thewakingtimes--2020-03-20--Childhood Stress Can Make You Ill as an Adult

Prolonged stress can have life-threatening consequences not only for adults but also for children .
Research shows adverse childhood experiences ( ACEs ) can predispose them to any number of health problems later in life .
In the early days of mankind ’ s evolution , the stress response saved our lives by enabling us to run from predators or take down prey .
Today , however , such dire circumstances are few and far between , yet we still turn on the same “ life-saving ” reaction to cope with countless everyday situations .
Constantly being in a stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hormones around the clock , which can raise your blood pressure , add fat to your belly , shrink your brain and even unravel your chromosomes .
Stress disrupts your neuroendocrine and immune systems and appears to trigger a degenerative process in your brain that can result in Alzheimer ’ s disease .
Stress can also accelerate aging by shortening your telomeres , the protective genetic structures that regulate how your cells age .
In the words of Dr. Lissa Rankin , author of “ Mind Over Medicine ” : In a March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris , founder of a children ’ s medical clinical in one of San Francisco ’ s poorest neighborhoods .
A surprisingly large portion of her young patients struggled with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) , the hallmarks of which include an inability to focus , impulsivity and abnormal restlessness .
Many also had severe health problems and depression .
Piore writes : Alarmed by the obvious trend she was witnessing in her clinic , Harris began searching for answers in the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poor state of health of so many of her young patients ?
In 2020 , California is allocating $ 105 million to promote screening for ACEs , which have been shown to trigger toxic stress responses and epigenetic changes linked to a variety of health problems .
As reported by Piore , the biological switches flipped during ACEs increase a child ’ s risk for : What ’ s more , these stress-induced epigenetic changes can be passed on to future generations .
Indeed , you will often find that childhood trauma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each subsequent generation playing out the same interpersonal dramas as their parents .
According to Harris , “ The social determinants of health are to the 21st century , what infectious disease was to the 20th century.
” Much of what we now know about ACEs are the result of the 1998 ACE Study , which examined the relationship between childhood trauma and subsequent risky behaviors and diseases in adulthood .
Categories of ACEs examined included : Of the 13,494 adults who received the questionnaire and had completed a standard medical evaluation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than half reported experiencing at least one ACE ; one-fourth reported two or more .
Not only did they find a direct “ dose-dependent ” relationship between the number of ACEs and future health problems and risky behaviors , childhood trauma appeared to be an independent risk factor for leading causes of death .
According to the authors : In the June 2019 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , ( full text is behind a paywall ) Dr. Vincent J. Felitti commented on his 1998 ACE Study : Upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente weight loss study acknowledged sexual abuse — an absolutely staggering statistic Felitti could hardly believe at first .
Many of these patients also spoke about other childhood traumas .
Since these patients unconsciously used obesity as a defense mechanism , their weight loss efforts were often unsustainable , and they ’ d gain all the weight back .
Since the publication of the 1998 ACE Study , Felitti and co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Anda have published more than 75 articles on its findings and other follow-up investigations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while interest in ACEs has grown , there ’ s been a strong resistance to using the information in clinical medical practice .
For example , there were fears that questions about ACEs might enrage patients or trigger suicide .
However , when Felitti conducted an investigation , he found that when the ACE questions were included in an adult medical history intake , outpatient visits were actually reduced by 35 % and emergency room visits declined by 11 % in the subsequent year , compared to the year before the ACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no rise in referrals to psychotherapy , so the reduction was not due to more people seeking psychiatric help .
What they eventually discovered was that the mere ability to talk about their ACEs had a tremendously beneficial effect .
Felitti writes : “ We learned from patients that our apparent acceptance of them after hearing their dark secret was of profound importance .
After lengthy consideration , we came to see that ‘ Asking ’ … followed up by face-to-face ‘ Listening ’ and ‘ Accepting ’ was a powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words , we had come upon a mechanism for reducing traumatic shame , which shame had the secondary effect of causing stress-related symptoms and hence doctor visits .
Given our sample size , the economic implications of a reduction of this magnitude in medical utilization are in the multibillion-dollar range for any large organization .
Numerous legislatures , state and federal , have become involved because of the multibillion-dollar implications of the ACE Study findings for population health as well as medical care budgets .
The WHO has been collecting data annually with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in more than two dozen European and Asian nations , and the CDC has added since 2009 an ACE module to its annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study , with almost all states currently participating .
Thus , in spite of the slow progress over the past 20 years , the international breadth and strength of interest in understanding the implications and extent of the ACE findings strongly suggest that our keynote AJPM article will ultimately have a major role in advancing well-being and medical care.
” In the two decades since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigated the connection between childhood trauma and adult disease states from a variety of angles , looking for biological mechanisms to explain it .
One proposed mechanism involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal ( HPA ) axis , which controls stress reactions and regulates immune function , energy storage and expenditure , moods and emotions by way of hormones .
A key hormone involved is cortisol , which plays a role in energy regulation .
As explained by Piore : Interestingly , researchers have discovered that different ACEs impact cortisol regulation in different ways .
Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse tend to have abnormally high cortisol levels first thing in the morning , while children experiencing severe neglect tend to have abnormally low morning levels .
Low morning cortisol has been linked to delinquency and alcohol use , while high morning cortisol levels are associated with anxiety , depression and post-traumatic stress disorder .
Excessive amounts of cortisol also lower immune function , thus raising the risk of infection , and raises the risk of high blood pressure , insulin resistance , Type 2 diabetes , obesity and heart disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cortisol increases the risk of an inflammatory immune response and exaggerated inflammatory response to stress .
“ Sickness behavior ” — lack of appetite , fatigue , social withdrawal , depressed mood , irritability and poor cognitive functioning — has also been shown to be related to insufficient cortisol , Piore reports .
Researchers have also discovered that the presence of ACEs is in and of itself not enough to trigger toxic stress .
Genetics also appear to play a role , as does interpersonal intervention .
If someone is around to offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be restored , allowing cortisol levels to normalize .
The problem is that chronic abuse is typically because no one is intervening on the child ’ s behalf .
“ Adversity and stress without adequate buffering can turn on genes that flood the system with enzymes that prime the body to respond to further stress by making it easier to produce adrenaline and reactivate the fight-or-flight response quickly , which can make it harder for children with toxic stress to control their emotions , ” Piore notes .
In 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyzed data from 144,017 individuals in 25 states , finding : • Nearly 1 in 6 adults ( 15.6 % ) has experienced four or more types of ACEs • ACEs raise the risk of at least five of the top 10 leading causes of death • Preventing ACEs could reduce adult depression rates by as much as 44 % , asthma rates by 24 % and stroke by 15 % • Preventing ACEs could also prevent up to 1.9 million cases of heart disease and up to 2.5 million cases of overweight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the role of ACEs and toxic stress is becoming more widely recognized , doctors can begin to address these issues , which is what Harris is pushing for in California .
Caregivers of stressed or traumatized children also need to be educated on the importance of emotional and physical buffering .
Piore writes : A 2017 paper in Health & Justice delineates further “ action steps using ACEs and trauma-informed care ” to improve patient resiliency without retraumatizing them .
Resilience is the ability of your body to rapidly return to normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stressful situation .
One way to improve resilience is through breath work , as described in “ Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Develop Greater Resiliency.
” The Health & Justice paper also highlights the importance of incorporating neuroscience concepts to trauma-informed care programs and therapies , and stresses the use of a resilience-oriented approach in order to move “ from trauma information to neuroscience-based action with practical skills to build greater capacity for self-regulation and self-care in both service providers and clients.
” Problems and Challenges : ACE Score May Be Misleading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services ACEs Aware Initiative kicked off January 1 , 2020 .
Health care providers in the state are encouraged to screen patients for ACEs that might influence their health , and connecting patients in need with the appropriate interventions and resources .
Some , however , including Anda , who helped develop the ACE score with Felitti , worry that the ACE score might not work well when applied to individual patients , as it does not take into account caregiver buffering and other factors that tend to be protective .
Piore writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misused and lead to inappropriate labeling , recognizing the influence of ACEs in public health is an important step forward .
In coming years , we ’ re likely to see more advances in screening methods as well .

Childhood Stress Can Make You Ill as an Adult
Dr. Mercola, Guest
Waking Times
Prolonged stress can have life-threatening consequences not only for adults but also for children. Research shows adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can predispose them to any number of health problems later in life.
In the early days of mankind’s evolution, the stress response saved our lives by enabling us to run from predators or take down prey. Today, however, such dire circumstances are few and far between, yet we still turn on the same “life-saving” reaction to cope with countless everyday situations.
Constantly being in a stress response may have you marinating in corrosive hormones around the clock, which can raise your blood pressure, add fat to your belly, shrink your brain and even unravel your chromosomes.
Stress disrupts your neuroendocrine and immune systems and appears to trigger a degenerative process in your brain that can result in Alzheimer’s disease. Stress can also accelerate aging by shortening your telomeres, the protective genetic structures that regulate how your cells age. In the words of Dr. Lissa Rankin, author of “Mind Over Medicine”:
“Our bodies know how to fix broken proteins, kill cancer cells, retard aging, and fight infection. They even know how to heal ulcers, make skin lesions disappear and knit together broken bones! But here’s the kicker — those natural self-repair mechanisms don’t work if you’re stressed!”
Childhood Stress and Mental Health
In a March 2020 Newsweek article, Adam Piore discusses the work of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, founder of a children’s medical clinical in one of San Francisco’s poorest neighborhoods.
A surprisingly large portion of her young patients struggled with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the hallmarks of which include an inability to focus, impulsivity and abnormal restlessness. Many also had severe health problems and depression. Piore writes:
“Burke Harris noticed something else unusual about these children. Whenever she asked their parents or caregivers to tell her about conditions at home, she almost invariably uncovered a major life disruption or trauma. One child had been sexually abused by a tenant, she recalls. Another had witnessed an attempted murder. Many children came from homes struggling with the incarceration or death of a parent, or reported acrimonious divorces. Some caregivers denied there were any problems at all, but had arrived at the appointment high on drugs.”
Alarmed by the obvious trend she was witnessing in her clinic, Harris began searching for answers in the medical literature. Was childhood trauma responsible for the poor state of health of so many of her young patients?
“Childhood stress can be as toxic and detrimental to the development of the brain and body as eating lead paint chips off the wall or drinking it in the water — and should be screened for and dealt with in similar ways, in Burke Harris’ view. As California’s first Surgeon General … she is focusing on getting lawmakers and the public to act,” Piore writes.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening
In 2020, California is allocating $105 million to promote screening for ACEs, which have been shown to trigger toxic stress responses and epigenetic changes linked to a variety of health problems. As reported by Piore, the biological switches flipped during ACEs increase a child’s risk for:
Nicotine, alcohol and drug abuse Heart disease Suicide Cancer Mental illness Dementia Impaired immune function
What’s more, these stress-induced epigenetic changes can be passed on to future generations. Indeed, you will often find that childhood trauma “runs in families,” with each subsequent generation playing out the same interpersonal dramas as their parents. According to Harris, “The social determinants of health are to the 21st century, what infectious disease was to the 20th century.”
The ACE Study
Much of what we now know about ACEs are the result of the 1998 ACE Study, which examined the relationship between childhood trauma and subsequent risky behaviors and diseases in adulthood. Categories of ACEs examined included:
Psychological abuse Physical abuse Sexual abuse Violence against the mother Living with household members who were substance abusers Living with mentally ill or suicidal household members Living in a household in which a member has been or is imprisoned Early death of a parent Neglect Separation or divorce
Of the 13,494 adults who received the questionnaire and had completed a standard medical evaluation, 70.5% responded. Of those, more than half reported experiencing at least one ACE; one-fourth reported two or more.
Not only did they find a direct “dose-dependent” relationship between the number of ACEs and future health problems and risky behaviors, childhood trauma appeared to be an independent risk factor for leading causes of death. According to the authors:
“We found a graded relationship between the number of categories of childhood exposure and each of the adult health risk behaviors and diseases that were studied. Persons who had experienced four or more categories of childhood exposure, compared to those who had experienced none, had 4- to 12-fold increased health risks for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempt; a 2- to 4-fold increase in smoking, poor self-rated health, > or = 50 sexual intercourse partners, and sexually transmitted disease; and 1.4- to 1.6-fold increase in physical inactivity and severe obesity. The number of categories of adverse childhood exposures showed a graded relationship to the presence of adult diseases including ischemic heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, skeletal fractures, and liver disease. The seven categories of adverse childhood experiences were strongly interrelated and persons with multiple categories of childhood exposure were likely to have multiple health risk factors later in life.”
Origins of ACEs
In the June 2019 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, (full text is behind a paywall) Dr. Vincent J. Felitti commented on his 1998 ACE Study:
“The ACE Study was a direct outgrowth of significant counterintuitive findings derived from … the treatment of obesity in Kaiser Permanente’s Department of Preventive Medicine in San Diego, California. Unexpectedly, we discovered that such major weight loss was actually threatening to many patients. Pursuing this, we came to realize that obesity, a major public health problem from a societal standpoint, was from the involved patient’s standpoint often an unconsciously chosen solution to unrecognized traumatic life experiences that were lost in time and further protected by shame, secrecy, and social taboos against exploring certain realms of human experience.”
Upon investigation, 55% of 286 patients enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente weight loss study acknowledged sexual abuse — an absolutely staggering statistic Felitti could hardly believe at first. Many of these patients also spoke about other childhood traumas.
Since these patients unconsciously used obesity as a defense mechanism, their weight loss efforts were often unsustainable, and they’d gain all the weight back. Since the publication of the 1998 ACE Study, Felitti and co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Anda have published more than 75 articles on its findings and other follow-up investigations.
The Importance of Sharing and Acceptance
Unfortunately, while interest in ACEs has grown, there’s been a strong resistance to using the information in clinical medical practice. For example, there were fears that questions about ACEs might enrage patients or trigger suicide.
However, when Felitti conducted an investigation, he found that when the ACE questions were included in an adult medical history intake, outpatient visits were actually reduced by 35% and emergency room visits declined by 11% in the subsequent year, compared to the year before the ACE questions were added.
They also found there was no rise in referrals to psychotherapy, so the reduction was not due to more people seeking psychiatric help. What they eventually discovered was that the mere ability to talk about their ACEs had a tremendously beneficial effect. Felitti writes:
“We learned from patients that our apparent acceptance of them after hearing their dark secret was of profound importance. After lengthy consideration, we came to see that ‘Asking’ … followed up by face-to-face ‘Listening’ and ‘Accepting’ was a powerful form of ‘Doing.’ In other words, we had come upon a mechanism for reducing traumatic shame, which shame had the secondary effect of causing stress-related symptoms and hence doctor visits. Given our sample size, the economic implications of a reduction of this magnitude in medical utilization are in the multibillion-dollar range for any large organization. Numerous legislatures, state and federal, have become involved because of the multibillion-dollar implications of the ACE Study findings for population health as well as medical care budgets. The WHO has been collecting data annually with an International Version of the ACE Questionnaire in more than two dozen European and Asian nations, and the CDC has added since 2009 an ACE module to its annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study, with almost all states currently participating. Thus, in spite of the slow progress over the past 20 years, the international breadth and strength of interest in understanding the implications and extent of the ACE findings strongly suggest that our keynote AJPM article will ultimately have a major role in advancing well-being and medical care.”
Mind-Body Connection
In the two decades since the ACE Study came out, researchers have investigated the connection between childhood trauma and adult disease states from a variety of angles, looking for biological mechanisms to explain it.
One proposed mechanism involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls stress reactions and regulates immune function, energy storage and expenditure, moods and emotions by way of hormones. A key hormone involved is cortisol, which plays a role in energy regulation. As explained by Piore:
“When all is calm, the body builds muscle or bone and socks away excess calories for future consumption as fat, performs cellular regeneration and keeps its immune system strong to fight infection. In the case of a child, the body fuels normal mental and physical development. In an emergency, however, all these processes get put on hold. The HPA axis floods the bloodstream with adrenaline and cortisol, which signals the body to kick into overdrive immediately. Blood sugar levels spike and the heart pumps harder to provide a fast boost in fuel … When the emergency goes on for a long time — perhaps over an entire childhood of abuse — the resulting high levels of cortisol take a big and lasting toll.”
ACEs and Cortisol Dysregulation
Interestingly, researchers have discovered that different ACEs impact cortisol regulation in different ways. Children who experience severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse tend to have abnormally high cortisol levels first thing in the morning, while children experiencing severe neglect tend to have abnormally low morning levels.
Low morning cortisol has been linked to delinquency and alcohol use, while high morning cortisol levels are associated with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Excessive amounts of cortisol also lower immune function, thus raising the risk of infection, and raises the risk of high blood pressure, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
On the other hand, too little cortisol increases the risk of an inflammatory immune response and exaggerated inflammatory response to stress. “Sickness behavior” — lack of appetite, fatigue, social withdrawal, depressed mood, irritability and poor cognitive functioning — has also been shown to be related to insufficient cortisol, Piore reports.
Genetics Also Play a Role
Researchers have also discovered that the presence of ACEs is in and of itself not enough to trigger toxic stress. Genetics also appear to play a role, as does interpersonal intervention. If someone is around to offer soothing reassurance, a sense of safety can be restored, allowing cortisol levels to normalize.
The problem is that chronic abuse is typically because no one is intervening on the child’s behalf. “Adversity and stress without adequate buffering can turn on genes that flood the system with enzymes that prime the body to respond to further stress by making it easier to produce adrenaline and reactivate the fight-or-flight response quickly, which can make it harder for children with toxic stress to control their emotions,” Piore notes.
Childhood Trauma Is a Significant Health Risk
In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from 144,017 individuals in 25 states, finding:
Nearly 1 in 6 adults (15.6%) has experienced four or more types of ACEs
ACEs raise the risk of at least five of the top 10 leading causes of death
Preventing ACEs could reduce adult depression rates by as much as 44%, asthma rates by 24% and stroke by 15%
Preventing ACEs could also prevent up to 1.9 million cases of heart disease and up to 2.5 million cases of overweight or obesity
Interventions to Combat the Stress Response
The good news is that as the role of ACEs and toxic stress is becoming more widely recognized, doctors can begin to address these issues, which is what Harris is pushing for in California. Caregivers of stressed or traumatized children also need to be educated on the importance of emotional and physical buffering. Piore writes:
“Buffering includes nurturing caregiving, but it can include simple steps like focusing on maintaining proper sleep, exercise and nutrition. Mindfulness training, mental health services and an emphasis on developing healthy relationships are other interventions that Burke Harris says can help combat the stress response. The specifics will vary on a case-by-case basis, and will rely on the judgment and creativity of the doctor to help adult caregivers design a plan to protect the child — and to help both those caregivers and high-risk adults receive social support services and interventions when necessary … ‘Most of our interventions are essentially reducing stress hormones, and ultimately changing our environment,’ says Burke Harris. “
A 2017 paper in Health & Justice delineates further “action steps using ACEs and trauma-informed care” to improve patient resiliency without retraumatizing them.
Resilience is the ability of your body to rapidly return to normal, physically and emotionally, after a stressful situation. One way to improve resilience is through breath work, as described in “Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Develop Greater Resiliency.”
The Health & Justice paper also highlights the importance of incorporating neuroscience concepts to trauma-informed care programs and therapies, and stresses the use of a resilience-oriented approach in order to move “from trauma information to neuroscience-based action with practical skills to build greater capacity for self-regulation and self-care in both service providers and clients.”
Problems and Challenges: ACE Score May Be Misleading
California’s Department of Health Care Services ACEs Aware Initiative kicked off January 1, 2020. Health care providers in the state are encouraged to screen patients for ACEs that might influence their health, and connecting patients in need with the appropriate interventions and resources.
Some, however, including Anda, who helped develop the ACE score with Felitti, worry that the ACE score might not work well when applied to individual patients, as it does not take into account caregiver buffering and other factors that tend to be protective. Piore writes:
“The problem with applying it to individual patients, he says, is that it doesn’t take into account the severity of the stressor. Who’s to say, for instance, that someone with an ACE score of one who was beaten by a caregiver every day of their life is less prone to disease than someone with an ACE score of four who experienced these stressors only intermittently? On a population level, surveying thousands, the outliers would cancel each other out. But on the individual level they could be misleading.”
While screening tools can indeed be misused and lead to inappropriate labeling, recognizing the influence of ACEs in public health is an important step forward. In coming years, we’re likely to see more advances in screening methods as well.


thewakingtimes--2020-03-21--In The Midst Of A Tragic Human Pandemic, The Environment Is Flourishing

As we have highlighted in a few different reports since the COVID-19 coronavirus quarantines began , the extreme decrease in human activity has given the planet some space to breathe .
Obviously , the situation that the people of the world are dealing with right now is tragic , lives are being lost , and there are millions now facing unemployment due to the economic shutdown that has resulted from the quarantines .
It is unfortunate that the world would only slow down after experiencing the type of suffering that we have seen in recent months , but the drastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s affected by the outbreak , could be a potential silver lining to this terrible situation .
Sattelite images taken in the different parts of the world where there are intense quarantines have shown that there has been a drastic reduction of pollution in these areas .
Satellite images from NASA show falling levels of nitrogen dioxide over China in the past two months , correlating with the massive factor and travel shut down that has been taking place throughout the country .
Scientists with NASA say that the reduction in nitrogen dioxide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of the outbreak where the quarantine was first imposed .
When comparing satellite images of the past two years , it is apparent that nitrogen dioxide levels this year are significantly lower than last year .
It appears that something similar is also beginning to happen in Italy , which has also recently gone into a countrywide lockdown .
The European Space Agency ( ESA ) released a timelapse video taken from space , which shows how drastically the air pollution has decreased .
The iconic canals in Venice , Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has slowed down .
Now that the whole world is going into quarantine , it is very likely that similar results will be seen throughout the world , even in the United States , which is currently in the process of locking everyone down .
It would be great if humanity could learn some lessons through this experience .
We have now been able to prove just how quickly humans can reverse the environmental trend that we have been contributing to for so long .
Unfortunately , once the coronavirus is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for industrialized nations will be getting back to work , and world leaders have already shown that they are happy to roll back environmental regulations in order to get the economy going again .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

In The Midst Of A Tragic Human Pandemic, The Environment Is Flourishing
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
As we have highlighted in a few different reports since the COVID-19 coronavirus quarantines began, the extreme decrease in human activity has given the planet some space to breathe.
Obviously, the situation that the people of the world are dealing with right now is tragic, lives are being lost, and there are millions now facing unemployment due to the economic shutdown that has resulted from the quarantines. It is unfortunate that the world would only slow down after experiencing the type of suffering that we have seen in recent months, but the drastic drop in pollution in the region’s affected by the outbreak, could be a potential silver lining to this terrible situation.
Sattelite images taken in the different parts of the world where there are intense quarantines have shown that there has been a drastic reduction of pollution in these areas.
Satellite images from NASA show falling levels of nitrogen dioxide over China in the past two months, correlating with the massive factor and travel shut down that has been taking place throughout the country. Scientists with NASA say that the reduction in nitrogen dioxide was first noticed around Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak where the quarantine was first imposed. When comparing satellite images of the past two years, it is apparent that nitrogen dioxide levels this year are significantly lower than last year.
It appears that something similar is also beginning to happen in Italy, which has also recently gone into a countrywide lockdown. The European Space Agency (ESA) released a timelapse video taken from space, which shows how drastically the air pollution has decreased.
http://www.facebook.com/EuropeanSpaceAgency/videos/223306492195447/
The iconic canals in Venice, Italy, have become crystal clear since the traffic has slowed down.
Now that the whole world is going into quarantine, it is very likely that similar results will be seen throughout the world, even in the United States, which is currently in the process of locking everyone down.
It would be great if humanity could learn some lessons through this experience. We have now been able to prove just how quickly humans can reverse the environmental trend that we have been contributing to for so long. Unfortunately, once the coronavirus is no longer a major threat, the first priority for industrialized nations will be getting back to work, and world leaders have already shown that they are happy to roll back environmental regulations in order to get the economy going again.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


thewakingtimes--2020-03-21--Inmate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Tyranny of America’s For Profit Prisons

The ostensible land of the free has more prisoners per population than any country in the world .
In fact , about 1 in every 110 U.S. adults is currently incarcerated and 1 in every 38 U.S. adults is under some form of correctional supervision .
The prison industry is booming .
And thanks to the coronavirus , that could soon change .
Currently , in the land of the free , there are more than 2 million people in cages .
When you are locked up with thousands of people , social distancing is impossible .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as hand sanitizer is banned and inmates are told when they can wash their hands .
In other words , the prisoners — as well as the guards — are sitting ducks who could see explosions of COVID-19 infections if the jails were breached by the virus .
Though most prisons in the United States have yet to report an infection , on Wednesday , we found out that two already have .
A staffer at a medium security federal prison in Berlin , New Hampshire , and an employee at a Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Texas , tested positive for the illness , said Sue Allison , a federal correctional agency spokeswoman .
It is now only a matter of time before someone who is not exhibiting symptoms brings it in to one of the many prisons across the country .
As the multiple cruise ship outbreaks illustrate , once the virus enters a closed space , it explodes and not just on the cruise ship .
The LA Times reported on how this happened in China and and Italy and caused a massive reverberation throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfold , Iranians decided to release tens of thousands of prisoners as a precautionary measure .
The United States is now following suit .
Across the country , cities who have been paying attention and know the risk have been moving to set prisoners free .
In LA county , inmates with 30 days or less on their sentences are being set free .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva stated that the department will also limit arrests to only dangerous suspects , decreasing the re-entry level .
Also , anyone with a bail of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In New York , Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said low-level offenses that don ’ t jeopardize public safety will not be prosecuted at all during the coronavirus outbreak .
Authorities are also moving to release certain demographics from the prisons as well .
In Cuyahoga County Court in Ohio , a judge ordered the release of more than 200 low-risk , non-violent incarcerated people from the county jail .
“ We are trying to make as much room as possible , so when this virus hits our jail , the jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and deal with it instead of letting them sit there and infect the whole entire jail , ” Brendan Sheehan , administrative judge of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court , told CNN .
Other jails are now preparing similar actions as the nation braces for COVID-19 impact as the virus in prisons will affect us all .
.
While this virus is certainly a serious problem , Americans can use this as a learning experience about our prison system .
COVID-19 aside , the release of prisoners across the US illustrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the free — many of the people behind bars don ’ t belong bars .
However , they are there because their incarceration drives a for-profit system worth billions .
While privatized prisons can be dated back to before the Civil War , these were voluntarily funded operations that didn ’ t have an incentive to maintain a 99 % incarceration rate .
Not until the 1980s , when the war on drugs began to peak , did the private prison industry begin booming .
As of 2016 , about 19 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this number continues to grow .
Locking up drug users has proven to be quite the profitable venture .
It is much easier to walk out on the street corner and shakedown a teenager who may have an illegal plant in his pocket than it is to examine the evidence in a rape or murder case .
The so-called “ Private ” Prisons know this and have subsequently found their niche in this immoral war on drugs .
What ’ s more , the term Private Prison is a farce from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be solely funded by taxpayer dollars .
These Private prisons are nothing more than a fascist mixture of state and corporate , completely dependent upon the extortion factor of the state , i.e.
, taxation , as a means of their corporate sustenance .
A truly Private prison would have a negative incentive to boost its population for the simple fact that it is particularly expensive to house inmates .
On the contrary , these fascist , or more aptly , corporatist prisons contractually require occupancy rates of 95 % -100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupancy rate creates a de facto demand for criminals .
Think about that for a second ; a need or demand for people to commit crimes is created by this corporatist arrangement .
The implications associated with demanding people commit crimes are horrifying .
Creating a completely immoral demand for “ criminals ” leads to the situation in which we find ourselves today .
People , who are otherwise entirely innocent are labeled as criminals for their personal choices and thrown in cages .
We are now witnessing a vicious cycle between law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminals — and the corporatist prison system that constantly demands more prisoners .
The police and prison corporations know that without the war on drugs , this windfall of money , cars , and houses — ceases to exist .
If you want to know who profits from ruining lives and throwing marijuana users in cages , we need only look at who bribes ( also known as lobbies ) the politicians to keep the war on drugs alive .
Private prison companies and state institutions alike lobby for longer mandatory sentences ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and less violent prisoners .
Corrections jobs are also a major source of rural employment which keep state officials begging for prisons to boast about “ job creation.
” What does it say about a society who ’ s resolute in enacting violence against their fellow human so they can have a job to go to in the morning ?
The person who wants to ingest a substance for medical or recreational reasons is not the criminal .
However , the person that would kidnap , cage , or kill someone because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on many fronts .
Hopefully , as more people are released from amid the coronavirus outbreak , this will show Americans that they are paying to keep morally innocent people in cages who pose no threat to society .
Hopefully .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter , Steemit , and now on Minds .

Inmate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Tyranny of America’s For Profit Prisons
Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
The ostensible land of the free has more prisoners per population than any country in the world. In fact, about 1 in every 110 U.S. adults is currently incarcerated and 1 in every 38 U.S. adults is under some form of correctional supervision. The prison industry is booming. And thanks to the coronavirus, that could soon change.
Currently, in the land of the free, there are more than 2 million people in cages. When you are locked up with thousands of people, social distancing is impossible. What’s more, practicing safe hygiene is difficult as hand sanitizer is banned and inmates are told when they can wash their hands. In other words, the prisoners — as well as the guards — are sitting ducks who could see explosions of COVID-19 infections if the jails were breached by the virus.
Though most prisons in the United States have yet to report an infection, on Wednesday, we found out that two already have. A staffer at a medium security federal prison in Berlin, New Hampshire, and an employee at a Bureau of Prisons administrative facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, tested positive for the illness, said Sue Allison, a federal correctional agency spokeswoman.
It is now only a matter of time before someone who is not exhibiting symptoms brings it in to one of the many prisons across the country. As the multiple cruise ship outbreaks illustrate, once the virus enters a closed space, it explodes and not just on the cruise ship.
The LA Times reported on how this happened in China and and Italy and caused a massive reverberation throughout the two countries.
In China, a decline in new infections was quickly (although briefly) reversed because of rapid outbreaks in two prisons. In Italy, an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among prison inmates over the virus, together with an emergency ban on visitors, sparked deadly riots, escapes and a complete breakdown of authority.
Having watched this horror unfold, Iranians decided to release tens of thousands of prisoners as a precautionary measure. The United States is now following suit.
Across the country, cities who have been paying attention and know the risk have been moving to set prisoners free. In LA county, inmates with 30 days or less on their sentences are being set free. Sheriff Alex Villanueva stated that the department will also limit arrests to only dangerous suspects, decreasing the re-entry level. Also, anyone with a bail of $50,000 or less is being let out.
In New York, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said low-level offenses that don’t jeopardize public safety will not be prosecuted at all during the coronavirus outbreak. Authorities are also moving to release certain demographics from the prisons as well.
Statement from Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez regarding the #coronavirus (#COVID19). pic.twitter.com/gVKpsDbXDt — DA Eric Gonzalez (@BrooklynDA) March 17, 2020
In Cuyahoga County Court in Ohio, a judge ordered the release of more than 200 low-risk, non-violent incarcerated people from the county jail.
“We are trying to make as much room as possible, so when this virus hits our jail, the jail can deal with these people, quarantine them and deal with it instead of letting them sit there and infect the whole entire jail,” Brendan Sheehan, administrative judge of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, told CNN.
Other jails are now preparing similar actions as the nation braces for COVID-19 impact as the virus in prisons will affect us all. . While this virus is certainly a serious problem, Americans can use this as a learning experience about our prison system.
COVID-19 aside, the release of prisoners across the US illustrates a serious problem in the land of the free — many of the people behind bars don’t belong bars. However, they are there because their incarceration drives a for-profit system worth billions.
While privatized prisons can be dated back to before the Civil War, these were voluntarily funded operations that didn’t have an incentive to maintain a 99% incarceration rate. Not until the 1980s, when the war on drugs began to peak, did the private prison industry begin booming.
As of 2016, about 19 percent of federal prisoners are held in private prisons and this number continues to grow.
Locking up drug users has proven to be quite the profitable venture.
It is much easier to walk out on the street corner and shakedown a teenager who may have an illegal plant in his pocket than it is to examine the evidence in a rape or murder case. The so-called “Private” Prisons know this and have subsequently found their niche in this immoral war on drugs.
What’s more, the term Private Prison is a farce from the get-go.
A truly Private prison would not be solely funded by taxpayer dollars. These Private prisons are nothing more than a fascist mixture of state and corporate, completely dependent upon the extortion factor of the state, i.e., taxation, as a means of their corporate sustenance.
A truly Private prison would have a negative incentive to boost its population for the simple fact that it is particularly expensive to house inmates. On the contrary, these fascist, or more aptly, corporatist prisons contractually require occupancy rates of 95%-100%.
The requirement for a 95% occupancy rate creates a de facto demand for criminals. Think about that for a second; a need or demand for people to commit crimes is created by this corporatist arrangement. The implications associated with demanding people commit crimes are horrifying.
Creating a completely immoral demand for “criminals” leads to the situation in which we find ourselves today. People, who are otherwise entirely innocent are labeled as criminals for their personal choices and thrown in cages. We are now witnessing a vicious cycle between law enforcement — who must create and arrest criminals — and the corporatist prison system that constantly demands more prisoners.
The police and prison corporations know that without the war on drugs, this windfall of money, cars, and houses — ceases to exist.
If you want to know who profits from ruining lives and throwing marijuana users in cages, we need only look at who bribes (also known as lobbies) the politicians to keep the war on drugs alive.
Private prison companies and state institutions alike lobby for longer mandatory sentences; stricter enforcement; younger, healthier, and less violent prisoners. Corrections jobs are also a major source of rural employment which keep state officials begging for prisons to boast about “job creation.”
What does it say about a society who’s resolute in enacting violence against their fellow human so they can have a job to go to in the morning?
The person who wants to ingest a substance for medical or recreational reasons is not the criminal. However, the person that would kidnap, cage, or kill someone because they have a different lifestyle is a villain on many fronts.
Hopefully, as more people are released from amid the coronavirus outbreak, this will show Americans that they are paying to keep morally innocent people in cages who pose no threat to society. Hopefully.
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--2020-03-21--Cannabis Shops Deemed “Essential” and Allowed to Stay Open Under LA’s Emergency Coronavirus Order

While millions of Californians are hunkering down following successive local emergency orders followed on Thursday evening by a statewide “ stay at home ” order from California Governor Newsom—the priorities faced by the state remain in the hearts and minds of residents and authorities .
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the Golden State , authorities in Los Angeles County and the cities within its borders are taking pains to ensure that essential services continue to operate uninterrupted—including cannabis dispensaries .
The Los Angeles Times reports that despite the order to shutter all indoor malls , shopping centers , playgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispensaries must continue to operate alongside hardware stores , grocery stores , and city and county government services .
Like other spaces , the dispensaries must observe social-distancing guidelines and not gather over 10 people .
For a state that spearheaded the drive to legalize marijuana—first as medicine , then as a recreational substance—the logic is simple .
According to the City of Los Angeles ’ coronavirus FAQ , essential healthcare services include “ cannabis dispensaries , or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services.
” On Thursday , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency order that commands all residents to stay inside their residences , limiting all movements outside of their homes unless they are engaged in certain essential activities .
The order is legally enforceable , meaning that violation could bring criminal penalties including a fine or imprisonment .
But amid the siege-like conditions suffered by Californians , residents remain adamant about stocking up on not just hand sanitizers , toilet paper , and guns , but also their cannabis .
In an informal survey of cannabis dispensaries and delivery services , the Times found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the month of March as the gravity of the crisis surrounding the novel virus has sunken in among residents .
“ When it comes to what , specifically , customers are buying , the dispensaries we checked in with report that flower ( a.k.a .
the dried buds of the marijuana plant ) remains the top-selling category but that there has been a noticeable rise in the edibles category ( THC-infused gummies , chocolates and the like ) .
Sweet Flower and Airfield Supply Company both point to Kiva Confections ’ Midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1 mg of CBN per piece ( CBN is a cannabinoid associated with inducing a restful night ’ s sleep ) as being particularly popular.
” On Thursday evening , Gov .
Newsom issued an unprecedented order that requires nearly 40 million residents of California to stay at home for an indefinite amount of time as the state copes with rising coronavirus infection numbers and grim forecasts about potential outbreak scenarios .
The order came only an hour after officials in L.A. county issued a similar mandate , and days after Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Thursday night , 958 people have tested positive for the CoViD-19 novel virus while 19 people have died so far .
During his address , Newsom said :

Cannabis Shops Deemed “Essential” and Allowed to Stay Open Under LA’s Emergency Coronavirus Order
Elias Marat, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
While millions of Californians are hunkering down following successive local emergency orders followed on Thursday evening by a statewide “stay at home” order from California Governor Newsom—the priorities faced by the state remain in the hearts and minds of residents and authorities.
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the Golden State, authorities in Los Angeles County and the cities within its borders are taking pains to ensure that essential services continue to operate uninterrupted—including cannabis dispensaries.
The Los Angeles Times reports that despite the order to shutter all indoor malls, shopping centers, playgrounds, and nonessential retail businesses, cannabis dispensaries must continue to operate alongside hardware stores, grocery stores, and city and county government services. Like other spaces, the dispensaries must observe social-distancing guidelines and not gather over 10 people.
For a state that spearheaded the drive to legalize marijuana—first as medicine, then as a recreational substance—the logic is simple. According to the City of Los Angeles’ coronavirus FAQ, essential healthcare services include “cannabis dispensaries, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services.”
To answer a popular question: cannabis dispensaries with a medicinal cannabis license are considered essential and may remain open. https://t.co/9f8LQDXWCP — Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) March 20, 2020
On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued the “Safer at Home” emergency order that commands all residents to stay inside their residences, limiting all movements outside of their homes unless they are engaged in certain essential activities. The order is legally enforceable, meaning that violation could bring criminal penalties including a fine or imprisonment.
But amid the siege-like conditions suffered by Californians, residents remain adamant about stocking up on not just hand sanitizers, toilet paper, and guns, but also their cannabis.
In an informal survey of cannabis dispensaries and delivery services, the Times found that dispensary-to-consumer deliveries have shot up significantly in the month of March as the gravity of the crisis surrounding the novel virus has sunken in among residents.
The Times detailed:
“When it comes to what, specifically, customers are buying, the dispensaries we checked in with report that flower (a.k.a. the dried buds of the marijuana plant) remains the top-selling category but that there has been a noticeable rise in the edibles category (THC-infused gummies, chocolates and the like). Sweet Flower and Airfield Supply Company both point to Kiva Confections’ Midnight Blueberry Camino gummies with 5 mg THC and 1 mg of CBN per piece (CBN is a cannabinoid associated with inducing a restful night’s sleep) as being particularly popular.”
Uh the line for MedMen WeHo right now pic.twitter.com/ChZoNf35An — Andrea Chang (@byandreachang) March 20, 2020
On Thursday evening, Gov. Newsom issued an unprecedented order that requires nearly 40 million residents of California to stay at home for an indefinite amount of time as the state copes with rising coronavirus infection numbers and grim forecasts about potential outbreak scenarios. The order came only an hour after officials in L.A. county issued a similar mandate, and days after Bay Area counties gave similar orders.
As of Thursday night, 958 people have tested positive for the CoViD-19 novel virus while 19 people have died so far.
During his address, Newsom said:
“This is a moment we need to make tough decisions … This is a moment where we need some straight talk and we need to tell people the truth: We need to bend the curve in the state of California.”
CA is issuing a statewide, mandatory STAY AT HOME order. Those that work in critical sectors should go to work. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and more will stay open. We need to meet this moment and flatten the curve together. Go to https://t.co/xtXFwVeWc2 to learn more. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 20, 2020
By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


thewakingtimes--2020-03-21--Sushi Parasite Has Increased 283x in Nearly 40 Years

The population of a marine parasite that sometimes worms its way into sushi has increased by 283 times in the last nearly 40 years , a University of Washington ( UW ) -led study has found .
The study , published in Global Change Biology Thursday , reviewed the literature and found a significant rise in the abundance of the parasite Anisakis , or “ herring worm.
” This isn ’ t especially concerning for humans , who experience the worm as a nasty bout of food poisoning that then resolves , but it could have serious consequences for marine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parasites for years .
“ One of the important implications of this study is that now we know there is this massive , rising health risk to marine mammals , ” study coauthor and UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences assistant professor Chelsea Wood said in the UW press release .
“ It ’ s not often considered that parasites might be the reason that some marine mammal populations are failing to bounce back .
I hope this study encourages people to look at intestinal parasites as a potential cap on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mammals.
” The researchers looked at a total of 123 papers published between 1967 and 2017 to assess how the abundance of two marine parasites had changed over time : Anisakis and another parasite known as Pseudoterranova , or “ cod worm.
” Anisakis abundance rose 283-fold from 1978 to 2015 , while Pseudoterranova abundance did not change .
This means that Anisakis has risen from less than one for every 100 hosts caught to more than one in every host caught , ScienceAlert explained .
Ironically , while Anisakis might threaten the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been triggered by their success .
The one wrinkle in this theory is which mammals usually play host to the worm .
Anisakis hatches in the ocean and first infects small animals like shrimp , the UW explained .
They then make their way up the food web as the shrimp are eaten by fish , who are eaten by bigger fish , until they end up in the intestines of Cetaceans like whales or dolphins .
Here they can live and reproduce for years , reentering the ocean in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
While Anisakis abundance has risen , Pseudoterranova , which typically infects fish , sea lions and seals , has not .
However , seals and sea lions have done much better than whales , Wood told ScienceAlert , which means one would expect Pseudoterranova abundance to have increased instead .
However , she speculated it was possible the parasite was actually increasing because it had fewer hosts to pass through .
Other factors that could have caused the rise include the climate crisis and increased runoff from fertilizers , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if humans happen to ingest one of the worms ?
Nausea and vomiting that is unpleasant , but temporary .
Wood said that sushi lovers shouldn ’ t worry , as chefs were expert de-wormers .
However , if you are concerned , just cut your nigiri in half and look for worms yourself , she advised in the press release .

Sushi Parasite Has Increased 283x in Nearly 40 Years
Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch
Waking Times
The population of a marine parasite that sometimes worms its way into sushi has increased by 283 times in the last nearly 40 years, a University of Washington (UW)-led study has found.
The study, published in Global Change Biology Thursday, reviewed the literature and found a significant rise in the abundance of the parasite Anisakis, or “herring worm.” This isn’t especially concerning for humans, who experience the worm as a nasty bout of food poisoning that then resolves, but it could have serious consequences for marine mammals, who play host to the parasites for years.
“One of the important implications of this study is that now we know there is this massive, rising health risk to marine mammals,” study coauthor and UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences assistant professor Chelsea Wood said in the UW press release. “It’s not often considered that parasites might be the reason that some marine mammal populations are failing to bounce back. I hope this study encourages people to look at intestinal parasites as a potential cap on the population growth of endangered and threatened marine mammals.”
The next time you eat sashimi, nigiri or other forms of raw fish, consider doing a quick check for worms. 🍣😳https://t.co/juL5dW2NDu — UW SAFS (@UW_SAFS) March 19, 2020
The researchers looked at a total of 123 papers published between 1967 and 2017 to assess how the abundance of two marine parasites had changed over time: Anisakis and another parasite known as Pseudoterranova, or “cod worm.” Anisakis abundance rose 283-fold from 1978 to 2015, while Pseudoterranova abundance did not change. This means that Anisakis has risen from less than one for every 100 hosts caught to more than one in every host caught, ScienceAlert explained.
Ironically, while Anisakis might threaten the health of marine mammals, its rise may have been triggered by their success.
“My gut is that this is about the improvements we’ve made in marine mammal conservation,” Wood told ScienceAlert. “The time frame of our study directly overlaps with when a bunch of really important marine mammal legislation went into effect like the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 and the international whaling commission moratorium on commercial whaling which came in the 1980s.”
The one wrinkle in this theory is which mammals usually play host to the worm. Anisakis hatches in the ocean and first infects small animals like shrimp, the UW explained. They then make their way up the food web as the shrimp are eaten by fish, who are eaten by bigger fish, until they end up in the intestines of Cetaceans like whales or dolphins. Here they can live and reproduce for years, reentering the ocean in the animals’ feces to start the cycle again.
While Anisakis abundance has risen, Pseudoterranova, which typically infects fish, sea lions and seals, has not. However, seals and sea lions have done much better than whales, Wood told ScienceAlert, which means one would expect Pseudoterranova abundance to have increased instead. However, she speculated it was possible the parasite was actually increasing because it had fewer hosts to pass through.
Other factors that could have caused the rise include the climate crisis and increased runoff from fertilizers, according to the press release.
So what happens if humans happen to ingest one of the worms? Nausea and vomiting that is unpleasant, but temporary.
“When they enter the intestine of a human, it’s a great disappointment to the worm. They’re not going to be able to complete their life cycle there,” Wood told New Scientist.
Wood said that sushi lovers shouldn’t worry, as chefs were expert de-wormers.
“I still eat sushi all the time,” she told New Scientist.
However, if you are concerned, just cut your nigiri in half and look for worms yourself, she advised in the press release.
About the Author
Olivia is a freelance reporter for EcoWatch.


thewakingtimes--2020-03-23--The Great 2020 Shake Up for the Wake Up

The Great 2020 Shake Up for the Wake Up

My stocks have plummeted , my clients are quitting and the big machine we ’ ve all co-created is grinding to a halt .
So why do I feel so damn happy deep inside ?
I ’ ve suckled off the “ system ” for years .
It ’ s “ the devil I know ” , but what a soul sucking price I ’ ve paid .
At times , keeping it together and “ making it ” has made me sick with worry and fear .
It ’ s felt heavy to keep it all going .
Soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a leap of faith and move on to what comes next .
It ’ s both exciting and frightening .
As Janice Joplin sang – “ Freedom ’ s just another word for nothing left to lose ” .
On average 150,000 people die each day in the world and even more are born .
Life continues its natural cycle of birth and death .
The sun still rises and sets despite what price the markets open or close at .
Empires , including the American Empire , rise and fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japan were bombed to rubble in World War II and one-third of their population was dead .
Yet they rose from the ashes .
Our world is still intact .
The sky is still blue and in many places , even more blue .
Our buildings are still standing , our airplanes , though grounded , are still working and we are waking up even more to what is really real .
The hypnotic spell of “ normal ” is breaking .
When the world resets and restarts , it will never be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new world look and feel like ?
Will we move into a world of greater freedom , connection , compassion , sharing and truth ?
Or will we move into a permanent state of totalitarian lock down – for our own safety of course ?
Ultimately it is up to us .
A friend told me this could be the “ Apocalypse ” .
I hope he ’ s right , because the Greek meaning of the word “ apocalypse ” is the unveiling of truth .
It ’ s about time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hide the truth behind a thinning veil of “ normalcy ” .
Times are getting real and the fake world , as advertised and sold , is falling apart like the proverbial “ cheap suit ” .
What a blessing for our souls that the modern religion of scientific materialism and consumerism is being revealed to be a superficial sham and a burden to our Mother Earth .
People will soon be even more disillusioned with the delusion that man is in control of everything .
The Shift is hitting the fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spending all the energy that keeping up with this modern charade requires .
I ’ m done being a slave to the material world .
Aren ’ t you also tired of running faster and faster in the hamster wheel just to stay in place ?
For years astrologers have said that 2020 , not 2012 , would be the real shake up with economic and political upheavals and revolutions breaking loose .
Three months into 2020 and the forecasts are proving correct .
The world is transforming dramatically before our eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapsing under its own weight and complexity .
Some think the powers that be ( or were ) will blame the inevitable collapse on the coronavirus rather than the reckless wars , deficits , and corruption .
Then , “ they ” will step forward to save us all from economic death by rolling out a New World Order complete with a cashless one world digital currency and our wallet becoming a chip embedded in our body .
How very convenient – for them .
In this Brave New World Order we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we post , email or even speak being monitored and analyzed .
With many of the mom and pop businesses being decimated by the economic collapse , the large transnational corporations and chain franchises will ultimately pick up the slack .
The US and the world are on track to become a giant plantation with corporate company stores where the “ free and the brave ” are on monitored lockdown , living in boxes , watching boxes , shopping in boxes for boxes , driving boxes and eating food out of boxes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned disasters and a constant stream of media programing , we voluntarily contract and live shrinking lives in our boxes .
This boxed in life is the Orwellian dystopian scenario .
The alternative scenario , which I choose to feed and live , is that before this “ New World Order ” trap is fully sprung and the surveillance grid is fully in place , there is a mass awakening stemming from the disillusionment with the illusion .
In this scenario people ’ s worlds and sense of normalcy are turned upside down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our TVs and online “ news ” feeds , we step out of our boxes and talk amongst each other about what we actually see and feel is real .
Rather than a pandemic of fear we set in motion a pandemic of truth and awakening .
We see the walls of our prisons that we were blind to before .
We come to realize that it was our programed false beliefs and insecurities that kept us voluntarily imprisoned .
We learn that the cell doors were never even really locked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are led to believe that the intelligence running the matrix is vastly powerful and that only the special “ Chosen One ” super hero – Neo – can save us all from the overlords .
This is a disempowering falsehood .
The truth is we don ’ t need to be a bullet dodging super hero to take on the system .
We only need the courage to simply walk away and say “ No thank you .
I ’ m not playing your game anymore.
” The system ultimately relies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by intimidation and disinformation .
What has power rule over us only has this power because we give away our own sovereign power .
Think of the little Wizard of Oz behind the curtain manipulating levers to create smoke and fearful images .
The curtain is being pulled back .
And unlike the false choice presented by Morpheus in the movie the Matrix , the true “ red pill ” of truth is not a dystopian nightmare where we eat tasteless food and live underground .
The real “ red pill ” reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matrix is that we can live in harmony and cooperation with nature and each other .
In a truly free world we eat pure non-factory farmed , delicious and nutritious food .
In a world without a system that pits us against each other and exploits us and the earth , we share resources , cooperate and live in peace .
I believe this new world of deeper connection and truth will grow out of the ashes of the old system of colonialism and exploitation .
Do you believe it ?
Ultimately it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Are you ready to let go of the crumbling edifice of the old patriarchal paradigm and let go into the flow of life and the wisdom of the Universal Mind ( God ) ?
Are you willing to let go of a crumbling old world of power over , control , scarcity , fear , greed , competition , and the exploitation of Earth and all sentient beings ?
The old paradigm is dying and the more we are attached to it the more we will suffer with it .
Do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from the “ devil you know ” and step into a world of love , cooperation , and peace that you know in your heart is possible ?
Now is the time when we individually and collectively need to choose whether to succumb to fear or embrace peace and love instead .
As we move into a new world , let ’ s remember that we can always access the peace that is deep within ourselves no matter what is swirling around us .
Take a break from your worries and take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your breath and knowing that in this moment you are safe .
Then envision in your mind ’ s eye the world of beauty and cooperation you know in your heart is possible .
Feel it , love it , and believe it .
Together we can make this world our reality .
Patrick James Hennessey is a LovEvolutionary and the Chief Orchestrator at the Sacred Mountain Waters Wellness Sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains north of Asheville , NC .

The Great 2020 Shake Up for the Wake Up
Patrick James Hennesey, Contributor
Waking Times
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 during the depression
My stocks have plummeted, my clients are quitting and the big machine we’ve all co-created is grinding to a halt. So why do I feel so damn happy deep inside?
I’ve suckled off the “system” for years. It’s “the devil I know”, but what a soul sucking price I’ve paid. At times, keeping it together and “making it” has made me sick with worry and fear. It’s felt heavy to keep it all going.
Soon I’ll have no choice but to take a leap of faith and move on to what comes next. It’s both exciting and frightening. As Janice Joplin sang – “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose”.
On average 150,000 people die each day in the world and even more are born. Life continues its natural cycle of birth and death. The sun still rises and sets despite what price the markets open or close at. Empires, including the American Empire, rise and fall but the earth remains.
Germany and Japan were bombed to rubble in World War II and one-third of their population was dead. Yet they rose from the ashes.
Our world is still intact. The sky is still blue and in many places, even more blue. Our buildings are still standing, our airplanes, though grounded, are still working and we are waking up even more to what is really real.
The hypnotic spell of “normal” is breaking. When the world resets and restarts, it will never be the same.
So what will the new world look and feel like?
Will we move into a world of greater freedom, connection, compassion, sharing and truth? Or will we move into a permanent state of totalitarian lock down – for our own safety of course? Ultimately it is up to us.
A friend told me this could be the “Apocalypse”. I hope he’s right, because the Greek meaning of the word “apocalypse” is the unveiling of truth. It’s about time.
It’s getting harder and harder to hide the truth behind a thinning veil of “normalcy”. Times are getting real and the fake world, as advertised and sold, is falling apart like the proverbial “cheap suit”.
What a blessing for our souls that the modern religion of scientific materialism and consumerism is being revealed to be a superficial sham and a burden to our Mother Earth.
People will soon be even more disillusioned with the delusion that man is in control of everything. The Shift is hitting the fan.
Frankly, I’m tired of spending all the energy that keeping up with this modern charade requires. I’m done being a slave to the material world. Aren’t you also tired of running faster and faster in the hamster wheel just to stay in place?
For years astrologers have said that 2020, not 2012, would be the real shake up with economic and political upheavals and revolutions breaking loose. Three months into 2020 and the forecasts are proving correct. The world is transforming dramatically before our eyes. The old is dying away – collapsing under its own weight and complexity.
Some think the powers that be (or were) will blame the inevitable collapse on the coronavirus rather than the reckless wars, deficits, and corruption. Then, “they” will step forward to save us all from economic death by rolling out a New World Order complete with a cashless one world digital currency and our wallet becoming a chip embedded in our body. How very convenient – for them.
In this Brave New World Order we will be tracked online and offline with all we post, email or even speak being monitored and analyzed.
With many of the mom and pop businesses being decimated by the economic collapse, the large transnational corporations and chain franchises for sale will ultimately pick up the slack. The US and the world are on track to become a giant plantation with corporate company stores where the “free and the brave” are on monitored lockdown, living in boxes, watching boxes, shopping in boxes for boxes, driving boxes and eating food out of boxes.
Through orchestrated fear and ignorance triggered by planned disasters and a constant stream of media programing, we voluntarily contract and live shrinking lives in our boxes. This boxed in life is the Orwellian dystopian scenario.
The alternative scenario, which I choose to feed and live, is that before this “New World Order” trap is fully sprung and the surveillance grid is fully in place, there is a mass awakening stemming from the disillusionment with the illusion.
In this scenario people’s worlds and sense of normalcy are turned upside down. Rather than continuing to listen hypnotically to our TVs and online “news” feeds, we step out of our boxes and talk amongst each other about what we actually see and feel is real.
Rather than a pandemic of fear we set in motion a pandemic of truth and awakening. We see the walls of our prisons that we were blind to before. We come to realize that it was our programed false beliefs and insecurities that kept us voluntarily imprisoned. We learn that the cell doors were never even really locked.
In the movie, The Matrix, we are led to believe that the intelligence running the matrix is vastly powerful and that only the special “Chosen One” super hero – Neo – can save us all from the overlords. This is a disempowering falsehood.
The truth is we don’t need to be a bullet dodging super hero to take on the system. We only need the courage to simply walk away and say “No thank you. I’m not playing your game anymore.”
The system ultimately relies on voluntarily compliance, which is often motivated by intimidation and disinformation. What has power rule over us only has this power because we give away our own sovereign power.
Think of the little Wizard of Oz behind the curtain manipulating levers to create smoke and fearful images. The curtain is being pulled back.
And unlike the false choice presented by Morpheus in the movie the Matrix, the true “red pill” of truth is not a dystopian nightmare where we eat tasteless food and live underground. The real “red pill” reality when we step away from the false matrix is that we can live in harmony and cooperation with nature and each other.
In a truly free world we eat pure non-factory farmed, delicious and nutritious food. In a world without a system that pits us against each other and exploits us and the earth, we share resources, cooperate and live in peace.
I believe this new world of deeper connection and truth will grow out of the ashes of the old system of colonialism and exploitation. Do you believe it? Ultimately it is our beliefs that creates our world.
Are you ready to let go of the crumbling edifice of the old patriarchal paradigm and let go into the flow of life and the wisdom of the Universal Mind (God)?
Are you willing to let go of a crumbling old world of power over, control, scarcity, fear, greed, competition, and the exploitation of Earth and all sentient beings?
The old paradigm is dying and the more we are attached to it the more we will suffer with it.
Do you have the courage and faith to step away from the “devil you know” and step into a world of love, cooperation, and peace that you know in your heart is possible?
Now is the time when we individually and collectively need to choose whether to succumb to fear or embrace peace and love instead.
As we move into a new world, let’s remember that we can always access the peace that is deep within ourselves no matter what is swirling around us.
Take a break from your worries and take ten deep breaths. Relax into feeling your breath and knowing that in this moment you are safe.
Then envision in your mind’s eye the world of beauty and cooperation you know in your heart is possible. Feel it, love it, and believe it. Together we can make this world our reality.
About the Author
Patrick James Hennessey is a LovEvolutionary and the Chief Orchestrator at the Sacred Mountain Waters Wellness Sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains north of Asheville, NC.


thewakingtimes--2020-03-23--Rockefeller Blueprint For Police State Triggered By Pandemic Exposed

Currently , the world is in the midst of a global health pandemic , or so we are told .
We have been covering all of the events which have preceded the coronavirus outbreak that suggest we are not being told the entire story .
This list includes Event 201 , the coronavirus pandemic simulation which preceded the first reports of the outbreak by six weeks .
The World Military Games held its opening ceremonies in Wuhan China , aka ground zero of the outbreak , on the same day as Event 201 .
Nearly 10k military athletes from 110 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the outbreak .
We have also looked at how the CDC shut down Ft. Detrick , the epicenter of the US Biowarfare program just before the outbreak due to violations concerning leaks and contamination .
Plus multiple connections to other existing programs related to the United Nations , Bill Gates and many others .
Not to mention our extensive coverage exposing the plan to roll out a new digital financial system out of the ashes of this global emergency , which will likely be considered the biggest economic collapse in human history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is joined by journalist Helen Buyniski to break down and discuss the Rockefeller Foundation sanctioned report which appears to be the script for not only Event 201 , but everything we are seeing unfold right now concerning the outbreak itself , and the police state response .
VIDEO : The “ Lock Step ” Simulation Scenario : “ A Coronavirus-like Pandemic that Becomes Trigger for Police State Controls ” https : //www.globalresearch.ca/all-sectors-us-establishment-lock-step-deep-states-latest-bio-war/5702773 Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development http : //www.nommeraadio.ee/meedia/pdf/RRS/Rockefeller % 20Foundation.pdf In Sweeping Power Grab , DOJ Seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //www.activistpost.com/2020/03/in-sweeping-power-grab-doj-seeks-ability-to-detain-people-indefinitely-without-trial.html The EARN IT Bill Is the Government ’ s Plan to Scan Every Message Online https : //www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/earn-it-bill-governments-not-so-secret-plan-scan-every-message-online Did Bill Gates & World Economic Forum Predict Coronavirus Outbreak ?
An Inside Look May Shock You !
https : //www.activistpost.com/2020/01/did-bill-gates-world-economic-forum-predict-coronavirus-outbreak-an-inside-look-may-shock-you.html Nearly 10k Military Personnel From 110 Nations In Wuhan China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak !
https : //www.activistpost.com/2020/02/nearly-10k-military-personnel-from-110-nations-in-wuhan-china-weeks-before-coronavirus-outbreak.html Multiple Nations Suggest Coronavirus Originated in America !
Is This Possible ?
https : //www.activistpost.com/2020/03/multiple-nations-suggest-coronavirus-originated-in-america-is-this-possible.html Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Rockefeller Blueprint For Police State Triggered By Pandemic Exposed
Spiro Skouras, Guest
Waking Times
Currently, the world is in the midst of a global health pandemic, or so we are told. We have been covering all of the events which have preceded the coronavirus outbreak that suggest we are not being told the entire story.
This list includes Event 201, the coronavirus pandemic simulation which preceded the first reports of the outbreak by six weeks.
The World Military Games held its opening ceremonies in Wuhan China, aka ground zero of the outbreak, on the same day as Event 201. Nearly 10k military athletes from 110 nations were all in Wuhan, just before the outbreak.
We have also looked at how the CDC shut down Ft. Detrick, the epicenter of the US Biowarfare program just before the outbreak due to violations concerning leaks and contamination. Plus multiple connections to other existing programs related to the United Nations, Bill Gates and many others.
Not to mention our extensive coverage exposing the plan to roll out a new digital financial system out of the ashes of this global emergency, which will likely be considered the biggest economic collapse in human history.
In this exclusive interview, Spiro is joined by journalist Helen Buyniski to break down and discuss the Rockefeller Foundation sanctioned report which appears to be the script for not only Event 201, but everything we are seeing unfold right now concerning the outbreak itself, and the police state response.
http://youtu.be/x4Wo1XZQV2A
Links
VIDEO: The “Lock Step” Simulation Scenario: “A Coronavirus-like Pandemic that Becomes Trigger for Police State Controls”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/all-sectors-us-establishment-lock-step-deep-states-latest-bio-war/5702773
Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development
http://www.nommeraadio.ee/meedia/pdf/RRS/Rockefeller%20Foundation.pdf
Helen Buyniski’s Website
HelenofdesTroy.com
In Sweeping Power Grab, DOJ Seeks Ability to Detain People Indefinitely Without Trial
http://www.activistpost.com/2020/03/in-sweeping-power-grab-doj-seeks-ability-to-detain-people-indefinitely-without-trial.html
The EARN IT Bill Is the Government’s Plan to Scan Every Message Online
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/earn-it-bill-governments-not-so-secret-plan-scan-every-message-online
Information Warfare: Operation 2020 Election
http://www.activistpost.com/2019/12/information-warfare-operation-2020-election.html
Did Bill Gates & World Economic Forum Predict Coronavirus Outbreak? An Inside Look May Shock You!
http://www.activistpost.com/2020/01/did-bill-gates-world-economic-forum-predict-coronavirus-outbreak-an-inside-look-may-shock-you.html
Nearly 10k Military Personnel From 110 Nations In Wuhan China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak!
http://www.activistpost.com/2020/02/nearly-10k-military-personnel-from-110-nations-in-wuhan-china-weeks-before-coronavirus-outbreak.html
Multiple Nations Suggest Coronavirus Originated in America! Is This Possible?
http://www.activistpost.com/2020/03/multiple-nations-suggest-coronavirus-originated-in-america-is-this-possible.html


thewakingtimes--2020-03-23--Medical Martial Law? DOJ Requests Suspension of Certain Constitutional Rights During Coronavirus Eme

As summarized in the Rolling Stone article , The story first broke through the Hill , which reported in greater depth on the topic : “ Documents obtained by the publication revealed several different proposals .
One of the proposed changes would give the attorney general the power to ask top district judges to stop court proceedings “ whenever the district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster , civil disobedience , or other emergency situation.
” These top judges would also gain the power to the stop court proceedings during a national emergency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the ability to ask chief judges to permanently detain an individual without trial during emergencies .
Another proposal would reportedly waive the statute of limitations for criminal investigations as well as civil trials during an emergency and could last up to “ one year following the end of the national emergency.
” First , please share this article with others .
Social media has been severely restricting our distribution of content like this , but if enough share it organically , it will gain greater reach .
Also , please use email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is less likely to be censored .
Second , join Stand For Health Freedom , a 501c4 whose sole mission is to help you communicate your health freedom related concerns to elected officials , government decision makers , and lawmakers .
Learn more here : https : //www.standforhealthfreedom.com To learn more about the growing threat to our Constitutionally-protected freedoms watch independent investigative journalist James Cobett ’ s latest report on Medical Martial Law 2020 .
Video Summary : “ As the lockdowns go into place and the military takes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades of preparation for medical martial law are finally paying off for the pandemic planners .
Today on this emergency edition of The Corbett Report podcast , James lays out the steps that have led us to the brink of martial law and the steps that are being taken to implement it now .
Please help to spread this important information and to raise awareness of the crisis that we are facing.
” **© [ 03/22/20 ] GreenMedInfo LLC .
This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sign up for the newsletter here http : //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter .
** Disclaimer : This article is not intended to provide medical advice , diagnosis or treatment .
Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff .

Medical Martial Law? DOJ Requests Suspension of Certain Constitutional Rights During Coronavirus Emergency
GMI Reporter, GreenMedInfo
Waking Times
As summarized in the Rolling Stone article,
“The Department of Justice has secretly asked Congress for the ability to detain arrested people “indefinitely” in addition to other powers that one expert called “terrifying.”
The story first broke through the Hill, which reported in greater depth on the topic:
“Documents obtained by the publication revealed several different proposals. One of the proposed changes would give the attorney general the power to ask top district judges to stop court proceedings “whenever the district court is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situation.” These top judges would also gain the power to the stop court proceedings during a national emergency. In addition, the DOJ has asked for the ability to ask chief judges to permanently detain an individual without trial during emergencies. Another proposal would reportedly waive the statute of limitations for criminal investigations as well as civil trials during an emergency and could last up to “one year following the end of the national emergency.”
CALL TO ACTION
First, please share this article with others. Social media has been severely restricting our distribution of content like this, but if enough share it organically, it will gain greater reach. Also, please use email to forward our content to others, as it is less likely to be censored. Second, join Stand For Health Freedom, a 501c4 whose sole mission is to help you communicate your health freedom related concerns to elected officials, government decision makers, and lawmakers. Learn more here: http://www.standforhealthfreedom.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT MEDICAL MARTIAL LAW
To learn more about the growing threat to our Constitutionally-protected freedoms watch independent investigative journalist James Cobett’s latest report on Medical Martial Law 2020.
Video Summary: “As the lockdowns go into place and the military takes to the streets in country after country, the decades of preparation for medical martial law are finally paying off for the pandemic planners. Today on this emergency edition of The Corbett Report podcast, James lays out the steps that have led us to the brink of martial law and the steps that are being taken to implement it now. Please help to spread this important information and to raise awareness of the crisis that we are facing.”
http://youtu.be/l2ZRT-gWZ8M
**© [03/22/20] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.**
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.