wakingtimes--2020-12-18--Big Brother In Disguise: The Rise Of A New, Technological World Order

Big Brother In Disguise : The Rise Of A New , Technological World Order Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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It had the potential for disaster .
Early in the morning of Monday , December 15 , 2020 , Google suffered a major worldwide outage in which all of its internet-connected services crashed , including Nest , Google Calendar , Gmail , Docs , Hangouts , Maps , Meet and YouTube .
The outage only lasted an hour , but it was a chilling reminder of how reliant the world has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from unlocking doors and turning up the heat to accessing work files , sending emails and making phone calls .
Welcome to the Matrix .
Twenty-some years after the Wachowskis ’ iconic film , The Matrix , introduced us to a futuristic world in which humans exist in a computer-simulated non-reality powered by authoritarian machines—a world where the choice between existing in a denial-ridden virtual dream-state or facing up to the harsh , difficult realities of life comes down to a blue pill or a red pill—we stand at the precipice of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are living the prequel to The Matrix with each passing day , falling further under the spell of technologically-driven virtual communities , virtual realities and virtual conveniences managed by artificially intelligent machines that are on a fast track to replacing human beings and eventually dominating every aspect of our lives .
In The Matrix , computer programmer Thomas Anderson a.k.a .
hacker Neo is wakened from a virtual slumber by Morpheus , a freedom fighter seeking to liberate humanity from a lifelong hibernation state imposed by hyper-advanced artificial intelligence machines that rely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With their minds plugged into a perfectly crafted virtual reality , few humans ever realize they are living in an artificial dream world .
Neo is given a choice : to take the red pill , wake up and join the resistance , or take the blue pill , remain asleep and serve as fodder for the powers-that-be .
Most people opt for the blue pill .
In our case , the blue pill—a one-way ticket to a life sentence in an electronic concentration camp—has been honey-coated to hide the bitter aftertaste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of expediency and delivered by way of blazingly fast Internet , cell phone signals that never drop a call , thermostats that keep us at the perfect temperature without our having to raise a finger , and entertainment that can be simultaneously streamed to our TVs , tablets and cell phones .
Yet we are not merely in thrall with these technologies that were intended to make our lives easier .
We have become enslaved by them .
Look around you .
Everywhere you turn , people are so addicted to their internet-connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , televisions—that they can go for hours at a time submerged in a virtual world where human interaction is filtered through the medium of technology .
This is not freedom .
This is not even progress .
This is technological tyranny and iron-fisted control delivered by way of the surveillance state , corporate giants such as Google and Facebook , and government spy agencies such as the National Security Agency .
So consumed are we with availing ourselves of all the latest technologies that we have spared barely a thought for the ramifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a world in which our abject reliance on internet-connected gadgets and gizmos is grooming us for a future in which freedom is an illusion .
Yet it ’ s not just freedom that hangs in the balance .
Humanity itself is on the line .
If ever Americans find themselves in bondage to technological tyrants , we will have only ourselves to blame for having forged the chains through our own lassitude , laziness and abject reliance on internet-connected gadgets and gizmos that render us wholly irrelevant .
Indeed , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision of the future as depicted in the film Minority Report .
There , police agencies apprehend criminals before they can commit a crime , driverless cars populate the highways , and a person ’ s biometrics are constantly scanned and used to track their movements , target them for advertising , and keep them under perpetual surveillance .
Cue the dawning of the Age of the Internet of Things ( IoT ) , in which internet-connected “ things ” monitor your home , your health and your habits in order to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and your life under control and relatively worry-free .
The key word here , however , is control .
In the not-too-distant future , “ just about every device you have — and even products like chairs , that you don ’ t normally expect to see technology in — will be connected and talking to each other.
” As the technologies powering these devices have become increasingly sophisticated , they have also become increasingly widespread , encompassing everything from toothbrushes and lightbulbs to cars , smart meters and medical equipment .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are connected to the web every second .
This “ connected ” industry has become the next big societal transformation , right up there with the Industrial Revolution , a watershed moment in technology and culture .
Between driverless cars that completely lacking a steering wheel , accelerator , or brake pedal , and smart pills embedded with computer chips , sensors , cameras and robots , we are poised to outpace the imaginations of science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov .
( By the way , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car .
Someone or something will be driving , but it won ’ t be you . )
These Internet-connected techno gadgets include smart light bulbs that discourage burglars by making your house look occupied , smart thermostats that regulate the temperature of your home based on your activities , and smart doorbells that let you see who is at your front door without leaving the comfort of your couch .
Nest , Google ’ s suite of smart home products , has been at the forefront of the “ connected ” industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smart lock that tells your thermostat who is home , what temperatures they like , and when your home is unoccupied ; a home phone service system that interacts with your connected devices to “ learn when you come and go ” and alert you if your kids don ’ t come home ; and a sleep system that will monitor when you fall asleep , when you wake up , and keep the house noises and temperature in a sleep-conducive state .
The aim of these internet-connected devices , as Nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house a more thoughtful and conscious home.
” For example , your car can signal ahead that you ’ re on your way home , while Hue lights can flash on and off to get your attention if Nest Protect senses something ’ s wrong .
Your coffeemaker , relying on data from fitness and sleep sensors , will brew a stronger pot of coffee for you if you ’ ve had a restless night .
For instance , just as the robotic vacuum , Roomba , “ makes no distinction between a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaponized drones—poised to take to the skies en masse this year—will be incapable of distinguishing between a fleeing criminal and someone merely jogging down a street .
For that matter , how do you defend yourself against a robotic cop—such as the Atlas android being developed by the Pentagon—that has been programmed to respond to any perceived threat with violence ?
Moreover , it ’ s not just our homes and personal devices that are being reordered and reimagined in this connected age : it ’ s our workplaces , our health systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our innermost thoughts that are being plugged into a matrix over which we have no real control .
Indeed , it is expected that by 2030 , we will all experience The Internet of Senses ( IoS ) , enabled by Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) , Virtual Reality ( VR ) , Augmented Reality ( AR ) , 5G , and automation .
The Internet of Senses relies on connected technology interacting with our senses of sight , sound , taste , smell , and touch by way of the brain as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fourtane explains : In other words , the IoS will rely on technology being able to access and act on your thoughts .
Fourtane outlines several trends related to the IoS that are expected to become a reality by 2030 : Unfortunately , in our race to the future , we have failed to consider what such dependence on technology might mean for our humanity , not to mention our freedoms .
Ingestible or implantable chips are a good example of how unprepared we are , morally and otherwise , to navigate this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ability to access , analyze and manipulate your body from the inside , these smart pills can remind you to take your medication , search for cancer , and even send an alert to your doctor warning of an impending heart attack .
Sure , the technology could save lives , but is that all we need to know ?
Have we done our due diligence in asking all the questions that need to be asked before unleashing such awesome technology on an unsuspecting populace ?
Let me put it another way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snowden ’ s revelations about how NSA agents have used surveillance to spy on Americans ’ phone calls , emails and text messages , can you imagine what unscrupulous government agents could do with access to your internet-connected car , home and medications ?
Imagine what a SWAT team could do with the ability to access , monitor and control your internet-connected home—locking you in , turning off the lights , activating alarms , etc .
While President Trump signed the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act into law on Dec. 4 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseline for security protection for the billions of IoT devices flooding homes and businesses , the law does little to protect the American people against corporate and governmental surveillance .
In fact , the public response to concerns about government surveillance has amounted to a collective shrug .
After all , who cares if the government can track your whereabouts on your GPS-enabled device so long as it helps you find the fastest route from Point A to Point B ?
Who cares if the NSA is listening in on your phone calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can get your phone calls and emails on the go and get lightning fast Internet on the fly ?
Who cares if the government can monitor your activities in your home by tapping into your internet-connected devices—thermostat , water , lights—so long as you can control those things with the flick of a finger , whether you ’ re across the house or across the country ?
Control is the key here .
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America : The War on the American People , total control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right down to our inner thoughts , is the objective of any totalitarian regime .
Orwell ’ s masterpiece , 1984 , portrays a global society of total control in which people are not allowed to have thoughts that in any way disagree with the corporate state .
There is no personal freedom , and advanced technology has become the driving force behind a surveillance-driven society .
Snitches and cameras are everywhere .
And people are subject to the Thought Police , who deal with anyone guilty of thought crimes .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed by Big Brother , who appears on posters everywhere with the words : “ Big Brother is watching you.
” Make no mistake : the Internet of Things and its twin , the Internet of Senses , is just Big Brother in disguise .
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute , where this article ( Big Brother In Disguise : The Rise Of A New , Technological World Order ) was originally published .
He is the author of A Government of Wolves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Change Manifesto .

Big Brother In Disguise: The Rise Of A New, Technological World Order
John W. Whitehead, Rutherford
Waking Times
“You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.”—George Orwell, 1984
It had the potential for disaster.
Early in the morning of Monday, December 15, 2020, Google suffered a major worldwide outage in which all of its internet-connected services crashed, including Nest, Google Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Hangouts, Maps, Meet and YouTube.
The outage only lasted an hour, but it was a chilling reminder of how reliant the world has become on internet-connected technologies to do everything from unlocking doors and turning up the heat to accessing work files, sending emails and making phone calls.
A year earlier, a Google outage resulted in Nest users being unable to access their Nest thermostats, Nest smart locks, and Nest cameras. As Fast Company reports, “This essentially meant that because of a cloud storage outage, people were prevented from getting inside their homes, using their AC, and monitoring their babies.”
Welcome to the Matrix.
Twenty-some years after the Wachowskis’ iconic film, The Matrix, introduced us to a futuristic world in which humans exist in a computer-simulated non-reality powered by authoritarian machines—a world where the choice between existing in a denial-ridden virtual dream-state or facing up to the harsh, difficult realities of life comes down to a blue pill or a red pill—we stand at the precipice of a technologically-dominated matrix of our own making.
We are living the prequel to The Matrix with each passing day, falling further under the spell of technologically-driven virtual communities, virtual realities and virtual conveniences managed by artificially intelligent machines that are on a fast track to replacing human beings and eventually dominating every aspect of our lives.
Science fiction has become fact.
In The Matrix, computer programmer Thomas Anderson a.k.a. hacker Neo is wakened from a virtual slumber by Morpheus, a freedom fighter seeking to liberate humanity from a lifelong hibernation state imposed by hyper-advanced artificial intelligence machines that rely on humans as an organic power source. With their minds plugged into a perfectly crafted virtual reality, few humans ever realize they are living in an artificial dream world.
Neo is given a choice: to take the red pill, wake up and join the resistance, or take the blue pill, remain asleep and serve as fodder for the powers-that-be.
Most people opt for the blue pill.
In our case, the blue pill—a one-way ticket to a life sentence in an electronic concentration camp—has been honey-coated to hide the bitter aftertaste, sold to us in the name of expediency and delivered by way of blazingly fast Internet, cell phone signals that never drop a call, thermostats that keep us at the perfect temperature without our having to raise a finger, and entertainment that can be simultaneously streamed to our TVs, tablets and cell phones.
Yet we are not merely in thrall with these technologies that were intended to make our lives easier. We have become enslaved by them.
Look around you. Everywhere you turn, people are so addicted to their internet-connected screen devices—smart phones, tablets, computers, televisions—that they can go for hours at a time submerged in a virtual world where human interaction is filtered through the medium of technology.
This is not freedom.
This is not even progress.
This is technological tyranny and iron-fisted control delivered by way of the surveillance state, corporate giants such as Google and Facebook, and government spy agencies such as the National Security Agency.
So consumed are we with availing ourselves of all the latest technologies that we have spared barely a thought for the ramifications of our heedless, headlong stumble towards a world in which our abject reliance on internet-connected gadgets and gizmos is grooming us for a future in which freedom is an illusion.
Yet it’s not just freedom that hangs in the balance. Humanity itself is on the line.
If ever Americans find themselves in bondage to technological tyrants, we will have only ourselves to blame for having forged the chains through our own lassitude, laziness and abject reliance on internet-connected gadgets and gizmos that render us wholly irrelevant.
Indeed, we’re fast approaching Philip K. Dick’s vision of the future as depicted in the film Minority Report. There, police agencies apprehend criminals before they can commit a crime, driverless cars populate the highways, and a person’s biometrics are constantly scanned and used to track their movements, target them for advertising, and keep them under perpetual surveillance.
Cue the dawning of the Age of the Internet of Things (IoT), in which internet-connected “things” monitor your home, your health and your habits in order to keep your pantry stocked, your utilities regulated and your life under control and relatively worry-free.
The key word here, however, is control.
In the not-too-distant future, “just about every device you have — and even products like chairs, that you don’t normally expect to see technology in — will be connected and talking to each other.”
By the end of 2018, “there were an estimated 22 billion internet of things connected devices in use around the world… Forecasts suggest that by 2030 around 50 billion of these IoT devices will be in use around the world, creating a massive web of interconnected devices spanning everything from smartphones to kitchen appliances.”
As the technologies powering these devices have become increasingly sophisticated, they have also become increasingly widespread, encompassing everything from toothbrushes and lightbulbs to cars, smart meters and medical equipment.
It is estimated that 127 new IoT devices are connected to the web every second.
This “connected” industry has become the next big societal transformation, right up there with the Industrial Revolution, a watershed moment in technology and culture.
Between driverless cars that completely lacking a steering wheel, accelerator, or brake pedal, and smart pills embedded with computer chips, sensors, cameras and robots, we are poised to outpace the imaginations of science fiction writers such as Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov. (By the way, there is no such thing as a driverless car. Someone or something will be driving, but it won’t be you.)
These Internet-connected techno gadgets include smart light bulbs that discourage burglars by making your house look occupied, smart thermostats that regulate the temperature of your home based on your activities, and smart doorbells that let you see who is at your front door without leaving the comfort of your couch.
Nest, Google’s suite of smart home products, has been at the forefront of the “connected” industry, with such technologically savvy conveniences as a smart lock that tells your thermostat who is home, what temperatures they like, and when your home is unoccupied; a home phone service system that interacts with your connected devices to “learn when you come and go” and alert you if your kids don’t come home; and a sleep system that will monitor when you fall asleep, when you wake up, and keep the house noises and temperature in a sleep-conducive state.
The aim of these internet-connected devices, as Nest proclaims, is to make “your house a more thoughtful and conscious home.” For example, your car can signal ahead that you’re on your way home, while Hue lights can flash on and off to get your attention if Nest Protect senses something’s wrong. Your coffeemaker, relying on data from fitness and sleep sensors, will brew a stronger pot of coffee for you if you’ve had a restless night.
Yet given the speed and trajectory at which these technologies are developing, it won’t be long before these devices are operating entirely independent of their human creators, which poses a whole new set of worries. As technology expert Nicholas Carr notes, “As soon as you allow robots, or software programs, to act freely in the world, they’re going to run up against ethically fraught situations and face hard choices that can’t be resolved through statistical models. That will be true of self-driving cars, self-flying drones, and battlefield robots, just as it’s already true, on a lesser scale, with automated vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers.”
For instance, just as the robotic vacuum, Roomba, “makes no distinction between a dust bunny and an insect,” weaponized drones—poised to take to the skies en masse this year—will be incapable of distinguishing between a fleeing criminal and someone merely jogging down a street. For that matter, how do you defend yourself against a robotic cop—such as the Atlas android being developed by the Pentagon—that has been programmed to respond to any perceived threat with violence?
Moreover, it’s not just our homes and personal devices that are being reordered and reimagined in this connected age: it’s our workplaces, our health systems, our government, our bodies and our innermost thoughts that are being plugged into a matrix over which we have no real control.
Indeed, it is expected that by 2030, we will all experience The Internet of Senses (IoS), enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), 5G, and automation. The Internet of Senses relies on connected technology interacting with our senses of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch by way of the brain as the user interface. As journalist Susan Fourtane explains:
Many predict that by 2030, the lines between thinking and doing will blur. Fifty-nine percent of consumers believe that we will be able to see map routes on VR glasses by simply thinking of a destination… By 2030, technology is set to respond to our thoughts, and even share them with others… Using the brain as an interface could mean the end of keyboards, mice, game controllers, and ultimately user interfaces for any digital device. The user needs to only think about the commands, and they will just happen. Smartphones could even function without touch screens.
In other words, the IoS will rely on technology being able to access and act on your thoughts.
Fourtane outlines several trends related to the IoS that are expected to become a reality by 2030:
1: Thoughts become action: using the brain as the interface, for example, users will be able to see map routes on VR glasses by simply thinking of a destination. 2: Sounds will become an extension of the devised virtual reality: users could mimic anyone’s voice realistically enough to fool even family members. 3: Real food will become secondary to imagined tastes. A sensory device for your mouth could digitally enhance anything you eat, so that any food can taste like your favorite treat. 4: Smells will become a projection of this virtual reality so that virtual visits, to forests or the countryside for instance, would include experiencing all the natural smells of those places. 5: Total touch: Smartphones with screens will convey the shape and texture of the digital icons and buttons they are pressing. 6: Merged reality: VR game worlds will become indistinguishable from physical reality by 2030.
Unfortunately, in our race to the future, we have failed to consider what such dependence on technology might mean for our humanity, not to mention our freedoms.
Ingestible or implantable chips are a good example of how unprepared we are, morally and otherwise, to navigate this uncharted terrain. Hailed as revolutionary for their ability to access, analyze and manipulate your body from the inside, these smart pills can remind you to take your medication, search for cancer, and even send an alert to your doctor warning of an impending heart attack.
Sure, the technology could save lives, but is that all we need to know?
Have we done our due diligence in asking all the questions that need to be asked before unleashing such awesome technology on an unsuspecting populace?
For example, asks Washington Post reporter Ariana Eunjung Cha:
What kind of warnings should users receive about the risks of implanting chip technology inside a body, for instance? How will patients be assured that the technology won’t be used to compel them to take medications they don’t really want to take? Could law enforcement obtain data that would reveal which individuals abuse drugs or sell them on the black market? Could what started as a voluntary experiment be turned into a compulsory government identification program that could erode civil liberties?
Let me put it another way.
If you were shocked by Edward Snowden’s revelations about how NSA agents have used surveillance to spy on Americans’ phone calls, emails and text messages, can you imagine what unscrupulous government agents could do with access to your internet-connected car, home and medications? Imagine what a SWAT team could do with the ability to access, monitor and control your internet-connected home—locking you in, turning off the lights, activating alarms, etc.
While President Trump signed the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act into law on Dec. 4, 2020, in order to establish a baseline for security protection for the billions of IoT devices flooding homes and businesses, the law does little to protect the American people against corporate and governmental surveillance.
In fact, the public response to concerns about government surveillance has amounted to a collective shrug.
After all, who cares if the government can track your whereabouts on your GPS-enabled device so long as it helps you find the fastest route from Point A to Point B? Who cares if the NSA is listening in on your phone calls and downloading your emails so long as you can get your phone calls and emails on the go and get lightning fast Internet on the fly? Who cares if the government can monitor your activities in your home by tapping into your internet-connected devices—thermostat, water, lights—so long as you can control those things with the flick of a finger, whether you’re across the house or across the country?
Control is the key here.
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, total control over every aspect of our lives, right down to our inner thoughts, is the objective of any totalitarian regime.
George Orwell understood this.
Orwell’s masterpiece, 1984, portrays a global society of total control in which people are not allowed to have thoughts that in any way disagree with the corporate state. There is no personal freedom, and advanced technology has become the driving force behind a surveillance-driven society. Snitches and cameras are everywhere. And people are subject to the Thought Police, who deal with anyone guilty of thought crimes. The government, or “Party,” is headed by Big Brother, who appears on posters everywhere with the words: “Big Brother is watching you.”
Make no mistake: the Internet of Things and its twin, the Internet of Senses, is just Big Brother in disguise.
About the Author
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute, where this article (Big Brother In Disguise: The Rise Of A New, Technological World Order) was originally published. He is the author of A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State and The Change Manifesto.


wakingtimes--2020-12-21--American Billionaires Rake In Another $1 Trillion Since Beginning Of Pandemic

American Billionaires Rake In Another $ 1 Trillion Since Beginning Of Pandemic Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
The collective wealth of America ’ s 651 billionaires has jumped by more than $ 1 trillion since roughly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to a total of $ 4 trillion at market close on Monday , Dec. 7 .
Their wealth growth since March is more than the $ 908 billion in pandemic relief proposed by a bipartisan group of members of Congress , which is likely to be the package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next week , but has been stalled over Republican concerns that it is too costly .
The total net worth of the nation ’ s 651 billionaires rose from $ 2.95 trillion on Mar .
18 — the rough start of the pandemic shutdowns — to $ 4.01 trillion on Dec. 7 , a leap of 36 % , based on Forbes billionaires , according to a new report by Americans for Tax Fairness ( ATF ) and the Institute for Policy Studies ( IPS ) .
By around Mar .
18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the virus were in place .
Combined , just the top 10 billionaires are now worth more than $ 1 trillion .
Forbes ’ annual billionaires report was published Mar.18 , and ATF and IPS collected the real-time data on Dec. 7 from the Forbes website .
The methodology of this analysis has been favorably reviewed by PolitiFact .
The ATF-IPS analysis also looks at wealth growth since February 2019 — the date of Forbes ’ immediately previous annual billionaires report published well before the start of the pandemic and resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth gain by 651 U.S. billionaires since mid-March is : • More than it would cost to send a stimulus check of $ 3,000 to every one of the roughly 330 million people in America .
A family of four would receive over $ 12,000 .
Republicans have blocked new stimulus checks from being included in the pandemic relief package .
• Double the two-year estimated budget gap of all state and local governments , which is forecast to be at least $ 500 billion .
By June , state and local governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public services — especially education — faced steep budget cuts .
• Only slightly less than total federal spending on Medicare ( $ 644 billion in 2019 ) and Medicaid ( $ 389 billion in FY2019 ) , which together serve 120 million Americans ( 69 million in Medicaid , 63 million in Medicare , less 12 million enrolled in both ) .
• Nearly four times the $ 267 billion total in stimulus payments made to 159 million people earlier this year .
At $ 4 trillion the total wealth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 2.1 trillion in total wealth held by the bottom half of the population , or 165 million Americans .
“ Never before has America seen such an accumulation of wealth in so few hands , ” said Frank Clemente , executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness .
“ As tens of millions of Americans suffer from the health and economic ravages of this pandemic , a few hundred billionaires add to their massive fortunes .
Their pandemic profits are so immense that America ’ s billionaires could pay for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose a dime of their pre-virus riches .
Their wealth growth is so great that they alone could provide a $ 3,000 stimulus payment to every man , woman and child in the country , and still be richer than they were 9 months ago .
Joe Biden won a tax-fairness mandate in November .
We look forward to working with him and Congress to deliver on that mandate by taxing the massive wealth of these billionaires.
” “ The updraft of wealth to the billionaire class is disturbing at a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss , ” said Chuck Collins of the Institute for Policy Studies and co-author of Billionaire Bonanza 2020 , a report looking at pandemic profiteering and billionaire wealth .
“ Billionaires are extracting wealth at a time when essential workers are pushed into the viral line of fire.
” Ordinary Americans have not fared as well as billionaires during the pandemic : • Nearly 14.9 million have fallen ill with the virus and 284,000 have died from it .
• Collective work income of rank-and-file private-sector employees — all hours worked times the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the workforce — declined by 2.3 % from mid-March to mid-October , according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data .
• Nearly 67 million lost work between Mar .
21 and Oct. 7 , 2020 .
• 12 million workers have lost employer-sponsored health insurance during the pandemic as of August 26 , 2020 .
• Nearly 26 million adults reported their household not having enough food in the past week between Nov. 11-23 .
From Oct. 28 to Nov. 7 , between 7 and 11 million children lived in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the household could not afford it .
• 12.4 million adults — 1 in 6 renters — reported in November being behind in their rent .
Without a federal fiscal relief package , workers will face even greater loss of jobs and services than they have already suffered .
The Economic Policy Institute predicts that without more federal aid 5.3 million public-sector jobs — including those of teachers , public safety employees and health care workers — will be lost by the end of 2021 .
Because of long-standing racial and gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color and women have suffered disproportionately in the combined medical and economic crises of 2020 .
Blacks and Latinos are far more likely to become infected with COVID-19 and to die from the disease .
Billionaires are overwhelmingly white men .
The stock market surge and lock-down economy have been a boon to tech monopolies and helped create four U.S. “ centi-billionaires.
” Jeff Bezos , Elon Musk , Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are now each worth more than $ 100 billion .
Prior to this year , Bezos had been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
Bezos and other billionaires have seen particularly astonishing increases in wealth between Mar .
18 and Dec. 7 : • Jeff Bezos ’ s wealth grew from $ 113 billion on Mar .
18 to $ 184 billion , an increase of 63 % .
Adding in his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott ’ s wealth of $ 60 billion on that day , the two had a combined wealth of almost a quarter of a trillion dollars thanks to their Amazon stock .
If Bezos ’ s $ 71.4 billion growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 810,000 U.S. employees , each would get a windfall bonus of over $ 88,000 and Bezos would not be any “ poorer ” than he was 9 months ago .
• Elon Musk ’ s wealth grew by nearly $ 119 billion , from $ 24.6 billion on Mar .
18 to $ 143 billion , a nearly five-fold increase , boosted by his Tesla stock .
SpaceX founder Musk has enjoyed one of the biggest boosts in net worth of any billionaire .
That $ 119 billion growth in wealth is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22.6 billion budget in FY2020 , the federal agency Musk has credited with saving his company with a big federal contract when the firm ’ s rockets were failing and it faced bankruptcy .
• Mark Zuckerberg ’ s wealth grew from $ 54.7 billion on Mar .
18 to $ 105 billion , an increase of 92 % , fueled by his Facebook stock .
• Dan Gilbert , chairman of Quicken Loans , saw his wealth rocket by 543 % , from $ 6.5 billion to $ 41.8 billion , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaires .
Published with permission from Americans for Tax Fairness .
Americans for Tax Fairness is a diverse campaign of more than 420 national , state and local endorsing organizations united in support of a fair tax system that works for all Americans .

American Billionaires Rake In Another $1 Trillion Since Beginning Of Pandemic
Americans for Tax Fairness, Children’s Health Defense
Waking Times
The collective wealth of America’s 651 billionaires has jumped by more than $1 trillion since roughly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to a total of $4 trillion at market close on Monday, Dec. 7. Their wealth growth since March is more than the $908 billion in pandemic relief proposed by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, which is likely to be the package that moves forward for a vote in the next week, but has been stalled over Republican concerns that it is too costly.
The total net worth of the nation’s 651 billionaires rose from $2.95 trillion on Mar. 18 — the rough start of the pandemic shutdowns — to $4.01 trillion on Dec. 7, a leap of 36%, based on Forbes billionaires, according to a new report by Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF) and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS). By around Mar. 18 most federal and state economic restrictions in response to the virus were in place. Combined, just the top 10 billionaires are now worth more than $1 trillion.
Forbes’ annual billionaires report was published Mar.18, and ATF and IPS collected the real-time data on Dec. 7 from the Forbes website. The methodology of this analysis has been favorably reviewed by PolitiFact. The ATF-IPS analysis also looks at wealth growth since February 2019 — the date of Forbes’ immediately previous annual billionaires report published well before the start of the pandemic and resulting market gyrations.
The $1 trillion wealth gain by 651 U.S. billionaires since mid-March is:
At $4 trillion the total wealth of all U.S. billionaires today is nearly double the $2.1 trillion in total wealth held by the bottom half of the population, or 165 million Americans.
“Never before has America seen such an accumulation of wealth in so few hands,” said Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. “As tens of millions of Americans suffer from the health and economic ravages of this pandemic, a few hundred billionaires add to their massive fortunes. Their pandemic profits are so immense that America’s billionaires could pay for a major COVID relief bill and still not lose a dime of their pre-virus riches. Their wealth growth is so great that they alone could provide a $3,000 stimulus payment to every man, woman and child in the country, and still be richer than they were 9 months ago. Joe Biden won a tax-fairness mandate in November. We look forward to working with him and Congress to deliver on that mandate by taxing the massive wealth of these billionaires.” “The updraft of wealth to the billionaire class is disturbing at a time when millions face eviction, destitution, and loss,” said Chuck Collins of the Institute for Policy Studies and co-author of Billionaire Bonanza 2020, a report looking at pandemic profiteering and billionaire wealth. “Billionaires are extracting wealth at a time when essential workers are pushed into the viral line of fire.”
Ordinary Americans have not fared as well as billionaires during the pandemic:
Nearly 14.9 million have fallen ill with the virus and 284,000 have died from it.
Collective work income of rank-and-file private-sector employees — all hours worked times the hourly wages of the entire bottom 82% of the workforce — declined by 2.3% from mid-March to mid-October, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Nearly 67 million lost work between Mar. 21 and Oct. 7, 2020.
20 million were collecting unemployment on Nov. 14, 2020.
98,000 businesses have permanently closed. [Yelp/CNBC]
12 million workers have lost employer-sponsored health insurance during the pandemic as of August 26, 2020.
Nearly 26 million adults reported their household not having enough food in the past week between Nov. 11-23. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 7, between 7 and 11 million children lived in a household where kids did not eat enough because the household could not afford it.
12.4 million adults — 1 in 6 renters — reported in November being behind in their rent.
Without a federal fiscal relief package, workers will face even greater loss of jobs and services than they have already suffered. The Economic Policy Institute predicts that without more federal aid 5.3 million public-sector jobs — including those of teachers, public safety employees and health care workers — will be lost by the end of 2021.
Because of long-standing racial and gender disparities, low-wage workers, people of color and women have suffered disproportionately in the combined medical and economic crises of 2020. Blacks and Latinos are far more likely to become infected with COVID-19 and to die from the disease. Billionaires are overwhelmingly white men.
The stock market surge and lock-down economy have been a boon to tech monopolies and helped create four U.S. “centi-billionaires.” Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are now each worth more than $100 billion. Prior to this year, Bezos had been the only U.S. centi-billionaire, reaching that peak in 2018. Bezos and other billionaires have seen particularly astonishing increases in wealth between Mar. 18 and Dec. 7:
Jeff Bezos’s wealth grew from $113 billion on Mar. 18 to $184 billion, an increase of 63%. Adding in his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott’s wealth of $60 billion on that day, the two had a combined wealth of almost a quarter of a trillion dollars thanks to their Amazon stock. If Bezos’s $71.4 billion growth in wealth was distributed to all his 810,000 U.S. employees, each would get a windfall bonus of over $88,000 and Bezos would not be any “poorer” than he was 9 months ago.
Elon Musk’s wealth grew by nearly $119 billion, from $24.6 billion on Mar. 18 to $143 billion, a nearly five-fold increase, boosted by his Tesla stock. SpaceX founder Musk has enjoyed one of the biggest boosts in net worth of any billionaire. That $119 billion growth in wealth is more than five times NASA’s $22.6 billion budget in FY2020, the federal agency Musk has credited with saving his company with a big federal contract when the firm’s rockets were failing and it faced bankruptcy.
Mark Zuckerberg’s wealth grew from $54.7 billion on Mar. 18 to $105 billion, an increase of 92%, fueled by his Facebook stock.
Dan Gilbert, chairman of Quicken Loans, saw his wealth rocket by 543%, from $6.5 billion to $41.8 billion, the second biggest percentage increase of all the billionaires.
Published with permission from Americans for Tax Fairness.
About the Author
Americans for Tax Fairness is a diverse campaign of more than 420 national, state and local endorsing organizations united in support of a fair tax system that works for all Americans.


wakingtimes--2020-12-21--Former CIA Director John Brennan Suggests UFOs And Aliens Are Real

Former CIA Director John Brennan Suggests UFOs And Aliens Are Real Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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In a recent podcast appearance , John Brennan , the director of the CIA under the Obama administration has suggested that aliens could be behind some of the UFO sightings that have been reported .
While speaking on the subject with economist and podcaster Tyler Cowen , Brennan said , “ Life is defined in many different ways .
I think it ’ s a bit presumptuous and arrogant for us to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life anywhere in the entire universe … Some of the phenomena we ’ re going to be seeing continues to be unexplained and might , in fact , be some type of phenomenon that is the result of something that we don ’ t yet understand and that could involve some type of activity that some might say constitutes a different form of life.
” Brennan also commented on the footage that was taken of UFOs engaging with US Navy aircraft pilots .
In the footage , the objects are flying around 30,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and showing no visible engines or exhaust plumes typical of any known aircraft currently on Earth .
Brennan said , “ I ’ ve seen some of those videos from Navy pilots , and I must tell you that they are quite eyebrow-raising when you look at them .
You try to ensure that you have as much data as possible in terms of visuals and also different types of maybe technical collection of sensors that you have at the time.
” He went on to discuss the importance of ruling out any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be alien , but he still has no explanation as to what can be seen in the videos .
The full footage of the podcast interview can be seen in the video below .
Brennan ’ s 25 years with the CIA included work as a Near East and South Asia analyst , as station chief in Saudi Arabia , and as director of the National Counterterrorism Center .
Brennan is one of many former high ranking government officials to come forward to seriously discuss the existence of extraterrestrials .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that UFOs and potential alien activity have been covered up by the government for years .
In an interview earlier this month , retired Israeli general Haim Eshed claimed that the United States and Israeli governments have been in contact with extraterrestrials for many years , but have not revealed this information to the public because they feel that the average citizen is not ready to know .
The 87-year-old former space security chief is currently working as a professor .
Eshed has had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He served as the head of Israel ’ s space security program for nearly 30 years and is a three-time recipient of the Israel Security Award .
He has shared these wild claims about extraterrestrials in a recent interview with Yediot Aharonot .
Eshed said that some governments are in contact with a “ Galactic Federation ” of aliens from far reaches of space who are observing humans for their own research purposes .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

Former CIA Director John Brennan Suggests UFOs And Aliens Are Real
John Vibes, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
In a recent podcast appearance, John Brennan, the director of the CIA under the Obama administration has suggested that aliens could be behind some of the UFO sightings that have been reported.
While speaking on the subject with economist and podcaster Tyler Cowen, Brennan said, “Life is defined in many different ways. I think it’s a bit presumptuous and arrogant for us to believe that there’s no other form of life anywhere in the entire universe … Some of the phenomena we’re going to be seeing continues to be unexplained and might, in fact, be some type of phenomenon that is the result of something that we don’t yet understand and that could involve some type of activity that some might say constitutes a different form of life.”
Brennan also commented on the footage that was taken of UFOs engaging with US Navy aircraft pilots. In the footage, the objects are flying around 30,000 feet in the air at hypersonic speeds and showing no visible engines or exhaust plumes typical of any known aircraft currently on Earth.
Brennan said, “I’ve seen some of those videos from Navy pilots, and I must tell you that they are quite eyebrow-raising when you look at them. You try to ensure that you have as much data as possible in terms of visuals and also different types of maybe technical collection of sensors that you have at the time.”
He went on to discuss the importance of ruling out any other variables that could make aircraft appear to be alien, but he still has no explanation as to what can be seen in the videos. The full footage of the podcast interview can be seen in the video below.
Brennan’s 25 years with the CIA included work as a Near East and South Asia analyst, as station chief in Saudi Arabia, and as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
Brennan is one of many former high ranking government officials to come forward to seriously discuss the existence of extraterrestrials.
In a new documentary titled “The Phenomenon,” Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that UFOs and potential alien activity have been covered up by the government for years.
“Why the federal government all these years has covered up, put brake pads on everything, stopped it, I think it’s very, very bad for our country,” Reid said in the documentary.
In an interview earlier this month, retired Israeli general Haim Eshed claimed that the United States and Israeli governments have been in contact with extraterrestrials for many years, but have not revealed this information to the public because they feel that the average citizen is not ready to know.
The 87-year-old former space security chief is currently working as a professor. Eshed has had a very prestigious career and is very well-respected. He served as the head of Israel’s space security program for nearly 30 years and is a three-time recipient of the Israel Security Award.
He has shared these wild claims about extraterrestrials in a recent interview with Yediot Aharonot.
Eshed said that some governments are in contact with a “Galactic Federation” of aliens from far reaches of space who are observing humans for their own research purposes.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


wakingtimes--2020-12-21--In Heavily Locked Down San Francisco, 360% More People Died From Overdoses Than COVID-19

In Heavily Locked Down San Francisco , 360 % More People Died From Overdoses Than COVID-19 Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
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San Francisco , CA — Stay home , save lives .
This is the mantra many Californians have repeated and lived by for the last 10 months as their governor instituted some of the most draconian measures in the country .
Watching their economy turn to shambles as thousands of businesses close their doors forever is making some folks grow weary of the COVID-19 lockdowns , and rightfully so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of San Francisco issued an order shutting down outside play for kids at playgrounds .
Seriously .
Even dating is banned unless it ’ s done masked , outside , and kiss free .
According to the order , residents can “ meet with 1 other person who doesn ’ t live with you ” to take a walk , “ hang out at the park , ” and play low-contact sports , such as golf , tennis , pickleball and bocce ball .
However , couples can not share equipment .
Countless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forever and the city , whose population is nearly 900,000 has seen less than 200 coronavirus deaths since the beginning of the pandemic — 173 to be exact .
While folks aren ’ t dying from COVID-19 very often in the area , there is definitely a spike in deaths , and it is staggering .
A record 621 people as of December 19 have died of drug overdoses in San Francisco .
That is 360 % more deaths than COVID-19 .
As people lose their jobs , are forced to socially isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by government , and face eviction thanks to the lockdowns , they often slip into a deep depression , turning to substance abuse or suicide as a way out .
Even more startling is that according to KTVU , the deaths from overdose could have been far higher if 3,000 people didn ’ t have their lives saved by Narcan this year .
So far this year , partially thanks to the draconian measured handed down by authoritarians under the guise of “ stopping the spread , ” overdoses have skyrocketed over last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only due to an increased availability of Narcan is that number not 100 % or even 500 % .
Sadly , San Francisco is not alone in their plight .
As people watched their bank accounts dwindle , lost their livelihoods , and were forced to stay inside , cities across the country experienced a massive uptick in overdose and suicide deaths .
An article published this month in BMJ details how Chicago saw a massive increase in hospitalizations and deaths at the beginning of the lockdown .
These people were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they were dying from overdose .
“ For me , that was just shocking , ” Richard Jorgensen the coroner for DuPage County in Illinois , told BMJ .
Jorgensen told the Journal he expected a surge in hospitalizations and deaths and actually saw one , but it was not from coronavirus .
As the BMJ points out : This rise wasn ’ t unique to DuPage County , either .
Throughout the US , a shadow pandemic of drug overdoses has emerged in the wake of the coronavirus .
Preliminary data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Center for Health Statistics at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , showed that over 19 000 Americans had died as the result of an overdose in the first three months of 2020 , just weeks into the pandemic—an increase of 16 % since 2019 .
The uptick came just as some parts of the country were finally seeing a hard fought downturn in overdoses and deaths .
During the initial phase of lockdowns , we also saw a major spike in excess deaths .
But contrary to what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 .
The chances of someone under the age of 70 dying from COVID are fairly low , according to the CDC .
However , it appears there was a significant spike in excess deaths among 25-44 range .
And , the overwhelming majority of them did not die from COVID-19 .
A study published by a group of medical doctors and researchers noted this increase in excess deaths earlier this year , and broke it down as follows : “ It appears that the excess death count during the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be wholly attributed to the virus .
Less than half can be accounted for by current COVID-19 numbers from the CDC ( which may be lagging ) .
It is unlikely that deaths in this age bracket are related to other common COVID-19 comorbidity conditions .
It is likely that these are deaths related to suicide , despair , alcohol and drug abuse , and violence ; collateral effects of various public policy mitigation measures .
One can reasonably conclude that the lock-downs and stay at home orders may have had significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis and will be refined as data becomes more complete.
” It appears that no matter how draconian the lockdowns get that the virus spreads regardless .
Bureaucracy has lost the fight and it is high time we stop making things worse by forcing people further into depression and poverty .
Unfortunately , this does not appear to be happening .
We are not claiming to have all the answers , but conversations like this are necessary and it is time we start paying attention to the tens of thousands of people under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — not from COVID-19 — but from the government ’ s reaction to it .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state .
Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
**This article ( In Heavily Locked Down San Francisco , 360 % More People Died From Overdoses Than COVID-19 ) was originally published at The Free Thought Project and is re-posted here with permission .
**

In Heavily Locked Down San Francisco, 360% More People Died From Overdoses Than COVID-19
Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
San Francisco, CA — Stay home, save lives. This is the mantra many Californians have repeated and lived by for the last 10 months as their governor instituted some of the most draconian measures in the country. Watching their economy turn to shambles as thousands of businesses close their doors forever is making some folks grow weary of the COVID-19 lockdowns, and rightfully so.
Earlier this month, the city of San Francisco issued an order shutting down outside play for kids at playgrounds. Seriously. Even dating is banned unless it’s done masked, outside, and kiss free.
According to the order, residents can “meet with 1 other person who doesn’t live with you” to take a walk, “hang out at the park,” and play low-contact sports, such as golf, tennis, pickleball and bocce ball. However, couples cannot share equipment.
It’s utterly ridiculous.
Countless San Franciscan businesses have closed their doors forever and the city, whose population is nearly 900,000 has seen less than 200 coronavirus deaths since the beginning of the pandemic — 173 to be exact.
While folks aren’t dying from COVID-19 very often in the area, there is definitely a spike in deaths, and it is staggering. A record 621 people as of December 19 have died of drug overdoses in San Francisco. That is 360% more deaths than COVID-19.
As people lose their jobs, are forced to socially isolate, told to stay in their home by government, and face eviction thanks to the lockdowns, they often slip into a deep depression, turning to substance abuse or suicide as a way out.
Even more startling is that according to KTVU, the deaths from overdose could have been far higher if 3,000 people didn’t have their lives saved by Narcan this year. So far this year, partially thanks to the draconian measured handed down by authoritarians under the guise of “stopping the spread,” overdoses have skyrocketed over last year’s numbers by 50%. Only due to an increased availability of Narcan is that number not 100% or even 500%.
Sadly, San Francisco is not alone in their plight. As people watched their bank accounts dwindle, lost their livelihoods, and were forced to stay inside, cities across the country experienced a massive uptick in overdose and suicide deaths.
An article published this month in BMJ details how Chicago saw a massive increase in hospitalizations and deaths at the beginning of the lockdown. These people were not sick and dying with COVID-19, however, they were dying from overdose.
“For me, that was just shocking,” Richard Jorgensen the coroner for DuPage County in Illinois, told BMJ. Jorgensen told the Journal he expected a surge in hospitalizations and deaths and actually saw one, but it was not from coronavirus.
As the BMJ points out:
This rise wasn’t unique to DuPage County, either. Throughout the US, a shadow pandemic of drug overdoses has emerged in the wake of the coronavirus. Preliminary data from October 2020, published by the National Center for Health Statistics at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showed that over 19 000 Americans had died as the result of an overdose in the first three months of 2020, just weeks into the pandemic—an increase of 16% since 2019. The uptick came just as some parts of the country were finally seeing a hard fought downturn in overdoses and deaths.
During the initial phase of lockdowns, we also saw a major spike in excess deaths. But contrary to what was originally reported, these deaths were not due to COVID-19. The chances of someone under the age of 70 dying from COVID are fairly low, according to the CDC. However, it appears there was a significant spike in excess deaths among 25-44 range. And, the overwhelming majority of them did not die from COVID-19.
A study published by a group of medical doctors and researchers noted this increase in excess deaths earlier this year, and broke it down as follows:
“It appears that the excess death count during the COVID-19 outbreak in the 25-44 age bracket cannot be wholly attributed to the virus. Less than half can be accounted for by current COVID-19 numbers from the CDC (which may be lagging). It is unlikely that deaths in this age bracket are related to other common COVID-19 comorbidity conditions. It is likely that these are deaths related to suicide, despair, alcohol and drug abuse, and violence; collateral effects of various public policy mitigation measures. One can reasonably conclude that the lock-downs and stay at home orders may have had significant negative effects. This is a cursory analysis and will be refined as data becomes more complete.”
It appears that no matter how draconian the lockdowns get that the virus spreads regardless. Bureaucracy has lost the fight and it is high time we stop making things worse by forcing people further into depression and poverty.
Even the CDC is reporting that “the latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the pandemic.” “The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said last week in news release. “As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.”
Unfortunately, this does not appear to be happening.
We are not claiming to have all the answers, but conversations like this are necessary and it is time we start paying attention to the tens of thousands of people under the age of 70, who died — not from COVID-19 — but from the government’s reaction to it.
About the Author
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.
**This article (In Heavily Locked Down San Francisco, 360% More People Died From Overdoses Than COVID-19) was originally published at The Free Thought Project and is re-posted here with permission.**


wakingtimes--2020-12-21--3 Logical Fact-Based Issues To Consider Before Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine

3 Logical Fact-Based Issues To Consider Before Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine Get the latest Waking Times articles delivered to your inbox .
Sign up here .
While the media resorts to accusing people of being “ anti-vaxxers , ” for not wanting to take a fast-tracked coronavirus vaccine , and some have gone so far as to even associate dissenters with being “ anti-Semitic , ” there are actually 3 very logical fact-based reasons why we should question the safety of a coronavirus vaccine .
1 ) History Shows That Fast Tracking a Vaccine Can Be Dangerous & Even Deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually administer vaccines , agree that fast-tracking a vaccine can be very dangerous .
According to immunologist and deputy editor of the journal Science Advances , Dr. Douglas J .
Green , fast-tracking a vaccine could potentially be “ catastrophic ” and should not be rushed .
He cites an example from 1966 , in which two children actually died from an adverse reaction to a vaccine .
Two other historical examples that help to illustrate the potential danger of fast-tracking a vaccine , is the Cutter incident from 1955 and the mandatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 1955 , 200,000 children received a polio vaccine from Cutter Laboratories which resulted in approximately 200 cases of paralysis and 10 deaths .
In 1976 , a mandatory vaccine campaign was imposed that likewise resulted in 53 deaths , and a relatively high number of cases of Guillain Barre syndrome , which can likewise result in permanent paralysis .
Normally , it takes around ten years to develop what is considered to be a “ safe vaccine , ” but now these Big Pharma/Vaccine companies — many of which are well known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dangers of their products — have produced a vaccine within just a matter of months .
If that ’ s not bad enough , the vaccine they are working on is a brand new technology , and new technologies generally involve new risks .
As I document in great detail in my 5 hour presentation , the Big Pharma/Vaccine companies tasked with producing the coronavirus vaccine have terrible histories of consistent corruption and an untenable lack of ethics .
GlaxoSmithKline , the world ’ s most profitable vaccine manufacturer , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bribing doctors and health care officials .
They ’ ve also experimented on vulnerable populations within the United States and Argentina and knowingly marketed dangerous products they knew to be dangerous .
In Argentina , twelve of the children died during their vaccine experimentations .
The parents claim that they never gave their consent .
GSK are currently partnering with Sanofi to produce a coronavirus vaccine , who likewise has a long history of bribery and corruption , and has more recently been charged with manslaughter because their drug Depakine was reportedly responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are also being prosecuted for misleading and false information about the drug .
Pfizer , who has already had their coronavirus vaccine approved in the United Kingdom , Canada , Bahrain , Saudi Arabia , and in the United States too .
Like the aforementioned offenders , Pfizer also has a long history of bribery and corruption , and has likewise been caught experimenting on vulnerable segments of the population , both within the United States and Nigeria .
In fact , during their experimentation in Nigeria , 11 children died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never gave their actual consent for in the first place .
Of course , Pfizer claims they did receive proper consent , but according to diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks , the Big Pharma/Vaccine giant tried to blackmail the Nigerian government to prevent an investigation .
This was also corroborated by an ex-employee .
Another company with an abysmal history of corruption , that has also been contracted to produce a coronavirus vaccine , is Johnson & Johnson .
Currently faced with several major lawsuits for fueling the opioid crisis in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a history of bribing doctors and government officials .
Even more disturbing still , a Reuters investigation found that J & J knowingly sold a baby powder product that they knew had asbestos in it , which causes mesothelioma , a rare form of cancer .
Along with Pfizer and another company tasked with producing a coronavirus vaccine named Astrazeneca , ( see screenshot below ) J & J is currently under investigation for helping fund terrorism in Iraq .
3 ) The Virus is Not Deadly For The Overwhelming Majority of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trusted by governments around the world for statistics , 99.5 % of active coronavirus cases worldwide are in “ mild condition ” .
When we take that into consideration , along with the fact that real world studies show that anywhere between 25 % -80 % of infected people with COVID-19 don ’ t even know they have the virus — because they don ’ t even feel sick — the risk we collectively face from this disease is much further attenuated .
In fact , to put this into perspective , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that children under the age of 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than from this coronavirus , and according to peer reviewed research from Professor John Ioannidis on multiple countries during this pandemic , the risk of dying from COVID-19 for people under 65 is comparable to the likelihood of dying in a car accident whilst driving what would be considered a realistic distance of travel .
It should also be said that getting vaccinated , historically speaking , does not guarantee immunity either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not spread the disease to other people , an uncertainty that Pfizer ’ s chairman recently acknowledged in an interview .
In short , the authorities want us to take a fast-tracked vaccine , for a virus that is clearly not dangerous for the overwhelming majority of us , and this vaccine doesn ’ t even guarantee that we won ’ t pass it on to others ?
Please take a moment to logically think about that .
Gavin Nascimento is the founder of aNewKindofHuman.com

3 Logical Fact-Based Issues To Consider Before Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine
Gavin Nascimento, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
While the media resorts to accusing people of being “anti-vaxxers,” for not wanting to take a fast-tracked coronavirus vaccine, and some have gone so far as to even associate dissenters with being “anti-Semitic,” there are actually 3 very logical fact-based reasons why we should question the safety of a coronavirus vaccine.
1) History Shows That Fast Tracking a Vaccine Can Be Dangerous & Even Deadly
Multiple experts, including those who themselves actually administer vaccines, agree that fast-tracking a vaccine can be very dangerous.
According to immunologist and deputy editor of the journal Science Advances, Dr. Douglas J. Green, fast-tracking a vaccine could potentially be “catastrophic” and should not be rushed. He cites an example from 1966, in which two children actually died from an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
Two other historical examples that help to illustrate the potential danger of fast-tracking a vaccine, is the Cutter incident from 1955 and the mandatory Swine Flu vaccination campaign from 1976.
In 1955, 200,000 children received a polio vaccine from Cutter Laboratories which resulted in approximately 200 cases of paralysis and 10 deaths. In 1976, a mandatory vaccine campaign was imposed that likewise resulted in 53 deaths, and a relatively high number of cases of Guillain Barre syndrome, which can likewise result in permanent paralysis.
Normally, it takes around ten years to develop what is considered to be a “safe vaccine,” but now these Big Pharma/Vaccine companies — many of which are well known for corruption and deceiving the public concerning the dangers of their products — have produced a vaccine within just a matter of months.
If that’s not bad enough, the vaccine they are working on is a brand new technology, and new technologies generally involve new risks.
2) Big Pharma/Vaccine Companies Producing Coronavirus Vaccines Have Terrible Records Of Corruption
As I document in great detail in my 5 hour presentation, the Big Pharma/Vaccine companies tasked with producing the coronavirus vaccine have terrible histories of consistent corruption and an untenable lack of ethics.
GlaxoSmithKline, the world’s most profitable vaccine manufacturer, for example, has a well documented history of bribing doctors and health care officials. They’ve also experimented on vulnerable populations within the United States and Argentina and knowingly marketed dangerous products they knew to be dangerous. In Argentina, twelve of the children died during their vaccine experimentations. The parents claim that they never gave their consent.
GSK are currently partnering with Sanofi to produce a coronavirus vaccine, who likewise has a long history of bribery and corruption, and has more recently been charged with manslaughter because their drug Depakine was reportedly responsible for the deaths of four babies. They are also being prosecuted for misleading and false information about the drug.
Pfizer, who has already had their coronavirus vaccine approved in the United Kingdom, Canada, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and in the United States too.
Like the aforementioned offenders, Pfizer also has a long history of bribery and corruption, and has likewise been caught experimenting on vulnerable segments of the population, both within the United States and Nigeria. In fact, during their experimentation in Nigeria, 11 children died, which the victims’ families say they never gave their actual consent for in the first place. Of course, Pfizer claims they did receive proper consent, but according to diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks, the Big Pharma/Vaccine giant tried to blackmail the Nigerian government to prevent an investigation. This was also corroborated by an ex-employee.
Another company with an abysmal history of corruption, that has also been contracted to produce a coronavirus vaccine, is Johnson & Johnson.
Currently faced with several major lawsuits for fueling the opioid crisis in the United States, Johnson & Johnson also has a history of bribing doctors and government officials. Even more disturbing still, a Reuters investigation found that J&J knowingly sold a baby powder product that they knew had asbestos in it, which causes mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
Along with Pfizer and another company tasked with producing a coronavirus vaccine named Astrazeneca, (see screenshot below) J&J is currently under investigation for helping fund terrorism in Iraq.
3) The Virus is Not Deadly For The Overwhelming Majority of The Population
According to Worldometers, a source trusted by governments around the world for statistics, 99.5% of active coronavirus cases worldwide are in “mild condition”.
When we take that into consideration, along with the fact that real world studies show that anywhere between 25%-80% of infected people with COVID-19 don’t even know they have the virus — because they don’t even feel sick — the risk we collectively face from this disease is much further attenuated. In fact, to put this into perspective, the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity claims that children under the age of 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than from this coronavirus, and according to peer reviewed research from Professor John Ioannidis on multiple countries during this pandemic, the risk of dying from COVID-19 for people under 65 is comparable to the likelihood of dying in a car accident whilst driving what would be considered a realistic distance of travel.
It should also be said that getting vaccinated, historically speaking, does not guarantee immunity either, nor does it guarantee that we will not spread the disease to other people, an uncertainty that Pfizer’s chairman recently acknowledged in an interview.
In short, the authorities want us to take a fast-tracked vaccine, for a virus that is clearly not dangerous for the overwhelming majority of us, and this vaccine doesn’t even guarantee that we won’t pass it on to others?
Please take a moment to logically think about that.
About the Author
Gavin Nascimento is the founder of aNewKindofHuman.com
Find Gavin On:
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wakingtimes--2020-12-23--Landmark Study Highlights Health Threats Of 5G On People + Planet

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Flying under the radar , so to speak , during the media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic , is the rollout of a hyper-fast speed 5G wireless network .
As millions of Americans are suddenly working remotely , it has proven to be a powerful opportunity for regulators to move 5G forward .
Yet , in the face of expanding wireless connections , a landmark study recommends reducing exposure .
Despite concern by many experts , the implementation is moving forward under the guise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at any cost .
The term 5G stands for the fifth generation of wireless access , which Jonathon Adelstein , head of the Wireless Infrastructure Association , characterizes as “ 4G on steroids.
” The association represents nearly 200 companies in the telecommunications industry .
However , Adelstein ’ s characterization of 4G on steroids is not quite accurate .
While the 4G network uses under 6 gigahertz ( GHz ) on the radio frequency spectrum , 5G will occupy from 30 GHz to 300 GHz , which are shorter millimeter wavelengths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pulses of these wavelengths have not been thoroughly studied , but the initial evidence shows it is likely dangerous .
If faster speed and reliability are truly the end goals , then fiber optic connections are a far better and safer way forward .
It ’ s not the faster speeds of 5G that are of concern to scientists but , rather , the distribution of wireless data when in most cases it could be routed more easily and less expensively over fiber optic cables .
Following the passage of New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology was formed .
The commission was engaged to “ study the environmental and health effects of 5G wireless technology in 2019.
” The commission was made up of 13 members whose education included epidemiology , occupational health , toxicology , physics , engineering electromagnetics and a representative from the wireless industry .
As quoted from EMF Safety Network , the commission was asked to answer eight pointed questions , including : • Why thousands of peer-reviewed radio frequency ( RF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health effects , including DNA damage , brain and heart tumors , infertility and many other ailments , have been ignored by the Federal Communication Commission ( FCC ) .
• Why the FCC guidelines do not account for health effects of wireless technology .
• Why the FCC RF limits are 100 times higher than those in other countries .
• Why the FCC is ignoring the World Health Organization classification of wireless as a possible carcinogen .
• Why , when the world ’ s leading scientists signed an appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nothing has been done .
The commission heard from experts and ultimately all except the telecommunication representative acknowledged that RF radiation coming from wireless devices had an effect on humans , animals , insects and plants .
The commission wrote : The remaining recommendations included those that would reduce an individual ’ s exposure to the 5G network and increase the public ’ s knowledge and awareness of their exposure .
Included was a shorter minority report written by the business and industry representative and the telecommunications representative , who were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In much the same way the tobacco industry convinced the public that smoking was not dangerous , so is the telecommunications industry selling the public on speed over safety .
In the interview above with Greater Earth Media , IT professional Jon Humphrey made the glaringly obvious comparison between the actions of telecommunication , tobacco and leaded gas industries , saying : “ So , they know the technology is dangerous and that ’ s why they ’ re just trying to get as much of it out there as they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sadly , we ’ ve seen this all before .
“ We saw it with big tobacco , we saw it with leaded gas and in every single case the big corporations did what they always do — they lied and then they paid off politicians and they paid scientists and they silenced people and discredited them and sadly they did get away with a lot of it and that ’ s what we need to make sure doesn ’ t happen with 5G.
” The promise is that speeds will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4G running primarily on millimeter-wave ( MMW ) bandwidth .
According to EMF coach and author Lloyd Burrell , the signals will likely be weaker since the wavelengths do not penetrate buildings and tend to be incorporated into rain and plants .
To adjust , the 5G network will use : This requires a new infrastructure mounting 5G cell stations on existing structures , such as utility poles .
During U.S. Senate hearings on the topic , when asked about the safety studies on these small cell stations , representatives from the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such studies existed .
This led Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn. , to say , “ So there really is no research ongoing .
We ’ re kind of flying blind here.
” An article published in Scientific American by Joel M. Moskowitz , Ph.D. , director for the Center for Family and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of California , Berkeley , identified another challenge : How Is 5G different from 4G ?
As explained in this video by IEEE Spectrum , part of a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several differences between 4G and 5G technology .
Considering there are already many who struggle with electromagnetic hypersensitivity , saturating cities and suburban areas with additional radio frequencies will only add to this once rare affliction .
One of the significant problems with the technology is that it relies primarily on millimeter waves ( MMW ) , which is known to penetrate human tissue up to 2 millimeters , where it is absorbed by the surface of the cornea and is conducted by sweat glands within the skin .
Each of these factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of potential health problems .
MMW is also known to suppress your immune function and increase cellular stress , harmful free radicals , learning deficits and , potentially , bacterial antibiotic resistance .
There is nothing to suggest that 5G will produce less harm than the current technology , and there are thousands of studies demonstrating the harmful effects from that .
Research by Martin Pall , Ph.D. , details how excessive oxidative stress triggered by microwave exposure from wireless technology can lead to reproductive harm and neurological disorders , such as anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s .
Without the choice to opt-out , what can you do ?
Once it ’ s installed in your neighborhood , you won ’ t have a choice to opt out of 5G exposure .
“ 5G will be virtually everywhere , with the options of being able to simply “ get away from it ” being very limited as millions of small cell devices are rolled out , ” Humphrey says .
There ’ s no doubt in my mind that microwave radiation from wireless technologies is a significant health hazard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re concerned about your health .
Unfortunately , the rollout of 5G will make remedial action difficult , which is why we all need to get involved and do what we can to prevent it in the first place , such as contacting your local lawmakers and signing local petitions .
Below are several suggestions to help reduce your exposure and mitigate the damage from wireless technology .
In addition , you can download a free chapter from my book , “ EMF*D , ” that summarizes many of the major recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your desktop as a reference as you ’ re making changes in your home .
• Identify major sources of EMF in your home , such as your cell phone , cordless phones , Wi-Fi routers , Bluetooth headsets and other Bluetooth-equipped items , wireless mice , keyboards , smart thermostats , baby monitors , smart meters and the microwave in your kitchen .
Ideally , address each source and determine how you can best limit their use .
• Barring a life-threatening emergency , children should not use a cellphone or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are far more vulnerable to cellphone radiation than adults due to having thinner skull bones and developing immune systems and brains .
• Research also demonstrates that infants under the age of one do not effectively learn language from videos , and do not transfer what they learn from the iPad to the real world , so it ’ s a mistake to think electronic devices provide valuable educational experiences .
• Connect your desktop computer to the internet via a wired Ethernet connection and be sure to put your desktop in airplane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trackballs , mice , game systems , printers and portable house phones .
Opt for the wired versions .
• If you must use Wi-Fi , shut it off when not in use , especially at night when you are sleeping .
Ideally , work toward hardwiring your house so you can eliminate Wi-Fi altogether .
If you have a notebook without any Ethernet ports , a USB Ethernet adapter will allow you to connect to the internet with a wired connection .
• Avoid using wireless chargers for your cell phone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your home .
Wireless charging is also far less energy efficient than using a dongle attached to a power plug , as it draws continuous power ( and emits EMF ) whether you ’ re using it or not .
• Shut off the electricity to your bedroom at night .
This typically works to reduce electrical fields from the wires in your wall unless there is an adjoining room next to your bedroom .
If that is the case , you will need to use a meter to determine if you also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjacent room .
• Use a battery-powered alarm clock , ideally one without any light .
I use a talking clock for the visually impaired .
• If you still use a microwave oven , consider replacing it with a steam convection oven , which will heat your food as quickly and far more safely .
• Avoid using “ smart ” appliances and thermostats that depend on wireless signaling .
This includes all new “ smart ” TVs as they emit a Wi-Fi signal and , unlike your computer , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consider using a large computer monitor as your TV instead , as they don ’ t emit Wi-Fi .
• Refuse a smart meter on your home as long as you can , or add a shield to an existing smart meter , some of which have been shown to reduce radiation as much as 98 % .
• Consider moving your baby ’ s bed into your room instead of using a wireless baby monitor .
Alternatively , use a hard-wired monitor .
• Replace CFL bulbs with incandescent bulbs .
Ideally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not only do they emit unhealthy light , but more importantly , they transfer current to your body just being close to the bulbs .
• Avoid carrying your cellphone on your body unless in airplane mode and never sleep with it in your bedroom unless it is in airplane mode .
Even in airplane mode it can emit signals , which is why I put my phone in a Faraday bag .
• When using your cellphone , use the speaker-phone and hold the phone at least 3 feet away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time on the cellphone .
Instead , use VoIP software phones that you can use while connected to the internet via a wired connection .
• Avoid using your cellphone and other electronic devices at least an hour ( preferably several hours ) before bed , as the blue light from the screen and EMFs both inhibit melatonin production .
If you must use your phone make sure you have the blue light filters activated and have it in dark mode .
• The effects of EMFs are reduced by calcium-channel blockers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough magnesium .
Most people are deficient in magnesium , which will worsen the impact of EMFs .
• Pall has published a paper suggesting that raising your level of Nrf2 may help ameliorate EMF damage .
One simple way to activate Nrf2 is to consume Nrf2-boosting foods , such as cruciferous vegetables and fermented foods and beverages .
• Exercise , calorie restriction ( such as intermittent fasting ) and activating the nitric oxide signaling pathway ( one way of doing that is the Nitric Oxide Dump exercise ) will also raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of Mercola.com .
An osteopathic physician , best-selling author and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health , his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health .

Landmark Study Highlights Health Threats Of 5G On People + Planet
Dr. Joseph Mercola, Children’s Health Defense
Waking Times
Flying under the radar, so to speak, during the media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the rollout of a hyper-fast speed 5G wireless network. As millions of Americans are suddenly working remotely, it has proven to be a powerful opportunity for regulators to move 5G forward.
Yet, in the face of expanding wireless connections, a landmark study recommends reducing exposure.
Despite concern by many experts, the implementation is moving forward under the guise of bringing a faster and more efficient internet, at any cost. The term 5G stands for the fifth generation of wireless access, which Jonathon Adelstein, head of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, characterizes as “4G on steroids.” The association represents nearly 200 companies in the telecommunications industry.
However, Adelstein’s characterization of 4G on steroids is not quite accurate. While the 4G network uses under 6 gigahertz (GHz) on the radio frequency spectrum, 5G will occupy from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, which are shorter millimeter wavelengths. The health effects of consistent exposure to pulses of these wavelengths have not been thoroughly studied, but the initial evidence shows it is likely dangerous.
If faster speed and reliability are truly the end goals, then fiber optic connections are a far better and safer way forward. It’s not the faster speeds of 5G that are of concern to scientists but, rather, the distribution of wireless data when in most cases it could be routed more easily and less expensively over fiber optic cables.
Newest data confirms past evidence
Following the passage of New Hampshire House Bill 522, the New Hampshire legislative Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology was formed. The commission was engaged to “study the environmental and health effects of 5G wireless technology in 2019.”
The commission was made up of 13 members whose education included epidemiology, occupational health, toxicology, physics, engineering electromagnetics and a representative from the wireless industry. As quoted from EMF Safety Network, the commission was asked to answer eight pointed questions, including:
Why thousands of peer-reviewed radio frequency (RF) studies that show a wide range of health effects, including DNA damage, brain and heart tumors, infertility and many other ailments, have been ignored by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).
Why the FCC guidelines do not account for health effects of wireless technology.
Why the FCC RF limits are 100 times higher than those in other countries.
Why the FCC is ignoring the World Health Organization classification of wireless as a possible carcinogen.
Why, when the world’s leading scientists signed an appeal to protect public health from wireless radiation, nothing has been done.
The commission heard from experts and ultimately all except the telecommunication representative acknowledged that RF radiation coming from wireless devices had an effect on humans, animals, insects and plants. The commission wrote:
“There is mounting evidence that DNA damage can occur from radiation outside of the ionizing part of the spectrum. The Commission heard arguments on both sides of this issue with many now saying there are findings showing biological effects in this range. This argument gets amplified as millimeter waves within the microwave range are beginning to be utilized.” Their first recommendation was “an independent review of the current RF standards of the electromagnetic radiation in the 300MHz to 300GHz microwave spectrum” to assess the health risks that were linked to cellular communications.
The remaining recommendations included those that would reduce an individual’s exposure to the 5G network and increase the public’s knowledge and awareness of their exposure.
Included was a shorter minority report written by the business and industry representative and the telecommunications representative, who were not in agreement with the majority of experts.
The EMF Safety Network wrote, “This minority report parrots the language of the telecommunications industry and exposes their agenda to ignore science and continue to confuse the public.”
Safety Is taking a backseat to speed
In much the same way the tobacco industry convinced the public that smoking was not dangerous, so is the telecommunications industry selling the public on speed over safety. In the interview above with Greater Earth Media, IT professional Jon Humphrey made the glaringly obvious comparison between the actions of telecommunication, tobacco and leaded gas industries, saying:
“So, they know the technology is dangerous and that’s why they’re just trying to get as much of it out there as they can before they’re finally held accountable. Sadly, we’ve seen this all before. “We saw it with big tobacco, we saw it with leaded gas and in every single case the big corporations did what they always do — they lied and then they paid off politicians and they paid scientists and they silenced people and discredited them and sadly they did get away with a lot of it and that’s what we need to make sure doesn’t happen with 5G.”
The promise is that speeds will be from 10 to 100 times faster than 4G running primarily on millimeter-wave (MMW) bandwidth. According to EMF coach and author Lloyd Burrell, the signals will likely be weaker since the wavelengths do not penetrate buildings and tend to be incorporated into rain and plants. To adjust, the 5G network will use:
“… smaller cell stations (and the technology of beamforming) that’ll scramble/unscramble and redirect packets of data on a no-interference path back to us. This could mean wireless antennas on every lamp post, utility pole, home and business throughout entire neighborhoods, towns and cities.”
This requires a new infrastructure mounting 5G cell stations on existing structures, such as utility poles. During U.S. Senate hearings on the topic, when asked about the safety studies on these small cell stations, representatives from the industry stated they were not aware if any such studies existed.
This led Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to say, “So there really is no research ongoing. We’re kind of flying blind here.” An article published in Scientific American by Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D., director for the Center for Family and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, identified another challenge:
“5G will not replace 4G; it will accompany 4G for the near future and possibly over the long term. If there are synergistic effects from simultaneous exposures to multiple types of RFR, our overall risk of harm from RFR may increase substantially. Cancer is not the only risk as there is considerable evidence that RFR causes neurological disorders and reproductive harm, likely due to oxidative stress.”
How Is 5G different from 4G?
As explained in this video by IEEE Spectrum, part of a large organization devoted to engineering, there are several differences between 4G and 5G technology. Considering there are already many who struggle with electromagnetic hypersensitivity, saturating cities and suburban areas with additional radio frequencies will only add to this once rare affliction.
One of the significant problems with the technology is that it relies primarily on millimeter waves (MMW), which is known to penetrate human tissue up to 2 millimeters, where it is absorbed by the surface of the cornea and is conducted by sweat glands within the skin. Each of these factors leads to an association with a number of potential health problems.
For example, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is using MMW in crowd control weapons called the Active Denial System because it produces a severe burning sensation. The DOD writes, “The Active Denial System generates a focused and very directional millimeter-wave radio frequency beam.”
MMW is also known to suppress your immune function and increase cellular stress, harmful free radicals, learning deficits and, potentially, bacterial antibiotic resistance. There is nothing to suggest that 5G will produce less harm than the current technology, and there are thousands of studies demonstrating the harmful effects from that.
Research by Martin Pall, Ph.D., details how excessive oxidative stress triggered by microwave exposure from wireless technology can lead to reproductive harm and neurological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, autism and Alzheimer’s.
Without the choice to opt-out, what can you do?
Once it’s installed in your neighborhood, you won’t have a choice to opt out of 5G exposure. “5G will be virtually everywhere, with the options of being able to simply “get away from it” being very limited as millions of small cell devices are rolled out,” Humphrey says.
There’s no doubt in my mind that microwave radiation from wireless technologies is a significant health hazard that needs to be addressed if you’re concerned about your health. Unfortunately, the rollout of 5G will make remedial action difficult, which is why we all need to get involved and do what we can to prevent it in the first place, such as contacting your local lawmakers and signing local petitions.
Below are several suggestions to help reduce your exposure and mitigate the damage from wireless technology. In addition, you can download a free chapter from my book, “EMF*D,” that summarizes many of the major recommendations. This is handy to keep on your desktop as a reference as you’re making changes in your home.
Identify major sources of EMF in your home, such as your cell phone, cordless phones, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth headsets and other Bluetooth-equipped items, wireless mice, keyboards, smart thermostats, baby monitors, smart meters and the microwave in your kitchen. Ideally, address each source and determine how you can best limit their use.
Barring a life-threatening emergency, children should not use a cellphone or a wireless device of any type. Children are far more vulnerable to cellphone radiation than adults due to having thinner skull bones and developing immune systems and brains. Research also demonstrates that infants under the age of one do not effectively learn language from videos, and do not transfer what they learn from the iPad to the real world, so it’s a mistake to think electronic devices provide valuable educational experiences.
Connect your desktop computer to the internet via a wired Ethernet connection and be sure to put your desktop in airplane mode. Also avoid wireless keyboards, trackballs, mice, game systems, printers and portable house phones. Opt for the wired versions.
If you must use Wi-Fi, shut it off when not in use, especially at night when you are sleeping. Ideally, work toward hardwiring your house so you can eliminate Wi-Fi altogether. If you have a notebook without any Ethernet ports, a USB Ethernet adapter will allow you to connect to the internet with a wired connection.
Avoid using wireless chargers for your cell phone, as they too will increase EMFs throughout your home. Wireless charging is also far less energy efficient than using a dongle attached to a power plug, as it draws continuous power (and emits EMF) whether you’re using it or not.
Shut off the electricity to your bedroom at night. This typically works to reduce electrical fields from the wires in your wall unless there is an adjoining room next to your bedroom. If that is the case, you will need to use a meter to determine if you also need to turn off power in the adjacent room.
Use a battery-powered alarm clock, ideally one without any light. I use a talking clock for the visually impaired.
If you still use a microwave oven, consider replacing it with a steam convection oven, which will heat your food as quickly and far more safely.
Avoid using “smart” appliances and thermostats that depend on wireless signaling. This includes all new “smart” TVs as they emit a Wi-Fi signal and, unlike your computer, you cannot shut the Wi-Fi signal off. Consider using a large computer monitor as your TV instead, as they don’t emit Wi-Fi.
Refuse a smart meter on your home as long as you can, or add a shield to an existing smart meter, some of which have been shown to reduce radiation as much as 98%.
Consider moving your baby’s bed into your room instead of using a wireless baby monitor. Alternatively, use a hard-wired monitor.
Replace CFL bulbs with incandescent bulbs. Ideally remove all fluorescent lights from your house. Not only do they emit unhealthy light, but more importantly, they transfer current to your body just being close to the bulbs.
Avoid carrying your cellphone on your body unless in airplane mode and never sleep with it in your bedroom unless it is in airplane mode. Even in airplane mode it can emit signals, which is why I put my phone in a Faraday bag.
When using your cellphone, use the speaker-phone and hold the phone at least 3 feet away from you. Seek to radically decrease your time on the cellphone. Instead, use VoIP software phones that you can use while connected to the internet via a wired connection.
Avoid using your cellphone and other electronic devices at least an hour (preferably several hours) before bed, as the blue light from the screen and EMFs both inhibit melatonin production. If you must use your phone make sure you have the blue light filters activated and have it in dark mode.
The effects of EMFs are reduced by calcium-channel blockers, so make sure you’re getting enough magnesium. Most people are deficient in magnesium, which will worsen the impact of EMFs.
Pall has published a paper suggesting that raising your level of Nrf2 may help ameliorate EMF damage. One simple way to activate Nrf2 is to consume Nrf2-boosting foods, such as cruciferous vegetables and fermented foods and beverages.
Exercise, calorie restriction (such as intermittent fasting) and activating the nitric oxide signaling pathway (one way of doing that is the Nitric Oxide Dump exercise) will also raise Nrf2.
Originally published by Mercola.
About the Author
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health.