theduran--2020-05-06--Luc Montagnier, the Revival of Optical Biophysics and the Clash of the ‘Two Sciences’

In a previous paper entitled ‘ Big Pharma Beware : Dr. Montagnier Shines New Light on Covid-19 and the Future of Medicine ’ , I elaborated upon the powerful intervention of the Nobel Prize winning virologist Dr. Luc Montagnier .
In that location , I covered the reasonability of Montagnier ’ s theory of the laboratory origin COVID-19 and I discussed my reasons why his China-origin hypothesis is both naive and potentially dangerous .
For anyone who wishes to fully appreciate reading this article , then I recommend either first reviewing my previous report OR watch the 2014 documentary ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I would like to tackle a different aspect of Montagnier ’ s intervention , which has gone un-noticed and under-appreciated by too many analysts .
Even though this fact has been un-noticed by so many , I believe that understanding the historical current in science which has evolved in opposition to the materialist approach to chemistry , nature and health is not only extremely important , but actually gives us the greatest insights into the nature of Montagnier ’ s discoveries into the electromagnetic properties of life , and even the deeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of human history .
As an existential fight wages between the political paradigms ( aka : win-win/multi-polar vs win-lose uni-polar ) , it is my intention to take a moment to revisit some forgotten science history in order to properly appreciate the potential for an age of inspiring breakthroughs which is at humanity ’ s fingertips .
The Long Wave of Discovery ( and the Clash of Two Sciences ) Montagnier ’ s 2008-2020 discoveries in water memory and the field of electromagnetic wave emissions from DNA which I outlined in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a much larger clash within western science itself .
While many people think simplistically that there is one singular branch of science from Galileo to Descartes to Newton to the present , the reality upon closer inspection shows us that there are actually two opposing paradigms- one of which has been obscured systematically by politically-motivated witch hunts since even before the days of Huxley ’ s X Club and the 1869 founding of Nature Magazine .
In opposition to the materialist tradition which has attempted to impose “ material causes ” onto natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optical biophysics embodied by Montagnier was set into motion by none other than Louis Pasteur .
Although famous for his insight into vaccinations , the bacterial theory of disease and the heating process that bears his name , Pasteur ’ s earlier revolutionary work was shaped by discoveries into the optical properties of life and the handedness phenomena of life .
In short , Pasteur discovered that solutions which had organic material dissolved within them had the incredible property of rotating polarized light to the “ left ” while liquid solutions devoid of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This story was told beautifully in the 2010 docu-drama ‘ The Space of Life ’ .
In an 1870 letter , Pasteur described his cosmological insight into the dissymmetrical property of life to a friend Jules Raulin stating : This left handed property to life still confounds astrobiologists over a century later .
With the mysterious 1906 death of Pierre Curie whom had advanced upon Pasteur ’ s research , and as World War I derailed this course of investigation ( many of the brightest young minds of Europe were sent into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfare ) , the baton was dropped in Europe , only to be taken up again by two Russian-Ukrainian scientists who worked together closely at the University of Crimea : Vladimir Vernadsky ( father of Russian atomic science and the founder of the school of biogeochemistry 1863-1945 ) and his friend Alexander Gurwitsch ( 1874-1954 ) .
Vernadsky used Pasteur ’ s work extensively in his own construction of the biosphere and always made a point that the electromagnetic properties of life were the driving force of biochemistry .
Going further than anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biosphere , Vernadsky explained that the true scientist must not start with individual organisms and “ work from the bottom up ” as too many radical Darwinians were apt to do , but rather start , as Louis Pasteur had beforehand , with the galaxy and an awareness of the driving force of electromagnetic/cosmic radiations which shape the directed flow of biospheric evolution .
In his 1926 book the Biosphere , Vernadsky began his description of the biosphere with the following remarks : While Vernadsky spent his life focusing upon the macro-states of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the lithosphere and noosphere ( the nested domains of non-life , life and creative reason ) organized within arrays of magnetic fields moderating the flux of cosmic radiation through the universe , his colleague Gurwitsch focused upon the intersection of light and magnetic fields within the micro-states of living cells .
Describing his discovery in a 2011 study on Cosmic Bio-Radiation , researcher Cody Jones described Gurwitsch ’ s basic insight : Gurwitsch first revolutionized life sciences by shaping an elegant experiment which demonstrated that cells emit weak bursts of ultraviolet light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove his theory , Gurwitsch set up two onion roots growing in perpendicular directions and found that the higher rates of light emissions which occurred on the newer tip of the roots induced cell growth of 30-40 % when brought into proximity of an older onion root .
Although no instruments sensitive enough to pick up these ultra-weak frequencies existed during his lifetime , Gurwitsch demonstrated that light from the ultraviolet spectrum must be generated from new cells by separating the old and new onion roots by various types of lenses which blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that only when UV light was blocked did the effect of 30 % cell growth increase come to an end .
Gurwitsch called this “ Mitogenic Radiation ” .
While Gurwitsch was ostracised by the scientific establishment during his life , technologies arose among the astrophysics community in the 1950s which permitted scientists to measure extremely weak light frequencies in the range of Gurwitsch ’ s mitogenic radiation ( obviously useful for picking up faint signals from other galaxies in deep space ) .
When teams of Italian astronomers applied their equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovery was verified experimentally for the first time .
One would have thought such a discovery would have revolutionised all of biology , medicine and life sciences on the spot- however after a brief spike in interest , the discovery was soon forgotten and relegated to a “ negligible ” secondary feature of life which had no causal role to play in any of the mechanics or behaviour of organic activity .
The materialists and reductionists who wished to maintain that all life was merely the sum of parts won the day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto the scene .
During the 1970s , Popp was a cancer researcher trying to figure out why only one of the two isomers of Benzpyrene caused cancer .
An isomer is sometimes known as a mirror image configuration of a molecule which are chemically identical , yet whose properties can differ vastly .
Under the materialist/reductionist ’ s logic , there was no reason why one isomer ( Benzpyrene 3,4 ) which is found in cigarettes and tar would induce cancer growth in lung tissue while another isomer ( Benzpyrene 1,2 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work of Gurwitsch , Dr. Popp began measuring the ultra-weak light emissions from the Benzpyrene molecules and their effects upon cell growth in liver tissues and found that the extremely high light absorption/emission properties of Benzpyrene 3,4 were the cause of the disharmony of cell regulation .
Measuring the photon activity from cancerous vs healthy liver cell growth is a striking way to clearly see that cancerous growth coincides with exponential photon emissions while healthy liver photon emissions are very stable .
Over the course of his highly productive lifetime , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at different wavelengths according to the cell types , function and species .
When Popp brought two biological samples into proximity , things became additionally interesting as the “ rhythm ” of their photon emissions synchronized beautifully when close together and fell out of sync when separated .
This was outlined in his paper On the Coherence of Biophotons .
Describing the clinical application of these discoveries , Dr. Popp stated : Popp ’ s discoveries amplify those of the great Russian scientist A.B .
Burlakov who found that the ultra weak light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish eggs separated by a glass demonstrated a powerful harmonizing effect .
If one set of eggs were older , then the younger eggs would mature and develop much faster if brought into proximity .
However if the age difference between the two sets were too great , then the scientist found that the younger set would see a higher rate of death , deformities and retardation of development .
This mode of thinking about life has the mind of the scientist approach life in a manner more in common with a musician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conductor holding multiple sound waves in his mind simultaneously as a whole musical idea which is greater than simply the sum of its parts .
It is a much more natural and effective mode of thinking than the materialist/reductionist approach today dominant across most western universities that treats the organism like a machine and the whole as a sum of chemical parts .
A fuller sweep of these discoveries was presented in a 2013 lecture presented by this author , which can be viewed in full here : Today , the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two opposing currents of science .
It may surprise you , dear reader to discover that just one week after Montagnier ’ s original remarks on the lab origin hypothesis of covid-19 and his calls for a crash program into electromagnetic wavelength therapy , American President Donald Trump announced his support of such lines of research on April 23rd .
Speaking to Bill Bryan ( head of the science and technology division of the Department of Homeland Security ) , Trump said : While the mainstream press attacked the President for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously took the time to research the discoveries by Dr. Luc Montagnier ( or the broader school of optical biophysics championed by great men like Louis Pasteur , Alexander Gurwitsch , Vladimir Vernadsky , A.B .
Burlakov and Fritz-Albert Popp ) could possibly understand the importance of Trump ’ s remarks and the new age of medicine and creative breakthroughs in science which the Multi-polar alliance might unleash upon the future .
In our third installment , we will dig more deeply into the historic suppression of science with a focus upon the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of T.H Huxley ’ s X Club and the Malthusian Revolution in Science of 1864 .
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk , and has authored 3 volumes of ‘ Untold History of Canada ’ book series .
In 2019 he co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation and can be reached at [ email protected ]

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Originally posted on the Strategic Culture Foundation
In a previous paper entitled ‘Big Pharma Beware: Dr. Montagnier Shines New Light on Covid-19 and the Future of Medicine’, I elaborated upon the powerful intervention of the Nobel Prize winning virologist Dr. Luc Montagnier. In that location, I covered the reasonability of Montagnier’s theory of the laboratory origin COVID-19 and I discussed my reasons why his China-origin hypothesis is both naive and potentially dangerous. For anyone who wishes to fully appreciate reading this article, then I recommend either first reviewing my previous report OR watch the 2014 documentary ‘Water Memory’.
In this sequel, I would like to tackle a different aspect of Montagnier’s intervention, which has gone un-noticed and under-appreciated by too many analysts. Even though this fact has been un-noticed by so many, I believe that understanding the historical current in science which has evolved in opposition to the materialist approach to chemistry, nature and health is not only extremely important, but actually gives us the greatest insights into the nature of Montagnier’s discoveries into the electromagnetic properties of life, and even the deeper nature of empire which has distorted so much of human history.
As an existential fight wages between the political paradigms (aka: win-win/multi-polar vs win-lose uni-polar), it is my intention to take a moment to revisit some forgotten science history in order to properly appreciate the potential for an age of inspiring breakthroughs which is at humanity’s fingertips.
The Long Wave of Discovery (and the Clash of Two Sciences)
Montagnier’s 2008-2020 discoveries in water memory and the field of electromagnetic wave emissions from DNA which I outlined in my previous article is merely a shadow of a much larger clash within western science itself.
While many people think simplistically that there is one singular branch of science from Galileo to Descartes to Newton to the present, the reality upon closer inspection shows us that there are actually two opposing paradigms- one of which has been obscured systematically by politically-motivated witch hunts since even before the days of Huxley’s X Club and the 1869 founding of Nature Magazine.
In opposition to the materialist tradition which has attempted to impose “material causes” onto natural phenomena, the more potent school of optical biophysics embodied by Montagnier was set into motion by none other than Louis Pasteur. Although famous for his insight into vaccinations, the bacterial theory of disease and the heating process that bears his name, Pasteur’s earlier revolutionary work was shaped by discoveries into the optical properties of life and the handedness phenomena of life. In short, Pasteur discovered that solutions which had organic material dissolved within them had the incredible property of rotating polarized light to the “left” while liquid solutions devoid of organic material did not hold that capability. This story was told beautifully in the 2010 docu-drama ‘The Space of Life’.
In an 1870 letter, Pasteur described his cosmological insight into the dissymmetrical property of life to a friend Jules Raulin stating:
“You know that I believe that there is a cosmic dissymmetric influence which presides constantly and naturally over the molecular organization of principles immediately essential to life; and that, in consequence of this, the species of the three kingdoms, by their structure, by their form, by the disposition of their tissues, have a definite relation to the movements of the universe. For many of those species, if not for all, the Sun is the primum movens of nutrition; but I believe in another influence which would affect the whole organization [geometry], for it would be the cause of the molecular dissymmetry proper to the chemical components of life. I want by experiment to grasp a few indications as to the nature of this great cosmic dissymmetrical influence. It must, it may be electricity, magnetism…”
This left handed property to life still confounds astrobiologists over a century later.
With the mysterious 1906 death of Pierre Curie whom had advanced upon Pasteur’s research, and as World War I derailed this course of investigation (many of the brightest young minds of Europe were sent into a four year meat grinder of trench warfare), the baton was dropped in Europe, only to be taken up again by two Russian-Ukrainian scientists who worked together closely at the University of Crimea: Vladimir Vernadsky (father of Russian atomic science and the founder of the school of biogeochemistry 1863-1945) and his friend Alexander Gurwitsch (1874-1954).
Vernadsky Revives Pasteur’s Insight
Vernadsky used Pasteur’s work extensively in his own construction of the biosphere and always made a point that the electromagnetic properties of life were the driving force of biochemistry. Going further than anyone alive to define the mechanisms of the biosphere, Vernadsky explained that the true scientist must not start with individual organisms and “work from the bottom up” as too many radical Darwinians were apt to do, but rather start, as Louis Pasteur had beforehand, with the galaxy and an awareness of the driving force of electromagnetic/cosmic radiations which shape the directed flow of biospheric evolution.
In his 1926 book the Biosphere, Vernadsky began his description of the biosphere with the following remarks:
“The biosphere may be regarded as a region of transformers that convert cosmic radiations into active energy in electrical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and other forms. Radiations from all stars enter the biosphere, but we catch and perceive only an insignificant part of the total. The existence of radiation originating in the most distant regions of the cosmos cannot be doubted. Stars and nebulae are constantly emitting specific radiations, and everything suggests that the penetrating radiation discovered in the upper regions of the atmosphere by Hess originates beyond the limits of the solar system, perhaps in the Milky Way, in nebulae, or in stars.”
While Vernadsky spent his life focusing upon the macro-states of the biosphere, and how it interacted with the lithosphere and noosphere (the nested domains of non-life, life and creative reason) organized within arrays of magnetic fields moderating the flux of cosmic radiation through the universe, his colleague Gurwitsch focused upon the intersection of light and magnetic fields within the micro-states of living cells.
Alexander Gurwitch’s Mitogenic Radiation
Describing his discovery in a 2011 study on Cosmic Bio-Radiation, researcher Cody Jones described Gurwitsch’s basic insight:
“Gurwitsch developed three nested levels of field structures, arranged according to complexity and spatial extent, ranging from the molecular (molecular constellations), to the cellular (relations among cells), to the organismic levels (the different organs and systems that constitute a single organism). Each nested field could be described in terms of different mechanisms as to how the morphology advanced for any particular structure, yet they were all unified towards the realization of a definite future state of existence.”
Gurwitsch first revolutionized life sciences by shaping an elegant experiment which demonstrated that cells emit weak bursts of ultraviolet light as they went through mitosis. To prove his theory, Gurwitsch set up two onion roots growing in perpendicular directions and found that the higher rates of light emissions which occurred on the newer tip of the roots induced cell growth of 30-40% when brought into proximity of an older onion root. Although no instruments sensitive enough to pick up these ultra-weak frequencies existed during his lifetime, Gurwitsch demonstrated that light from the ultraviolet spectrum must be generated from new cells by separating the old and new onion roots by various types of lenses which blocked out different parts of the spectrum and found that only when UV light was blocked did the effect of 30% cell growth increase come to an end. Gurwitsch called this “Mitogenic Radiation”.
While Gurwitsch was ostracised by the scientific establishment during his life, technologies arose among the astrophysics community in the 1950s which permitted scientists to measure extremely weak light frequencies in the range of Gurwitsch’s mitogenic radiation (obviously useful for picking up faint signals from other galaxies in deep space). When teams of Italian astronomers applied their equipment to organic material, Gurwitsch’s discovery was verified experimentally for the first time.
One would have thought such a discovery would have revolutionised all of biology, medicine and life sciences on the spot- however after a brief spike in interest, the discovery was soon forgotten and relegated to a “negligible” secondary feature of life which had no causal role to play in any of the mechanics or behaviour of organic activity. The materialists and reductionists who wished to maintain that all life was merely the sum of parts won the day.
Then another biophysicist named Fritz-Albert Popp arose onto the scene.
Fritz Popp’s Biophotonic Discoveries
During the 1970s, Popp was a cancer researcher trying to figure out why only one of the two isomers of Benzpyrene caused cancer. An isomer is sometimes known as a mirror image configuration of a molecule which are chemically identical, yet whose properties can differ vastly. Under the materialist/reductionist’s logic, there was no reason why one isomer (Benzpyrene 3,4) which is found in cigarettes and tar would induce cancer growth in lung tissue while another isomer (Benzpyrene 1,2) would be completely benign.
After discovering the work of Gurwitsch, Dr. Popp began measuring the ultra-weak light emissions from the Benzpyrene molecules and their effects upon cell growth in liver tissues and found that the extremely high light absorption/emission properties of Benzpyrene 3,4 were the cause of the disharmony of cell regulation. Measuring the photon activity from cancerous vs healthy liver cell growth is a striking way to clearly see that cancerous growth coincides with exponential photon emissions while healthy liver photon emissions are very stable.
Over the course of his highly productive lifetime, Dr. Popp discovered that these light emissions occurred at different wavelengths according to the cell types, function and species. When Popp brought two biological samples into proximity, things became additionally interesting as the “rhythm” of their photon emissions synchronized beautifully when close together and fell out of sync when separated. This was outlined in his paper On the Coherence of Biophotons.
Describing the clinical application of these discoveries, Dr. Popp stated:
“Light can initiate, or arrest, cascade-like reactions in the cells, and that genetic cellular damage can be virtually repaired, within hours, by faint beams of light. We are still on the threshold of fully understanding the complex relationship between light and life, but we can now say, emphatically that the function of our entire metabolism is dependent on light.”
Popp’s discoveries amplify those of the great Russian scientist A.B. Burlakov who found that the ultra weak light emissions emanating from two sets of fertilised fish eggs separated by a glass demonstrated a powerful harmonizing effect. If one set of eggs were older, then the younger eggs would mature and develop much faster if brought into proximity. However if the age difference between the two sets were too great, then the scientist found that the younger set would see a higher rate of death, deformities and retardation of development.
This mode of thinking about life has the mind of the scientist approach life in a manner more in common with a musician tuning his instrument to an orchestra or a conductor holding multiple sound waves in his mind simultaneously as a whole musical idea which is greater than simply the sum of its parts. It is a much more natural and effective mode of thinking than the materialist/reductionist approach today dominant across most western universities that treats the organism like a machine and the whole as a sum of chemical parts.
A fuller sweep of these discoveries was presented in a 2013 lecture presented by this author, which can be viewed in full here:
The Real Nature of Today’s Fight
Today, the world is being shaped by political forces representing the two opposing currents of science. It may surprise you, dear reader to discover that just one week after Montagnier’s original remarks on the lab origin hypothesis of covid-19 and his calls for a crash program into electromagnetic wavelength therapy, American President Donald Trump announced his support of such lines of research on April 23rd.
Speaking to Bill Bryan (head of the science and technology division of the Department of Homeland Security), Trump said:
“Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous … whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light. And I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you are going to test it… And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you are going to test it.”
While the mainstream press attacked the President for his supposedly ignorant statements, only those who seriously took the time to research the discoveries by Dr. Luc Montagnier (or the broader school of optical biophysics championed by great men like Louis Pasteur, Alexander Gurwitsch, Vladimir Vernadsky, A.B. Burlakov and Fritz-Albert Popp) could possibly understand the importance of Trump’s remarks and the new age of medicine and creative breakthroughs in science which the Multi-polar alliance might unleash upon the future.
In our third installment, we will dig more deeply into the historic suppression of science with a focus upon the creation of Nature Magazine from the bowels of T.H Huxley’s X Club and the Malthusian Revolution in Science of 1864.
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk, and has authored 3 volumes of ‘Untold History of Canada’ book series. In 2019 he co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation and can be reached at matt.ehret@tutamail.com
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theduran--2020-05-06--Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, a new currency appears – cyber CNY

US President Donald Trump has already stated the need to lay all the blame and responsibility for spreading the coronavirus to China .
The possibility of making multi-billion claims was voiced .
Politicians on behalf of the head of the White House are exploring the possibility of introducing new duties and sanctions against Beijing .
While all countries are suffering huge losses from the COVID-19 , China has already coped with the virus and is beginning to actively restore its national economy .
Trump believes this is wrong .
It is unfair when someone but not America gains prophit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguments .
But it ’ s strategy is not built in the area of political accusations .
The moment of the world global economic crisis is used to start testing the national crypto currency .
The ultimate goal is a complete departure from the dollar in international payments and strengthening of the yuan .
With the success of this project , China will be able to get rid of the dependence of the dollar economy .
In recent years , China has played a significant role in the global economy .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the introduction of the CNY into the system of international payments .
But as of 2019 , the share of Chinese currency from the volume of the global payment currency was only 2.2 % .
And this with a share of China in world GDP of about 19 % .
In addition , the yuan is not freely convertible .
The dollar accounts for slightly more than 39 % of global estimates , while the US share in global GDP is about 16 % .
A similar situation is observed with the euro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is simply not allowed into the world trade markets .
At the same time , many demands were put forward , including liberalization of the economy , free trading of the yuan , non-interference of the state in the national currency rate .
Therefore , Beijing decided to take drastic measures .
Instead of continuing attempts to introduce it into the international monetary system , China will develop electronic yuan – the first cyber currency provided and managed by the state , and not by a bank or other private organization .
Currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape for such a step .
The popularity of electronic payments is growing , people are avoiding physical contacts .
Therefore , the cyber currency provided by the state has a high chance of success .
For China , this will allow not only to get away from the use of the dollar in payments , but also to insure themselves against currency fluctuations .
The Central Bank of China has already begun testing the new currency in several cities : Shenzhen , Suzhou , Chengdu and Xunan .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different areas in different cities .
For example , in Suzhou it will be used to pay for transport , in Xiongang – for food and retail .
Cyber yuan will probably also be tested in the regions where the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held .
Thus , the Chinese authorities intend to level the role of the dollar as an instrument of American foreign policy .
There are cases when the United States resorted to political blackmail measures , threatening to disconnect some companies from the SWIFT dollar settlement system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran and Venezuela .
At the same time , investors and businesses are offered not only an alternative to the dollar .
On the one hand , the introduction of cyber yuan will revitalize the global economy .
On the other hand , to tie users to the Chinese financial system and stimulate joining the “ One belt one way ” initiative .
That is , it is proposed to change American soft power to Chinese .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
US President Donald Trump has already stated the need to lay all the blame and responsibility for spreading the coronavirus to China. The possibility of making multi-billion claims was voiced. Politicians on behalf of the head of the White House are exploring the possibility of introducing new duties and sanctions against Beijing.
While all countries are suffering huge losses from the COVID-19, China has already coped with the virus and is beginning to actively restore its national economy. Trump believes this is wrong. It is unfair when someone but not America gains prophit. China does not agree with the American arguments. But it’s strategy is not built in the area of political accusations.
The moment of the world global economic crisis is used to start testing the national crypto currency. The ultimate goal is a complete departure from the dollar in international payments and strengthening of the yuan. With the success of this project, China will be able to get rid of the dependence of the dollar economy.
In recent years, China has played a significant role in the global economy. It would seem that this should be followed by the introduction of the CNY into the system of international payments. But as of 2019, the share of Chinese currency from the volume of the global payment currency was only 2.2%. And this with a share of China in world GDP of about 19%. In addition, the yuan is not freely convertible.
The dollar accounts for slightly more than 39% of global estimates, while the US share in global GDP is about 16%. A similar situation is observed with the euro.
It turns out that the yuan is simply not allowed into the world trade markets. At the same time, many demands were put forward, including liberalization of the economy, free trading of the yuan, non-interference of the state in the national currency rate.
Therefore, Beijing decided to take drastic measures. Instead of continuing attempts to introduce it into the international monetary system, China will develop electronic yuan – the first cyber currency provided and managed by the state, and not by a bank or other private organization.
Currently, an extremely favorable situation is taking shape for such a step. The popularity of electronic payments is growing, people are avoiding physical contacts. Therefore, the cyber currency provided by the state has a high chance of success.
For China, this will allow not only to get away from the use of the dollar in payments, but also to insure themselves against currency fluctuations.
The Central Bank of China has already begun testing the new currency in several cities: Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu and Xunan. At the same time, electronic money will be introduced in different areas in different cities. For example, in Suzhou it will be used to pay for transport, in Xiongang – for food and retail. Cyber yuan will probably also be tested in the regions where the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held.
Thus, the Chinese authorities intend to level the role of the dollar as an instrument of American foreign policy. There are cases when the United States resorted to political blackmail measures, threatening to disconnect some companies from the SWIFT dollar settlement system. Similar measures were taken in relation to Iran and Venezuela.
At the same time, investors and businesses are offered not only an alternative to the dollar. On the one hand, the introduction of cyber yuan will revitalize the global economy. On the other hand, to tie users to the Chinese financial system and stimulate joining the “One belt one way” initiative. That is, it is proposed to change American soft power to Chinese.
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theduran--2020-05-06--Bay of Pigs 2.0 – armed invasion of Venezuela

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro… Amid the global pandemic , Washington moves forward with its agenda in Latin America .
Onсe again , the target is Venezuela .
The American government ’ s opposition to the popular regime of Nicolás Maduro has reached increasingly drastic levels , with the United States officially stating the dangerous lie that the Venezuelan State would be involved in the international narcotics trafficking and , since then , carrying out bold military and intelligence maneuvers to destabilize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , Washington formally accused the government of Nicolás Maduro of involvement with drug trafficking .
A 15 million dollar reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan president .
Since this moment , the American policy towards Venezuela has completely hardened , with increasingly aggressive maneuvers conducted against the South American government .
Shortly after announcing the millionaire reward for data leading to Maduro ’ s arrest , U.S. President Donald Trump sent military troops to Venezuela .
Powerful US Navy ships were sent to the Venezuelan coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug trafficking in South America ” .
In practice , the US wants to surround Venezuela , obstruct the country ’ s navigations and repeat the old strategy of suffocating the enemy to overthrow Maduro , thus guaranteeing Washington ’ s interests in South America .
However , the frontal attack through a maritime siege was not enough to overthrow Maduro and , then , the South American country was invaded by mercenary troops in the service of the USA in the beginning of April .
Little or nothing was reported by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela , however , it not only occurred but was extremely significant , requiring great government attention to dismantle the foreign conspiracy .
The way in which the invasion was designed is still little known outside Venezuela , however , it is speculated that there was a triad of collaboration between the United States , Colombia and the Guaidó ’ s Venezuelan opposition .
At first , these three elements conspired to allow armed mercenaries to enter Venezuelan soil to overthrow the government .
According to official sources , the guerrillas left Colombia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , being transported by an American company possibly hired by Guaidó himself .
The attack occurred more specifically in the Chuao region , in the state of Aragua .
Several photos and videos of the operation to contain the invasion can be easily found on the internet .
The Venezuelan Attorney General has published a series of evidences , including the contracts signed between Guaidó and the American company , which describe the sea routes from Colombia , exactly as done during the attack , attesting the veracity of the Maduro government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interior Minister Néstor Reverol made a public statement immediately after the invasion attempt , stating that the country ’ s security forces wounded , captured and slaughtered several terrorists in La Guaíra , just 20 miles from Caracas .
In his words : “ A group of mercenary terrorists from Colombia tried to carry out an invasion by sea , to commit terrorist attacks in the country and to assassinate the leaders of the revolutionary government ” .
The allegations on the part of the Venezuelan government were quickly answered by the Colombian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but claim “ no basis in the charges ” , without providing proof that such invaders would not have left Colombia in coordinated action .
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Colombia were broken last year .
Gradually , Colombia becomes a satellite state of American interests in South America , being absolutely occupied and submitted to Washington .
It is worth remembering that in 2018 Colombia became NATO ’ s first “ global partner ” in Latin America .
The most curious and even ironic in this whole scenario is the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement with drug trafficking , when , in fact , Colombia , its greatest ally in the global South , is the Latin nation with the greatest historical link to the international drug trafficking in the Americas , being a true Narco-State .
Washington deflects the focus of its allies by imputing its crimes to its enemies .
The failed operation brings to mind a similar episode that took place in Cuba in 1961 , the so-called Bay of Pigs Invasion .
On that occasion , Cuba was invaded by a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financed by the Italian-American Mafia who intended to overthrow Fidel Castro ’ s government .
The operation was a complete failure and a real humiliation for the United States , which had to withdraw and recognize the Cuban victory .
Again , history repeats itself , with mercenaries being paid and trained by the United States to invade non-aligned countries in an outsourced war tactic .
And again , the US is defeated .
This “ Bay of Pigs 2.0 ” reveals a truly outdated posture of American geopolitics .
Increasingly , Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a completely different global context and where such measures are intolerable .
How long will the US insist on this strategy ?
When will they realize that their aggressive international policy is not effective in the current dynamics of international relations ?

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
Amid the global pandemic, Washington moves forward with its agenda in Latin America. Onсe again, the target is Venezuela. The American government’s opposition to the popular regime of Nicolás Maduro has reached increasingly drastic levels, with the United States officially stating the dangerous lie that the Venezuelan State would be involved in the international narcotics trafficking and, since then, carrying out bold military and intelligence maneuvers to destabilize the Bolivarian government.
At the end of March, Washington formally accused the government of Nicolás Maduro of involvement with drug trafficking. A 15 million dollar reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan president. Since this moment, the American policy towards Venezuela has completely hardened, with increasingly aggressive maneuvers conducted against the South American government. Shortly after announcing the millionaire reward for data leading to Maduro’s arrest, U.S. President Donald Trump sent military troops to Venezuela. Powerful US Navy ships were sent to the Venezuelan coast in a military operation to “fight drug trafficking in South America”.
In practice, the US wants to surround Venezuela, obstruct the country’s navigations and repeat the old strategy of suffocating the enemy to overthrow Maduro, thus guaranteeing Washington’s interests in South America. However, the frontal attack through a maritime siege was not enough to overthrow Maduro and, then, the South American country was invaded by mercenary troops in the service of the USA in the beginning of April. Little or nothing was reported by the western media agencies regarding the invasion of Venezuela, however, it not only occurred but was extremely significant, requiring great government attention to dismantle the foreign conspiracy.
The way in which the invasion was designed is still little known outside Venezuela, however, it is speculated that there was a triad of collaboration between the United States, Colombia and the Guaidó’s Venezuelan opposition. At first, these three elements conspired to allow armed mercenaries to enter Venezuelan soil to overthrow the government. According to official sources, the guerrillas left Colombia on a sea route to enter Venezuela, being transported by an American company possibly hired by Guaidó himself. The attack occurred more specifically in the Chuao region, in the state of Aragua. Several photos and videos of the operation to contain the invasion can be easily found on the internet. The Venezuelan Attorney General has published a series of evidences, including the contracts signed between Guaidó and the American company, which describe the sea routes from Colombia, exactly as done during the attack, attesting the veracity of the Maduro government’s allegations.
On Sunday, Venezuelan Interior Minister Néstor Reverol made a public statement immediately after the invasion attempt, stating that the country’s security forces wounded, captured and slaughtered several terrorists in La Guaíra, just 20 miles from Caracas. In his words: “A group of mercenary terrorists from Colombia tried to carry out an invasion by sea, to commit terrorist attacks in the country and to assassinate the leaders of the revolutionary government”. The allegations on the part of the Venezuelan government were quickly answered by the Colombian authorities, who, however, did nothing but claim “no basis in the charges”, without providing proof that such invaders would not have left Colombia in coordinated action.
Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and Colombia were broken last year. Gradually, Colombia becomes a satellite state of American interests in South America, being absolutely occupied and submitted to Washington. It is worth remembering that in 2018 Colombia became NATO’s first “global partner” in Latin America. The most curious and even ironic in this whole scenario is the American accusation against Maduro’s government of involvement with drug trafficking, when, in fact, Colombia, its greatest ally in the global South, is the Latin nation with the greatest historical link to the international drug trafficking in the Americas, being a true Narco-State. Washington deflects the focus of its allies by imputing its crimes to its enemies.
The failed operation brings to mind a similar episode that took place in Cuba in 1961, the so-called Bay of Pigs Invasion. On that occasion, Cuba was invaded by a group of paramilitary mercenaries trained by the CIA and financed by the Italian-American Mafia who intended to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government. The operation was a complete failure and a real humiliation for the United States, which had to withdraw and recognize the Cuban victory. Again, history repeats itself, with mercenaries being paid and trained by the United States to invade non-aligned countries in an outsourced war tactic. And again, the US is defeated.
This “Bay of Pigs 2.0” reveals a truly outdated posture of American geopolitics. Increasingly, Washington is trying to revive Cold War tactics in a completely different global context and where such measures are intolerable. How long will the US insist on this strategy? When will they realize that their aggressive international policy is not effective in the current dynamics of international relations?
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theduran--2020-05-06--Ukraine Has Asked Russia to Fill Its Budget Holes

The ambitious Nord Stream 2 pipeline project aims to deliver Russian gas to Europe via the Baltic Sea , thus bypassing Ukraine and reducing risk from Russia ’ s perspective .
While Ukraine has consistently said it will prevent the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline , the country is now also offering Russian state-owned Gazprom its gas storage facilities .
However , there are two major reasons why Moscow might not agree to Ukraine ’ s offer : Moscow has difficulty in having confidence in Ukraine considering it maintains a pro-NATO policy .
Russia has enough of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proposal for storing Russian gas in Ukraine first appears logical , given the huge lack of trust in bilateral relations , this is a rather ambitious proposal by Kiev as it also continues to do everything in its power to prevent the construction of Nord Stream 2 .
The Director General of the Ukrainian gas transportation system Sergei Makogon suggested that Gazprom lease Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities for the temporary storage of Russian gas transported to Europe .
He said it would be three to five times cheaper for Gazprom than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consume this gas – just $ 10 per thousand cubic meters .
He added that in winter , as demand grows in the European Union , Gazprom will be able to take gas from underground Ukrainian gas storage facilities and send it to Europe .
He also predicts that Ukraine may end its role as a Russian gas transit in 2025 after the five-year contract between Russia ’ s Gazprom and Ukraine ’ s Naftogas expires , along with the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline .
This would be another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the first leg of the Turkish Stream was put into operation , the Ukrainian system had already lost 15 billion cubic meters of annual transit .
The loss Ukraine faces because of the Turkish Stream will become even greater with the second phase of the pipeline that will run through Bulgaria , Serbia and Hungary , and account for another 15 billion cubic meter loss , is complete..
Although Makogon said he hopes Ukraine can store gas on behalf of Russia , he also announced that Ukraine “ will make every effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , as this project has a clear political character and runs counter to European principles of solidarity.
” So effectively he made two contradictory statements as one is friendly and the other is aggressive , thus again demonstrating why Russia finds it difficult in trusting Ukraine .
Russian officials point out that there is sufficient gas storage in Russia ’ s territory and that Russia does not currently need the assistance of other countries in this regard .
Even if there is a need to rent a warehouse , in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be sufficient as guarantees for safeguarding Russian gas will be needed so theft that has happened in the past will not be repeated .
It also needs to be factored in that because of the coronavirus , there is a decline in gas consumption .
The need for gas storage will increase in winter – this is seemingly obvious .
However , we are now only weeks away from summer and the demand for gas will significantly reduce , in addition to the fact that Gazprom has sufficient capacity for its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal for Ukraine to store Russian gas is actually a more of a desperate plea linked to the fact that Ukraine is experiencing a significant economic downturn , and the head of the Ukrainian gas transportation system is looking for an opportunity to somehow fill the deep budget holes .
It should also be considered that the infrastructure Ukraine is offering to Russia is generally 50 years old .
Because of all this , it is highly unlikely that there will be agreements for the storage of Russian gas made between Moscow and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last December , Kiev and Moscow signed a five-year agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine .
The new contract stipulates that Gazprom will send at least 65 billion cubic meters of gas through Ukraine in the first year and then at least 40 billion annually from 2021 to 2024 .
This five-year agreement will bring Kiev more than $ 7 billion , which is critical for its short-term economic survival , but what then after that ?

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst…
The ambitious Nord Stream 2 pipeline project aims to deliver Russian gas to Europe via the Baltic Sea, thus bypassing Ukraine and reducing risk from Russia’s perspective. While Ukraine has consistently said it will prevent the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the country is now also offering Russian state-owned Gazprom its gas storage facilities.
However, there are two major reasons why Moscow might not agree to Ukraine’s offer:
Moscow has difficulty in having confidence in Ukraine considering it maintains a pro-NATO policy.
Russia has enough of its own warehouses to store gas.
Although the proposal for storing Russian gas in Ukraine first appears logical, given the huge lack of trust in bilateral relations, this is a rather ambitious proposal by Kiev as it also continues to do everything in its power to prevent the construction of Nord Stream 2.
The Director General of the Ukrainian gas transportation system Sergei Makogon suggested that Gazprom lease Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities for the temporary storage of Russian gas transported to Europe. He said it would be three to five times cheaper for Gazprom than it costs in European Union countries who consume this gas – just $10 per thousand cubic meters. He added that in winter, as demand grows in the European Union, Gazprom will be able to take gas from underground Ukrainian gas storage facilities and send it to Europe.
He also predicts that Ukraine may end its role as a Russian gas transit in 2025 after the five-year contract between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogas expires, along with the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. This would be another major economic blow to Ukraine when considering after the first leg of the Turkish Stream was put into operation, the Ukrainian system had already lost 15 billion cubic meters of annual transit. The loss Ukraine faces because of the Turkish Stream will become even greater with the second phase of the pipeline that will run through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, and account for another 15 billion cubic meter loss, is complete..
Although Makogon said he hopes Ukraine can store gas on behalf of Russia, he also announced that Ukraine “will make every effort to prevent the completion of Nord Stream 2, as this project has a clear political character and runs counter to European principles of solidarity.” So effectively he made two contradictory statements as one is friendly and the other is aggressive, thus again demonstrating why Russia finds it difficult in trusting Ukraine.
Russian officials point out that there is sufficient gas storage in Russia’s territory and that Russia does not currently need the assistance of other countries in this regard. Even if there is a need to rent a warehouse, in the case of Ukraine, a competitive price will not be sufficient as guarantees for safeguarding Russian gas will be needed so theft that has happened in the past will not be repeated.
It also needs to be factored in that because of the coronavirus, there is a decline in gas consumption. The need for gas storage will increase in winter – this is seemingly obvious. However, we are now only weeks away from summer and the demand for gas will significantly reduce, in addition to the fact that Gazprom has sufficient capacity for its own storage. Therefore, Makogon’s proposal for Ukraine to store Russian gas is actually a more of a desperate plea linked to the fact that Ukraine is experiencing a significant economic downturn, and the head of the Ukrainian gas transportation system is looking for an opportunity to somehow fill the deep budget holes.
It should also be considered that the infrastructure Ukraine is offering to Russia is generally 50 years old. Because of all this, it is highly unlikely that there will be agreements for the storage of Russian gas made between Moscow and Kiev.
Remembering that after tough negotiations last December, Kiev and Moscow signed a five-year agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. The new contract stipulates that Gazprom will send at least 65 billion cubic meters of gas through Ukraine in the first year and then at least 40 billion annually from 2021 to 2024. This five-year agreement will bring Kiev more than $7 billion, which is critical for its short-term economic survival, but what then after that?
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theduran--2020-05-06--German Government Bails Out Owners of German Corporations

Just as the corrupt U.S. Government is bailing out owners of U.S. corporations while the American public experiences a recession that is heading into a depression , the corrupt German Government likewise is bailing out investors .
It ’ s not illegal for the Government to do that — not even when the corporation that they might bail out next is the nation ’ s flag-carrying airline , which already receives unfair advantages in competing against other airlines in that country .
The German Government has offered to bail out even the wealthy investors who control the already governmentally favored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those super-rich investors demand that it be an unconditional bailout , and negotiations are continuing .
On May 5th , the “ Flight Global ” site bannered “ Lufthansa reluctant to accept state aid with conditions attached ” , and reported that “ Lufthansa Group is holding ‘ intensive talks ’ with governments in Germany , Austria and Belgium about the provision of state aid.
” The very idea that the general public , the nation ’ s taxpayers , should ever absorb any losses of any private stock-investors , constitutes the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and capitalism for everybody else.
” That is the essential core of fascism , or as Benito Mussolini sometimes called his economic and political system , “ corporationism ” ( control of the government by the owners of corporations ) , but it is antithetical to any democracy , which is ruled only by its public , not by only the richest of them , who , in any country , own almost all of the corporate stock .
Any corporation that ( like Lufthansa is now doing ) threatens the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laying off employees en-masse during what has become a general financial collapse , should instead be promptly and automatically nationalized — taken over completely , at its then-prevailing stock-value — and the stock in it subsequently become sold by the government after the crisis is over , but , at first , then , made available only to its employees ( and with low-interest loans being made available to them by the government , in order to enable any and all of them to participate in owning the corporation that employs them ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general public , as a mere investment-gamble .
The only justification for anyone ’ s owning corporate stock , ever , is that the stockholders agree to take on all of the financial risk that the corporation ’ s bondholders have not taken on .
( Bondholders get paid interest before stockholders get paid dividends . )
If , instead , the general public , including all of the taxpayers , are taking on this financial risk , then it is only fair that the public ( as represented by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic crisis , all of the corporation ’ s directors : the corporation will be promptly nationalized .
After the economic emergency is over , the corporation will then be re-privatized , first to its employees , and then to the public .
No corporation ever should be bailed-out by the government , on any other terms than to nationalize it , on this temporary basis .
Either a corporation ’ s stockholders will fulfill the function that stockholders are supposed to fulfill ( as being a sump for the corporation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their corporation will be promptly but temporarily nationalized , on this basis .
Then , the stockholders will get paid fair market value for their stock , which is far more than they will receive if the corporation simply goes bankrupt — declares itself unable to fulfill its contractual obligations to its bondholders .
That is the way things would function in any democracy .
On April 9th , the Zero Hedge financial site explained in detail why even bailing out the airlines would hurt the economy more than help the economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chalmath Palihaptiya , “ This is a lie that ’ s been propagated by Wall Street .
When a company fails , it does not fire its employees…it goes through a packaged bankruptcy…if anything , what happens is the employees end up owning more of the company .
The people who get wiped out are the people who own the unsecured debt and the equity…but the employees don ’ t get wiped out and the pensions don ’ t get wiped out.
” “ And if a bunch of hedge funds get wiped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal ?
Let them fail .
So they don ’ t get the summer in the Hamptons — who cares.
” But do we have a democracy ?
Bailing out the public ( workers and consumers ) so that they can afford to continue living — and buying , and working — is the right thing to do in an economic crash , but not bailing out investors .
What do investors get their incomes from ?
It ’ s not from their work , it ’ s only from the investment risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks that they have agreed to accept .
If the government transfers any of those risks onto the public , then the government must nationalize the corporation , because the ONLY value that investors provide in the economy is as a sump for financial risks .
That ’ s it , and that ’ s all .
Any nation which transfers any of those risks onto the public is criminal — it is taking from the poor and middle class in order to keep the rich rich .
It is retroactively dictating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal : heads the investors win , tails you the public lose .
That wasn ’ t supposed to have been the deal .
If it retroactively becomes the deal when investors overall are losing money instead of making money , then the government is simply crooked ; it is just a bunch of con-artists .
Apparently , the German Government ( like many others ) is corrupt — it ’ s transferring risks off of investors and onto consumers and workers .
That ’ s Robin Hood in reverse — exactly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to outlaw , and to label as being “ theft.
” Is it not “ theft ” when the richest do it ?
It is transferring onto workers and consumers the ONLY value-added , the only real service , that investors are supposed to be supplying , which is their serving as a sump for risks .
If any of that risk-burden is removed from investors and transferred onto the public , then all of their property should automatically become property of the state .
No decent government bails out investors — ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the U.S. Government .
If a government legalizes what is authentically ( one might even say “ in natural law ” ) criminal to do — such as to take from workers and consumers and give that to investors ( and this is what is now commonly but deceptively called ‘ democracy ’ ) — then the ultimate criminal has become the state itself , and a revolution is needed .
That ’ s practically the definition of what a revolution is for .
Things are that bad in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it likewise the case ?
Perhaps we are about to find out .
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author , most recently , of They ’ re Not Even Close : The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records , 1910-2010 , and of CHRIST ’ S VENTRILOQUISTS : The Event that Created Christianity .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Eric Zuesse
Just as the corrupt U.S. Government is bailing out owners of U.S. corporations while the American public experiences a recession that is heading into a depression, the corrupt German Government likewise is bailing out investors. It’s not illegal for the Government to do that — not even when the corporation that they might bail out next is the nation’s flag-carrying airline, which already receives unfair advantages in competing against other airlines in that country.
The German Government has offered to bail out even the wealthy investors who control the already governmentally favored but privately investor-owned airline Lufthansa, but those super-rich investors demand that it be an unconditional bailout, and negotiations are continuing. On May 5th, the “Flight Global” site bannered “Lufthansa reluctant to accept state aid with conditions attached”, and reported that “Lufthansa Group is holding ‘intensive talks’ with governments in Germany, Austria and Belgium about the provision of state aid.”
The very idea that the general public, the nation’s taxpayers, should ever absorb any losses of any private stock-investors, constitutes the very essence of “socialism for the rich, and capitalism for everybody else.” That is the essential core of fascism, or as Benito Mussolini sometimes called his economic and political system, “corporationism” (control of the government by the owners of corporations), but it is antithetical to any democracy, which is ruled only by its public, not by only the richest of them, who, in any country, own almost all of the corporate stock.
Any corporation that (like Lufthansa is now doing) threatens the government with going out of business or otherwise laying off employees en-masse during what has become a general financial collapse, should instead be promptly and automatically nationalized — taken over completely, at its then-prevailing stock-value — and the stock in it subsequently become sold by the government after the crisis is over, but, at first, then, made available only to its employees (and with low-interest loans being made available to them by the government, in order to enable any and all of them to participate in owning the corporation that employs them), and only subsequently made available to the general public, as a mere investment-gamble.
The only justification for anyone’s owning corporate stock, ever, is that the stockholders agree to take on all of the financial risk that the corporation’s bondholders have not taken on. (Bondholders get paid interest before stockholders get paid dividends.) If, instead, the general public, including all of the taxpayers, are taking on this financial risk, then it is only fair that the public (as represented by the government) will also be appointing, during the economic crisis, all of the corporation’s directors: the corporation will be promptly nationalized. After the economic emergency is over, the corporation will then be re-privatized, first to its employees, and then to the public. No corporation ever should be bailed-out by the government, on any other terms than to nationalize it, on this temporary basis. Either a corporation’s stockholders will fulfill the function that stockholders are supposed to fulfill (as being a sump for the corporation’s financial losses), or else their corporation will be promptly but temporarily nationalized, on this basis. Then, the stockholders will get paid fair market value for their stock, which is far more than they will receive if the corporation simply goes bankrupt — declares itself unable to fulfill its contractual obligations to its bondholders.
That is the way things would function in any democracy.
On April 9th, the Zero Hedge financial site explained in detail why even bailing out the airlines would hurt the economy more than help the economy. It quoted an extraordinarily honest investor, Chalmath Palihaptiya,
“This is a lie that’s been propagated by Wall Street. When a company fails, it does not fire its employees…it goes through a packaged bankruptcy…if anything, what happens is the employees end up owning more of the company. The people who get wiped out are the people who own the unsecured debt and the equity…but the employees don’t get wiped out and the pensions don’t get wiped out.”
[…]
“And if a bunch of hedge funds get wiped out — what’s the big deal? Let them fail. So they don’t get the summer in the Hamptons — who cares.”
But do we have a democracy?
Bailing out the public (workers and consumers) so that they can afford to continue living — and buying, and working — is the right thing to do in an economic crash, but not bailing out investors. What do investors get their incomes from? It’s not from their work, it’s only from the investment risks that they take on, the financial risks that they have agreed to accept. If the government transfers any of those risks onto the public, then the government must nationalize the corporation, because the ONLY value that investors provide in the economy is as a sump for financial risks. That’s it, and that’s all.
Any nation which transfers any of those risks onto the public is criminal — it is taking from the poor and middle class in order to keep the rich rich. It is retroactively dictating to the public: Here is now the deal: heads the investors win, tails you the public lose. That wasn’t supposed to have been the deal. If it retroactively becomes the deal when investors overall are losing money instead of making money, then the government is simply crooked; it is just a bunch of con-artists.
Apparently, the German Government (like many others) is corrupt — it’s transferring risks off of investors and onto consumers and workers. That’s Robin Hood in reverse — exactly the type of situation that governments are supposed to outlaw, and to label as being “theft.” Is it not “theft” when the richest do it? It is transferring onto workers and consumers the ONLY value-added, the only real service, that investors are supposed to be supplying, which is their serving as a sump for risks. If any of that risk-burden is removed from investors and transferred onto the public, then all of their property should automatically become property of the state. No decent government bails out investors — ever. Only criminal ones do, such as the U.S. Government.
If a government legalizes what is authentically (one might even say “in natural law”) criminal to do — such as to take from workers and consumers and give that to investors (and this is what is now commonly but deceptively called ‘democracy’) — then the ultimate criminal has become the state itself, and a revolution is needed. That’s practically the definition of what a revolution is for. Things are that bad in the United States, but in how many other countries is it likewise the case?
Perhaps we are about to find out.
—————
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.
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theduran--2020-05-07--MSO 24 Will Be Held In London This Summer

As things stand !
The first Mind Sports Olympiad was held in London from August 18 to 24 , 1997 at the Royal Festival Hall .
In 2002 , it moved out of the capital for several years before moving back in 2008 .
In 2014 , it found what appears to be its permanent home , JW3 in North London .
MSO began all those years ago with great fanfare ; the first four were truly spectacular events , the year 2000 saw an entire hall at Alexandra Palace being taken up with the Times Crossword competition .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documented elsewhere , suffice it to say that it has slowly recovered , until in 2016 it reported over eleven hundred entries .
Last year saw what was called a chess bonanza .
There were also livestreams which can be found on its now long established YouTube channel .
Every year sees veterans coming together with new players , many of whom were not born until well after MSO was founded .
The veterans include Italian multi-gamester Dario De Toffoli who was runner up in the 1997 Mastermind tournament and won no fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above is now veteran Andres Kuusk of Estonia who won the Pentamind ( for the first time ) in 2011 .
With him is Etan Ilfeld who began as a player and now helps to run the event .
In the background is chess organiser Tony Corfe who helped run the event from 1997 .
A provisional schedule for this year ’ s event was revealed on February 25 .
As well as old favourites like chess and backgammon there is a new game called Battle Sheep .
Yes , sheep , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 23 to August 31 finishing as usual on the Bank Holiday Monday .
In the hopefully unlikely event MSO has to be cancelled , you can still play a wide variety of similar games on-line without the trials and tribulations of travel and hotel bills .
Mind Sports also have a big following in Korea – the Braining Games .
Perhaps they should invite Kim Jong-un to their next event ?

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
As things stand! The first Mind Sports Olympiad was held in London from August 18 to 24, 1997 at the Royal Festival Hall. In 2002, it moved out of the capital for several years before moving back in 2008. In 2014, it found what appears to be its permanent home, JW3 in North London.
MSO began all those years ago with great fanfare; the first four were truly spectacular events, the year 2000 saw an entire hall at Alexandra Palace being taken up with the Times Crossword competition. The trials and tribulations of MSO have been documented elsewhere, suffice it to say that it has slowly recovered, until in 2016 it reported over eleven hundred entries. Last year saw what was called a chess bonanza. There were also livestreams which can be found on its now long established YouTube channel.
Every year sees veterans coming together with new players, many of whom were not born until well after MSO was founded. The veterans include Italian multi-gamester Dario De Toffoli who was runner up in the 1997 Mastermind tournament and won no fewer than five medals last year.
Pictured above is now veteran Andres Kuusk of Estonia who won the Pentamind (for the first time) in 2011. With him is Etan Ilfeld who began as a player and now helps to run the event. In the background is chess organiser Tony Corfe who helped run the event from 1997.
A provisional schedule for this year’s event was revealed on February 25. As well as old favourites like chess and backgammon there is a new game called Battle Sheep. Yes, sheep, not ship! The event will run from August 23 to August 31 finishing as usual on the Bank Holiday Monday.
In the hopefully unlikely event MSO has to be cancelled, you can still play a wide variety of similar games on-line without the trials and tribulations of travel and hotel bills. Mind Sports also have a big following in Korea – the Braining Games. Perhaps they should invite Kim Jong-un to their next event?
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theduran--2020-05-07--Deep state spy, Stefan Halper, a key player in the UK Russiagate hoax (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss how FBI Stefan Halper ’ s lies launched the FBI Flynn Investigation , and destroyed the lives of so many people including a UK academic .
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
For those who haven ’ t been paying attention , recently unsealed materials in the case against former Trump National Security Advisor Mike Flynn all but prove that the FBI set him up with a perjury trap ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ s Eli Lake says ‘ undermines the rule of law ’ ) .
And as the case against Flynn continues to unravel , perhaps the most important dots have been connected by investigative researcher @ JohnWHuber , better known as “ Undercover Huber ” on Twitter , who makes a cogent argument that Stefan Halper – the portly spy who the FBI used to conduct espionage on the Trump campaign during the 2016 US election – may have sparked the Flynn investigation after lying to the FBI .
What ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes no mention of the lie , or the recently-learned fact that the FBI tried to close the Flynn case , dubbed ‘ Crossfire Razor ’ , in Jan. 2017 , only for agent Peter Strzok to go ‘ off the rails ‘ and demand it not be closed .
• According to the IG , Stefan Halper ( referred to as “ Source 2 ” ) met with the Crossfire Hurricane team twice ( in Aug 11 and 12 , 2016 ) and told them “ he had been previously acquainted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the FBI opened a case on Flynn on Aug 15 , 2016* • None The IG report is silent on anything Source 2 might have said specifically about Flynn .
It ’ s also silent on the fact the Washington Field Office of the FBI tried to close the Flynn case on 01/04/2017 .
Both are going to be important in a second .
• None We now know from the FBI ’ s draft “ Electronic Communication ” dated 01/04/2017 ( trying to close the Flynn CI case , stopped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCabe or both ) confirms the “ CH ” team “ contacted an established FBI CHS to query about ” Gen Flynn & held a “ debriefing ” • Except that story is a *lie* .
.
g , because he wasn ’ t there .
And the cab ride almost certainly didn ’ t happen either , because @ RealSLokhova says she was picked up from the event by her Husband .
And she ’ s willing to say that under oath .
• There are multiple pictures of that Cambridge Seminar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Flynn was there , as was Richard Dearlove ( former head of MI6 ) , and Christopher Andrew ( then mentor of @ RealSLokhova and “ unofficial ” historian of MI5 ) .
But Halper wasn ’ t .
Not in any photos • Halper ’ s lawyers never challenged that statement .
Even when the federal Judge dismissed @ RealSLokhova ’ s case ( for other reasons ) , he did not challenge that claim , only saying that “ even assuming it was false ” that Halper “ attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t defamatory to claim he did • And the FBI trying to close the case on Flynn is great evidence Halper ’ s “ attendance ” at this event so he could see this suspicious cab ride is false .
The FBI never tried to interview @ RealSLokhova , or anyone at the dinner .
Why ?
Because it would have proven their own source lied .
• FYI , WaPo , WSJ and NYT have all published stories claiming that Halper attended that Feb 2014 event .
None have any evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are anonymously sourced to Halper or Halper ’ s buddies .
There never will be any evidence Halper was there , because he wasn ’ t .
• So when Halper told the FBI that he was “ previously acquainted ” with Flynn , and “ witnessed ” this suspicious cab ride , HE WAS LYING TO THE FBI .
And at the time , he was a paid Confidential Human Source – the only one cited in the @ carterwpage FISA , other than Steele.That ’ s big .
• But what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told this lie about Flynn .
When else could Halper claimed to have been “ acquainted ” with Flynn if not this Feb 2014 dinner ( the only time Flynn attended the Cambridge seminar Halper helped organize ) ?
• Now , maybe Halper told the FBI about the dinner after the CI case was opened .
But that ’ s NOT in the IG report , despite Halper ’ s other meetings with the FBI being in there .
In fact the IG report says nothing about Halper and Flynn , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , FBI ’ s Jan 4 , 2017 draft Closing EC doesn ’ t say when this “ debriefing ” with Halper happened either .
The wording sort of implies it was after the case was opened , but never says itSo it is possible that a lie from Halper actually triggered opening the case on Flynn ?
• What else did the FBI have ?
Their own laughable “ predicate ” appears to be that Flynn worked for Trump , attended an RT dinner ( at the time , @ RepAdamSchiff had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was “ linked ” to Russians ( Er , he was the former head of DIA under “ Russian reset ” Obama ) • Ah , but all of those things were already true between Aug 1 and Aug 10 , 2016 , which is when the FBI opened cases on Page , Papadopoulos and Manafort – BUT NOT FLYNN .
That didn ’ t happen until Aug 15 .
He ’ s the odd one out .
• Flynn obviously already worked for Trump .
He already had these “ links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attended the RT dinner long ago .
The thin gruel of Russian “ links ” and working for Trump was enough to open cases on all the others , but NOT Flynn .
• But what did the FBI have extra before they opened the case ?
Stefan Halper telling them about being “ previously acquainted ” with Flynn – which almost certainly refers to that Feb 2014 Cambridge dinner , where he was never “ acquainted ” with Flynn at all .
• Oh , & even if Halper told this lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the FBI mustn ’ t have found it credible because they never tried to properly investigate it , and then even tried to close the case anyway .
So that means at best the lie came between Aug 15 , 2016 & Jan 4 , 2017 • What else was happening between Aug 16 & Jan 17 ?
Oh yeah , the FBI was using a person they should have suspected of lying to dirty people up – Halper – as a CHS wearing a wire on @ carterwpage , @ GeorgePapa19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ Source # 2 ” in the FISA warrant apps • Then , incredibly after their own source lies to them about Flynn to dirty him up , the FBI have the audacity to charge Flynn with lying to them !
Corrupt dirty cops isn ’ t an adequate description .
And for all we know , Halper is STILL on Wray ’ s FBI books as a paid confidential source • Finally , IG Horowitz blew this line of inquiry , and didn ’ t mention anything about the FBI trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan 2017 .
Horowitz also admitted hasn ’ t seen any evidence that any of Halper ’ s information was ever corroborated during his entire time as an FBI source • Durham can do what the IG didn ’ t , and solve this mystery quite easily with a few interviews and record checks.Or , the DOJ/USG can keep Halper on his retainer and ignore this .
Either way , we ’ ll know what ’ s up/ENDS

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss how FBI Stefan Halper’s lies launched the FBI Flynn Investigation, and destroyed the lives of so many people including a UK academic.
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Via Zerohedge…
For those who haven’t been paying attention, recently unsealed materials in the case against former Trump National Security Advisor Mike Flynn all but prove that the FBI set him up with a perjury trap (a ‘squeeze’ which even Bloomberg‘s Eli Lake says ‘undermines the rule of law’).
And as the case against Flynn continues to unravel, perhaps the most important dots have been connected by investigative researcher @JohnWHuber, better known as “Undercover Huber” on Twitter, who makes a cogent argument that Stefan Halper – the portly spy who the FBI used to conduct espionage on the Trump campaign during the 2016 US election – may have sparked the Flynn investigation after lying to the FBI.
What’s more, IG Michael Horowitz’s report makes no mention of the lie, or the recently-learned fact that the FBI tried to close the Flynn case, dubbed ‘Crossfire Razor’, in Jan. 2017, only for agent Peter Strzok to go ‘off the rails‘ and demand it not be closed.
Thread by Undercover Huber
Why did the IG Report completely ignore Stefan Halper’s lies to the FBI about @GenFlynn, and leave open the possibility that Halper may even have triggered the opening of the CI case against him? THREAD — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 3, 2020
Continued (emphasis ours):
According to the IG, Stefan Halper (referred to as “Source 2”) met with the Crossfire Hurricane team twice (in Aug 11 and 12, 2016) and told them “he had been previously acquainted with @GenFlynn”. *This was immediately before the FBI opened a case on Flynn on Aug 15, 2016*
The IG report is silent on anything Source 2 might have said specifically about Flynn. It’s also silent on the fact the Washington Field Office of the FBI tried to close the Flynn case on 01/04/2017. Both are going to be important in a second.
We now know from the FBI’s draft “Electronic Communication” dated 01/04/2017 (trying to close the Flynn CI case, stopped by Strzok at the direction of Comey, McCabe or both) confirms the “CH” team “contacted an established FBI CHS to query about” Gen Flynn & held a “debriefing”
This “event” very likely refers to when Flynn spoke at the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar in Feb 2014, and the suspicious Russian-linked person supposedly in the cab was @RealSLokhova (who also attended, and briefly spoke to Flynn) (Most of that’s still redacted as well) pic.twitter.com/d7fCF2dGas — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 3, 2020
Except that story is a *lie*. Halper wasn’t at that event . He witnessed nothin g, because he wasn’t there. And the cab ride almost certainly didn’t happen either, because @RealSLokhova says she was picked up from the event by her Husband. And she’s willing to say that under oath.
There are multiple pictures of that Cambridge Seminar event (attended by about 20 people). Flynn was there, as was Richard Dearlove (former head of MI6), and Christopher Andrew (then mentor of @RealSLokhova and “unofficial” historian of MI5). But Halper wasn’t. Not in any photos
“No one remembers Halper attending the event because, in truth, Halper was not there” — sworn court filing of @RealSLokhova, in case filed against Halper himself pic.twitter.com/O2KeyevoIW — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 3, 2020
Halper’s lawyers never challenged that statement. Even when the federal Judge dismissed @RealSLokhova’s case (for other reasons), he did not challenge that claim, only saying that “even assuming it was false” that Halper “attended” the dinner, it wasn’t defamatory to claim he did
Halper’s lawyers even noted @RealSLokhova’s claim it was a “falsehood” to say Halper attended the Feb, 2014 Cambridge event, and then NEVER defended it as *true*, just that it wasn’t *defamatory*, and non-actionable. That’s because it’s not true: Halper wasn’t there. pic.twitter.com/Dg22ww3EPu — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 3, 2020
And the FBI trying to close the case on Flynn is great evidence Halper’s “attendance” at this event so he could see this suspicious cab ride is false. The FBI never tried to interview @RealSLokhova, or anyone at the dinner. Why? Because it would have proven their own source lied.
FYI, WaPo, WSJ and NYT have all published stories claiming that Halper attended that Feb 2014 event . None have any evidence that’s true. All the stories are anonymously sourced to Halper or Halper’s buddies. There never will be any evidence Halper was there, because he wasn’t.
. None have any evidence that’s true. All the stories are anonymously sourced to Halper or Halper’s buddies. There never will be any evidence Halper was there, because he wasn’t. So when Halper told the FBI that he was “previously acquainted” with Flynn, and “witnessed” this suspicious cab ride, HE WAS LYING TO THE FBI . And at the time, he was a paid Confidential Human Source – the only one cited in the @carterwpage
FISA, other than Steele. That’s big.
. And at the time, he was a paid Confidential Human Source – the only one cited in the @carterwpage FISA, other than Steele. But what’s arguably bigger is WHEN Halper told this lie about Flynn. When else could Halper claimed to have been “acquainted” with Flynn if not this Feb 2014 dinner (the only time Flynn attended the Cambridge seminar Halper helped organize)?
Now, maybe Halper told the FBI about the dinner after the CI case was opened. But that’s NOT in the IG report, despite Halper’s other meetings with the FBI being in there. In fact the IG report says nothing about Halper and Flynn, other than what I quoted
In addition, FBI’s Jan 4, 2017 draft Closing EC doesn’t say when this “debriefing” with Halper happened either. The wording sort of implies it was after the case was opened, but never says itSo it is possible that a lie from Halper actually triggered opening the case on Flynn?
What else did the FBI have? Their own laughable “predicate” appears to be that Flynn worked for Trump, attended an RT dinner (at the time, @RepAdamSchiff
had previously appeared on RT!), and was “linked” to Russians (Er, he was the former head of DIA under “Russian reset” Obama)
had previously appeared on RT!), and was “linked” to Russians (Er, he was the former head of DIA under “Russian reset” Obama) Ah, but all of those things were already true between Aug 1 and Aug 10, 2016, which is when the FBI opened cases on Page, Papadopoulos and Manafort – BUT NOT FLYNN. That didn’t happen until Aug 15. He’s the odd one out.
Flynn obviously already worked for Trump. He already had these “links”, and he’d already attended the RT dinner long ago. The thin gruel of Russian “links” and working for Trump was enough to open cases on all the others, but NOT Flynn.
But what did the FBI have extra before they opened the case? Stefan Halper telling them about being “previously acquainted” with Flynn – which almost certainly refers to that Feb 2014 Cambridge dinner, where he was never “acquainted” with Flynn at all.
Oh, & even if Halper told this lie *after* the case was opened on Flynn, the FBI mustn’t have found it credible because they never tried to properly investigate it , and then even tried to close the case anyway. So that means at best the lie came between Aug 15, 2016 & Jan 4, 2017
, and then even tried to close the case anyway. So that means at best the lie came between Aug 15, 2016 & Jan 4, 2017 What else was happening between Aug 16 & Jan 17? Oh yeah, the FBI was using a person they should have suspected of lying to dirty people up – Halper – as a CHS wearing a wire on @carterwpage, @GeorgePapa19 and others, AND relying on Halper as “Source #2” in the FISA warrant apps
Then, incredibly after their own source lies to them about Flynn to dirty him up, the FBI have the audacity to charge Flynn with lying to them! Corrupt dirty cops isn’t an adequate description. And for all we know, Halper is STILL on Wray’s FBI books as a paid confidential source
Finally, IG Horowitz blew this line of inquiry, and didn’t mention anything about the FBI trying to close the case on Flynn in Jan 2017 . Horowitz also admitted hasn’t seen any evidence that any of Halper’s information was ever corroborated during his entire time as an FBI source
. Horowitz also admitted hasn’t seen any evidence that any of Halper’s information was ever corroborated during his entire time as an FBI source Durham can do what the IG didn’t, and solve this mystery quite easily with a few interviews and record checks.Or, the DOJ/USG can keep Halper on his retainer and ignore this. Either way, we’ll know what’s up/ENDS
UPDATE: It gets worse@SidneyPowell1 says that “SSA 1” (Joe Pientka) wrote that Jan 4, 2017 EC closing the Flynn case AND according to the IG report, Pientka personally approved those Aug 2016 meetings with Halper & his handler & was briefed on both meetings *Pientka knew* 🚨 — Undercover Huber (@JohnWHuber) May 3, 2020
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theduran--2020-05-07--Pandemic and hunger threaten Africa

Pandemic and hunger threaten Africa

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro… The situation of the new coronavirus on the African continent worsens day after day .
Although the pandemic has not yet reached its peak of infection in Africa , the figures remain alarming and without due attention from the media and authorities .
Adding all the African countries , the number of infected people is already approaching 50 thousand , with almost 2,000 deaths registered in 43 countries ( which means 80 % of the continent ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet collapsed and in some regions there has even been a little fall in infections – as we can see in the case of South Africa – but the scenario remains worrying , especially if we take into account the cyclical nature of the epidemics .
There are , proportionally , only 10 hospital beds for every 10 million Africans , which reveals the total lack of structure to fight the disease .
However , infection itself is not the greatest challenge facing Africans , but an old problem already well known across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and extreme poverty tend to worsen in epidemic settings , being even more worrying in a context of a global pandemic , where food production and circulation are profoundly affected .
Africa is the poorest continent in the world , with an extremely fragile food security structure , prone to collapse by any weather .
The pandemic comes as the most profound disgrace for Africans , who remain divided between the dangers of infection and hunger .
Deprose Muchena , director of Amnesty International for East and Southern Africa , recently made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the continent in the midst of the pandemic .
These are her words : “ There are millions of people in South Africa who are at risk and vulnerable to hunger because their income is reduced due to confinement .
( … ) With such high levels of unemployment and inequality across the African continent , most people actually live on a daily basis , which means they can ’ t be isolated for another week ” .
The director stressed the danger that social isolation can pose for these countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time and endanger the entire food production of a country .
As Muchena points out , malnutrition can greatly aggravate the effects of the infection , further weakening the sick and decreasing the immunity of the entire population .
There is also the question of other infections that are already structurally plaguing Africa , such as HIV and tuberculosis , which present themselves as comorbidities to the new coronavirus , which can aggravate its effects and lead patients to death .
Adding these infections to hunger , the population of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of extreme vulnerability .
Undoubtedly , Africa urgently needs pandemic control measures ; however , such policies must be very well thought out and discussed , since the situation in Africa differs completely from the existing scenarios in other regions of the planet where lockdown measures have been adopted .
According to Muchena , “ it is important that African governments do not copy and capture what they are doing in European countries , but adopt specific response measures that meet the needs of their own population.
” On April 28 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more than 40 million people in nine African countries are at risk of starvation in the next three months due to the spread of the coronavirus .
In addition to the dangers caused by social isolation , there is also the issue of natural pests .
Currently , several countries in Africa face a terrible infestation of locusts .
These animals destroy all crops and deplete food stocks for the African population , destabilizing the economy and food security .
The plague still seems to be far from over .
The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through strong pesticides ; however , such products have circulation affected by the pandemic .
According to locust expert Keith Cressman , “ the plague will last at least until June in East Africa , and maybe even longer , depending on current and future rains ( … ) There should be ( due to the coronavirus and isolation ) small delays in delivery of equipment and pesticide ” .
The biggest lesson that is clear for the African continent is the urgent need for industrial development , which provides countries in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the link of dependence on foreign relations .
Being cruelly victimized by misery and hunger , many African countries survive primarily on donations and “ humanitarian aid ” by Western nations , which prevent the collapse of these states by awaiting certain benefits as a reward .
Such resources have now ceased and the humanitarian aid is no longer provided to Africa .
So what will Africans do ?
We only have to face the crisis and , when everything is over , undertake strong projects of industrialization and income distribution , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa now realizes that the eternal receipt of humanitarian aid can not be trusted and that there is no sovereignty without food autonomy .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
The situation of the new coronavirus on the African continent worsens day after day. Although the pandemic has not yet reached its peak of infection in Africa, the figures remain alarming and without due attention from the media and authorities. Adding all the African countries, the number of infected people is already approaching 50 thousand, with almost 2,000 deaths registered in 43 countries (which means 80% of the continent). In fact, the situation has not yet collapsed and in some regions there has even been a little fall in infections – as we can see in the case of South Africa – but the scenario remains worrying, especially if we take into account the cyclical nature of the epidemics. There are, proportionally, only 10 hospital beds for every 10 million Africans, which reveals the total lack of structure to fight the disease.
However, infection itself is not the greatest challenge facing Africans, but an old problem already well known across the continent: misery. Structural hunger and extreme poverty tend to worsen in epidemic settings, being even more worrying in a context of a global pandemic, where food production and circulation are profoundly affected. Africa is the poorest continent in the world, with an extremely fragile food security structure, prone to collapse by any weather. The pandemic comes as the most profound disgrace for Africans, who remain divided between the dangers of infection and hunger.
Deprose Muchena, director of Amnesty International for East and Southern Africa, recently made a series of statements about the hunger situation on the continent in the midst of the pandemic. These are her words: “There are millions of people in South Africa who are at risk and vulnerable to hunger because their income is reduced due to confinement. (…) With such high levels of unemployment and inequality across the African continent, most people actually live on a daily basis, which means they can’t be isolated for another week”. The director stressed the danger that social isolation can pose for these countries, since these sanitary measures tend to take a long time and endanger the entire food production of a country.
As Muchena points out, malnutrition can greatly aggravate the effects of the infection, further weakening the sick and decreasing the immunity of the entire population. There is also the question of other infections that are already structurally plaguing Africa, such as HIV and tuberculosis, which present themselves as comorbidities to the new coronavirus, which can aggravate its effects and lead patients to death. Adding these infections to hunger, the population of all African countries finds themselves in a situation of extreme vulnerability.
Undoubtedly, Africa urgently needs pandemic control measures; however, such policies must be very well thought out and discussed, since the situation in Africa differs completely from the existing scenarios in other regions of the planet where lockdown measures have been adopted. According to Muchena, “it is important that African governments do not copy and capture what they are doing in European countries, but adopt specific response measures that meet the needs of their own population.”
On April 28, the World Food Program (WFP) reported that more than 40 million people in nine African countries are at risk of starvation in the next three months due to the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to the dangers caused by social isolation, there is also the issue of natural pests. Currently, several countries in Africa face a terrible infestation of locusts. These animals destroy all crops and deplete food stocks for the African population, destabilizing the economy and food security. The plague still seems to be far from over. The only way to quickly resolve the infestation is through strong pesticides; however, such products have circulation affected by the pandemic. According to locust expert Keith Cressman, “the plague will last at least until June in East Africa, and maybe even longer, depending on current and future rains (…) There should be (due to the coronavirus and isolation) small delays in delivery of equipment and pesticide”.
The biggest lesson that is clear for the African continent is the urgent need for industrial development, which provides countries in the region with true food autonomy, breaking the link of dependence on foreign relations. Being cruelly victimized by misery and hunger, many African countries survive primarily on donations and “humanitarian aid” by Western nations, which prevent the collapse of these states by awaiting certain benefits as a reward. Such resources have now ceased and the humanitarian aid is no longer provided to Africa. So what will Africans do? We only have to face the crisis and, when everything is over, undertake strong projects of industrialization and income distribution, in order to avoid a new collapse. Africa now realizes that the eternal receipt of humanitarian aid cannot be trusted and that there is no sovereignty without food autonomy.
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