wakingtimes--2020-02-22--‘On a Knife Edge’: Experts Warn Great Barrier Reef Could Soon See Third Mass Coral Bleaching in Five

Australian scientists and conservationists warned in the Guardian Thursday that the Great Barrier Reef could soon endure a third major coral bleaching event in just five years , highlighting how the human-caused climate crisis is already devastating crucial ecosystems worldwide .
According to the Guardian : Heat stress is already building across the world ’ s biggest reef system , with reports of patchy bleaching already occurring .
But a major widespread event is not currently taking place .
“ We are down to the wire , ” said Prof Terry Hughes , director of the ARC Centre of Excellence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is closely monitoring conditions .
Areas of heat stress are spreading , particularly across the central and southern areas that are popular with tourists .
Rising ocean temperatures—largely driven by human activities that produce climate-heating emissions , particularly fossil fuel extraction and use—have caused coral across the globe to bleach and die in recent years .
Scientists concluded in 2018 that back-to-back marine heatwaves in 2016 and 2017 left the Great Barrier Reef “ forever damaged.
” Bleached coral—which has expelled its main food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as warm water or pollution—is at greater risk of death but can recover if surrounding conditions improve .
However , last year a study found that severe marine heatwaves can cause corals to quickly die rather than just bleaching .
With only about a month until sea surface temperatures around Australia are typically at their highest , major portions of the Great Barrier Reef are already seeing temperatures over 1.5°C above average , the Guardian reported .
Such temperatures are between 2°C and 3°C above average across about two thirds of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the level of heat that ’ s out there now , with four weeks still to go until we get the peak of summer temperatures .
That ’ s usually around mid-March , ” explained Hughes .
“ So with about a month to go , the pattern so far is following in the footsteps of 2016-17 and it ’ s already hotter than it was in the interim years.
” “ If it happens or not will depend on the vagaries of the weather for the next two weeks , ” Hughes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he warned , “ then we are likely to get bleaching and , if they get hotter still , we will get severe bleaching.
” Concerns about another destructive bleaching event compelled climate and environmental advocates to reiterate calls for ambitious policies to curb emissions .
“ The Great Barrier Reef is on a knife edge .
We will know in the next couple of weeks whether we now have a mass coral bleaching event for the third time in only five years , ” Richard Leck , head of oceans at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian .
“ Surely after this summer of bushfires , and this marine heatwave hitting the reef , we can not keep burying our heads in the sand , ” Leck added , referencing blazes that have devoured swaths of Australia the past few months .
“ We need a reef-safe climate policy that ’ s consistent with a 1.5°C global warming target , or less .
No more excuses will be tolerated.
” The London-based Environmental Justice Foundation ( EJF ) shared the Guadian ‘ s report on Twitter Thursday and noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will lose the Great Barrier Reef , a World Heritage Site and one of the most incredible ecosystems on Earth , in the near future.
” The EJF released a report last month which detailed how the climate crisis , pollution , and overfishing endanger coral reefs , putting the future of marine biodiversity in jeopardy .
The nonprofit group ’ s report also featured recommendations for how to combat the triple threat that coral reefs are facing and ensure that they “ survive the climate change that is irreversible.
” However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Diego cast doubt on whether coral reef habitats will even survive anywhere on the planet through the end of this century because of rising temperatures and ocean acidification .
Scientists project 70 to 90 percent of coral reefs will disappear over the next 20 years as a result of climate change and pollution .
Some groups are attempting to curb this decline by transplanting live corals grown in a lab to dying reefs .
They propose new , young corals will boost the reef ’ s recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
But new research mapping where such restoration efforts would be most successful over the coming decades finds that by 2100 , few to zero suitable coral habitats will remain .
The preliminary findings suggest sea surface temperature and acidity are the most important factors in determining if a site is suitable for restoration .
“ Honestly , most sites are out , ” Setter said .
Scientists expect small portions of Baja California and the Red Sea will still be viable in 80 years , but those sites are near rivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coral reefs .
Setter emphasized that although human pollution still has an adverse effect on coral reefs , climate impacts currently pose the greatest threat to these ecosystems .
Jessica Corbett is a staff writer for Common Dreams .
Follow her on Twitter : @ corbett_jessica .

‘On a Knife Edge’: Experts Warn Great Barrier Reef Could Soon See Third Mass Coral Bleaching in Five Years
Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams
Waking Times
Australian scientists and conservationists warned in the Guardian Thursday that the Great Barrier Reef could soon endure a third major coral bleaching event in just five years, highlighting how the human-caused climate crisis is already devastating crucial ecosystems worldwide.
According to the Guardian:
Heat stress is already building across the world’s biggest reef system, with reports of patchy bleaching already occurring. But a major widespread event is not currently taking place. “We are down to the wire,” said Prof Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is closely monitoring conditions. Areas of heat stress are spreading, particularly across the central and southern areas that are popular with tourists.
Rising ocean temperatures—largely driven by human activities that produce climate-heating emissions, particularly fossil fuel extraction and use—have caused coral across the globe to bleach and die in recent years. Scientists concluded in 2018 that back-to-back marine heatwaves in 2016 and 2017 left the Great Barrier Reef “forever damaged.”
Bleached coral—which has expelled its main food source and turned white because of stressors such as warm water or pollution—is at greater risk of death but can recover if surrounding conditions improve. However, last year a study found that severe marine heatwaves can cause corals to quickly die rather than just bleaching.
With only about a month until sea surface temperatures around Australia are typically at their highest, major portions of the Great Barrier Reef are already seeing temperatures over 1.5°C above average, the Guardian reported. Such temperatures are between 2°C and 3°C above average across about two thirds of the reef.
“We are worried about the level of heat that’s out there now, with four weeks still to go until we get the peak of summer temperatures. That’s usually around mid-March,” explained Hughes. “So with about a month to go, the pattern so far is following in the footsteps of 2016-17 and it’s already hotter than it was in the interim years.” “If it happens or not will depend on the vagaries of the weather for the next two weeks,” Hughes said. If the current conditions persist, he warned, “then we are likely to get bleaching and, if they get hotter still, we will get severe bleaching.”
Will we see mass #coral bleaching again this year on the #GreatBarrierReef? Left plot shows heat stress in 2019 (no significant bleaching) and so far this summer. The next 2-3 weeks are critical. Right, record-breaking heat stress in 2016 and 2017. https://t.co/dqodqoq23e pic.twitter.com/7eKPE4SCRs — Terry Hughes (@ProfTerryHughes) February 18, 2020
Concerns about another destructive bleaching event compelled climate and environmental advocates to reiterate calls for ambitious policies to curb emissions.
“The Great Barrier Reef is on a knife edge. We will know in the next couple of weeks whether we now have a mass coral bleaching event for the third time in only five years,” Richard Leck, head of oceans at the conservation group WWF-Australia, told the Guardian. “Surely after this summer of bushfires, and this marine heatwave hitting the reef, we cannot keep burying our heads in the sand,” Leck added, referencing blazes that have devoured swaths of Australia the past few months. “We need a reef-safe climate policy that’s consistent with a 1.5°C global warming target, or less. No more excuses will be tolerated.” The London-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) shared the Guadian‘s report on Twitter Thursday and noted that “there is a strong chance we will lose the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site and one of the most incredible ecosystems on Earth, in the near future.”
There is a strong chance we will lose the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site and one of the most incredible ecosystems on Earth, in the near future. This is bad news for us and worse for wildlife. Find out how to fix it: https://t.co/vTtillKmcuhttps://t.co/NLhoTXKsTo — Environmental Justice Foundation (@ejfoundation) February 20, 2020
The EJF released a report last month which detailed how the climate crisis, pollution, and overfishing endanger coral reefs, putting the future of marine biodiversity in jeopardy. The nonprofit group’s report also featured recommendations for how to combat the triple threat that coral reefs are facing and ensure that they “survive the climate change that is irreversible.”
However, new research unveiled Monday at the annual Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Diego cast doubt on whether coral reef habitats will even survive anywhere on the planet through the end of this century because of rising temperatures and ocean acidification.
“By 2100, it’s looking quite grim,” said Renee Setter, a biogeographer at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa who presented the findings at the meeting.
Without bold #ClimateAction, nearly all coral reefs will be wiped out by the end of this century. Yes, you read that correctly.
All of them. https://t.co/WdXSyMuTG9 — NRDC 🌎🏡 (@NRDC) February 20, 2020
A statement from the American Geophysical Union explained:
Scientists project 70 to 90 percent of coral reefs will disappear over the next 20 years as a result of climate change and pollution. Some groups are attempting to curb this decline by transplanting live corals grown in a lab to dying reefs. They propose new, young corals will boost the reef’s recovery and bring it back to a healthy state. But new research mapping where such restoration efforts would be most successful over the coming decades finds that by 2100, few to zero suitable coral habitats will remain. The preliminary findings suggest sea surface temperature and acidity are the most important factors in determining if a site is suitable for restoration.
“Honestly, most sites are out,” Setter said. Scientists expect small portions of Baja California and the Red Sea will still be viable in 80 years, but those sites are near rivers, which means they are not ideal for coral reefs.
Setter emphasized that although human pollution still has an adverse effect on coral reefs, climate impacts currently pose the greatest threat to these ecosystems.
“Trying to clean up the beaches is great and trying to combat pollution is fantastic. We need to continue those efforts,” she said. “But at the end of the day, fighting climate change is really what we need to be advocating for in order to protect corals and avoid compounded stressors.”
About the Author
Jessica Corbett is a staff writer for Common Dreams. Follow her on Twitter: @corbett_jessica.


wakingtimes--2020-02-22--5 Biggest Pesticide Companies Are Making Billions From ‘Highly Hazardous’ Chemicals, Investigation F

Poor people in developing countries are far more likely to suffer from exposure to pesticides classified as having high hazard to human health or the environment , according to new data that Unearthed analyzed .
The analysis shows that the world ’ s top five pesticide makers are making billions , accounting for more than 36 percent of their income , from chemicals that are proven to hazards to humans and the environment and are contributing to the precipitous demise of bee populations , as Unearthed reported .
The researchers found that the sale of these highly hazardous pesticides ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations , which often have fewer regulations than industrialized nations , according to The Guardian .
In India , for example , sales of HHPs were nearly 60 percent , while in the UK it was just 11 percent .
The report from the investigative team at Unearthed focused on the practices of Bayer , BASF , Corteva ( formerly Dow and DuPont ) , FMC and Syngenta , which are continuing to sell HHPs like neonicotinoids and glufosinate that have been banned in other parts of the world , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unearthed dove into data collected by Phillips McDougall , the leading agribusiness analysts , from buyer surveys that concentrated on the best sellers in the top 43 pesticide buying countries , as The Guardian reported .
While regulations have stopped the sale of certain pesticides in Europe , the U.S. and Canada , it has hardly slowed down chemical companies , which sold $ 4.8 billion worth of products containing HHPs in 2018 , as The Guardian reported .
Bayer called the analysis “ misleading ” but did not offer proof of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 43 countries , it covered less than half of the companies ’ global sales .
That suggests that the companies actually made billions more from pesticides that regulatory agencies have said pose hazards like acute poisoning or chronic illness in people , or high toxicity to bees and other wildlife , according to Unearthed .
The investigation found that pesticide manufacturers sold the majority of its highly hazardous pesticide in low- and middle-income countries like Brazil and India , where experts say the risks posed by using these chemicals are greatest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for HHPs were for corn and soya crops .
About a quarter of sales were from products known to be human carcinogens or dangerous to reproductive health .
Another 10 percent were toxic to bees .
An additional 4 percent of chemicals sold are acutely toxic to humans .
Every year , nearly 200,000 suicides are linked to pesticide poisoning , almost entirely in developing countries , according to The Guardian .
“ This investigation shows that there is a huge disconnect between what those companies are saying in the international policy arena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meriel Watts , a senior science and policy advisor to the Pesticide Action Network , said to Unearthed .
Baskut Tuncak , the United Nations ’ special rapporteur on toxic substances and human rights , told Unearthed , “ There is nothing sustainable about the widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides for agriculture.
” “ Whether they poison workers , extinguish biodiversity , persist in the environment , or accumulate in a mother ’ s breast milk , these are unsustainable , can not be used safely , and should have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Tuncak said .

5 Biggest Pesticide Companies Are Making Billions From ‘Highly Hazardous’ Chemicals, Investigation Finds
Jordan Davidson, EcoWatch
Waking Times
Poor people in developing countries are far more likely to suffer from exposure to pesticides classified as having high hazard to human health or the environment, according to new data that Unearthed analyzed.
The analysis shows that the world’s top five pesticide makers are making billions, accounting for more than 36 percent of their income, from chemicals that are proven to hazards to humans and the environment and are contributing to the precipitous demise of bee populations, as Unearthed reported.
The researchers found that the sale of these highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), disproportionately occurred in poorer nations, which often have fewer regulations than industrialized nations, according to The Guardian. In India, for example, sales of HHPs were nearly 60 percent, while in the UK it was just 11 percent.
The report from the investigative team at Unearthed focused on the practices of Bayer, BASF, Corteva (formerly Dow and DuPont), FMC and Syngenta, which are continuing to sell HHPs like neonicotinoids and glufosinate that have been banned in other parts of the world, according to the produce industry publication Fresh Produce Journal.
Unearthed dove into data collected by Phillips McDougall, the leading agribusiness analysts, from buyer surveys that concentrated on the best sellers in the top 43 pesticide buying countries, as The Guardian reported.
While regulations have stopped the sale of certain pesticides in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, it has hardly slowed down chemical companies, which sold $4.8 billion worth of products containing HHPs in 2018, as The Guardian reported. Bayer called the analysis “misleading” but did not offer proof of that assessment.
Since the investigation focused on just 43 countries, it covered less than half of the companies’ global sales. That suggests that the companies actually made billions more from pesticides that regulatory agencies have said pose hazards like acute poisoning or chronic illness in people, or high toxicity to bees and other wildlife, according to Unearthed.
The investigation found that pesticide manufacturers sold the majority of its highly hazardous pesticide in low- and middle-income countries like Brazil and India, where experts say the risks posed by using these chemicals are greatest, according to Unearthed. The biggest market for HHPs were for corn and soya crops.
About a quarter of sales were from products known to be human carcinogens or dangerous to reproductive health. Another 10 percent were toxic to bees. An additional 4 percent of chemicals sold are acutely toxic to humans. Every year, nearly 200,000 suicides are linked to pesticide poisoning, almost entirely in developing countries, according to The Guardian.
“This investigation shows that there is a huge disconnect between what those companies are saying in the international policy arena and what they are actually doing,” Meriel Watts, a senior science and policy advisor to the Pesticide Action Network, said to Unearthed.
Baskut Tuncak, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on toxic substances and human rights, told Unearthed, “There is nothing sustainable about the widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides for agriculture.”
“Whether they poison workers, extinguish biodiversity, persist in the environment, or accumulate in a mother’s breast milk, these are unsustainable, cannot be used safely, and should have been phased out of use long ago,” Tuncak said.
By Jordan Davidson | Creative Commons | EcoWatch


wakingtimes--2020-02-22--Do Animals Have Emotions? Baby Elephant Cried For 5 Hours After Mother Rejected Him

There are many people who say that animals don ’ t have feelings , but the evidence of animal consciousness is all around us .
One of the most heartbreaking examples of animals showing emotions was reported by the Huffington Post in 2013 , when a baby elephant cried for five hours after his own mother attacked and abandoned him at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Rongcheng , China .
The mother attacked the young elephant and abandoned it because of the confined situation that it was in .
In the wild , the birthing process for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other elephants helping and caring for the baby after it is born .
The birthing process is extremely painful for the mother , which is why the community pitches in to help .
When an elephant gives birth alone , or without a community for support , there is a good chance the mother will reject the calf .
Employees at the zoo said that the baby elephant was crying for five hours before it could be consoled .
Zoo employees have been caring for the young elephant , and he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to The Huffington Post ’ s translation of a Shandong TV report .
However , after the incident , the mother became depressed and refused to eat for a short period of time .
Elephants are known to be incredibly emotional creatures , and have even been witnessed grieving over the bones or body of a deceased friend or family member .
Many other creatures in the animal kingdom have shown that they are capable of feelings as well .
Marc Bekoff , emeritus professor at the University of Colorado , Boulder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
In his paper , “ Aquatic Animals , Cognitive Ethology , and Ethics , ” Bekoff compiled a review of the literature on sentience in fish and other water-dwelling animals .
New studies have shown that even cockroaches have unique personalities .
In the study “ Group Personality During Collective Decision-Making , ” scientists in Brussels , Belgium , found that cockroaches behave very differently , even when in the same environment , due to their unique personalities .
In the study , 304 cockroaches with RFID chips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a variety of settings , both light , and dark .
The scientists measured how quickly the cockroaches were able to find food and shelter .
They discovered the cockroaches would all behave differently even when subjected to the same external stimulation .
On July 7 , 2012 , a prominent international group of cognitive neuroscientists , neuropharmacologists , neurophysiologists , neuroanatomists , and computational neuroscientists gathered at the University of Cambridge to assess the conscious experience and related behaviors in human and non-human animals .
The statement they wrote is known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international team of scientists stated that “ Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical , neurochemical and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors.
” 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 .

Do Animals Have Emotions? Baby Elephant Cried For 5 Hours After Mother Rejected Him
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
There are many people who say that animals don’t have feelings, but the evidence of animal consciousness is all around us. One of the most heartbreaking examples of animals showing emotions was reported by the Huffington Post in 2013, when a baby elephant cried for five hours after his own mother attacked and abandoned him at the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve in Rongcheng, China.
The mother attacked the young elephant and abandoned it because of the confined situation that it was in. In the wild, the birthing process for an elephant is a community event, with many other elephants helping and caring for the baby after it is born. The birthing process is extremely painful for the mother, which is why the community pitches in to help. When an elephant gives birth alone, or without a community for support, there is a good chance the mother will reject the calf.
Employees at the zoo said that the baby elephant was crying for five hours before it could be consoled.
Zoo employees have been caring for the young elephant, and he is said to be doing better, according to The Huffington Post’s translation of a Shandong TV report. However, after the incident, the mother became depressed and refused to eat for a short period of time.
Elephants are known to be incredibly emotional creatures, and have even been witnessed grieving over the bones or body of a deceased friend or family member. Many other creatures in the animal kingdom have shown that they are capable of feelings as well.
Marc Bekoff, emeritus professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is one of the pioneering cognitive ethnologists in the United States. In his paper, “Aquatic Animals, Cognitive Ethology, and Ethics,” Bekoff compiled a review of the literature on sentience in fish and other water-dwelling animals.
New studies have shown that even cockroaches have unique personalities. In the study “Group Personality During Collective Decision-Making,” scientists in Brussels, Belgium, found that cockroaches behave very differently, even when in the same environment, due to their unique personalities.
In the study, 304 cockroaches with RFID chips placed on their backs were led through a variety of settings, both light, and dark. The scientists measured how quickly the cockroaches were able to find food and shelter. They discovered the cockroaches would all behave differently even when subjected to the same external stimulation.
On July 7, 2012, a prominent international group of cognitive neuroscientists, neuropharmacologists, neurophysiologists, neuroanatomists, and computational neuroscientists gathered at the University of Cambridge to assess the conscious experience and related behaviors in human and non-human animals. The statement they wrote is known as the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness. This international team of scientists stated that “Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors.”
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--2020-02-24--China coronavirus hype straight out of the CDC flu playbook

In today ’ s episode of Numbskulls and Deceivers in Medical Science , I ask the question : Are Chinese researchers copying an old CDC scam , or have they independently come up with their own lies which happen to mirror CDC hype ?
In my series on the China epidemic ( archive here ) , I ’ ve pointed out that pneumonia—the key indicator of the “ coronavirus ” —can be caused by many other factors : And Chinese authorities no longer require direct testing for the coronavirus .
Instead , CT scans of the chest are employed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the “ coronavirus epidemic ” label is absurdly applied to the patient .
I ’ ve also pointed out that , historically , pneumonia has been a major disease in China .
Long before “ the emergence of the new human coronavirus , ” people in China have been dying of pneumonia at the rate of about 300,000 a year .
Now those people , passing away from the disease in 2020 , can be falsely called “ deadly epidemic cases.
” How convenient .
Well , it turns out the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been running its own pneumonia scam for a long time .
Some years ago , when I was writing about the flu , I received emails from Peter Doshi and Martin Maloney .
They fed me data from the CDC ’ s own charts detailing flu deaths in the US .
And they pointed out the lies .
Doshi went on to write an analysis for the journal BMJ Online ( December 2005 ) .
Here is a key quote from his report : You might want to chew on that sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC has created one overall category that combines both flu and pneumonia deaths .
THEY CALL THIS CATEGORY “ FLU.
” Why do they do this ?
Why do they deceptively assert the pneumonia deaths are complications stemming from the flu ?
Because they want to sell doctors and the public on the “ dangers of the flu.
” Pneumonia has a number of non-flu causes .
But even worse , in all the 2001 flu and pneumonia deaths , only 18 revealed the presence of an influenza virus .
Therefore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more than 18 people died of influenza in 2001 .
Not 36,000 deaths , the old CDC PR statistic .
18 deaths .
Doshi continued his assessment of published CDC flu-death statistics : “ Between 1979 and 2001 , [ CDC ] data show an average of 1348 [ flu ] deaths per year ( range 257 to 3006 ) .
” These figures refer to flu separated out from pneumonia .
This low death toll would drop MUCH lower , if you added the need to confirm the presence of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the CDC combines flu and pneumonia in one category , and calls it “ flu , ” in order to lie about the number of flu deaths in the US , and thus push the flu vaccine .
So we have two fake hustles , years apart , in the US and China , both based on the deceptive use of pneumonia .
Liars tend to tell the same kinds of lies , over and over .
Medical liars often import diseases which have nothing to do with their claims , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pump up threats and fears .
And then sell toxic drugs and vaccines , as solutions .
I ’ d be quite happy to offer this article and its blunt facts to the New York Times , or the Washington Post , or CBS , NBC , or ABC , providing they assure me they ’ ll print it and then force their hungriest hounds to track down and indict the high-level deceivers , by name , who are pushing these criminal falsehoods .
Ordinarily , I would charge $ 10000000000000 for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll settle for a six-hour , face to face , live streaming interview with the head of the CDC , in prime time .
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections , THE MATRIX REVEALED , EXIT FROM THE MATRIX , and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX , Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California .
He maintains a consulting practice for private clients , the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power .
Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 years , writing articles on politics , medicine , and health for CBS Healthwatch , LA Weekly , Spin Magazine , Stern , and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe .
Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics , health , logic , and creative power to audiences around the world .
You can sign up for his free emails at NoMoreFakeNews.com or OutsideTheRealityMachine .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

China coronavirus hype straight out of the CDC flu playbook
Jon Rappoport, Guest
Waking Times
In today’s episode of Numbskulls and Deceivers in Medical Science, I ask the question: Are Chinese researchers copying an old CDC scam, or have they independently come up with their own lies which happen to mirror CDC hype?
In my series on the China epidemic (archive here), I’ve pointed out that pneumonia—the key indicator of the “coronavirus”—can be caused by many other factors:
Other microbes, fungi, toxic pollution, etc.
And Chinese authorities no longer require direct testing for the coronavirus. Instead, CT scans of the chest are employed. If these scans show signs of pneumonia, the “coronavirus epidemic” label is absurdly applied to the patient.
I’ve also pointed out that, historically, pneumonia has been a major disease in China. Long before “the emergence of the new human coronavirus,” people in China have been dying of pneumonia at the rate of about 300,000 a year. Now those people, passing away from the disease in 2020, can be falsely called “deadly epidemic cases.” How convenient.
Well, it turns out the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been running its own pneumonia scam for a long time.
Some years ago, when I was writing about the flu, I received emails from Peter Doshi and Martin Maloney. They fed me data from the CDC’s own charts detailing flu deaths in the US. And they pointed out the lies.
Doshi went on to write an analysis for the journal BMJ Online (December 2005). Here is a key quote from his report:
“[According to CDC statistics], ‘influenza and pneumonia’ took 62,034 lives in 2001—61,777 of which were attributable to pneumonia and 257 to flu, and in only 18 cases was the flu virus positively identified.”
You might want to chew on that sentence for a while.
You see, the CDC has created one overall category that combines both flu and pneumonia deaths. THEY CALL THIS CATEGORY “FLU.” Why do they do this? Why do they deceptively assert the pneumonia deaths are complications stemming from the flu? Because they want to sell doctors and the public on the “dangers of the flu.”
Pneumonia has a number of non-flu causes.
But even worse, in all the 2001 flu and pneumonia deaths, only 18 revealed the presence of an influenza virus.
Therefore, the CDC couldn’t truthfully say that more than 18 people died of influenza in 2001. Not 36,000 deaths, the old CDC PR statistic. 18 deaths.
Doshi continued his assessment of published CDC flu-death statistics: “Between 1979 and 2001, [CDC] data show an average of 1348 [flu] deaths per year (range 257 to 3006).” These figures refer to flu separated out from pneumonia.
This low death toll would drop MUCH lower, if you added the need to confirm the presence of a flu virus in those cases.
Clearly, the CDC combines flu and pneumonia in one category, and calls it “flu,” in order to lie about the number of flu deaths in the US, and thus push the flu vaccine.
So we have two fake hustles, years apart, in the US and China, both based on the deceptive use of pneumonia.
Liars tend to tell the same kinds of lies, over and over. Medical liars often import diseases which have nothing to do with their claims, in order to build up case numbers and pump up threats and fears.
And then sell toxic drugs and vaccines, as solutions.
I’d be quite happy to offer this article and its blunt facts to the New York Times, or the Washington Post, or CBS, NBC, or ABC, providing they assure me they’ll print it and then force their hungriest hounds to track down and indict the high-level deceivers, by name, who are pushing these criminal falsehoods. Ordinarily, I would charge $10000000000000 for the article, but in this case I’ll settle for a six-hour, face to face, live streaming interview with the head of the CDC, in prime time.
About the Author
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free emails at NoMoreFakeNews.com or OutsideTheRealityMachine.
(To read about Jon’s mega-collection, Exit From The Matrix, click here.)


wakingtimes--2020-02-24--In 2020, More People are Enslaved on Earth Than Ever Before in Human History

Despite massive leaps and bounds in technology and quality of life across the planet , there is still a very dark problem and it is hiding in plain sight .
Slavery .
According to the most recent data , there are over 40 million people in slavery with 1 in 4 of them being children .
Its scope is massive and so are its profits — raking in around $ 150 billion annually .
A recent article published in Psychology Today lays out an ominous picture on the state of the free world .
“ Never before in human history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” write Jenny Hwang and Shayne Moore in their report on the heart-rending data about child trafficking .
In the US , child trafficking is a growing problem in all 50 states .
Children , young girls—some as young as 9 years old—are being bought and sold for sex in America .
The average age for a young woman being sold for sex is now 13 years old .
Sex trafficking—especially when it comes to the buying and selling of young girls—has become big business in America , the fastest growing business in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traded illegally after drugs and guns .
As investigative journalist Amy Fine Collins notes , “ It ’ s become more lucrative and much safer to sell malleable teens than drugs or guns .
A pound of heroin or an AK-47 can be retailed once , but a young girl can be sold 10 to 15 times a day—and a ‘ righteous ’ pimp confiscates 100 percent of her earnings.
” Shockingly enough , the research shows the majority of sex trafficked children in North America ( US and Canada ) come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this research project note that domestic sex trafficking is a growing crime in Canada , and the majority of victims are children and youth who are or were in the Child Welfare ( CW ) system .
It is the same in the United States too .
While many think that the state taking children from parents is a noble gesture to protect the child , all too often , the state removes kids from a bad situation and throws them into a situation akin to a horror film .
Many times the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who happened to hit a rough patch in their lives , and thrown into torturous and outright sadistic situations where they end up raped , tortured , and even murdered .
According to the government ’ s own data , the vast majority of a portion of these trafficked kids are coming from the government system who promises to keep them safe—a horrifying irony indeed .
But it appears to be set up this way .
This system is set up to pull children from their families for ridiculous reasons and turn them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax dollars—that use these children as cash cows and have no incentive to keep them safe .
In 1984 , the United States Congress established the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ( NCMEC ) , and , as part of Missing Children ’ s Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013 they receive $ 40 million to study and track missing and trafficked children in the United States .
In 2019 , NCMEC assisted law enforcement with over 23,500 cases of missing children , all of whom were considered endangered runaways .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI data and their own , of the nearly 24,000 runaways reported to NCMEC in 2019 , one in six were likely victims of child sex trafficking .
Of those , 88 percent were in the care of social services when they went missing .
Showing the scope of the abuse , in 2017 alone , NCMEC ’ s CyberTipline , a national mechanism for the public and electronic service providers to report instances of suspected child sexual exploitation , received over 10 million reports .
According to NCMEC , most of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other governmental organizations have corroborated this horrifying trend .
In a 2013 FBI 70-city nationwide raid , 60 percent of the victims came from foster care or group homes .
In 2014 , New York authorities estimated that 85 percent of sex trafficking victims were previously in the child welfare system .
In 2012 , Connecticut police rescued 88 children from sex trafficking ; 86 were from the child welfare system .
Equally as disturbing as the fact that most sex trafficked kids come from within the system is the fact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many foster children rescued from sex traffickers , including children as young as 11 , were never reported missing by child welfare authorities .
Even high-level government officials have been ensnared in these foster care abuse scandals .
As TFTP previously reported , multiple victims came forward and accused Seattle Mayor Ed Murray of sexually abusing them when they were children in Washington ’ s foster care system .
The records in that case , dating back to 1984 , explicitly noted that Ed Murray should “ never again be utilized as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It also showed that a criminal case was brought against Murray by prosecutors but in spite of the multiple accusations , charges were somehow never filed and his records buried .
While there are certainly some outlandish theories being presented online , the facts of child trafficking are outlandish enough to warrant serious scrutiny .
Until this epidemic is taken seriously , the government , the media , and all those who deny it will remain complicit in keeping it going .
As Michael Dolce , who specializes in these horrific child abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we have set up a system to sex traffic American children.
” Indeed .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

In 2020, More People are Enslaved on Earth Than Ever Before in Human History
Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
Despite massive leaps and bounds in technology and quality of life across the planet, there is still a very dark problem and it is hiding in plain sight. Slavery. According to the most recent data, there are over 40 million people in slavery with 1 in 4 of them being children. Its scope is massive and so are its profits — raking in around $150 billion annually.
A recent article published in Psychology Today lays out an ominous picture on the state of the free world. “Never before in human history have this many people been enslaved,” write Jenny Hwang and Shayne Moore in their report on the heart-rending data about child trafficking.
In the US, child trafficking is a growing problem in all 50 states. Children, young girls—some as young as 9 years old—are being bought and sold for sex in America. The average age for a young woman being sold for sex is now 13 years old.
Sex trafficking—especially when it comes to the buying and selling of young girls—has become big business in America, the fastest growing business in organized crime and the second most-lucrative commodity traded illegally after drugs and guns.
As investigative journalist Amy Fine Collins notes, “It’s become more lucrative and much safer to sell malleable teens than drugs or guns. A pound of heroin or an AK-47 can be retailed once, but a young girl can be sold 10 to 15 times a day—and a ‘righteous’ pimp confiscates 100 percent of her earnings.”
Shockingly enough, the research shows the majority of sex trafficked children in North America (US and Canada) come from government welfare programs. The authors of this research project note that domestic sex trafficking is a growing in Canada, and the majority of victims are children and youth who are or were in the Child Welfare (CW) system. It is the same in the United States too.
While many think that the state taking children from parents is a noble gesture to protect the child, all too often, the state removes kids from a bad situation and throws them into a situation akin to a horror film. Many times the children are taken from caring parents, who happened to hit a rough patch in their lives, and thrown into torturous and outright sadistic situations where they end up raped, tortured, and even murdered.
According to the government’s own data, the vast majority of a portion of these trafficked kids are coming from the government system who promises to keep them safe—a horrifying irony indeed. But it appears to be set up this way.
This system is set up to pull children from their families for ridiculous reasons and turn them over to for profit systems—funded by your tax dollars—that use these children as cash cows and have no incentive to keep them safe.
In 1984, the United States Congress established the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and, as part of Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2013 they receive $40 million to study and track missing and trafficked children in the United States.
In 2019, NCMEC assisted law enforcement with over 23,500 cases of missing children, all of whom were considered endangered runaways.
According to their most recent report complied from FBI data and their own, of the nearly 24,000 runaways reported to NCMEC in 2019, one in six were likely victims of child sex trafficking. Of those, 88 percent were in the care of social services when they went missing.
Showing the scope of the abuse, in 2017 alone, NCMEC’s CyberTipline, a national mechanism for the public and electronic service providers to report instances of suspected child sexual exploitation, received over 10 million reports. According to NCMEC, most of these tips were related to the following:
Apparent child sexual abuse images.
Online enticement, including “sextortion.”
Child sex trafficking.
Child sexual molestation.
Other governmental organizations have corroborated this horrifying trend. In a 2013 FBI 70-city nationwide raid, 60 percent of the victims came from foster care or group homes. In 2014, New York authorities estimated that 85 percent of sex trafficking victims were previously in the child welfare system. In 2012, Connecticut police rescued 88 children from sex trafficking; 86 were from the child welfare system.
Equally as disturbing as the fact that most sex trafficked kids come from within the system is the fact that the FBI discovered in a 2014 nationwide raid that many foster children rescued from sex traffickers, including children as young as 11, were never reported missing by child welfare authorities.
Even high-level government officials have been ensnared in these foster care abuse scandals. As TFTP previously reported, multiple victims came forward and accused Seattle Mayor Ed Murray of sexually abusing them when they were children in Washington’s foster care system.
The records in that case, dating back to 1984, explicitly noted that Ed Murray should “never again be utilized as a certified CSD resource for children.” It also showed that a criminal case was brought against Murray by prosecutors but in spite of the multiple accusations, charges were somehow never filed and his records buried.
While there are certainly some outlandish theories being presented online, the facts of child trafficking are outlandish enough to warrant serious scrutiny. Until this epidemic is taken seriously, the government, the media, and all those who deny it will remain complicit in keeping it going.
As Michael Dolce, who specializes in these horrific child abuse cases, pointed out last year, “we have set up a system to sex traffic American children.” Indeed.
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.


wakingtimes--2020-02-24--Shocking Study Shows Police Chases Over Minor Crimes Kill Thousands of Innocent Bystanders

We ’ ve long known police officers shoot and kill on average about 1,000 citizens in the U.S. every year for a variety of reasons , none of which seem take place in other parts of the world .
But we were shocked to learn just how many motorists and innocent bystanders are killed by cops every year when officers give chase to suspects .
The numbers are quite staggering .
According to a recently published research study by the Fine Law Firm and 1Point21 Interactive , over 2,000 citizens over a four-year period were killed by cops as police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than half of those killed were not the suspects !
That number might be much higher because , just as with officer involved shootings , those killed by cop statistics are not required to be reported to any federal government database anywhere .
Currently , officer-involved shooting deaths are only voluntarily reported to the FBI .
We spoke to Brian Beltz , Research Lead at 1Point21 Interactive via email , who tells TFTP that this study hits home as he knew someone who died from a police chase .
“ This issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several years .
One of my best friends lost his father in a collision with a vehicle fleeing the police .
He was simply driving through an intersection and was t-boned by the fleeing driver .
While I can ’ t say whether or not the chase was justified , being in the position to examine the data and be involved in the study was cathartic in a way .
Hopefully , people see the results and it helps make sure that every department has and follows appropriate policies and training on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I also hope it makes people who are stopped for non-violent and traffic offenses think twice about running .
It puts innocent people ’ s lives in jeopardy.
” We also spoke to David Fine , attorney at Fine Law Firm via email who points out that the chases are almost never worth it .
The recently published statistics also seem to line up with a USA Today study which encountered similar findings in 2015 .
According to TFTP ’ s Matt Agorist : With these new findings matching well with the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the side of the road when motorists see blue lights in their rear view mirror , maybe they should exit the roadway completely .
And if they ’ re on foot , they should probably run like hell .
From 2014 to 2018 , among those killed were : The counties with the most number of deaths are also , ironically , the same counties on which TFTP consistently reports issues involving police accountability it seems .
Fifty-seven percent of those killed are between the ages of 18-34 .
Showing the unnecessary nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most pursuits do not end in suspects being charged with crimes , The good new is that because they are so dangerous , many police departments are enacting a no-chase policy within their police departments as a result .
The chase is just too risky for citizens and police officers alike .
A national non-profit group aptly named Pursuit Safety , is successfully advocating for policy changes that prevent officers from recklessly engaging in high-speed pursuits over virtual non-crimes .
The market is also responding to the crisis and has brought forth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haphazardly launching into a chase with an individual , police can tag their car by firing a compressed air ‘ tag ’ which allows them to immediately track a fleeing vehicle .
Of course , there are 4th Amendment issues if these tags were put to use by corrupt cops , but it ’ s a start .
Likewise , the leading cause of death for cops while on duty is car accidents as TFTP has reported .
Those decisions not to chase seem to be backed up by research with at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just too dangerous to go after a fleeing suspect .
As the death toll for 2020 approaches 103 for those who ’ ve been killed by police , it ’ s time we speak up for the lesser known innocent victims of law enforcement .
Share this article with your friends and family in hopes that we can start to save a life every day , instead of ending one .
Jack Burns writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com , where this article first appeared .

Shocking Study Shows Police Chases Over Minor Crimes Kill Thousands of Innocent Bystanders
Jack Burns, The Free Thought Project
Waking Times
We’ve long known police officers shoot and kill on average about 1,000 citizens in the U.S. every year for a variety of reasons, none of which seem take place in other parts of the world. But we were shocked to learn just how many motorists and innocent bystanders are killed by cops every year when officers give chase to suspects. The numbers are quite staggering.
According to a recently published research study by the Fine Law Firm and 1Point21 Interactive, over 2,000 citizens over a four-year period were killed by cops as police were chasing suspect vehicles. Surprisingly, more than half of those killed were not the suspects!
An analysis by the Fine Law Firm and 1Point21 Interactive found that there were 1,699 fatal crashes involving police chases from 2014-2018, killing at least 2,005 people – 1,123 were not the driver of the fleeing vehicle.
That number might be much higher because, just as with officer involved shootings, those killed by cop statistics are not required to be reported to any federal government database anywhere. Currently, officer-involved shooting deaths are only voluntarily reported to the FBI.
We spoke to Brian Beltz, Research Lead at 1Point21 Interactive via email, who tells TFTP that this study hits home as he knew someone who died from a police chase.
“This issue has been pretty close to my heart for several years. One of my best friends lost his father in a collision with a vehicle fleeing the police. He was simply driving through an intersection and was t-boned by the fleeing driver. While I can’t say whether or not the chase was justified, being in the position to examine the data and be involved in the study was cathartic in a way. Hopefully, people see the results and it helps make sure that every department has and follows appropriate policies and training on how and when to chase suspects. I also hope it makes people who are stopped for non-violent and traffic offenses think twice about running. It puts innocent people’s lives in jeopardy.”
We also spoke to David Fine, attorney at Fine Law Firm via email who points out that the chases are almost never worth it.
“The study cuts to a core risk-benefit analysis that underlies policing and police misconduct litigation. The touchstone question for assessing police conduct is reasonableness-under-the-circumstances. On balance, the apprehension of a criminal suspect ceases to be reasonable if it poses a substantial risk of injury to the traveling public. Because they are a window into how police departments assess public safety risks, pursuit cases provide important insights into the legal and cultural health of police departments.”
The recently published statistics also seem to line up with a USA Today study which encountered similar findings in 2015. According to TFTP’s Matt Agorist:
To put this into perspective, that’s larger than the number of people killed by floods, tornadoes, lightning and hurricanes — combined…According to the report, more than 5,000 bystanders and passengers have been killed in police car chases since 1979…Aside from the 5,000 completely innocent lives lost, an additional 6,300 fleeing ‘suspects’ were also killed, bringing the total to 11,506 dead since 1979.
With these new findings matching well with the old ones, instead of pulling over to the side of the road when motorists see blue lights in their rear view mirror, maybe they should exit the roadway completely. And if they’re on foot, they should probably run like hell. From 2014 to 2018, among those killed were:
882 fleeing drivers
337 fleeing vehicle passengers
21 police officers
765 bystanders (occupants of uninvolved vehicles or non-motorists)
75 non-motorists (67 pedestrians, 5 bicyclists and 3 on another means of personal conveyance)
The counties with the most number of deaths are also, ironically, the same counties on which TFTP consistently reports issues involving police accountability it seems.
Harris County, Texas saw the most deaths in police chase crashes during our study period, followed by Cook County, Illinois and Wayne County, Michigan. However, Cook County, Los Angeles County, California and San Diego County, California had the most bystanders killed.
Fifty-seven percent of those killed are between the ages of 18-34. Showing the unnecessary nature of these dangerous chases is the fact that most pursuits do not end in suspects being charged with crimes,
The good new is that because they are so dangerous, many police departments are enacting a no-chase policy within their police departments as a result. The chase is just too risky for citizens and police officers alike.
A national non-profit group aptly named Pursuit Safety, is successfully advocating for policy changes that prevent officers from recklessly engaging in high-speed pursuits over virtual non-crimes.
The market is also responding to the crisis and has brought forth the star chase system. Instead of haphazardly launching into a chase with an individual, police can tag their car by firing a compressed air ‘tag’ which allows them to immediately track a fleeing vehicle. Of course, there are 4th Amendment issues if these tags were put to use by corrupt cops, but it’s a start.
Likewise, the leading cause of death for cops while on duty is car accidents as TFTP has reported. Those decisions not to chase seem to be backed up by research with at least two current research studies proving it’s just too dangerous to go after a fleeing suspect.
As the death toll for 2020 approaches 103 for those who’ve been killed by police, it’s time we speak up for the lesser known innocent victims of law enforcement. Share this article with your friends and family in hopes that we can start to save a life every day, instead of ending one.
About the Author
Jack Burns writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared.


wakingtimes--2020-02-24--Meditation Changes the Structure of Your Brain in a Positive Way, Studies Show

For years , scientists have been trying to determine , through the study of neuroscience , if meditation has any effect on our personal health and our environment , going so far as to question if it could potentially lower crime rates .
In 2002 , scientists from the University of Wisconsin studied six meditative states : visualization , one-pointed concentration , generating compassion , devotion , fearlessness , and the “ open state.
” The researchers then studied the brains of meditating Buddhist monks using electroencephalogram ( EEG ) and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) .
The results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corroborated the research done by Davidson .
Paul Ekman , one of the world ’ s most eminent experts on the science of emotion who heads the Human Interaction Laboratory at the University of California at San Francisco , lead an experiment on facial human emotions .
The experiment consisted of a videotape in which a series of faces show a variety of expressions very briefly being shown to participants .
Study participants were told to identify whether they had seen contempt , anger , or fear in those on the screen which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds .
“ Then Ekman announced his results : both Lama Oser and another advanced Western meditator Ekman had been able to test were two standard deviations above the norm in recognizing these super-quick facial signals of emotion , albeit the two subjects differed in the emotions they were best at perceiving .
They both scored far higher than any of the five thousand other people tested .
“ They do better than policemen , lawyers , psychiatrists , customs officials , judges—even Secret Service agents , ” the group that had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It appears that one benefit of some part of the life paths these two have followed is becoming more aware of these subtle signs of how other people feel , ” Ekman notes .
Oser had super-acuity for the fleeting signs of fear , contempt and anger .
The other meditator— a Westerner who , like Oser , had done a total of two to three years in solitary retreats in the Tibetan tradition—was similarly outstanding , though on a different range of emotions : happiness , sadness , disgust and , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stifling the startle reflex produced shocking results .
According to Lions Roar , these studies had given Davidson convincing data that meditation can shift the brain as well as the body .
While Oser ’ s results suggested just how far that shift could go with years of practice in meditation , even beginners displayed signs of biological shifts .
A more recent study conducted by the Max Planck Institute in 2017 , corroborates the research even further , finding that different types of meditation can actually affect different areas of the brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was called “ Affect , ” and its purpose was to increase compassion and empathy for others .
The participants were taught about a specific meditation for “ loving-kindness , ” with the sole intention being to enhance one ’ s compassion and empathy .
The last phase was called the “ Perspective ” module , where the focus was simply to observe one ’ s own thoughts without judgement , i.e .
open-monitoring meditation .
The results shape our understanding of the human brain , meditation , and its effects on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training in each of these methods would lead to volume increases in corresponding brain areas .
And this was largely what they found , as they scanned the participants ’ brains at the end of each module and compared groups against one another .
Training in Presence was linked to enhanced thickness in the anterior prefrontal cortex ( PFC ) and the anterior cingulate cortex ( ACC ) , which are known to be strongly involved in attention .
Affect training was linked to increased thickness in regions known to be involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perspective training associated with changes in areas involved in understanding the mental states of others , and , interestingly , inhibiting the perspective of oneself , ” Walton wrote .
Another study from the University Of Wisconsin also suggests that meditation and exercise could ward off the common cold and flu .
However , in some cases meditation can cause harm , according to other studies .
There ’ s no correct or incorrect way to meditate .
There are different types of meditation and different religions and spiritual paths have their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one ’ s higher self and silencing the noise in the mind can be done in multiple ways .
As scientists demonstrated , each one has a different effect on your brain and in turn your emotions .
Find out what form of meditation works for you and practice , practice , practice , expand—and unleash your mind .

Meditation Changes the Structure of Your Brain in a Positive Way, Studies Show
Aaron Kesel, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
For years, scientists have been trying to determine, through the study of neuroscience, if meditation has any effect on our personal health and our environment, going so far as to question if it could potentially lower crime rates.
In 2002, scientists from the University of Wisconsin studied six meditative states: visualization, one-pointed concentration, generating compassion, devotion, fearlessness, and the “open state.”
The researchers then studied the brains of meditating Buddhist monks using electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results were reportedly “breath-taking.”
Mind-blowing. When the University of Wisconsin measured the brains of Buddhist monks meditating on compassion, 'the results were breath-taking': 'We thought there was something wrong with our instrumentation.' See here: https://t.co/VIlyZgipOZhttps://t.co/cpkA05ztEt — Media Lens (@medialens) February 19, 2020
Lions Roar reports:
“In short, Llama Oser’s brain shift during compassion seemed to reflect an extremely pleasant mood. The very act of concern for others’ well-being, it seems, creates a greater state of well-being within oneself. The finding lends scientific support to an observation often made by the Dalai Lama: that the person doing a meditation on compassion for all beings is the immediate beneficiary.“
Another study corroborated the research done by Davidson. Paul Ekman, one of the world’s most eminent experts on the science of emotion who heads the Human Interaction Laboratory at the University of California at San Francisco, lead an experiment on facial human emotions.
The experiment consisted of a videotape in which a series of faces show a variety of expressions very briefly being shown to participants. Study participants were told to identify whether they had seen contempt, anger, or fear in those on the screen which flickered the images in a matter of seconds.
Lions Roar continues reporting:
“Then Ekman announced his results: both Lama Oser and another advanced Western meditator Ekman had been able to test were two standard deviations above the norm in recognizing these super-quick facial signals of emotion, albeit the two subjects differed in the emotions they were best at perceiving. They both scored far higher than any of the five thousand other people tested. “They do better than policemen, lawyers, psychiatrists, customs officials, judges—even Secret Service agents,” the group that had previously distinguished itself as most accurate. “It appears that one benefit of some part of the life paths these two have followed is becoming more aware of these subtle signs of how other people feel,” Ekman notes. Oser had super-acuity for the fleeting signs of fear, contempt and anger. The other meditator— a Westerner who, like Oser, had done a total of two to three years in solitary retreats in the Tibetan tradition—was similarly outstanding, though on a different range of emotions: happiness, sadness, disgust and, like Oser, anger.”
Another study on stifling the startle reflex produced shocking results. According to Lions Roar, these studies had given Davidson convincing data that meditation can shift the brain as well as the body. While Oser’s results suggested just how far that shift could go with years of practice in meditation, even beginners displayed signs of biological shifts.
A more recent study conducted by the Max Planck Institute in 2017, corroborates the research even further, finding that different types of meditation can actually affect different areas of the brain.
Alice G. Walton, a writer for Forbes explained:
“Participants, who were between 20 and 55 years of age, engaged in three different types of training for three months each, totalling a nine-month study period. The first training was dubbed the “Presence” module, and was very similar to focused awareness meditation, an ancient practice that’s been studied a lot in recent years. In this study, participants learned to focus their attention, bringing it back when it wandered, and to attend to the breath and to their internal body sensations.”
The second phase of the training was called “Affect,” and its purpose was to increase compassion and empathy for others. The participants were taught about a specific meditation for “loving-kindness,” with the sole intention being to enhance one’s compassion and empathy.
The last phase was called the “Perspective” module, where the focus was simply to observe one’s own thoughts without judgement, i.e. open-monitoring meditation.
The results shape our understanding of the human brain, meditation, and its effects on our emotions.
“The researchers wagered that training in each of these methods would lead to volume increases in corresponding brain areas. And this was largely what they found, as they scanned the participants’ brains at the end of each module and compared groups against one another. Training in Presence was linked to enhanced thickness in the anterior prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which are known to be strongly involved in attention. Affect training was linked to increased thickness in regions known to be involved in socially driven emotions like empathy; and Perspective training associated with changes in areas involved in understanding the mental states of others, and, interestingly, inhibiting the perspective of oneself,” Walton wrote.
Another study from the University Of Wisconsin also suggests that meditation and exercise could ward off the common cold and flu. However, in some cases meditation can cause harm, according to other studies.
There’s no correct or incorrect way to meditate. There are different types of meditation and different religions and spiritual paths have their own unique methods. The process of connecting with one’s higher self and silencing the noise in the mind can be done in multiple ways. As scientists demonstrated, each one has a different effect on your brain and in turn your emotions.
Find out what form of meditation works for you and practice, practice, practice, expand—and unleash your mind.
By Aaron Kesel | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-02-27--Beware of ‘Odorless’ Cannabis – GMO Weed with Unknown Effects

Biotech companies have been plodding behind the scenes for years in preparing of their veiled entrance into the cannabis industry .
With patented ‘ odorless ’ strains , weed connoisseurs could soon be smoking genetically engineered pot without even realizing it .
A Canadian company called CannabCo Pharmaceutical Corp. seeks to be the first of such companies to produce fully genetically modified ( GM ) cannabis .
Similar to the non-browning apple developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. , CannabCo has developed a form of cannabis with technology which “ greatly reduces ” odor .
“ A number of users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smokers , complain about the smell , especially in enclosed areas , condos and apartments , and this technology addresses those concerns.
” – CannabCo President Mark Pellicane However , no trials have been conducted to determine whether smoking genetically modified cannabis causes any adverse effects on its user ’ s health .
There have been no animal studies to date , and certainly no long-term studies on humans showing that the product is safe to use .
“ How would they know that ?
I mean , you couldn ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste the difference.
” – Peter Grinspoon , a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital In the same way that Monsanto introduced genetic engineering into the food supply in the 1990 ’ s , CannabCo is seeking to get their foot in the cannabis door with even less safety testing than Monsanto had to undergo .
Because of Monsanto and Scott ’ s Miracle Gro ‘ s “ deep business partnership ” , as reported by Big Buds Magazine , we know that a subsidiary company of Scott ’ s has been buying up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enter the market .
“ They want to bypass hydroponics retail stores…When we said we won ’ t get in bed with them they said , ‘ Well , we could just buy your whole company like we did with Gavita and do whatever we want.
’ ” – Hydroponics Lighting Representative CannabCo has stated that they reserve an exclusive right to sell the product , potentially driving out other businesses and even other strains as they grow market share .
If they follow the same trend as GM corn and soy did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve near-total control over cannabis and its growers .
Genetically engineered pot would be a “ global first , ” but there ’ s no reason to believe that the situation won ’ t end up exactly like it did with GM food .
Nearly all of the natural biodiversity that now GM-dominant crops once held has depleted , resulting in mostly genetically indistinct corn and soy .
If this happened to cannabis , it would mean less choice for the consumer and total corporate control over the growing process .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultivated crops declined by 75 % during the 20th Century and a third of today ’ s crop diversity could disappear by 2050 .
The global plant breeding market is dominated by multinationals like Monsanto .
They ’ re stealing Nature from us.
” – Michael Straumietis , founder and owner of hydroponics nutrients company Advanced Nutrients Critics of genetic engineering often point out that Monsanto ’ s ‘ terminator seeds ’ remove the ability for farmers to save seeds , forcing them to purchase more from the supplier ( Monsanto ) each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GM seeds have decimated the soil and are causing damage to the environment and our health , and biotech companies have bought off scientists and academics to push their pro-GM propaganda .
Is the convenience of ‘ odorless ’ weed worth it , even though the technology is patented and largely untested , or should we stick with natural products known to be safe ?
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times .
If you would like to see more of his work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or follow him on the free speech social network Minds .
This article ( Beware of ‘ Odorless ’ Cannabis – GMO Weed with Unknown Effects ) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Beware of ‘Odorless’ Cannabis – GMO Weed with Unknown Effects
Phillip Schneider, Staff Writer
Waking Times
Biotech companies have been plodding behind the scenes for years in preparing of their veiled entrance into the cannabis industry. With patented ‘odorless’ strains, weed connoisseurs could soon be smoking genetically engineered pot without even realizing it.
A Canadian company called CannabCo Pharmaceutical Corp. seeks to be the first of such companies to produce fully genetically modified (GM) cannabis. Similar to the non-browning apple developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., CannabCo has developed a form of cannabis with technology which “greatly reduces” odor.
“A number of users, and people that are around cannabis smokers, complain about the smell, especially in enclosed areas, condos and apartments, and this technology addresses those concerns.” – CannabCo President Mark Pellicane
However, no trials have been conducted to determine whether smoking genetically modified cannabis causes any adverse effects on its user’s health. There have been no animal studies to date, and certainly no long-term studies on humans showing that the product is safe to use.
“How would they know that? I mean, you couldn’t do a randomized placebo-controlled trial because people would taste the difference.” – Peter Grinspoon, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital
In the same way that Monsanto introduced genetic engineering into the food supply in the 1990’s, CannabCo is seeking to get their foot in the cannabis door with even less safety testing than Monsanto had to undergo.
Because of Monsanto and Scott’s Miracle Gro‘s “deep business partnership”, as reported by Big Buds Magazine, we know that a subsidiary company of Scott’s has been buying up cannabis growing companies as they prepare to enter the market.
“They want to bypass hydroponics retail stores…When we said we won’t get in bed with them they said, ‘Well, we could just buy your whole company like we did with Gavita and do whatever we want.’” – Hydroponics Lighting Representative
CannabCo has stated that they reserve an exclusive right to sell the product, potentially driving out other businesses and even other strains as they grow market share. If they follow the same trend as GM corn and soy did in North America, biotech will ultimately achieve near-total control over cannabis and its growers.
Genetically engineered pot would be a “global first,” but there’s no reason to believe that the situation won’t end up exactly like it did with GM food. Nearly all of the natural biodiversity that now GM-dominant crops once held has depleted, resulting in mostly genetically indistinct corn and soy. If this happened to cannabis, it would mean less choice for the consumer and total corporate control over the growing process.
“The United Nations warns that the diversity of cultivated crops declined by 75% during the 20th Century and a third of today’s crop diversity could disappear by 2050. The global plant breeding market is dominated by multinationals like Monsanto. They’re stealing Nature from us.” – Michael Straumietis, founder and owner of hydroponics nutrients company Advanced Nutrients
Critics of genetic engineering often point out that Monsanto’s ‘terminator seeds’ remove the ability for farmers to save seeds, forcing them to purchase more from the supplier (Monsanto) each year, chemicals that only work with GM seeds have decimated the soil and are causing damage to the environment and our health, and biotech companies have bought off scientists and academics to push their pro-GM propaganda.
Is the convenience of ‘odorless’ weed worth it, even though the technology is patented and largely untested, or should we stick with natural products known to be safe?
Read more articles by Phillip Schneider.
About the Author
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times. If you would like to see more of his work, you can visit his website, or follow him on the free speech social network Minds.
This article (Beware of ‘Odorless’ Cannabis – GMO Weed with Unknown Effects) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.