     analyses, research and commentary this week include:
     -   a comparison of personality politics in India and the USA;     “six ingredients of successful public policy”;     a critique of the problem of adding citizenship to the US census;     an argument for more diplomacy and use of multilateral organisations (provided they don’t downgrade human rights);     an examination of the use of international education as part of diplomacy;
     of concern internationally this week:
     -   violence at a rally for a far right extremist (who does not use his real name) in the UK;     “China's three biggest airlines are [understandably and reasonably] demanding compensation from Boeing over its grounded 737 Max fleet”;     a US Congress reports claims “the drug manufacturer that kick started the US opioid epidemic, corruptly influenced the World Health Organization in order to boost painkiller sales across the globe”;     the “UK government may face court action after EU citizens [were] denied vote” (people were turned away because of administrative errors);
     on the US-China trade war this week:
     -   POTUS45 is now trying the – dangerous – tactic of dangling a possible “solution” to concerns about the Chinese tech company that was recently banned (how can you do a deal to “solve” a real technological threat? They’re either a threat or they’re not!) as part of a resolution of the trade war;
     of concern in my nation (Australia) this week:
     -   an opinion that social, business and international pressure will eventually drag Australia into a better climate crisis policy position;      a critique of Australia’s missed climate policy opportunities back to the 1980s;     five people have been arrested over an NDIS fraud (while the very concept of fraud against disabled people is abhorrent and obnoxious to the extreme, as always these people are innocent until proven guilty);     “Medicare bulk-billing changes will lead to reduced services, doctors warn”;
     -   other concerning events have occurred or are developing in:   Afghanistan,   Thailand,   the DR Congo,   Pakistan;
     with regard to cyber warfare and other cyber problems (including programmable machine learning (aka AI, or “artificial intelligence”) this week:
     -   an examination of trust and value around data;     options for managing fake news;     “cataloguing cyber-enabled attacks on elections”;     the OECD principles on machine learning (aka “artificial intelligence”) have been endorsed by 42 nations;
     with regard to whistleblowers / whistleblowing this week:
     -   new charges against the WikiLeaks co-founder – see also here (for what it’s worth, my opinions are: (a) this person is a whistleblower or a publisher, not a journalist, and thus the invocation of free speech is possibly revisionism [I also consider his behaviour compares poorly to other whistleblowers, such as Ellsberg and Chelsea Manning, but the fear of the death penalty may be an influence there]; (b) the initial set of revelations about the Iraq war were justifiable – I would go so far as to describe them as NECESSARY for justice and democracy, but the inclusion of names in the later releases was a crime that probably killed people; (c) the effectively pro-POTUS45 actions thereafter show problems with an anger and hate that can be blinding, and that has, through aiding the election of POTUS45, left the world a worse place – this is someone who needed others are around him to balance and constructively channel his undoubted talents; (d) the USA is appalling on many justice issues, including its habit of secretly charging people [Stalinist Russia/USSR, anyone?] and its use of the death penalty and extreme sentencing are breaches of human rights THAT CLEARLY DO NOT WORK, which is why the extradition request should be refused; (e) the rape charges in Sweden need to be answered – their trivialising throughout all of this is a symptom of appalling societal sexism), but also see here;
     in the grey/mixed [good and bad aspects] or neutral area this week:
     -   “the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly . . . to demand that Britain end its ‘colonial administration’ of the Chagos Islands, which include the U.S. air base on Diego Garcia, and return them to Mauritius within six months” (this is great for self-determination, but I’d like to know more about the role of the military in less contentious matters, such as stopping piracy;
     good news this week includes:
     -   “Europe’s Greens are on course for their strongest showing to date in next week’s European elections – and could find themselves kingmakers”;
     -   other good news has occurred:   Liberia;
     on development (in an “end poverty/thirst/hunger” sense):
     -   “patchy progress on electricity access casts shadow on global goal”;     more nations are free of malaria;
     -   other development news has occurred:   Ethiopia;
     and democracy/governance/political matters in my home nation this week:
     on the Commonwealth election:
     -   the disturbing religious beliefs (including prosperity theology) of Australia’s Prime Minister;     “teenagers on Australia's election: ‘I wake up each morning afraid of what the future holds’ ”, but also this, on the election getting young people outside their social echo chamber;     concerns over misinformation and lies in hidden Chinese language chat rooms spread by supporters of a neoliberal candidate;     an assessment that the ALP’s “election defeat reveals its continued inability to convince people it can make their lives better” – but see also this;     water was not the issue in NSW that a noisy few made it, and jobs trumped the environment in Queensland (which has always been the weakness of the environmental movement, but shows the community’s short term vision);     a call to think about the nation, not the parties;     from a nuanced and objective look at the region by a former North Queenslander, a warning that it is, in many ways, a microcosm of the rest of Australia – which is not admitting its past role in and benefits from such practices, although Queensland is particularly susceptible to threats against export industries (and an even bigger mine than the controversial Adani mine has been quietly abandoned, possibly over China’s move to a greener economy, ending hopes of thousands of jobs) - but, on the other hand, the rest of Australia is, in some key ways, NOT like Queensland;     China has concerns about having to deal with a neoliberal government;     “crossbenchers will not support [an] anti-corruption body unless it has stronger powers”;     “we need more than confidence to improve the sad state of affairs the economy is in”;    against the background of a call to reduce the toxicity of political life by using teleconferencing, the ALP’s Deputy leader has ruled out standing for leader for family reasons (one comment is that she, as much as the men, needs a wife at home . . . );     criticism of media bias and polls (in the latter, the idea of paying is stupid, in my opinion) - see also here;     as the AEC shows itself to be of limited effectiveness (87 confirmed problem ads from 500 complaints, including here, and here), calls for limits on political advertising;     a mining magnate has now admitted his campaign was aimed at polarising the community to keep the ALP out;     “ ‘no good reason’ for eight-month delay to reveal parties' election donors”;     workers swung to the neoliberals while the middle class swung to the ALP . . . ;
     -   lessons for the ALP on grassroots campaigns and strongly connected local candidates;     one candidate says the entire agenda is up for review;     lessons from behavioural economics;     a more hopeful – for the ALP – comparison to past elections;     an examination of the union campaign;
     -   one Liberal Senator has urged his party “to use renewables to boost environmental credentials”;
     on other matters:
     -   a Guardian Australia exclusive reveals that the 5G rollout is being delayed by disputes over providing transmitters on lampposts . . . ;     more on the case where suspected Rwandan participants in a massacre of tourists in Kenya 20 years ago, including that the alleged confessions were extracted by torture;     my home state is acting to reduce the harm of online gambling;     “our results show, perhaps surprisingly, and more by luck than design, is that recent levels of immigration seem to be in a ‘goldilocks zone’ that balances economic, social and environmental objectives”;
• With regard to the USA and their schoolyard BULLYING, unpresidential, uncomprehending, murdering, lying, dishonourable, delusional 45^th “President” (POTUS45) (see here on actions for US residents, and note that the VP is at least as bad):
     -   “the public overwhelmingly wants to curtail the president’s power to unilaterally order the first use of nuclear weapons”;
     -   the first Republican has called for POTUS45 to be impeached;     “with his compliant attorney general [who has been given new powers], the man in the White House is taking aim at the constitutional balance of powers”;     POTUS 45 has sought “to discredit a New York Times report that Deutsche Bank employees flagged concerns over transactions involving legal entities controlled by the president and his son-in-law”;     POTUS has refused “to work with Democrats unless they stop investigating him” – see also here;     a critique of the Mueller report which finds it thorough but incomplete, and sets the broader context of some of POTUS45’s misdeeds;
     -   commentary on the tension between POTUS45 and the US House Speaker;
     -   a Democratic candidate for the US Presidential campaign next year has “appealed for party and national unity while accusing [POTUS45] of leading America with ‘a clenched fist, a closed hand and a hard heart’ ”;     a former legal adviser to POTUS45 will obey POTUS45 rather than the Congress over a subpoena from Congress;
     -   a judge has blocked some US defence funds from POTUS45’s wall project;
     -   an opinion that POTUS45’s proposed “space form” has an ineffective personnel structure;
     -   the USA continues to be dependent on oil from West Asia, and POTUS45 “is learning, like two presidents before him, that wanting to get out of [West Asia] isn’t enough to make it happen”;
     -   a major US tech company has had to block a controversial Chinese tech company after the latter was banned by the USA;
     -   “agricultural economists fear the . . . administration's new tariff relief program will encourage farmers to plant more soybeans . . . that cannot be sold”;
  The founders of the USA were focused on the abuses they received from the British monarchy at that time: they wanted to create a system where no person had massive hereditary power – which they did . . . the problem is, they were so focused on the idea of “a head of government” that they effectively created an elected monarch – and thus the abuses of POTUS45. (I also think political “conventions” aren’t worth the paper they’re written on – and have always thought so – those who are bedazzled by the notion of handshakes and honour that underlie the concept of political conventions need to get their minds out of the naiveté crevice, get a dose of reality, and resume proper thinking.)
• 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 as well as 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.     Also, I don’t name groups in order to reduce their publicity):
     -   according to this Wikipedia page, there have been 11 attacks in Iraq, 6 attacks in Afghanistan,   and 7 attacks in Syria   (out of a total of 51, causing at least 215 deaths and 262 wounded);
     -   continued actions to address social isolation, mental health and prevention/minimisation of public risk from violent extremism in my home state;
• With regard to refugees (noting the New York Declaration), and remembering Haiti, Ethiopia, Madagascar, DR Congo, and the Philippines), people seeking asylum and migrants:
     -   a fifth child refugee has died in US detention;     recommendations for the US on addressing Central American refugees (including addressing the causative problems);
     -   other refugee-related matters have also occurred in:   Africa;
• 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]):
     -   allegations of racism and sexism at a US fast food chain in Brazil are being investigated;
     -   opportunities to take action on human rights here, here, and, this week,   here;
     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):
     -   “India’s first openly gay athlete”;     a fight back against homophobia in Brazil;     a trans woman who had been filmed being savagely beaten has now been found murdered;     “Aboriginal mothers are incarcerated at alarming rates – and their mental and physical health suffers”;     force command is committed to treating LGBT employees in my home state’s police well, but there is a need for more improvements;
     -   other homophobic/transphobic (and heteronormativity / cisgender-normativity) matters have also occurred in:   Tunisia (good progress),   Europe,   Brazil,   Indonesia,   Kenya;
     on white supremacist and other forms of RACISM / CULTURAL DISCRIMINATION and Indigenous matters generally this week:
     -   the need for cultural sensitivity when offering indigenous care after brain injury;     the indigenous themed sports round;     “a 6,600-year-old, highly sophisticated aquaculture system developed by the Gunditjmara people will be formally considered for a place on the UNESCO world heritage list and, if successful, would become the first Australian site listed exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural value”;     domestic violence in Australian aboriginal and Torrs Strait Islander communities;     “Australia has been silent on Indigenous suicide for too long, and it must change”;
     on TRAFFICKING, and CHILDREN’s and associated human rights this week (from Thomson Reuters Foundation, Freedom United, and other sources):
     -   North Korean “women tell of slavery and gang rape in Chinese cybersex dens”;     “Britain is failing to lead by example in efforts to stop modern slavery as nearly a third of the government's top suppliers are flouting a landmark anti-slavery law”;     “dozens of suspected slaves have been rescued in a week-long crackdown on illegal drug gangs across Britain that uncovered hundreds of vulnerable children”;     a child abuser assaulted his victim again after being released from prison;     “Philippines urged to rethink new labour ban after maid's death in Kuwait” (the concerns are that a ban won’t stop the existing abuse);     “a new law to address abuses in Thailand's multi-billion dollar fishing industry contains loopholes”;
     -   also on child abuse, including institutional, this week:   UK,   USA;
     -   also on slavery / human trafficking this week:   Spain,   UK (good news);
     on SEXISM this week (keeping in mind the overblown influence given to testosterone, and the potential value to women of using anger):
     -   a young woman is fighting sexism in fire dancing in the Pacific;
     -   on sexual harassment/misconduct/violence this week, see:   Afghanistan,   here (possible deal);
     -   other sexism matters have also occurred in:   Afghanistan,   Spain,   US sports industry,   UK;
     on WORKERS’ rights this week:
     -   a win for workers over employers using biometric data;
• With regard to war (noting that economic ties do NOT prevent war), violence and hate generally:
     -   unacceptable violence against a celebrity;     “a survivor of [a school mass] shooting who later became a prominent advocate for fighting addiction has been found dead” (another delayed victim);
     -   other war, violence or hate related matters have occurred or are developing in:   Afghanistan;
• With regard to spirituality,   personal growth,    and     psychism generally     (including empathy, revolutionary love, survival after death, good religion, UFOs, being single / asexual / off-grid / non-conformist / true to yourself):
     -   a documentary about the – evil, in my opinion - “satanic panic”;
• With regard to natural and other catastrophes:
     -   a heatwave is slowing India’s recovery from a recent cyclone;     Mozambique is seeking funding to rebuild more resiliently;     measles outbreaks in my home state and the USA;     a “violent” tornado in the USA;     Cyclone Idai has shown the need for digitised land records;     a fire in an Indian “tutoring centre” has killed at least 17;     the Mount Agung volcano in Indonesia has erupted again, and is again disrupting flights;
• 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 [new is NOT always good – see here],     social media making people miserable or envious,     work and lifestyles causing depression and burnout,     being duped by modern mantras and  management  fads,     “failing“ at being well,     life options,     AI ethics, corporate misuse of mindfulness as a distraction,     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,     the “Earth3” model [SDGs + 9PBs]):
     on climate crisis (our World War III?) and other environmental matters:
     -   attempts to rewild Scotland;     “widespread coral bleaching has been reported in the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti and Moorea, even though there was no El Nino event this year” - and in Western Australia;     plans for a mine rehabilitation project;     the village that may give the UK’s its first climate crisis refugees;     “the no-fly movement is a small but growing community of people who are drastically reducing the number of flights they take, or giving up air travel altogether . . . because of its 2% contribution to global carbon emissions, predicted to grow to as much as 16% by 2050”;     “Europe's first eco-mosque invokes God to fight climate change” (they’re slow: Pagans have been doing this for decades);     two regional towns in Australia are within months of running out of water, and another is having water problems;
     on economic and financial matters, including consumer complaints:
     -   “Silicon Valley’s cultural divergence from the business reality”;
     on affordable, sustainable and decent housing and homelessness matters    (why are politicians with “investment properties” not admitting a conflict of interest and staying out of housing affordability debates?):
     -    granny flats are being looked at in some US cities to provide affordable housing;     the terror and other problems facing those “on the lowest rung of the rental market”, including subtenants;
     -   other affordable housing and homelessness matters have occurred in:   Paris, France;
     on other matters in the category:
     -   “as more people flock to cities, congested roads, expensive commutes and a lack of reliable transport options are disrupting urban economies and affecting quality of life”;
• 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, and was notoriously so the case with a violent extremist attack.     Also, media can be unprofessional,     but funding is an issue … ):
     -   some of the contempt of court cases that arose from a recent prominent child abuse case have been withdrawn;
     -   other media / freedom of expression matters have occurred in:   Egypt,   Uganda (good news);
• With regard to crime, judicial matters and policing     (noting (1) an uncle of mine resigned when corruption was not comprehensively cleaned out of the police force he served in, I have high expectations of police, and I consider all violence, abuse of power and failure to understand the impacts of their actions [e.g., see here and here] undermines and weaken all police – who are under incredible pressure, and (2) all people charged are innocent until proven guilty):
     -   investigations into possible police misconduct in my home state will be extended to allow a more thorough job (some of my comments here are relevant).

Location based News:

• With regard to Africa, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (and other sources) has:
      on Africa generally:
     -   a “dispute over oil deposits [has raised] Somalia-Kenya tension”;
     on specific African nations:
     -   “at least 50 [people have been] killed in armed group attack on villages in” the Central African Republic;
     -   more on corruption in the DR Congo;     the importance of focusing on community in the fight against Ebola in the DR Congo – which may spread;
     -   “Eritreans have peace, now they want freedom”;
     -   Ethiopia has started “rationing electricity for homes and industries”;     the dilemma facing many Ethiopians: “go and we die, stay and we starve”;
     -   growing concerns about corruption in Kenya;
     -   “in Liberia, the UN mission helped restore confidence in the rule of law”;
     -   action has commenced against officials who are allegedly corrupt in Madagascar (as always, innocent until proven guilty);
     -   concerns about elections in Malawi;
     -   “the many drivers enabling violent extremism in northern Mozambique”;
     -   a call for Nigeria to better support women who have escaped from violent extremists in the north east;
     -   more air strikes against violent extremists in Somalia;
     -   as talks fail, protests continue, an arrest is blocked, and a military delegation visits South Sudan, “a top Sudanese general has vowed to back regional ally Saudi Arabia against ‘all threats and attacks; ” (is that to be reciprocated in the event of any threat to the military junta currently ruling Sudan?);
     -   “Uganda’s high court [has] blocked a government bid to suspend dozens of top journalists”;
     -   economically troubled Zambia is nationalising the copper industry . . . again;
     -   women are among those being trained as community solar engineers in Zanzibar;
• With regard to South and Central America:
     -   attacks on academia by the new Brazilian regime;
     -   “Mexico's refugee agency [has turned] to U.N. amid [an] asylum surge [and] funding cuts”;
     -   Nicaragua is facing, after four decades of pain, an echo of the conditions that led to US-imposed regime change;
     -   a review of what will need to happen after the current President of Venezuela relinquishes power;     “soldiers held hostage, villagers killed: the untold story of Venezuelan aid violence”;     children of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia are stateless;
• 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):
     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:
     -   “the Coordination Council for North American Affairs [Taiwan’s de facto Embassy in the USA, is] being renamed the Taiwan Council for US Affairs”;
     elsewhere in Asia:
     -   “Cambodian actors have re-enacted atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge on the country's National Day of Remembrance - known informally as the "Day of Anger".”;
     -   Indonesia’s incumbent President has officially been re-elected and is likely to stay focused on the economy (which is good for Australia) and accelerate land reform, but opposition protests at the result have killed several people and left hundreds injure and dozens arrested – see here for a nuanced description of the protests, including the good and the weird;     mediaeval thinking in some women in Indonesia (they are also found elsewhere) show the need for a good, old-fashioned 1970s style consciousness raising – see also here;
     -   “a string of mysterious murders and deportations across South-East Asia has Thai dissidents fearing for their lives”;     a review of a book on Thailand’s history, particularly its military;
     and in the Pacific:
     -   the first ever meeting between the USA and the leaders of three of its former colonies in the Pacific;     the energy challenges of the Pacific;
• With regard to Europe and the European Union (EU) (which need to step up, as the USA steps down):
     -   “Swiss voters go to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to tighten up their gun laws to conform with European Union regulations”;
     -   the UK’s Prime Minister will resign over that nation’s bungled attempts to leave the EU;
     -   in response to anti-Roma bigotry, a “Romanian Roma couple in Italy [are] contesting key local elections”;
• With regard to the (forgotten or ignored and underreported) conflicts in Ukraine, particularly in the east:
     -   Ukraine’s new President has called a snap election;    “children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine [are] ‘too terrified to learn’ amid [a] spike in attacks on schools”;
• With regard to the conflict in  sexist Afghanistan (noting that Afghanistan was once a peaceful and modern society, even allowing women in miniskirts, before the Russian invasion – see here):
     -   an examination of why the USA has changed how it measures progress in Afghanistan;     book clubs in Afghanistan;
• With regard to South Asia (aka the Indian sub-continent), The Hindu and other sources have:
     on India:
     -   an examination of India’s six month old health care system;     “India’s prime minister [is] on track to decisively win a second term[now confirmed – see also here, and here] , according to exit polls released after voting officially ended . . . in the country’s marathon six-week elections”;     “the Taj Mahal [has become the] first Indian monument with [a] breastfeeding room”;     recent fish kills are being investigated;
     on Pakistan:
     -   “how the dangerous evolution of Pakistan’s national security state threatens domestic stability”;
     elsewhere in South Asia:
     -   the superficial and deeply flawed attempts at recovery from the war in Sri Lanka;
     -   “in climate change-hit Bangladesh, hospital boats keep healthcare afloat”;
• 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:
     -   funding of Palestine refugee operations is approaching a crisis, and international donors are needed again;     good and bad news on LGBTI matters in Israel;     Egypt sent firefighting helicopters, others are sending aid and Palestinians have offered help to fight a fire which consumed an “iconic memorial forest for Holocaust victims”;     98 former judges have compared the Prime Minister’s attempt to ensure his immunity by allowing the Knesset to override the High Court to pre-Nazi Germany – and the Supreme Court will take “ ‘extreme steps’ to stop [any] curbing of its powers”;
     -   other events concerning Israel/Judaism and/or Palestine have occurred or are developing in:   Ukraine,   Poland,   a US school;
     on the  conflict and the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis in Yemen:
     -   an update on Yemen;     repeated interference by rebels may lead to the suspension of aid;     Yemen’s President has accused the UN representative of bias;
     elsewhere in the region:
     -   street protest marches have continued for a 14^th week in Algeria;
     -   tourists – and therefore Egypt’s economy – are coming under fire again;     a court has ordered the release of a journalist held for over 800 days;
     -   “Iraq needs support to ‘leave [its] violent past behind’ ”.

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 (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.