wakingtimes--2020-03-02--Images From Space Reveal Drastic Fall in Pollution During Ongoing Quarantine in China

Satellite images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) have shown a significant drop in pollution over China amidst the unprecedented quarantine as a result of the novel coronavirus that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
Due to the quarantine , air travel and mass transit has halted as have numerous industries in throughout the country .
Images coming out of some of China ’ s biggest cities show completely empty city streets in areas that are typically bustling with activity .
The maps released by NASA show the change in nitrogen dioxide levels before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a toxic emission from factories , power plants , and vehicles .
The images compare the levels of pollution from the first three weeks of 2020 with that of 10 – 25 of February .
Fei Liu , an air quality researcher at NASA ’ s Goddard Space Flight Center said : Scientists previously announced that China ’ s emissions were reduced by at least a quarter during two weeks in February and now we can see proof with our own eyes .
According to scientists , the drop first began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak and the first city to come under quarantine .
While it is difficult to find a silver lining to the situation that millions of residents of China are currently facing , the resulting sharp drop in the burning of fossil fuels and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the country that produces the most certainly is one .
People across the globe have had their eyes glued to China as the outbreak wreaked havoc on everyday life .
Despite the long lasting massive quarantines , comparisons to influenza and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that haven ’ t yet been touched by major interruptions of daily life due to the virus .
In addition to finding a silver lining in the midst of an unprecedented experience , these images serve to remind observers of just how unusual and unparalleled the effect of and response to the virus truly are .

Images From Space Reveal Drastic Fall in Pollution During Ongoing Quarantine in China
Emma Fiala, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
Satellite images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have shown a significant drop in pollution over China amidst the unprecedented quarantine as a result of the novel coronavirus that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Due to the quarantine, air travel and mass transit has halted as have numerous industries in throughout the country.
Images coming out of some of China’s biggest cities show completely empty city streets in areas that are typically bustling with activity.
NASA images show coronavirus shutdown has cleared China pollution https://t.co/23rcrsy1PW — Sky News (@SkyNews) February 29, 2020
The maps released by NASA show the change in nitrogen dioxide levels before and after the quarantine. Nitrogen dioxide is a toxic emission from factories, power plants, and vehicles.
China’s emissions hit a record high not long ago in 2018.
The images compare the levels of pollution from the first three weeks of 2020 with that of 10 – 25 of February.
Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center said:
“This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event.”
Scientists previously announced that China’s emissions were reduced by at least a quarter during two weeks in February and now we can see proof with our own eyes. According to scientists, the drop first began in the city of Wuhan, the source of the outbreak and the first city to come under quarantine.
While it is difficult to find a silver lining to the situation that millions of residents of China are currently facing, the resulting sharp drop in the burning of fossil fuels and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the country that produces the most certainly is one.
People across the globe have had their eyes glued to China as the outbreak wreaked havoc on everyday life.
Despite the long lasting massive quarantines, comparisons to influenza and other viruses continue to be made in countries that haven’t yet been touched by major interruptions of daily life due to the virus.
In addition to finding a silver lining in the midst of an unprecedented experience, these images serve to remind observers of just how unusual and unparalleled the effect of and response to the virus truly are.
By Emma Fiala | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-03-02--Indigenous people may be the Amazon’s last hope

Brazil ’ s divisive President Jair Bolsonaro has taken another step in his bold plans to develop the Amazon rainforest .
A bill he is sponsoring , now before Congress , would allow transportation infrastructure to be built on indigenous territory .
Such lands cover 386,000 square miles of the Brazilian Amazon – one-fifth of the jungle .
Here , Native people are constitutionally entitled to exercise sovereignty over resource use .
The right-wing Bolsonaro administration says “ opening ” the Amazon will boost its economy .
But environmentalists , indigenous leaders and other concerned Brazilians say that the move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging activities .
As evidence , they cite Bolsonaro ’ s appointment of a Brazilian general who last year served on the board of the Canadian mining giant Belo Sun to lead Brazil ’ s federal agency for indigenous peoples .
Our research on social movements in the Amazon takes us to areas affected by infrastructure development .
There , we have witnessed the disheartening aftermath for Native people and met the indigenous leaders fighting to save their homelands .
The Amazon possesses a wealth of minerals including gold , diamonds , iron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tin .
But the region is so remote , with its southern edge lying 1,000 miles from Rio de Janeiro , that resource extraction was long limited by transportation costs .
This began to change in the 1970s , when Brazil ’ s military government built several new highways through the Amazon .
It paid little heed to the desires or safety of the 140,000 Native people living there .
Terrible abuses occurred , including the military ’ s systematic killing from 1967 to 1977 of up to 2,000 Waimiri-Atroari people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazonian capital of Manaus .
The territorial aggressions culminated in the 1980s , when up to 40,000 wildcat miners invaded the Yanomami homeland looking for gold .
An estimated 20 % of the resident indigenous population perished from disease and violence over a seven-year period .
Today there are about 900,000 indigenous people in Brazil .
After democracy was restored in 1985 , Brazil got a new constitution that codified indigenous rights , including the right to aboriginal homelands .
Because so much of the Amazon is indigenous territory , indigenous sovereignty became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection between indigenous communities and conservation is global .
Indigenous people make up 5 % of the world ’ s population , but their homelands hold 85 % of its biodiversity .
This can make indigenous people extremely effective environmental defenders , because in fighting for their ancestral territory they protect some of the world ’ s most pristine places .
At the turn of the millennium , Brazil was generally considered a good steward of the Amazon .
About a decade into the 21st century , however , environmental policy began to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Amazon .
By 2016 , some 34,000 square miles of the Brazilian Amazon had lost its previously protected status or seen protections reduced .
Indigenous sovereignty , however , was never called into question – until now .
Since taking office in January 2019 , Bolsonaro has also cut funds for the enforcement of Brazil ’ s strict environmental laws , leading Amazon deforestation to spike .
Brazil ’ s president has long seen protected indigenous land as a treasure trove of resources .
In 2015 then-Congressman Bolsonaro told the newspaper Campo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and magnesium are in these lands , especially in the Amazon , the richest area in the world.
” Bolsonaro defends his current efforts to build in the Amazon as a means of assimilating native Brazilians so they will no longer need their territorial homelands .
The statement prompted a lawsuit by indigenous Brazilians accusing the president of racism , a crime in Brazil .
Accelerating deforestation under Bolsonaro has sparked violence in the Amazon .
Seven indigenous land activists were killed in 2019 , according to the Brazilian not-for-profit Pastoral Land Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indigenous environmental leaders in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Amazon have also been murdered .
Such killings mostly go unsolved .
But Brazil ’ s Indigenous Peoples Association says one indigenous activist killed in 2019 , Paulo Guajajara , was gunned down by illegal loggers in November for defending Guajajara territory as part of an armed group called Guardians of the Forest .
Indigenous Brazilians have also defended their land in court .
In 2012 , the Munduruku sued to stop the construction of mega-dams and waterways in the Tapajós River Valley – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they know it .
Federal prosecutors agreed , filing in support of the Munduruku and calling for the suspension of the largest dam ’ s environmental license .
Under legal pressure , the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources in their April 2016 decision curtailed the entire infrastructure plan , conserving 7 % of the Amazon Basin .
Not every indigenous Brazilian is a born environmentalist .
Many mix traditional livelihoods like hunting , fishing and gathering with agriculture and ranching .
Like other farmers who clear forest to plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit from Bolsonaro ’ s environmental deregulation .
The president recently announced his administration would offer credit to indigenous soybean farmers who want to expand their operations .
In Roraima state , the Raposa Serra do Sol people live on land rich with gold , diamonds , copper and a slew of lesser-known metals that Bolsonaro regards as strategic to Brazil ’ s metallurgical economy .
Royalty payments to Native peoples who open their land to miners could be substantial .
So far , however , indigenous groups are united in their resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be the Brazilian Amazon ’ s last hope .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Indigenous people may be the Amazon’s last hope
Robert T. Walker, Guest
Waking Times
Brazil’s divisive President Jair Bolsonaro has taken another step in his bold plans to develop the Amazon rainforest.
A bill he is sponsoring, now before Congress, would allow transportation infrastructure to be built on indigenous territory. Such lands cover 386,000 square miles of the Brazilian Amazon – one-fifth of the jungle. Here, Native people are constitutionally entitled to exercise sovereignty over resource use.
The right-wing Bolsonaro administration says “opening” the Amazon will boost its economy. But environmentalists, indigenous leaders and other concerned Brazilians say that the move will promote mining, logging and other damaging activities.
As evidence, they cite Bolsonaro’s appointment of a Brazilian general who last year served on the board of the Canadian mining giant Belo Sun to lead Brazil’s federal agency for indigenous peoples.
Our research on social movements in the Amazon takes us to areas affected by infrastructure development. There, we have witnessed the disheartening aftermath for Native people and met the indigenous leaders fighting to save their homelands.
Riches now in reach
The Amazon possesses a wealth of minerals including gold, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, copper, zinc and tin. But the region is so remote, with its southern edge lying 1,000 miles from Rio de Janeiro, that resource extraction was long limited by transportation costs.
This began to change in the 1970s, when Brazil’s military government built several new highways through the Amazon. It paid little heed to the desires or safety of the 140,000 Native people living there.
Terrible abuses occurred, including the military’s systematic killing from 1967 to 1977 of up to 2,000 Waimiri-Atroari people to make way for a road to the Amazonian capital of Manaus.
The territorial aggressions culminated in the 1980s, when up to 40,000 wildcat miners invaded the Yanomami homeland looking for gold. An estimated 20% of the resident indigenous population perished from disease and violence over a seven-year period. Today there are about 900,000 indigenous people in Brazil.
After democracy was restored in 1985, Brazil got a new constitution that codified indigenous rights, including the right to aboriginal homelands. Because so much of the Amazon is indigenous territory, indigenous sovereignty became instrumental to Brazilian environmental policy.
The connection between indigenous communities and conservation is global. Indigenous people make up 5% of the world’s population, but their homelands hold 85% of its biodiversity. This can make indigenous people extremely effective environmental defenders, because in fighting for their ancestral territory they protect some of the world’s most pristine places.
A world in peril
At the turn of the millennium, Brazil was generally considered a good steward of the Amazon.
About a decade into the 21st century, however, environmental policy began to weaken to allow more infrastructure development in the Amazon. By 2016, some 34,000 square miles of the Brazilian Amazon had lost its previously protected status or seen protections reduced.
Indigenous sovereignty, however, was never called into question – until now. Since taking office in January 2019, Bolsonaro has also cut funds for the enforcement of Brazil’s strict environmental laws, leading Amazon deforestation to spike.
Brazil’s president has long seen protected indigenous land as a treasure trove of resources. In 2015 then-Congressman Bolsonaro told the newspaper Campo Grande News that “gold, tin and magnesium are in these lands, especially in the Amazon, the richest area in the world.”
“I’m not getting into this nonsense of defending land for the Indians,” he added.
Bolsonaro defends his current efforts to build in the Amazon as a means of assimilating native Brazilians so they will no longer need their territorial homelands.
“The Indian has changed, he is evolving and becoming more and more a human being like us. What we want is to integrate him into society,” he said in a video posted to social media in January.
The statement prompted a lawsuit by indigenous Brazilians accusing the president of racism, a crime in Brazil.
Resistance as conservation
Accelerating deforestation under Bolsonaro has sparked violence in the Amazon.
Seven indigenous land activists were killed in 2019, according to the Brazilian not-for-profit Pastoral Land Commission, the most in over a decade. Indigenous environmental leaders in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Amazon have also been murdered.
Such killings mostly go unsolved. But Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples Association says one indigenous activist killed in 2019, Paulo Guajajara, was gunned down by illegal loggers in November for defending Guajajara territory as part of an armed group called Guardians of the Forest.
“We are protecting our land and the life on it,” Guajajara told Reuters shortly before his murder. “We have to preserve this life for our children’s future.”
Indigenous Brazilians have also defended their land in court.
In 2012, the Munduruku sued to stop the construction of mega-dams and waterways in the Tapajós River Valley – projects that would have ended life as they know it. Federal prosecutors agreed, filing in support of the Munduruku and calling for the suspension of the largest dam’s environmental license.
Under legal pressure, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources in their April 2016 decision curtailed the entire infrastructure plan, conserving 7% of the Amazon Basin.
Amazon’s last hope
Not every indigenous Brazilian is a born environmentalist. Many mix traditional livelihoods like hunting, fishing and gathering with agriculture and ranching.
Like other farmers who clear forest to plant more crops, indigenous farmers stand to benefit from Bolsonaro’s environmental deregulation. The president recently announced his administration would offer credit to indigenous soybean farmers who want to expand their operations.
In Roraima state, the Raposa Serra do Sol people live on land rich with gold, diamonds, copper and a slew of lesser-known metals that Bolsonaro regards as strategic to Brazil’s metallurgical economy. Royalty payments to Native peoples who open their land to miners could be substantial.
So far, however, indigenous groups are united in their resistance to federal and corporate interference. They may be the Brazilian Amazon’s last hope.


wakingtimes--2020-03-03--Coronavirus End Game: The Economic Crisis & Roll Out of the New Digital Financial System

In this report , Spiro Skouras recaps the events leading up to the current global coronavirus outbreak , while looking @ @ @ @ @ crisis and how the virus will likely be blamed , providing cover for the crimes @ @ @ @ @ .
Spiro also analyzes the potential outcomes of the current situation , which includes a @ @ @ @ @ society and global governance , as the current crisis seems to be playing right into @ @ @ @ @ bankers and the United Nations .
Did Bill Gates & World Economic Forum Predict Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ May Shock You !
https : //www.activistpost.com/ 2020/01/did-bill-gates-world- economic-forum-predict- coronavirus-outbreak-an- inside-look-may-shock-you.html UN Troops Featured in @ @ @ @ @ China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak https : //www.activistpost.com/ 2020/02/un-troops-featured-in- world-military-games-in-wuhan- china-weeks-before- coronavirus-outbreak.html Nearly 10K Military @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak !
https : //www.activistpost.com/ 2020/02/nearly-10k-military- personnel-from-110-nations-in- wuhan-china-weeks-before- coronavirus-outbreak.html Can @ @ @ @ @ of the future ?
https : //finance.yahoo.com/ news/cryptocurrency-become-un- money-future-120035529.html Like Waking Times on Facebook .
@ @ @ @ @ .

Coronavirus End Game: The Economic Crisis & Roll Out of the New Digital Financial System
Spiro Skouras, Guest
Waking Times
In this report, Spiro Skouras recaps the events leading up to the current global coronavirus outbreak, while looking ahead at the looming financial crisis and how the virus will likely be blamed, providing cover for the crimes committed by the central bankers.
Spiro also analyzes the potential outcomes of the current situation, which includes a major step towards a cashless society and global governance, as the current crisis seems to be playing right into the hands of the central bankers and the United Nations.
http://youtu.be/kLm31bsZXYI
Links
The Banking Digital Arms Race
http://www.activistpost.com/2019/12/the-banking-digital-arms-race.html
The U.N. & Central Banks: A Rockefeller & Rothschild Coup
http://www.activistpost.com/ 2020/01/the-u-n-central-banks- a-rockefeller-rothschild-coup. html
Did Bill Gates & World Economic Forum Predict Coronavirus Outbreak? An Inside Look May Shock You!
http://www.activistpost.com/ 2020/01/did-bill-gates-world- economic-forum-predict- coronavirus-outbreak-an- inside-look-may-shock-you.html
US Biowarfare Act Author: Studies Confirm Coronavirus Weaponized
http://www.activistpost.com/ 2020/02/us-biowarfare-act- author-studies-confirm- coronavirus-weaponized.html
UN Troops Featured in Military World Games in Wuhan China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak
http://www.activistpost.com/ 2020/02/un-troops-featured-in- world-military-games-in-wuhan- china-weeks-before- coronavirus-outbreak.html
Nearly 10K Military Personnel From 110 Nations In Wuhan China Weeks Before Coronavirus Outbreak!
http://www.activistpost.com/ 2020/02/nearly-10k-military- personnel-from-110-nations-in- wuhan-china-weeks-before- coronavirus-outbreak.html
Can cryptocurrency become the UN money of the future?
http://finance.yahoo.com/ news/cryptocurrency-become-un- money-future-120035529.html
UNICEF launches Cryptocurrency Fund
http://www.unicef.org/press- releases/unicef-launches- cryptocurrency-fund
NYSE Announces Disaster-Recovery Test Due To Virus Fears
http://www.zerohedge.com/ markets/nyse-announces- disaster-recovery-test-due- virus-fears


wakingtimes--2020-03-03--Plunging stocks, pandemic fears, quarantines—what’s the real operation?

A grisly old PR pro waddles into a conference room where elite technocrats are waiting for his assessment of propaganda issues .
He sits down , looks around , and says , “ If you ’ re going to launch a phony epidemic , the ideal place for it is mainland China .
The government will lock down that country quicker than a missile fired from a drone .
And then nobody will be able to figure out what ’ s going on .
Which is exactly what you want .
You can say there are a million epidemic cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dropping dead on the street , you can say it ’ s a bioweapon or a bat virus , you can especially say the government there is reacting beautifully , and we should all look to the Chinese example of how to run things .
Because that ’ s how you want things to be run everywhere , right ?
China is perfect for a phony epidemic .
How are people going to figure out it ’ s a fake behind the lockdown ?
Whereas , say , in a place like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedoms and a little leeway , and people can ask questions… ” Things are changing quickly .
By the time this is published , the situation may have changed .
Right now , world trading markets are taking a major hit .
Governments are blowing the dust off their old pandemic plans and feeding details to click-hungry press outlets .
“ We may have to use stadiums for mass quarantines of suspected epidemic cases… ” “ We have to cancel large events.
” Apparently , China has a hundred million people in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt that this insanity can continue , regardless of the facts : who cares whether researchers ever really discovered the COV virus ; who cares that diagnostic tests are worthless for defining a case of COV ; who cares that case numbers can be inflated without evidence ; who cares that environmental factors in China ( deadly air pollution , 5G technology rollout ) can explain why people there are falling ill. Public health officials and governments know they can SAY anything they want to , thereby exacerbating the fear and the lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can declare emergencies and quarantines and lockdowns and the closure of businesses and the cessation of trade .
They can bring police or troops to an area to “ secure order.
” And the craziest part of all this is , huge numbers of people will automatically believe that such extreme measures somehow prove THE VIRUS is dangerous .
The effect proves the cause .
This notion was rebuked and throttled by Aristotle in ancient Greece , but armies of zombie-like citizens still accept it .
So…WHAT IS THE REAL OPERATION HERE ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels .
Different players in different positions gain a piece of the pie .
For example , pharma gets to sell immense amounts of highly toxic antiviral drugs , and gets to develop and sell an enormously profitable toxic vaccine .
National militaries lick their chops and anticipate moving into big cities and maintaining order .
The collection of entities I call the medical cartel gets to exert more influence over the minds of billions of people : “ medical diagnosis and treatment , from birth to death , is absolutely essential for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” That ’ s a BIG one .
Understand : when the drugs and vaccines are toxic , the citizens are debilitated , and thus easier to manage .
Long-term , the medical cartel is the most powerful wing of the Brave New World , also known as Globalism .
Also known as Technocracy .
Technocracy : With the rollout of 5G the so-called Internet of Things really takes off .
Smart cars , smart homes , smart cities .
A trillion devices are connected ; and a result , a worldwide Energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foreground .
Meaning ?
The real-time monitoring of all energy production AND use on the planet can be measured—and energy-use quotas can be established for individuals and nations , “ for the good of all.
” China is making lemonade out of the lemons of the “ coronavirus crisis , ” as we speak .
It ’ s moving ahead with the building of many smart cities .
And the government has the power to move huge numbers of people into the cities , where wall-to-wall surveillance will be the order of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predict future epidemics before they happen.
” The Internet of Things will allow all sorts of automatic quotas to be imposed on the citizenry .
Food , energy , travel , etc .
And then you have automated diagnosis of illness and mandatory treatment—another nightmare .
Globalism/technocracy is flexing muscles and producing hits on national economies .
It ’ s testing its ability to do damage in that area .
It needs to level out economies in many countries , in order to take them over to a greater degree .
Declared fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this regard , consider what happens in any serious economic downturn or recession .
It ’ s what I would call Operation Close-Out , better known as Consolidation .
Wealthy players , aided by banks , move in , sniff out major businesses and companies that are now on the edge of failure , and buy them out .
The wealthy own more ; the newly poor own less .
Of course , with foreknowledge of plunging trading markets—which these players have—a prime opportunity opens up for shorting stocks , monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling them off at the bottom .
Another bonanza .
Another version of Consolidation .
As I said , the real operation here has levels .
Different players on different places of the power ladder reap benefits .
Never forget that the World Health Organization ( WHO ) —along with the US Centers for Disease Control—operates these fake epidemics on the medical side .
WHO is a branch of the Globalist fortress called the United Nations .
WHO has its sleazy hands on medical bureaucrats in every nation on Earth , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t react with sufficient alarm , when the preferred phony picture of an epidemic is floated for public consumption .
The United Nations , to make a very long story short , wants a borderless , non-national , planned planet .
Kinder and gentler .
Ruled from the top .
By technocrats .
One of its wet dreams is fake pandemics .
The age-old theme of Order from Chaos advances front and center .
From the chaos of a pandemic , new layers of control will be imposed—and received with open arms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ always decided on the basis of an experiment .
An exercise .
A test .
Which is what this COV operation is .
Among the many questions the show runners are asking : how big an economic hit will nations , particularly , China , be willing to take ; how much pushback , if any , will come from the citizenry ; how tightly will medical researchers march on the narrow road of their preposterous fake findings without rebelling ; under the auspices of emergency aid , how much money can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into favored pockets ; during the manufactured epidemic crisis , and in the aftermath , how much surveillance will citizens be willing to stomach ; with what degree of acquiescence will people accept the announced end of the pandemic ; how badly can we affect national treasuries ?
And so on and so forth .
All standard inquiries , forming the basis of confidential after-operation reports .
Along with , of course , prospective estimates of what can be accomplished next time , in a new and improved experiment .
How thick can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Plunging stocks, pandemic fears, quarantines—what’s the real operation?
Jon Rappoport, Guest
Waking Times
A grisly old PR pro waddles into a conference room where elite technocrats are waiting for his assessment of propaganda issues. He sits down, looks around, and says, “If you’re going to launch a phony epidemic, the ideal place for it is mainland China. The government will lock down that country quicker than a missile fired from a drone. And then nobody will be able to figure out what’s going on. Which is exactly what you want. You can say there are a million epidemic cases, you can say thousands of people are dropping dead on the street, you can say it’s a bioweapon or a bat virus, you can especially say the government there is reacting beautifully, and we should all look to the Chinese example of how to run things. Because that’s how you want things to be run everywhere, right? China is perfect for a phony epidemic. How are people going to figure out it’s a fake behind the lockdown? Whereas, say, in a place like Brazil, there are still a few freedoms and a little leeway, and people can ask questions…”
Things are changing quickly. By the time this is published, the situation may have changed.
Right now, world trading markets are taking a major hit. Governments are blowing the dust off their old pandemic plans and feeding details to click-hungry press outlets. “We may have to use stadiums for mass quarantines of suspected epidemic cases…” “We have to cancel large events.” Apparently, China has a hundred million people in some form of lockdown.
There is no doubt that this insanity can continue, regardless of the facts: who cares whether researchers ever really discovered the COV virus; who cares that diagnostic tests are worthless for defining a case of COV; who cares that case numbers can be inflated without evidence; who cares that environmental factors in China (deadly air pollution, 5G technology rollout) can explain why people there are falling ill.
Public health officials and governments know they can SAY anything they want to, thereby exacerbating the fear and the lies. And on that basis, they can declare emergencies and quarantines and lockdowns and the closure of businesses and the cessation of trade. They can bring police or troops to an area to “secure order.”
And the craziest part of all this is, huge numbers of people will automatically believe that such extreme measures somehow prove THE VIRUS is dangerous. The effect proves the cause. This notion was rebuked and throttled by Aristotle in ancient Greece, but armies of zombie-like citizens still accept it.
So…WHAT IS THE REAL OPERATION HERE?
The basic answer is: it has levels. Different players in different positions gain a piece of the pie. For example, pharma gets to sell immense amounts of highly toxic antiviral drugs, and gets to develop and sell an enormously profitable toxic vaccine. National militaries lick their chops and anticipate moving into big cities and maintaining order. The collection of entities I call the medical cartel gets to exert more influence over the minds of billions of people: “medical diagnosis and treatment, from birth to death, is absolutely essential for the survival of life on planet Earth.” That’s a BIG one. Understand: when the drugs and vaccines are toxic, the citizens are debilitated, and thus easier to manage.
Long-term, the medical cartel is the most powerful wing of the Brave New World, also known as Globalism. Also known as Technocracy.
Technocracy: With the rollout of 5G the so-called Internet of Things really takes off. Smart cars, smart homes, smart cities. A trillion devices are connected; and a result, a worldwide Energy Authority can truly take its place in the foreground. Meaning? The real-time monitoring of all energy production AND use on the planet can be measured—and energy-use quotas can be established for individuals and nations, “for the good of all.”
It’s called CONTROL.
China is making lemonade out of the lemons of the “coronavirus crisis,” as we speak. It’s moving ahead with the building of many smart cities. And the government has the power to move huge numbers of people into the cities, where wall-to-wall surveillance will be the order of the day, “in order to predict future epidemics before they happen.” The Internet of Things will allow all sorts of automatic quotas to be imposed on the citizenry. Food, energy, travel, etc. And then you have automated diagnosis of illness and mandatory treatment—another nightmare.
It’s called CONTROL.
Globalism/technocracy is flexing muscles and producing hits on national economies. It’s testing its ability to do damage in that area. It needs to level out economies in many countries, in order to take them over to a greater degree. Declared fake epidemics are a tool for that purpose.
In this regard, consider what happens in any serious economic downturn or recession. It’s what I would call Operation Close-Out, better known as Consolidation. Wealthy players, aided by banks, move in, sniff out major businesses and companies that are now on the edge of failure, and buy them out. The wealthy own more; the newly poor own less.
Of course, with foreknowledge of plunging trading markets—which these players have—a prime opportunity opens up for shorting stocks, monitoring them on the way down, and selling them off at the bottom. Another bonanza. Another version of Consolidation.
As I said, the real operation here has levels. Different players on different places of the power ladder reap benefits.
Never forget that the World Health Organization (WHO)—along with the US Centers for Disease Control—operates these fake epidemics on the medical side. WHO is a branch of the Globalist fortress called the United Nations. WHO has its sleazy hands on medical bureaucrats in every nation on Earth, and it can threaten a government which doesn’t react with sufficient alarm, when the preferred phony picture of an epidemic is floated for public consumption.
The United Nations, to make a very long story short, wants a borderless, non-national, planned planet. Kinder and gentler. Ruled from the top. By technocrats.
One of its wet dreams is fake pandemics.
The age-old theme of Order from Chaos advances front and center. From the chaos of a pandemic, new layers of control will be imposed—and received with open arms. How much Order? That’s always decided on the basis of an experiment. An exercise. A test. Which is what this COV operation is. Among the many questions the show runners are asking: how big an economic hit will nations, particularly, China, be willing to take; how much pushback, if any, will come from the citizenry; how tightly will medical researchers march on the narrow road of their preposterous fake findings without rebelling; under the auspices of emergency aid, how much money can be stolen, siphoned off, and placed into favored pockets; during the manufactured epidemic crisis, and in the aftermath, how much surveillance will citizens be willing to stomach; with what degree of acquiescence will people accept the announced end of the pandemic; how badly can we affect national treasuries?
And so on and so forth. All standard inquiries, forming the basis of confidential after-operation reports. Along with, of course, prospective estimates of what can be accomplished next time, in a new and improved experiment.
How thick can we slice the baloney next 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--2020-03-03--Why Everything You Learned About Viruses is WRONG

Germ theory is an immensely powerful force on this planet , affecting everyday interactions from a handshake , all the way up the ladder to national vaccination agendas and global eradication campaigns .
But what if fundamental research on what exactly these ‘ pathogens ’ are , how they infect us , has not yet even been performed ?
What if much of what is assumed and believed about the danger of microbes , particularly viruses , has completely been undermined in light of radical new discoveries in microbiology ?
Some of our readers already know that in my previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as our enemies ” concept has been decimated by the relatively recent discovery of the microbiome .
For in depth background on this topic , read my previous article , “ How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego , Vaccine Policy , and Patriarchy.
” You can also read Profound Implications of the Virome for Human Health and Autoimmunity , to get a better understanding of how viruses are actually beneficial to mammalian health .
In this article I will take a less philosophical approach , and focus on influenza as a more concrete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biomedicine and life sciences we are all presently fully immersed within , even if the medical establishment has yet to acknowledge it .
( a topic I cover extensively in my upcoming book REGENERATE : Unlocking Your Body ’ s Radical Resilience through the New Biology ) .
The hyperbolic manner in which health policymakers and mainstream media pundits talk about it today , flu virus is an inexorably lethal force , against which all citizens , of all ages 6 months or older , need the annual influenza vaccine to protect themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worse , those who hold religious or philosophical objections , or who otherwise conscientiously object to vaccinating , are being characterized as doing harm to others by denying them herd immunity ( a concept that has been completely debunked by a careful study of the evidence , or lack thereof ) .
For instance , in the interview below Bill Gates tells Sanjay Gupta that he thinks non-vaccinators “ kill children ” : But what if I told you that there isn ’ t even such a thing as “ flu virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monolithic , disease vector existing outside of us , conceived as it is as the relationship of predator to prey ?
First , consider that the highly authorative Cochrane collaboration acknowledges there are many different flu viruses that are not , in fact , influenza A — against which flu vaccines are targeted — but which nonetheless can contribute to symptoms identical to those attributed to influenza A : This makes for a picture of complexity that powerfully undermines health policies that presuppose vaccination equates to bona fide immunity , and by implication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ritual of mass vaccination campaigns as a matter of life-or-death social necessity .
Even the use of the word “ immunization ” to describe vaccination is highly misleading .
The moment the word is used , it already presupposes efficacy , and makes it appear as if non-vaccinators are anti-immunity , instead of what they actually are : pro-immunity ( via clean air , food , water , and sunlight ) , but unwilling to subject themselves or their healthy children to “ unavoidably unsafe ” medical procedures with only theoretical benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exist ( The Way We Were Told ) But the topic gets even more interesting when we consider the findings of a 2015 study entitled “ Conserved and host-specific features of influenza virion architecture.
” This was the first study ever to plumb the molecular depths of what influenza virus is actually composed of .
Amazingly , given the long history of vaccine use and promotion , the full characterization of what proteins it contains , and where they are derived from , was never previously performed .
How we invest billions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have created a global campaign to countermand a viral enemy , whose basic building blocks were not even known until a few years ago , is hard to understand .
But it is true nonetheless .
The study abstract opens with this highly provocative line : Virion are also known as “ viral particles , ” and they are the means by which viral nucleic acids are able to move and ‘ infect ’ living organisms .
Without the viral particle ( taxi ) to carry around the virus DNA ( passenger ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , viruses are often described as existing somewhere between living and inanimate objects for this reason : they do not produce their own energy , nor are transmissable without a living host .
And so , in this first line , the authors are making it clear that virion composition is also the primary determinant in how or whether a virus is infectious ( transmits ) and what effects it will have in the immune system of the infected host .
This distinction is important because we often think of viruses as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The irony , of course , is that the very things we attribute so much lethality to — viral nucleic acids — are not even alive , and can not infect an organism without all the other components ( proteins , lipids , extra-viral nucleic acids ) which are , technically , not viral in origin , participating in the process .
And so , if the components that are non-viral are essential for the virus to cause harm , how can we continue to maintain that we are up against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who “ infects ” us , a passive victim ?
It ’ s fundamentally non-sensical , given these findings .
It also clearly undermines the incessant , fear-based rhetoric those beholden to the pro-vaccine stance to coerce the masses into undergoing the largely faith-based rite of vaccination .
The next line of the abstract addresses the fact we opened this article with : namely , that there is great complexity involved at the level of the profound variability in virion composition : But this problem of the great variability in the virion composition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was conducted .
They explain : In other words , they found that the flu virus is as much comprised of biological material from the host the virus ‘ infects , ’ as the viral genetic material of the virus per se .
How then , do we differentiate influenza virus as fully “ other ” ?
Given that it would not exist without “ self ” proteins , or those of other host animals like birds ( avian ) or insects , this would be impossible to do with any intellectual honesty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant problem presented by flu vaccine production .
Presently , human flu vaccine antigen is produced via insects and chicken eggs .
This means that the virus particles extracted from these hosts would contain foreign proteins , and would therefore produce different and/or unpredictable immunological responses in humans than would be expected from human influenza viral particles .
One possibility is that the dozens of foreign proteins found within avian influenza could theoretically produce antigens in humans that cross-react with self-structures resulting in autoimmunity .
Safety testing , presently , does not test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this discovery opens up a pandora ’ s box of potential problems that have never sufficiently been analyzed , since it was never understood until now that “ influenza ” is so thoroughly dependent upon a host for its transmissability and immunogenecity .
Lastly , the study identified something even more amazing : What these researchers are talking about is the discovery that virion particles share stunning similarities to naturally occurring virus-like particles produced by all living cells called exosomes .
Exosomes , like many viruses ( i.e .
enveloped viruses ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the 50-100 nanometer size range that viruses are ( 20-400 nm ) .
They also contain biologically active molecules , such as proteins and lipids , as well as information-containing ones like RNAs — exactly , or very similar , to the types of contents you find in viral particles .
Watch this basic video on exosomes to get a primer : When we start to look at viruses through the lens of their overlap with exosomes , which as carriers of RNAs are essential for regulating the expression of the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start to understand how their function could be considered neutral as “ information carriers , ” if not beneficial .
Both exosomes and viruses may actually be responsible for inter-species or cross-kingdom communication and regulation within the biosphere , given the way they are able to facilitate and mediate horizontal information transfer between organisms .
Even eating a piece of fruit containing these exosomes can alter the expression of vitally important genes within our body .
In light of this post-Germ Theory perspective , viruses could be described as pieces of information in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad , ” but , in fact , essential for mediating the genotype/phenotype relationship within organisms , who must adapt to ever-shifting environmental conditions in real-time in order to survive ; something the glacial pace of genetic changes within the primary nucleotide sequences of our DNA can not do ( for instance , it may take ~ 100,000 years for a protein-coding gene sequence to change versus seconds for a protein-coding gene ’ s expression to be altered via modulation via viral or exosomal RNAs ) .
This does not mean they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sometimes , given many conditions outside their control , their messages could present challenges or misinformation to the cells to which they are exposed , which could result in a “ disease symptom.
” These disease symptoms are often if not invariably attempts by the body to self-regulate and ultimately improve and heal itself .
In other words , the virion composition of viruses appears to be the byproduct of the cell ’ s normal exosome ( also known as microvesicle ) production machinery and trafficking , albeit being influenced by influenza DNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a means of extracellular communication between cells , instead of simply a pathological disease entity .
This could explain why an accumulating body of research on the role of the virome in human health indicates that so-called infectious agents , including viruses like measles , confer significant health benefits .
[ see : the Health Benefits of Measles and The Healing Power of Germs ? ]
.
Other researchers have come to similar discoveries about the relationship between exosomes and viruses , sometimes describing viral hijacking of exosome pathways as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide such an example .
The remarkably recent discovery of the host-dependent nature of the influenza virus ’ virion composition is really just the tip of an intellectual iceberg that has yet to fully emerge into the light of day , but is already “ sinking ” ships ; paradigm ships , if you will .
One such paradigm is that germs are enemy combatants , and that viruses serve no fundamental role in our health , and should be eradicated from the earth with drugs and vaccines , if possible .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the discovery of the indispensable role of the microbiome , and the subpopulation of viruses within it — the virome — we have entered into an entirely new , ecologically-based view of the body and its environs that are fundamentally inseparable .
Ironically , the only thing that influenza may be capable of killing is germ theory itself .
For an in-depth exploration of this , watch the lecture below on the virome .
I promise , if you do so , you will no longer be able to uphold germ theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You may even start to understand how we might consider some viruses “ our friends , ” and why we may need viruses far more than they need us .
Sayer Ji is founder of Greenmedinfo.com , a reviewer at the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine , Co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed , Vice Chairman of the Board of the National Health Federation , Steering Committee Member of the Global Non-GMO Foundation .
Disclaimer : This article is not intended to provide medical advice , diagnosis or treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of WakingTimes or its staff .
© [ 02/26/20 ] GreenMedInfo LLC .
This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC .
Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo ?
Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter..

Why Everything You Learned About Viruses is WRONG
Sayer Ji, GreenMedinfo
Waking Times
Germ theory is an immensely powerful force on this planet, affecting everyday interactions from a handshake, all the way up the ladder to national vaccination agendas and global eradication campaigns.
But what if fundamental research on what exactly these ‘pathogens’ are, how they infect us, has not yet even been performed? What if much of what is assumed and believed about the danger of microbes, particularly viruses, has completely been undermined in light of radical new discoveries in microbiology?
Some of our readers already know that in my previous writings I discuss why the “germs as our enemies” concept has been decimated by the relatively recent discovery of the microbiome. For in depth background on this topic, read my previous article, “How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego, Vaccine Policy, and Patriarchy.” You can also read Profound Implications of the Virome for Human Health and Autoimmunity, to get a better understanding of how viruses are actually beneficial to mammalian health.
In this article I will take a less philosophical approach, and focus on influenza as a more concrete example of the Copernican-level paradigm shift in biomedicine and life sciences we are all presently fully immersed within, even if the medical establishment has yet to acknowledge it. (a topic I cover extensively in my upcoming book REGENERATE: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology).
Deadly Flu Viruses: Vaccinate or Die?
The hyperbolic manner in which health policymakers and mainstream media pundits talk about it today, flu virus is an inexorably lethal force, against which all citizens, of all ages 6 months or older, need the annual influenza vaccine to protect themselves against, lest they face deadly consequences. Worse, those who hold religious or philosophical objections, or who otherwise conscientiously object to vaccinating, are being characterized as doing harm to others by denying them herd immunity (a concept that has been completely debunked by a careful study of the evidence, or lack thereof). For instance, in the interview below Bill Gates tells Sanjay Gupta that he thinks non-vaccinators “kill children”:
But what if I told you that there isn’t even such a thing as “flu virus,” in the sense of a monolithic, disease vector existing outside of us, conceived as it is as the relationship of predator to prey?
First, consider that the highly authorative Cochrane collaboration acknowledges there are many different flu viruses that are not, in fact, influenza A — against which flu vaccines are targeted — but which nonetheless can contribute to symptoms identical to those attributed to influenza A:
“Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness which produce the same symptoms (fever, headache, aches and pains, cough and runny noses). Without laboratory tests, doctors cannot tell the two illnesses apart. Both last for days and rarely lead to death or serious illness. At best, vaccines might be effective against only Influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses.” (Source: Cochrane Summaries).” [emphasis added]
This makes for a picture of complexity that powerfully undermines health policies that presuppose vaccination equates to bona fide immunity, and by implication, necessitates the herd collectively participate in the ritual of mass vaccination campaigns as a matter of life-or-death social necessity.
Even the use of the word “immunization” to describe vaccination is highly misleading. The moment the word is used, it already presupposes efficacy, and makes it appear as if non-vaccinators are anti-immunity, instead of what they actually are: pro-immunity (via clean air, food, water, and sunlight), but unwilling to subject themselves or their healthy children to “unavoidably unsafe” medical procedures with only theoretical benefits.
Why Flu Virus Doesn’t Exist (The Way We Were Told)
But the topic gets even more interesting when we consider the findings of a 2015 study entitled “Conserved and host-specific features of influenza virion architecture.” This was the first study ever to plumb the molecular depths of what influenza virus is actually composed of. Amazingly, given the long history of vaccine use and promotion, the full characterization of what proteins it contains, and where they are derived from, was never previously performed. How we invest billions of dollars annually into flu vaccines, and have created a global campaign to countermand a viral enemy, whose basic building blocks were not even known until a few years ago, is hard to understand. But it is true nonetheless.
The study abstract opens with this highly provocative line:
“Viruses use virions to spread between hosts, and virion composition is therefore the primary determinant of viral transmissibility and immunogenicity.” [emphasis added]
Virion are also known as “viral particles,” and they are the means by which viral nucleic acids are able to move and ‘infect’ living organisms. Without the viral particle (taxi) to carry around the virus DNA (passenger), it would be harmless; in fact, viruses are often described as existing somewhere between living and inanimate objects for this reason: they do not produce their own energy, nor are transmissable without a living host. And so, in this first line, the authors are making it clear that virion composition is also the primary determinant in how or whether a virus is infectious (transmits) and what effects it will have in the immune system of the infected host.
This distinction is important because we often think of viruses as simply pathogenic strings of DNA or RNA. The irony, of course, is that the very things we attribute so much lethality to — viral nucleic acids — are not even alive, and can not infect an organism without all the other components (proteins, lipids, extra-viral nucleic acids) which are, technically, not viral in origin, participating in the process. And so, if the components that are non-viral are essential for the virus to cause harm, how can we continue to maintain that we are up against a monolithic disease entity “out there” who “infects” us, a passive victim? It’s fundamentally non-sensical, given these findings. It also clearly undermines the incessant, fear-based rhetoric those beholden to the pro-vaccine stance to coerce the masses into undergoing the largely faith-based rite of vaccination.
Let’s dive deeper into the study’s findings.
The next line of the abstract addresses the fact we opened this article with: namely, that there is great complexity involved at the level of the profound variability in virion composition:
“However, the virions of many viruses are complex and pleomorphic, making them difficult to analyze in detail”
But this problem of the great variability in the virion composition of influenza is exactly why the study was conducted. They explain:
“Here we address this by identifying and quantifying viral proteins with mass spectrometry, producing a complete and quantifiable model of the hundreds of viral and host-encoded proteins that make up the pleomorphic virions of influenza virus. We show that a conserved influenza virion architecture, which includes substantial quantities of host proteins as well as the viral protein NSI, is elaborated with abundant host-dependent features. As a result, influenza virions produced by mammalian and avian hosts have distinct protein compositions.”
In other words, they found that the flu virus is as much comprised of biological material from the host the virus ‘infects,’ as the viral genetic material of the virus per se.
How then, do we differentiate influenza virus as fully “other”? Given that it would not exist without “self” proteins, or those of other host animals like birds (avian) or insects, this would be impossible to do with any intellectual honesty intact.
There’s also the significant problem presented by flu vaccine production. Presently, human flu vaccine antigen is produced via insects and chicken eggs. This means that the virus particles extracted from these hosts would contain foreign proteins, and would therefore produce different and/or unpredictable immunological responses in humans than would be expected from human influenza viral particles. One possibility is that the dozens of foreign proteins found within avian influenza could theoretically produce antigens in humans that cross-react with self-structures resulting in autoimmunity. Safety testing, presently, does not test for these cross reactions. Clearly, this discovery opens up a pandora’s box of potential problems that have never sufficiently been analyzed, since it was never understood until now that “influenza” is so thoroughly dependent upon a host for its transmissability and immunogenecity.
Are Flu Viruses Really “Hijacked” Exosomes?
Lastly, the study identified something even more amazing:
“Finally, we note that influenza virions share an underlying protein composition with exosomes, suggesting that influenza virions form by subverting micro vesicle” production.”
What these researchers are talking about is the discovery that virion particles share stunning similarities to naturally occurring virus-like particles produced by all living cells called exosomes. Exosomes, like many viruses (i.e. enveloped viruses) are enclosed in a membrane, and are within the 50-100 nanometer size range that viruses are (20-400 nm). They also contain biologically active molecules, such as proteins and lipids, as well as information-containing ones like RNAs — exactly, or very similar, to the types of contents you find in viral particles.
Watch this basic video on exosomes to get a primer:
When we start to look at viruses through the lens of their overlap with exosomes, which as carriers of RNAs are essential for regulating the expression of the vast majority of the human genome, we start to understand how their function could be considered neutral as “information carriers,” if not beneficial. Both exosomes and viruses may actually be responsible for inter-species or cross-kingdom communication and regulation within the biosphere, given the way they are able to facilitate and mediate horizontal information transfer between organisms. Even eating a piece of fruit containing these exosomes can alter the expression of vitally important genes within our body.
In light of this post-Germ Theory perspective, viruses could be described as pieces of information in search of chromosomes; not inherently “bad,” but, in fact, essential for mediating the genotype/phenotype relationship within organisms, who must adapt to ever-shifting environmental conditions in real-time in order to survive; something the glacial pace of genetic changes within the primary nucleotide sequences of our DNA cannot do (for instance, it may take ~ 100,000 years for a protein-coding gene sequence to change versus seconds for a protein-coding gene’s expression to be altered via modulation via viral or exosomal RNAs).
This does not mean they are “all good”, either. Sometimes, given many conditions outside their control, their messages could present challenges or misinformation to the cells to which they are exposed, which could result in a “disease symptom.” These disease symptoms are often if not invariably attempts by the body to self-regulate and ultimately improve and heal itself.
In other words, the virion composition of viruses appears to be the byproduct of the cell’s normal exosome (also known as microvesicle) production machinery and trafficking, albeit being influenced by influenza DNA. And like exosomes, viruses may be a means of extracellular communication between cells, instead of simply a pathological disease entity. This could explain why an accumulating body of research on the role of the virome in human health indicates that so-called infectious agents, including viruses like measles, confer significant health benefits. [see: the Health Benefits of Measles and The Healing Power of Germs?].
Other researchers have come to similar discoveries about the relationship between exosomes and viruses, sometimes describing viral hijacking of exosome pathways as a “Trojan horse” hypothesis. HIV may provide such an example.
Concluding Remarks
The remarkably recent discovery of the host-dependent nature of the influenza virus’ virion composition is really just the tip of an intellectual iceberg that has yet to fully emerge into the light of day, but is already “sinking” ships; paradigm ships, if you will.
One such paradigm is that germs are enemy combatants, and that viruses serve no fundamental role in our health, and should be eradicated from the earth with drugs and vaccines, if possible.
This belief, however, is untenable. With the discovery of the indispensable role of the microbiome, and the subpopulation of viruses within it — the virome — we have entered into an entirely new, ecologically-based view of the body and its environs that are fundamentally inseparable. Ironically, the only thing that influenza may be capable of killing is germ theory itself.
For an in-depth exploration of this, watch the lecture below on the virome. I promise, if you do so, you will no longer be able to uphold germ theory as a monolithic truth any longer. You may even start to understand how we might consider some viruses “our friends,” and why we may need viruses far more than they need us.
About the Author
Sayer Ji is founder of Greenmedinfo.com, a reviewer at the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, Co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed, Vice Chairman of the Board of the National Health Federation, Steering Committee Member of the Global Non-GMO Foundation.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.
© [02/26/20] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter..


wakingtimes--2020-03-03--“What Are The Odds?” – A Timeline Of Facts Linking Covid-19, HIV, & Wuhan’s Secret Bio-Lab

Having been permanently banned from Twitter for sharing the publicly-available details of the man who ran the show as far a bat-soup virology in Wuhan ’ s super-secret bio-lab – which is now a common talking point and rapidly shifting from conspiracy theory to conspiracy fact – we thought a reminder of how we got here was in order… Scott Burke , CEO of crypto-related firm Groundhog , unleashed what we feel may be the most complete timelines of facts to help understand the controversial links between COVID-19 and HIV , and COVID-19 and Wuhan Institute of Virology .
Want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) rabbit hole ?
Here is the full slightly-edited-for-formatting twitter thread… A disclaimer : I am not a virologist .
This is me synthesizing what we have learned since the outbreak began and reviewing public scientific papers .
I believe each of the following statements is a solid fact , backed up by a citation .
I also want to say that I understand some people are worried about blame being cast for this outbreak .
Obviously we are all in this together , and my intention here is not to cast blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but are not conclusive .
I do think however that information is being downplayed and suppressed by some scientists and media outlets and it ’ s our duty to find out the facts about this virus , do what we can to mitigate the outbreak , and prevent it from happening again .
So there ’ s original SARS , which is a type of coronavirus .
SARS infects cells through the ACE2 receptor in hosts .
The S spike protein plays a key role in how the virus infects cells .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus is a spike protein ( or S protein ) .
That ’ s what gives the coronavirus it ’ s name – it ’ s “ crown ” of these spikes .
After the first SARS outbreak , there was a “ land rush ” to find other coronaviruses .
A collection of SARS-*like* coronaviruses was isolated in several horseshoe bat species over 10 years ago , called SARS-like CoVs , or SL-CoVs .
Not SARS exactly , but coronaviruses similar to SARS .
In 2007 , a team of researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Australian laboratory , conducted a study with SARS , a SARS-like coronavirus , and HIV-1 .
The researchers noted that if small changes were made to the S protein , it broke how SARS-CoV worked – it could no longer go in via ACE2 .
So they inferred the S protein was critical to the SARS attack vector .
They also predicted based on the S-ACE2 binding structure , that SARS-like CoVs were not able to use this same attack method ( ACE2 mediation ) .
They decided to create a pseudovirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a HIV envelope .
Using an HIV envelope , they replaced the RBD ( receptor binding domain ) of SL-CoV with that of SARS-CoV , and used it to successfully infect bats through ACE2 mediation .
A SARS-like CoV begins sweeping the globe that is far more infectious than previous outbreaks .
Ground Zero for this outbreak ( not first human patient , but first spreading event ) is considered to be Wuhan Seafood Market .
Wuhan Seafood Market is 20 miles from the National Biosafety Laboratory at Wuhan Institute of Virology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Indian bioinformatics specialists at Delhi University released a paper pre-print… COVID-19 has a unique sequence about 1,378 nucleotide base pairs long that is not found in related coronaviruses .
They claimed to identify genetic similarities in this unique material between COVID-19 and HIV-1 .
Specifically , they isolated 4 short genetic sequences in key protein structures ( the receptor binding domain , or RBD ) .
Two of the sequences were perfect matches ( albeit , short ) , and two of the sequences were matched but each with an additional string @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sequence .
The paper was criticized and numerous attempts have been made to debunk it .
After the criticism , the authors voluntarily withdrew it , intending to revise it based on comments made about their technical approach and conclusions .
This is an attempt to prove that it was not engineered , but mutated naturally in the wild .
This strain was only known by and studied at the Wuhan Virology Institute , and although they claim it was discovered in 2013 , it wasn ’ t published or shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Indian paper , on January 27 , 2020 .
The RatG13 strain publication and the HIV research paper from 2008 share an author .
I discovered this on my own by comparing the two papers and then quickly realized this scientist ’ s contact information was the information that ZeroHedge was suspended from Twitter for sharing .
Their article identifies this author in question including some contact information from the Wuhan Virology Institute web site .
You can read the public comments and discussion of the original paper here : There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sequences are remarkably stable in between the “ bat ” CoV and the nCoV , where in nature they would likely have mutated in between their shared evolution .
Also a call for greater scientific evidence that the strain was collected in the wild .
Here is the only point in this thread where I will offer my opinion rather than a list of facts : In light of all the previous facts , the efforts to debunk the paper are not yet convincing in my view .
The RaTG13 paper makes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material you identified that happens to protein fold to become a perfect attack vector for nCoV to attack ACE2 ?
It ’ s a relative of this other secret virus which came from the wild which we forgot to tell the scientific community about until now for no reason .
Here ’ s the secret virus – it came from bats – and here ’ s the new virus , see , they have the same HIV-related sequences… so… bats !
Totally not secret pathogen research which escaped the lab .
What are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overlapping genetics from HIV mutated and crossed over into humans , next door to a laboratory which had been enhancing coronavirus with HIV for over a decade ?
And conversely , what are the odds it leaked out of the laboratory ?
Finally , there is a great thread here by Trevor Bedford ( @ trvrb ) examining the evidence for and against , with key replies challenging the conclusions made as well .
Let ’ s learn !
What do you think ?
Maybe I ’ m wrong !
Can anyone disprove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above ?
One thing is for sure , the science behind all this is fascinating .
But we need to make sure that if viruses are being secretly developed and accidentally released , that we learn about that and do our best to make sure it doesn ’ t happen again .
By Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge .

“What Are The Odds?” – A Timeline Of Facts Linking Covid-19, HIV, & Wuhan’s Secret Bio-Lab
Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
Waking Times
Having been permanently banned from Twitter for sharing the publicly-available details of the man who ran the show as far a bat-soup virology in Wuhan’s super-secret bio-lab – which is now a common talking point and rapidly shifting from conspiracy theory to conspiracy fact – we thought a reminder of how we got here was in order…
Scott Burke, CEO of crypto-related firm Groundhog, unleashed what we feel may be the most complete timelines of facts to help understand the controversial links between COVID-19 and HIV, and COVID-19 and Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Want to go down a (strictly fact-based) rabbit hole?
Here is the full slightly-edited-for-formatting twitter thread…
A disclaimer: I am not a virologist. This is me synthesizing what we have learned since the outbreak began and reviewing public scientific papers. I believe each of the following statements is a solid fact, backed up by a citation.
I also want to say that I understand some people are worried about blame being cast for this outbreak. Obviously we are all in this together, and my intention here is not to cast blame. These links overwhelmingly compel further scrutiny, but are not conclusive.
I do think however that information is being downplayed and suppressed by some scientists and media outlets and it’s our duty to find out the facts about this virus, do what we can to mitigate the outbreak, and prevent it from happening again.
Ready?…
So there’s original SARS, which is a type of coronavirus. SARS infects cells through the ACE2 receptor in hosts.
The S spike protein plays a key role in how the virus infects cells. Each of the little spikes that surround the coronavirus is a spike protein (or S protein). That’s what gives the coronavirus it’s name – it’s “crown” of these spikes.
After the first SARS outbreak, there was a “land rush” to find other coronaviruses. A collection of SARS-*like* coronaviruses was isolated in several horseshoe bat species over 10 years ago, called SARS-like CoVs, or SL-CoVs. Not SARS exactly, but coronaviruses similar to SARS.
In 2007, a team of researchers based in Wuhan, in conjunction with an Australian laboratory, conducted a study with SARS, a SARS-like coronavirus, and HIV-1.
The researchers noted that if small changes were made to the S protein, it broke how SARS-CoV worked – it could no longer go in via ACE2. So they inferred the S protein was critical to the SARS attack vector.
They also predicted based on the S-ACE2 binding structure, that SARS-like CoVs were not able to use this same attack method (ACE2 mediation).
They decided to create a pseudovirus where they essentially put a SARS-like CoV in a HIV envelope.
It worked.
Using an HIV envelope, they replaced the RBD (receptor binding domain) of SL-CoV with that of SARS-CoV, and used it to successfully infect bats through ACE2 mediation.
12 years goes by…
A SARS-like CoV begins sweeping the globe that is far more infectious than previous outbreaks.
Ground Zero for this outbreak (not first human patient, but first spreading event) is considered to be Wuhan Seafood Market.
Wuhan Seafood Market is 20 miles from the National Biosafety Laboratory at Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Amidst the outbreak, a team of Indian bioinformatics specialists at Delhi University released a paper pre-print…
COVID-19 has a unique sequence about 1,378 nucleotide base pairs long that is not found in related coronaviruses. They claimed to identify genetic similarities in this unique material between COVID-19 and HIV-1.
Specifically, they isolated 4 short genetic sequences in key protein structures (the receptor binding domain, or RBD).
Two of the sequences were perfect matches (albeit, short), and two of the sequences were matched but each with an additional string of non-matching material appearing in the middle of the sequence.
The paper was criticized and numerous attempts have been made to debunk it. After the criticism, the authors voluntarily withdrew it, intending to revise it based on comments made about their technical approach and conclusions.
One key debunking attempt claims this:
The same sequences are found in a variant called BetaCoV/bat/Yunnan/RaTG13/2013, which had been found “in the wild” in bats.
This is an attempt to prove that it was not engineered, but mutated naturally in the wild.
But there’s a problem…
This strain was only known by and studied at the Wuhan Virology Institute, and although they claim it was discovered in 2013, it wasn’t published or shared with the scientific community until immediately after the Indian paper, on January 27, 2020.
The RatG13 strain publication and the HIV research paper from 2008 share an author.
I discovered this on my own by comparing the two papers and then quickly realized this scientist’s contact information was the information that ZeroHedge was suspended from Twitter for sharing.
Their article identifies this author in question including some contact information from the Wuhan Virology Institute web site.
You can read the public comments and discussion of the original paper here:
There is a line of inquiry about how the sequences are remarkably stable in between the “bat” CoV and the nCoV, where in nature they would likely have mutated in between their shared evolution. Also a call for greater scientific evidence that the strain was collected in the wild.
Here is the only point in this thread where I will offer my opinion rather than a list of facts: In light of all the previous facts, the efforts to debunk the paper are not yet convincing in my view.
The RaTG13 paper makes the claim that, oh, that HIV-related material you identified that happens to protein fold to become a perfect attack vector for nCoV to attack ACE2?
It’s a relative of this other secret virus which came from the wild which we forgot to tell the scientific community about until now for no reason.
Here’s the secret virus – it came from bats – and here’s the new virus, see, they have the same HIV-related sequences… so… bats!
Totally not secret pathogen research which escaped the lab.
What are the odds that a SARS-like coronavirus with overlapping genetics from HIV mutated and crossed over into humans, next door to a laboratory which had been enhancing coronavirus with HIV for over a decade? And conversely, what are the odds it leaked out of the laboratory?
* * *
Finally, there is a great thread here by Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) examining the evidence for and against, with key replies challenging the conclusions made as well.
There is a nice "Bayesian" way to compare theories and think about evidence. I'm showing the probability of observing the data at hand given different theories. We want to compare the likelihood of observing this data, compared to other outcomes consistent with a theory. 3/21 pic.twitter.com/HaiNvCVxUo — Trevor Bedford (@trvrb) February 20, 2020
Let’s learn! What do you think? Maybe I’m wrong! Can anyone disprove any of the links in the chain above? One thing is for sure, the science behind all this is fascinating.
But we need to make sure that if viruses are being secretly developed and accidentally released, that we learn about that and do our best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
By Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge.


wakingtimes--2020-03-04--Jane Goodall Promises To Plant 5 Million Trees In 2020

Dr. Jane Goodall , the primatologist who is widely considered to be the world ’ s foremost expert on chimpanzees , has recently announced plans to plant five million trees this year .
Goodall has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) to help the group with its 1 Trillion Trees Campaign .
In a statement on her website , Goodall said , “ [ 1 Trillion Trees ] offers innovative technologies which will serve to connect tens of thousands of small and large groups around the world that are engaged in tree planting and forest restoration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ which will allow for sharing critically needed funding and best practices — just what is needed to achieve the trillion trees goal in 10 years .
Towards this [ 1 Trillion Trees ] goal , I am proud to announce that our Roots & Shoots program , which empowers young people in 60 counties , has committed to planting over 5 million new trees over the coming year .
Now is the time for everyone on the planet to do their part.
” 13 million hectares of forest have been converted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes , and up to 28,000 species can go extinct in the next quarter-century due to deforestation , according to The World Counts .
Since humans started cutting down forests , 46 percent of trees have been cut down or otherwise destroyed , according to a 2015 study in the journal Nature .
Goodall is best known for her over 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960 , but she has continued her work and advocacy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program .
She has served on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding in 1996 .
In April of 2002 , she was named a UN Messenger of Peace , and has also been named an honorary member of the World Future Council .
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 @ @ @ @

Jane Goodall Promises To Plant 5 Million Trees In 2020
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
Dr. Jane Goodall, the primatologist who is widely considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, has recently announced plans to plant five million trees this year. Goodall has partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help the group with its 1 Trillion Trees Campaign.
In a statement on her website, Goodall said, “[1 Trillion Trees] offers innovative technologies which will serve to connect tens of thousands of small and large groups around the world that are engaged in tree planting and forest restoration. Creating this ‘greening global community,’ which will allow for sharing critically needed funding and best practices — just what is needed to achieve the trillion trees goal in 10 years. Towards this [1 Trillion Trees] goal, I am proud to announce that our Roots & Shoots program, which empowers young people in 60 counties, has committed to planting over 5 million new trees over the coming year. Now is the time for everyone on the planet to do their part.”
13 million hectares of forest have been converted for other uses or destroyed by natural causes, and up to 28,000 species can go extinct in the next quarter-century due to deforestation, according to The World Counts.
Since humans started cutting down forests, 46 percent of trees have been cut down or otherwise destroyed, according to a 2015 study in the journal Nature.
Goodall is best known for her over 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960, but she has continued her work and advocacy for animals and the environment through the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program.
She has served on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding in 1996. In April of 2002, she was named a UN Messenger of Peace, and has also been named an honorary member of the World Future Council.
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--2020-03-04--Hemp is the New Plastic: 3 Companies That Ditched Regular Plastic for Hemp Plastic

Plastic has become the most visible pollution issue facing the world .
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch , now twice the size of Texas , is the subject of many environmental cleanup efforts while plastic waste from all over the world continues to pour into our oceans at an alarming rate .
Governments around the world are now debating laws restricting plastic use , with many U.S. cities and states passing bans on single-use plastic bags and straws .
As the plastic problem rages on unabated , some companies are taking it upon themselves to come up with new solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill , which legalized industrial hemp , a fresh look is being given to the versatile commodity for use in everyday items , including eco-friendly plastic .
The Mind Unleashed caught up with three U.S. companies who have quietly embraced the use of hemp plastic into their business models , and their products have already hit the market .
Higher Hemp is a CBD dispensary that sells hemp-derived CBD products online nationwide and also offers free same-day delivery in San Diego county .
They use hemp plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBD flower , CBD joints and blunts , and CBD vape cartridges .
Higher Hemp also uses sustainable packaging for their CBD oil and other products .
What makes Higher Hemp different from other CBD companies ?
Co-founder Andrae Aldrete : “ We place a lot of focus on convenience , transparency , and sustainability .
Higher Hemp provides 3rd-party lab testing alongside all of the products we sell .
We started out using hemp plastic for all of the products we possibly could , and we ’ re always looking for methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasteful products and practices with those that are more responsibly and sustainably sourced .
We seek to make CBD accessible and affordable to the masses while continuously reducing our carbon footprint by using plant-based , minimal packaging .
Even the shrink wrap we use in the final sealing and packaging of our products is made from biodegradable bioplastic .
We ’ re ok with sacrificing some aesthetic properties to prove there ’ s a way of doing business that ’ s better for our customers and the planet.
” Why does Higher Hemp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
“ One of the things that was non-negotiable from the start was that we weren ’ t going to go the traditional route of using excessive petroleum-based plastic to package our products .
Hemp is the new plastic .
To us , it ’ s unacceptable how much packaging of all types goes into even very small products in the cannabis industry and elsewhere .
It ’ s a compounding problem both for our environment and our health when you consider that most of this plastic ends up in our oceans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Considering we are selling and promoting products focused on wellness , we should also be focusing on the wellness of the planet as the health of both are correlated .
“ Luckily , when we were starting out last year , we quickly found that there were already sustainable non-plastic solutions readily available .
It ’ s a way of doing business that we believe is simply the right thing to do .
The use of plant-based plastics will be the norm in the coming years and we ’ re happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way and hopefully we ’ ll influence others to do the same.
” You can check out their website at HigherHempCBD.com .
Sana Packaging launched the cannabis industry ’ s first 100 % plant-based hemp plastic packaging solutions in July 2018 , and in March 2019 , Sana Packaging launched the cannabis industry ’ s first 100 % reclaimed ocean plastic packaging solutions .
Why did you start Sana Packaging ?
CEO and co-founder Ron Basak-Smith : “ Our co-founder James Eichner and myself have lived in Colorado since 2011 and were really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of packaging waste coming from this industry .
We thought we could make an impact in the cannabis space since it was such a new industry , whose norms were less developed , to create new packaging that would help move away from this disposable mindset , while creating practical products that would work for the industry.
” Do you think hemp plastic can compete with regular plastic on price/durability ?
“ It ’ s tough to compete on price because petroleum-based plastics are subsidized , but as advancements in technology continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic solutions .
And as more companies embrace hemp and plant-based plastics , their accessibility will increase .
On durability , we have to remember that we ’ re still at the early stages of development with hemp plastics .
Just like early cars had to compete with horses , as the industry matures I believe hemp plastics will be able to compete against traditional plastic .
Depending on how they ’ re made , yes , absolutely hemp plastics can be as strong as petroleum-based plastics .
We just have to remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning stage of development for viable plant-based plastics.
” Do you think more plastic products will be replaced by hemp in the future ( such as plastic bags/straws ) ?
“ Sana Packaging is currently focused on the cannabis industry because hemp plastic makes so much sense in this space .
I think the idea here is that plant-based materials can definitely replace these products , it just depends on the consumers wanting to move forward with these options .
We also have to consider our waste system because if we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant-based products after they ’ ve been used , then we ’ re really doing an injustice to everyone and the environment.
” The Hemp Plastic Company produces biopolymer products made from renewable materials that are sustainable and , in some cases , compostable .
Their unique process uses different hemp materials to create biopolymers that can be used in many facets of the plastics industry .
They create the raw materials for manufacturers to create hemp-plastic products with .
Why did you create the Hemp Plastic Company ?
Co-founder Kevin Tubbs : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to me looking for hemp-based packaging for their hemp products .
I have a background in developing eco-packaging and thought making packaging out of previously unusable hemp waste was a great idea .
One client led to another , and suddenly people from all over the world became interested in what we were doing.
” Are you seeing demand rising ?
“ We ’ ve had a huge number of new customers looking for solutions in hemp plastic , and our customers are coming up with many new use-cases all the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers are finding new uses to mold our hemp plastic into .
We now have a library of fine hemp plastics including propylene , ethylene , ABS , and PLA.
” Where do you see the hemp plastic industry going ?
“ We ’ ve reduced plastic pollution down to a design decision .
Designers need to buy into the idea of using hemp plastic and take another look at their designs to make sure they ’ re easy to degrade .
Imagine Legos being made from hemp ABS !
Consumers are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what these containers can be re-used for after they ’ ve served their initial purpose .
Some new products I ’ m excited about are hemp-based films we ’ re developing that could provide renewable options even for leather , and degrade 100 % back into plant material .
”

Hemp is the New Plastic: 3 Companies That Ditched Regular Plastic for Hemp Plastic
The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
Plastic has become the most visible pollution issue facing the world. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, now twice the size of Texas, is the subject of many environmental cleanup efforts while plastic waste from all over the world continues to pour into our oceans at an alarming rate. Governments around the world are now debating laws restricting plastic use, with many U.S. cities and states passing bans on single-use plastic bags and straws.
As the plastic problem rages on unabated, some companies are taking it upon themselves to come up with new solutions to tackle the issue. With the passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, which legalized industrial hemp, a fresh look is being given to the versatile commodity for use in everyday items, including eco-friendly plastic. The Mind Unleashed caught up with three U.S. companies who have quietly embraced the use of hemp plastic into their business models, and their products have already hit the market.
1. Higher Hemp
Higher Hemp is a CBD dispensary that sells hemp-derived CBD products online nationwide and also offers free same-day delivery in San Diego county. They use hemp plastic packaging for many of their products including CBD flower, CBD joints and blunts, and CBD vape cartridges. Higher Hemp also uses sustainable packaging for their CBD oil and other products.
What makes Higher Hemp different from other CBD companies?
Co-founder Andrae Aldrete: “We place a lot of focus on convenience, transparency, and sustainability. Higher Hemp provides 3rd-party lab testing alongside all of the products we sell. We started out using hemp plastic for all of the products we possibly could, and we’re always looking for methods of operating where we can replace traditionally wasteful products and practices with those that are more responsibly and sustainably sourced. We seek to make CBD accessible and affordable to the masses while continuously reducing our carbon footprint by using plant-based, minimal packaging. Even the shrink wrap we use in the final sealing and packaging of our products is made from biodegradable bioplastic. We’re ok with sacrificing some aesthetic properties to prove there’s a way of doing business that’s better for our customers and the planet.”
Why does Higher Hemp use hemp plastic instead of regular plastic?
“One of the things that was non-negotiable from the start was that we weren’t going to go the traditional route of using excessive petroleum-based plastic to package our products. Hemp is the new plastic. To us, it’s unacceptable how much packaging of all types goes into even very small products in the cannabis industry and elsewhere. It’s a compounding problem both for our environment and our health when you consider that most of this plastic ends up in our oceans, polluting the food chain at every level. Considering we are selling and promoting products focused on wellness, we should also be focusing on the wellness of the planet as the health of both are correlated. “Luckily, when we were starting out last year, we quickly found that there were already sustainable non-plastic solutions readily available. It’s a way of doing business that we believe is simply the right thing to do. The use of plant-based plastics will be the norm in the coming years and we’re happy to be one of the companies leading the way and hopefully we’ll influence others to do the same.”
You can check out their website at HigherHempCBD.com.
2. Sana Packaging
Sana Packaging launched the cannabis industry’s first 100% plant-based hemp plastic packaging solutions in July 2018, and in March 2019, Sana Packaging launched the cannabis industry’s first 100% reclaimed ocean plastic packaging solutions.
Why did you start Sana Packaging?
CEO and co-founder Ron Basak-Smith: “Our co-founder James Eichner and myself have lived in Colorado since 2011 and were really just disgruntled cannabis users looking at the amount of packaging waste coming from this industry. We thought we could make an impact in the cannabis space since it was such a new industry, whose norms were less developed, to create new packaging that would help move away from this disposable mindset, while creating practical products that would work for the industry.”
Do you think hemp plastic can compete with regular plastic on price/durability?
“It’s tough to compete on price because petroleum-based plastics are subsidized, but as advancements in technology continue, prices continue to drop for hemp plastic solutions. And as more companies embrace hemp and plant-based plastics, their accessibility will increase. On durability, we have to remember that we’re still at the early stages of development with hemp plastics. Just like early cars had to compete with horses, as the industry matures I believe hemp plastics will be able to compete against traditional plastic. Depending on how they’re made, yes, absolutely hemp plastics can be as strong as petroleum-based plastics. We just have to remember we’re still at the very beginning stage of development for viable plant-based plastics.”
Do you think more plastic products will be replaced by hemp in the future (such as plastic bags/straws)?
“Sana Packaging is currently focused on the cannabis industry because hemp plastic makes so much sense in this space. I think the idea here is that plant-based materials can definitely replace these products, it just depends on the consumers wanting to move forward with these options. We also have to consider our waste system because if we don’t have a way to process these plant-based products after they’ve been used, then we’re really doing an injustice to everyone and the environment.”
3. The Hemp Plastic Company
The Hemp Plastic Company produces biopolymer products made from renewable materials that are sustainable and, in some cases, compostable. Their unique process uses different hemp materials to create biopolymers that can be used in many facets of the plastics industry. They create the raw materials for manufacturers to create hemp-plastic products with.
Why did you create the Hemp Plastic Company? Co-founder Kevin Tubbs: “It all started because a client came to me looking for hemp-based packaging for their hemp products. I have a background in developing eco-packaging and thought making packaging out of previously unusable hemp waste was a great idea. One client led to another, and suddenly people from all over the world became interested in what we were doing.” Are you seeing demand rising? “We’ve had a huge number of new customers looking for solutions in hemp plastic, and our customers are coming up with many new use-cases all the time. We supply the raw materials and customers are finding new uses to mold our hemp plastic into. We now have a library of fine hemp plastics including propylene, ethylene, ABS, and PLA.” Where do you see the hemp plastic industry going? “We’ve reduced plastic pollution down to a design decision. Designers need to buy into the idea of using hemp plastic and take another look at their designs to make sure they’re easy to degrade. Imagine Legos being made from hemp ABS! Consumers are also starting to think about packaging beyond single-use and what these containers can be re-used for after they’ve served their initial purpose. Some new products I’m excited about are hemp-based films we’re developing that could provide renewable options even for leather, and degrade 100% back into plant material.”
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