tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-297677912024-03-05T16:46:58.453-05:00Man From AtlanSpiritual answers for the New AgeMan From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-6182198482730246112020-09-07T18:55:00.000-04:002020-09-07T18:55:56.487-04:00Memories of Dad<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRn23oA4wJSgBbjTDvHGV2eC4ab_-noY0dY0fsHRRWevcCmiA8yey8zSLuInWgGa68qZDvTrJPeQEcAHpSOVWJCtwyfWFOjCl4SdL7wJBKrVGKLEEhaB1Pa-73tQdtD1kYRh4vA/s708/0C73BF4E-783E-4BEB-B84A-D6A526F8C38C.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRn23oA4wJSgBbjTDvHGV2eC4ab_-noY0dY0fsHRRWevcCmiA8yey8zSLuInWgGa68qZDvTrJPeQEcAHpSOVWJCtwyfWFOjCl4SdL7wJBKrVGKLEEhaB1Pa-73tQdtD1kYRh4vA/s320/0C73BF4E-783E-4BEB-B84A-D6A526F8C38C.png" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;"><b>Memories of Dad </b><div>My father passed away last year <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">while I was in the hospital. It was the </span>night of March 16-17, 2019 just before his 91st birthday. I was unable to attend the funeral and still haven’t been able to visit his grave. (One day I’ll take up my brother’s kind offer).</div><div><br /></div><div>These are the memories of dad I wish to pass on to our children.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He loved us, but his final thoughts when he slipped away were of his grandchildren.</span></div><div><div> </div><div>I believe everyone chooses their parents, names and direction in life <u>before</u> they’re born. (Then forget their choices immediately after). And I was fortunate to be born to these parents, at that particular time, in Lahore, Pakistan. </div><div><br /></div><div>The earliest memory I have Is being surrounded by their love, so I’ve always tried to do the same for my kids. He set me on the arc of my life, and each step of the way, he provided the opportunities to move on to the next milestone. So I wish to remember him, and give thanks for everything, with love. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>A sense of Adventure:</b></div><div>Dad was born in the maternal haveli (mansion) in Lahore’s old city, owned by Kashmiri hakims (herbal physicians) but his heart was with the paternal family home in Mansuri (Mussoorie) India the foothills of the Himalayas. At 7000 feet, he developed a passion for mountains there, and trekked all over, once to <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the Khunjerab Pass altitude 4693 meters (15397 feet) on the border with China (I love mountains too).</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Love of Travel:</b></div><div>Soon as I was born, he was posted to the London embassy (and after that, Tokyo) so I didn’t go back to Pakistan until I was almost 8 yrs old. We went by ship, that’s how people got around then. </div><div><br /></div><div>He appreciated British culture, values and history and passed it on to us.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">London was filled with the spirits of those killed in WWII, and likewise, Tokyo which informed my lifelong interest in spirituality. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I remember how happy my parents were in each other our early years in the UK and Japan. These therefore are my favourite countries and cultures.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He insisted we only speak English at home which really helped me in life. (My second language was Japanese; I had to start learning Urdu when I returned).</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My next memory was of me (age 2) and my brother Tahir (1) laughing like loons, crashing one of those oversized battleship prams down the stairs of our second floor flat in London. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another time I let myself out through the garden gate and was found later, wandering around a park. I was two. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Later that year King George VI died and Elizabeth II became Queen (we left London before the coronation). This probably explains why I’m such a fan of constitutional institutions :)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After a brief stay with my grandparents in India we flew to Japan in a TWA Super Constellation, and a stewardess took me to visit the pilots in their cockpit. (It was early 1953, before the dawn of jet travel).</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When we landed in Tokyo I remember sneaking out of the hotel we were staying in and charmed my way into a cinema without paying. I was 3 1/2 years old and Captain Blood, with Errol Flynn, was playing. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He disapproved of comics but mom and I convinced him I was improving my English. He enrolled me in kindergarten in an American school before I turned 4 because my birthday fell in the academic year. That early start was ok, I’ve loved school ever since.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Upbringing:</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our neighbours were a polyglot mix from all over, American, Turkish, Iranians, Japanese, people from India. He was unprejudiced, so made </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">friends easily. Every one who knew him remarked his kindness and gentle manner.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once, a gang of Muslims wanted to beat up an Indian kid with sticks. The gang leader was shamefully, another Pakistani, and when I asked why, it was like it was self-evident, “because he’s a Hindu”. I was 5. and these kids were all about a year older, so obviously</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">, their prejudices came from parents. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I slipped away and warned him, so he was able to defend himself quite capably and the gang slunk away.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Influences:</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our neighbour was an American school teacher who allowed me to read books in his home library. He introduced me to Mark Twain :) and also, the author Joseph Campbell when he visited Japan (1955).</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Many cultures:</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Those were the early 50’s, when it seemed like I met the best of every nation and culture, American, British, Indian, Japanese, Pakistani and the number of people I met who affected my life, and how it was Dad who was the catalyst for change. So thanks, Dad.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He always had a smile for us and taught me to be adventurous and independent through personal example. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mom sang a lot; in Urdu and English-she taught me cooking and to appreciate reading, music and poetry.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Independence:</b></span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He had a problematic relationship with his father, so</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> determined to make his own way in the world, he left British India at the age of 16 to go to Sri Lanka where he found employment, slept on the floor of the store to save money. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brave:</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He went back to Qadian, Punjab in 1947 just before Partition to protect his parents from marauding Sikhs, patrolled the town armed only with a lathi (long cane). </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15 million people were ethnically cleansed on both sides in the biggest mass migration in history, and up to two million people were killed, but Qadian was miraculously spared till the town was evacuated by Pakistani military trucks. (300 volunteers remained behind to protect the town being occupied by evacuees from the other side of the border).</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At heart, he was a romantic.</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He’d known my mom since childhood, (they were cousins) and declared he would marry her one day. It was a love, not arranged, marriage and they wed in 1948. </span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Processing grief:</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He never was the same when his mother died tragically in an accident. Then when my younger brother passed after a long illness both parents changed, they never were the same again.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was processing my own grief and knew I had to get away. So at the age of 11 I applied for and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">won a scholarship to PAF Public School Sargodha (thousands of applicants from all over East and West Pakistan, only 60 were admitted every year, I placed 11th). </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Loyal:</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Earlier when my grandfather stormed out of the Qadiani sect (we have a long history with them) and sent a telegram to the Caliph saying he was taking </span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">all</b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> his family with him, they went along with his dictates-only dad defied him by sending a telegram saying he was still a loyal member of the Jamaat. I only hope I am half as brave as he.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>They published an obituary of his contributions here:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amjfuneralservices.ca/tribute/details/292/Syed-Ahmad/obituary.html" target="_blank">Ahmadiyya Jamat Obituary </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>https://amjfuneralservices.ca/tribute/details/292/Syed-Ahmad/obituary.html </div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Respect for other beliefs:</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He was a founding member of the Jamaat in Canada and helped establish mosques all over, yet bore with equanimity my announcement I wasn’t even a Muslim. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He asked “so what do you believe then?” and listened patiently while I explained my syncretic Buddhist-Hindu philosophy. He was honest about his beliefs. I appreciated the relationship I had with him, that I could be honest about <b>mine.</b></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was much later I discovered we were descended from Sufi mystics, which explains some inexplicable things.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Modern:</b></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Surprisingly modern, he encouraged my mother to wear a swimsuit to take us swimming in the local swimming pool in Tokyo.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once, when a photographer took a colour photo of her in shalwar kameez and it appeared on the cover of a Japanese magazine he was very proud. She also appeared in fashion shows modelling traditional Pakistani dress- no hijab or purdah then :)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He spoke Japanese quite fluently and loved the people and culture. Tea tasting ceremonies, communal hot baths, visits to temples and shrines were all food for imagining and wonder.</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Photography:</b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He was a keen photographer so bought a twin reflex Mamiya medium format camera and took lots of pictures all over. The one thing I wish I inherited but it went missing over the years.</span></div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></b></div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More Adventure:</b></div><div><div><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He took us all over Japan. Once we stayed in a country inn and when the shoji blinds were pulled back there was Mt. Fuji, reflected by the light of the setting sun in the water of a still lake. Magical. Dad climbed it the next day.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moving back to Pakistan on a Dutch freighter we got caught in a typhoon off the Sea of Japan and had to shelter in a bay. We lost our anchor but survived. The rest of our trip from Hong Kong to Karachi was uneventful but sunsets over the ocean were spectacular.</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>He came to pick me up from school with the family in our new VW Beetle. On the 1200 kms trip back he taught me how to drive stick shift. I was 13 then. Made good use of that skill when I took my family to Europe for a four month long driving tour.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>One door closes, another opens: </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He’d looked forward to being posted to the Los Angeles consulate but that fell through so we ended back in Pakistan which opened another door for us, he got a job with Mitsubishi and we went to the best schools. It was a better, earlier time.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>When I failed the final medical exam to get into Air Force College Risalpur I was disappointed but he got me admitted to his old school, F.C. College, Lahore which was run by American missionaries and that's where I continued my education. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When I graduated from University in 1970 and saw the direction our country was going, (it broke up within months) so I prayed and within two weeks he decided to emigrate to Canada for a better life for his children. Got a job with another Japanese company, Toyota :)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He even sponsored so many relatives to come here we have quite a clan in Canada 🇨🇦 </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And even then he paid for my first year accounting course at the University of Toronto but after a semester when I decided it wasn’t for me he was fine with that.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Afterlife:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>For three years I was unable to get over grief for my brother passing till someone showed me how to contact spirits. That taught me there’s an afterlife, after all, what Tibetan Buddhists call Bardo, Christians Purgatory, Muslims Barzakh. </div><div><br /></div><div>So there’s no surprise this message from him showed up in my inbox: a photo of Sakura, the Cherry Blossom festival in Japan <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" style="color: black; text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">March 13</a>, a few days before his 1st death anniversary. </div><div><br /></div><div>I remember he was enraptured by our first viewing of cherry blossoms back then 🌸 </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://jetsetlust.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/cherry-blossom-sakura-japan/">japan/</a><a href="https://jetsetlust.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/cherry-blossom-sakura-japan/">https://jetsetlust.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/cherry-blossom-sakura-japan/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are my memories of Dad: at heart, he was in my opinion not a religious, but a spiritual person, who bore whatever life threw at him with grace.</div><div><br /></div><div>So thanks, Dad. I love you.</div></div></div></div>Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-69274727961729112942020-09-04T15:41:00.000-04:002020-09-04T15:44:20.561-04:00Iqbal Bano, Hum Dekhenge (We Shall See)<p dir="ltr">Listening to Iqbal Bano, the subcontinent's great ghazal singer. </p><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://youtu.be/dxtgsq5oVy4 " target="_blank">Hum Dekhenge</a></p><p dir="ltr">A protest poem written by her friend Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the darkest days of Zia's military dictatorship, she defied his ban on public music and Faiz's 'leftist' poetry by appearing in a concert at Lahore's Railway Stadium before a crowd of 50,000.</p><p dir="ltr">This song went on to inspire a whole generation of young activists on both sides of the Indo-Pak border; today you can even hear Hum Dekhenge chanted by protesters in Occupied Kashmir!</p><p dir="ltr">
Her voice is sublime, with a range and power equivalent to great African-American spirituals. Even if you don't know Urdu, please listen. <br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr">
This rekindled the love for Urdu poetry I developed in college, and the song is equal to "We shall overcome" imho.<br /><br /></p><p dir="ltr">
(My translation) <br />
"All crowns will be toppled/All thrones overturned/And rise to heaven/Like cotton fluffs/When the final days come/The invisible poor and oppressed/Will finally be visible/And all will see/The face of God/...</p><p dir="ltr"><br />
The refrain and closing verse Hum Dekhenge (We shall see) is from the Quran, the leftist poet is using Islamic verses to rebuke the dictator who used religion to divide the country</p><p dir="ltr">. <br />
This recording is from a performance the next year in Lahore's Alhamra Hall at the annual Faiz Festival. Iqbal Bano is said to have worn a black Sari in protest against the dictator's ban on the 'Indian' garment (he even banned kite flying, the sale of musical instruments and celebrations of the Hindu holiday of Holi).</p><p dir="ltr">The audience sang along with her and roared the refrain Hum Dekhenge! And then she did a remarkable thing, against the conventions of ghazal (Indo-Persian Sufi poetry). The performance is supposed to be by seated musicians and singers, but at the final stanza, she stood up in silent protest! The crowd went wild.</p><p dir="ltr">
Zia's goons went around the next day and confiscated all the tapes they could find but the original had been hidden away and smuggled to Dubai where it spread back to India and Pakistan. The rest, is history.</p><p dir="ltr">
Sadly, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Iqbal Bano are no longer with us but their song lives on in the hearts of oppressed people of India and Pakistan.</p>Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-70582270446727065522018-10-10T07:48:00.002-04:002018-10-10T21:11:47.902-04:00I Heal The Unquiet Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6qZhvHORQZqamz0UQOsv5oAKYk3_E7M48chIZdFjVx6cqkzslnkf1k20IGB_LiBPO5tLjJn8tQQxruX0k-tLKr7OlVNgu30jkpdx8hNKChfgMw5YsuUeud2mKjEmJf8JjaKOaQ/s1600/I+see+spirits+everywhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6qZhvHORQZqamz0UQOsv5oAKYk3_E7M48chIZdFjVx6cqkzslnkf1k20IGB_LiBPO5tLjJn8tQQxruX0k-tLKr7OlVNgu30jkpdx8hNKChfgMw5YsuUeud2mKjEmJf8JjaKOaQ/s400/I+see+spirits+everywhere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<em><strong>I see spirits everywhere</strong></em></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>In the trees, the night sky</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Spirits flashing by </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Of those once held dear</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>And always, near.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>~Naseer Ahmad</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Arriving in London in 1950 I was surrounded by the spirits of 000's of people who died in the Blitz during WWII. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tokyo, 1953, the 00,000's who died in Tokyo during American bombing raids and another million killed in Korea by US bombers based in Japan. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Spirits (those who have passed and those still attached to bodies :) are drawn to me for healing; this is what I do.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Over the years I have done a lot of exorcisms, cases of demonic possession (the other side of mental illness) battle of angels vs demons in the heavens, a war for the soul of humanity (which I've written about in hundreds of articles in this blog and countless places elsewhere on social media. I teach, but if people can't learn or change, I move on, as I am too sensitive to be anything but neutral).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Except when it affects my family. <br />
<br />
I recently became aware of something I'd sensed but finally confirmed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We went to Hungary in 1996, to visit my wife's family <a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.com/2009/01/travels-with-chloe.html" target="_blank">Travels With Agnes</a><br />
<br />
While there I healed a great many people, but also broke many eggs. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Staying with her maternal grandmother, we noticed she was being neglected by her son. She had a fruit/vegetable garden and chickens, but he took the produce and eggs for his own family's use and left her with the bare minimum. Also intercepted the post man with her pension check every month and held on to her bank pass book.<br />
<br />
I encouraged Agnes to go to the bank and confront her uncle. He got all defensive and promised to look after his mom better. While there I gave him two healing treatments and noted he had a heart condition. My diagnosis was based on an imbalance within his heart chakra which as it turned out had to do with hurt feelings in his relationship with his mom. <br />
<br />
When you have an imbalance in one chakra you try to compensate by imbalances in other areas of your life, here in accumulating material goods. He also took over the estate of another relative who owned a villa overlooking the Danube worth millions by getting the surviving relatives to sign over their interest by lying about the government's intention to take over the property.<br />
<br />
He was so threatened by fear of exposure he told everyone we were trying to take over his mom's bank account!<br />
<br />
He passed away last year from heart failure, but Agnes only recently was told the extent of the negativity he had directed at her. Even her own cousin was turned against her. When you sense something, but do not know, the hurt can be much worse. <br />
<br />
His spirit came to us filled with remorse. You can only heal the unquiet spirit, and let it go. But this isn't about his actions in life, it's the effect on the living. We carry generations of karmic damage within us, and it's up to us to heal ourselves, and not pass it on. Or we come back, and repeat the messes we make, and the lessons unlearned.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em></em></div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-10942588705219469572018-07-22T02:52:00.002-04:002018-07-22T07:56:58.953-04:00Peace breaks out in Korea?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgfMTrFCClY8g_KuQtvmbrxSxRksfNtO_wI7T2iwxLogoHQFKUL-2m3fsgYEJlLHndGzwyqN7UU9T-x4E4tup38hv05_raj3WjM1-XHv85Kc7-3i9Z4MxArVAfCOlVFK3dFxcw/s1600/Korean+War.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDgfMTrFCClY8g_KuQtvmbrxSxRksfNtO_wI7T2iwxLogoHQFKUL-2m3fsgYEJlLHndGzwyqN7UU9T-x4E4tup38hv05_raj3WjM1-XHv85Kc7-3i9Z4MxArVAfCOlVFK3dFxcw/s400/Korean+War.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/2015/8/3/9089913/north-korea-us-war-crime" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;"><strong>Americans have forgotten what we did to North Korea</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That act was this: In the early 1950s, during
the Korean War, the US dropped more bombs on North Korea than it had dropped in
the entire Pacific theater during World War II. This carpet bombing, which
included 32,000 tons of napalm, often deliberately targeted civilian as well as
military targets, devastating the country far beyond what was necessary to
fight the war. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whole cities were destroyed, with many thousands (estimated: hundreds of thousands) of innocent
civilians killed and many more left homeless and hungry.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBLCnQySw19rhT1jkexUMH91ZTneIOokj7-uEBXWYmMsTdezizStILMMPA28wI5qo77XL-moBu_p3xxYNRb5ntWdBg2oN7PMes5C3ou5OZ4M8sZB-1bvczPphw7SbDbz70CWM4Q/s1600/Massacre+in+Korea+Picasso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="768" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBLCnQySw19rhT1jkexUMH91ZTneIOokj7-uEBXWYmMsTdezizStILMMPA28wI5qo77XL-moBu_p3xxYNRb5ntWdBg2oN7PMes5C3ou5OZ4M8sZB-1bvczPphw7SbDbz70CWM4Q/s400/Massacre+in+Korea+Picasso.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>“Massacre in Korea” by Pablo Picasso, 1951</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://peacehistory-usfp.org/korean-war/" target="_blank"><strong>The Korean War: Barbarism Unleashed</strong></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
An excellent history and resource guide from the "United States Foreign Policy" site. I hadn't realized that Picasso did a painting to match his more famous "Guernica" one-guess Americans don't recognize their inner Nazi.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy7CsMGnTWbgsVAhVsWGNP2dl-NI7a-3OEMMl5msH4yqw2mGyVXKzsFolh2icoQLE7yz2yotHLBhwTps6EPO3BZW0GXS7uoHk3Kv-KUsc-nUh6kjyO-W5cp-mRu3WUmS4mYo2kA/s1600/Unified+Korea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="710" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy7CsMGnTWbgsVAhVsWGNP2dl-NI7a-3OEMMl5msH4yqw2mGyVXKzsFolh2icoQLE7yz2yotHLBhwTps6EPO3BZW0GXS7uoHk3Kv-KUsc-nUh6kjyO-W5cp-mRu3WUmS4mYo2kA/s400/Unified+Korea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong>Seoul Winter Olympics 2018~The Unified Korea flag.</strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'd been in a deep and dark place since 2014, but this picture and the events leading up to the Winter Olympics, and after, moved me more than anything else. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From an article I wrote in 2014 <a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.com/2014/04/why.html" target="_blank"><strong>Why?</strong></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div>
Everything happens for a reason.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
April is the longest month.</div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Tomorrow, April 23, will be a very difficult day, as a Jupiter Mars Pluto Uranus Grand Cross becomes exact at 13 degrees of the cardinal signs, affecting people and countries ruled by Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra. (The US, which I have had my eye on for some time, is ruled by Cancer. Some say the Russian Federation is ruled by Capricorn) </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This aspect was felt for more than a month now, and will be felt, with waning aspects in the month to come. There will be great changes all over, and how and when it affects you, depends on the choices you make.</blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
It referenced the Jeju Island ferry disaster of April 16, 2014 (read the article please) but also the changes to come in America and Russia. Little did I know of the changes to come in me personally since that time (I'm a Capricorn, LOL and ahem) and the whole, connected to Korea.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Yes, I'm a pedantic history and foreign policy wonk but my focus has always been spiritual so this is the pen I'm writing with. I must say, who knew the events that would come to finally, hopefully, lead to peace in Korea, and then the world? Never mind the hatred many feel for Trump; I applaud his summits in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (a fellow Capricorn :) then Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin in Helsinki later this year. I will always advocate and hope for peace even as I see the world being possessed by demons, sorry. Love and the spiritual are the only answers.<br />
<br />
Oddly, it was a Republican president-nominee, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who visited Korea in 1952<br />
<a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-goes-to-korea" target="_blank"><strong>1952 Eisenhower goes to Korea</strong></a> then as president made good his campaign promise by signing an armistice with China and Korea. The Democrats had wanted to continue the war-the more things change, the more they remain the same. <br />
<br />
Oddly, it was the brilliant Seven Days In May movie (1964) by John Frankenheimer that showed an American president who signed a peace treaty with Russia then when the senate ratified it American power structures conspired to stage a coup against him. Given the levels of anger against Trump meeting Putin, I wonder if moves against him constitute a coup against a duly elected president?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcSpzHndsjke3QQqqPRugv6LTg55AQuOCEYFK-CylMiVeFFQV-Dc2QAlACgvoCbOMCf-ZkpwEW1v2hm6vg6HfP3vKd2hVrCi6LadHb9mhf_4YQy4cv1MoRnRRKVuM5sGtrOInFw/s1600/Seven+Days+in+May+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="214" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcSpzHndsjke3QQqqPRugv6LTg55AQuOCEYFK-CylMiVeFFQV-Dc2QAlACgvoCbOMCf-ZkpwEW1v2hm6vg6HfP3vKd2hVrCi6LadHb9mhf_4YQy4cv1MoRnRRKVuM5sGtrOInFw/s400/Seven+Days+in+May+poster.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally, it was the Korean people themselves, who demanded an end to the conflict and removed the corrupt South Korean presidents Park Geun-hye and Chun Doo-hwan (who massacred thousands of protestors in the 1980 Gwangju Uprising) who made this possible, not the US. Even then, it was touch and go as military leaders planned a possible coup to keep the president in power<br />
<a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/did-south-korea-army-plot-coup-to-keep-ousted-leader-in-power-1.4013768" target="_blank"><strong>Did South Korea army plot coup to keep ousted leader in power?</strong></a><br />
<br />
Yes, changes are taking place, both world-wide and personally, but as I've said before my perspective has always been we must go through a cleansing fire before we can be reborn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>I wish you all, peace, love and joy.</strong></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<span style="opacity: 0; position: absolute;">https://twitter.com/TimothyS/status/1015408257832124416</span><br />
<span style="opacity: 0; position: absolute;">https://twitter.com/YonhapNews/status/1014660186592575488</span><br />
<span style="opacity: 0; position: absolute;">https://twitter.com/YonhapNews/status/1014660186592575488</span>Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-47255936922780150572017-10-16T17:08:00.000-04:002017-10-16T17:08:05.928-04:00Vulture Speaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKZfNycsv4YQx0AZPLK4OTbIouDy_futVPweSa-Ny8JyQgG5mq5bgY2M28ZfQwgUjHYcUoeMyzPEsOjJCcvQfuj9k0MaZbsvFoFB-hTuSGpYymK39BEz2LJV_tqSoecSfXhxTig/s1600/Vulture+%25C3%2587atal+H%25C3%25BCy%25C3%25BCk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKZfNycsv4YQx0AZPLK4OTbIouDy_futVPweSa-Ny8JyQgG5mq5bgY2M28ZfQwgUjHYcUoeMyzPEsOjJCcvQfuj9k0MaZbsvFoFB-hTuSGpYymK39BEz2LJV_tqSoecSfXhxTig/s400/Vulture+%25C3%2587atal+H%25C3%25BCy%25C3%25BCk.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>I have an affinity with birds</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The strangest thing happened this Thursday October 12. Our house is a magnet for wild life but this time, a rook of Turkey Vultures landed in our backyard, which we'd never seen before. They were magnificent.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My first thought was someone's dead. (Vultures are associated with death) When an aunt passed away a few years back a dove had crashed in our window-see <a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2014/11/message-from-dove.html" target="_blank">Message From A Dove</a> Later in the day, received a note that a friend had died suddenly in Florida. He was only 41. So I was inspired to write about it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But my message is a continuation of an earlier article <a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2014/11/message-from-dove.html" target="_blank">A Bird Came For Healing</a> when an ill American Bittern flew into our yard and I helped it get better.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We all have a passion for learning, and the freedom to follow our path.</blockquote>
And my friend C. who at her wedding near Hamilton a Turkey Vulture got caught in a tree and I helped release it.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>The message is, follow your path, and do not let anger, fears or emotions hold you back</strong>.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>And, this is about the imbalance between earth and spirit</strong>. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>When birds appear they are always messages from spirit</strong>. </blockquote>
So everyone who was there at the wedding, followed our paths.<br />
<br />
Vultures are sacred birds in many cultures, Egypt, Sumer, Çatal Hüyük <a href="http://sped2work.tripod.com/totem.html"></a><a href="http://sped2work.tripod.com/totem.html" target="_blank">The Vulture As Totem</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In the 1950's the husband/wife archaelogist/anthropologist team of Ralph and Rose Solecki began excavating a cave site 250 miles north of Baghdad along a tributary of the Tigris River called the Greater Zab that rises out of the Turkey-Kurdistan border area. The cave had been used for burials by an ancient tribal people called the Zawi Chami around 8870 BCE (plus or minus 300 years, according to carbon-dating) <b>--over 10,000 years ago--</b> which is well over 4,000 years before the beginnings of any of the various cultures mentioned above. In their dig the Soleckis found a number of wing bones of large predatory birds, which turned out to be Gyptaeus barbatus (the bearded vulture) and Gyps fulvus (the griffon vulture). </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
That very same overall innate nature imbeded in the actions and life of the vulture, never killing or hurting a living thing or its own fellow creatures, is reflected for the most part, in and by the the actions and life of the person that truly has the vulture as a totem animal. </blockquote>
And my daughter had a dream where she was speaking words of power in Assyrian, from that same location.<br />
<br />
This message wasn't about the person who passed away, but was for me. Still, I did have a feeling of sadness when I first met him. This was possibly his last comment, October 08, 2017:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvc8km2-VhobY8f4Q0fCd97Pixhf0rLgRYKEAJJkIXKa8a6t89accpnj6cpqHoO_Y3pKMvxTMvY4Et-TpB9IWNnKaTZy2mkZWfGTj4iVkzHRW1hHpwR_KVQR-o8BOPE-74TCA7Q/s1600/Smithees+last+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="588" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvc8km2-VhobY8f4Q0fCd97Pixhf0rLgRYKEAJJkIXKa8a6t89accpnj6cpqHoO_Y3pKMvxTMvY4Et-TpB9IWNnKaTZy2mkZWfGTj4iVkzHRW1hHpwR_KVQR-o8BOPE-74TCA7Q/s400/Smithees+last+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shamans are a bridge between earth and spirit, so Vulture was a message for me. For the restless spirit, to help ease its passing. For me, to keep following that path, which now looks like there will be changes coming anyway.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I look at the nature of Scorpio. It can be about death, and maybe we need to die or in some way, let go. For me, it is about regeneration. The countless deaths that have taken place was just to let us know we cannot continue in this way. There will always be sadness, but we <strong>must</strong> change. All these calls for "resistance" are just illusion, designed to keep us spinning wheels. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The path to change is to look after our bodies, our feelings, our spirit. Perhaps, this is the message that Vulture brings to <strong>you.</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-1963213901272629282017-10-06T13:39:00.002-04:002017-11-20T19:33:37.469-05:00The Valor of Soldiers in Combat-Arakan, Burma, WWII<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5jXULuqMHFKiccd7c_OcR2dEQa1DI5V-jlyV-C6Fkf7XKlyEQLJA5nG61P7vw9AYteUX_n_Lmlpkh8TEhf2wYtNN7ZxP2ylcs5Os0OS5pPKM7XS9ggl_78XxplTQpq5p65eXDw/s1600/Lt+Col+Thorat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="367" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5jXULuqMHFKiccd7c_OcR2dEQa1DI5V-jlyV-C6Fkf7XKlyEQLJA5nG61P7vw9AYteUX_n_Lmlpkh8TEhf2wYtNN7ZxP2ylcs5Os0OS5pPKM7XS9ggl_78XxplTQpq5p65eXDw/s400/Lt+Col+Thorat.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
From <a href="http://www.coloursofglory.org/hill-called-melrose/" target="_blank">A HILL CALLED MELROSE</a> --WW2 in Burma.......A true story....<br />
<br />
"May I have a light?" I looked up to see a Japanese – more or less my age – with an unlit cigarette in his hand. I reached for my lighter. He lit up. We were on a train travelling from Berne to Geneva in the autumn of 1980. “Indian?” he asked. “Yes” I replied. We got talking. He was an official in the UN and was returning to home and headquarters at Geneva. I was scheduled to lecture at the university. We chit-chatted for a while; he gave me some useful tips on what to see and where to eat in the city. Then, having exhausted the store of ‘safely tradable information’, we fell silent. I retrieved my book – ‘Defeat into Victory’, an account of the Second World War in Burma by Field Marshal William Slim. He opened the newspaper. We travelled in silence. After a while he asked “Are you a professor of Military History?” “No” I replied- “just interested. My father was in Burma during the war”. “Mine too” he said.<br />
<br />
In December 1941, Japan invaded Burma and opened the longest land campaign of the entire war for Britain. There were two reasons for the Japanese invasion. First, cutting the overland supply route to China via the Burma Road would deprive Chiang Kai Sheik’s Nationalist Chinese armies of military equipment and pave the way for the conquest of China. Second, possession of Burma would position them at the doorway to India, where they believed a general insurrection would be triggered against the British once their troops established themselves within reach of Calcutta. Entering Burma from Thailand, the Japanese quickly captured Rangoon in 1942, cut off the Burma Road at source and deprived the Chinese of their only convenient supply base and port of entry. Winning battle after battle, they forced the allied forces to retreat into India. The situation was bleak. The British were heavily committed to the war in Europe and lacked the resources and organisation to recapture Burma. However, by1943 they got their act together. The High Command was overhauled; Wavell was replaced by Mountbatten and operational control was given to General William Slim, a brilliant officer. Slim imbued his men with a new spirit, rebuilt morale and forged the famous 14th Army, an efficient combat force made up of British, Indians and Africans. The Japanese, aware that the defenders were gathering strength, resolved to end the campaign with a bold thrust into India and a simultaneous attack in the Arakan in Burma.<br />
<br />
In the ebb and flow of these large events chronicled in Military History, my father, a soldier, played a part – first in Kohima in clearing the Japanese from the Naga Hills, then in Imphal and finally in the deeply forested mountains of Arakan. Destiny took him there. In the blinding rain of the monsoons in 1943, the Supreme Allied Commander’s plane landed at Maugdow where the All-India Brigade of which his regiment was a part was headquartered. Mountbatten was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Browning, who had been my father’s Adjutant at the Royal Military College in Sandhurst. He and the two other Indian commanders – Thimayya and Sen - were introduced to Mountbatten who made casual but searching enquiries regarding their war experience. Thereafter he was closeted in the ‘conference tent’ with the senior commanders for a long time. As they came out he turned to Reggie Hutton, the Brigade commander and said, “All right Reggie let your All-Indian Brigade do it. But, by God, it is going to be tough”. Then turning to the three of them he said, “Gentlemen, the Japanese are pulling out of upper Burma. You have been selected to intercept their withdrawal from there into the South. You will concentrate at Akyab, proceed to Myebon by sea, capture Kangaw, penetrate Japanese-held territory and convert the Japanese retreat into a rout. Is that clear?” It was.<br />
<br />
My Japanese friend who had been listening intently leaned forward and asked “Did you say your father was in the All India Brigade?” “Yes”, I replied. Our conversation paused for a while as the waiter served coffee and croissants. Later, picking up the threads he persisted “Was he a junior officer at the time?” “Not really” I replied. “He was a Battalion commander”. He digested the information and said “Which regiment?” “The Punjab Regiment” I replied. His face turned colour. Maybe it was a play of light and shade or maybe it was just my imagination but I thought he was going to be ill. “Are you okay?” I queried? He nodded. “Please carry on”.<br />
<br />
After marching through hostile territory, the brigade finally landed at Myebon. Their dis-embarkation was not opposed. They proceeded to Kangaw little knowing that forty-eight hours later they would be locked in a battle which was to last for a fortnight and claim the lives of three thousand men.<br />
<br />
Mountbatten had been right. The withdrawal route of the Japanese was dominated by ‘Hill Feature 170; Melrose. It was firmly held by the Japanese and gave them the enormous advantage of having the ‘commanding heights’. Worse, intelligence reported that they had two brigades. The Indians had one. Brigadier Hutton realised that if the withdrawal had to be cut, the hills would have to be captured irrespective of the numerical disadvantage. He took the call. The first attack by the Hyderabadis under Thimayya mauled the enemy but did not achieve the objective. The second by the Baluchis under Sen met a similar fate. It was then that ‘Reggie’ asked the Punjabis to make a final effort. Artillery and air support was coordinated. The zero hour for the attack was set at 0700 hours on 29 January 1944. At dawn as the leading companies moved forward, the Japanese opened machine gun fire. The Artillery provided cover and laid out a smoke screen. The Punjabis began to climb the hill. Safe from amongst well dug bunkers the Japanese rained fire on them. The Indian casualties mounted as men began to drop. The air cover which was a key part of the plan failed to materialise - bad weather and bad luck. Taking a calculated risk, the commander pushed on. They were hardly a hundred yards from the top when the Japanese threw everything they had at them. In the face of such unrestrained fierceness, the advance faltered hovering uncertainly on the edge of stopping. For the commander, it was the moment of truth – to fight or flee? As he saw his men being mowed down by machine gun fire a rage erupted within him. Throwing caution to the winds he ran forward to be with them. The scales ‘tipped’. The troops rallied, ‘fixed bayonets’ and charged into the Japanese with obscenities and primeval war cries. A fierce hand to hand combat ensued. Neither side took or gave a quarter. The Japanese fought like tigers at bay. The conflict went on unabated through the night. The Japanese counter-attacked in wave after wave but the Indian line held firm. Then the last bullet was fired and there was silence.<br />
<br />
Many years later Mountbatten would describe what took place as “The bloodiest battle of the Arakan” and correctly so. The price of victory was two thousand Japanese and eight hundred Indians dead in the course of a single encounter. Fifty officers and men would win awards for gallantry. The battalion commander would be decorated with the DSO for ‘unflinching devotion to duty and personal bravery’. But all that was to happen in the future.<br />
<br />
At that particular moment on the field of battle, the commander was looking at the Japanese soldiers who had been taken prisoners of war. They had assembled as soldiers do, neatly and in order. On seeing the Indian Colonel, their commander called his men to attention, stepped forward, saluted, unbuckled his sword, held it in both hands and bowed. The Indian was surprised to see that his face was streaked with tears. He understood the pain of defeat but why the tears? After all, this was war. One or the other side had to lose. How could the Japanese explain to the Indian that the tears were not of grief but of shame? How could he make him understand what it meant to be a Samurai? Given a choice he himself would have preferred the nobler course of Hara Keri than surrender. But fate had willed otherwise. The ancestral sword in his hands had been carried with pride by his forefathers. Now he was shaming them by handing it over. All this was unknown – unknowable - to the Indian commander. He came from a different culture and had no knowledge of what was going on in the mind of his adversary. Yet there was something in the manner and bearing of the officer in front of him which touched him deeply. He found himself moved. Without being told he somehow intuited that the moment on hand was not merely solemn but personal and deeply sacred. He accepted the sword and then inexplicably, impelled by an emotion which perhaps only a soldier can feel for a worthy opponent, bent forward and said clearly and loudly in the hearing of all “Colonel I accept the surrender but I receive your sword not as a token of defeat but as a gift from one soldier to another”. The Japanese least expecting this response looked up startled. The light bouncing from the tears on his cheeks, reflected an unspoken gratitude for the Indian’s remark. Coming as it did from the heart, it had touched his men and redeemed their – and his – honour. The Punjabis – Hindus and Muslims - who had gathered around also nodded in appreciation. Battle was battle. When it was on, they had fought each other with all their strength. And now that it was over there was no personal or national animosity. Maybe the Gods who look after soldiers are different from those who look after other mortals for they bind them in strange webs of understanding and common codes of honour no matter which flags they fly.<br />
<br />
The moment passed. He looked at the Signal Officer and nodded. The success signal was fired. Far away in the jungles below, Brigadier Reggie Hutton looked at the three red lights in the sky and smiled. His faith in his commanders had been vindicated. He would later explain that at stake that night was not only the battle objective but the larger issue as to whether Indians ‘had it in them’ to lead men in war. There had been sceptics who felt that his faith was misplaced. He looked at Melrose and smiled. Its capture had vindicated his faith.<br />
<br />
I looked out of the window lost in my thoughts. Suddenly I heard a sob to find that my Japanese friend had broken down. He swayed from side to side. His eyes were closed and it was clear that he was in the grip of an emotion more powerful than himself. He kept saying ‘karma, karma’ and talking to himself in his own language. After a while he looked up with eyes full of tears and holding both my hands said in a voice choked with emotion, “It was my father who gave battle to yours on Melrose. It was he who surrendered. Had your father not understood the depth of his feelings, he would have come back and died of shame. But in accepting our ancestral sword in the manner that he did, he restored honour to our family and my father to me. That makes us brothers – you and I.<br />
<br />
The train pulled into Geneva station. We got down. What had to be said had already been spoken. He bowed. Goodbye I said. Keep in touch. Incidentally, would you like me to restore the sword back to your family. He smiled, looked at me and said “Certainly not. The sword already rests in the house of a Samurai”.<br />
<br />
That was the last I saw of him.<br />
<br />
Usha tells me that the probability of our meeting defies statistics. She should know. She studied economics and statistics. There was a World war going on. Good. My father was in the Indian army; his father was in the Japanese army; perfectly okay. They fought in the same theatre of war – Burma; understandable. They fought in the same battle; difficult but believable. The war finished, they went back to their families; plausible. But that their sons grew up in two different lands, happened to go to Berne at the same time, board the same train, get into the same compartment, share coffee and cigarettes, have a conversation on something that had happened four decades ago, discover their fathers had fought on opposite sides in the same battle – that undoubtedly is insane.<br />
<br />
Personally, I do not believe that there are outcomes in life which are necessarily bound to happen?Yet, sometimes I am not so sure. You can never connect events by looking into the future; you can only connect them by looking at the past. Maybe it is comforting to believe that because the dots connect backward, they will connect forward also. I don’t know. Perhaps in the end, you have to trust in something. The sword has a pride of place in our home. Whenever I see it, my mind goes back to the jungles of Arakan where in the midst of the madness of war, two soldiers were able to touch each other and their compatriots with lasting humanity<br />
<br />
By Dr Yashwant Thorat, son of Lt Gen SPP Thorat KC DSO.Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-86079788584522906682017-09-28T23:33:00.000-04:002018-07-31T21:56:54.875-04:00Memories of Catalunya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkSe-lkXXyvdc7G_sYWPAPiW3S8q8HtNh8ckPve13GkceMF2y6tR3XdvZ8Hp8yqdf6iusG6rEjmexw2rqm87pnf2a0ViJWnvFQW16gT7ZlJrE9iryf6-gZKKxh5bI7Xg9DCLbfg/s1600/Marina+Ginesta+Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1024" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkSe-lkXXyvdc7G_sYWPAPiW3S8q8HtNh8ckPve13GkceMF2y6tR3XdvZ8Hp8yqdf6iusG6rEjmexw2rqm87pnf2a0ViJWnvFQW16gT7ZlJrE9iryf6-gZKKxh5bI7Xg9DCLbfg/s400/Marina+Ginesta+Spain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Barcelona, 1936</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The people of Catalonia will vote October 01, 2017 in a referendum to decide if they want to secede from Spain. Catalonia's High Court and Spain's Constitutional Court have already declared the referendum illegal. The minority right wing government of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has seized millions of ballots and moved troops and <em>Gardia Civil</em> police to prevent the vote, and hundreds of thousands of Catalans have taken to the streets to defend their right to self determination. How did it come to this?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>The Catalan Revolt</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Originally a principality within Aragon, it lost its independence during the war of Spanish Succession in the 18th century, though Catalan Nationalism resurged in the mid 19th century with the promoting of their language and culture. But the Catalan Revolt goes back a lot further; its political tradition of independence <a href="http://www.elcritic.cat/blogs/sergipicazo/2017/09/26/the-catalan-revolt/" target="_blank">The rebellious nature of Catalans</a> has been noted since 1285.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Catalonia was awarded limited autonomy in 1931 by the Socialist Government of Spain but there still was unrest. The right won back government in 1933 and the Catalan Independence Declaration of 1934 was defeated by troops and autonomy suspended. This, and the Asturias miner's strike led to the Spanish Civil War of 1936-38. Spanish dictator Francisco Franco imposed a new constitution depriving Catalonia of autonomy though it continued to agitate, driven by its 'rebellious nature' perhaps?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>The present drive for autonomy:</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Politico Magazine: <a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/catalonia-referendum-independence-timeline-how-did-we-get-here/" target="_blank">Catalonia referendum: How did we get here?</a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The October 1 vote is the culmination of a fallout between Barcelona and Madrid that started in 2003, when Catalonia sought a deal to increase autonomy — and failed.</blockquote>
Even though separatist parties were elected to the regional parliament and tried to negotiate greater autonomy on terms of language and finance, the central government and Constitutional Court, perhaps not acting in good faith, watered down and rejected almost all the proposals. When the final decision was handed down in 2010, a million people protested in Barcelona "We are a nation, we decide!".<br />
<br />
With each request for negotiation being denied the movement for an independence referendum grows. The central government is caught conspiring with news agencies to discredit separatist officials. <br />
<br />
<strong>Final clash: September 06, 2017</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Catalan parliament passes a referendum law and the regional government formally calls the October 1 referendum on secession from Spain. The parliament also passes a law that would regulate the transition to independence if there was a Yes vote. Madrid's central government says these laws represent the "death of democracy" and brings them to the Constitutional Court, which calls for an immediate suspension. The Socialists and Ciudadanos support Rajoy's call to stop the vote.</blockquote>
This is where we're at now. What next, after October 01? Funny, but I wrote a chapter in my book <br />
<em>Man From Atlan</em> and it's called <strong>The Man Of Spain-1936 A.D</strong>. <br />
<br />
You can read it here <br />
<br />
<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20050217214916/http://www.manfromatlan.com:80/ch7pt1.html" target="_blank">The Man of Spain Part I</a><br />
<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20050218113302/http://www.manfromatlan.com:80/ch7pt2.html" target="_blank">The Man of Spain Part II</a><br />
<br />
It's a work of fiction, it's a true story of my past life in Catalonia. It's not a story about politics though set in the background of the Spanish Civil War, it's a love story about a man who avoids war but is forced again and again, to fight for his ideals. Some excerpts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Bull had always been there in the field that he passed by on his way to school. He remembered the first day. He had looked into the field and saw far away the proud black figure of the Bull. "Ay, Toro," he whispered and knew the Bull heard him. He had seen it there every day for many years, and always it was the same as on the first day. He was as it was and one day he would fight it.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The father looked at him sadly, knowing that his son was set on becoming a matador. "I had hoped you would be a doctor." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Why a doctor?" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Because this is what Catalonia needs. It is growing so fast, and already people are realizing how much we're lacking in the people we need. Scientists, engineers, doctors. Soon we will need them even more." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Why?" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Because one day we will be independent." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
From then on, they talked often about the politics and history of Catalonia. Rapidly becoming one of the most industrialized areas in Spain, Catalonia resented the tariffs the other more influential provinces were putting on their products, so that it was at a disadvantage. The Catalans had always felt different from the rest of the Spanish peoples and for many years agitated for a separate homeland. Its industrial base, its trade unions and political parties were lifting its people out from the poverty which was still rife in the rest of Spain. It was a problem to the government in Madrid. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Yet because it was a problem which hadn't been solved for so long, the extremists were coming to the fore. Political murders were being committed almost every day in Barcelona, the capital. There were moderate people like his father who wanted Catalonia to have more independence but still be a part of Spain. Yet, they had been crushed so many times whenever they agitated for freedom for Catalonia that the moderates and the militants together planned for a time when Catalonia could declare its independence. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
These were things which meant everything to the people of Catalonia, yet his father could see they meant nothing to him. His son wanted to be a matador, so let it run its course and in time it would die, as did all the dreams of children. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He knew it would not, for he saw the Bull waiting for him. </blockquote>
Read the rest; it's a lovely story I think. It was a glorious time, fighting for a good cause, not "Independence" but people who resisted fascism. No, I wasn't too fond of the communists and anarchists who splintered the Spanish loyalists but it's a wonderful memory, still.<br />
<br />
The picture above? 17 year old Marina Ginestà.<br />
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10559135/Marina-Ginesta-obituary.html#disqus_thread" target="_blank">Marina Ginestà - obituary</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Marina Ginestà, who has died aged 94, was believed to have been the last surviving French veteran of the Spanish Civil War. As a 17-year-old member of Spain’s Unified Socialist Youth she was immortalised in a photograph taken on the roof of the Hotel Colón in Barcelona in the first flames of the conflict; it was to become one of the most famous photographs of the war. </blockquote>
<br />
<strong>What next for Spain</strong>?<br />
<br />
Looking at its national horoscope, I don't see independence for Catalonia but Spain will suffer in its association with other regions and with Europe. There will be continued unrest as people demand an end to austerity policies and its economy takes several hits. There will be continued repression, and while I don't think people really wanted to be independent, just a greater autonomy within Spain, the central government's heavy response can only make people more willing to split with it. <br />
<br />
<strong>A final word from: </strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22176&LangID=E" target="_blank">United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
GENEVA (28 September 2017) - UN experts* have called on the Spanish authorities to ensure that measures taken ahead of the Catalan referendum on 1 October do not interfere with the <u>fundamental rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association</u>, and public participation.</blockquote>
And there you have it. Maybe Catalonia does not have a constitutional right to secede. But the government's actions have been an appalling violation of human rights. I wish the people of Spain, and Catalonia, well.Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-15300426632810523772017-09-24T00:47:00.000-04:002017-09-24T00:48:23.399-04:00Rohingya crisis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOTQO0_LXZo1Vv_Hkzky77lOVq_wMc3MLXMtOpGmMeBQcAAX1LwzGyJibiO4TwhMG92e2bWXdb-sUv8fj8YsSsEImnu59kLCfDNR0eM5I3wlXHuqncQSaVrlOf2GxffpKPQpGcQ/s1600/rohingya+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="648" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOTQO0_LXZo1Vv_Hkzky77lOVq_wMc3MLXMtOpGmMeBQcAAX1LwzGyJibiO4TwhMG92e2bWXdb-sUv8fj8YsSsEImnu59kLCfDNR0eM5I3wlXHuqncQSaVrlOf2GxffpKPQpGcQ/s400/rohingya+girl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Inhumanity</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Why am I writing about Rohingya crisis? It's in the news but there are so many atrocities taking place. Still, <a href="http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2017/09/22/are-myanmars-rohingya-facing-genocide-or-ethnic-cleansing/" target="_blank">Are Myanmar’s Rohingya facing genocide or ethnic cleansing?</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
THE HAGUE: Muslim Rohingya fleeing their homes in Myanmar are facing “ethnic cleansing” but whether they are victims of genocide remains unclear, international justice experts told AFP.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
About 422,000 refugees from the stateless Muslim minority have fled Myanmar’s westernmost Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August 25, alleging torture and rape by Myanmar troops and Buddhist militias.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their plight has sparked UN accusations of military-led ethnic cleansing, but French President Emmanuel Macron has said the attacks amount to genocide.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And here, <a href="http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1709/S00113/peoples-tribunal-on-myanmar-declares-rohingya-face-genocide.htm" target="_blank">People’s Tribunal on Myanmar Declares Rohingya Face Genocide</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
September 22 – Seven judges of the Rome based Permanent People’s Tribunal on Myanmar have unanimously declared Myanmar guilty of genocide against Rohingyas and crime against humanity against other ethnic minorities.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recently, however, I've seen too many "independent" journalists play loose with the facts, downplaying for ideological reasons, the scale of this tragedy. I hate this, because if reporters can't be trusted to report truthfully, what price democracy and a free society?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
First, the lie the Rohingya are "Bengali immigrants". No, they've been there centuries <a href="http://www.rfa.org/english/multimedia/rohingyaPage-04122010151733.html/RohingyaFactSheet-04132010102750.html" target="_blank">Who are the Rohingya?</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Origin: </b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
The Rohingya are Muslims native to the northern Arakan region of Burma, which borders Bangladesh. The name Rohingya is taken from "Rohang" or "Rohan," which was the name used for the Arakan region during the 9th and 10th centuries. According to Rohingya history, the group is descended from 7th century Arab, Mughal, and Bengali merchants who settled in Arakan territory. The Rohingya live alongside the Rakhine, a people descended from Hindus and Mongols who make up the ethnic majority in the region. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Language:</strong> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Rohingya language is known as Rohingyalish and is linguistically similar to the Chittagonian language spoken in the southernmost area of Bangladesh bordering Burma. While the language has been successfully written in scripts including Arabic, Hanafi, Urdu, and Burmese, the modern adaptation uses a script based on the 26 letters of the Roman alphabet with two additional Latin letters. </blockquote>
The Rohingya had autonomous rights till the military dictatorship of 1962 disenfranchised them all, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize winner is a figurehead unable to do anything to stop this. The West, with its eye on Burma's mineral wealth would like to normalize relations with Myanmar <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/apr/26/fossil-fuel-secret-burma-democratic-fairytale" target="_blank">The dirty fossil fuel secret behind Burma's democratic fairytale</a> <br />
<br />
but now that China has plans to develop an extension of its "silk road" to the Burmese coast there are all of a sudden competing geo-political interests, and, a lot of misinformation, sigh.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/09/the-rohingya-of-myanmar-pawns-in-an-anglo-chinese-proxy-war-fought-by-saudi-jihadists.html#c6a00d8341c640e53ef01bb09c07f0c970d" target="_blank">The Rohingya Of Myanmar - Pawns In An Anglo-Chinese Proxy War Fought By Saudi Jihadists</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYSbdcgsorM7sK_1BD3zdwbwAvBkSKcGXIzn9w0JEnY-2qDkoWGbaK3VaKDjhDQOM284LFJoHrpzYjFodJQWgS8ymrvEZil-ZYFeObmATG_ljCyrewp_IydyrQ7lK4sznmwB3w/s1600/Myanmar+pipeline+route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="679" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBYSbdcgsorM7sK_1BD3zdwbwAvBkSKcGXIzn9w0JEnY-2qDkoWGbaK3VaKDjhDQOM284LFJoHrpzYjFodJQWgS8ymrvEZil-ZYFeObmATG_ljCyrewp_IydyrQ7lK4sznmwB3w/s400/Myanmar+pipeline+route.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
While the ethnic conflict in Rankine state is very old, it has over the last years morphed into an <strong>Jihadist guerilla war financed and led from Saudi Arabia</strong>. The area is of geo-strategic interest:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Rakhine plays an important part in [the Chinese One Belt One Road Initiative] OBOR, as it is an exit to Indian Ocean and the location of planned billion-dollar Chinese projects—a planned economic zone on Ramree Island, and the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port, which has oil and natural gas pipelines linked with Yunnan Province’s Kunming. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Pipelines from the western coast of Myanmar eastwards to China allow hydrocarbon imports from the Persian Gulf to China while avoiding the bottleneck of the Strait of Malacca and disputed parts of the South China Sea.</blockquote>
Whenever people, even in this case with the best intentions, go on about "jihadists" I get annoyed and ask for sources. They certainly are the worst "Saudi-armed jihadists" I've ever seen, having to get arms by raiding police stations. Sure, the leadership of the resistance might ne based in Saudia, but it's a stretch otherwise. And the mistreatment began in 1962, with Buddhist mobs and police <br />
attacking Rohingya villages since 2012, and the refugee crisis then. So resistance beginning in 2016 is cause for genocide?<br />
<br />
His article and comment, and I generally enjoy them, is a pastiche of poorly sourced opinion, and the analysis particularly weak. Posted a reply which is still not up, so I'm writing here.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi, M of A,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not sure where you get "minor ethnic violence in
Myanmar" and "The refugee wave is quite small compared to other
events" but UNHCR says "number of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar
edges towards half a million" so obviously it is a humanitarian
catastrophe not excusable by the presence of a few poorly armed "Islamic
insurgents" and "Tafkiris" attacking police stations and army
outposts</span>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2017/9/59c4cab84/unhcr-scales-delivery-aid-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2017/9/59c4cab84/unhcr-scales-delivery-aid-rohingya-refugees-bangladesh.html</span></a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Likewise, some quibbles about the Pakistani newspaper Dawn
report there are more than 500,000 Rohingya in Karachi. Those, discredited
figures by the defunct Pakistani agency NARA were based on "estimates by
senior officials". Other estimates by the same agency say 200,000 but no
one knows for sure, since, the agency never counted them. Indeed, a Sindh High
Court judge censured them for not keeping track of foreign nationals and the
President merged the agency into NADRA.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1207993"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.dawn.com/news/1207993</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the one hand, those born in Bangla Desh have a right to
Pakistani citizenship, on the other, those falsely called Rohingya can be
denied essential services in Karachi. Too many sources to link here, but there
are competing interests to ensure those figures are inflated or underestimated.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Likewise, the Muslim presence in Myanmar goes back to the
9th century and since then, the Muslim Tatar armies of the Mongols also invaded
Burma around the 13th-14th centuries. It is shameful that later immigration by
Bengalis in the 19th century should be used to deny the Rakhine Muslims
(Rohingya is a misnomer) their civil rights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, your major, geo-political theme about nefarious
interests trying to disrupt the Chinese silk road. Ataullah has already made
peace overtures to Myanmar; stop persecuting Muslims, make peace. If Myanmar
won't listen, and refuse to allow UN inspectors, fine. But the major plan by
China is not to build a pipeline through Myanmar, but through the Pakistani
port of Gwadar. The Iran/Pakistan gas pipeline's already well under way, and
eventually carry up to China. This will be built along the China-Pakistan
highway as part of the China-Pakistan economic corridor.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="http://www.twf.org/News/Y2013/0311-Pipeline.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.twf.org/News/Y2013/0311-Pipeline.html</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gwadar - a port built by China - is the absolute key. It is
the essential node in the crucial, ongoing, and still virtual Pipelineistan war
between IPI and TAPI. IPI is the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, also known as
the "peace pipeline", which is planned to cross from Iranian to
Pakistani Balochistan - an anathema to Washington. TAPI is the perennially
troubled, US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, which is
planned to cross western Afghanistan via Herat and branch out to Kandahar and
Gwadar.--Pepe Escobar, "Balochistan is the ultimate prize," Asia
Times, May 9, 2009</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KE09Df03.html">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KE09Df03.html</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So whoever
"wins" Balochistan incorporates Pakistan as a key transit corridor to
either Iranian gas from the monster South Pars field or a great deal of the
Caspian wealth of "gas republic" Turkmenistan.--Robert D. Crane,
"Baluchistan: Pivot of Asia, Revisited," theamericanmuslim.org, May
9, 2009</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/baluchistan_pivot_of_asia_revisited/0017324">http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/baluchistan_pivot_of_asia_revisited/0017324</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">There is indeed, a hybrid war against China
taking place, but that is in Pakistan. Why should oil tankers go around India
to dock in Myanmar when Gwadar, a deep sea water port is a lot closer? The gas
pipeline from Iran’s Pars field extend from there to China?</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span></span></span></span><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<div align="center">
</div>
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjXzgtKlj_8QuLy6bD21IGzWgfY1yeke1900VU2TQecqfw-Pnq0hXpPzP00mlYDGg5JPFBa4k-pSvSLGlzKSpwjXHq24tPiSELvE5dzyZwWJBKvRVvY01hwFhak-BXe42wN9tuA/s1600/China+Pakistan+Corridor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="626" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjXzgtKlj_8QuLy6bD21IGzWgfY1yeke1900VU2TQecqfw-Pnq0hXpPzP00mlYDGg5JPFBa4k-pSvSLGlzKSpwjXHq24tPiSELvE5dzyZwWJBKvRVvY01hwFhak-BXe42wN9tuA/s400/China+Pakistan+Corridor.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is where the next battle between US and Chinese
interests will take place. The Rohingya, sadly, are grist for the mill.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-78565002219133857802017-09-23T01:18:00.004-04:002017-09-23T01:18:57.935-04:00Nature Loves You Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn9BACLMCarMGY0leswNTTJcrcCN7u0euMnf0IjESrmx3JDwk_85g1EwGPI8GycL5dPsfGsmAYpTlVmQ1gtqUMtv4rv3eYADp3b1F7z7rrVib3Z-r-rhg98YuX8BRLhgcJIQceA/s1600/Nature+Loves+You+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn9BACLMCarMGY0leswNTTJcrcCN7u0euMnf0IjESrmx3JDwk_85g1EwGPI8GycL5dPsfGsmAYpTlVmQ1gtqUMtv4rv3eYADp3b1F7z7rrVib3Z-r-rhg98YuX8BRLhgcJIQceA/s400/Nature+Loves+You+Back.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>#Haiku</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Walking, neighbourhood</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>Looking for black walnut trees</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>By the door, waiting</em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Walking through the neighbourhood with our children, Chloe and I talked about the Eastern Black Walnut Tree <em>Juglans nigra. </em>We saw so many half eaten nut on the ground but couldn't locate the tree or trees. (It has medicinal and spiritual properties, makes lovely wood floors and furniture).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then coming home, there was a whole black walnut fruit wedged into the bench by the door. Chloe recently lost her uncle, and, here was a message from spirit. Very likely, a squirrel carried it to our front door.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is what the fruit looks like, though the picture above is of the actual walnut we peeled.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHQc-dulhX0kGvvv2SYsCOi7Bc5KlHJLs3111MybLZv-VFYaiA3EQiFLx_oorfTshyV6IrKYzVt-6DkKcc6_Q7qODiY5-JSkK6EcA4u9Y21P8Nf4qCBU7ot9oRNVq9JKOsvFzfg/s1600/Black+Walnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="400" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHQc-dulhX0kGvvv2SYsCOi7Bc5KlHJLs3111MybLZv-VFYaiA3EQiFLx_oorfTshyV6IrKYzVt-6DkKcc6_Q7qODiY5-JSkK6EcA4u9Y21P8Nf4qCBU7ot9oRNVq9JKOsvFzfg/s400/Black+Walnut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So used to these signs; we just register them and move on. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-17084027704726836432017-09-01T00:45:00.001-04:002017-09-28T15:22:48.677-04:00Russian. Journalism?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYeQEaR5QVPaZA3Mao1PglM_snkAEWr2Nl5vWFQDZVbuhtLA38llhpPfOLCHBU2PIw26zT5pQUn_GGEKjPLH5nV9jK3VaMZWwuU4ew6juGqhSTXXrlyC088GSEUW1l3Q2s0dsrg/s1600/Yulia+Latynina+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1571" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYeQEaR5QVPaZA3Mao1PglM_snkAEWr2Nl5vWFQDZVbuhtLA38llhpPfOLCHBU2PIw26zT5pQUn_GGEKjPLH5nV9jK3VaMZWwuU4ew6juGqhSTXXrlyC088GSEUW1l3Q2s0dsrg/s400/Yulia+Latynina+II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaJzxf8147EAsU_Y3DRXXYtwTSmKJh2nzlRDjQGAC0rIZ4oL3pzM0PWhtz030Za8rQLkiNnWwACC7iQsH3kE0f0VdPTou21hsVfgE9bmPouPjUCLfsJw19oQ0UeBG_7ztJdCLqw/s1600/Latynina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaJzxf8147EAsU_Y3DRXXYtwTSmKJh2nzlRDjQGAC0rIZ4oL3pzM0PWhtz030Za8rQLkiNnWwACC7iQsH3kE0f0VdPTou21hsVfgE9bmPouPjUCLfsJw19oQ0UeBG_7ztJdCLqw/s320/Latynina.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>On being written about by a State Department propagandist</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
I wasn't going to write this. Then reading Martin Cruz Smith's novel <em>Tatiana, </em>I had to. Moscow police detective Arkady Renko's investigation of crusading anti-corruption journalist Tatiana Petrovna leads him through familiar territory of gangsters, government corruption, and the contradictions of modern Russia.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
But I do have a history with Russia which I wrote about here.</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
<a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2015/01/russian-revolution.html" target="_blank">Russian Revolution, Russian Spirituality</a> </div>
<div align="left">
<strong>January 03, 2015</strong></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Russia still has a long way to go. So does China. It will still be a Russo-Chinese century. And watch Putin very carefully. He has a great power. I hope he will use it wisely</em>.</blockquote>
Once, I wanted to be a journalist. There's this idealized notion of investigative journalism which I thought could make a difference to the world. From the Spanish Civil War to WWII to Vietnam there were so many writers whose words shaped my own thinking. I also saw the masters of discourse corrupting journalism for propaganda. Of course that's always been the case, with newspapers working with to shape public opinion. But at least there was a balance, with diverse opinions to choose from.<br />
<br />
Now, you have the Orwellian nightmare, where people are taught to hate the other. Never mind. I could always choose alternative journalism, appreciating the many voices I came across, from Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, the good people at Counterpunch (maybe acting a bit like a gatekeeper lately) the Libertarians, the anti-war left and right all presenting their ideas for debate and discussion without abuse.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to opposition Russian writer Yulia Latynina, shown here receiving the "Freedom Defenders Award" from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2008.<br />
<br />
<strong>Disclosure</strong>: Ms. Latynina wrote about me later that year in an article on a Russian website Snob.Ru <a href="https://snob.ru/selected/entry/98019" target="_blank">Аманда Нокс и правила большой лжи </a>(Amanda Knox and the rule of The Big Lie) <br />
<time><a href="https://snob.ru/selected/date/17-09-2015">17.09.15</a> </time><br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ну и, наконец, прокурор Миньини сумел убедить в своей фантазии если не миллионы, то сотни тысяч людей. Одна из поразительных вещей, о которых я не говорила доселе, — это гигантское количество интернет-фриков, бесчисленные сайты, обличающие «сатанистку» Аманду Нокс. Правда, «экспертами» на этих сайтах часто выступают домохозяйки, рекомендующиеся профессиональными экстрасенсами на службе ЦРУ, и среди них нет-нет да и блеснет ослепительным алмазом такой свидетель, как «Мессия Иисус Христос» с планеты Антлан.</blockquote>
</div>
<time></time><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Translation: (<span id="result_box" lang="en">And, finally, Prosecutor Mignini managed to convince in his fantasy, if not millions, then hundreds of thousands of people. One of the striking things I have not mentioned before is the huge amount of Internet freaks, countless websites that denounce the "satanist" Amanda Knox. True, the "experts" on these sites are often housewives, recommended by professional psychics in the service of the CIA, and among them, no, no, and a brilliant diamond will flash such a witness as "<u>Messiah Jesus Christ" from the planet Atlan</u>.)</span></blockquote>
This writer used my spiritual views to smear many dedicated volunteers who worked for thousands and thousands of hours translating legal documents (housewives and psychics indeed!) to present the case against Amanda Knox in the murder of Meredith Kercher. She never met, never contacted me for comment, and her only source was Amanda Knox's own website. My work can be seen here at <a href="http://themurderofmeredithkercher.com/Main_Page" target="_blank">The Murder Of Meredith Kercher</a> <br />
<br />
From the mission statement:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This wiki style site was created by a group of volunteer editors to inform the public about the case, by providing a unique collection of translations of original documents and evidence presented at trial. (I'm one of the editors, writing as Ergon).</blockquote>
Never mind. That was two years ago, and the case I'd worked on for a while is over. Be clear: if I hadn't been sickened by journalistic prostitutes since then working to create regime change in Libya, Syria, and yes, Russia, I wouldn't have written this. Interesting coinkydink: writer Alex K, a long time Amanda Knox supporter lives in Moscow and has written many pieces against Putin. Did he write Yulia's article for her? Too many details there that could only come from someone well informed about the case.<br />
<br />
Again, never mind. Going all the way back to Pakistani writers willing to take foreign government money to criticize the country, sigh. <br />
<br />
But um, given current US hysteria about Russia, well, Yulia has <strong>history</strong>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://landdestroyer.blogspot.ca/2012/05/us-state-departments-russian-journalist.html" target="_blank">US State Department's Russian "Journalist" </a><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">US State Department leash overtly leads to yet
more sedition in Russia. </span><br />
<i>by Tony
Cartalucci</i><br />
<b>May 15, 2012</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
As chaos consumes Libya, with death squads roaming the fractured nation
committing atrocities, torture, racist genocide, and mired in infighting, and
with the violence in Syria now fully exposed as foreign terrorists organized,
armed, directed, and staged since 2007 by the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, one
might think journalists today would be careful about invoking these "successes"
while trying to sow destabilization elsewhere. But for Russian "journalist"
Yulia Latynina, repeating US State Department talking points, no matter how
hypocritical, no matter how oafishly in contradiction to reality, is just
another day on the job.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(Photos above) <em>Meet "independent journalist" Yulia Latynina, yet another facet of the Russian
"opposition," carefully honed by the US State Department for years. This </em><a href="http://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/12/112974.htm"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>award
ceremony</em></span></a><em> took place in 2008.</em></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHhn2vvSP2cMW0BvO2-hlsFbHQLHV-I6gKLWDOB-PDVfj5oMo49m5TAPnhWFwasInjVPnM3DI6_7lLWceCuz6iVTj_I-C1X26Xv1mMTB8ynf8UbQrEa2WGJYQ-S9r0ekUqVYa6A/s1600/Yulia+Latynina+and+Daniel+Fried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHhn2vvSP2cMW0BvO2-hlsFbHQLHV-I6gKLWDOB-PDVfj5oMo49m5TAPnhWFwasInjVPnM3DI6_7lLWceCuz6iVTj_I-C1X26Xv1mMTB8ynf8UbQrEa2WGJYQ-S9r0ekUqVYa6A/s320/Yulia+Latynina+and+Daniel+Fried.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
During her award ceremony in Washington, she met with Daniel Fried, also of the
US State Department, described as a "foreign policy hawk," and joined John
McCain <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/washington/18diplo.html?_r=1&pagewanted=3"><span style="color: #0b5394;">in
calls to support and even arm Georgia</span></a> in its growing conflict with
Russia.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em><strong>Photo</strong>: 2008, the same year Georgia and Russia's deadly conflict broke
out, Yulia Latynina was in Washington D.C. shaking hands with Daniel Fried, </em><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/washington/18diplo.html?_r=1&pagewanted=3"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><em>one
of many responsible for the US' arming of Georgian forces</em></span></a><em> who would end up
claiming the lives of scores of Russian soldiers and hundreds in South Ossetia.
Despite what appears to be very overt treason, Latynina still enjoys undermining
her own nation, at Echo Moscow in Russia, a radio station frequently defended
and cited by the US State Department</em> </blockquote>
Yes, many brave anti-corruption journalists have been killed in Russia. I admire and support them, as I did Serena Shim, the US journalist killed in Turkey under mysterious circumstances for revealing arms were being smuggled to jihadi rebels and ISIS in NGO food trucks, as I support jailed reporter <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2017/5/12/jailed_reporter_barrett_brown_on_press" target="_blank">Barrett Brown</a> the journalist who exposed the role of private contractors in cyber security. <br />
<br />
I would be concerned if Yulia actually was in danger from Putin. But she's seen as too much of a flake now. From a Russian website: <a href="http://lurkmore.to/Латынина" target="_blank">Латынина</a> (Latynina).<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(Rather long translation showing she's a Mikhail Leontiev and Khodorovsky fan, but once they were removed she now engages in "reckless and very aggressive trolling" causing "emotional frenzy in the reading and listening audience" from her columns and radio show). </blockquote>
She has muted her criticism. In 2015 she wrote <a href="http://www.russia-direct.org/russian-media/major-takeaways-mh17-report-russian-military-syria-and-kremlin%E2%80%99s-take-religious" target="_blank">Russian military in Syria, MH17 report and Russia's 'Law on Extremism'</a> that the Dutch Report on the MH17 shoot down 'absolved the Kremlin who could now break out the champagne'. <br />
<br />
Turns out her main targets now are "Putin's cook" and assorted lesser lights who may or may not be crooks but certainly involved in non-lethal attacks. From when she was smeared with poo by two thugs in 2016 <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/702717/Yulia-Latynina-Putin-critic-poo" target="_blank">Daily Express</a> then her home sprayed with a stink bomb this year. I doubt Putin was responsible, but regardless. She did applaud Georgian separatists leading to the killing of Russians in Ossetia in 2008. In <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2015/10/08/why-russia-syria/" target="_blank">Why Russia Needs Syria</a> the New York Review of Books (in 2015) quotes her opposition to Putin's involvement in Syria as a way to shore his popularity at home and worries <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Islamists, including ISIL, are operating in this war with much longer experience and more successfully than the Kremlin…The scandals over Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib will seem like kindergarten in comparison to what in a month the western media will be saying about Russian involvement in Syria.”</blockquote>
No, Putin serves Russia's interests in the region. Given the State Department's long use of public moneys to fund foreign journalists through the NED to promote their agenda, and Putin's popularity due to his success in Syria, I wonder whose interests Ms. Latynina serves? I invite her comment and response.<br />
<br />
<strong>Edits</strong>: Getting to the end of Martin Cruz Smith's book, I see she's listed in the Acknowledgments, along with opposition paper <em>Novaya Gazeta</em>. What a funny coincidence.<br />
<br />
<strong>September 09, 2017</strong>: <a href="https://meduza.io/en/news/2017/09/09/prominent-journalist-yulia-latynina-has-fled-russia-after-her-car-was-set-on-fire" target="_blank">Prominent journalist Yulia Latynina has fled Russia after her car was set on fire</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Prominent journalist Yulia Latynina announced on the radio station <em>Ekho Moskvy</em> this Saturday that she has fled Russia, after unknown assailants reportedly set fire to her car. Latynina made the announcement on air in a Skype call to <em>Ekho Moskvy</em>. “It’s unlikely that I’ll return to Russia anytime soon,” she said.</blockquote>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-83028699599729772642017-08-28T19:41:00.004-04:002017-08-28T22:16:16.523-04:00American Karma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsjHdNV4oKLH5Quj0ckY_JdIvmyHxjVhYD8n-id1j9a6NFXxDc3-xEmkr2Qn8VC__RGbu4mpPIIyQPUzNtH6DEGnSaOF3ukjZjLaBDH-aLT05ahtK0PnwwLl9chUdUX35I5kYkw/s1600/Hurricane+Harvey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="992" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsjHdNV4oKLH5Quj0ckY_JdIvmyHxjVhYD8n-id1j9a6NFXxDc3-xEmkr2Qn8VC__RGbu4mpPIIyQPUzNtH6DEGnSaOF3ukjZjLaBDH-aLT05ahtK0PnwwLl9chUdUX35I5kYkw/s640/Hurricane+Harvey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>I hate to say it, but will anyways</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
You ain't seen anything yet. From a blog 6 years ago: </div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2011/08/horoscope-of-united-states-of-america.html" target="_blank">The Horoscope of the United States of America</a> </div>
<div align="left">
August 24, 2011</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So, if astrology is a karmic map, I can say the U.S. is in for some interesting times!</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is what I wrote shortly after the events of September 2001: "And if Earth Changes are required to bring about harmony, let them take place"</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And: "This applies to all the people of the United States. You, and all your generations, are trapped inside a spiritual, emotional and karmic place, and never will be free until you heal the harm that was done in your name" </blockquote>
Hurricane Harvey hit Texas August 25-26, 2017. It has caused catastrophic flooding but thankfully, not as bad as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. <br />
<br />
I'm really tired of this. As I said in <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-natural-life.html" target="_blank">A Natural Life</a> during Hurricane Sandy:<br />
October 30, 2012<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This time around I kept asking myself, what difference does it make? As I said last year with the unprecedented tornadoes, as I said after Hurricane Katrina, Haiti earthquake, UK floods, the Gulf oil spill, and the Fukushima disaster, that there would be more, and worse, <i><b>until humanity changed</b></i>. Surely, people could change? Yet all I have had this year was reminders about how difficult it was for people to change. I told them, but all that happened was that I actually lost people I was trying to help.</blockquote>
Oh, well. I had a premonition then, and just as Donald Trump announced increased war in Afghanistan and the solar eclipse hit the US last week, I saw another disaster about to happen, and saw the flooding. This is your karma, and it isn't your direct fault, but you allowed it to happen.<br />
<br />
What can you do? Read everything I wrote in the 275+ articles here (there are thousands more elsewhere) The greatest imperative is to find a spiritual balance and heal the earth. <br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><em></em></strong></div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-68644732155921991892017-07-12T00:50:00.002-04:002017-07-30T14:54:07.389-04:00Spiritual Psychology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWOcDo3EDWBerTVstqKc5m5PSotPM5Qyo5jQA3UO8cI-GIqWtnWJzwEmYzuqro-pi1-7gG44oN3BTS7SY0z6qxKyei_GhMxJfFSjhPTN3UxJWdSLLpvagq7eGfgSYCQp9pCa9sg/s1600/The+12+Chakras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1233" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWOcDo3EDWBerTVstqKc5m5PSotPM5Qyo5jQA3UO8cI-GIqWtnWJzwEmYzuqro-pi1-7gG44oN3BTS7SY0z6qxKyei_GhMxJfFSjhPTN3UxJWdSLLpvagq7eGfgSYCQp9pCa9sg/s400/The+12+Chakras.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>"You really think you're better than anyone else",</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
a psychologist told me. I was 16, and going for the entrance exam at Pakistan's Air Force Academy Risalpur. One test was to have a psychologist observe how each candidate lead a team through an obstacle course, followed up with questionnaires. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That was his observation. "No I don't", I replied, "my job was to lead them". Still, my first encounter with a psychologist, and it intrigued me. (I passed the exam BTW).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Maybe it was a test, to see how I'd react. Maybe he saw something I'd struggled with since I was a kid. Beyond normal feelings of alienation, yes I knew I was different. While I was a loner, I also was quite social, but in a neutral, friendly sort of way. And I observed, others and myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A phrenologist said when I was 11: "He looks at people and sees something others just can't".</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wanted to understand myself, and, the human condition. That's why I looked at them, but with different eyes than others. (I could see auras by then). Psychology was too limited for my way of thinking, so my studies took me elsewhere. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes, I eventually studied Freud, and Jung, Adler and Sabina Spielrein. About them, more later, and especially Sabina Spielrein, the Russian psychoanalyst who was one of the pioneers. Yet I found their insights actually mirrored what I learned through my spiritual work. Funny, that Sabina Spielrein and I both shared a Scorpio nature, and worked with The Destruction Of Self. (Which goes back to Buddhism, BTW, and the destruction of the ego). I do this through meditation, laying on of hands, balancing the male and female, going into the void, and analysis.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also learned the following occult subjects, astrology, palmistry, numerology and many more. Fascinated by the question of the death of self and what happens after we pass through the veil, I learned to talk to spirit. (I'd been seeing them since I was 5, in Tokyo). Again, knowledge from past lives, of Bardo and the Egyptian Book of the Dead, remembering the many times I had passed away. Many of my articles here are of a psychological bent, seen through the spiritual prism.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While I learned to be a healer I knew it would be important for me to learn about mental illness. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hence, <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-natural-treatment-of-mental-illness.html" target="_blank">The Natural Treatment of Mental Illness</a> <strong>August 13, 2012.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fascinated by criminal psychology, I wrote about <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2011/09/criminal-mind.html" target="_blank">The Criminal Mind</a> <strong>September 02, 2011.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I learned why I decided to focus on mental illness when three of my children were hit by Autism, and a fourth had a learning disorder. This became my life work, so that I treated hundreds of children at my clinics in Toronto and abroad, many successfully, with most showing remarkable improvement.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's my protocol: <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2007/12/not-incurable-new-research-on-autism.html" target="_blank">Not Incurable- New research on Autism </a><strong>December 11, 2007. </strong>In the end, it is not a cure. As I wrote: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
I'm sharing this with you because <strong>Autism is not only a physical, but also is a karmic and spiritual illness</strong>. I've seen it as a metaphor for helplessness; when the world tells you that something is hopeless, I tell you, the answers are out there.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I tell you this, it is the world, not just these children, that is out of balance. Until the world is healed, it will be a never ending battle. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This comes back to my subject, Spiritual Psychology, and, the study of self and how we determine identity. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This the foundation of my work in psychology <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/05/the-12-chakra-system-of-healing.html" target="_blank">The 12 Chakra System of Healing</a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>SPIRITUAL HEALING IN THE WAY OF ATLAN</strong> by<br />
<strong>Naseer Ahmad</strong><br />
(based on a talk I gave in Toronto~1991)<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>An ancient method of healing rediscovered for the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> century.</strong><br />
<br />
Atlan Spiritual Healing is an <strong>energy system</strong> that, by the placing of hands on parts of the body that correspond to the chakras and acupuncture meridians, heals the physical, emotional and spiritual parts of our being.<br />
<br />
Before Atlantis, there was a way of life called <strong>The Way of Atlan</strong>. It explained the connection between our individual and divine selves, and how to address our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Much of the Way of Atlan has been lost, but fragments of it exist in the world’s religions and philosophies.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>...(The Yellow Chakra)</strong> on the solar plexus, is our soul, ego and identity (and so on)...</blockquote>
Soul, ego, identity can be formed by the sum total of our memories, environment, childhood experience, inherited factors.<br />
<br />
Except, what about the sum total of previous lifetime memories? Do they form us as well? That is why I examine previous lives and inherited factors, like individual but also national karma (hence my frequent digressions into 'politics' and interest in history).<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Ancient Psychology: </strong></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://brain-surgery.com/history-of-brain-surgery-1/" target="_blank">History Of Brain Surgery</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Brain surgery is perhaps the oldest of the practiced medical arts. There is no hard evidence suggesting a beginning to the practice of other fields of medicine such as pharmacology — using drugs, chemical and natural ingredients to help a fellow human being. There is ample evidence, however, of brain surgery, dating back to the Neolithic (late Stone Age) period. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Unearthed remains of successful brain operations, as well as surgical implements, were found in France at one of Europe’s noted archeological digs.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The success rate was remarkable, even circa 7,000 B.C.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
However, pre-historic evidence of brain surgery was not limited to Europe. Pre-Incan civilization used brain surgery as an extensive practice as early as 2,000 B.C. In Paracas, Peru, a desert strip south of Lima, archeologic evidence indicates that brain surgery was used extensively. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Here, too, an inordinate success rate was noted as patients were restored to <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;">health</span>.</span> The treatment was used for mental illnesses, epilepsy, headaches, organic diseases, neuropathy treatment, osteomyelitis, and for head injuries. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Brain surgery was also used for both spiritual and magical reasons; often, the practice was limited to kings, priests and the nobility". </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/carbc/assets/docs/iminds-ancient-peoples.pdf" target="_blank">Ancient peoples and psychoactive plants</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(use of to create euphoria, help deal with stress, depression),</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://www.livescience.com/49666-prehistoric-humans-psychoactive-drugs.html" target="_blank">Prehistoric High Times: Early Humans Used Magic Mushrooms, Opium</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
and plants were used in healing ceremonies by people living in Mesoamerica, </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://historycooperative.org/a-beautiful-mind-the-history-of-the-treatment-of-mental-illness/" target="_blank">A Beautiful Mind: The History of the Treatment of Mental Illness</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
the history of treating mental illnesses dates as far back as 5000 B.C.E. with the evidence of “trephined skulls.” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In the ancient world cultures, a well-known belief was that mental illness was “the result of supernatural phenomena”; this included phenomena from “demonic possession” to “sorcery” and “the evil eye”. The most commonly believed cause, demonic possession, was treated by chipping a hole, or “trephine”, into the skull of the patient by which “the evil spirits would be released,” therefore healing the patient. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Although ancient Persians also believed that the illnesses were caused by demons, they practiced precautionary measures such as personal hygiene and “purity of the mind and body” in order to “prevent and protect one from diseases”. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Similarly, the Egyptians recommended that those stricken with mental illness should participate in “recreational activities” in order to relieve symptoms which displayed that, as a civilization, the Egyptians were very advanced in their treatment of mental handicaps. (Foerschner) </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
During the 5<sup>th</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> centuries B.C.E., the Greeks changed the way that psychological disorders were viewed. The philosopher and physician, Hippocrates, discovered that illnesses come from “natural occurrences in the body” (Foerschner). </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
As Hippocrates was studying mental illness, he stepped away from the superstitious beliefs and towards the medical aspect of it. He studied the pathology of the brain and suggested that mental illness stemmed from imbalances in the body. </blockquote>
Yet at the same time there was and is a prevailing cultural belief that mental illness was a symptom of demonic possession. Tibetan, African shamanic healers all dealt with mental illness in a similar way: explaining the phenomenon through a therapeutic analytical process, ritual and ceremony, the use of psychotropic herbs. Even Jesus was said to cast demons out of people. Here's a modern clinician's attempt to bridge the divide: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/discoverpsychiatry/overseasblogs/egypt/questionsondemonicposses.aspx" target="_blank">Questions about demonic possession</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>Clinical experience in answering questions about demonic possession</strong> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In daily practice in psychiatry in Egypt, various forms of mental illness are commonly attributed to magic spells or demonic possession. These illnesses are usually manifested by overt motor behavioural disturbances. Top of the list of these disorders are epilepsy and schizophrenia. Unusual ideas and actions found mythical explanations in witchcraft and demonic aetiology by patients and relatives in this traditional community. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Symptoms that are typical of obsessions are intrusive, unacceptable thoughts which many patients attribute to a demonic agent known as the devil. It's not uncommon for patients and carers to enquire whether this is due to demons or supernatural agents known as jinn. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The psychiatrist tries to find culturally acceptable answers to patients' questions about demonic and jinn possession. The basic essence in answering this questions can be summarised as doctors can adopt an empathic subjective (emic) approach to understand supernatural beliefs and attitudes within this culturally shared context (1). </blockquote>
<strong>Spiritual Psychology:</strong><br />
<br />
Yet: I have found in my work that such phenomena do indeed exist, but it is best to try to explain it within a clinical scientific context. Mental illness does indeed 'stem from imbalances in the body.'<br />
<br />
Yes, there are emotional disturbances that stem entirely from the environment, upbringing, trauma, which can effect brain function and cause chemical imbalance. Those imbalances can be felt and measured in the <strong>Psychic Chakras</strong> (From Greek word 'Psyche', the soul) shown in the 12 chakra system of healing chart above. There has to be a flow of energy through each chakra, without suppression or overemphasis on emotion, desire, the mind, or intuitive sensitivity. I often find that emotional sensitivity, also called Psychism, is just a shade away from Schizophrenia. And that while sugars feed the brain, alcohol, hallucinogenic drugs, and psychotropic medication can pass the blood brain barrier and permanently alter brain chemistry. <br />
<br />
But the <strong>Spiritual Chakras</strong> from the crown onward are where healing takes place, which is why I call it Spiritual Psychology. This is where knowledge exists, and protection from that psychic sensitivity, and inner peace.<br />
<br />
The <strong>Physical Chakras</strong> from the ground up can't be ignored either. The physical/material health is an important component of well-being, as is exercise, as is an understanding of karma. There is the karma of self-identity, recognition of past lives, and other inherited factors from parents, culture, religion.<br />
<br />
<strong>Angels, Demons, Djinn:</strong><br />
<br />
I believe those beings exist but we can think of them as archetypes that exist within ourselves, or energies. Certainly there are forces of good or evil which affect us all on this planet. We can also strengthen our physical, mental/emotional and spiritual bodies to heal and balance ourselves.<br />
<br />
<strong>The healing:</strong><br />
<br />
Sometimes it is a place, or people, or nation that need healing. Sometimes an individual. But as long as we are out of balance, the earth cannot get better, nor can our spirits, and everywhere we go we are haunted by spirits. Everywhere I go there is peace, but also, upheaval as we face up to our own resistance to healing.<br />
<br />
I have already covered <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2011/04/magick-and-spiritual-alchemy-of-soul.html" target="_blank">Magick, And The Spiritual Alchemy Of The Soul</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
so will not go further into the Occult for now, but that too is a part of what I do.</blockquote>
It is the spiritual work that is the more important.<br />
<br />
I don't see any end to wars, environmental pollution, or the greed of the 1% until we heal our selves. There can be no political or social revolution without a spiritual revolution. And if you will not listen, <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Let there be chaos</em></strong>.Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-52473314980412679022017-05-23T17:34:00.002-04:002017-05-23T23:52:52.245-04:00Manchester~The Heart Breaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgCM3g24GgwomlZde7wQP7HTy4AHBZxT2XnJsHU4CECg-ebSCGsF5IUAksjJb1ZFVMMgWT3_xeSg-VqPskUpZ1BgU9dFo3XUFMXX3Kla98EFmfikEJzYbj9lGXTjhcIpjDNvXQw/s1600/Manchester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgCM3g24GgwomlZde7wQP7HTy4AHBZxT2XnJsHU4CECg-ebSCGsF5IUAksjJb1ZFVMMgWT3_xeSg-VqPskUpZ1BgU9dFo3XUFMXX3Kla98EFmfikEJzYbj9lGXTjhcIpjDNvXQw/s400/Manchester.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Another terror bombing</strong></em></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>May 22, 2017:</strong> Another bombing, this time as thousands of people left an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena. 22 dead, 59 injured, mostly young teen women. The heart breaks.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Today isn't a day to discuss root causes, assign blame or pursue agendas, nor should it ever be on the back of tragedy.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
I remember after 9/11, when an American friend asked "<em>How did we ever get to this place?</em>" and my heart broke then too, for my friends.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
I remember instead the outpouring of love after 9/11, as millions marched to prevent war. As the great city of Manchester mobilized once again, with #RoomForManchester, taxis, hotels, first responders, then what I saw was great feelings of love, decency, strength. Manchester is indeed, a great city. I know, since I have so many friends there..</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
Ten years ago, I flew into Glasgow airport just after the terror bombing there. When I finally left the U.K. it was through Manchester airport. If there is a place I love as much I do Canada it would be the U.K.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: left;">
I will not respond to hate, no matter the source or reason. The only response in these times is love. Only then can there be peace, and, seeing the future, I believe the world will then be a better place.</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-79894262893886141332017-05-12T16:03:00.002-04:002017-06-15T20:29:20.592-04:00Jeremy Corbyn, The Next Prime Minister<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwkxvoUVUHjqgUQoWsimcaML157iJaahhQYp6ie-WnjN8lYD0ibUNle8isn9wGkMR5GcXUUCyptsZ5r33chDjuaE60kVd624KUoHH9o-idrKdytaOTfKQkCeQU9mUkbPuDlYnLQ/s1600/Corbyn+May.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwkxvoUVUHjqgUQoWsimcaML157iJaahhQYp6ie-WnjN8lYD0ibUNle8isn9wGkMR5GcXUUCyptsZ5r33chDjuaE60kVd624KUoHH9o-idrKdytaOTfKQkCeQU9mUkbPuDlYnLQ/s400/Corbyn+May.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>A minority government, but still</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wrote a while back: <em><strong>"We are slowly taking back the world, one country at a time. My country, Canada, first. With leaders and parties who will be held accountable":</strong></em> <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2017/04/brexit-what.html" target="_blank">Brexit, What?</a> and <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/01/whats-up-with-uk.html" target="_blank">What's Up With The UK?</a> plus many more on the UK, Scotland and Europe.<br />
<br />
We already took back Canada in 2015. It is not perfect, but still, the best. (The U.S. is not ready yet, still has a long ways to go).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next, the country I love just as much, the United Kingdom. Those who follow me know the deep ties and many friends I have there. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The <strong>U.K General Election</strong> set for Thursday, June 08, 2017 will be the one of the most significant elections in centuries. (Chart below).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIurX6zSqYtDuhvX-HLMs-WLDfMJTKoPSeZ_L9d9ibZP14fCJMAKKENVOmuCwqHo-nGhXkVaSQiSsyN0uJLBKXautkY6OUt38JkEJKN8z0rUuo7GNKVSr6fSFwFxUFYUpc8iyZg/s1600/UK+General+Election+2017.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIurX6zSqYtDuhvX-HLMs-WLDfMJTKoPSeZ_L9d9ibZP14fCJMAKKENVOmuCwqHo-nGhXkVaSQiSsyN0uJLBKXautkY6OUt38JkEJKN8z0rUuo7GNKVSr6fSFwFxUFYUpc8iyZg/s400/UK+General+Election+2017.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<small class="time"></small><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I had this thought, and wrote on Twitter May 02, 2017 that Jeremy Corbyn would be the next prime minister. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/manfromatlan/status/859295110504304640">https://twitter.com/manfromatlan/status/859295110504304640</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then later, I checked the astrology. Which is what I did when I said Trump, and then Macron, would win.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET1Fm7PA4jJG33yQ47hZ3IWKRGMWw1UQVTOiY9xuwGU9Sa8MYzhJjmd4mqUOsYmfjpiMuEgnKGZ-VAvsWl6o1oMpAdwu__plTx4krxODibjbA2lgJO7HI7uvL2iDBaKl8J1qQqA/s1600/Jeremy+Corbyn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET1Fm7PA4jJG33yQ47hZ3IWKRGMWw1UQVTOiY9xuwGU9Sa8MYzhJjmd4mqUOsYmfjpiMuEgnKGZ-VAvsWl6o1oMpAdwu__plTx4krxODibjbA2lgJO7HI7uvL2iDBaKl8J1qQqA/s400/Jeremy+Corbyn.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>Jeremy Corbyn</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6F-t5mvPMND6PuSlu9KsSkUAA7udMMdCxHiDslG9Qf2vLwtxP6RYfYGYC3xrr5vYX2fQpT3-4OTJ82URKab7eoFbk4vBPedqtE5LuU8bbCw1qXijC5xsGONqKTQTxg-dsLMcg/s1600/Theresa+May.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6F-t5mvPMND6PuSlu9KsSkUAA7udMMdCxHiDslG9Qf2vLwtxP6RYfYGYC3xrr5vYX2fQpT3-4OTJ82URKab7eoFbk4vBPedqtE5LuU8bbCw1qXijC5xsGONqKTQTxg-dsLMcg/s400/Theresa+May.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong>Theresa May</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A curious belief via Chinese Astrology: <a href="https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/ben-ming-nian.htm" target="_blank">Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth )</a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Every 12 years, people will encounter their Ben Ming Nian. In other words, when people are at the ages of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and even 84, <u>it can be an unlucky year</u>...Impacted by this power, people will suffer <u>either exultation or misery</u> during that year."</blockquote>
Then I noticed Marine Le Pen was 48 years old, and Theresa May will be 60 at the time of their country's elections. (Both were born under the Chinese Lunar sign of the Monkey). Yes, there was celebration as they won the preliminary election and leadership respectively, but as I wrote previously, it would be Le Pen's high water mark. And Theresa May has never won a General Election before. No, I do not trust opinion polls commissioned by Britain's predatory media.<br />
<br />
I confess, watching Jeremy Corbyn's rise to leadership of the Labour party I had my doubts but felt he would catch up by 2020, when the next election was scheduled to be held. Watching the adoring crowds he attracted, the hundreds of thousands of new Labour Party members, I was reminded of Bernie Sanders improbable campaign that came so close .. I also saw the dirty tricks played on both of them by their own parties and hysteria by the media they might actually win and damage the established order.<br />
<br />
Then, the Scottish referendum, and Brexit. Wake up calls, and the U.K is in a better place than the U.S. to change things around.<br />
<br />
But, the astrology. I set the election chart for Midnight London Time as that is the energy for the whole day. Neptune in Pisces 1st House square the Sun in Gemini 4th shows confusion, delusion on the part of some, but deep rooted soul searching. This is a battle for the soul of the country and what it wishes to be.<br />
<br />
Saturn on the Galactic Center opposition 4th house Sun reinforces that, which is why I feel it is a sign of victory, after a hard struggle. For Jeremy Corbyn, belonging to the signs of Gemini and the Ox, which are significators of adaptability and perseverance. I'm beginning to understand his strategy too. Theresa May, being a Libra and the sign of the Monkey, may just be going through overconfidence in her own ability right now.<br />
<br />
<strong>Spiritual Astrology:</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Ancients knew the planets didn't influence us, but were signs or symbols for the spiritual energies that exist inside people and nations, that would wax and wane at certain times along mathematically precise cycles. I sense these energies, whether they pertain to people, or, events.</blockquote>
<strong>Theresa May:</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Natal Saturn/True Node in Scorpio square Pluto-Venus-Moon (?) in Leo makes May rigid, dogmatic, and unlikeable in public persona, unable to connect with people. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mars in Pisces opposite Jupiter in Virgo means there will always be opposition to her policies. A successful political leader must either have the will to overcome that or, to adapt. Her weak chart shows she can do neither.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jupiter, the planet of fortune was transiting her own sign of Libra during her rise to power. It will however be retrograding through this period which is reflected in her declining opinion polls. There is no major planet connecting to her on election day except Neptune opposing her natal Jupiter, which is a significator of delusion and the hubris that affected Hillary Clinton as well. She should not have called for this election, which gave Corbyn a sterling opportunity.</blockquote>
<strong>Jeremy Corbyn:</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Corbyn's natal Mars/Moon (?) in Taurus square Pluto in Leo does make him rigid in his positions as well. However, when coupled with other factors in his chart it shows as a positive, not negative attraction to voters, that he will not compromise on principles. He will need to work with allies though. That is something he'll be forced to do.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
His Sun, Venus and Mercury in Taurus trine Neptune shows how capable he is at reaching the public. He is loved. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Transiting Sun will be transiting over his Sun-Venus-Mercury on election day. This, with the trine to Neptune, shows his popularity being at a peak. Mars transiting over his natal Uranus is a warning to watch out for accidents. But it can also be a sign of unexpected victory. T-Pluto in Capricorn trine his natal Mars in Taurus shows voters rallying behind him.</blockquote>
<strong>The Election Day Chart:</strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The 2016-2017 referendums and elections in Europe were expressions of the unstoppable desire in people for change. When faced with unpalatable alternatives, you will get a Trump or a Macron, as I am so tired of saying, I said beforehand. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Saturn will oppose the Sun, so yes, there will be a lot of hard work required. Voters will have to come out in droves, and not stay home. Young people: this is your future, or would you like the old to determine it for you? Saturn will also oppose Mars, so people will have to overcome lingering angers over Brexit and regional imbalances. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jupiter in Libra trine Sun in Gemini shows joy, optimism. Definitely not significators of a Tory win. Saturn trine Uranus/Venus, the unexpected, and Uranus conjunct Venus, great feelings of love. </blockquote>
I expect Jeremy Corbyn to lead Labour to a victory in the polls. It may well be a minority government, given how the Labour establishment did its very best to sabotage him, thus damaging the party. The win will be a personal victory for him. Given Scottish Labour's ineffectiveness and poor showing in the opinion polls, I expect he will have to compromise with SNP. It is good he's campaigning in Tory heartlands and marginal seats which is an effective strategy.<br />
<br />
Yes, he must figure out how to form effective alliances. Yes, he will have to realize that Brexit will not work, and find the best solution. If he renegotiated or cancelled art. 50 he would have more support than he realizes.<br />
<br />
But, above all, I am hopeful for the British people. They are more united than they realize.<br />
<br />
<strong>Edited to add, 15 June 2017: <a href="https://skwawkbox.org/2017/06/15/told-you-may-cant-negotiate-dup-deal-falling-thru-tories-preparing-for-new-ge/" target="_blank">#DUP deal falling thru, Tories preparing for new GE</a> </strong>It now appears that Theresa May has been unable to enter into a coalition with the DUP. Tories are being told to prepare for a fall election. I stand by what I wrote before, Jeremy Corbyn will be the next PM. <br />
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-88364620903442955102017-05-06T18:04:00.002-04:002017-05-06T23:03:10.635-04:00What next for France? An Astrological analysis.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXo-mMkbZ4ysgvGBSAEP0ebsPXpE945gKDyTYQOIW92xc2InICgBlnMjhPmxf6JKrwJeAJHIsii5NXfvEoqR-b0Ck1Zhiwrhs9DzQ05U7kbWFV8u5abLjEQwhmtvEKfZnXXv4tA/s1600/Emmanuel+Macron.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXo-mMkbZ4ysgvGBSAEP0ebsPXpE945gKDyTYQOIW92xc2InICgBlnMjhPmxf6JKrwJeAJHIsii5NXfvEoqR-b0Ck1Zhiwrhs9DzQ05U7kbWFV8u5abLjEQwhmtvEKfZnXXv4tA/s640/Emmanuel+Macron.gif" width="433" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK3QE5tbq0b_4hCQKFu89xls_md0oTej7fNUeWk07tmbn8MoNYkAo6L7aAPK0a5FXuWblNqFZaynrlGKG-Vqe8TqrBOBxTizr4qYie-_euJx_3mT6DTHHsSTz0-x3l6leCY5xQA/s1600/Marine+Le+Pen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK3QE5tbq0b_4hCQKFu89xls_md0oTej7fNUeWk07tmbn8MoNYkAo6L7aAPK0a5FXuWblNqFZaynrlGKG-Vqe8TqrBOBxTizr4qYie-_euJx_3mT6DTHHsSTz0-x3l6leCY5xQA/s640/Marine+Le+Pen.gif" width="433" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Likely that Macron will win</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="left">
Twitter March 16, 2017: <a href="https://twitter.com/manfromatlan/status/842350686851362816">https://twitter.com/manfromatlan/status/842350686851362816</a></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I think Marine <strong>Le Pen</strong> also reached her <strong>high water mark</strong> in France yesterday. Probably Macron will win."</blockquote>
The polls show him with a comfortable majority, and I trust their polls more than I do American polls, ahem :)<br />
<br />
There's a last minute attempt to leak files against Macron, probably from right wing sources, but since nothing's been verified, doubt it will affect the election tomorrow. That he's a banker's poodle and his wife may have had sex with him when he was an underage student of hers, is so French, may actually help. <br />
<br />
I already wrote <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/01/whats-up-with-france.html" target="_blank">What's Up With France</a> to show its deep karmic burden going back centuries. Under its degenerate president Sarkozy it invaded Libya along with Hillary Clinton and David Cameron. The suffering they created has now come back to haunt their respective countries, may they live in interesting times.. <br />
<br />
The two presidential candidates, Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, born 5 August 1968 and 21 December 1977, both have flaws. Macron is a globalist banker who'll push to make France's economy more in line with Germany but also will dismantle social safety nets. Le Pen is a nationalist but also an Islamophobe. If she'd stuck with populism instead of aligning with right-wing European political parties she'd have done better. Their time has come and gone.<br />
<br />
But this is a quick astrological analysis, meant to show <strong>what might be</strong>, based on the individuals involved. <strong> Not, who will win. </strong>That's a fool's game, and I prefer to look at the choices facing the country, not eventual outcomes here, in this instance.<br />
<strong></strong><br />
Macron was born in the Chinese year of the snake, which is very creative and good with complex ideas but can't stick to one thing. If he loses tomorrow, he will disappear.<br />
<br />
Le Pen was born in the year of the monkey, which makes her intelligent and clever. Even if she loses tomorrow, she'll be around for a long time.<br />
<br />
The year of the rooster is good for both, but on the face of things I still think Macron will win. The Obama 'endorsement' didn't harm him.<br />
<br />
Uranus transiting over Le Pen's Saturn in 7th house indicates she'll lose. Jupiter retrograding past her ascendant into 12th, that the planet of good luck, once ascendant, now is moving backwards into her house of restriction. Pluto opp. her Midheaven which is the public face of Le Pen is almost a guarantee the polls will turn against her. <br />
<br />
Transiting Saturn over Macron's sun in the 11th indicates he will come into a position of great responsibility. He not only has powerful friends in banking (he was a Rothschild bank director) but his sun conjunct the Galactic Center in the 11th means he will move closer to Europe. This is the trend right now, to strengthen Europe, not move away from it. (I will continue this thought in my next article on #Brexit and what next for Great Britain).<br />
<br />
I warned Trump in my previous articles to avoid war. In Macron's case, the warning is even more imminent; Uranus in 9th opp. Moon, square Mars in the 7th shows a warlike, combative personality, with er, foreign entanglements. He will also be in grave personal danger once he attains office so should be careful. <br />
<br />
But really, transiting Sun also conjunct his Moon shows a new beginning for him tomorrow. I call Macron to win. <br />
<br />
Marine Le Pen would have been a better president, IMO. It's a pity that nationalism and populism always deteriorates into attacks on the other which is now on the losing side. She must learn to become more adaptable and form allies, but she's a fixed sign Leo, which like with Trump's Leo Ascendant wants to win, not compromise. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow, we shall see. I wish my French friends all the best.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-71398287667649312602017-04-20T20:30:00.002-04:002017-04-21T13:12:26.210-04:00Hands Off Syria!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNU5KJRhvxsar2sNhM-0I8Adr0-EJz9Aki0cYw0Ww8PitoqwWu5cz3pdETpeefeS1FTacYqv3Jg1GittYGLItvik2aL08eULcVqBdHojCzrWP1efq03bl_uMTb9zyCBnKhCFwVyQ/s1600/Aylan+Kurdi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNU5KJRhvxsar2sNhM-0I8Adr0-EJz9Aki0cYw0Ww8PitoqwWu5cz3pdETpeefeS1FTacYqv3Jg1GittYGLItvik2aL08eULcVqBdHojCzrWP1efq03bl_uMTb9zyCBnKhCFwVyQ/s400/Aylan+Kurdi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Furies pursue those who cause this</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A warning, which again you can accept or disregard. When you allow atrocities to happen, no one is immune from the consequences. Even to the richest and powerful, you will pay. Sadly, even the innocent will suffer, till you change.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't write screeds or manifestos. These are warnings, based on the clear future I've been writing about for some time. Karma is inexorable for those who cannot change.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recently, Syria was accused of bombing civilians with Sarin gas. Even though the State Dept. had confirmed Syria didn't possess any CW, and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh said Turkey had transferred Sarin to their head chopping allies.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Even though an MIT professor and a lawyer whose PhD is in neuropharmacology wrote assessments based on evidence so far, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://off-guardian.org/2017/04/14/mit-professor-says-white-house-claims-of-syrian-chemical-attack-cannot-be-true/" target="_blank">MIT Professor says White House claims of chemical attack cannot be true</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://logophere.com/Topics2017/17-04/17_017-BLA-Sarin.htm" target="_blank">You're Being Spoofed by False-Flag Sarin Attacks </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The media still blamed Assad for "bombing his own people" and Donald J. Trump, who warned against foreign wars, shot off 59 cruise missiles at the Syrian government anyways. Assad, who likely will survive beyond any of the US, UK, France, Saudi and Israeli leaders who wanted to take him down, was winning the war. Why would he weaken his own position by doing this?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course our leaders will argue their case for humanitarian intervention with passionate intensity. They have tried to topple any Arab leader who stood up to them, with disastrous consequences, each time. It's not like they're stupid, it's by design. If we're stupid enough to believe another WMD scare, more fool us.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From the <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/timeline-of-cia-interventions-in-syria/5479875" target="_blank">Timeline of CIA Interventions in Syria</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>This partial timeline provides evidence that the U.S. government and Obama in particular bear a significant responsibility for the Syrian war and the results of that war. Obama approved elements of CIA plans that go back over 65 years. The CIA meddling is distinct from the Pentagon’s failed plan to train “moderate rebels”, not covered in this timeline.</em> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/01/16/the-great-game-and-the-cia-shaped-the-modern-middle-east" target="_blank">1940s and 1950s</a> “…if you want to understand the origins of authoritarian rule in Syria today, it is important to go back to the 1940s and the 1950s and see the role the CIA played in that land.” See also <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=N-xjxWYWnlwC&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122&dq=cia+%2B+syria+1940s&source=bl&ots=j0w5MnWoXg&sig=ajMHEIKbaHNxUUeCAPKSC9-l1Gw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBGoVChMItqC48J-myAIVjBY-Ch2DwQHb#v=onepage&q=cia%20%2B%20syria%201940s&f=false" target="_blank">here</a>, p. 122: “In the late 1940’s, U.S. policymakers grew alarmed when the Syrian government, bowing to public pressure, refused to let a U.S. oil company build a pipeline through its territory. Washington also found the strong anti-Western sentiment and the large Communist party in the country ominous. Concerned that Syria was ‘drifting leftward’, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) laid plans to overthrow its three-year old civilian government.” CIA operatives met with right-wing military leaders in Damascus to discuss installing a “military-supported dictatorship”.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
to </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://countercurrentnews.com/2017/04/syria-another-pipeline-war/" target="_blank">Syria - Another Pipeline War</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
America’s unsavory record of violent interventions in Syria—obscure to the American people yet well known to Syrians—sowed fertile ground for the violent Islamic Jihadism that now complicates any effective response by our government to address the challenge of ISIS. So long as the American public and policymakers are unaware of this past, further interventions are likely to only compound the crisis. Moreover, our enemies delight in our ignorance. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
As the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/world/middleeast/us-strategy-seeks-to-avoid-isis-prophecy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New York Times reported</a> in a Dec. 8, 2015 front page story, ISIS political leaders and strategic planners are working to provoke an American military intervention which, they know from experience, will flood their ranks with volunteer fighters, drown the voices of moderation and unify the Islamic world against America. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To understand this dynamic, we need to look at history from the Syrians’ perspective and particularly the seeds of the current conflict. Long before our 2003 occupation of Iraq triggered the Sunni uprising that has now morphed into the Islamic State, the CIA had nurtured violent Jihadism as a Cold War weapon and freighted U.S./Syrian relationships with toxic baggage. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
During the 1950’s, President Eisenhower and the Dulles brothers rebuffed Soviet treaty proposals to leave the Middle East a cold war neutral zone and let Arabs rule Arabia. Instead, they mounted a clandestine war against Arab Nationalism—which CIA Director Allan Dulles equated with communism—particularly when Arab self-rule threatened oil concessions. They pumped secret American military aid to tyrants in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon favoring puppets with conservative Jihadist ideologies which they regarded as a reliable antidote to Soviet Marxism. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
At a White House meeting between the CIA’s Director of Plans, Frank Wisner, and Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, in September of 1957, Eisenhower advised the agency, “We should do everything possible to stress the ‘holy war’ aspect.”</blockquote>
So, once again, US, UK, France, Israel, Turkey, Saudis, UAE & Qatar Planned a Syria Coup and demanded Assad step down. They shipped arms raided from Libya to Jihadis in Syria, and Ambassador Stephens died in the fallout at Benghazi. I saw the waves of refugees pour out from Libya and Syria, and it is for this reason I said Obama's "legacy" would be this, and, "Hillary Clinton would never be the president of the U.S".<br />
<br />
But that is just, political analysis. What I wrote from a spiritual perspective January 31, 2011, anticipating the changes to come in Europe, then America and the M.E:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2011/01/people-are-revolting.html" target="_blank">The People Are Revolting</a> <br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We are seeing the failure of globalization and
interventionist colonial wars. The US has become irrelevant. Europe is
struggling to overcome its own financial mismanagement. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It is starting again, as it always has. The actions of a few, snowballing. Poland 1948, Hungary 1956, worldwide in 1968, and Egypt, 2011. The world is not coming to an end, it is a beginning. The next place where people will rise will be Europe, and then, America. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is the message: <br />
<br />
Change. <br />
<br />
We will not be governed by you.</blockquote>
And now, a new message: <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>Furies Pursue You.</strong></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-82135004724172700392017-04-16T20:45:00.003-04:002017-04-18T10:29:47.514-04:00Happy Easter, Every One!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI35ptn5OGH6njNe5V4xKFIExGGcfTdPn7wVWh_3Ev9yYlDymTdWOyakelX936mq32EQowYduMcBcbfMYGRlRyNM3n3nJ7dDsXqQOQeT2bZmyHrwzxXLI89u4wstZN-SySzaylyQ/s1600/The+Sacrifice+Of+Self.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI35ptn5OGH6njNe5V4xKFIExGGcfTdPn7wVWh_3Ev9yYlDymTdWOyakelX936mq32EQowYduMcBcbfMYGRlRyNM3n3nJ7dDsXqQOQeT2bZmyHrwzxXLI89u4wstZN-SySzaylyQ/s400/The+Sacrifice+Of+Self.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Letting Go Of Self</em></strong> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A quiet celebration with my family but what, exactly, is the point of Easter? Is it about belief or something more? Yes, there was an event once, with a mythical person or not (I believe, it happened) but the message is, as always in religion or spirituality, universal.<br />
<br />
I took a series of pictures and this showed in my phone album. Looks very like an aura. From a previous blog <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/05/the-12-chakra-system-of-healing.html" target="_blank">The 12 Chakra System of Healing</a>: <br />
<br />
Pink, our purpose in life, sky blue and indigo, the mind, intuition, violet is spiritual journey going into black, karma, the void, nothingness.<br />
<br />
On a deeper spiritual level, only when we let go of our selves, can we be free.<br />
<br />
Ego, the yellow chakra, the soul, is the sum total of memories, both this and past lives. Yet karma is inexorable and we are bound to and by it. How do we free ourselves?<br />
<br />
Rationalists might believe our greatest instinct is self-preservation. I disagree. Our greatest instinct is the yearning of the spirit to free ourselves from the burden of karma. This is the purpose of all forms of meditation, to let go. For peace.<br />
<br />
The ego, holds on to things. How we define ourselves, past experiences and hurts, our environment, upbringing.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, we need to let go.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the sacrifice of self serves a higher purpose. <br />
<br />
We are in the midst of the darkest age of all. Trump, war, the killing of innocents. The knowing pollution of the earth and its waters that give us life. The destruction of relationships and the loss of faith and idols with feet of clay. Should we all say there's nothing we can do?<br />
<br />
That is not an option. A bomb went off killing 126 Shiite villagers from al-Foua and Kefraya in Syria, including 60 children. A million Yemenis are facing starvation. Not just in the M.E,., but all over. Furies take over the world.<br />
<br />
This is what we can do. Think beyond yourself. There is the meditation of contemplation, there also is the meditation of peaceful protest and action.<br />
<br />
Yes, we get all bound up in causes. Yes, there often is a price to pay once you stick your head out. Do not be afraid, you aren't alone.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Your religion, your faith or lack of belief doesn't matter. Funny, I have met so many good people on both sides of the imaginary left-right divide, all caring about what is wrong about the world. About the environment, that war isn't a solution but symptom and cause of our ills. You just have to care.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The key to it is a spirituality that goes beyond yourself. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That, my friends, is the measure of Easter. Not that we sacrifice ourselves, though all love for them that do for their causes, their beliefs, their creativity, their families and to help the ills of the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But, that you balance the needs of self with the needs of spirit, that you go beyond with acts of kindness and faith.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wish you the peace and joy of Easter.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-29576202648420292422017-04-07T02:29:00.003-04:002017-04-08T09:43:05.131-04:00Brexit, What?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_RApisHt_j0sivQ-swso9IfqhattrguF9INU6_614wyZOtQtn8O7MT-p7XJWoDeEDPcTWFQYPWSEuREnJ851ipvZ9yqmn9rgH4JsBPhuNo9s65ZlOKTFHXguDDsPedl3_SMA1A/s1600/British+Flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_RApisHt_j0sivQ-swso9IfqhattrguF9INU6_614wyZOtQtn8O7MT-p7XJWoDeEDPcTWFQYPWSEuREnJ851ipvZ9yqmn9rgH4JsBPhuNo9s65ZlOKTFHXguDDsPedl3_SMA1A/s400/British+Flag.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>What, now?</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXJ6cF5E6J-SgE203zpEkNudr2uO6p1cBHwcHSFSD7y3TZ0gPsbplzaW2q4yfY9gLaWe1I7H2S9CI2FG7LDC_6ByHSn4v920WQQEVJphNDI645HFYvLwXKkn4oB0JxV8JTVG82A/s1600/EU+referendum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXJ6cF5E6J-SgE203zpEkNudr2uO6p1cBHwcHSFSD7y3TZ0gPsbplzaW2q4yfY9gLaWe1I7H2S9CI2FG7LDC_6ByHSn4v920WQQEVJphNDI645HFYvLwXKkn4oB0JxV8JTVG82A/s400/EU+referendum.png" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em>EU Referendum Chart</em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglverV5oKUWJAuKffuME-NE2CpjQfWicg8DCUeSPW1n7F8UQCeub9nPob0fhtzNIPNmsf2aEN9vktFDtgPxej-AryCrAoN3GBRPNJ6GCZNq9ZfNsrL6B2oP3TOPsmr_VHEovVX6A/s1600/Acts+of+Union.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglverV5oKUWJAuKffuME-NE2CpjQfWicg8DCUeSPW1n7F8UQCeub9nPob0fhtzNIPNmsf2aEN9vktFDtgPxej-AryCrAoN3GBRPNJ6GCZNq9ZfNsrL6B2oP3TOPsmr_VHEovVX6A/s400/Acts+of+Union.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em>The Union Comes Into Effect</em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have had worldwide upheaval since the Pluto-Uranus squares of 2010-2012, compounded by attempts to bring everything into balance since the 2014 Saturn-Neptune squares. People dying from war, refugees streaming into Europe, marriages and unions in upheaval. Now, with the people of the UK having voted to leave the European Union, time to ask what next? This was what I was writing, then the US bombed Syria. To the subject at hand, but remember, your country tried to pass a Security Council Resolution against Syria today. Karma will out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2007/12/sometimes-seeing-future-can-be-terrible.html" target="_blank">Sometimes, Seeing The Future Can Be a Terrible Thing</a> but I would prefer to talk about possibilities, not certainties. Yes, I've written extensively about the future of Europe, about the U.K., but always from a spiritual and historical perspective, pointing out that people have the power to alter their destiny. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This why I use astrology; to look at things from a slightly different perspective to try understand people, events, nations..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The horoscope of your birth shows your potential as a person, that of a nation its strengths and weaknesses, and future direction. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are many National Horoscopes of the U.K. and Great Britain so it's a question to decide which is the right one to use as a starting point. Some astrologers use the 1801 Acts but in my opinion that changed when most of Ireland withdrew from the Union. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since the Scottish parliament has just issued its intention to request a referendum to secede from the Union it made sense to use the 1707 Acts of Union as the base line to see what next for the people of Great Britain? May 01, 1707 0:00 hrs. was when the two kingdoms became one. I also use the 0:00 time for the EU referendum chart. When you don't have an exact time for an event the energy at the beginning of the day still tells a picture. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used similar methods to make my analyses of the Trump win and his presidency, and the many articles about the future of America.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2014/09/god-bless-scotland.html" target="_blank">God Bless Scotland</a> I wrote when the Scottish People voted to remain in the Union in 2014. "But watch out for shocks ahead".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/01/whats-up-with-uk.html" target="_blank">What's Up With The U.K.?</a> after the 2015 floods. "Wake up calls", but also, "We are slowly taking back the world, one country at a time. <u>My country, Canada, first</u>. With leaders and parties who will be held accountable".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/06/after-brexit-what.html" target="_blank">After Brexit, What?</a> written immediately after the referendum. I thought it was a mistake, and said so. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also wrote "<strong><em>The British people have spoken.</em></strong> .. yes, voters have made their choice clear and I respect that. I also believe their vote, made perhaps out of fear and anger, <em><strong>was the right one</strong></em>. The Leave politicians, forget their xenophobic fear mongering, lied to them about the economic consequences of that decision, so yes, unfortunately, I expect serious fall out.</div>
<ol>
<li>As the pound continues to fall the Bank of England may raise interest rates, causing hardship to working families.</li>
<li>Imports will cost more. And since the price of oil is set in dollars, gas and heating costs will rise.</li>
<li>The European market will be closed to British goods and capital flight will cause many European companies to move out. Americans will come in and buy your assets on the cheap.</li>
<li>Young people will no longer be able to work or study in Europe. Unemployment will rise. Your properties there and in the UK will lose value, your trips abroad more expensive.</li>
<li>You still have to pay EU fees and an exit fine. No 'savings' to save the NHS, that and the social safety net will be dismantled under the process begun under the Tories and New Labour.</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Why, then, do I believe it's the right choice?</div>
<br />
I'm a spiritual person. I believe there are consequences to actions. Half a lifetime warning people and nations exactly what karma means and how, it's a law more inexorable than gravity :) so there you go.<br />
<br />
If you look at my dozens of posts on Europe and the U.K. on this blog you'll see. (Yes, many of their policies seem bad, but you really were and would have been better off with Europe. Only the America worshippers see otherwise, till you sign away your patrimony).<br />
<br />
<u>This is what war, invasions of other countries, and unfettered greed does to you, and if you don't like the consequences, sorry</u>....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And now, the U.S. Maybe you, too, need to learn the hard way. Perhaps it needs to get worse before you get shaken out your lethargy, in which case it's a good thing. </div>
<br />
<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/05/whither-goest-thou-america.html" target="_blank">Whither Goest Thou, America?</a> And if you can't decide, then maybe, you <strong>need</strong> a President Trump though honestly, President Hillary will be worse."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And this is me, unfiltered: Don't expect a better union or trade deal with the U.S. It will be an unmitigated disaster. They're already aflame and will drag you down. The best deal was with Europe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, to the astrology. The EU referendum chart Grand Cross creates immense stress; Saturn, the planet of karma in Sagittarius the sign of seeking freedom in the 11th house of friends and associations square Neptune in Pisces (illusion) and Chiron (wounded healer) in the second house of finances and emotional resources opposite Jupiter/Moon's Node in Virgo (critical analysis tinged by emotion) in the 8th house of joint finances and inheritance, shows this was a decision made on hopeful delusion and optimism Brexit would make things better. It won't.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This squares Mercury (communication) in the 5th house of creativity but also, gambling, taking a chance. Since this is a negative, not positive aspect, it shows the lies of the media, failures of communication, that led to this decision. And since the 5th is the house of children, you are literally poisoning the future of your children and subsequent generations. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pluto on the ascendant shows the underlying, unresolved divisions in the UK made this referendum result inevitable.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Transiting Pluto in the 1st house of self expression and individuality squaring Uranus in the 4th house of foundations show further upheaval, as the shambles of Brexit negotiation shows. Uranus squaring Sun and Venus in the 6th house of health and employment since 2010 show why your declining figures there caused deep dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. Perhaps you should have blamed the Tory government and not, Europe or immigrants?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now to your birth chart, when two Nations became one. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Chiron in the 1st house shows the deep wound that this Union created and still carries. Culloden, the Highland Clearances. But Venus in the second shows your joint creativity made you the richest country in the world, and three planets in the 3rd trine Jupiter in the 7th shows your union was beneficial. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Transiting Saturn in your 12th house of restriction shows the problems ahead. Pluto in your 1st House of self-expression makes you er, obstinate but also, self-destructive. Squaring transiting Uranus in your third house of communication means others find you er, difficult to communicate with (and your negotiations with Europe will, sadly, fall apart).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't have to remind you can always cancel Brexit. That's <strong>your </strong>decision. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But if England leaves Europe, then Scotland must end this union, for its own good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the other hand, I believe that now, more than ever, we should work on all our unions, personal and external. Your marriages, your alliances. It no longer is a hegemonic world, nor can we be isolated islands. Russia and China, with far more sane leaders than the US, UK, and France axis, are building infrastructure into Europe and buying up sources of raw materials all over the world. Your children's future belongs to Europe once you take the blinkers off. Decent jobs and education, health care, or, they can be unemployed or work at McDonald's, your choice. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have long and deep ties with the U.K. going back many lifetimes. I have great friends there and known how good hearted they are and yes, I am concerned for their future. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Perhaps, it will be a Great Britain once more.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-88557187874701931072017-03-25T02:26:00.002-04:002017-03-28T15:24:24.092-04:00The Psychology Of A "Troll".<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrCuUqBYadIj-PtAOp67weIL6MmHbaxYbGC3D1ZtO5SXf6PzBMxKpDPQG0qFywncbKvtf1NQvySiHZFedQf1GqnGZqpttuzTunHYtADXugkU7IPe74PgUpRQ0J3G720bR_GRe8g/s1600/Troll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrCuUqBYadIj-PtAOp67weIL6MmHbaxYbGC3D1ZtO5SXf6PzBMxKpDPQG0qFywncbKvtf1NQvySiHZFedQf1GqnGZqpttuzTunHYtADXugkU7IPe74PgUpRQ0J3G720bR_GRe8g/s320/Troll.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm one too, apparently.</span></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="_Tgc">In <b>Internet</b> slang, a <b>troll</b> (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the <b>Internet</b> by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,</span><span class="_Tgc"> often for the troll's amusement.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="_Tgc"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In today's environment, that means anyone who disagrees with your opinion :)</span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="_Tgc"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFu59VpCniso0IyHzsT6j8RircEUqJBdYCEVuNZ_Kh4OZOt1m3oxzpi-H3feDBXLOzSJIiBrlQYX0MGA1Q_i8T1nde-FCA7iLVGyBBoJXGtgd_f-rrgj1nREhZMM-S4mbySo6ZQ/s1600/Progressive+Troll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFu59VpCniso0IyHzsT6j8RircEUqJBdYCEVuNZ_Kh4OZOt1m3oxzpi-H3feDBXLOzSJIiBrlQYX0MGA1Q_i8T1nde-FCA7iLVGyBBoJXGtgd_f-rrgj1nREhZMM-S4mbySo6ZQ/s400/Progressive+Troll.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="_Tgc"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, you're a "Hater Troll":</span> OK then.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yLqxTB4GnJJTFh0iC-FqpfzWbKPV8pdlOrcGd3IugS02YJaHQdkXKglQQ-VN0sKItQZ1x2hlM-6wiE-21hF9yT9LyzA-YMqeLFYmyLMWMBvEzoRRfW3WNYy3m_8kFUB5iWUA1g/s1600/Knox+hater+trolls.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yLqxTB4GnJJTFh0iC-FqpfzWbKPV8pdlOrcGd3IugS02YJaHQdkXKglQQ-VN0sKItQZ1x2hlM-6wiE-21hF9yT9LyzA-YMqeLFYmyLMWMBvEzoRRfW3WNYy3m_8kFUB5iWUA1g/s320/Knox+hater+trolls.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mainstream Media dislikes alternative media so writes about "trolls". Twitter obliges by restricting users, which did wonders for its share price. That happened on Huffington Post too. Intelligent comment went to other platforms.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It goes without saying bullying exists on social media. That should be controlled through moderation and the 'report' button. There ARE rules and laws. But in a free society one should be also be careful about limiting debate. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Internet gadfly Milos Yiannopoulos was free to make Islamophobic comments and misrepresent liberal views on Twitter, because, free speech. He got banned because he made fun of a lesbian actress and seemingly defended pedophiles. I guess there are boundaries? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was brought up in a recent <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/03/02/how-researchers-tried-to-understand-one-of-twitters-oldest-trolling-groups/?utm_term=.c1fd7cc0cc9d#comments" target="_blank">Washington Post</a> article:<br /><br /> <strong>How researchers tried to understand one of Twitter’s oldest trolling groups</strong><br />Abby Olheiser<br />March 2, 2017<br /> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Three-year-old Madeline McCann disappeared from a resort apartment in Portugal in 2007 while on a family vacation. Her British parents were dining nearby. The McCann disappearance, which has never been resolved, became a major British tabloid story. The daily media frenzy has since faded, but a decade later, <strong>a tight-knit group of Twitter trolls who are convinced that they have proven the McCann parents’ guilt in their daughter’s disappearance still discuss the case online every single day</strong>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />What you’ll see: a steady stream of chatter from a tight-knit community with a common goal. In a new paper on the #McCann group, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217300614" target="_blank">Online trolling: The case of Madeleine McCann</a> (Dr.) Synnott and his co-authors tried to shed some light on how this devoted, online trolling community works.<br /><br /> <strong>Highlights:</strong></span></div>
<ul><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Case study analysis of Anti-McCann internet Trolling Group. </div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The role of language, group identity and in group cohesion is examined. </div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Language is central to Anti-McCann group in the construction of identity.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Several strategies were employed by Anti-McCanns to provoke outsiders.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Support for previous research linking trolling to western media culture and ASPD.</div>
</li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">--------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This report, also carried in Nature, received widespread media coverage. The lead psychologist Dr. Synnott said he'd also be studying "the pro-McCann group". Ahem, one side is a "trolling group", the other side just has a point of view?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was intrigued because I'd been involved in a similar group for many years, who discussed the murder of Meredith Kercher. It actually started at the same time as the McCann group and yes, there are similarities between the cases. No, we don't discuss the case "every single day" but we did get fairly involved at the time. Not just on Twitter either, but other social media.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, I'm a volunteer editor on the Meredith Kercher research website but also commented, met with and observed people in the McCann group as well as our own. I was surprised to read the psychologists conclusions. We have Anti-Social Personality Disorder?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I read the study and my response was published by the Washington Post:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"This study is a violation of the British (BPS) and American (APA) psychologist association's code of ethics. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong></strong> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="http://www.simplypsychology.org/Ethics.html" target="_blank">Psychology Research Ethics</a> </strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Saul McLeod published 2007, updated 2015<br />
<br />
- The purpose of these codes of conduct is to protect research participants, the reputation of psychology and psychologists themselves."<br />
<br />
- Moral issues rarely yield a simple, unambiguous, right or wrong answer. It is therefore often a matter of judgement whether the research is justified or not. For example, it might be that a study causes psychological or physical discomfort to participants, maybe they suffer pain or perhaps even come to serious harm.<br />
<br />
- <strong>Informed Consent</strong> <br />
Whenever possible investigators should obtain the consent of participants.<br />
<br />
- <strong>Debrief </strong><br />
After the research is over the participant should be able to discuss the procedure and the findings with the psychologist.<br />
<br />
- <strong>Protection of Participants</strong><br />
Researchers must ensure that those taking part in research will not be caused distress. They must be protected from physical and mental harm. This means you must not embarrass, frighten, offend or harm participants.<br />
<br />
- <strong>Deception</strong><br />
This is where participants are misled or wrongly informed about the aims of the research. Types of deception include (i) deliberate misleading, e.g. using confederates, staged manipulations in field settings, deceptive instructions; (ii) deception by omission, e.g., failure to disclose full information about the study, or creating ambiguity.<br />
<br />
<strong>- Note</strong>:<br />
The post grad researcher set up a Twitter account, did not reveal their identity or purpose of the study, reveal their findings to those who responded, and simply deleted their account afterwards.<br />
<br />
- The title "Online trolling: The case of Madeleine McCann" is unprofessional and inflammatory.<br />
<br />
- "Case study analysis of Anti-McCann internet Trolling Group" characterizes a whole group of people as socially maladjusted and opens them to ridicule.<br />
<br />
- Disclosure: I'm an editor at <a href="http://www.themurderofmeredithkercher.com/" target="_blank">The Murder Of Meredith Kercher</a>." ~ <em><strong>Naseer Ahmad</strong></em><br />
<br />
The psychologists hid their tweets so their data couldn't be verified but actively tried to locate individuals who wished to remain private. They deliberately provoked by quoting a bad 'scientific' report to get the response they wanted, and used other underhanded methods to prove their thesis. I was able to obtain copies of their work which shocked me. <br />
<br />
Psychologists already have a bad reputation for writing papers supporting torture (enhanced interrogation), posing for the media, and attaching unfounded opinions about the psychology of celebrities, or even, Donald Trump. You simply can not use your credentials to diagnose a pathology without examining the individual. Diagnosis by tweet is bad enough, but their assessment didn't even match up with the people I came to know.<br />
<br />
It turned out that in both cases, those who supported the Italian and Portuguese justice system (and disagreed with US and UK media PR led efforts on behalf of Amanda Knox and the McCanns) immediately were labelled 'trolls' and a number of journalists and psychologists rushed in with those assessments, without even learning the facts of the case. John Jay college psychology professor Saul Kassin still repeats the lie that Amanda Knox was interrogated for 50 hours over 4 days, even though he was told it was incorrect.<br />
<br />
The Knox and McCann families hired PR firms who used social media to out anonymous people who commented on the case, and the media leaped in, leading to tragedy.<br />
<br />
<strong>Brenda Leyland:</strong><br />
<br />
She was an English woman who made thousands of tweets discussing the case, none of which were abusive. (I know, I saw them). Complaints were made but the police found nothing wrong with them. Gerry McCann called "for an example to be made" so Brenda Leyland was confronted at her home by Rupert Murdoch's Sky News reporter Martin Brunt and her picture published on the front page of UK newspapers as "The Face Of A Troll". Hounded by the media, this vulnerable woman committed suicide.<br />
<br />
When confronted, the reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/skymartinbrunt/status/517666475805802497" target="_blank">Martin Brunt I</a> wouldn't say who gave him the report filed with the police, then, "A group of 'concerned' internet users". (The McCann group of not trolls).<br />
<br />
Challenged again who gave him her address, replied <a href="https://twitter.com/skymartinbrunt/status/517666691405594625" target="_blank">Martin Brunt II</a> "Nobody. I found it from public information sources". OK.<br />
<br />
Karma is inexorable. The Portuguese Supreme Court ruled that police detective Goncalo Amaral was free to publish his book containing his opinion Madeleine McCann hadn't been abducted but died in her holiday apartment and the parents were guilty of neglect. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty of lying in their alibis and even that they were present during the murder, but acquitted anyway since the case against them 'couldn't be proven'. Strange, that, but neither they nor the McCanns were exonerated.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the dedicated volunteers at the Meredith Kercher and Madeleine McCann sites, the truth will always be out there, no matter what the media says.<br />
<br />
<strong>On Motivation:</strong><br />
<br />
Nothing motivates people more than the quest for justice. Be it the crimes of states, corporations or individuals, people do care about getting to the truth. <br />
<br />
Social media is a great leveller. People know the media and their political leaders will never hear their voice, and, lie with impunity. But in a medium where people can express themselves, <strong>that</strong>, is the greatest experiment in democracy. No wonder the media, PR fronts, and the elite hate and try to subvert it.<br />
<br />
</span>The actions of many people coming together, for social, political, spiritual causes, instigates change.<br />
<br />
Helping others, is the highest expression. Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-56793840992367540252017-03-01T21:17:00.003-05:002017-03-02T13:24:41.049-05:00The Past Is Another Country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwNWCYKLQzWbIbXgPwTUUodKzH4ub0_ehMfHl-zJWjCXxtjIWBShUx54QQJp68C34Jux-WVoC-0gfxZeMEPS9WgMGED0CMCg-1ePk908vmHtUps3_7uTKov2pPGn45GF9XDkQ8w/s1600/Mohenjodaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwNWCYKLQzWbIbXgPwTUUodKzH4ub0_ehMfHl-zJWjCXxtjIWBShUx54QQJp68C34Jux-WVoC-0gfxZeMEPS9WgMGED0CMCg-1ePk908vmHtUps3_7uTKov2pPGn45GF9XDkQ8w/s400/Mohenjodaro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>And you can never really go back</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've been thinking about Pakistan lately. A reflection about roots. Because I want to write a novel? Or is it just nostalgia? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Woke up this morning with a title "The Past Is Another Country" and <em>"<strong>And you can never really go back" </strong></em>then worried where I'd seen it before. Writers don't plagiarize :)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
An on line search; it comes from a book, except I never read it:
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there", <em>The Go-Between </em>Lesley Poles Hartley, 1953. </blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then ah, I see it comes from the 1971 Joseph Losey movie adaption of the novel, with Julie Christie and Alan Bates. No wonder I remembered it, with visual evocations of revisiting the past.<br />
<br />
I think of Pakistan, and the memories of childhood. Yes, I travelled widely and each country I've been to evoked memories of past lives. Yes, I love Japan, and the U.K. the U.S. and especially my home, Canada, for memories of friends and events, natural beauty and wonderful history.<br />
<br />
But there will always be a special place in your heart for the place where you were born, and here it is Pakistan.<br />
<br />
This is about identity, and how I want my children to learn theirs.<br />
<br />
There is history, culture, religion even if you think of yourself as an outsider sometimes. You can still love it and want to take your children back there to visit.<br />
<br />
This is about the uprootedness of the Pakistani diaspora and how no matter how much we settle elsewhere, a part of us always looks back to remember 'home'.<br />
<br />
Yes, we are defined by our history, and ours is one that goes back 5000 years.<br />
<br />
The Indus valley civilization, <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/mohenjo-daro-in-reality/1/698158.html" target="_blank">Mohenjo-Daro</a> existed at the same time as the Mesopotamian, Minoan Crete, Egyptian and Peru's Norte Chico civilizations.They were a peaceful, pastoral people and that is who we are also, regardless the number of invaders who went through our lands and yet we absorbed them all. That is why Sunni Islam is tempered by a very strong Sufi traditions which no manner of fundamentalism can ever break.<br />
<br />
We are defined by geography, from the plains of the Punjab, mountains of "Afghania", Valleys of Kashmir, rivers of "Sindia", deserts and hillsides of Balochistan. Therefore, Pakistan is a not just a culture of many peoples, but place.<br />
<br />
With all respect, we are not like Indians. They have a different geography of place and mind.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br />
I <strong>had </strong>thought how much I'd love to take my family there. My children need to see who they are as well as their other side. But the past is another country, and maybe one can't go back.<br />
<br />
Maybe, you can't go back. Except through your remembered past, with a book.</div>
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-49750364651372450252017-02-04T17:47:00.001-05:002017-03-03T17:31:47.075-05:00Trump's 1st 100 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg520-W6ZfsJgsuUp78xavSuchuVxlmse-97-MmN70cjEFNy72NXLj3xV72EiuemlpFW7Gcb7zWX2B2amjDMDJ6M8f9ZPFzTQfdkbYhggOGK2kZI3ZJAp3ERQbNV2W2vf0K1sWUkQ/s1600/Trump+protests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg520-W6ZfsJgsuUp78xavSuchuVxlmse-97-MmN70cjEFNy72NXLj3xV72EiuemlpFW7Gcb7zWX2B2amjDMDJ6M8f9ZPFzTQfdkbYhggOGK2kZI3ZJAp3ERQbNV2W2vf0K1sWUkQ/s400/Trump+protests.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>Resistance, they say </em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A Federal Judge has issued a temporary halt to Donald Trump's controversial "Muslim Travel Ban". This is the first of a series of mistakes he will make throughout his presidency. Which, whether you like it or not, will continue for two terms. Like it or not, he is your duly elected president.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In a previous article <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/12/psycho-astrology-analysis-trump.html" target="_blank">Psycho-Astrology Analysis: The Trump Presidency</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I analyzed his inauguration chart which showed what would happen in his 1st hundred days: A deeply divided nation, efforts to undermine his presidency, a foreign crisis he must avoid at all costs. That he should focus on the economy, and get good, not self serving advice. That he would get legal opposition for his actions. He must cooperate with people, not try to bulldoze them over, or they would unite against him. I guess he wasn't listening :)</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
I've been told as a "spiritual" person I write quite a bit about politics but really, everything I write is through a spiritual prism. Noting the imbalances in the world; what could be more spiritual than that?</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div align="left">
Yes, the imbalance between rich and poor, power and powerlessness, matters. Palestine is important, for Middle East peace. LGBT rights, matter. Civil Rights, matter. Black Lives matter. Muslim Ban matters. NoDapl matters. Brown v. Board Of Education, Wade v. Roe, Citizens United v. all matter. <br />
<br />
But not separately, which is the divisiveness of identity politics we've allowed to take over. And not that I am particularly concerned about the antics of Alt Reich dummies doing Nazi salutes or Antifa protesters setting fire to trash cans or throwing bricks through windows. I'm interested in what the rulers are doing. Someone said this about power, that while we react to what they did yesterday, they've moved on to their next step. I prefer to see where they're going, and write about what they'll do next. In other words, prophecy.<br />
<br />
Yes, I think the anti-war movement is the moral cause of our time. Attacking refugees and people fleeing those wars on the basis of their religion and national origin, even cancelling the visas of 100,000 people and preventing legal residents from returning home caused outrage and many people to feel ashamed for their country. Decent people all rushed to help. They protested in the thousands at airports and lawyers met incoming travellers to offer free legal services.<br />
<br />
Helping others, is a spiritual thing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM_KgSW551GQp0m0ovqFZhqyxuwkqu3OKU97eZkMIgbWQx3I7weMU_BbzUlc20wPhW2uF96qYfy0XLJ32V1uL7Vo0FMtBPL-1TM8ZmdrKNwMV3oEvCr_d95IfPiV6jCcSaY7PTQ/s1600/Lawyers+Habeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzM_KgSW551GQp0m0ovqFZhqyxuwkqu3OKU97eZkMIgbWQx3I7weMU_BbzUlc20wPhW2uF96qYfy0XLJ32V1uL7Vo0FMtBPL-1TM8ZmdrKNwMV3oEvCr_d95IfPiV6jCcSaY7PTQ/s400/Lawyers+Habeas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Helping to heal the planet, is a spiritual thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWeUST4V78Egk1T8u00Xy1udvoRL2IxkEIu-pOgBLSU6wjUuLzhajlbYhztDRu4Y407_4v5r2nawqG7hZkuSRHZYuhhPheJzrtN6uRguKThcp6IPPQ5QXFT1xwiwROHB1KAbz0g/s1600/Defend+the+Sacred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWeUST4V78Egk1T8u00Xy1udvoRL2IxkEIu-pOgBLSU6wjUuLzhajlbYhztDRu4Y407_4v5r2nawqG7hZkuSRHZYuhhPheJzrtN6uRguKThcp6IPPQ5QXFT1xwiwROHB1KAbz0g/s400/Defend+the+Sacred.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But I said this about Obama in 2008, that this was America's last chance. And now I say this about Trump: you will have to go so far back before you can go forward. It isn't even about the man. It's about you. <br />
<br />
The Democrats are so hapless they won't regain Congress. Not unless they reform. Liberals who didn't speak up and put their bets on a bad choice: you could have had Bernie Sanders, you got Donald Trump instead. Those are the consequences. Politically, you cannot regain what you lost until you learn to listen to the concerns of real people. Politically, not until a third party that embraces real populism, not corporatism. Nancy Pelosi, leader of the Congressional Democrats said, "we're capitalists. That's the way it is".<br />
<br />
But that's just me, trying to be helpful on the material plane. <br />
<br />
As I wrote then, What next, America? <br />
<strong></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>The real resistance will be spiritual, not political.</em></strong></div>
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-71363550323777261602017-02-02T12:29:00.002-05:002017-02-02T18:13:49.411-05:00Welcome To Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxN4Mgme82Sn4ZHraqF0RPDI34wVXNaLw517eVLZmQ6rshI6sUTd37UIff1GDHCeESuLU3uLt1GtS2RQaGJEQOK3WxdU3H8fHd5OumoyZM-3c2eH7x_TaJDpmv7eQC5nxaVRT0Q/s1600/Welcome+to+Canada.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxN4Mgme82Sn4ZHraqF0RPDI34wVXNaLw517eVLZmQ6rshI6sUTd37UIff1GDHCeESuLU3uLt1GtS2RQaGJEQOK3WxdU3H8fHd5OumoyZM-3c2eH7x_TaJDpmv7eQC5nxaVRT0Q/s400/Welcome+to+Canada.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>"Know that we value you"</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When President Trump issued his order last week banning travellers from seven Muslim majority countries (even visa holders and permanent residents were turned back) Canada offered to take them in.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When we saw the waves of refugees from the Middle East we opened our doors, as we did to Vietnamese and Somalis. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Islamophobic tendencies that started in America after 9/11 (and spreading to Europe) led to the latest outrage when White Nationalist Alexandre Bissonette opened fire in a Quebec City mosque, killing 6 and wounding 8. Oddly, a mosque in Texas was burned down the day before. Americans raised a million dollars to help rebuild it and a local synagogue shared their space to let them continue to worship. Many Christians and Jews reached out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We are a tolerant nation. From an editorial in the New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/opinion/quebecs-response-to-hate-more-tolerance.html?smid=tw-nytopinion&smtyp=cur&_r=0" target="_blank">Quebec’s Response to Hate: More Tolerance</a> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
That was what Canadians sought to do. Thousands gathered at memorial services across the country, including Mr. Trudeau on Monday. Speaking earlier to Parliament, he addressed the more than one million Muslim Canadians: “Thirty-six million hearts are breaking with yours,” he said, referring to the population of Canada. “Know that we value you”. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Canada is not perfect; it, too, has its demons, as Mr. Couillard said. But the response of a democratic society must be to reaffirm its fundamental faith in freedom, including the freedom to practice one’s faith and cultural traditions. In Quebec, the demons took a terrible toll, but the country’s commitment to inclusion was, if anything, strengthened. </blockquote>
In the wake of President Trump's attempt to capitalize on fear, Trudeau issued this powerful statement on <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/825438460265762816" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and creating the wonderful hashtag #WelcometoCanada<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zuSVyThpglqpWozaXdczuTFYgDHpIS_8k7CWlFt62S0o9wjkWc1kaS74APGuS4oMsltNCgV0gi1A5iVabNRg9ts493BI0nZLWupxQPxAHW67R3KrKNXVgOHRy8yqsa3sGkPi0w/s1600/Justin+Trudeau+statement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zuSVyThpglqpWozaXdczuTFYgDHpIS_8k7CWlFt62S0o9wjkWc1kaS74APGuS4oMsltNCgV0gi1A5iVabNRg9ts493BI0nZLWupxQPxAHW67R3KrKNXVgOHRy8yqsa3sGkPi0w/s400/Justin+Trudeau+statement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The world has reacted with fear, and, more anger in response to Donald Trump's win. This is not the way. <br />
<br />
Love, one another. The most powerful message of all.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
(Next up: Trump's First 100 Days)</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-34298015589891200242017-01-20T07:49:00.000-05:002017-03-03T17:30:58.887-05:00President Trump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z4RUNEIMqVzjk4XmR9daz58aKEtKAD4iplJ77TAdFTXBidHzy6kQGofxg7DPuxgkMCGa7EFMYEE1iFOjUCniihDuJ11hbuq1GFfd_GwRUkOsbSza1ZX_Vxe8B6C_E7X9CIyuOg/s1600/President+Trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z4RUNEIMqVzjk4XmR9daz58aKEtKAD4iplJ77TAdFTXBidHzy6kQGofxg7DPuxgkMCGa7EFMYEE1iFOjUCniihDuJ11hbuq1GFfd_GwRUkOsbSza1ZX_Vxe8B6C_E7X9CIyuOg/s400/President+Trump.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>He's the president of the U.S.</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="left">
I very nearly emigrated from Pakistan to the U.S. in 1970. I'd have joined the army immediately and knew I'd be sent to Vietnam, which was fine with me. Instead, my family and I moved to Canada, which is where I really was supposed to be.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
In college, my two favourite professors were American. One, taught me to love their constitution. The other, worked for the CIA :) "I'm just an analyst" he told me over tea one day. I write analysis of your politics". Fair enough.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
I see the future.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
I've written thousands of articles about America and the world's future going back to my book "The Way Of Atlan" since 1977. I've written about political and spiritual futures. See this blog and my website <a href="http://www.manfromatlan.com/">www.manfromatlan.com</a> for a good selection. </div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When I knew Obama would be president (and Hillary Clinton not ever) I wrote about it. When I knew Donald Trump would be president I wrote about it.</div>
<br />
In the end, Obama won the White House, but he lost the country, because he abandoned the people he promised hope and change. The direction the country was going became apparent in 2010, after the mid term elections. <br />
<br />
The American century is over. Will it be a Russian/Chinese century? I'd hoped the spiritual revolution would begin in America. Maybe it will, but for now, it looks like it will be worldwide.<br />
<br />
As writer John Pilger says <a href="http://johnpilger.com/articles/this-week-the-issue-is-not-trump-it-is-ourselves-" target="_blank">THIS WEEK THE ISSUE IS NOT TRUMP. IT IS OURSELVES.</a> <br />
<br />
So you can protest, you can advocate, you can organize. Donald Trump is still the 45th president of the U.S. and likely, will win the next term as well. <br />
<br />
When I looked at his astrological chart I came up with this analysis <a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/12/psycho-astrology-analysis-trump.html" target="_blank">Psycho-Astrology Analysis: The Trump Presidency</a> but really, it's a prophecy, make of it what you will. <br />
<br />
Yes, he's a complex being as are we all, and I avoid judgement. He has a chance to be a very good president; karma is neither good nor bad, it is based on the choices we make, inexorable. <br />
<br />
And as I wrote at the time, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>What can we do? Build material foundations, develop your creativity, find the balance within yourself. Art, music, spirituality, an international movement of quiet, peaceful resistance will accomplish more. We aren't Americans or Canadians or Russians, we are people of the world</em>.</blockquote>
Your material side might not like to hear this. Karma is after all, part of the material realm. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>The answers are not political, they are spiritual.</em></strong> </div>
<br />
<br />Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-63943970594946908312017-01-14T00:40:00.000-05:002017-01-14T01:07:29.018-05:00#Vaccine Wars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgSXQUYvzRDo30m8tNfWhrpmShv9h_dzJjkibob9otEDZ_DpSe3V_kQk_XIisvYQ3ITtzz841RPuiFiA451gzMBdGH3z8MnneY3rmnguxq9chKCoDNWpGRzjvFhiF1PtCjKyiaQ/s1600/Vaccination+Condemned+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgSXQUYvzRDo30m8tNfWhrpmShv9h_dzJjkibob9otEDZ_DpSe3V_kQk_XIisvYQ3ITtzz841RPuiFiA451gzMBdGH3z8MnneY3rmnguxq9chKCoDNWpGRzjvFhiF1PtCjKyiaQ/s640/Vaccination+Condemned+Poster.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0dji14aPG0xEo1QPYjeOVNPENcZ0rs2itKcxZbl0Wo_nnj-Il4Bp80xVoeSLKEY82Ylx_NG0iWn2alchHkiRcglAt9XUOpiSlRML5vdj5nPpDNpLupU0D5oAtQ4-V0A9Q9cawQ/s1600/History+Vaccinations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0dji14aPG0xEo1QPYjeOVNPENcZ0rs2itKcxZbl0Wo_nnj-Il4Bp80xVoeSLKEY82Ylx_NG0iWn2alchHkiRcglAt9XUOpiSlRML5vdj5nPpDNpLupU0D5oAtQ4-V0A9Q9cawQ/s640/History+Vaccinations.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em>"Was it because of the inoculation?" the king asked when many children started to die.</em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
( Continued from Part I,<a href="http://manfromatlan.blogspot.ca/2016/07/vaccinationthe-greatest-harm.html" target="_blank"> Vaccination~The Greatest Harm</a> )</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The above quote by King George I of Great Britain is from <strong>The Speckled Monster, A Historical Tale of Battling Smallpox</strong>, Jennifer Lee Carrell, Dutton 2003,<em> "a fascinating story of how people struggled to find a cure for smallpox, a disease that killed more people than the Black Plague and all the wars of the 20th century altogether".</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The author describes it as "a history of hope", which indeed it is. Parents and physicians not giving up, looking to find answers to protect their families and patients. It was a struggle to save "hundreds of millions of lives". It also was a debate whether vaccination, as one Scottish physician in Boston said, was a "malignant infusion" that when injected into the body <strong>might cause a rise in untold new illnesses</strong>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong>Introduction: </strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a history of the vaccine wars. On the one side, governments imposing compulsory vaccinations on the basis of public safety. On the other, parents and physicians who argued this was causing their children to become ill and creating new epidemics. This struggle, from the early days of variolation (inoculation) in the early 17th century (where pus from a smallpox victim was incised directly into the patient's body) to Jenner's vaccine in the 19th, is now part of a broader war as people argue about the future of the planet and the direction we are going. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is a battle that has continued to current times, between what is presented as science and medicine against ignorance, and reason versus irrational fear. It is a history of the science of immunology but also the many mistakes made along the way. The search for safer vaccines conflicted with those who refused to acknowledge any harm done by vaccines, as subterfuge and compulsion became the new world order. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, smallpox was eradicated finally, (never mind that improvements in public sanitation and hygiene really made the difference) then it became a battle against polio, and diphtheria, as the goal became a disease free world, and people blindly were led to try to prevent every possible disease that might strike their children, never mind how scientifically illogical that goal that might be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fear, after all, is quite a motivator. The 'Spanish' Flu, (which actually began in the US), Polio, Hepatitis, the AIDS 'epidemic', Avian and Swine Flu, the human papilloma virus (HPV) new Pandemic scares, all created the conditions to make people demand solutions (and scientists and Big Pharma companies rushing to fill that profitable demand). And when that failed, more and more vaccines were piled in a schedule a normal child's healthy immune system and neurological development could not cope with..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is a cultural and social battle of minds, between 'liberals' who demand compulsion, and conservative libertarians and alternative health believers who insist parents should make reasoned decisions on behalf of their children. The media browbeats with scare stories about unvaccinated children, California and other jurisdictions rescind all exemptions for reason of conscience and belief, and it has now entered the political debate, as US Green Party Dr. Jill Stein is forced to backtrack from previous sceptical positions and President Elect Donald Trump of all people, speaks his mind.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXoRaLN5szBb7CYlZH58Y6wy450w2dgkhVn8KcgIL5_DCGIIMN7X8nU1iobL-dvgcqAhZ5ijMJDbdzpy2R67F1uVEZnMROhklp-eLtyDDsCe37CHRxVvKI8lA6cEze84vBZ9Kmw/s1600/Trump+Vaccines+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXoRaLN5szBb7CYlZH58Y6wy450w2dgkhVn8KcgIL5_DCGIIMN7X8nU1iobL-dvgcqAhZ5ijMJDbdzpy2R67F1uVEZnMROhklp-eLtyDDsCe37CHRxVvKI8lA6cEze84vBZ9Kmw/s640/Trump+Vaccines+III.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW_5lMlkPwnCjSuX_IswthoqwkNrtK-bJy9Z70f4TZNeoWOtGysK0Np7fwyu4yeevUKEZIoYzI-appd3zvZH5XCFs2z9eIA-fb5wBI4OEEGdNiYoFQ5ckImEILk7DMMCHHzHFiw/s1600/Trump+Vaccines+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW_5lMlkPwnCjSuX_IswthoqwkNrtK-bJy9Z70f4TZNeoWOtGysK0Np7fwyu4yeevUKEZIoYzI-appd3zvZH5XCFs2z9eIA-fb5wBI4OEEGdNiYoFQ5ckImEILk7DMMCHHzHFiw/s640/Trump+Vaccines+I.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong>A Quest: </strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is above all a quest to understand the nature of illness, the causes and possible solutions. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was inspired by the death of my brother when he was 10 from leukemia, the simplicity and effectiveness of homeopathy, the birth of children with autism and research to find the cause, and, what might be done to help all who were afflicted by it..</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I met these children, and many more.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Patricia Howes is blind, mentally disabled, and has continuous seizures. She is 6 years old. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Patrick Rothwell is blind and mentally disabled. He is 11 years old."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong>Vaccinations, The Right To Refuse </strong>- </em>Naseer Ahmad,<em> </em>Dimensions Magazine Toronto 1991.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
(From an article I wrote in 1991 about my personal knowledge of children who died, became blind, suffered brain damage almost immediately after receiving routine childhood immunizations.)<br />
<br />
<strong>Vaccination wars - A history:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/07/victorian-anti-vaccinators-personal-belief-exemption/398321/" target="_blank">The Victorian Anti-Vaccination Movement</a><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The dewy chill over Leicester, England, in March 1885 did not deter thousands of protesters from gathering outside nearby York Castle to protest the imprisonment of seven activists. Organizers claimed as many as 100,000 people attended, although historians estimate it was closer to 20,000.The cause they rallied against? Vaccination.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Under this pressure, the British government introduced a key concept in 1898: <strong>A “conscientious objector” exemption</strong>. The clause allowed parents to opt out of compulsory vaccination as long as they acknowledged they understood the choice. Similar to today’s <a data-omni-click="r'article',r'link',r'2',r'398321'" href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/25/nearly-all-states-allow-religious-exemptions-for-vaccinations/" target="_blank">religious exemptions in 47 U.S. states</a> and the personal belief exemptions in 18 states, <a data-omni-click="r'article',r'link',r'3',r'398321'" href="http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/school-immunization-exemption-state-laws.aspx" target="_blank">according to the National Conference of State Legislatures</a>, the parents signed paperwork certifying that they knew and accepted the risks associated with not vaccinating.</blockquote>
<strong>Forcible vaccinations:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/04/05/135121451/how-the-pox-epidemic-changed-vaccination-rules" target="_blank">How The 'Pox' Epidemic Changed Vaccination Rules</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The battle between the government and the vocal anti-vaccinators came to a head in a landmark 1902 Supreme Court decision, where the Supreme Court upheld the right of a state to order a vaccination for its population during an epidemic to protect the people from a devastating disease.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But at the same time, the Court recognized certain limitations on that power — that this <strong>power of health policing was no absolute</strong> and was not total and <strong>there was a sphere of individual liberty that needed to be recognized</strong>," says Willrich. "Measures like this needed to be reasonable and someone who could make a legitimate claim that a vaccine posed a particular risk to them because of their family history or medical history [would not have to be vaccinated.]. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In addition, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts stipulated that <strong>a state couldn't forcibly vaccinate its population</strong>."</blockquote>
Except now, those rights are now being taken away, as state after state remove the conscientious objector clause, and in many third world countries, vaccinate children using coercive methods. Funny, this is one issue I make common cause with Libertarians and Conservatives: our health freedoms and the right to make informed choices for our selves and our children.<br />
<br />
<strong>Spanish Flu:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC340389/" target="_blank">The site of origin of the 1918 influenza pandemic and its public health implications</a><br />
<br />
It appears the pandemic began in Camp Funston, now Ft. Riley, in Kansas, and spread via American soldiers arriving in France. This was confirmed by Dr. Edwin Jordan, whose findings were published by the AMA in 1927. <br />
<span class="citation"></span><br />
There was a huge increase in death and disease in the army after it introduced compulsory vaccination in 1911. And a new pneumonia vaccine was given to troops in army camps and ships transporting them to France. Once they arrived, it spread amongst the population. <br />
Source: <strong>J.M. Barry, </strong><span class="citation"><span class="ref-journal"><strong>The Great Influenza: the Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History</strong>.</span> New York: Viking; 2004</span><br />
<br />
This article explains how when compulsory vaccinations were introduced to US troops in 1911 the number of deaths increased dramatically. They created a stronger vaccine, which resulted in the Spanish Flu. The rest is history. <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20060127194726/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/05/08/story265526733.asp" target="_blank">Vaccine not virus responsible for Spanish flu</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Homeopathy and the Spanish Flu:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Homeopathic hospitals had a higher success rate against the pandemic. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong>The Survival Factor in Neoplastic and Viral Diseases</strong> by Dr. William Koch</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<dt>"Dean W.A. Pearson of Philadelphia (Hahnemann College) collected 26,795 cases of (191 influenza treated by homeopathic physicians with a mortality rate of 1.05 percent while the average old school (traditional medicine/drugs) mortality was 30 percent."
<dt>
<dt>"The Journal of the American Institute for Homeopathy, May, 1921, had a long article about the use of homeopathy in the flu epidemic. Dr. T A McCann, from Dayton, Ohio reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2% while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05%. This last figure was supported by Dean W.A. Pearson of Philadelphia (Hahnemann College) who collected 26,795 cases of flu treated with homeopathy with the above result..... Dr. Herbert A. Roberts from Derby, CT, said that 30 physicians in Connecticut responded to his request for data. They reported 6,602 cases with 55 deaths, which is less than 1%. Dr. Roberts was working as a physician on a troop ship during WWI. He had 81 cases of flu on the way over to Europe. He reported, "All recovered and were landed. Every man received homeopathic treatment. One ship lost 31 on the way."---Julian Winston</dt>
<br /></dt>
</dt>
</blockquote>
Oddly, Abraham Flexner of the AMA, whose brother Simon developed several of the vaccines used on the troops, went on to force the closure of most of the homeopathic hospitals in the US after the war.<br />
<br />
Oddly, when US troops who were vaccinated against Anthrax and other illnesses in the first Gulf War developed what came to be known as Gulf War Syndrome, the Clinton Presidential Commission disavowed any connection. This when soldiers died and their children were born with debilitating handicaps.<br />
<br />
<strong>Gulf War Syndrome:</strong> <br />
<br />
Many troops requited to take a series of vaccines reported serious side effects.<br />
<a href="http://www.vaclib.org/news/geneticquotes.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vaclib.org/news/geneticquotes.htm</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A mass smallpox campaign could prove as disastrous as the government's recent anthrax vaccine disaster. Dr. Garth Nicolson, a world-renown cancer researcher and Nobel Prize nominee, told Congress in 2002 that contaminated anthrax vaccines administered to Armed Forces personnel are partially responsible for debilitating chronic illnesses now suffered by tens of thousands of them. Dr. Nicolson confirms that commercial vaccines are often contaminated with mycoplasma, causing symptoms associated with Gulf War Syndrome. When Dr. Nicolson examined the mycoplasma infecting sick Gulf War vets, he discovered that some strains had been <b>genetically</b> engineered with a portion of the HIV virus! Apparently this HIV-implanted mycoplasma was placed in Department of Defense vaccines for experimental purposes</blockquote>
<strong>Canadian troops</strong> given mefloquine, an anti-malarial drug, reported psychological reactions. This was denied at first, but Health Canada has now agreed that the drug can cause serious psychological impairment and permanent brain damage. <a href="ttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/reassess-malaria-drugs-psychotic-effect-on-troops-canadian-veterans-urge/article32835059/" target="_blank">Probe malaria drug’s psychotic effect on troops, Canadian veterans urge </a><br />
<br />
<strong>AIDS as a manufactured virus:</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
I lost a dear friend to AIDS. He'd improved remarkably under my treatment, but passed away when I left the country to go to the U.S. in the 90's. He developed HIV after receiving a Hepatitis B vaccination before working as an aid worker in Guatemala. I volunteered in AIDS clinics and saw many sad cases. There's abundant evidence of AIDS as a virus which was introduced to the Gay and African populations. Oddly, many gay activists who avoided anti-retroviral meds and took intravenous Vitamin C survived the disease. To this day it makes me angry to see the political and anti-human implications of this. <br />
<br />
<strong>Links:</strong> <br />
<a href="http://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1775899#i" target="_blank">AIDS AND THE DOCTORS OF DEATH</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rense.com/general81/aidsre.htm" target="_blank">Polio, Hepatitis B and AIDS</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rense.com/general61/outof.htm" target="_blank">Debunking The Out Of Africa Origin Of HIV & AIDS</a><br />
<br />
Further, comprehensive information can be obtained here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/" target="_blank">Vaccine Resistance Movement</a> <br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>The Autism Wars</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Parents knew their kids autism was caused by vaccinations. Thanks to brave whistleblowers, that link has now been confirmed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ageofautism.com/the-vaccine-autism-link.html" target="_blank">The Vaccine Autism Link</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://canaryparty.org/commentary/timeline-of-events-in-the-william-thompson-cdcwhistleblower-scandal/" target="_blank">The CDC Whistleblower Scandal</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://linkis.com/healthimpactnews.com/Ky8Wc" target="_blank">30 Scientific Studies Showing the Link between Vaccines and Autism</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/04/21/controversial-new-film-vaxxed-claims-cdc-hid-data-linking-vaccines-and-autism" target="_blank">Controversial New Film Claims CDC Hid Data Linking Vaccines and Autism</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ageofautism.com/2016/06/vaxxed-becomes-a-cautionary-tale-of-vaccine-injury-for-all-americans-to-hear.html" target="_blank">VaXxed Becomes a Cautionary Tale Of Vaccine Injury for All Americans to Hear </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Children suffering from long term disabilities: </strong><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Vaccine choice is a fundamental human right. American children are experiencing an epidemic of poor health, with 54% of our children suffering a chronic illness or neuro-developmental disability. Nearly 9 million children have skin allergies. Eight million have respiratory allergies. Seven million have asthma. Five million have a learning disability. One in 400 is diabetic. And 1 in 50 kids has autism. What you may not know is that science links all these chronic illnesses to vaccines. Vaccine injuries are real and some are life-threatening. The U.S. government acknowledges that children have been severely injured and killed by vaccines. (but doesn't help them). <a href="http://www.thevaccinereaction.org/2016/06/54-percent-of-children-suffer-disabilities-caused-by-vaccination/" target="_blank">54 Percent of Children Suffer Disabilities Caused by Vaccination </a></blockquote>
<br />
<strong>Virus mutations:</strong><br />
<br />
There's a process called Antigenic shift, by which viruses mutate to more deadly variations based on shifts within the RNA encoding. See <a href="http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/viruses-and-evolution" target="_blank">Viruses and Evolution</a><br />
<br />
It has been hypothesised that this is the process by which <strong>genetically modified vaccinations</strong> can introduce deadly diseases into the population. Such as AIDS, which targeted black and homosexual populations. Such as Ebola and a host of other illnesses which followed WHO smallpox vaccination drives in Africa. See <a href="http://www.trackingvaccinations.com/" target="_blank">Tracking vaccinations</a> <br />
<br />
<strong>Vaccines and cancers: </strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It was in 1960 that an NIH scientist named Bernice Eddy discovered that rhesus monkey kidney cells used to make the Salk polio vaccine and experimental oral polio vaccines could cause cancer when injected into lab animals. Later that year the cancer-causing virus in the rhesus monkey kidney cells was identified as SV40 or simian virus 40, the 40th monkey virus to be discovered. (Shorter, e. 1987. The Health Century) Sadly, the American people were not told the truth about this in 1960. The SV40 contaminated stocks of Salk polio vaccine were never withdrawn from the market but continued to be given to American children until early 1963 with full knowledge of federal health agencies. Between 1955 and early 1963, nearly 100 million American children had been given polio vaccine contaminated with the monkey virus, SV40. <a href="https://idsent.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/sorry-in-the-vaccine-debate-the-experts-are-the-historians/" target="_blank">Sorry, in the Vaccine Debate, the ‘Experts’ are the Historians</a> </blockquote>
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Vaccines for population control: </strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Global elites have expressed a desire for population control, and oddly enough, many batches of vaccines worldwide have been found to be contaminated with HGH, which causes women to reject embryos:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://healthimpactnews.com/2015/polio-vaccines-laced-with-sterilizing-hormone-discovered-in-kenya-who-is-controlling-population/" target="_blank">Polio Vaccines Laced with Sterilizing Hormone Discovered in Kenya </a><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p><a href="https://vactruth.com/2013/07/20/vaccines-can-cause-infertility/" target="_blank">Vaccines Can Cause Infertility</a></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p><a href="http://newstarget.com/2016-02-18-microsoft-mogul-bill-gates-vaccines-could-lower-world-population.html" target="_blank">Microsoft mogul Bill Gates: Vaccines could lower world population</a> </o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong>Vaccine safety:</strong></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The following is a list of scientists and physicians (over 160) who acknowledge that vaccines can and do harm some children and/or have some concern about a vaccine, combinations of vaccines, the vaccine schedule, or an ingredient or ingredients in vaccines. These professionals are not anti-vaccine (though some of the medical doctors are) rather they recognize that vaccines, like all pharmaceutical products, carry risks. They also know that scientific inquiry should never cease. (From 'The Greater Good' documentary). <a href="http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/news-views/doctors-and-scientists-with-concerns-about-vaccines/" target="_blank">Doctors and Scientists with Concerns About Vaccines</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A mutated strain of Polio has made its way to Europe – as medical authorities admit that the Polio vaccine program led by Bill Gates had ended up creating a more deadly strain of the disease.<strong> </strong>In 2011 Doctors in India reported that young children were being crippled in huge numbers after receiving the oral polio vaccine – with 47,000 children crippled and permanently disabled as a direct result of the vaccine. <a href="http://yournewswire.com/doctors-say-bill-gates-polio-vaccine-has-created-deadly-super-polio/" target="_blank">Doctors Say Bill Gates Polio Vaccine Has Created Deadly ‘Super Polio’ </a></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong>Rise in infant mortality: </strong><br />
<br />
Scientists have found a correlation between high vaccination rates and infant mortality. Worldwide, as multiple vaccinations have become the norm, there has been a corresponding increase in mortality: <a href="http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mississippi-first-in-infant-vaccination-rates-last-in-infant-mortalities/" target="_blank">Mississippi First in Infant Vaccination Rates – Highest Infant Mortalities</a> <br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Herd Immunity: </strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
There is no such thing 'herd immunity', the excuse given by so many for compulsory vaccinations. In fact, human beings had developed 'herd immunity' by themselves, as part of the evolutionary process, long before vaccines were invented. <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/junk-science-week-vaccinating-the-herd" target="_blank">Junk Science Week: Vaccinating the ‘herd’</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong>Profit motive medical establishment: </strong></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Due to the high cost of Gardasil, government funding will impose a high financial burden, especially where the state imposes a mandate. <a href="https://books.google.ca/books?id=HVcJ7MVjFngC&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=Profit+motive+vaccinations&source=bl&ots=8Lg4x75PhT&sig=VWqLFijl7h2xLba2AHSENjdN8VA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiouavZ48DRAhWN14MKHZsoBU8Q6AEITDAJ#v=onepage&q=Profit%20motive%20vaccinations&f=false" target="_blank">Mandating the HPV vaccine</a><strong> </strong></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Pharmaceutical <a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=118262" target="_blank">profits from swine-flu-related drugs alone have soared – with earnings between $10 billion and $15 billion</a> in 2009, according to estimates from investment bank JPMorgan. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The report includes an assessment of products and forecast of market size and coverage rates to the year 2016, predicting that due to the "promising commercial potential" of new, high-price vaccines, the pediatric and adolescent vaccine market will quadruple from approximately $4.3 billion in 2006, to over $16 billion by 2016, across the US, the EU-five including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, and Japan. <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/04/big-profits-linked-to-vaccine-mandates.aspx" target="_blank">Follow the Money</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The mainstream media’s top “expert” on vaccines is unquestionably Dr. Paul Offit. Dr. Paul Offit is infamously known among vaccine safety advocates as the doctor who has gone on record stating that he believes a baby can handle as many as 10,000 vaccines during infancy. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Dr. Offit is a dangerous man. If he gets his way, he will make all vaccines mandatory for every single child in America. He wants to take away parental choice when it comes to the issue of vaccines. And for good reason. He holds a patent on a vaccine he developed with Merck, and has earned millions of dollars on royalties. <a href="http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/dangerous-doctor-media-vaccine-promoter-has-huge-conflict-of-interest/" target="_blank">Dangerous Doctor: Media Vaccine Promoter has Huge Conflict of Interest</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It was hoped that following polio eradication, immunisation could be stopped. However the synthesis of polio virus in 2002, made eradication impossible. It is argued that getting poor countries to expend their scarce resources on an impossible dream over the last 10 years was unethical. Furthermore, while India has been polio-free for a year, there has been a huge increase in non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (NPAFP). In 2011, there were an extra 47,500 new cases of NPAFP. <strong>Clinically indistinguishable from polio paralysis but twice as deadly, the incidence of NPAFP was directly proportional to doses of oral polio received</strong>. Though this data was collected within the polio surveillance system, it was not investigated. The principle of primum-non-nocere was violated. <strong>The authors suggest that the huge bill of US$ 8 billion spent on the programme</strong>, is a small sum to pay if the world learns to be wary of such vertical programmes in the future. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22591873" target="_blank">Polio programme: let us declare victory and move on.</a></blockquote>
Having seen the ill effect of vaccines on so many children, affected me more than many of the other causes I have supported. Yes, I helped many get better with homeopathy and healing, but when you see this as a world wide malaise which just is getting worse, it is enough to make you give up. Perhaps, President Trump will help. In the meantime, I'll just do my work, educate and help. My final segment of the series <strong>Natural Immunizations, </strong>will deal with prevention and cure.<br />
<div class="entry_date" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br />
It's the parents who are heroes. They reported their kids getting ill, fought for them, trying to do their best in spite of government and medical industry malfeasance. They're the ones I dedicate this series to.<br />
<br />
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29767791.post-27632640086142964032017-01-10T13:24:00.002-05:002017-01-10T13:24:44.095-05:00Love's Planet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_wNR5kyWoLNB1qjtYId4zKD4Qj8nQmQkTL4z5ytWGhRyHmrLe3jkjuSUSI2SaV6lCoiHyui_1WKgqNfq4z2aXnpuVW8_UWtNnnzI7RnbEhP8YbJW0E3Bfcxegu1oCHFUXxOSgA/s1600/Loves+Planet+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_wNR5kyWoLNB1qjtYId4zKD4Qj8nQmQkTL4z5ytWGhRyHmrLe3jkjuSUSI2SaV6lCoiHyui_1WKgqNfq4z2aXnpuVW8_UWtNnnzI7RnbEhP8YbJW0E3Bfcxegu1oCHFUXxOSgA/s400/Loves+Planet+II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>2017</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One cold January evening. And there, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love's Planet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Venus bright eve'ng sky</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Though (I) was born with morning star</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love's planet rules far.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In a world that seems hopeless, and I am NOT referring to the US elections: here's a message to every one that is far better than anything I can write from the late <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jack-layton-s-last-letter-to-canadians-1.991992" target="_blank">Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."</blockquote>
<br />
Happy 2017!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Man From Atlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.com1