Russian customs general collects gold bars and luxury watches at work

2020/07/31

The Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation demanded the confiscation of property worth 121 million rubles from сustoms General Alexander Kizlyk. Gold bars, rare icons and luxury watches were found in his place of residence during a search operation.

Prosecutors ащгтв a substantial difference between the general's income and expenses. His only earnings were his salary and teaching practice. The general's wife had not been working for a long time. In 2001-2019, the couple earned 34.7 million rubles, while the value of the discovered property reached 121 million rubles.

During a search, law-enforcement officers found 89 million rubles in cash, two gold and one silver bars, jewelry, luxury watches and pens, as well as icons of historical value. The general did not explain the origin of the money and property.

Investigation believes that Kizlyk helped to avoid criminal liability for those involved in currency smuggling activities. One of the episodes is connected with the wife of the Russian Ambassador to Kenya, Dmitry Maksimychev.

The general's deputy was arrested as well. Two more defendants in the case are representatives of the customs at Moscow's Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports, Yuri Cherkashin and Konstantin Mishin.

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Poland insists Lech Kaczynski's Tu-154 aircraft was blown up intentionally

2020/07/31

The Polish commission to re-investigate the crash of the Tu-154 airliner of Polish President Lech Kaczynski claims that the TNT, the explosion of which allegedly caused the crash, had been placed on board the  during its repairs in Russia.

The Tu-154 plane crashed on April 10, 2010 while landing at the airport of Smolensk, Russia. There were 96 people on board: 88 passengers and eight crew members. They were flying to Russia to take part in memorial events in Katyn, where in 1940 thousands of Polish prisoners of war were killed. The crash left no survivors.

In 2011, the Interstate Aviation Committee published the final report of the results of the technical investigation, according to which the primary cause of the crash was the decision of the crew not to leave for an alternate airfield. Deficiencies in flight support and crew training were named as secondary reasons that led to the tragedy that killed almost the entire Polish administration.

The first Polish commission, led by former Interior Minister Jerzy Miller, came to similar conclusions. According to the conclusions of Miller's commission, the airliner crashed because it descended below the allowed minimum despite thick fog. The report also pointed out the "mistakes" of Russian dispatchers at the Smolensk airport. However, the Polish authorities did not agree either with the IAC report or the conclusions of the Miller Commission and decided to set up a second commission to continue the investigation.

The new commission led by former Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macherewicz published an interim report Friday, July 31, summarising several years of its work. The report states that the plane crashed as a result of two explosions in the left wing and in the central part of the plane. The nature of the damage caused to the aircraft and the scattering of its debris, as well as the nature of the injuries sustained by the people on board, prove the explosions, the Wiadomosci publication said.

  • Many bodies were ripped into pieces
  • 74 percent of the bodies were completely or partially deprived of their clothes, as if they were exposed to a blast wave.
  • As many as 47% of the bodies were badly burned.
  • To crown it all, many of the victims had foreign objects in their bodies - fragments of aircraft covering, glass and even steel structures.

According to the Polish version, the first explosion destroyed the left wing of the aircraft. Then a second bomb went off planted next to the so-called "general's compartment" in the central part of the liner. It was the second explosion that supposedly killed all the high-ranking passengers in this compartment of the airplane.

Polish experts deny the version about the collision with the ground, having claimed that their extensive evidential base, including countless experiments and analyses contradict to such version.  The report also says that Russian investigators took steps to conceal the true causes of the plane crash.

The Polish commission claims that the presence of traces of explosives on board - TNT, pentrite and RDX (hexogen) - was confirmed by experts of US and British laboratories where the analyses were carried out. It was noted that traces of explosives were found in the samples that were taken from parts of the aircraft that Russian technicians had replaced during the repairs of Tu-154 N 101 (Kaczynski's aircraft) and Tu-154 N 102 (another Polish-owned aircraft) in 2009.

"In this case, a laboratory in Oregon (USA) revealed the presence of TNT. It should be noted that it was a part that no one had repaired before, except for repairmen, and traces of TNT were found inside it," the report from the Polish commission says.

Polish has been insisting on the version of the bomb explosion on board Lech Kaczynski's aircraft since 2016. To search for traces of explosives, the bodies of the victims of the tragedy, including the body of Lech Kaczynski, had been exhumed. A number of Polish experts stated that the autopsies carried out had not confirmed the version of the explosion on board the aircraft.

Russia denies the version about the explosions. Svetlana Petrenko, an official spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, noted that such statements were yet another awkward attempt to question the obvious.

According to Petrenko, no traces of explosives were found either on the fragments of the Tu-154M aircraft, or on the remains of the dead. Moreover, the substances that are not typical for the materials of structural elements of the aircraft and the products of its operation were not found either. Petrenko stressed that the Russian investigation had no doubts about the circumstances of the plane crash. Given the difficult weather conditions at the moment of landing, the aircraft captain should have decided to take the aircraft to an alternate airfield, but he chose not to. It was the subsequent erroneous actions of the crew that continued the landing operation under conditions of zero visibility and did not respond to the terrain awareness and warning system that caused the tragedy to occur, Russian investigators believe.

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Two Trains Collapse In Saint Petersburg

2020/07/31

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

Two freight trains collapsed and went off the rails in Saint Petersburg on Kupchinskaya station. One person suffered at the accident. Rescuers are already working at the place.

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

В Санкт-Петербурге столкнулись два товарных поезда

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1970s in the Crimea

2020/07/31

Крым в 1970-х годах

The Crimean peninsular attracts many tourists – the sea, beautiful views, clean air and interesting sights make it a nice place of summer vacations. However, the Crimea used to look in a different way. Some pictures of the peninsular dated back to the 1970s are presented here.

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

Крым в 1970-х годах

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Anarchy is the end result of capitalism

2020/07/31

I have lived in America, the leading capitalist country, for forty years. I feel that the essence of capitalism is to maximize its profit. The only purpose of life for an individual is to make maximum money in minimum time, and to buy comforts and conveniences with that money. We can call this one-track mind or a linear or unilateral approach.

Liberalism laid the foundation of the modern western capitalist society. The main thrust of liberalism was to finish the established values that, in the case of western capitalism, were the Christian values. Conservatism was supposed to preserve the Christian values. However, the Christian values are exactly opposite of the values promoted by capitalism. Conservatives are staunch supporters of capitalism. Therefore, their claim to promote the Christian values cannot be true. In the end, both the liberals and the conservatives opposed the established (Christian) values and served the interests of capitalism. When liberalism developed into neo liberalism and conservatism developed into neo conservatism, both came out openly in favor of capitalism.

Both the liberals and the conservatives have supported imperialist wars of aggression. The conservatives have openly supported these wars. The liberals have been more deceptive. While some of them outwardly opposed these wars, yet they created conditions for these wars by supporting imposition of capitalist values on the other societies under the pretexts of democracy and human rights.

Just like the colonialists invaded and conquered other countries under the false pretext of spreading Christian values, the capitalists did the same under the name of democracy and human rights. Even in the 21st century, this phenomenon has continued. We can see this in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. The rulers are demonized by the western media and then these countries are invaded to get rid of these despots. These countries were relatively stable and some of these countries were quite prosperous. However, after the invasion, these countries were pushed into extreme anarchy and misery. We can call this anarchy "Exported anarchy."

We can take the examples of Iraq and Libya. Iraq was a relatively stable and prosperous country under Saddam Hussein. However, after the western invasion, it was plunged to the extreme anarchy and the worst misery. The western media glorified the anarchy there by showing scenes of the people bringing down statues of Saddam Hussein. Now, we are watching similar scenes in the western countries of mobs attacking statues. Libya was probably the most prosperous country with the highest standard of living and quality of life in Africa under Gaddafi. After the western invasion, the country was pushed not only into extreme anarchy, it also witnessed acts of unparalleled barbarity and brutality in modern history.

Colour Revolutions are another example of anarchy exported to other countries under the garb of democratic change and human rights. Many countries have been destabilized by these so called revolutions. Ukraine has suffered immensely from the so called Orange revolution. The country seems to be in a perpetual state of anarchy since the start of the so called Orange revolution in 2004.

The western capitalist countries have all the ingredients of being pushed into anarchy such as large segments of deprived population as the result of economic and racial exploitation, ever growing numbers of immigrants of different cultural back grounds that face difficulty in being assimilated in the mainstream, illegal immigrants and homeless people. The situation in these countries can explode into a full blown anarchy at any time. We can see how the double impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the death of George Floyd by the police's use of excessive force has pushed America into one of the worst anarchies.

We should understand the difference between anarchy and revolution. Anarchy lacks any discipline and any clear cut goal except to destroy and destabilize the system. Revolution, on the other hand, is a disciplined approach with clear cut goals to make the system better. Marxist revolution is a concept of bringing social change by external discipline. Spiritual revolution is a concept of an individual change by internal engineering and internal discipline. This concept is an integral part of all religions and is a very important aspect of Christianity. However, this concept reaches its climax in the Sikh religion. The central message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the transformation of a Maanmukh ( a self-willed egoist person) to a Gurmukh ( a fully enlightened person). The world needs a social and spiritual revolution to make people fully enlightened from alienated and dehumanized people, the victims of capitalist anarchy.

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What are the benefits of joining the military?

2020/07/31

Many young people consider joining the military as a career path, or at least as a temporary way to occupy their time as they figure out what to do with the rest of their life. It's not a good choice for everyone, but there are many different options available to those who want to move forward. 

If you're considering joining the military in your country, you should know there are several benefits that could help you for years to come. 

Future Career Options 

First, you should know that joining the military will provide you with a wide range of different career options. If you like serving in the military and you want to advance into leadership positions, you can. If you want to change to a different branch (which is unusual, but often acceptable), you can. You can also continue serving for as long as you like, reaping the salary and benefits associated with the military job. 

However, if you're like many people, you see the military as something to pursue for a few years and not the rest of your life. When you're done serving, you can use your military experience to find a valuable career elsewhere-and you'll have many options. As long as you have the proper paperwork to prove your history of military service (like a DD 214 in the United States), you'll likely be able to find a path forward as a police officer, a security agent, or a professional in line with your area of specialty in the military. 

Guaranteed Citizenship and Access to Resources

In many countries, serving in the military is also a useful way to guarantee your citizenship for that country and gain access to many resources. For example, if you serve in the military in Russia, you'll be able to join a state university, and in the future, you can serve in certain governmental and official Russian organization. 

Other countries offer special incentives for serving in the military; for example, you may be able to attend university for free, or inexpensively, when you've completed your tour of duty. 

Specific Forms of Training

In the military, you'll undergo a number of types of training, including basic training that equips you with the skills and discipline necessary to succeed in all areas. You'll also undergo more specialized forms of training, which vary depending on the branch in which you're serving and the career you're forging for yourself. 

The skills you learn in these areas could help you for years to come, in your job prospects and in your personal life. These include:

  • Firearms training. Most military service members learn all about firearm safety and how to shoot a gun. This is incredibly useful if you're interested in using a firearm for personal safety or for hunting.
  • Self-defense training. You'll also learn basic self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. If you ever get into an altercation with someone when you're out of the military, you'll know how to handle yourself.
  • Medical training. Depending on your role in the military, you'll likely receive at least some basic medical training. When you emerge, you'll know basic first aid, and you may have sufficient education and training to qualify for a medical position.
  • Computer training. You may also learn how to work with technology, which is useful in almost any application.
  • Leadership training. If you advance within the military, you'll undergo leadership training-and you'll get firsthand experience leading other people. This is critical if you want to become an entrepreneur or a leader in another professional area.

Physical Fitness

In most military branches, you'll be required to meet certain physical fitness requirements. You'll be required to build a certain level of strength, showcase a certain level of cardiovascular fitness, and be adaptable enough to navigate an obstacle course. Fitness must be maintained after military service (i.e., it doesn't last forever), but giving yourself a strong foundation can make it easier to stay in shape for the rest of your life. 

Mental Discipline

Serving in the military also requires you to develop a strong foundation of mental discipline. In most branches, you'll need to be mentally tough if you want to remain resilient to the harsh conditions, and you'll need to stay focused on your goals if you want to succeed. This is true in all areas of life, so the mental discipline you develop can follow you beneficially for years to come. 

There are downsides of joining the military, of course. It's physically and mentally demanding, you'll be away from your family and friends, and you may be putting your life in danger. But even with those risks and weaknesses, joining the military is the best path forward for millions of people.

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A Determined Path to the SDGs in 2030 Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020/07/31

By Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Kanni Wignaraja, Bambang Susantono

As lockdowns ease in countries across Asia and the Pacific in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing is clear – a return to business as usual is unimaginable in a region that was already off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The virtual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development recently convened governments and stakeholders across the globe to focus on the imperative to build back better while keeping an eye on the Global Goals.

Asia was the first to be hit by COVID-19 and feel its devastating social and economic impacts. Efforts to respond to the pandemic have revealed how many people in our societies live precariously close to poverty and hunger, without access to essential services. Between 90 million and 400 million people in Asia and the Pacific may be pushed back into poverty, living on less than $3.20 a day. Many countries are taking bold actions to minimize the loss of life and economic costs, estimated in May by ADB at $1.7 trillion to $2.5 trillion in the region alone.

Mission orientation and mobilizing fiscal and social support that realize the SDGs

As attention shifts from the immediate health and human effects of the pandemic to addressing its social and economic effects, governments and societies face unprecedented policy, regulatory and fiscal choices. The SDGs- a commitment to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development, globally, by 2030-can serve as a beacon in these turbulent times.

Our new joint report Fast-tracking the SDGs: Driving Asia Pacific Transformations, highlights six entry points for achieving the SDGs in the face of the pandemic. These include strengthening human well-being and capabilities, shifting towards sustainable and just economies, building sustainable food systems, achieving energy decarbonization and universal access to energy, promoting sustainable urban and peri-urban development, and securing the global environmental commons.

Each of these entry points has been disrupted by the pandemic. Yet, these disruptions may create opportunities for new approaches to deliver on SDG targets that reflect the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda.

What will it take to align systems and institutions with the SDGs as they build forward?

The pandemic has exposed fragility and systemic gaps in many key systems. However, there are many workable strategies that countries have used, both before and after COVID-19, to accelerate progress related to development goals and strengthen resilience. Countries have taken steps to extend universal health care systems, strengthen social protection systems, including cash transfer and food distribution systems for vulnerable households. Accurate and regular data have been key to such efforts. Innovating to help the most disadvantaged access financing and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) credits have also been vital. Several countries have taken comprehensive approaches to various forms of discrimination, particularly related to gender and gender-based violence. Partnerships, including with the private sector and financing institutions, have played a critical role in fostering creative solutions. These experiences provide grounds for optimism.

Policy revolutions to manage complexity

Responses to the COVID-19 crisis must be centered on the well-being of people, empowering them and advancing equality. Driving change in the people-environment nexus to protect the health of people and natural resources is key to a future that does not repeat the crisis we are in today.

We need a revolution in policy mind-set and practice. Inclusive and accountable governance systems, adaptive institutions with resilience to future shocks, universal social protection and health insurance and stronger digital infrastructure are part of the transformations needed. All are driven by a low carbon and environmentally sustainable infrastructure and energy transition.

Several countries in Asia and the Pacific are developing ambitious new strategies for green recovery and inclusive approaches to development. The Republic of Korea recently announced a New Deal based on two central pillars: digitization and decarbonization. Many countries in the Pacific, already proponents of ambitious clean energy targets and climate action, are focusing on "blue recovery," seizing the opportunity to promote more sustainable approaches to fisheries management. India recently announced operating the largest solar power plant in the region. China is creating more jobs in the renewable energy sector than in fossil fuel industries. Many countries in our region are expanding social protection systems as part of COVID-19 recovery to go beyond a temporary patch and include the marginalized, such as informal sector workers.

Institutions such as the United Nations and ADB have mobilized to support a shared response to the crisis. Now it is vital that we enable countries to secure the support they need to go beyond, to achieve the SDGs.

Authors:

Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Kanni Wignaraja, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Bambang Susantono, Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

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The fear of COVID -19 will kill you

2020/07/30

Recently I penned an article for Pravda.Ru entitled COVID 19, Democracy and You. Since writing the article, I have watched further developments and am alarmed at the world-wide conspiracy of Corporations to allow only one narrative in the Public - their narrative.

Several months ago, I recall Donald Trump [yes, the leader of the Free World] tweeted that Hydroxychloroquine was a cure for COVID 19. I also recall how he was made to retract this statement and was lampooned in the MSM for his comment. Donald Trump didn't build a Real Estate empire by being an imbecile.  What this incident does show, is the power struggle going on withing the US Administration as various Corporations struggle to retain power and control as they watch the swamp being drained. The Liberal Democratic loons have had too long to infiltrate the Administration of the US [and world, for that matter] and now can openly challenge the elected leader of the US.  Just shows how good democracy is!

There are very serious financial interests operating in the world to bring about a major change to mankind. The most cursory look at recent history and more recent events can lead to no other explanation than the events are connected, staged and choreographed at a very high level.  Certain emissaries, the likes of Bill and Melinda Gates, are touring the world soliciting the support of Governments [actually corporations] for their vision of the New World Order.  Bill Gates is openly, publicly advocating what can only reasonably be explained as Euthanasia via Vaccine. Why does no one listen to what he is saying and refute it?  I really want to shake people - open your eyes!

MSM is driving the Corporation narrative of the big boogieman COVID-19, like some grim reaper, slaying thousands around the world and medical science is unable to prevent it.  A group of Doctors recently held a press conference on the fear that is being created around COVID-19 and one Doctor said that she had personally treated over  350 cases of "High Risk" patients who had major underling health issues - like Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Obesity, Empyema, and similar issues and did not lose a single patient after treating with Hydroxychloroquine. In fact, they use Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc as a prophylactic which prevents COVID-19 from replicating itself in the body and thus causing secondary infection and compilations.

A lot of what these Doctors were saying, made sense and so I decided to share the YouTube clip with some friends. No sooner had I sent off the link, than I was contacted back to say that YouTube had already censored the clip and removed it. I see that Twitter and similar Social Media have all censored the clip. They cite "unsubstantiated claims" and "contrary to FDA guidelines" etc. Well, I checked the FDA guidelines on Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 and found that they have the heading;

"FDA cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems

Does not affect FDA-approved uses for malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis"

Let's just analyse that statement.  Here is a drug, a very safe drug that has been used worldwide and in the US since 1955 with little to no serious side effects.  Many places offer it over the counter - that's how safe it is. The FDA maintain that it is SAFE to use it for "malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis" yet they want you to believe that if used for COVID-19, somehow it becomes unsafe.

Donald Trump re-Tweeted his commitment about Hydroxychloroquine and included that he is using it as a prophylactic. His Tweet has been taken down and his son has been banned from Twitter for 24 hours for posting similar comment. At a Press Conference Donald Trump was "attacked" for his position on Hydroxychloroquine by the MSM reporters and in the end, he cut short the conference. The Whitehouse/State Department are all voicing their disproval of his comments.

Ask yourself, why, why would there be such a concerted effort to strangle an opposing view to the Corporation's? I found the Doctor's Press Conference to be very interesting - enlightening even. Fortunately, I downloaded it before it was censored by Youtube and you can view it here if you are interested.

CNN Business reported on 28th July 2020;

  • A video featuring a group of doctors making false and dubious claims related to the coronavirus was removed by Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube after going viral online Monday.
  • The video, published by the right-wing media outlet Breitbart News, featured a group of people wearing white lab coats calling themselves "America's Frontline Doctors" staging a press conference in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
  • President Trump shared multiple versions of the video with his 84 million Twitter followers Monday night despite the dubious claims running counter to his administration's own public health experts. Spokespersons for the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

They start off immediately with the accusation that the claims are false and dubious.  They proceed to add that the video was linked to a RIGHT-WING media outlet. [More of the Right-wing extremist cult you need to be wary of].  It then derogatorily describes the doctors as "wearing white lab coats and calling themselves "America's Frontline Doctors". They close by stating Trumps dubious claims are counter to the administration's own public health experts.

Now, if you cannot see how you are being manipulated by the MSM reporting; then I am afraid there is really no hope for you. From my perspective, there is a Spirit of disbelief that has been poured out on the world to blind those who possess no divine spirit.

Another Doctor I watched [no, not on YouTube - he is censored there too] described in scientific and medical terms how testing is carried out for COVID-19 and how part of the RNA is replicated by multiplying in thousands of times so that it can be read. He said, when tested like this [which apparently is contrary to the process the inventor suggested be done] it WILL show a positive test for COVID-19 as at some time in all of our lives we have been exposed to Coronavirus!  He went on to say that this testing shows an increasing incidence of COVID-19 BUT the mortality rate from COVID-19 is dropping. One would assume than that by the Corporation's own sampling methods, it would show COVID-19 is losing its deadly effect! But no, they continue to insist that it is increasing in mortality. They can't argue both ways. Thew Doctor went on to say that he is convinced that the agenda is compulsory vaccination for mankind.

However, MSM was not finished with the Doctors wearing white lab coats and calling themselves "America's Frontline Doctors" - oh no. MSM had to attack one of the Doctors suggesting that Vaccines are impregnated with "alien" DNA. This is very interesting; on one hand, the Corporations were pushing the "evidence for aliens" - NASA are conducting a ten-year research project to "find aliens" and no one thinks that is very derogatory or funny.   But the slur is made against the Doctor to defame her and have her viewed as a kook.

Aliens have been among us since the Garden Of Eden

"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown". Gen 6:4 KJV

It was the corruption of the seed of Man that resulted in the Great Flood, when God killed most of the Nephilim/ Watchers/ Fallen Angels. [Read the Book of Enoch]. The seed is alive in the world today and is being preparing to take over creation in the New World Order.

There is a war going on for creation - it has been waged since Satan came to earth.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12 KJV

The corruption of Man's DNA with that of the Nephilim will result in the same [and final] destruction of Mankind at the End of Time and Judgement. 

Your fear of COVID-19 and subsequent acceptance of the Vaccine, will kill you for eternity.

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Ways to reduce stress in our daily lives

2020/07/30

Stress is a natural part of daily life, and in many cases, it's unavoidable. However, even when it's unavoidable, it can be properly managed with the right strategies. 

Why stress management matters

In its best form, stress is something we experience to prepare us for difficult situations. When stress hormones are released, they equip us with the alertness and energy we need to deal with difficult problems. However, excessive levels of stress and long-term stress can be extremely harmful for your health. 

The short-term effects of stress can make you irritable and/or distracted, and may make it difficult to remain attentive or productive when you need to be. Long-term, stress can accumulate, eventually increasing your blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart disease, reducing the quality of your sleep, and producing a host of other negative health effects. 

Reducing stress in your life

Fortunately, there are many strategies you can employ to reduce the levels and impact of stress in your daily life, including: 

  • Identify and remove egregious sources of stress. Your first job is to identify and remove the biggest sources of stress in your life. Do you always feel peak stress when dealing with a specific client? Consider firing them. Are you always aggravated by your difficult neighbors? Consider moving. These changes may require a sacrifice or a major commitment, but if it means practically eliminating your biggest source of stress, it's worth it. 

  • Reduce your total workload. Most people find themselves stressed when they're overwhelmed with work and/or personal responsibilities. If there's so much to do that you don't know how you're ever going to catch up, it can be exhausting. Consider fighting back against this threat by reducing your total workload. Talk to your boss about your current workload, or take proactive action to reduce it yourself. 

  • Have a place to relax. Everyone needs a "happy place" where they can destress-ideally both in the office and at home. For example, you might have a peaceful fireplace where you can read and relax, or you might have a hot tub where you wind down after a long day. This is totally up to your personal preferences; it just has to help you unwind. 

  • Exercise daily. Physical exercise is one of the best natural ways to beat stress, and it's even more effective if you do it daily. Work hard to challenge yourself every day, spending at least 20 minutes in vigorous activity. The options are limitless here; you can run, bike, lift weights, swim, practice yoga, or ideally, try a combination of these. 

  • Take breaks throughout the day. It's easy to be stressed if you're working for long hours without a real break. Instead, try to break up your day with small breaks in between your big chunks of work. Taking 15 minutes away from the computer to walk and get fresh air can instantly alleviate your stress. 

  • Take a vacation. Similarly, it's important to take a vacation every once in a while. A vacation can help you destress in a long-term way, refreshing you and helping you work even more productively when you return. 

  • Connect with others. Genuine human connections are vital if you want to feel less stress. Take the time to improve your relationships with your family, and reach out to old friends while trying to forge new friendships. It takes extra time, but it's always worth it. 

  • Find and do things you love. Spend more time engaging in a hobby you find genuinely fun. If you don't currently have a hobby that can help you relax, it's time to find one. 

  • Meditate and deeply breathe. Meditation is a powerful practice that can help you focus and clear your negative thoughts. Combined with deep, focused breathing, it's even more effective. Practice this regularly whenever you feel especially stressed. 

  • Disconnect from the internet. We rely on the internet as a source of news, information, socialization, and work. It's incredibly useful, but it can also be problematic. If you're feeling stressed, consider disconnecting; getting away from the news, work, and general negativity can be almost instantly relieving. 

  • Journal. Finally, spend time writing in a personal journal. Detail your thoughts and feelings, and reflect on the day. It's a great chance to put your stress into words, and work to dissolve it.

When to talk to a professional 

If you've taken the above steps and you're still dealing with high stress, high blood pressure, and other consequences of a stressful lifestyle, make sure you talk to a medical professional. Your doctor may be able to guide you in finding other strategies to relieve your stress, and may prescribe medication to help you manage the side effects and symptoms of high stress.

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Dealing with US, Russia must keep its gunpowder dry at all times

2020/07/29

Are Burevestnik missiles as dangerous as Russia describes them to be? What is the essence of the US foreign defense policy? Pravda.Ru editor-in-chief Inna Novikova asked these and other questions in an interview with military expert, editor of National Defense Magazine, Igor Korotchenko.

"The USA urged Russia to stop developing and implementing state-of-the-art nuclear-powered missiles. US President's special envoy for arms control Marshall Billingslea said at a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Russia's new weapons are extremely dangerous, so they should not exit. "That is nothing more than a flying Chernobyl," he said. What do you think Russia's reaction to such statements be? The Americans apparently believe that all of Russia's weapons are extremely dangerous, but the weapons developed in the United States are all safe.

"It goes about calls for Russia to stop developing nuclear-powered cruise missiles of unlimited flight range. This is the Burevestnik missile along with the Poseidon self-propelled underwater vehicle, which delivers a massive nuclear warhead to the coast of the enemy. The Burevestnik is a cruise missile that cannot be detected by anti-missile defense systems. Its launch and flight go unnoticed for the enemy, while the unlimited flight range due to the presence of a nuclear power unit means that the missile can stay airborne for any amount of time. Most importantly, the launch line has been moved away from interception lines of enemy's air defense systems."

"How dangerous will these missiles be for both outer space and airspace?"

"I suppose there's no danger, because these are weapons of retaliation. If, for example, Russia becomes a victim of aggression or if a nuclear missile strike is launched against Russia, we will use the Burevestnik missile for a retaliatory strike. Therefore, the reasoning about the danger that we heard from the US does not mean anything. Our answer will give absolutely no dynamics to the situation that will be developing if the United States launches a nuclear war.

This is also a deterrent weapon.

"Russia says that we have such weapons in our arsenal thus nullifying USA's efforts to create air and missile defenses. Russia wants the Americans to understand that they will suffer a retaliatory strike no matter what, because the flight to targets and its destruction takes place within the radius of 360 degrees. No matter how the Americans try to organise an effective air defense system, they will fail inevitably. Russia expects that such weapon will not be used in practical terms, but if suddenly someone attacks Russia, retaliation will follow.

A Burevestnik missile can carry a special ammo, a nuclear warhead with a capacity of nearly 150 kilotons. This is more than enough to strike even a highly protected target."

Russia and USA: Partners or opponents?

"How can the Americans urge the Russians not to work for our own security? We are not our own enemy, after all."

"Clearly, today's Russia is completely different. Plus, we know very well what kind of "democracy" the Americans are carrying on board their military airplanes. Al these calls are nothing but propaganda, so one should not be nervous about them. Such statements are politically meaningless entail no consequences for us.

"The United States does not want to extend the START-3 treaty and put forward absolutely unacceptable conditions, such as, for example, China's participation in the talks. China's nuclear arsenal is too small in comparison with that of the USA, there is nothing to cut there. The Americans want us to take up restrictions voluntarily, but Russia is not going to do that.

"We do not trust the United States, we know the true essence of the US foreign defense policy, so we will be developing arms systems that the Americans are afraid of.

"Russia will take an absolutely pragmatic position so that the United States becomes more attentive and transparent about the future of strategic nuclear weapons. If the Americans have questions about Burevestnik and Poseidon systems, let's talk about it, but after the START III treaty is extended. If the treaty ceases to exist, Russian strategic nuclear forces can only say hi the American establishment."

"The Americans leave one treaty after another and try to relieve themselves from as many international obligations as possible. Therefore, it appears that the START III is not going to be signed in the foreseeable future."

"You are absolutely right. Some Russian officials rose their glasses to celebrate the election of Donald Trump. As we can now understand, Trump is an adventurer, who acts in the spirit of Nikita Khrushchev. The basic agreements on strategic stability are falling apart. Under these conditions, Russia must keep its gunpowder dry."

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Belarus arrests group of PMC Wagner militants on their way to Sudan

2020/07/29

State-run news agency of Belarus BelTA reported the details of the detention of "members of a foreign private military company" near Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and in the south of the country. The news agency separately specified that the arrested individuals were fighters of the Russian PMC Wagner.

"According to sources in law enforcement agencies, information was received about the arrival of more than 200 militants in Belarus to destabilize the situation during the election campaign," the agency said, adding that every arrested Russian citizen had a small carry-on luggage and three "large heavy suitcases" for everyone.

On the night of July 25, the group arrived in Minsk and checked into one of the hotels in the capital of Minsk. They were supposed to check out the same day, but left the hotel on July 27 and moved to one of the sanatoriums in the Minsk region.

"According to the administration of the sanatorium, the visitors attracted attention to themselves with their behavior, which was uncharacteristic for Russian tourists, and with their monotonous military-style clothes. They did not drink alcohol, nor did they attend any entertainment institutions, and tried to stay away from others not to attract attention to themselves," the agency reports.

It was also said that the visitors were exploring the territory and surroundings of the sanatorium. On the night of July 29, 32 people were detained by the forces of the KGB's A Group with the support of the OMON GUVD of the executive committee of the city of Minsk. Another person was detained in the south of Belarus.

The Russian Embassy in Belarus does not have official information from the competent authorities of Belarus about the detention of Russian citizens.

"The embassy will request official information from the competent authorities of Belarus," Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on Wednesday.

A little later, the Russian diplomatic mission reported on Twitter that it had requested information from the Belarusian competent authorities about the detention of the Russian citizens.

It is believed that the Russian mercenaries detained in Belarus were going to Africa, namely to Sudan. The footage of their detention shows a 20-pound Sudanese banknote and a telephone card depicting the Khatmiya Mosque in the city of Kassala.

In the spring of 2019, several Russian and foreign media outlets reported that institutions associated with Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, including PMC Wagner, were actively supporting the regime of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. However, the president, who had ruled Sudan for 30 years, was eventually dismissed by the military. He is currently being held in custody.

PMC Wagner mercenaries could also be sent on missions to other African countries. Thus, the aircraft of the Russian Ministry of Defense have repeatedly flown from Russia to Libya through the capital of Sudan, Khartoum. Russia officially denies its involvement in military actions in both Sudan and Libya.

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USA faces irreparable damage in cold or hot conventional war with China

2020/07/29

"Overall, the decline in U.S. warfighting advantages does not mean China can win a war that the United States is willing to fight. By 2025, a war could be a military standoff, with major weapon-platform losses on both sides, in addition to losses in cyberspace and space. Yet neither side would fare so much worse than the other that it would feel compelled to concede, raising the probability that a war would be both severe and long. Such a war could be decided by economic costs, domestic political effects, and international responses.

Russia would be eager to help China make up for lost oil and gas supplies, though not for free. In addition, Russian arms could make up somewhat for Chinese military losses and expenditures (e.g., aircraft and air defense), though it would take time for them to be operationalized...As for other Chinese "allies," North Korea is even more unpredictable than Russia. Although North Korea no longer has the conventional military capability to invade and defeat South Korea, it could use missiles against South Korea or Japan; although Seoul would almost certainly not enter a war against China in any case, Tokyo's options would be complicated by North Korean belligerence. A conflict between China and the United States could disturb the greater Middle East by providing an opening for heightened violence from Islamist-extremist and anti-Israel groups (ISIS, al Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah). Middle East difficulties could place additional demands on U.S. naval and air forces at a moment when more of them are needed in the Western Pacific." RAND Corporation: War with China

"Our adversaries are not just going to let us go to the fight uncontested; we're going to have to fight our way across the ocean or under the ocean or in the air." Former Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller

Are any of the grand brains in administration of Donald Trump – or possibly a future Joe Biden presidency – thinking systematically about the costs of containing China; i.e., waging a Cold War against a nation of 1.4 billion people or actually fomenting a hot conventional war in the Western Pacific? It's madness made worse by the fact that Trump, Biden and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are using tired tropes reminiscent of the language of that was employed during the USA vs USSR Cold War that saturated the consciousness of the American people and its Western European comrades.

Consider Biden's recent statement on China

"After Beijing imposed the new national security law in Hong Kong, Biden vowed in a statement to "prohibit U.S. companies from abetting repression and supporting the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state" and to "impose swift economic sanctions" should freedom of speech of U.S. citizens and entities be harmed. Also, Biden was one of the first prominent U.S. politicians congratulating Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election and inauguration."

Here's an excerpt from Pompeo's recent speech on China:

"That the only way - the only way to truly change communist China is to act not on the basis of what Chinese leaders say, but how they behave. And you can see American policy responding to this conclusion. President Reagan said that he dealt with the Soviet Union on the basis of "trust but verify." When it comes to the CCP, I say we must distrust and verify... We know too, we know too that not all Chinese students and employees are just normal students and workers that are coming here to make a little bit of money and to garner themselves some knowledge. Too many of them come here to steal our intellectual property and to take this back to their country."

The Chinese version of the Israeli Art Students?

When the Berlin Wall came tumbling down and the fog of propaganda on both sides lifted, we all learned that the Soviet menace was not the evil or capable goliath it was made out to be. Though not a paper tiger given its nuclear arsenal, the Soviet Union's conventional forces were largely ill fed, under equipped and spread too thin.

China is not the Soviet Union of the old Cold War years. It is a 21st Century force to be negotiated with and partnered with, not warred against by the United States. Its media outlets like Xinhuanet, China Daily and search engine Baidu (similar to Russia's RT and Sputnik and Yandex) have global readership/usage in the millions. The US does not dominate the open source news/propaganda through US/Western global outlets as it once did during the legacy Cold War. China can play that new Cold War propaganda game now too. Consider China's annual report on human rights abuses in the United States.  The validity of such a report can be questioned as propaganda, but it's out there on the World Wide Web for consumption and can't be deleted. Besides, it is not everyday you can watch videos of US police/paramilitary forces wounding its citizens as they protest for justice, or watch the murder of George Floyd,  with knee on neck, begging not to be killed by a police officer. It is tough to counter those images when proclaiming "land of the free, home of the brave." I'm no apologist for China or Russia just as Boeing Corporation doesn't apologize for its business in China.

Make no mistake. The Chinese and Russians are masterful HUMINT (human intelligence) operatives and information warfare artists. They engage in cyberspace operations and media influence operations in the USA and abroad. They are, indeed, worthy competitors in these venues. But is this gamesmanship between nations a justifiable cause for a new cold or hot war? Besides, I'll take the National Security Agency's SIGINT (signals intelligence) capabilities and US information/psychological operations skills any day over what the Chinese and Russians have.

Everyone tries to dig in the other's sandbox. Such is the province and practice of all capable nations like the USA, Russia, and China.

War with China: What will Pakistan do?

"Communist China entered the conflict at "frozen Chosin," shifting the war's momentum again. In a surprise attack, more than 100,000 Chinese troops trapped American forces in some of the harshest, most remote territory of the region-in temperatures that regularly fell to 25 degrees below zero. In a place where it was too frigid to dig foxholes without explosives and bulldozers, combatants piled frozen bodies in lieu of sandbags. Feet froze into blocks of ice inside boots. Even bullet wounds sometimes froze, keeping soldiers from bleeding out until they went inside heated tents." History

A hot conventional war with China would require reinstatement of the draft in the United States.

The People's Liberation Army of the 1950's is far more capable in 2020 and is the largest in the world. Its military personnel would likely fight with the same fanaticism that their predecessors displayed in the Korean War. China has revamped its military forces focusing on cyber and access denial capabilities. Its missile forces, navy and air forces arguably play a more decided role than its ground forces. China is betting on a war that takes place outside its borders, thinking that an enemy force like the United States would be foolhardy to embark on a land invasion of China. The Chinese would seek to destroy US aircraft carriers with its DF-21D ballistic missile.

What would Pakistan do? Pakistan is a center of gravity forChina's Belt and Road initiative. China has invested many billions of dollars in the construction of the Gwadar Port in Pakistan (and other transport and energy related projects). Gwadar provides "an alternative shipping route to the Malacca Strait, which is frequently patrolled by the United States," according to the South China Morning Post. Iran is already connected to the Belt and Road via rail.

China has helped retool Pakistan's military forces. According to the National Interest:

"As Pakistan's relationship has soured with the United States in the past two decades, Pakistan's armed forces have largely looked towards Chinese suppliers for equipment. While China has long supplied Pakistan's armed forces, the relationship has deepened in recent years, with Pakistan making major purchases of top-of-the-line Chinese export equipment."  

That equipment includes bolstering Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, fighter aircraft, tanks and short range missiles.

Have to Fight to Get to the Fight

It is clear that American leadership is completely bankrupt. Listening to and watching Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Trump and Biden whine and cry about China and Russia, I can't help but think this is some sort of Hollywood movie sequel from which another sequel is created, and yet another with a slightly different plot and characters, but the same story line.

The reality is that China is not a basket case in any field. Is it realistic and must be understood that China can't afford not to be expansionist. It is a nation with 1.4 billion mouths to feed and a history that dates back to 3,000 years ago. On the other hand,  Russia can't afford to be aggressive. With a population of 145 million on a huge landmass that borders 14 countries, it is too risky for Russia to dare to expand globally. President Vladimir Putin knows this well. Under his leadership Russia has become a crafty regional power, moving cautiously (as in Syria) and under cloak and dagger in Ukraine.

The United States would find great difficulty in fighting to get to the fight. Its military forces have not had to face any serious opposition in the air or on the sea during its dismal efforts against guerrilla forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.Consider this, though:

"China has constructed 72 fighter jet hangars at its three airbases in the Spratlys - Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs - along with another 16 on Woody Island in the Paracels... China has, meanwhile, deployed YJ-12B and YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missiles to its outposts in the Spratlys and Paracels, backed by longer-range missile capabilities from the mainland. And it has invested heavily in radar and signals intelligence capabilities on all the islands, making it a safe bet that it sees just about anything moving on or above the South China Sea. A U.S. Navy vessel sailing in those waters would be well within the range of Chinese fire when hostilities broke out."

Would the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) member and observer states ally with China against the United States? "The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan...the SCO counts four observer states, namely the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and  the Republic of Mongolia."

Where should the US strike? Gwadar in Pakistan? Chabahar in Iran? The North Korean side of the DMZ? Some SCO countries?

How many young Americans would have to die to feed the egos of American political, economic and military leadership and their maniacal quest for full spectrum dominance? 

USA Can't Solve its Problems at Home, Needs a Foreign Demon and a War

Plato said democracy leads to anarchy. Is the United States in a transition period to anarchy? Who knows?

But it is easy to see that President Trump is a champion of anarchy, of cultural warfare. Fueled by the fires of the Pandemic of 2020 in which 155,000 people are now dead with the proximate cause of these deaths a federal government/Trump that refused to care for its citizens;  beset with and structural economic, cultural, political and racist sickness; Homeland Security shock troops with no identifiable government affiliation picking up protestors on the streets of Portland, Oregon and then dumping them into unmarked vans and whisking them away for interrogation; a crumbling health care system exposed by the COVID19 virus; immigrant bashing; shameful homelessness that includes military veterans and children; and a dithering US Congress that can't provide rapid financial relief for millions of unemployed citizens torched by not only the COVID19 virus but the virus that its elected leaders.

And who is the expansionist power here? The United States has military bases all around the globe. It invaded Iraq, twice. It is bogged down in Afghanistan. It sends drones to kill terrorists in Africa. And its soldiers are actively engaged in counternarcotics operations in Colombia.

"Capitalism in the United States is running head on into those problems which impelled Germany in 1914 upon the road of war ... For Germany it was a question of 'organizing' Europe. For the United States it is a question of 'organizing' the world. History is taking mankind directly into the volcanic eruption of American imperialism." Leon Trotsky

John Stanton can be reached at jstantonarchangel@gmail.com

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Fake news and reality: when lying is convenient for the powerful

2020/07/29

Fake news and reality: when lying is convenient for the powerful

As already written in the past, one of the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic still spreading has been the birth of "verification committees" on the merits or not of the news concerning the pandemic virus: miraculous drugs and remedies, number of infected, sick, of dead, theories about the origin of the virus and so on.

The risk is that if a social and political system, especially a democracy, feels the need for certification of the news by committees of experts, who are also certified, this system, this democracy, ends up silencing every possible voice of dissent, any possible opinion different from the current narrative. Why limit yourself to the virus when you can go much further?

In fact, if it is all too easy point an accusing finger and indulge in a derisive smile with someone (perhaps in search of a little notoriety that takes him or her away for a while from his or her banal daily existence) who starts talking about reptilians who live a hollow Earth or rattles about a flat Earth, how much more difficult is it to counter the lies of the powerful, be they people of government or of some formidable corporation?

It is not a question asked for the first time and attempts to find adequate answers have inaugurated a particularly fruitful strand of studies. Enrica Perucchietti [1], Italian woman of great sensitivity and culture, writer and essayist, agreed to answer some questions on this very topic.

Q) What is a fake news?

A) It is an English expression that indicates news erroneous, false, contained in articles and radio and television contents that present invented, deceptive information, created to misinform and make viral news artifacts. Fake news and hoaxes spread because they take hold of the imagination and because the average user does not delve into the news, he stops to read only the title and the anticipation and runs to share it because, in the era of post-truth, what he reads "resonates" with his thought and therefore wants what he is reading to be true.

In good faith, journalists have to make mistakes because they have less and less time to devote to checking the sources and therefore it is easy for false news to spread. The attraction for gossip, insinuations, spicy or rough background, the morbid has always taken hold of the imagination and allows the contagion of even shamelessly false news. Then, part of the mainstream information is deliberately falsified upstream, giving rise to regime propaganda. In fact, the mass media have, over the years, disseminated, and continue to do so, countless fake news (think for example of the notorious Iraqi weapons of mass destruction which later proved non-existent), therefore resorting to sophisticated forms of manipulation that we could compare to war propaganda. In my book "Fake News", I document countless cases of hoaxes spread by the mainstream media, some of which have gone down in history and are still believed to be true.

Because if on the one hand the web is full of absurd news, on the other also TV, radio and newspapers take loud noises as the sounding board of the government line, in this shaping and manipulating public opinion through the fear and emotions that go to hit people's imagination and "belly".

The feeling is that the truth of the facts is increasingly weak, even virtual and illusory and that therefore the increasingly confused and bewildered citizens must rely on a self-declared governmental body that is reliable in order to be informed in the correct way, wary of any "alternative" information coming, for example, from the web.

That is, the intent is to discredit the truth, explains Alain de Benoist, presenting it as a "great story" that can no longer be believed. Everything becomes "relative", virtual if it were only for governments and "information professionals" to oversee the "truth". Counter-current researchers, who place themselves outside this sphere, are branded as unreliable and untruthful, especially if their aim is to show another "side" of history or denounce what governments want to cover up instead.

I agree with my friend Marcello Foa, who edited the preface of my book, when in his book "Gli stregoni della notizia Atto II" [2] writes that the controversy about fake news and post truths aims not at guaranteeing better information, but certified information: only news with the sticker will be considered as such. All the others can even be expelled from the web and, with the pretext of fake news, it will be possible to obscure social pages of uncomfortable thinkers or non-mainstream bloggers, effectively introducing censorship.

Q) Why do governments and corporations have specific interests in fake news, even in peacetime and therefore do not scruple to use them?

A) Because on the one hand fake news has always been combined with propaganda and on the other because in the last three years they have been the Trojan horse, that is, the pretext to propose the introduction of liberticidal laws and the establishment of commissions and task forces on censorship. In other words, they are becoming a pick to unhinge the freedom of information and thought and to introduce a form of Orwellian psychoreate [3].

Q) The pandemic still ongoing has brought with it "verification committees" on all the news and a not so veiled censorship even on the internet. Is the solution now a cure worse than evil?

A) I think so and that it is unacceptable. The mainstream battle against fake news, taking advantage of the current health emergency, has led to the establishment of an Orwellian Miniver [3] and seems to re-propose a new form of McCarthyism 2.0 [4]: ​​this is an articulated witch-hunt that has the goal of repressing dissent. It exploits the spread of hoaxes on the web to lead to the approval of a censorship of the Net and more generally of alternative information, coming to speculate on the introduction of sanctions. This task force, like all similar initiatives that have preceded it and that will follow, has the objective not of guaranteeing better information, but the creation of certified information accompanied by censorship: only the news with the sticker will be consider OK. All the others can even be expelled from the web and, with the pretext of fake news, it will be possible to obscure social pages, sites and blogs of uncomfortable thinkers, effectively introducing censorship.

  

The risk of legitimizing a new Ministry of Truth [3] that supervises what is true and what is not and which silences "dissident" opinions becomes concrete, as well as the risk that this leads to the creeping introduction of a form of Orwellian psychoreate.

Q) Jacques Attali and his "new world". Do you think that the future of the West is a definitive systemic homologation in the cycle "born, work, consume and die"?

A) Yes, an individual completely depersonalized, emptied, filled with the vision and mantras of the system, easy puppet to control, manipulate and heterodirect. It is the basic theory that I developed with Gianluca Marletta in "Governo Globale", "La Fabbrica della Manipolazione" and in "Unisex", namely that globalism exploited and indeed induced the depersonalization of the individual to make people a-morph, liquid even in their sexual identity, to be able to manipulate and control them better. The social distancing, which evokes the Anti-Sex League of Orwellian memory, and more generally the politics of hatred, fear and loneliness to which we have been subjected for months, follows the attempt to destroy the intermediate bodies (family, companions, friends, etc.) making people more and more alone, bewildered and afraid, prey to their emotions and more easily plagiarized. For Attali, future generations will be "designed", will be born in factories within artificial womb and sex will be released from love and a stable sentimental relationship. In short, eugenics will embrace ectogenesis, cloning and even polyamory. In "Lexicon for the future", Attali went so far as to imagine that a man will in the future become a mother, that is, give birth to a baby on his own, "bringing the embryo into one's belly or making it develop in a non-human uterus".

What for many is dystopia, for others, those who hold power, is instead a future towards which to hover with spread wings, like the young Icarus. Except that dragged on the "wings" of technological enthusiasm, we risk smashing everyone.

Q) Is there not an incurable pride, an unforgivable sin of hỳbris, in believing that ALL the world will become "new"?

A) I specifically made the example of Icarus. Because "titanism" (and more generally hỳbris) is a fundamental characteristic for framing the future that awaits us and the transhumanism, the basic vision of most of the architects of globalism. The Greeks spoke of this ancient sin of omnipotence which, as I explain in "Cyberman", the myth of progress and research in the post-human field seem to have brushed up today: the act of arrogance understood as exceeding the allowed limit that inevitably leads to defeat and catastrophe.

The impression is that today Man deliberately tries to humiliate the divine and Nature by placing himself against them with an act of pride, without however thinking about the possible consequences (or perhaps those behind this project know it very well and run at full speed towards a technoutopia). It is as if we were in the hands of young Icarus attracted by the yearning for the infinite or seduced by the singing of the sirens of the technique.

Here arises the obsession of Man, to snatch from Nature the privilege of creating in order to become himself creator, of making his own universe, of overcoming the limits imposed by his own species and being himself God. We should instead stop and reflect on those limits that are crossing, examining all the possible consequences of the pioneering adventure in which Big Tech is dragging us. Consequences that will surely affect future generations that the architects of globalism want to shape on the dystopian model of Aldous Huxley's "The Brave New World" which in fact appears extraordinarily similar to the visions reported by Attali: future generations will be "designed", they will be born in factories within artificial womb and sex will be released from love and a stable sentimental relationship. In short, eugenics will embrace ectogenesis, cloning and even polyamory.

Q) How was it possible for the Italians to accept all the government's impositions in the past six months?

A) Because the population has been terrified through the shock theory. Fear is just one of the many pieces in the process of social manipulation that power adopts to carry out policies that would otherwise be unpopular but that the perception of terror makes legitimated. In a state of fear, in fact, public opinion feels disoriented, lost and needs guidance to the point of passively submitting to an authority and passively accepting any proposal or intervention from above. In recent months we have been subjected to therapeutic terrorism, to a real health criminology, as the co-author of "Coronavirus. Il nemico invisibile", the lawyer Luca D'Auria, defines it, in which media kept and continue to keep public opinion under constant fear with the bulletin of the dead and with catastrophic forecasts.

Q) In particular, why do you think people like Giulio Tarro [5] or Giorgio Agamben [6] have been attacked so fiercely by the big press?

A) Because they were "dissidents", they immediately manifested critical issues by questioning the mainstream narrative. This is not allowed: the mastiffs of the single thought take care of bringing back to the sheepfold the black sheep that dare to disagree. Especially those that show a documented, complex and articulated vision of reality. The dictatorship of the single thought pours into the media boycott and online persecution of some thinkers if they are uncomfortable. Certain issues should not be talked about in order not to offend some minorities who seem to have taken critical thinking as hostage. Those who allow themselves to do so should cut out a textile straps, embroider the initial "H" of Heretic and sew it on the clothes. After all, even witchcraft when persecuted was assimilated to heresy.

Q) Are we experiencing the materialization of Chomsky's boiled frog principle [7]?

A) Exactly, we have been "educated", indoctrinated and manipulated step by step for decades and in recent months, under the pretext of the health emergency, the seeds of that gradual gentle manipulation have come to light.

Q) Is there hope for Italy or are we hopelessly condemned to be a country of old people with no future and weak young people, until our definitive disappearance as Nation?

A) It will depend if we continue to show fearful, frightened, passive and predisposed to obey uncritically the authority.

Q) What can we do to become "what we were"?

A) As I already said in Fake News, journalism will continue to be fundamental in orienting us in the sea of ​​sources and news that threatens to overwhelm us every day, but we must also be learning to hone our discernment and critical sense skills, whether it is of information that comes from the mainstream media or the net. We must be the first to immunize ourselves from hoaxes and fake news, whether they come from the system or from websites that do it. We cannot passively and uncritically rely on an authority or follow with blind obedience whatever news is transmitted to us by a certified media. We must also be aware that we are immersed in propaganda and that if we do not want to find ourselves in a dystopian society such as those imagined by essays and visionary novelists, we are still in time to "wake up" and regain possession of our future, knowing that, still quoting Orwell, «see what is in front of our nose requires constant effort». Freedom, like truth, also requires constant commitment. And today both are at risk. Because we are disoriented by fear and clouded by emotion.

Video on YouTube (sorry, Italian only): https://youtu.be/qrVGyBQsYho

Video on Yandex drive: https://yadi.sk/i/qLXvum5QagAChA

[1] Sorry, Italian only: https://www.ibs.it/libri/autori/enrica-perucchietti  

[2] Sorry, Italian only: https://www.ibs.it/stregoni-della-notizia-atto-secondo-libro-marcello-foa/e/9788862506793?inventoryId=94041126

[3] Orwell, 1984 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four  

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism  

[5] Italian only: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giulio_Tarro

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Agamben

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky  

****************************

Costantino Ceoldo

Photo: By Frederick Burr Opper - https://ift.tt/2mrQqJh, Public Domain, https://ift.tt/2X7EIFg

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What is hidden behind 'no Russia in G7' rhetoric

2020/07/28

The controversy about the resumption of Russia's participation in the summit of industrialized countries of the Group of Seven is not abating. Why is the European Union categorically opposed to the idea, while Russia does not name the real reason for this position of the EU?

Trump proposed expanding the G7

Donald Trump, being the chairman of this years G7 summit, stated a while back that it would be reasonable to invite Vladimir Putin for the talks as a half of the issues that the G& is going to discuss is related to Russia. Trump invited not only Russia to the summit, but also Australia, South Korea and India to discuss China's responsibility for the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Australia and South Korea have already accepted the US invitation.

European Union is against Russia in the G7

European allies of the United States did not support the idea. French officials said that they saw no prerequisites for Russia to return to the summit so that the G8 format comes back. On July 27, in an interview with the German newspaper Rheinische Post, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the reason for Russia's exclusion from the club was "the annexation of the Crimea and the invasion of eastern Ukraine."

"For the time being we have no decision on this matter, I do not see such an opportunity," Maas said.

He called on Russia to become more actively involved in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and acknowledged that the West also needs to work with Moscow to end the protracted wars in Libya and Syria.

EU wants to take no responsibility for Ukraine's loss of territories

Why is Europe vehemently opposed to Russia's participation in the G7? Berlin and Paris do not want to accept responsibility for the coup d'etat in Ukraine, which led to the loss of some of its territories, and place all the blame for this on Russia.

However, let us recall how the European Union promised help to ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in concluding agreements between him and the "opposition." Foreign Ministers of Germany and Poland, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Radoslaw Sikorski, as well as Eric Fournier, the Head of the Continental Europe Department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acted as intermediaries in the signing of the agreement on the settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine on February 21, 2014.

The agreement provided for the withdrawal of law enforcement forces from the center of Kiev, the end of violence, the surrender of weapons by militants and re-elections to the Ukrainian parliament. Needless to say that nothing of that has ever been implemented.

The Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry prefer not to remind their partners in the Minsk Accords and the Normandy format of this.

Moscow: G7 is outdated, we are happy with G20

The Kremlin says that Russia has no plans to return to the G7 adding that it is happy with G20.

"The G20 is probably better suited to modern economic realities from the point of view of centers of economic development in the world," Putin's official spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. According to Peskov, the G7 lacks global significance, since it does not include China, India, Brazil, Turkey and other countries.

Russia believes China should be invited to participate, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov believes.

"Without China, it is simply impossible to discuss any ideas in the modern world. The idea of this so-called expanded G7 is wrong, because it is unclear how they are going to take China into account," he said.

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev expressed a similar idea on Twitter.

"They continue to talk about the Crimea and Ukraine as a condition for the revival of the G8. Although they understand that the Crimea has returned to Russia forever, and the settlement of the crisis in the southeast of Ukraine is a matter that Ukraine should decide itself. Russia does not need to return to outdated formats of international discussions," wrote Medvedev.

The Russian world is just words, not politics

Of course, the question arises as to why Russian politicians prefer not to hold Europe to account. The answer is simple. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow agreed to recognize the legitimacy of Petro Poroshenko, because Berlin and Paris had asked for it.

When asked whether Moscow could come up with a statement not to recognize the results of the presidential election in Ukraine in 2014, he recalled that the opposition that seized power in the country had forgotten about all the earlier reached agreements, and the requirements that the new leadership put forward to the Russian-speaking minority triggered "very serious problems."

"Against such a background, when they started nominating candidates for the presidential election, Ukrainian President Poroshenko would declare at every corner that he was the "president of peace" who would settle the conflict down in two or three weeks. That is why Paris and Berlin urged us not to issue a statement on the non-recognition of the election. And so we did, we gave them a chance," the Russian minister said.

In a nutshell, Russia took into account the interests of Paris and Berlin, rather than the interests of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. This is something that Russia does not want to bring up very often.

It is only Donald Trump who has nothing to be ashamed of: he denies the entire legacy of Barack Obama's presidency.

The 2020 G7 summit has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic from June to September. The G7 was expanded due to Russia's entry in the club in 1998. After the Crimea reunited with the Russian Federation in 2014, the G8 countries refused to attend the summit in Sochi. The G7 currently includes Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan and the USA. G7 summits are held every year.

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Belarus President Lukashenko miraculously survives coronavirus

2020/07/28

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko experienced coronavirus disease asymptomatically, on his feet. Lukashenko told about his experience on Tuesday, July 28, when he visited military unit 3214 of the Interior Ministry troops in Minsk.

"I apologize for my voice. I have to speak a lot lately. Surprisingly, however, today you are meeting with a man who managed to survive coronavirus on his feet," Lukashenka said.

According to him, he learned about it from doctors.

"Like I said before, 97 percent of people carry this infection asymptomatically. Thank God I am in  this cohort of asymptomatic carriers," Lukashenka said, adding that he now became part of the golden fund of Belarus.

According to most recent reports, more than 67,000 cases of coronavirus disease have been identified in Belarus since the beginning of the pandemic. As many as 538 patients have died, over 60,000 have recovered. Belarus did not impose strict quarantine restrictions. Lukashenko earlier explained this decision with economic reasons and called the hysteria around the coronavirus in the world psychosis. He insisted that Belarus had chosen the right way to fight the pandemic, because the country was working and could "breathe at least somehow".

Earlier, Lukashenko also recommended treating coronavirus with honey, vodka, while working on a tractor and going to the sauna.

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Progress report from Trump’s glorious fourth reich

2020/07/28

Progress report from Trump's glorious fourth reich

DISCLAIMER FROM THE AUTHOR

Although this article is satirical in nature, it should not be taken lightly, because Donald J. Trump and his fellow fascists are working hard to make it a reality.

For additional information, please read America: The Rise of the Fourth Reich (Pravda.Report, July 24, 2020).

GREETINGS FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE FOURTH REICH

All hail Fuhrer Trump, long may he reign!

The battle goes well for the glorious Fourth Reich:  Reichsfuhrers Chad Wolf of the Allgemeine SS and William Barr of the Gestapo have made substantial inroads into our glorious nation's major cities, quashing all in their path who foolishly demand that all races be treated equally and fairly, and eviscerating the authority of politicians who refuse to genuflect before Fuhrer Trump and acknowledge his noble genius.

Our glorious Reich has also replaced the empty oath to the Constitution-that vacuous piece of paper created by well-meaning but foolish idealists-with an oath of allegiance to our glorious Fuhrer Trump.  Already, in cities throughout the nation, we are joyously seeing how vigorously the agents of the Fourth Reich's federal government are ignoring the restrictions of this moribund Constitution and embracing instead the unbridled cruelty bestowed upon them by their new oaths.

OUR NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM

In keeping with our unwavering fealty to our glorious Fuhrer, America now has a new national anthem.  Everyone is required to memorize the words and be able to recite them on command if ordered to by the SS or Gestapo.  The words are as follows:

                                   All hail Fuhrer Trump!

                                   Long may he reign.

                                   America's loss of freedom

                                   Will be the Fuhrer's gain.

                                   We once fought a revolution.

                                   We once opposed a king.

                                   Now we have Fuhrer Trump,

                                   So, let your spirits sing.

                                   Let his name be honored

                                   From shore to shining shore.

                                   Let foolish hopes for equality

                                   Be banned forevermore.       

OUR GLORIOUS FUHRER HAS SINGLE-HANDEDLY ENDED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

 

Many of America's malcontents, who believe their puny lives are as important as Fuhrer Trump's, dared to criticize his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They even dared to question the honorable wisdom of Reichsfuhrer Betsy Devos for simply wanting to conduct our second eugenics experiment-how will the Coronavirus affect schoolchildren?

Our first eugenics experiment goes well.  Our glorious Fuhrer learned from the Third Reich that directly killing people risks exposing one's evil to the world.  So instead, Fuhrer Trump and his loyal governors came to realize it is much easier to have people kill each other, by simply claiming that taking precautions during a dangerous pandemic, such as wearing a mask, "intrudes" on their personal freedom.  To have young and middle-aged people resist wearing masks so they can infect the elderly and the infirm-who are a drain on the financial resources of our glorious Reich, and who have the highest prospect of dying if they contract the Coronavirus-is an ingenious way to cleanse our society while our glorious Fuhrer feigns "compassion" at the same time.

But there is even more great news!  Ever since Fuhrer Trump banned all testing for the Coronavirus, prohibited the media from reporting on it, censored scientific experts from discussing it, and hidden the statistics about those who contracted it, our glorious Reich can now proudly report that not a single person in America has this virus.

ALL MONUMENTS TO SLAVERY AND WHITE SUPREMACY WILL REMAIN

 

Since Fuhrer Trump's desire to "Make America Great Again" incorporates his personal desire to return the nation to a time when white supremacy was the norm, he is continuing to pursue his noble quest to honor and defend monuments, symbols, and military bases named after those great men and women who had the courage to secede from America to defend the esteemed institution of slavery. Fuhrer Trump remains committed to ensuring their memories are not sullied by subversive movements like "Black Lives Matter," and will deploy his SS and Gestapo to stop and reverse any inroads these movements may have made.

Let's applaud Fuhrer Trump, who is so dedicated to promoting the racist causes of the Fourth Reich that he refuses to take time out of his busy schedule to attend the memorial service for the late Congressman John Lewis.  The Fuhrer, in his great wisdom, knows that Mr. Lewis was foolhardy for risking his life to improve the lives of African Americans, because people should only be willing to risk their lives to further the glory of Fuhrer Trump.

Let's also applaud Fuhrer Trump for taking time out of his busy schedule to wish an accused child molester named Ghislaine Maxwell well.  Citizens of the Fourth Reich should be thrilled to know that their great and glorious Fuhrer has his priorities in order.

White supremacy

But Fuhrer Trump's nostalgia is not limited to white supremacy and pedophilia.  In his great wisdom, he is also going to allow the United States Congress and the Judicial Branch of government to pretend to function, provided that none of their edicts contradict his commands, ambitions, or malfeasance.

PRAISE OUR GREAT FUHRER'S COURAGE AND DAMN THE COWARDICE OF HIS ENEMIES

 

Our great nation is blessed with a Fuhrer who, time and again, demonstrated his bravery against overwhelming odds, while his enemies cower in fear.

For example, just look at the cowardice of the Navy veteran in Portland, Oregon, who was politely disciplined with clubs and tear-gas by loyal members of Fuhrer Trump's SS and Gestapo.  Look how he trembled in fear and begged for mercy by silently standing there while this discipline was applied.

Inability to serve

Now recall how Fuhrer Trump mournfully wept about his own inability to serve in America's military after he paid off a doctor to falsely report he had "bone spurs"-a condition far more calamitous than the mere broken bones this Navy veteran suffered.  Even back then Fuhrer Trump knew he needed to live so he could one day build our illustrious Reich.

And let's not forget the glorious repercussions suffered by the Mayor of Portland for having the audacity to defy our Fuhrer by actually joining protesters on the streets to hear their grievances.  Fortunately, our illustrious SS and Gestapo were there to tear-gas him too, or, as the glorious Fuhrer states, "They knocked the hell out of him."

Contrast these actions-actions that our great Fuhrer sagaciously labeled foolish and pathetic-with the intrepidness Fuhrer Trump himself displayed when he bravely hid in a bunker during protests in Washington, D.C., and how our great Fuhrer's bravery was magnified when he ordered his Reichsfuhrers to tear-gas peaceful protesters so he could courageously walk to the steps of a church he rarely attended to display a book he never reads.

How brave our great Fuhrer is to have the wisdom to ridicule those who made sacrifices our great Fuhrer never made himself.  How blessed Americans are to have such a noble leader, and how grateful we are for the bunkers he hides in.

CELEBRATE THE RISE OF THE FOURTH REICH

 

So, let your hearts ring with joy, and celebrate your good fortune for living in the time when the failed American experiment into democracy was replaced by our glorious Fourth Reich.  No longer will your heart be heavy with the burden of deciding who to vote for; no longer will you need to think, speak, and act for yourself; no longer will you have to ponder what freedom, equality, and justice means; and no longer will you have to be shackled by the world of reality.

Fuhrer Trump has made voting unnecessary, because those opposed to his wisdom do not deserve the right to vote; Fuhrer Trump will think, speak, and act for you; and freedom, justice, equality, and reality will mean whatever Fuhrer Trump tells you they mean.

Now people of the Fourth Reich, you are truly free-free from responsibilities, free from politics, free from all those heavy burdens that liberty and democracy once placed upon you.

All we ask in return is your unwavering obedience, your unquestioning loyalty, and unhesitating devotion.

All hail Fuhrer Trump, long may he reign!

David R. Hoffman, Legal Editor of Pravda.Report

  

  

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