thewakingtimes--2020-07-30--Victimization by the Mainstream Media

Victimization by the Mainstream Media

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It has become increasingly obvious that the corporate controlled mainstream media exists to demoralize the public by cherry-picking stories that favor a narrative that promotes victimization .
Incidents that are in the minority are amplified , and with purposeful repetitive selection give the impression that the conditions and circumstances surrounding a particular narrative are in the majority .
I have observed the effect that mainstream narratives have on both the collective and individual level , and the ferocious intensity with which people are convinced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a one-to-one correspondence with a reality that they believe exists right outside their front door .
One need not look any further than the ocean of mask wearing individuals walking about in public , convinced that the breath of their neighbor or fellow pedestrian is a weapon of mass destruction .
The media has purposefully promoted the concept that those who do not wear a mask are an existential threat to you and your family .
According to them , you are a victim to their callous behavior ; that ultimately freedom loving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a threat to society .
This is intentional , for as you have been victimized you will willingly forgo any of your freedoms for a guarantee of safety .
Oh , and for good measure , the media will add that they are probably Trump supporters and thus COVID-19 deniers , a tactic sure to enrage the reader even further and a blatant effort to steer the reader politically .
While the fake pandemic is a great example of the media ’ s role in victimizing its audience , this tactic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily for the promotion of a political , racial , and gender divide as part of the effort by those at the top to divide and rule over the population .
WATCH : Viral Video Reminds America that Local Newscasts are Scripted and Phony As the attention span of the average reader has shrunk , the media has focused its energy on manufacturing loaded headlines .
For the most part , it is the headline exchanged between people who do not have the time to read the content but want to lend credence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A heavy emotionalized headline will do just that , and using technology you can fire that headline in every direction like a machine gun .
These headlines are thusly shared rapidly via text messaging or as a post to timelines on the various social media .
As the world is currently filled with an army of social justice warriors ( SJW ) , so too are their timelines filled with selective headlines that emotionally emphasize the severity of the issues they feel they are valiantly fighting for or against .
Reading through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainstream media news websites , we can see the reoccurrence of common themes : everyone is a racist , everyone desires to keep women and minorities down , members of the LGBT+ community are in danger , and COVID-19 is killing everyone , everywhere , at every moment .
Also manipulated are the pictures that accompany the stories .
Normally , these are selected in ways that will further the psychological impact of that which the article is trying to convey .
A story about Joe Biden making gaffes will be accompanied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A story about COVID-19 will show covered gurneys surrounded by people in hazmat suits .
A story about racism will show pictures that emphasize the narrative , such as a picture of people in robes typically worn by the Klu Klux Klan .
I have even seen stock photography of young white men holding torches , mouths open as if yelling , with a headline suggesting they were white supremacist Trump supporters .
READ : CNN and NBC Caught Faking Photo of Baby with Measles With these elements combined tactically , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not confronted with organizations that seek to inform us but instead to propagandize us along a divide , and within that divide they seek to victimize and demoralize us .
The divides are many , from political , to race , and right down into gender , with there being radical subdivisions as we have been introduced to various complexities related to gender and further complicated by what we are told is a biological misunderstanding , with a narrative that is going so far as to try and alter our own perceptions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rowling has been incessantly attacked for a seemingly innocent defense of what she considers to be the definition of a biological female , something that she has lived and identified with her entire life .
Those attacking her feel some level of injustice has been bestowed upon them , that somehow they are being denied their own identity .
Some go so far to claim that these grievances are no less destructive than a physical attack .
How did they reach these conclusions ?
Victimization .
Certainly we all experience discrimination at some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it happens in perpetuity when one reads the headlines and stories promoted by the mainstream media .
There is a definitive psychological impact and the people behind the engineering of these divides understand this .
You do not have a black vs. white , man vs. woman , gender biology vs. gender fluidity , religion vs. religion , woke vs. unwoke , without the victimization of one or the other .
There is no better place than to engineer this divide by promoting victimization than through the corporate mainstream media elements most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : television news , newspapers , magazines , and websites ; an effort done most intentionally in order to manipulate large swaths of society into divided positions much like on a chess board .
It is the narratives that they build in our minds that allows them to control us emotionally , for we forgo any semblance of emotional control when we allow ourselves to become victims .
We are segmented into like-minded collections , played against each other across the board in whichever way is politically , financially , and/or socially expedient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they seek to benefit from .
The majority of humanity , the 99 % , are thus relegated to the role of simple pawns in a much larger game whose existence they may never even be aware of .
READ : 4 Examples of Mainstream Media Fabricating News to Push for War Patrick Herbert is a software engineer , researcher , and writer who currently resides in Texas .
He has been through some remarkable metaphysical experiences that led to a spiritual awakening and is actively pursuing ways to help to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elements of what we call the global conspiracy and how it affects all of our lives regardless of political disposition .
Visit his website at https : //patrickherbert.org/

Victimization by the Mainstream Media
Patrick Herbert, Contributor
Waking Times
It has become increasingly obvious that the corporate controlled mainstream media exists to demoralize the public by cherry-picking stories that favor a narrative that promotes victimization.
Incidents that are in the minority are amplified, and with purposeful repetitive selection give the impression that the conditions and circumstances surrounding a particular narrative are in the majority.
I have observed the effect that mainstream narratives have on both the collective and individual level, and the ferocious intensity with which people are convinced that the world that they read about has a one-to-one correspondence with a reality that they believe exists right outside their front door.
One need not look any further than the ocean of mask wearing individuals walking about in public, convinced that the breath of their neighbor or fellow pedestrian is a weapon of mass destruction.
The media has purposefully promoted the concept that those who do not wear a mask are an existential threat to you and your family. According to them, you are a victim to their callous behavior; that ultimately freedom loving people who refuse to wear a mask are a threat to society. This is intentional, for as you have been victimized you will willingly forgo any of your freedoms for a guarantee of safety.
Oh, and for good measure, the media will add that they are probably Trump supporters and thus COVID-19 deniers, a tactic sure to enrage the reader even further and a blatant effort to steer the reader politically.
While the fake pandemic is a great example of the media’s role in victimizing its audience, this tactic has been deployed for long before then, primarily for the promotion of a political, racial, and gender divide as part of the effort by those at the top to divide and rule over the population.
As the attention span of the average reader has shrunk, the media has focused its energy on manufacturing loaded headlines. For the most part, it is the headline exchanged between people who do not have the time to read the content but want to lend credence to their own perspective on an issue. A heavy emotionalized headline will do just that, and using technology you can fire that headline in every direction like a machine gun.
These headlines are thusly shared rapidly via text messaging or as a post to timelines on the various social media. As the world is currently filled with an army of social justice warriors (SJW), so too are their timelines filled with selective headlines that emotionally emphasize the severity of the issues they feel they are valiantly fighting for or against.
Reading through the cherry-picked and heavily manipulated headlines on mainstream media news websites, we can see the reoccurrence of common themes: everyone is a racist, everyone desires to keep women and minorities down, members of the LGBT+ community are in danger, and COVID-19 is killing everyone, everywhere, at every moment.
Victimization. Demoralization.
Also manipulated are the pictures that accompany the stories. Normally, these are selected in ways that will further the psychological impact of that which the article is trying to convey. A story about Joe Biden making gaffes will be accompanied by a picture of Joe Biden looking confused. A story about COVID-19 will show covered gurneys surrounded by people in hazmat suits. A story about racism will show pictures that emphasize the narrative, such as a picture of people in robes typically worn by the Klu Klux Klan. I have even seen stock photography of young white men holding torches, mouths open as if yelling, with a headline suggesting they were white supremacist Trump supporters.
With these elements combined tactically, it should be quite obvious that we are not confronted with organizations that seek to inform us but instead to propagandize us along a divide, and within that divide they seek to victimize and demoralize us.
The divides are many, from political, to race, and right down into gender, with there being radical subdivisions as we have been introduced to various complexities related to gender and further complicated by what we are told is a biological misunderstanding, with a narrative that is going so far as to try and alter our own perceptions of our own gender biology.
J. K. Rowling has been incessantly attacked for a seemingly innocent defense of what she considers to be the definition of a biological female, something that she has lived and identified with her entire life. Those attacking her feel some level of injustice has been bestowed upon them, that somehow they are being denied their own identity. Some go so far to claim that these grievances are no less destructive than a physical attack. How did they reach these conclusions? Victimization.
Certainly we all experience discrimination at some point in our lives but the truth is it happens in perpetuity when one reads the headlines and stories promoted by the mainstream media. There is a definitive psychological impact and the people behind the engineering of these divides understand this. You do not have a black vs. white, man vs. woman, gender biology vs. gender fluidity, religion vs. religion, woke vs. unwoke, without the victimization of one or the other.
There is no better place than to engineer this divide by promoting victimization than through the corporate mainstream media elements most consumed by a majority of the population: television news, newspapers, magazines, and websites; an effort done most intentionally in order to manipulate large swaths of society into divided positions much like on a chess board.
It is the narratives that they build in our minds that allows them to control us emotionally, for we forgo any semblance of emotional control when we allow ourselves to become victims. We are segmented into like-minded collections, played against each other across the board in whichever way is politically, financially, and/or socially expedient to the corporate media masters for reasons that they seek to benefit from. The majority of humanity, the 99%, are thus relegated to the role of simple pawns in a much larger game whose existence they may never even be aware of.
About the Author
Patrick Herbert is a software engineer, researcher, and writer who currently resides in Texas. He has been through some remarkable metaphysical experiences that led to a spiritual awakening and is actively pursuing ways to help to raise the awareness of others with regards to the elements of what we call the global conspiracy and how it affects all of our lives regardless of political disposition. Visit his website at http://patrickherbert.org/


thewakingtimes--2020-07-30--Report Finds Oil Giants and Mega Banks Funding Massive Police Presence in Top US Cities

Report Finds Oil Giants and Mega Banks Funding Massive Police Presence in Top US Cities Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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The same industries fueling the climate crisis and disproportionately polluting Black and brown communities across the U.S are bankrolling police foundations , groups which can help militarize local police departments .
That ’ s according to a new investigation from transparency group Public Accountability Initiative and its LittleSis project .
Authored by Gin Armstrong and Derek Seidman and published Monday , the report singles out actions from fossil fuel giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major utility companies and leading financial institutions .
“ This report sheds a harsh and needed light on the ways police violence and systemic racism intersect with the climate crisis , ” Carroll Muffett , president of the Center for International Environmental Law , said in a statement .
“ Rather than address growing public concerns with the dangers of pipelines and petrochemical plants , the fossil fuel industry has responded instead by seeking to criminalize protest , suppress dissent , and mislabel acts of free speech as acts of terrorism .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights abuses by militarized police forces against environmental and rights defenders , ” she said .
“ That oil and gas companies are actually funding the forces inflicting those harms , ” added Muffett , “ is sadly unsurprising and absolutely unacceptable.
” As Little Sis noted last month , police foundations further fatten already bloated police department budgets—doing so “ with little public input or oversight ” —and have enabled some departments to acquire controversial surveillance equipment and outfit forces with weaponry including drones and LRAD equipment .
Recent crackdowns by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how willing departments are to deploy such equipment against demonstrators .
The authors single out Chevron , a company that has been targeted by environmental justice advocates for years for , among other things , pollution related to its refinery in Richmond , California .
From the reporting : The largest oil refining company in the U.S. and frequent emissions level violator Marathon Petroleum is also named in report .
Marathon ’ s Security Coordinator sits on the board of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation , the city ’ s police foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Commanding Sponsor ” of the foundation ’ s fundraising event “ Above & Beyond ” and a “ Bronze Sponsor ” of their “ Women in Blue ” event .
Exelon , the country ’ s largest utility , is described in the reporting as “ a major political player and a prolific donor to police foundations where it and its subsidiaries operate , giving to foundations in Baltimore , Philadelphia , Chicago , and Washington D.C. ” BGE , one of Exelon ’ s subsidiaries , has a seat on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold level ” sponsor .
Among financial institutions named—which also bankroll climate-wrecking projects—is JPMorgan Chase .
That bank is a sponsor of of the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation , which has used some of its funding to acquire surveillance equipment and .
A JPMorgan Chase executive also holds the Secretary/Treasurer position on the police foundation ’ s board , the reporting notes .
Paddy McCully , Energy and Climate Program director at Rainforest Action Network , said the findings were not surprising given that banks and fossil fuel companies are merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Report Finds Oil Giants and Mega Banks Funding Massive Police Presence in Top US Cities
Common Dreams, Guest
Waking Times
The same industries fueling the climate crisis and disproportionately polluting Black and brown communities across the U.S are bankrolling police foundations, groups which can help militarize local police departments.
That’s according to a new investigation from transparency group Public Accountability Initiative and its LittleSis project.
Authored by Gin Armstrong and Derek Seidman and published Monday, the report singles out actions from fossil fuel giants like Shell and Chevron as well as major utility companies and leading financial institutions.
From Chevron and Shell to Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, the same fossil fuel companies and financial institutions driving environmental racism are also directing and funding police foundations. https://t.co/Yq4dCmNA4a — LittleSis.org (@twittlesis) July 27, 2020
“This report sheds a harsh and needed light on the ways police violence and systemic racism intersect with the climate crisis,” Carroll Muffett, president of the Center for International Environmental Law, said in a statement. “Rather than address growing public concerns with the dangers of pipelines and petrochemical plants, the fossil fuel industry has responded instead by seeking to criminalize protest, suppress dissent, and mislabel acts of free speech as acts of terrorism. The result is a rising tide of human rights abuses by militarized police forces against environmental and rights defenders,” she said. “That oil and gas companies are actually funding the forces inflicting those harms,” added Muffett, “is sadly unsurprising and absolutely unacceptable.”
As Little Sis noted last month, police foundations further fatten already bloated police department budgets—doing so “with little public input or oversight”—and have enabled some departments to acquire controversial surveillance equipment and outfit forces with weaponry including drones and LRAD equipment. Recent crackdowns by police on Black Lives Matter protests have shown just how willing departments are to deploy such equipment against demonstrators.
Corporations are also accused of “propping up racist policing” because “these companies sponsor events and galas that celebrate the police and remind the public that police power is backed up by corporate power,” Armstrong and Seidman wrote.
The authors single out Chevron, a company that has been targeted by environmental justice advocates for years for, among other things, pollution related to its refinery in Richmond, California. From the reporting:
Chevron is a “Corporate Partner of the Police” sponsor of the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, as well as a board member of the Houston Police Foundation and sponsor of the Houston Police Department’s mounted patrol. It is also donor to and, as of the end of 2018, a board member of the Salt Lake City Police Foundation.
The largest oil refining company in the U.S. and frequent emissions level violator Marathon Petroleum is also named in report.
Marathon’s Security Coordinator sits on the board of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, the city’s police foundation. Marathon is also listed as a “Commanding Sponsor” of the foundation’s fundraising event “Above & Beyond” and a “Bronze Sponsor” of their “Women in Blue” event. Exelon, the country’s largest utility, is described in the reporting as “a major political player and a prolific donor to police foundations where it and its subsidiaries operate, giving to foundations in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington D.C.”
BGE, one of Exelon’s subsidiaries, has a seat on the police foundation board and is a “gold level” sponsor.
Among financial institutions named—which also bankroll climate-wrecking projects—is JPMorgan Chase. That bank is a sponsor of of the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, which has used some of its funding to acquire surveillance equipment and. A JPMorgan Chase executive also holds the Secretary/Treasurer position on the police foundation’s board, the reporting notes.
Paddy McCully, Energy and Climate Program director at Rainforest Action Network, said the findings were not surprising given that banks and fossil fuel companies are merely acting in their own interests.


thewakingtimes--2020-07-30--Gov’t Violates Constitution, Steals Elderly Man’s Home Over $8.41 Tax Bill

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Oakland County , MI — In the land of the free , even if you fully pay off your home loan to the bank , your property is never truly yours .
Through property tax , states from coast to coast continue to charge you for land that you own .
As the following case illustrates , even if you accidentally forget to pay a tiny portion of these taxes to the state , they can and will steal your home right out from under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the tyranny of taxation and state-sponsored theft .
Uri Rafaeli is an 83-year-old retired engineer in Michigan learned the hard way just how thieving and corrupt government can be .
As TFTP reported , Rafaeli ’ s home was stolen from him by Oakland County officials who promptly auctioned it off and kept the $ 24,000 profit they made from the sale .
The state claims to be justified in their theft of Rafaeli ’ s home because he under paid his tax bill by just $ 8.41 .
However , constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagree .
Earlier this month , in a unanimous decision , the Michigan Supreme Court found the action to be an “ unconstitutional taking without just compensation ” under the state constitution .
The property theft was so egregious that now several officials in Michigan County are investigating the Treasurer for this ridiculous practice which has put the taxpayers at risk for serious legal action .
While Rafaeli ’ s case is certainly shocking , it is hardly unique .
According to reports , more than 100,000 homeowners in the state have fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that legislators in Lansing passed two decades ago .
This move by officials is certainly a 180 considering they were in full support of stealing homes before the supreme court weighed in and found it unconstitutional .
Despite heavy backlash from the media and citizens alike , while arguing this case before the Michigan Supreme Court in November , Oakland County said there is nothing wrong with their actions — because they need the money .
As Reason Magazine pointed out : Almost immediately , the county began using fear to plead their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney Bernstein called their bluff , pointing out the ridiculous nature of having to steal the homes of elderly retirees to be able to fund the state .
Essentially , the city is claiming that if they do not steal homes from elderly retirees over unpaid $ 8 tax bills , the children will suffer and the city will descend into utter chaos .
Bernstein was quick to bring up the fact that this tax bill was under paid by a minuscule amount .
“ It was $ 8 , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake ?
” And just like that , Bursch admitted before the state supreme court that government couldn ’ t care less about elderly men losing their homes , “ they want the money.
” Bursch continued , and oddly went on to describe the government as a caring but stern parent in this situation .
Luckily , the supreme court didn ’ t side with the thieving bureaucrats and instead chose the side of the constitution .
According to the Pacific Legal Foundation who represented Rafaeli , what the government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no basis for this theft which totals in the hundreds of millions and something has to change .
Government can impose taxes , and even impose reasonable interest and costs—like the $ 275 in penalties , interest , and costs tacked onto Rafaeli ’ s debt .
But government can not transform private property—Rafaeli ’ s home equity that exceeded the $ 285 total debt—into public property without paying for it .
It doesn ’ t matter that Michigan ’ s property tax statutes fail to recognize a property owner ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is as unalienable as it is self-evident .
It existed before the state of Michigan and remains even when government officials violate the right .
“ Failure to pay your property taxes doesn ’ t give the government license to take everything from you , ” says Christina Martin , the attorney with PLF who represented the elderly man and other landowners in front of the state Supreme Court .
“ If they could do that , then they could take your car if you pay a parking ticket late.
” As Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in other counties across Michigan – are now worried that the high court ’ s ruling will open the floodgates for litigation as former homeowners whose properties were seized look to get the money from the sale of their seized homes .
It very well should .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state .
Agorist has been an independent journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter , Steemit , and now on Minds .

Gov’t Violates Constitution, Steals Elderly Man’s Home Over $8.41 Tax Bill
Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
Oakland County, MI — In the land of the free, even if you fully pay off your home loan to the bank, your property is never truly yours. Through property tax, states from coast to coast continue to charge you for land that you own. As the following case illustrates, even if you accidentally forget to pay a tiny portion of these taxes to the state, they can and will steal your home right out from under you. Elderly retirees are no exception to the tyranny of taxation and state-sponsored theft.
Uri Rafaeli is an 83-year-old retired engineer in Michigan learned the hard way just how thieving and corrupt government can be. As TFTP reported, Rafaeli’s home was stolen from him by Oakland County officials who promptly auctioned it off and kept the $24,000 profit they made from the sale. The state claims to be justified in their theft of Rafaeli’s home because he under paid his tax bill by just $8.41. However, constitutional experts, and the Michigan Supreme Court disagree.
Earlier this month, in a unanimous decision, the Michigan Supreme Court found the action to be an “unconstitutional taking without just compensation” under the state constitution.
The property theft was so egregious that now several officials in Michigan County are investigating the Treasurer for this ridiculous practice which has put the taxpayers at risk for serious legal action.
“It appears your actions as Treasurer to foreclose on an Oakland County retiree’s property for $8.41 has exposed the county to serious risk,” said a July 21 letter to Meisner signed by board Chairman David Woodward and commissioners Mike Gingell and Helen Zack, according to the Detroit News.
While Rafaeli’s case is certainly shocking, it is hardly unique. According to reports, more than 100,000 homeowners in the state have fallen victim to an aggressive property tax law that legislators in Lansing passed two decades ago.
This move by officials is certainly a 180 considering they were in full support of stealing homes before the supreme court weighed in and found it unconstitutional.
Despite heavy backlash from the media and citizens alike, while arguing this case before the Michigan Supreme Court in November, Oakland County said there is nothing wrong with their actions — because they need the money. As Reason Magazine pointed out:
That telling moment came in the midst of a back-and-forth between Justice Richard Bernstein and John Bursch, the attorney representing Oakland County. In trying to defend the county’s right to seize the full value of Rafaeli’s property over a minuscule debt, Bursch had argued that it was impossible for local governments to compensate all homeowners who had been caught in similar circumstances. The price tag, he estimated, would be more than $2 billion statewide.
Almost immediately, the county began using fear to plead their case.
“A ruling for the plaintiffs will ruin local governments,” warned Bursch. “That will come right out of schools, roads, firefighters, and other basic services.”
However, Rafaeli’s attorney Bernstein called their bluff, pointing out the ridiculous nature of having to steal the homes of elderly retirees to be able to fund the state.
“The interpretation you gave was very dramatic: that this is going to end schools, and the counties are going to crumble, and society is just going to implode,” said Bernstein, interrupting Bursch. “You have a situation where a person owed $8 and lost their house. I mean, how is that equitable?”
Essentially, the city is claiming that if they do not steal homes from elderly retirees over unpaid $8 tax bills, the children will suffer and the city will descend into utter chaos.
“It may sound unfair on its face,” Bursch replied. “But it’s also unfair to force those who pay their taxes to subsidize those who don’t.”
Bernstein was quick to bring up the fact that this tax bill was under paid by a minuscule amount. “It was $8,” he said. “Couldn’t it be a mistake?”
That’s when Bursch made a massive admission.
“The counties don’t want the property,” argued Bursch as to why they stole the elderly man’s home. “They want the money.”
And just like that, Bursch admitted before the state supreme court that government couldn’t care less about elderly men losing their homes, “they want the money.”
Bursch continued, and oddly went on to describe the government as a caring but stern parent in this situation.
“It’s the same as when I tell my kids: ‘If you don’t pick up your stuff, it’s mine,’” Bursch argued. “They can’t complain when I then take their stuff and claim that I took their equity in that property.”
Luckily, the supreme court didn’t side with the thieving bureaucrats and instead chose the side of the constitution.
According to the Pacific Legal Foundation who represented Rafaeli, what the government is doing is clearly unconstitutional and there is no basis for this theft which totals in the hundreds of millions and something has to change.
Government can impose taxes, and even impose reasonable interest and costs—like the $275 in penalties, interest, and costs tacked onto Rafaeli’s debt. But government cannot transform private property—Rafaeli’s home equity that exceeded the $285 total debt—into public property without paying for it. It doesn’t matter that Michigan’s property tax statutes fail to recognize a property owner’s right to their home equity. The right is as unalienable as it is self-evident. It existed before the state of Michigan and remains even when government officials violate the right. “Failure to pay your property taxes doesn’t give the government license to take everything from you,” says Christina Martin, the attorney with PLF who represented the elderly man and other landowners in front of the state Supreme Court. “If they could do that, then they could take your car if you pay a parking ticket late.”
As Fox reports, Oakland County officials – and those in other counties across Michigan – are now worried that the high court’s ruling will open the floodgates for litigation as former homeowners whose properties were seized look to get the money from the sale of their seized homes.
It very well should.
About the Author
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.


thewakingtimes--2020-07-30--It’s Time for Cities to Stop Using Cops as Revenue Collectors

It ’ s Time for Cities to Stop Using Cops as Revenue Collectors Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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Local governments are spending more money than they receive through taxes , and they are making up the difference through fines and fees .
For example , in the aftermath of the Ferguson riots , it was revealed that the city issued 90,000 citations between 2010 and 2014 despite having a population of 21,000 .
In 2015 , 23 percent of the city ’ s revenue came from fines and fees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but for many Americans , it was not that much of a surprise , because we all live in communities where elected officials utilize the same tactics .
In 2015 , New York City took in almost one billion dollars from fines , with fines and fees funding 37 percent of the city ’ s budget for that year .
Parking violations were the biggest earner in categories of fines with $ 565 million collected .
The people who write and issue these citations work for the New York City Police Department and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or parking ticket can ruin anyone ’ s day , but it ’ s worse when you receive a citation for a violation that isn ’ t even illegal anymore .
As of 2008 , it is perfectly legal to park your car in front of a pedestrian ramp that is in the middle of the block , but the city ’ s parking enforcement agency is still issuing $ 165 tickets for this violation .
There are even instances of people who don ’ t live in New York City , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving citations in the mail for violations that never happened .
These injustices are being perpetrated by officers that are either incompetent or corrupt , but these acts are also being enabled by a system whose primary purpose is to extort the public out of their money in order to fund an oversized government that can ’ t be sustained with just taxes alone .
Do the Police Have Ticket Quotas ?
There ’ s a belief in the New York City area that you ’ re more likely to be issued a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It turns out there is data to back this up .
Jonathan Auerbach of the New York Daily News reviewed two years of NYPD statistics and found that there are on average 25 percent more tickets issued on the 30th than one the 1st of every month .
According to NYPD officer Adhyl Polanco , the culture within the department is that if you ’ re not issuing tickets and making arrests , then you ’ re not doing your job .
This incentivizes the police to go out and find violations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view .
New York City officials deny that there is a quota system , but at the same time , they projected revenue of $ 5.86 million from parking fines in 2017 .
If that amount is not matched or surpassed , then politicians will blame the police not doing their jobs as the reason for the budget shortfalls .
Police officers are well aware of the pressure placed on them and their role in providing for the city ’ s budget .
In 2015 , rank and file officers engaged in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they wrote 92 percent fewer tickets than they did the week before along with 56 percent fewer arrests .
This period did not see a spike in crime and then-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton even claimed that crime was declining .
Every resource , both in the public and private sectors , is finite .
During former Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s third term , the city ’ s contract with the United Teachers Federation union expired .
Both the mayor and union were not able to come to a deal and Bloomberg walked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believed that the city could not spend the resources to meet their demands .
In 2013 , when current Mayor DeBlasio was running for his first term , he was endorsed by UFT .
In 2014 , he signed a contract with the union that also included retroactive raises for the time during Bloomberg ’ s terms when there wasn ’ t a contract .
These raises and benefit increases add to the city ’ s financial obligations and the political leaders who make these deals are responsible to make the budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They could raise income and property taxes , but those direct methods are unpopular with the people they are applied to , and it could result in fewer votes during the next election .
And so , they choose to go with the other route : increase the projected amount of fines and fees .
Fines have a purpose where the threat of them is supposed to keep the public from committing minor infractions , and some do help maintain public safety like moving traffic violations .
But when we have local governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between twenty-five and fifty percent of their income , then there is pressure to have law enforcement go on the hunt and look everywhere for someone they can give a fine to .
This also encourages laws to be written for the sole purpose of having a reason to issue someone a fine .
Public resentment seems to be directed more at the people delivering these fees and fines than the people issuing the policies that create these situations .
When a police officer gives you a ticket for something that you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the police officer for not using discretion instead of the bosses down at City Hall who are tasking him to do this .
If we want to improve police-community relations , then we should demand that projected income from fines and fees be limited to not more than five percent of total revenue in government budgets .
This will force politicians to meet citizens head-on about the costs of their decisions , and it will not incentivize law enforcement officers to spend their shifts on the hunt for people to write tickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less resentment and that will help create a happier community .
Daniel Kowalski is an American businessman with interests in the USA and developing markets of Africa .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

It’s Time for Cities to Stop Using Cops as Revenue Collectors
Daniel Kowalski, Guest
Waking Times
Local governments are spending more money than they receive through taxes, and they are making up the difference through fines and fees.
For example, in the aftermath of the Ferguson riots, it was revealed that the city issued 90,000 citations between 2010 and 2014 despite having a population of 21,000. In 2015, 23 percent of the city’s revenue came from fines and fees.
This issue briefly gained national attention, but for many Americans, it was not that much of a surprise, because we all live in communities where elected officials utilize the same tactics. In 2015, New York City took in almost one billion dollars from fines, with fines and fees funding 37 percent of the city’s budget for that year. Parking violations were the biggest earner in categories of fines with $565 million collected. The people who write and issue these citations work for the New York City Police Department and wear police uniforms.
Getting a traffic or parking ticket can ruin anyone’s day, but it’s worse when you receive a citation for a violation that isn’t even illegal anymore. As of 2008, it is perfectly legal to park your car in front of a pedestrian ramp that is in the middle of the block, but the city’s parking enforcement agency is still issuing $165 tickets for this violation. There are even instances of people who don’t live in New York City, let alone New York State, who are receiving citations in the mail for violations that never happened. These injustices are being perpetrated by officers that are either incompetent or corrupt, but these acts are also being enabled by a system whose primary purpose is to extort the public out of their money in order to fund an oversized government that can’t be sustained with just taxes alone.
Do the Police Have Ticket Quotas?
There’s a belief in the New York City area that you’re more likely to be issued a ticket at the end of the month. It turns out there is data to back this up. Jonathan Auerbach of the New York Daily News reviewed two years of NYPD statistics and found that there are on average 25 percent more tickets issued on the 30th than one the 1st of every month. According to NYPD officer Adhyl Polanco, the culture within the department is that if you’re not issuing tickets and making arrests, then you’re not doing your job. This incentivizes the police to go out and find violations when there are no obvious ones in view.
New York City officials deny that there is a quota system, but at the same time, they projected revenue of $5.86 million from parking fines in 2017. If that amount is not matched or surpassed, then politicians will blame the police not doing their jobs as the reason for the budget shortfalls. Police officers are well aware of the pressure placed on them and their role in providing for the city’s budget. In 2015, rank and file officers engaged in a slowdown to protest against Mayor DeBlasio where they wrote 92 percent fewer tickets than they did the week before along with 56 percent fewer arrests. This period did not see a spike in crime and then-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton even claimed that crime was declining.
Asking for Accountability
Every resource, both in the public and private sectors, is finite. During former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s third term, the city’s contract with the United Teachers Federation union expired. Both the mayor and union were not able to come to a deal and Bloomberg walked away from the table in 2010 because he believed that the city could not spend the resources to meet their demands. In 2013, when current Mayor DeBlasio was running for his first term, he was endorsed by UFT. In 2014, he signed a contract with the union that also included retroactive raises for the time during Bloomberg’s terms when there wasn’t a contract.
These raises and benefit increases add to the city’s financial obligations and the political leaders who make these deals are responsible to make the budget numbers work to keep it balanced. They could raise income and property taxes, but those direct methods are unpopular with the people they are applied to, and it could result in fewer votes during the next election.
And so, they choose to go with the other route: increase the projected amount of fines and fees.
Fines have a purpose where the threat of them is supposed to keep the public from committing minor infractions, and some do help maintain public safety like moving traffic violations. But when we have local governments estimating that fines and fees will be between twenty-five and fifty percent of their income, then there is pressure to have law enforcement go on the hunt and look everywhere for someone they can give a fine to. This also encourages laws to be written for the sole purpose of having a reason to issue someone a fine.
Public resentment seems to be directed more at the people delivering these fees and fines than the people issuing the policies that create these situations. When a police officer gives you a ticket for something that you think is minor, you’re angry at the police officer for not using discretion instead of the bosses down at City Hall who are tasking him to do this.
If we want to improve police-community relations, then we should demand that projected income from fines and fees be limited to not more than five percent of total revenue in government budgets. This will force politicians to meet citizens head-on about the costs of their decisions, and it will not incentivize law enforcement officers to spend their shifts on the hunt for people to write tickets to.
Fewer tickets will lead to less resentment and that will help create a happier community.
About the Author
Daniel Kowalski is an American businessman with interests in the USA and developing markets of Africa.


thewakingtimes--2020-07-30--Ecuador’s Navy On High Alert As 260-Strong Chinese Fishing Fleet Encroaches On Protected Galapagos

Ecuador ’ s Navy On High Alert As 260-Strong Chinese Fishing Fleet Encroaches On Protected Galapagos Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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Months ago we highlighted how Argentina has long sought to push a massive fleet of foreign fishing vessels , mostly Chinese , out of its Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ ) , which are eager to at night illegally sweep up squid and other abundant fish just off the South American coast line .
Now Ecuador is dealing with the same problem , but it ’ s gaining increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to be encroaching around the protected and ecologically rich Galapagos Islands off Ecuador ’ s coast .
For years these foreign vessels have been source of controversy , especially following a 2017 incident wherein a Chinese ship was caught inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve with a 300 ton load of mostly sharks , especially the extinction-threatened hammerhead .
Like other countries which has a sprawling South American coastline , crucial for the local economy , the Ecuadorian Navy has remained on high alert for illegal fishing conducted by foreign vessels .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , patrolling to avoid an incident such as what happened in 2017 , ” Ecuador ’ s Defense Minister Oswaldo Jarrin announced this week .
“ There is a corridor that is international waters , that ’ s where the fleet is located , ” he added .
The nine-island archipelago made famous in the 19th century by naturalist Charles Darwin ’ s scientific discovery travels have for decades been listed as a protected Unesco world heritage site , as well as a 188-mile radius surrounding it .
Ecuadorian reports suggest the massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles off this designated boundary .
Ecuadorian officials have slammed the large fleet as “ aggressive ” and “ a threat ” to the delicate marine life ecosystem of the Galapagos .
Interestingly , even US Southern Command took note and tweeted about it via its official account : In response , Ecuador is leading an international push to have its exclusive economic zone expanded to include a 350-mile radius out from the islands , in order to give its navy greater authority to push foreign vessels further from Galapagos waters .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zero Hedge

Ecuador’s Navy On High Alert As 260-Strong Chinese Fishing Fleet Encroaches On Protected Galapagos
Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
Waking Times
Months ago we highlighted how Argentina has long sought to push a massive fleet of foreign fishing vessels, mostly Chinese, out of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which are eager to at night illegally sweep up squid and other abundant fish just off the South American coast line.
Now Ecuador is dealing with the same problem, but it’s gaining increased international attention given Chinese fishing vessels are said to be encroaching around the protected and ecologically rich Galapagos Islands off Ecuador’s coast.
For years these foreign vessels have been source of controversy, especially following a 2017 incident wherein a Chinese ship was caught inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve with a 300 ton load of mostly sharks, especially the extinction-threatened hammerhead.
A new FOX report describes that “A large fleet of some 260 Chinese fishing vessels has been spotted in the waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, the country’s navy officials said last week.”
Like other countries which has a sprawling South American coastline, crucial for the local economy, the Ecuadorian Navy has remained on high alert for illegal fishing conducted by foreign vessels.
“We are on alert, conducting surveillance, patrolling to avoid an incident such as what happened in 2017,” Ecuador’s Defense Minister Oswaldo Jarrin announced this week. “There is a corridor that is international waters, that’s where the fleet is located,” he added.
The nine-island archipelago made famous in the 19th century by naturalist Charles Darwin’s scientific discovery travels have for decades been listed as a protected Unesco world heritage site, as well as a 188-mile radius surrounding it.
Ecuadorian reports suggest the massive Chinese fishing fleet is sitting just 12 miles off this designated boundary.
Vamos a trabajar en una postura regional para defender y proteger la Zona Económica Exclusiva alrededor de la Reserva Marina de Galápagos, una de las áreas más ricas de pesca y un semillero de vida para el planeta entero. #SOSGalápagos pic.twitter.com/GzHWBZrT57 — Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) July 25, 2020
Ecuadorian officials have slammed the large fleet as “aggressive” and “a threat” to the delicate marine life ecosystem of the Galapagos.
Interestingly, even US Southern Command took note and tweeted about it via its official account:
WATCH: About 260 Chinese fishing boats have been detected in the ocean surrounding the #Galápagos islands off #Ecuador, according to the country’s navy. The ships, found just outside a protected zone, raise the prospect of damage to the marine ecosystem. https://t.co/OnoHFCwtFb — U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) July 28, 2020
“Unchecked Chinese fishing just on the edge of the protected zone is ruining Ecuador’s efforts to protect marine life in the Galápagos,” former Ecuadorian environment minister, Yolanda Kakabadse, stated this week.
In response, Ecuador is leading an international push to have its exclusive economic zone expanded to include a 350-mile radius out from the islands, in order to give its navy greater authority to push foreign vessels further from Galapagos waters.
By Tyler Durden / Republished with permission / Zero Hedge


thewakingtimes--2020-08-01--Goldminers Overrun Amazon Indigenous Lands as COVID-19 Surges

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Thousands of miners in search of gold within Brazil ’ s Amazon Indigenous Territories ( TIs ) and Conservation Units ( UCs ) , are illegally clearing forests and polluting rivers at an alarming rate in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 88,000 Brazilians are dead of the pandemic , with more than 430,000 cases reported in the Amazon as of 28 July .
As the miners wreak havoc on the environment and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity , they also act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already infected at least 14,647 indigenous people and caused 269 deaths on indigenous lands , according to a report by the Socioenvironmental Institute ( ISA ) , a Brazilian NGO .
Some indigenous people have even been pressured , or coerced via death threats , to provide labor to carry out this illegal activity , ISA says .
Earlier this month , Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourão stated that indigenous people should be “ more integrated ” into society — an assimilation agenda often voiced by President Jair Bolsonaro .
The Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that thousands of indigenous people contracted the coronavirus when they traveled to cities to collect assistance benefits or to shop , and not due to the illegal invasion of miners .
The Amazon gold rush has been exacerbated by the country ’ s greatly weakened environmental protections — ordered by Bolsonaro and executed by Environment Minister Ricardo Salles — which has triggered a marked increase in deforestation due to illegal mining in protected areas .
In the first six months of this year , according to alerts from the National Space Research Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , deforestation by mining within conserved areas represented 67.9 % of total tree loss in Legal Amazonia , a socio-geographic designation including all or parts of nine states in the Brazilian Amazon .
During a monitoring flight in May , the NGO Greenpeace spotted extensive destruction caused by mining within four protected areas in Pará state : those conserved areas included the Munduruku TI , Sai Cinza TI , Altamira National Forest and Jamanxin National Park ( a fully protected unit in which all mineral exploration is prohibited ) .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , mining within indigenous lands is illegal .
In conservation units , it can be practiced only in some categories of sustainable use , with the proper authorizations , according to law 9.985/2000 .
Bolsonaro has heavily pressured Congress to overthrow these restrictions , which it can legally do , but the legislature has so far resisted his aggressive entreaties .
But that hasn ’ t stopped the rising wave of rampant lawlessness : Greenpeace recently registered images of newly devastated areas , including recently built roads opened into both the Munduruku @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the NGO ’ s investigators spotted tractors and backhoes ripping down trees and removing large amounts of soil ; the use of such heavy equipment is a strong indicator that the miners are not acting along , but being paid for hire by ruralista elite land grabbers who have significant money to pump into the illegal endeavors .
Land speculators have become utterly emboldened as Bolsonaro has hamstrung IBAMA , the nation ’ s environmental agency , preventing it from investigating widespread Amazon deforestation on protected lands .
From January to June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,230 hectares ( 5,510 acres ) of forest inside conservation units ( UCs ) according to INPE .
Deforestation reached 1,016 hectares ( 2,510 acres ) within indigenous lands over that same period , with tree loss on Munduruku and Sai Cinza TIs representing 56 % of the total .
In June of this year alone , 406 hectares ( 1,003 acres ) were deforested inside indigenous territories , with 151 hectares ( 373 acres ) of forest lost in the Munduruku TI and 60 hectares ( 148 acres ) in the Sai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed a public civil action with the Federal Public Ministry of Pará ( MPF-PA ) asking the Federal Union , IBAMA , ICMBio ( the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation , the nation ’ s national park agency ) , and FUNAI ( Brazil ’ s indigenous affairs agency ) to fight against illegal mining in protected areas .
But the lawsuits have had little effect , say analysts , because illegal mining is not only tolerated by government agencies , but is also condoned , and even encouraged , by officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPF-PA , last May , José Arthur Macedo Leal , FUNAI ’ s regional coordinator in the municipality of Itaituba — who should be impartial — reportedly encouraged indigenous people to favor mining legalization on their lands .
In an audio recording leaked by an unnamed source and distributed via social networks and included with the Public Ministry ’ s lawsuit , FUNAI ’ s Leal is heard to say that this is “ the right time for indigenous people to discuss a policy aimed at legalizing gold mining in the Munduruku TI.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by Environmental Minister Salles in April , when he suggested that the government should take advantage of the pandemic to “ pass reforms of [ environmental ] deregulation [ and ] simplification.
” The government strategy has indeed attracted some indigenous people to participate in illegal mining .
“ The intrusion of white miners into the interior of indigenous territories often has the support of indigenous criminals who receive commissions or directly carry out the activity and… go so far as to threaten relatives by sharing photos on social networks bearing firearms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The use of serious threats against [ indigenous ] peers of their own ethnicity has been commonplace , in order to keep them silent and not to inform the press and authorities about the situation of extreme violence and existential risk to which they have been subjected.
” Contacted by Mongabay , the MPF press office was not available to give a position on the progress of the lawsuit .
Greenpeace ’ s Marçal says that mining has been causing indelible damage in the Amazon .
She recalls that a 2018 technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that the Tapajós River — which passes through several TIs , including those of the Munduruku and Sai Cinza peoples , along with several conservation units — was at the time receiving dumped mining waste totaling at least seven million tons per year .
Last February , Bolsonaro pushed forward legislation authorizing mining on indigenous lands .
The 191/2020 bill awaits analysis via the creation of a special commission within the House of Deputies .
However , the head of the lower house has so far blocked the bill .

Goldminers Overrun Amazon Indigenous Lands as COVID-19 Surges
Jenny Gonzales, Guest
Waking Times
Thousands of miners in search of gold within Brazil’s Amazon Indigenous Territories (TIs) and Conservation Units (UCs), are illegally clearing forests and polluting rivers at an alarming rate in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 88,000 Brazilians are dead of the pandemic, with more than 430,000 cases reported in the Amazon as of 28 July.
As the miners wreak havoc on the environment and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, they also act as potential vectors for the coronavirus, which has already infected at least 14,647 indigenous people and caused 269 deaths on indigenous lands, according to a report by the Socioenvironmental Institute (ISA), a Brazilian NGO. Some indigenous people have even been pressured, or coerced via death threats, to provide labor to carry out this illegal activity, ISA says.
Earlier this month, Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourão stated that indigenous people should be “more integrated” into society — an assimilation agenda often voiced by President Jair Bolsonaro. The Vice President claimed, without offering evidence, that thousands of indigenous people contracted the coronavirus when they traveled to cities to collect assistance benefits or to shop, and not due to the illegal invasion of miners.
The Amazon gold rush has been exacerbated by the country’s greatly weakened environmental protections — ordered by Bolsonaro and executed by Environment Minister Ricardo Salles — which has triggered a marked increase in deforestation due to illegal mining in protected areas. In the first six months of this year, according to alerts from the National Space Research Institute, INPE’s Deter satellite monitoring system, deforestation by mining within conserved areas represented 67.9% of total tree loss in Legal Amazonia, a socio-geographic designation including all or parts of nine states in the Brazilian Amazon.
During a monitoring flight in May, the NGO Greenpeace spotted extensive destruction caused by mining within four protected areas in Pará state: those conserved areas included the Munduruku TI, Sai Cinza TI, Altamira National Forest and Jamanxin National Park (a fully protected unit in which all mineral exploration is prohibited).
According to Article 231 of Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, mining within indigenous lands is illegal. In conservation units, it can be practiced only in some categories of sustainable use, with the proper authorizations, according to law 9.985/2000. Bolsonaro has heavily pressured Congress to overthrow these restrictions, which it can legally do, but the legislature has so far resisted his aggressive entreaties.
But that hasn’t stopped the rising wave of rampant lawlessness: Greenpeace recently registered images of newly devastated areas, including recently built roads opened into both the Munduruku and Apiaká territories.
From the air, the NGO’s investigators spotted tractors and backhoes ripping down trees and removing large amounts of soil; the use of such heavy equipment is a strong indicator that the miners are not acting along, but being paid for hire by ruralista elite land grabbers who have significant money to pump into the illegal endeavors.
Land speculators have become utterly emboldened as Bolsonaro has hamstrung IBAMA, the nation’s environmental agency, preventing it from investigating widespread Amazon deforestation on protected lands.
From January to June of this year, illegal mining destroyed 2,230 hectares (5,510 acres) of forest inside conservation units (UCs) according to INPE.
Deforestation reached 1,016 hectares (2,510 acres) within indigenous lands over that same period, with tree loss on Munduruku and Sai Cinza TIs representing 56% of the total. In June of this year alone, 406 hectares (1,003 acres) were deforested inside indigenous territories, with 151 hectares (373 acres) of forest lost in the Munduruku TI and 60 hectares (148 acres) in the Sai Cinza TI.
“Deforestation by illegal mining in the Amazon is smaller [in area] compared to deforestation by clear cutting [usually done to clear property for illegal sale as cattle pasture or croplands], but that does not mean that the environmental impacts are insignificant. Ore prospecting, especially for gold, negatively affects the food chain, indigenous peoples’ lives and rivers’ health, polluting them with mercury and other highly toxic substances,” Carol Marçal, a forest campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil, told Mongabay. “Illegal miners cut trees to access forest areas and [then] install heavy machinery, while dredges [floating barges that suck up sand, silt and gold] go up the river,” Marçal added.
In May, Greenpeace filed a public civil action with the Federal Public Ministry of Pará (MPF-PA) asking the Federal Union, IBAMA, ICMBio (the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, the nation’s national park agency), and FUNAI (Brazil’s indigenous affairs agency) to fight against illegal mining in protected areas.
MPF-PA issued a lawsuit demanding that “the bodies in charge be obliged to again combat illegal mining.” The new suit noted that as the result of an earlier, 2018 lawsuit filed by the MPF in Federal Court, “there was [already] an agreement [in place] to carry out inspections, but the agencies limited themselves to carry out [only] a single operation, and since then the situation has only worsened… [Now] mining is advancing towards areas closer to [indigenous] villages.”
But the lawsuits have had little effect, say analysts, because illegal mining is not only tolerated by government agencies, but is also condoned, and even encouraged, by officials in commanding positions. According to the MPF-PA, last May, José Arthur Macedo Leal, FUNAI’s regional coordinator in the municipality of Itaituba — who should be impartial — reportedly encouraged indigenous people to favor mining legalization on their lands.
In an audio recording leaked by an unnamed source and distributed via social networks and included with the Public Ministry’s lawsuit, FUNAI’s Leal is heard to say that this is “the right time for indigenous people to discuss a policy aimed at legalizing gold mining in the Munduruku TI.” His comments are similar to those made by Environmental Minister Salles in April, when he suggested that the government should take advantage of the pandemic to “pass reforms of [environmental] deregulation [and] simplification.” The government strategy has indeed attracted some indigenous people to participate in illegal mining. “The intrusion of white miners into the interior of indigenous territories often has the support of indigenous criminals who receive commissions or directly carry out the activity and… go so far as to threaten relatives by sharing photos on social networks bearing firearms,” says the MPF-PA document. “The use of serious threats against [indigenous] peers of their own ethnicity has been commonplace, in order to keep them silent and not to inform the press and authorities about the situation of extreme violence and existential risk to which they have been subjected.”
Contacted by Mongabay, the MPF press office was not available to give a position on the progress of the lawsuit.
Greenpeace’s Marçal says that mining has been causing indelible damage in the Amazon. She recalls that a 2018 technical report by the Federal Police attested to the fact that the Tapajós River — which passes through several TIs, including those of the Munduruku and Sai Cinza peoples, along with several conservation units — was at the time receiving dumped mining waste totaling at least seven million tons per year.
That is “equivalent to saying that every 11 years, mining activity dumps in the Tapajós River the same amount, in mass, of sediments that Samarco [the mining company] illegally released into the Doce River, when its [iron mining] tailings dam broke [in November 2015],” according to the Federal Police report. The Samarco spill is considered Brazil’s greatest environmental disaster ever.
Last February, Bolsonaro pushed forward legislation authorizing mining on indigenous lands. The 191/2020 bill awaits analysis via the creation of a special commission within the House of Deputies. However, the head of the lower house has so far blocked the bill.


thewakingtimes--2020-08-01--Two-Tiered Medicine: Why Is Hydroxychloroquine Being Censored and Politicized?

Two-Tiered Medicine : Why Is Hydroxychloroquine Being Censored and Politicized ?
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Sign up here .
In 2003 , severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS ) induced a global panic—a dress rehearsal , as it were , for Covid-19 in 2020 .
Although SARS fatalities rapidly petered out ( with an eventual worldwide tally of just 774 deaths ) , concerns about the potential for future spread of the SARS coronavirus ( SARS-CoV ) left doctors eager to identify effective drugs for treatment and prevention .
In short order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and at the Special Pathogens Branch of the CDC ( 2005 ) published theoretical models and detailed in vitro findings about a drug offering likely “ prophylactic and therapeutic advantage ” : chloroquine ( CQ ) .
Following these promising cell culture studies ( cited hundreds of times in the scientific literature ) , researchers around the world continued to explore the antiviral potential of CQ and its more benign analog hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) .
A 2006 paper in The Lancet Infectious Diseases again directed attention to CQ as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2014 , in the aftermath of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus ( MERS-CoV ) , researchers at the Anthony-Fauci-led National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) identified 27 existing compounds “ with activity against both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV , ” including CQ and HCQ .
Noting that the “ screening of approved drugs to identify therapeutics for drug repurposing is a valid approach , ” the NIAID researchers singled out CQ and one other drug in their closing paragraph as having noteworthy potential to “ reconfigure ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virulent subclinical infection ” resulting in less adverse disease outcomes .
This ongoing body of research was clearly at the forefront of many doctors ’ minds when SARS-CoV-2 surfaced this year .
In early April , a survey of U.S. physicians found that two-thirds ( 65 % ) would prescribe CQ or HCQ “ to treat or prevent COVID-19 in a family member , ” and roughly the same percentage ( 67 % ) would take it themselves .
( The company conducting the survey noted that “ the best way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physician is to ask : ‘ Would you give this to your family ?
’ ” ) Another early April survey of over 6,000 physicians in 30 countries found that 37 % of respondents who had already treated Covid-19 rated HCQ as the most effective therapy .
Apparently , the physicians advising the world ’ s heads of state are likewise favorably disposed to HCQ .
In May , the White House doctor confirmed HCQ ’ s excellent benefit-to-risk ratio , and the president of El Salvador not only reported taking HCQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ most of the world ’ s leaders , ” including President Trump , have been doing the same .
However , in what has turned out to be a gross understatement , the Salvadorean leader also admitted that “ Sometimes what ’ s recommended to the people is something different than what ’ s recommended to the leaders.
” In March , the U.S. readily accepted millions of HCQ tablets donated by pharmaceutical giants Bayer and Sandoz for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile , and the FDA even granted emergency use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet what has been recommended to the American people ever since has most certainly not been HCQ .
In fact—ignoring over five dozen studies ( and counting ) that have shown CQ or HCQ to be effective against Covid-19 under certain conditions—the FDA revoked the drug ’ s Covid-19 authorization in June .
Meanwhile , the nation ’ s number-one-ranked hospital , the Mayo Clinic , currently states on its website that there are no Covid-19 medications or cures .
At this point , when countries using HCQ are displaying a Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mortality rate in countries where there is interference with this medication , such as the United States , ” it is difficult to deny that an HCQ hit job is taking place both domestically and internationally .
Columbia University medical graduate Dr. James Todaro recently declared as much : “ If it seems like there is an orchestrated attack that ’ s going on against hydroxychloroquine , it ’ s because there is.
” For the biopharma companies poised to profit from new drugs and Covid-19 vaccines—including the alarming Moderna vaccine co-developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep older drugs that have outlived their patent terms in the running .
In a Rachel Maddow interview earlier this spring , Columbia University ’ s Dr. Ian Lipkin admitted to Maddow—with a grin—that “ sexy and new and patentable ” formulations are far more attractive to researchers and investors than “ tried-and-true , classical sort of methods repurposing drugs and strategies that have already been shown to work.
” As a result of the HCQ attacks—enabled by the pharmaceutical industry , Fauci and other top health officials , social media giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journal partners—tens of thousands of Covid-19 patients “ are dying unnecessarily ” for “ reasons having nothing to do with a correct understanding of the science.
” The expert making that dire assessment—Yale epidemiology professor Harvey Risch , MD , PhD—believes that in the future , “ this misbegotten episode regarding hydroxychloroquine will be studied by sociologists of medicine as a classic example of how extra-scientific factors overrode clear-cut medical evidence .
”

Two-Tiered Medicine: Why Is Hydroxychloroquine Being Censored and Politicized?
Children’s Health Defense Team, Guest
Waking Times
In 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) induced a global panic—a dress rehearsal, as it were, for Covid-19 in 2020. Although SARS fatalities rapidly petered out (with an eventual worldwide tally of just 774 deaths), concerns about the potential for future spread of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) left doctors eager to identify effective drugs for treatment and prevention. In short order, researchers in Europe (2003 and 2004) and at the Special Pathogens Branch of the CDC (2005) published theoretical models and detailed in vitro findings about a drug offering likely “prophylactic and therapeutic advantage”: chloroquine (CQ).
Following these promising cell culture studies (cited hundreds of times in the scientific literature), researchers around the world continued to explore the antiviral potential of CQ and its more benign analog hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). A 2006 paper in The Lancet Infectious Diseases again directed attention to CQ as a “valuable therapeutic option if SARS re-emerges.” In 2014, in the aftermath of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), researchers at the Anthony-Fauci-led National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) identified 27 existing compounds “with activity against both MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV,” including CQ and HCQ. Noting that the “screening of approved drugs to identify therapeutics for drug repurposing is a valid approach,” the NIAID researchers singled out CQ and one other drug in their closing paragraph as having noteworthy potential to “reconfigure” the two coronavirus illnesses “into a less virulent subclinical infection” resulting in less adverse disease outcomes.
This ongoing body of research was clearly at the forefront of many doctors’ minds when SARS-CoV-2 surfaced this year. In early April, a survey of U.S. physicians found that two-thirds (65%) would prescribe CQ or HCQ “to treat or prevent COVID-19 in a family member,” and roughly the same percentage (67%) would take it themselves. (The company conducting the survey noted that “the best way to get a candid perspective on treatment options from a physician is to ask: ‘Would you give this to your family?’”) Another early April survey of over 6,000 physicians in 30 countries found that 37% of respondents who had already treated Covid-19 rated HCQ as the most effective therapy. Apparently, the physicians advising the world’s heads of state are likewise favorably disposed to HCQ. In May, the White House doctor confirmed HCQ’s excellent benefit-to-risk ratio, and the president of El Salvador not only reported taking HCQ as prophylaxis for Covid-19 himself but asserted that “most of the world’s leaders,” including President Trump, have been doing the same. However, in what has turned out to be a gross understatement, the Salvadorean leader also admitted that “Sometimes what’s recommended to the people is something different than what’s recommended to the leaders.”
For the biopharma companies poised to profit from new drugs and Covid-19 vaccines … it is not an attractive option to keep older drugs that have outlived their patent terms in the running.
“Extra-scientific factors”
In March, the U.S. readily accepted millions of HCQ tablets donated by pharmaceutical giants Bayer and Sandoz for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, and the FDA even granted emergency use authorization for HCQ as a Covid-19 therapy, yet what has been recommended to the American people ever since has most certainly not been HCQ. In fact—ignoring over five dozen studies (and counting) that have shown CQ or HCQ to be effective against Covid-19 under certain conditions—the FDA revoked the drug’s Covid-19 authorization in June. Meanwhile, the nation’s number-one-ranked hospital, the Mayo Clinic, currently states on its website that there are no Covid-19 medications or cures.
At this point, when countries using HCQ are displaying a Covid-19 mortality rate that is “only one-tenth the mortality rate in countries where there is interference with this medication, such as the United States,” it is difficult to deny that an HCQ hit job is taking place both domestically and internationally. Columbia University medical graduate Dr. James Todaro recently declared as much: “If it seems like there is an orchestrated attack that’s going on against hydroxychloroquine, it’s because there is.” For the biopharma companies poised to profit from new drugs and Covid-19 vaccines—including the alarming Moderna vaccine co-developed by NIAID—it is not an attractive option to keep older drugs that have outlived their patent terms in the running. In a Rachel Maddow interview earlier this spring, Columbia University’s Dr. Ian Lipkin admitted to Maddow—with a grin—that “sexy and new and patentable” formulations are far more attractive to researchers and investors than “tried-and-true, classical sort of methods repurposing drugs and strategies that have already been shown to work.”
As a result of the HCQ attacks—enabled by the pharmaceutical industry, Fauci and other top health officials, social media giants and captured media, regulatory and scientific journal partners—tens of thousands of Covid-19 patients “are dying unnecessarily” for “reasons having nothing to do with a correct understanding of the science.” The expert making that dire assessment—Yale epidemiology professor Harvey Risch, MD, PhD—believes that in the future, “this misbegotten episode regarding hydroxychloroquine will be studied by sociologists of medicine as a classic example of how extra-scientific factors overrode clear-cut medical evidence.”


thewakingtimes--2020-07-31--Here Are The Top Highlights From Ghislaine Maxwell’s Unsealed Court Records

Here Are The Top Highlights From Ghislaine Maxwell ’ s Unsealed Court Records Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered @ @ @ @ @ up here .
Dozens of exhibits related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were unsealed @ @ @ @ @ into allegations against the financier and his purported ‘ madam , ’ as well as @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton , Alan Dershowitz and several other people whose names one can only guess @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The documents , related to a 2015 civil defamation lawsuit against Maxwell by @ @ @ @ @ were ordered to be released on July 23 by US District Judge Loretta Preska – @ @ @ @ @ from Epstein ’ s private jets , as well as police reports from the multiple @ @ @ @ @ .
Bill Clinton was allegedly on pedo island with ‘ 2 young girls ’

Here Are The Top Highlights From Ghislaine Maxwell’s Unsealed Court Records
Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
Waking Times
Dozens of exhibits related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were unsealed Thursday evening, providing insight into allegations against the financier and his purported ‘madam,’ as well as other high-profile individuals, including Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz and several other people whose names one can only guess (and the internet has).
The documents, related to a 2015 civil defamation lawsuit against Maxwell by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, were ordered to be released on July 23 by US District Judge Loretta Preska – which also included flight logs from Epstein’s private jets, as well as police reports from the multiple locations where Epstein maintained residences.
Among the findings:
Bill Clinton was allegedly on pedo island with ‘2 young girls’
Allegations against Dershowitz – Not only did Dershowitz abuse the minor, but he helped draft a non-prosecution agreement that gave Dershowitz immunity. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/qa5p0VUJ2k — Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) July 31, 2020
Six references to Bill Clinton in Virginia Roberts’ chat with her lawyers on April 7, 2011: Asked about Epstein boasting “Bill Clinton owes me favors,” Giuffe said: “Yes. I do. It was a laugh though. He would laugh it off… I didn’t know if he was serious. It was just a joke.” pic.twitter.com/InugMgHOz5 — Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) July 31, 2020
Sordid details from alleged sexual encounters


thewakingtimes--2020-08-03--From Lockdowns To ‘The Great Reset’

From Lockdowns To ‘The Great Reset’

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Sign up here .
The lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the implementation of long-held plans to establish a so-called new world order .
Under the auspices of the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) , global policymakers are advocating for a “ Great Reset ” with the intent of creating a global technocracy .
It is not by coincidence that on October 18 , 2019 , in New York City the WEF participated in “ Event 201 ” at the “ high-level ” pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Health Security .
This coming technocracy involves close cooperation between the heads of the digital industry and of governments .
With programs such as guaranteed minimum income and healthcare for all , the new kind of governance combines strict societal control with the promise of comprehensive social justice .
The truth , however , is that this new world order of digital tyranny comes with a comprehensive social credit system .
The People ’ s Republic of China is the pioneer of this method of surveillance and control of individuals , corporations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual , one ’ s identity is reduced to an app or chip that registers almost any personal activity .
In order to gain a few individual rights , and be it only to travel to a certain place , a person must balance such apparent privileges with his submission to a web of regulations that define in detail what is “ good behavior ” and deemed as beneficial to humankind and the environment .
For example , during a pandemic , this sort of control would extend from the obligation of wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having specific vaccinations in order to apply for a job or to travel .
It is , in short , a type of social engineering which is the opposite of a spontaneous order or of development .
Like the mechanical engineer with a machine , the social engineer—or technocrat—treats society as an object .
Different from the brutal suppressions by the totalitarianism of earlier times , the modern social engineer will try to make the social machine work on its own according to the design .
For this purpose , the social engineer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way the mechanical engineer follows the laws of nature .
Behavioral theory has reached a stage of knowledge that makes the dreams of social engineering possible .
The machinations of social engineering operate not through brute force , but subtly by nudge .
Under the order envisioned by the Great Reset , the advancement of technology is not meant to serve the improvement of the conditions of the people but to submit the individual to the tyranny of a technocratic state .
“ The experts know better ” is the justification .
READ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Economic Reset ” Is Coming In 2021 The plan for an overhaul of the world is the brainchild of an elite group of businessmen , politicians , and their intellectual entourage that used to meet in Davos , Switzerland , in January each year .
Brought into existence in 1971 , the World Economic Forum has become a megaglobal event since then .
More than three thousand leaders from all over the world attended the meeting in 2020 .
Under the guidance of the WEF , the agenda of the Great Reset says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transformation requires a thorough overhaul of the economy , politics , and society .
Such a comprehensive transformation requires the alteration of human behavior , and thus “ transhumanism ” is part of the program .
The Great Reset will be the theme of the fifty-first meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2021 .
Its agenda is the commitment to move the world economy toward “ a more fair , sustainable and resilient future.
” The program calls for “ a new social contract ” that is centered on racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection of the nature .
Climate change requires us “ to decarbonize the economy ” and to bring human thinking and behavior “ into harmony with nature.
” The aim is to build “ more equal , inclusive and sustainable economies.
” This new world order must be “ urgently ” implemented , the promotors of the WEF claim , and they point out that the pandemic “ has laid bare the unsustainability of our system , ” which lacks “ social cohesion.
” The WEF ’ s great reset project is social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the reset contend that the UN failed to establish order in the world and could not advance forcefully its agenda of sustainable development—known as Agenda 2030—because of its bureaucratic , slow , and contradictory way of working .
In contrast , the actions of the organizational committee of the World Economic Forum are swift and smart .
When a consensus has been formed , it can be implemented by the global elite all over the world .
The ideology of the World Economic Forum is neither left nor right , nor progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fascist or communist , but outright technocratic .
As such , it includes many elements of earlier collectivist ideologies .
In recent decades , the consensus has emerged at the annual Davos meetings that the world needs a revolution , and that reforms have taken too long .
The members of the WEF envision a profound upheaval at short notice .
The time span should be so brief that most people will hardly realize that a revolution is going on .
The change must be so swift and dramatic that those who recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the time to mobilize against it .
The basic idea of the Great Reset is the same principle that guided the radical transformations from the French to the Russian and Chinese Revolutions .
It is the idea of constructivist rationalism incorporated in the state .
But projects like the Great Reset leave unanswered the question of who rules the state .
The state itself does not rule .
It is an instrument of power .
It is not the abstract state that decides , but the leaders of specific political parties and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regimes needed mass executions and concentration camps to maintain their power .
Now , with the help of new technologies , it is believed , dissenters can easily be identified and marginalized .
The nonconformists will be silenced by disqualifying divergent opinions as morally despicable .
The 2020 lockdowns possibly offer a preview of how this system works .
The lockdown worked as if it had been orchestrated—and perhaps it was .
As if following a single command , the leaders of big and small nations—and of different stages of economic development—implemented almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments act in unison , they also applied these measures with little regard for the horrific consequences of a global lockdown .
Months of economic stillstand have destroyed the economic basis of millions of families .
Together with social distancing , the lockdown has produced a mass of people unable to care for themselves .
First , governments destroyed the livelihood , then the politicians showed up as the savior .
The demand for social assistance is no longer limited to specific groups , but has become a need of the masses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
Now it is fear of disease .
What lies ahead is not the apparent coziness of a benevolent comprehensive welfare state with a guaranteed minimum income and healthcare and education for all .
The lockdown and its consequences have brought a foretaste what is to come : a permanent state of fear , strict behavioral control , massive loss of jobs , and growing dependence on the state .
With the measures taken in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic , a big step to reset the global economy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the pandemic will not mean the end of the lockdown and social distancing .
At the moment , however , the opponents of the new world order of digital tyranny still have access to the media and platforms to dissent .
Yet the time is running out .
The perpetrators of the new world order have smelled blood .
Declaring the coronavirus a pandemic has come in handy to promote the agenda of their Great Reset .
Only massive opposition can slow down and finally stop the extension of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on the rise .
By Tyler Durden / Republished with permission / Zero Hedge Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

From Lockdowns To ‘The Great Reset’
Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
Waking Times
The lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the implementation of long-held plans to establish a so-called new world order. Under the auspices of the World Economic Forum (WEF), global policymakers are advocating for a “Great Reset” with the intent of creating a global technocracy. It is not by coincidence that on October 18, 2019, in New York City the WEF participated in “Event 201” at the “high-level” pandemic exercise organized by the John Hopkins Center for Health Security.
This coming technocracy involves close cooperation between the heads of the digital industry and of governments. With programs such as guaranteed minimum income and healthcare for all, the new kind of governance combines strict societal control with the promise of comprehensive social justice.
The truth, however, is that this new world order of digital tyranny comes with a comprehensive social credit system. The People’s Republic of China is the pioneer of this method of surveillance and control of individuals, corporations, and sociopolitical entities.
For the individual, one’s identity is reduced to an app or chip that registers almost any personal activity. In order to gain a few individual rights, and be it only to travel to a certain place, a person must balance such apparent privileges with his submission to a web of regulations that define in detail what is “good behavior” and deemed as beneficial to humankind and the environment. For example, during a pandemic, this sort of control would extend from the obligation of wearing a mask and practicing social distancing to having specific vaccinations in order to apply for a job or to travel.
It is, in short, a type of social engineering which is the opposite of a spontaneous order or of development. Like the mechanical engineer with a machine, the social engineer—or technocrat—treats society as an object. Different from the brutal suppressions by the totalitarianism of earlier times, the modern social engineer will try to make the social machine work on its own according to the design. For this purpose, the social engineer must apply the laws of society the way the mechanical engineer follows the laws of nature. Behavioral theory has reached a stage of knowledge that makes the dreams of social engineering possible. The machinations of social engineering operate not through brute force, but subtly by nudge.
Under the order envisioned by the Great Reset, the advancement of technology is not meant to serve the improvement of the conditions of the people but to submit the individual to the tyranny of a technocratic state. “The experts know better” is the justification.
The Agenda
The plan for an overhaul of the world is the brainchild of an elite group of businessmen, politicians, and their intellectual entourage that used to meet in Davos, Switzerland, in January each year. Brought into existence in 1971, the World Economic Forum has become a megaglobal event since then. More than three thousand leaders from all over the world attended the meeting in 2020.
Under the guidance of the WEF, the agenda of the Great Reset says that the completion of the current industrial transformation requires a thorough overhaul of the economy, politics, and society. Such a comprehensive transformation requires the alteration of human behavior, and thus “transhumanism” is part of the program.
The Great Reset will be the theme of the fifty-first meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2021. Its agenda is the commitment to move the world economy toward “a more fair, sustainable and resilient future.” The program calls for “a new social contract” that is centered on racial equality, social justice, and the protection of the nature. Climate change requires us “to decarbonize the economy” and to bring human thinking and behavior “into harmony with nature.” The aim is to build “more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies.” This new world order must be “urgently” implemented, the promotors of the WEF claim, and they point out that the pandemic “has laid bare the unsustainability of our system,” which lacks “social cohesion.”
The WEF’s great reset project is social engineering at the highest level. Advocates of the reset contend that the UN failed to establish order in the world and could not advance forcefully its agenda of sustainable development—known as Agenda 2030—because of its bureaucratic, slow, and contradictory way of working. In contrast, the actions of the organizational committee of the World Economic Forum are swift and smart. When a consensus has been formed, it can be implemented by the global elite all over the world.
Social Engineering
The ideology of the World Economic Forum is neither left nor right, nor progressive or conservative, it is also not fascist or communist, but outright technocratic. As such, it includes many elements of earlier collectivist ideologies.
In recent decades, the consensus has emerged at the annual Davos meetings that the world needs a revolution, and that reforms have taken too long. The members of the WEF envision a profound upheaval at short notice. The time span should be so brief that most people will hardly realize that a revolution is going on. The change must be so swift and dramatic that those who recognize that a revolution is happening do not have the time to mobilize against it.
The basic idea of the Great Reset is the same principle that guided the radical transformations from the French to the Russian and Chinese Revolutions. It is the idea of constructivist rationalism incorporated in the state. But projects like the Great Reset leave unanswered the question of who rules the state. The state itself does not rule. It is an instrument of power. It is not the abstract state that decides, but the leaders of specific political parties and of certain social groups.
Earlier totalitarian regimes needed mass executions and concentration camps to maintain their power. Now, with the help of new technologies, it is believed, dissenters can easily be identified and marginalized. The nonconformists will be silenced by disqualifying divergent opinions as morally despicable.
The 2020 lockdowns possibly offer a preview of how this system works. The lockdown worked as if it had been orchestrated—and perhaps it was. As if following a single command, the leaders of big and small nations—and of different stages of economic development—implemented almost identical measures. Not only did many governments act in unison, they also applied these measures with little regard for the horrific consequences of a global lockdown.
Months of economic stillstand have destroyed the economic basis of millions of families. Together with social distancing, the lockdown has produced a mass of people unable to care for themselves. First, governments destroyed the livelihood, then the politicians showed up as the savior. The demand for social assistance is no longer limited to specific groups, but has become a need of the masses.
Once, war was the health of the state. Now it is fear of disease. What lies ahead is not the apparent coziness of a benevolent comprehensive welfare state with a guaranteed minimum income and healthcare and education for all. The lockdown and its consequences have brought a foretaste what is to come: a permanent state of fear, strict behavioral control, massive loss of jobs, and growing dependence on the state.
With the measures taken in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a big step to reset the global economy has been made. Without popular resistance, the end of the pandemic will not mean the end of the lockdown and social distancing. At the moment, however, the opponents of the new world order of digital tyranny still have access to the media and platforms to dissent. Yet the time is running out. The perpetrators of the new world order have smelled blood. Declaring the coronavirus a pandemic has come in handy to promote the agenda of their Great Reset. Only massive opposition can slow down and finally stop the extension of the power grip of the tyrannical technocracy that is on the rise.
By Tyler Durden / Republished with permission / Zero Hedge
Like Waking Times on Facebook. Follow Waking Times on Twitter.