renegadetribune--2020-01-17--Northam Declares State of Emergency in Virginia Because “Armed Militia Groups Plan to Storm the Capi

Northam Declares State of Emergency in Virginia Because “Armed Militia Groups Plan to Storm the Capitol”

The drama in Virginia has escalated again as Governor Ralph Northam declares an official State of Emergency before January 20th ’ s “ Lobby Day ” protests .
Citing violence that erupted in Charlottesville during a Unite the Right rally in 2017 , Northam said that there are credible threats that “ armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol ” during Monday ’ s rally .
In an executive order , he announced he is banning all weapons from Capitol Square for the day .
Credible intelligence gathered by Virginia ’ s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20 , 2020 .
Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth , may be armed , and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence , rioting , and insurrection .
Assuring that Virginia ’ s Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process , as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square , is my greatest priority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square , some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully , constitutes an emergency as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia ( Code ) .
Therefore , by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of Virginia , by §§ 2.2-103 and 44-146.13 et seq .
of the Code , as Governor and Director of Emergency Management and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth ’ s armed forces , I proclaim that a state of emergency will exist starting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
Accordingly , I direct state and local governments to render appropriate assistance to prepare for this event , to alleviate any conditions resulting from the situation , and to implement recovery and mitigation operations and activities so as to return impacted areas to pre-event conditions as much as possible .
Emergency services shall be conducted in accordance with § 44-146.13 et seq .
of the Code .
( source ) The Executive Order doesn ’ t only ban guns , but also includes helmets , shields , and more .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ open carry event and the turnout is expected to be massive .
Monday , the state ’ s congress is expected to vote on a number of incredibly unpopular anti-gun laws , discussed here and here .
While one of the most alarming bills has been pulled due to overwhelming opposition , there are plenty more to take its place .
What are these threats ?
When you push a population to the brink , threatening them with gun confiscation at the hands of the National Guard and telling them that their lawful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to expect that population to push back .
Particularly a rural , gun-loving population that makes up most of the counties in Virginia .
According to a press release from Northam ’ s office , “ credible intelligence gathered by Virginia ’ s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20 , 2020 .
Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth , may be armed , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but violence , rioting , and insurrection.
” Specifically , Northam said they ’ ve received threats including people detailing plans to storm the Capitol Building , use weaponized drones , and more .
A state official cited one posting that included a photo of an AR-15 with a caption that said there are “ great sight angles from certain buildings ” near Capitol Square .
( source ) Who is sponsoring the rally ?
It ’ s interesting to note that throughout nearly every article on the mainstream media about this topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ white nationalists , ” making it seem as though the event is being hosted by white supremacists instead of law-abiding gun owners who have no intention of kowtowing to unconstitutional mandates .
It ’ s particularly interesting that it ’ s Governor Northam making most of these references , given his part in a recent “ blackface ” scandal .
Here are some examples : • From NBC : “ Northam ’ s declaration will also ban items like helmets and shields , items that some white nationalists carried in Charlottesville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Northam said the decision was a response to threats , some of them made online in forums hosted by hate groups and white nationalists .
The governor called on rally organizers to dissuade out-of-state groups from coming to the rally and encouraged a “ peaceful day ” for Virginians.
” • From NPR : “ Northam is raising concerns about a reprise of the deadly violence surrounding the white supremacist march in Charlottesville in August 2017 .
He said state intelligence analysts have identified threats and rhetoric online that mirrors the chatter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But in actuality , the group sponsoring the rally is Virginia Citizen ’ s Defense League , a group dedicated to “ defending your right to defend yourself in Virginia.
” This isn ’ t the first tyrannical move in Virginia this week .
An extremely popular Facebook post that has been shared thousands of times reads : So Virginia introduces a bundle of radical laws to destroy 2A rights , militias , sale transfer and registration bills , and the People of Virginia says no , and we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Virginia says we ’ re not going to wait , we ’ ll petition your removal from office and gets almost a 3rd of the 240K signatures to remove the governor and starts petitions to remove deligates .
Virginia govornment responds by introducing a bill to raise the amount of signatures from 10 % of the prevailing vote , to 25 % .
Folks , this is the a textbook example of tyranny .
“ We ’ re the government , and we ’ ll do anything we want , whether you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t let you vote us out , we won ’ t let you remove us from office… .
And if you can ’ t possess the weapons that a militia would need to force us out , of office , then there ’ s absolutely nothing you can do about it ” ( source ) I guess we can add this Executive Order to the list of tyrannies above .
What happens now ?
On their Facebook page , they said of Northam ’ s emergency declaration : Based on the comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of Virginians are not planning to comply and it looks like there could be widespread civil disobedience on Monday .
You can find out more information about Lobby Day here and you can get transportation to attend here .
I ’ ll update this article with more information as it becomes available .
Please share this information with your friends and family members .
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging , gun-toting blogger who writes about current events , preparedness , frugality , voluntaryism , and the pursuit of liberty on her website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article first appeared .
She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site , PreppersDailyNews.com .
Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and lives in the mountains of Virginia with her two daughters and an ever-growing menagerie .
You can find her on Facebook , Pinterest , and Twitter .

By Daisy Luther
The drama in Virginia has escalated again as Governor Ralph Northam declares an official State of Emergency before January 20th’s “Lobby Day” protests.
Citing violence that erupted in Charlottesville during a Unite the Right rally in 2017, Northam said that there are credible threats that “armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol” during Monday’s rally. In an executive order, he announced he is banning all weapons from Capitol Square for the day.
Credible intelligence gathered by Virginia’s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20, 2020. Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth, may be armed, and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence, rioting, and insurrection. Assuring that Virginia’s Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process, as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square, is my greatest priority. The anticipated effects of the potential convergence of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square, some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully, constitutes an emergency as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia (Code). Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of Virginia, by §§ 2.2-103 and 44-146.13 et seq. of the Code, as Governor and Director of Emergency Management and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth’s armed forces, I proclaim that a state of emergency will exist starting on January 17, 2020 through January 21, 2020. Accordingly, I direct state and local governments to render appropriate assistance to prepare for this event, to alleviate any conditions resulting from the situation, and to implement recovery and mitigation operations and activities so as to return impacted areas to pre-event conditions as much as possible. Emergency services shall be conducted in accordance with § 44-146.13 et seq. of the Code. (source)
The Executive Order doesn’t only ban guns, but also includes helmets, shields, and more.
No weapons will be allowed on Capitol grounds,” said Northam, a Democrat. “Everything from sticks and bats to chains and projectiles…. The list also includes firearms. It makes no sense to ban every other weapon but allow firearms when intelligence shows that armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol.” (source)
The rally had been planned as an open carry event and the turnout is expected to be massive. Monday, the state’s congress is expected to vote on a number of incredibly unpopular anti-gun laws, discussed here and here. While one of the most alarming bills has been pulled due to overwhelming opposition, there are plenty more to take its place.
What are these threats?
When you push a population to the brink, threatening them with gun confiscation at the hands of the National Guard and telling them that their lawful actions of rebellion are meaningless, you have to expect that population to push back. Particularly a rural, gun-loving population that makes up most of the counties in Virginia.
According to a press release from Northam’s office, “credible intelligence gathered by Virginia’s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20, 2020. Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth, may be armed, and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence, rioting, and insurrection.” Specifically, Northam said they’ve received threats including people detailing plans to storm the Capitol Building, use weaponized drones, and more. A state official cited one posting that included a photo of an AR-15 with a caption that said there are “great sight angles from certain buildings” near Capitol Square. (source)
Who is sponsoring the rally?
It’s interesting to note that throughout nearly every article on the mainstream media about this topic, you’ll find multiple references to “white nationalists,” making it seem as though the event is being hosted by white supremacists instead of law-abiding gun owners who have no intention of kowtowing to unconstitutional mandates. It’s particularly interesting that it’s Governor Northam making most of these references, given his part in a recent “blackface” scandal.
Here are some examples:
From NBC: “Northam’s declaration will also ban items like helmets and shields, items that some white nationalists carried in Charlottesville. “
From USA Today: “Northam said the decision was a response to threats, some of them made online in forums hosted by hate groups and white nationalists. The governor called on rally organizers to dissuade out-of-state groups from coming to the rally and encouraged a “peaceful day” for Virginians.”
From NPR: “Northam is raising concerns about a reprise of the deadly violence surrounding the white supremacist march in Charlottesville in August 2017. He said state intelligence analysts have identified threats and rhetoric online that mirrors the chatter they were picking up around that time.”
But in actuality, the group sponsoring the rally is Virginia Citizen’s Defense League, a group dedicated to “defending your right to defend yourself in Virginia.”
This isn’t the first tyrannical move in Virginia this week.
An extremely popular Facebook post that has been shared thousands of times reads:
So Virginia introduces a bundle of radical laws to destroy 2A rights, militias, sale transfer and registration bills, and the People of Virginia says no, and we’re going to vote you all out next term. Virginia government responds by introducing a bill to eliminate voter ID. Virginia says we’re not going to wait, we’ll petition your removal from office and gets almost a 3rd of the 240K signatures to remove the governor and starts petitions to remove deligates. Virginia govornment responds by introducing a bill to raise the amount of signatures from 10% of the prevailing vote, to 25%. Folks, this is the a textbook example of tyranny. “We’re the government, and we’ll do anything we want, whether you like it or not. We won’t let you vote us out, we won’t let you remove us from office…. And if you can’t possess the weapons that a militia would need to force us out, of office, then there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it” (source)
I guess we can add this Executive Order to the list of tyrannies above.
What happens now?
On their Facebook page, they said of Northam’s emergency declaration:
VCDL is going to have our attorneys investigate this situation once we hear Northam’s statement on Wednesday and we will let you know what we find out. (source)
Based on the comments on the VCDL Facebook page, a lot of Virginians are not planning to comply and it looks like there could be widespread civil disobedience on Monday. You can find out more information about Lobby Day here and you can get transportation to attend here.
I’ll update this article with more information as it becomes available. Please share this information with your friends and family members.
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, gun-toting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper, where this article first appeared. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and lives in the mountains of Virginia with her two daughters and an ever-growing menagerie. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-01-16--Grant Smith: Do Americans Support U.S. Aid to Israel?

Full speech given by Grant Smith ( Director of Institute for Research : Middle East Policy – IRmep ) discussing @ @ @ @ @ towards U.S. aid to Israel and AIPAC at the “ Israel Lobby and American Policy @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 at the National Press Club .

Full speech given by Grant Smith (Director of Institute for Research: Middle East Policy – IRmep) discussing underreported data revealing American attitudes towards U.S. aid to Israel and AIPAC at the “Israel Lobby and American Policy” conference on March 24th, 2017 at the National Press Club.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-01-16--Hemp Farmers Worried Newly Proposed Changes to Federal Regulations Could Put Them Out Of Business

Hemp growers and entrepreneurs who were joyous a year ago after U.S. lawmakers reclassified the plant as a legal agricultural crop now are worried their businesses could be crippled if federal policymakers move ahead with draft regulations .
Licenses for hemp cultivation topped a half-million acres last year , more than 450 % above 2018 levels , so there ’ s intense interest in the rules the U.S. government is creating .
Critical comments on the draft have poured in from hemp farmers , processors , retailers and state governments .
Growers are concerned the government wants to use a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crops failing required tests and being destroyed .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture , the agency writing the rules , estimates 20 % of hemp lots would fail under the proposed regulations .
The USDA did not respond to the criticism but has taken the unusual step of extending the public comment period by a month , until Jan. 29 .
The agency told The Associated Press it will analyze information from this year ’ s growing season before releasing its final rules , which would take effect in 2021 .
Agricultural officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs under an earlier federal provision are weighing in with formal letters to the USDA .
Most of the anxiety involves how the federal government plans to test for THC , the high-inducing compound found in marijuana and hemp , both cannabis plants .
The federal government and most states consider plants with tiny amounts — 0.3 % or less — to be hemp .
Anything above that is marijuana and illegal under federal law .
Yet another cannabis compound has fueled the explosion in hemp cultivation , cannabidiol , or CBD , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid and infused in everything from food and drinks to lotions , toothpaste and pet treats .
Many have credited CBD with helping ease pain , increase sleep and reduce anxiety .
But scientists caution not enough is known about its health effects , and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year targeted nearly two dozen companies for making CBD health claims .
Still , the CBD market is increasing at a triple-digit rate and could have $ 20 billion in sales by 2024 , according to a recent study by BDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracks cannabis industry trends .
About 80 % of the 18,000 farmers licensed for hemp cultivation are in the CBD market , said Eric Steenstra , president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp .
The remaining 20 % grow hemp for its fiber , used in everything from fabric to construction materials , or its grain , which is added to health foods .
But hemp is a notoriously fickle crop .
Conditions such as sunlight , moisture and soil composition determine its ratio of THC to CBD .
Choosing the right harvesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within acceptable THC levels .
Under the draft USDA rules , farmers have no wiggle room .
They must harvest within 15 days of testing their crop for THC , and the samples must be sent to a lab certified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration .
Samples must be from the top of the plant , where THC levels are highest , and the final measurement must include not just THC , but also THCA , a nonpsychoactive component .
Crops that test above 0.3 % for the two combined must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % would be considered in “ negligent violation , ” and those with repeated violations could be suspended from farming hemp .
In addition , a pilot program for federal crop insurance that would be available to hemp growers in some states specifies that crops lost because of high THC levels won ’ t be covered .
Those provisions are causing alarm among growers and states with pilot hemp programs allowed under the 2014 Farm Bill .
Some states allow THC levels above 0.3 % , and not all include THCA in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for growers after THC testing .
Farmers are lobbying for a 1 % THC limit and a 30-day harvest window to give them more flexibility while remaining well under THC levels that can get people high .
The draft regulations don ’ t “ seem to be informed by the reality of the crop , ” said Jesse Richardson , who with his brother sells CBD-infused teas and capsules under the brand The Brothers Apothecary .
Growers are also worried about the proposed rule requiring that all THC testing be done in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them .
Some states have only one , which would serve hundreds of growers in a short harvest window .
Concerns also have emerged about the workload the draft rules would place on states .
Many do random sampling for THC levels , but the USDA would require five samples from every hemp lot — a burden for state agricultural departments , said DeLucia , of the national ag agencies group .
If federal rules are too onerous and expensive , some states might drop their hemp programs .
In those cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licenses with the USDA , and at this stage it ’ s unclear how U.S. officials would manage or pay for a nationwide licensing program , DeLucia said .
Under the 2018 Farm Bill , the USDA must approve state plans for hemp programs .
Louisiana , Ohio and New Jersey last month were the first to get the green light — but those plans might need to be reworked after final rules are written .
Sean Walton is a researcher and journalist for The Daily Sheeple .
Send tips to sean.walton @ @ @

By Sean Walton
Hemp growers and entrepreneurs who were joyous a year ago after U.S. lawmakers reclassified the plant as a legal agricultural crop now are worried their businesses could be crippled if federal policymakers move ahead with draft regulations.
Licenses for hemp cultivation topped a half-million acres last year, more than 450% above 2018 levels, so there’s intense interest in the rules the U.S. government is creating. Critical comments on the draft have poured in from hemp farmers, processors, retailers and state governments.
Growers are concerned the government wants to use a heavy hand that could result in many crops failing required tests and being destroyed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency writing the rules, estimates 20% of hemp lots would fail under the proposed regulations.
Their business is to support farmers — and not punish farmers — and the rules as they’re written right now punish farmers,” said Dove Oldham, who last year grew an acre of hemp on her family farm in Grants Pass. “There’s just a lot of confusion, and people are just looking for leadership.”
The USDA did not respond to the criticism but has taken the unusual step of extending the public comment period by a month, until Jan. 29. The agency told The Associated Press it will analyze information from this year’s growing season before releasing its final rules, which would take effect in 2021.
Agricultural officials in states that run pilot hemp cultivation programs under an earlier federal provision are weighing in with formal letters to the USDA.
There are 46 states where hemp is legal, and I’m going to say that every single state has raised concerns to us about something within the rule. They might be coming from different perspectives, but every state has raised concerns,” said Aline DeLucia, director of public policy for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Most of the anxiety involves how the federal government plans to test for THC, the high-inducing compound found in marijuana and hemp, both cannabis plants. The federal government and most states consider plants with tiny amounts — 0.3% or less — to be hemp. Anything above that is marijuana and illegal under federal law.
Yet another cannabis compound has fueled the explosion in hemp cultivation, cannabidiol, or CBD, is marketed as a health and wellness aid and infused in everything from food and drinks to lotions, toothpaste and pet treats.
Many have credited CBD with helping ease pain, increase sleep and reduce anxiety. But scientists caution not enough is known about its health effects, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year targeted nearly two dozen companies for making CBD health claims.
Still, the CBD market is increasing at a triple-digit rate and could have $20 billion in sales by 2024, according to a recent study by BDS Analytics, a marketing analysis firm that tracks cannabis industry trends.
About 80% of the 18,000 farmers licensed for hemp cultivation are in the CBD market, said Eric Steenstra, president of the advocacy group Vote Hemp. The remaining 20% grow hemp for its fiber, used in everything from fabric to construction materials, or its grain, which is added to health foods.
But hemp is a notoriously fickle crop. Conditions such as sunlight, moisture and soil composition determine its ratio of THC to CBD. Choosing the right harvesting window is critical to ensuring it stays within acceptable THC levels.
Under the draft USDA rules, farmers have no wiggle room. They must harvest within 15 days of testing their crop for THC, and the samples must be sent to a lab certified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Samples must be from the top of the plant, where THC levels are highest, and the final measurement must include not just THC, but also THCA, a nonpsychoactive component.
Crops that test above 0.3% for the two combined must be destroyed. Growers with crops above 0.5% would be considered in “negligent violation,” and those with repeated violations could be suspended from farming hemp.
In addition, a pilot program for federal crop insurance that would be available to hemp growers in some states specifies that crops lost because of high THC levels won’t be covered.
Those provisions are causing alarm among growers and states with pilot hemp programs allowed under the 2014 Farm Bill. Some states allow THC levels above 0.3%, and not all include THCA in that calculation. Many permit more harvesting time for growers after THC testing.
Farmers are lobbying for a 1% THC limit and a 30-day harvest window to give them more flexibility while remaining well under THC levels that can get people high.
The draft regulations don’t “seem to be informed by the reality of the crop,” said Jesse Richardson, who with his brother sells CBD-infused teas and capsules under the brand The Brothers Apothecary.
If no one can produce (federally) compliant hemp flower, then there will be no CBD oil on the market.
Growers are also worried about the proposed rule requiring that all THC testing be done in a DEA-certified lab because there are so few of them. Some states have only one, which would serve hundreds of growers in a short harvest window.
Concerns also have emerged about the workload the draft rules would place on states. Many do random sampling for THC levels, but the USDA would require five samples from every hemp lot — a burden for state agricultural departments, said DeLucia, of the national ag agencies group.
If federal rules are too onerous and expensive, some states might drop their hemp programs. In those cases, farmers would have to apply for licenses with the USDA, and at this stage it’s unclear how U.S. officials would manage or pay for a nationwide licensing program, DeLucia said.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill, the USDA must approve state plans for hemp programs. Louisiana, Ohio and New Jersey last month were the first to get the green light — but those plans might need to be reworked after final rules are written.
What we don’t want to see is states having to write their rules and then have to change the rules again and rewrite them” after 2021, said Steenstra, of Vote Hemp.
Sean Walton is a researcher and journalist for The Daily Sheeple. Send tips to sean.walton@thedailysheeple.com.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-01-16--Doublespeak on the Real Animal Farm

Doublespeak on the Real Animal Farm

Doublespeak is language that obscures the meaning of words , in an effort to make the truth sound more agreeable @ @ @ @ @ by George Orwell ’ s 1949 dystopian novel 1984 , and since then , doublespeak @ @ @ @ @ marketing efforts – particularly in the animal agriculture industry .
The meat industry uses doublespeak @ @ @ @ @ “ humane ” when referring to slaughter .
The dairy industry uses flowery language like @ @ @ @ @ imagery of cows in green pastures in their advertisements .
This stands in stark contrast @ @ @ @ @ farmed milk , and the abuse that has been revealed at operations like Fairlife .
@ @ @ @ @ , too .
“ Cage-Free ” eggs makes it sound like the birds have total @ @ @ @ @ still in overcrowded factory farm conditions .
The fishing industry uses terms like “ dolphin @ @ @ @ @ Marine Stewardship Council ( or MSC ) certified environmentally-friendly fish when these terms are incredibly @ @ @ @ @ to bycatch and overfishing , neither of those promises hold any merit .

Doublespeak is language that obscures the meaning of words, in an effort to make the truth sound more agreeable. The term is inspired by George Orwell’s 1949 dystopian novel 1984, and since then, doublespeak has found its way into marketing efforts – particularly in the animal agriculture industry.
The meat industry uses doublespeak by using terms such as “humane” when referring to slaughter. The dairy industry uses flowery language like “caring dairy” and imagery of cows in green pastures in their advertisements. This stands in stark contrast to the reality of factory farmed milk, and the abuse that has been revealed at operations like Fairlife. Eggs are marketed with newspeak, too. “Cage-Free” eggs makes it sound like the birds have total freedom, when most are still in overcrowded factory farm conditions. The fishing industry uses terms like “dolphin safe” tuna, and Marine Stewardship Council (or MSC) certified environmentally-friendly fish when these terms are incredibly difficult to regulate. Due to bycatch and overfishing, neither of those promises hold any merit.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-01-16--Who Is Really Behind The “Nazi Flag Incident” In Australia?

A story out of The Age website that broke 13 January 2020 states “ Couple flies Nazi flag over Victorian home.
” A couple , stating to be German , have been flying a National Socialist German flag on their private property for several weeks .
Their residence is located in the Mallee town of Beulah , part of north-west Victoria .
It is reported that several complaints have been filed by neighbors and the flying of the flag has sparked a furor among politicians and the Anti-Defamation Commission .
If you do a web search you will see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several online news sources .
This incident seems just a little too convenient to me and has set off my Jewdar .
The chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission , Dr Dvir Abramovich , who has been campaigning nationally to ban the sale and public displays of Nazi materials and insignia , described the flag as a “ stomach-turning outrage that is a stain on our community ” .
“ In the aftermath of the massacres in Christchurch , Halle , El Paso , San Diego and Pittsburgh , perpetrated by white supremacists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia , we should be alarmed about anyone who so openly identifies with the unspeakable crimes of the Third Reich .
“ This goes beyond owners ’ rights , and we all have a responsibility to speak up when such hateful acts take place.
” When State Parliament resumes this year , Dr Abramovich will call on the government and the opposition to immediately pass legislation banning the public display of Nazi insignia .
Of course this is the standard over-the-top rhetoric that can be expected from someone in the great Jewish war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident conveniently gives the Jews the ammunition they need to pass even further restrictions on Australian ’ s freedom of speech .
But there is more .
It has been referred to the legal and social issues committee in the lower house and a bill could be debated next year .
It is expected the committee will look at the public display of paraphernalia such as swastikas .
It often pays to dig a little deeper into such stories .
In a related article Fiona Patten defends the anti-vilification legislation she is pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and the disabled , but is that really what this legislation is for or is it to further promote unhealthy lifestyles and bring about further restrictions on free speech ?
Is “ vilification ” just another code word for “ hate speech , ” a weaponized term Jews and radicals promote every chance they get .
Anti-vilification laws set an important bar as to the type of conduct we will not tolerate in our society .
Our plan is a relatively simple one : to extend Victoria ’ s existing anti-vilification framework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vilification based on gender , disability or sexuality .
It is a response to the seemingly unfettered abuse of women online – often in the form of rape and death threats ; and violent hate crime directed at the LGBTIQ+ community , who bear a one in five chance of being victims of physical violence in any given year .
The Bill also extends protections to people with a disability .
In recognising the increasing prevalence of online vilification , the Bill introduces new powers to identify anonymous trolls .
A critique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made fairly , would not conflate vilification with discrimination – a common and misleading theme in opposition .
Vilification and discrimination are distinctly different things , with vilification being the worst extreme .
Vilification laws deal principally with the incitement of violence and hatred against a class of people , just because of who they are… …To my way of thinking , addressing conduct that “ is likely to ” incite violence [ pre-crime ] , rather than waiting for a vicious assault to actually happen , makes sense .
The most important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections to the classes of vulnerable Victorians who are experiencing vilification .
Like any private member ’ s Bill , this is a vehicle for change .
I am very pleased that the government has acknowledged the need for reform and the desire to find a solution in referring my Racial and Religious Tolerance Amendment Bill 2019 to a Parliamentary Inquiry .
That inquiry will resolve the nuts and bolts and I encourage those radical bedfellows to contribute .
“ Radical bedfellows ?
” Hmmm .
What is the background of Fiona Patten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Victoria ?
Her parents are reported to be Scottish .
She is also reported to have traveled around a lot as a child , since her father was in the military .
She attended both Hawker College in Canberra and the University of Canberra .
She graduated with qualifications in fashion design and started her own fashion label , Body Politics .
The largest clientele for her fashions were sexworkers [ prostitutes ] .
Patten became interested in sex workers ’ rights , eventually joining Workers in Sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited brothels to teach prostitutes about safe-sex practices .
From 1990 to 1992 Patten was a sex worker herself .
After working as a female escort in Cairns , Queensland , Patten quit sex work in 1992 and continued in sex education [ I wonder if she ever met with Jeffrey Epstein or one of his clients ? ]
.
In 1992 , Patten and her partner , Robbie Swan , established the Eros Association , a peak body for the adult industry , extending interests into publications , public relations , business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company established the first National Museum of Erotica , dedicated to the history of erotica and the preservation of erotic art , literature , film and photography .
While the physical location was later closed , the “ collection ” survived and continues to grow and has maintained a virtual presence on the internet [ porn ] .
To continue quoting from the “ Nazi flag ” article :

A story out of The Age website that broke 13 January 2020 states “Couple flies Nazi flag over Victorian home.” A couple, stating to be German, have been flying a National Socialist German flag on their private property for several weeks. Their residence is located in the Mallee town of Beulah, part of north-west Victoria. It is reported that several complaints have been filed by neighbors and the flying of the flag has sparked a furor among politicians and the Anti-Defamation Commission. If you do a web search you will see that the story has been picked up by several online news sources.
When contacted by The Age, home owner Cheryl Lawdorn, who bought the house with her partner last year, defended her right to fly the flag over her own home because of her German ancestry.
This incident seems just a little too convenient to me and has set off my Jewdar.
The chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr Dvir Abramovich, who has been campaigning nationally to ban the sale and public displays of Nazi materials and insignia, described the flag as a “stomach-turning outrage that is a stain on our community”. “In the aftermath of the massacres in Christchurch, Halle, El Paso, San Diego and Pittsburgh, perpetrated by white supremacists, and a dramatic surge in anti-Semitism in Australia, we should be alarmed about anyone who so openly identifies with the unspeakable crimes of the Third Reich. “This goes beyond owners’ rights, and we all have a responsibility to speak up when such hateful acts take place.” When State Parliament resumes this year, Dr Abramovich will call on the government and the opposition to immediately pass legislation banning the public display of Nazi insignia.
Of course this is the standard over-the-top rhetoric that can be expected from someone in the great Jewish war against anti-semitism. And, this flag-flying incident conveniently gives the Jews the ammunition they need to pass even further restrictions on Australian’s freedom of speech. But there is more.
The furore over the flag comes as the state government prepares to review Victoria’s anti-vilification laws after Reason Party MP Fiona Patten pushed to widen the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. Ms Patten’s bill aims to widen the state’s legislation to include hate speech targeting people for their gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. At present, laws only covers racial and religious vilification and have resulted in just one prosecution in 17 years.
It has been referred to the legal and social issues committee in the lower house and a bill could be debated next year. It is expected the committee will look at the public display of paraphernalia such as swastikas. It often pays to dig a little deeper into such stories. In a related article Fiona Patten defends the anti-vilification legislation she is pushing. She throws in there protection for women and the disabled, but is that really what this legislation is for or is it to further promote unhealthy lifestyles and bring about further restrictions on free speech? Is “vilification” just another code word for “hate speech,” a weaponized term Jews and radicals promote every chance they get. Anti-vilification laws set an important bar as to the type of conduct we will not tolerate in our society. Our plan is a relatively simple one: to extend Victoria’s existing anti-vilification framework – that protects race and religion – to vilification based on gender, disability or sexuality. It is a response to the seemingly unfettered abuse of women online – often in the form of rape and death threats; and violent hate crime directed at the LGBTIQ+ community, who bear a one in five chance of being victims of physical violence in any given year. The Bill also extends protections to people with a disability. In recognising the increasing prevalence of online vilification, the Bill introduces new powers to identify anonymous trolls. A critique of this Bill, if it were made fairly, would not conflate vilification with discrimination – a common and misleading theme in opposition. Vilification and discrimination are distinctly different things, with vilification being the worst extreme. Vilification laws deal principally with the incitement of violence and hatred against a class of people, just because of who they are… …To my way of thinking, addressing conduct that “is likely to” incite violence [pre-crime], rather than waiting for a vicious assault to actually happen, makes sense. The most important thing though, is that we extend protections to the classes of vulnerable Victorians who are experiencing vilification. Like any private member’s Bill, this is a vehicle for change. I am very pleased that the government has acknowledged the need for reform and the desire to find a solution in referring my Racial and Religious Tolerance Amendment Bill 2019 to a Parliamentary Inquiry. That inquiry will resolve the nuts and bolts and I encourage those radical bedfellows to contribute. “Radical bedfellows?” Hmmm. What is the background of Fiona Patten before she became a member of the Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Victoria? Her parents are reported to be Scottish. She is also reported to have traveled around a lot as a child, since her father was in the military. She attended both Hawker College in Canberra and the University of Canberra. She graduated with qualifications in fashion design and started her own fashion label, Body Politics. The largest clientele for her fashions were sexworkers [prostitutes]. Patten became interested in sex workers’ rights, eventually joining Workers in Sex Employment (WISE). She often visited brothels to teach prostitutes about safe-sex practices. From 1990 to 1992 Patten was a sex worker herself. After working as a female escort in Cairns, Queensland, Patten quit sex work in 1992 and continued in sex education [I wonder if she ever met with Jeffrey Epstein or one of his clients?].
In 1992, Patten and her partner, Robbie Swan, established the Eros Association, a peak body for the adult industry, extending interests into publications, public relations, business and political advocacy. In 2001 the company established the first National Museum of Erotica, dedicated to the history of erotica and the preservation of erotic art, literature, film and photography. While the physical location was later closed, the “collection” survived and continues to grow and has maintained a virtual presence on the internet [porn].
In 2009, Patten founded the Australian Sex Party, which began focusing on law reform for the sex industry, but “broadened [its] platform to include supporting voluntary euthanasia, same-sex marriage, decriminalizing cannabis for personal use, greater transparency in government through freedom of information laws, and increasing people’s right to privacy. In 2017 the party changed its name to the Reason Party and is registered as “Reason Australia.”
To continue quoting from the “Nazi flag” article:
Liberal MP James Newbury, who is the deputy chair of the legal and social issues committee, condemned the flying of the flag and said he believed it had “no place” in society. “The Nazi swastika represents racial supremacy and is in reality a symbol of mass genocide. The Victorian Parliament is currently reviewing our state’s anti-vilification laws. My view is that the flag incites hatred and has no place in our modern society,” he said. A government spokesman said: “Items that promote hatred and violence have no place in Victoria – it’s disgusting that someone thinks it’s appropriate to fly this flag.
“Last year the legislative assembly’s legal and social issues committee was asked to look at the effectiveness of existing anti-vilification laws and the possible expansion of protections.” The inquiry will look at the effectiveness and enforcement of the act, whether it should be extended to protect groups who don’t currently fall under the act, how to address online vilification and whether there is increasing vilification in Victoria. I think Australians are being played by the (((usual suspects))) using National Socialist symbolism. Once again people’s emotions are being used to gain the passage of legislation that will come back to bite them in the future.
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renegadetribune--2020-01-16--UK’s Lord Polak Says New Tory Government is Opportunity for Pro-Israel Lobbyists

( MEMO ) A veteran pro-Israel lobbyist in Westminster believes the recently-elected Conservative government represents an important opportunity to advance Israel ’ s interests amongst British decision-makers .
Lord Polak , a Tory peer , and president of Conservative Friends of Israel , was speaking to right-wing news outlet JNS days after a speech in the House of Lords in which he attacked the so-called “ singling out ” of Israel in international forums such as the United Nations .
“ I have no problem with legitimate criticism where it is due , but this obsession with Israel needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Jewish state is wrong , unjustified and plays a role in the rise and rise of anti-Semitism , ” Polak told the chamber on 7 January .
In his speech , Polak echoed a familiar complaint of the Israeli government , namely the payments made by the Palestinian Authority ( PA ) to prisoners in Israeli jails and to the families of those killed by occupation forces – what the Tory peer described as “ salaries to killers and murderers ” .
“ We must find a method by which aid payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Palestinian society , and at the same time , serve the interests of the British taxpayer , ” he added .
In his subsequent interview with JNS , Polak claimed that the substantial Conservative majority in Parliament means that now is the time to raise the issues they want and “ set an agenda ” .
“ My speech was signal that this is a priority for the pro-Israel community , ” he told the news site .
During the speech , Polak also praised the government ’ s proposed legislation attacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli human rights abuses .
“ The promise by the government to legislate against BDS [ Boycott , Divestment , Sanctions ] was a first and shows where the new government is at in relation to these sorts of issues , ” he told JNS .

(MEMO) A veteran pro-Israel lobbyist in Westminster believes the recently-elected Conservative government represents an important opportunity to advance Israel’s interests amongst British decision-makers.
Lord Polak, a Tory peer, and president of Conservative Friends of Israel, was speaking to right-wing news outlet JNS days after a speech in the House of Lords in which he attacked the so-called “singling out” of Israel in international forums such as the United Nations.
“I have no problem with legitimate criticism where it is due, but this obsession with Israel needs to be addressed. This singling out of the Jewish state is wrong, unjustified and plays a role in the rise and rise of anti-Semitism,” Polak told the chamber on 7 January.
In his speech, Polak echoed a familiar complaint of the Israeli government, namely the payments made by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to prisoners in Israeli jails and to the families of those killed by occupation forces – what the Tory peer described as “salaries to killers and murderers”.
“We must find a method by which aid payments serve the recipients who need our support in Palestinian society, and at the same time, serve the interests of the British taxpayer,” he added.
In his subsequent interview with JNS, Polak claimed that the substantial Conservative majority in Parliament means that now is the time to raise the issues they want and “set an agenda”.
“My speech was signal that this is a priority for the pro-Israel community,” he told the news site.
READ: BBC journalist deletes tweet about UK’s ‘corrupt’ relationship with Israel
During the speech, Polak also praised the government’s proposed legislation attacking the right to boycott companies complicit in Israeli human rights abuses.
“The promise by the government to legislate against BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] was a first and shows where the new government is at in relation to these sorts of issues,” he told JNS.
This article originally appeared on Middle East Monitor.
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renegadetribune--2020-01-17--Harald Sohlberg’s Fantastical Norwegian Paintings

Harald Sohlberg ( 1869 – 1935 ) , one of Norway ’ s greatest painters , created works that evoke @ @ @ @ @ Nordic landscape , from the softness of its flower fields to the harsh beauty of @ @ @ @ @ , Sohlberg strongly denied the influence of other contemporary artists , disassociating himself from discussions @ @ @ @ @ the history of art .
Instead , he relegated the origins of his artistic awakening @ @ @ @ @ to the intense stories and mythologies of the Norwegian land .
Consequently , Sohlberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ which is at once fantastical , yet familiar .
( via Dulwich Picture Gallery )

Harald Sohlberg (1869 – 1935), one of Norway’s greatest painters, created works that evoke the wild nature of the Nordic landscape, from the softness of its flower fields to the harsh beauty of its winters… Like Edvard Munch, Sohlberg strongly denied the influence of other contemporary artists, disassociating himself from discussions about where he belonged in the history of art. Instead, he relegated the origins of his artistic awakening to his own psyche and to the intense stories and mythologies of the Norwegian land. Consequently, Sohlberg’s paintings depict a world which is at once fantastical, yet familiar. (via Dulwich Picture Gallery)
Fisherman's cottage Summer Night Flower Meadow in the North Røros main street Night Oslo from Akershus Self-portrait Autumn Landscape Spring Evening, Akershus Fortress Mature Lands Winter Night Winter's Night in the Mountains III Mountains Winter Night in the Mountains
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renegadetribune--2020-01-17--US Clearing Anti-War Voices Off Social Media in Vast Censorship Operation

Instagram and its parent company Facebook are removing posts that appear to be in support of the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in order to comply with U.S. sanctions , a company spokesperson recently told CNN .
The Iranian government has responded by calling for legal action against Instagram , going so far as to create a portal for the users to submit posts that have been removed by the social media giant .
Iran ’ s government spokesperson , Ali Rabiei called the move “ undemocratic.
” Unlike Facebook and Twitter , Instagram is not blocked in Iran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the matter is that as long as users abide by its rules the social media platform will not seek to remove posts .
That being said , independent news outlet the Grayzone reported that Twitter suspended dozens of accounts run by people in Venezuela , Syria , and Iran—including Iran ’ s supreme leader—during the first two weeks of January .
Instagram removed Soleimani ’ s own account last April shortly after the U.S. government designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) a foreign terrorist organization .
Less publicized is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament to designate all U.S. forces as “ terrorists ” following the assassination of Soleimani .
The pressure on social media companies to give effect to U.S. sanctions has also led to the removal of posts by Instagram which were posted by outspoken critics of the IRGC , including human rights advocate Emadeddin Baghi .
Unsurprisingly , the International Federation of Journalists released a statement declaring Instagram ’ s actions as going “ against global standard principles including freedom of speech and media .
However , Instagram and Facebook are not the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be construed as supporting Soleimani .
According to the Grayzone ’ s Ben Norton , a French reader attempted to donate $ 10 to the independent media outlet , writing “ I am making this donation to The Grayzone for the sake of free speech and balanced reporting , particularly in regard to recent events in Iraq and Iran.
” PayPal then froze the payment as it did with many others .
Around the same time , Facebook also censored a Grayzone video which sought to report on Hezbollah , Iran , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN Business , Google did not comment on its policy on this issue when contacted .
However , YouTube—owned by Google—has also allegedly removed all PressTV videos with the exception of PressTV Francais .
PressTV is funded by the Iranian government and has been targeted by both Google and YouTube in the past .
A brief search by the Mind Unleashed at the time of writing was unable to locate an official PressTV YouTube channel , confirming the assertion that it has been removed .
As the Grayzone notes in its reports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time been partnering up with shadowy think-tanks , helping to assist the U.S. government in its apparent bid to control the boundaries of free speech and political dissent .
In 2018 , Facebook and Twitter jointly shut down a range of antiwar and anti-corruption pages under the guise of fighting spam accounts .
Donald Trump ’ s recent warning to Iran not to shut down its Internet makes little sense in the context of what has been described above .
According to the U.S. government , Iranians should not be restricted in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usage advances the agenda of the U.S. foreign policy establishment .

By Darius Shahtahmasebi, The Mind Unleashed
Instagram and its parent company Facebook are removing posts that appear to be in support of the late Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in order to comply with U.S. sanctions, a company spokesperson recently told CNN.
We operate under U.S. sanctions laws, including those related to the U.S. government’s designation of the IRGC and its leadership,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The Iranian government has responded by calling for legal action against Instagram, going so far as to create a portal for the users to submit posts that have been removed by the social media giant. Iran’s government spokesperson, Ali Rabiei called the move “undemocratic.”
Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Instagram is not blocked in Iran. Despite this, Twitter’s position on the matter is that as long as users abide by its rules the social media platform will not seek to remove posts. That being said, independent news outlet the Grayzone reported that Twitter suspended dozens of accounts run by people in Venezuela, Syria, and Iran—including Iran’s supreme leader—during the first two weeks of January.
Instagram removed Soleimani’s own account last April shortly after the U.S. government designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization. Less publicized is the recent decision by Iran’s parliament to designate all U.S. forces as “terrorists” following the assassination of Soleimani.
The pressure on social media companies to give effect to U.S. sanctions has also led to the removal of posts by Instagram which were posted by outspoken critics of the IRGC, including human rights advocate Emadeddin Baghi. Unsurprisingly, the International Federation of Journalists released a statement declaring Instagram’s actions as going “against global standard principles including freedom of speech and media.
However, Instagram and Facebook are not the only companies cracking down on speech that could be construed as supporting Soleimani. According to the Grayzone’s Ben Norton, a French reader attempted to donate $10 to the independent media outlet, writing “I am making this donation to The Grayzone for the sake of free speech and balanced reporting, particularly in regard to recent events in Iraq and Iran.”
PayPal then froze the payment as it did with many others.
This is Orwellian. PayPal keeps blocking small donations from our readers to @TheGrayzoneNews. Why? They mention the word in "Iran," praising our coverage of US warmongering against Iran One of the donations frozen by @PayPal even mentioned "free speech"!https://t.co/79uxrXLQqf — Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) January 13, 2020
Around the same time, Facebook also censored a Grayzone video which sought to report on Hezbollah, Iran, and U.S. president Donald Trump.
According to CNN Business, Google did not comment on its policy on this issue when contacted. However, YouTube—owned by Google—has also allegedly removed all PressTV videos with the exception of PressTV Francais. PressTV is funded by the Iranian government and has been targeted by both Google and YouTube in the past. A brief search by the Mind Unleashed at the time of writing was unable to locate an official PressTV YouTube channel, confirming the assertion that it has been removed.
As the Grayzone notes in its reports, Silicon Valley Tech companies have for some time been partnering up with shadowy think-tanks, helping to assist the U.S. government in its apparent bid to control the boundaries of free speech and political dissent. In 2018, Facebook and Twitter jointly shut down a range of antiwar and anti-corruption pages under the guise of fighting spam accounts.
Donald Trump’s recent warning to Iran not to shut down its Internet makes little sense in the context of what has been described above. According to the U.S. government, Iranians should not be restricted in their usage of the internet—but only if that usage advances the agenda of the U.S. foreign policy establishment.
By Darius Shahtahmasebi | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com
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renegadetribune--2020-01-17--The Trump Administration Wants to Reverse Round-Up Verdict, Protecting Bayer and Monsanto

After Bayer AG , which recently acquired the Round-Up herbicide in a $ 63 billion buyout of Monsanto , has once again been found guilty in a California court for not informing customers that their product can cause cancer .
The Trump Administration on the other hand , wants that ruling overturned .
In August of 2018 , Monsanto lost their first big lawsuit alleging that the active ingredient of their Round-Up herbicide causes cancer .
Dewayne Johnson , a groundskeeper in California , successfully argued that Monsanto had hidden evidence of a link to cancer in past documents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma .
The California jury decided that the Monsanto company had acted with “ malice ” and was ordered to pay $ 289 million in damages , still arguing that glyphosate , the active ingredient in Round-Up “ does not cause cancer.
” Ever since that day , thousands of plaintiffs have began suing Monsanto for causing their non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma .
One of those plaintiffs is Edwin Hardeman , who was the first to challenge Monsanto in a federal court .
The judge overseeing Edwin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monsanto ’ s past , Hardeman ’ s “ personal history ” , and information about regulatory decisions , barring him from talking about anything besides whether Round-Up caused his cancer .
Despite what his attorneys argued was a huge disadvantage , he was still able to get his point across , won the suit against Monsanto , and was awarded $ 25 million .
“ Although the evidence that Roundup causes cancer is quite equivocal , there is strong evidence from which a jury could conclude that Monsanto does not particularly care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people cancer , focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about the issue.
” – Edwin Hardeman However , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) and Justice Department want to see that ruling overturned by a higher court , according to a Ninth Circuit court brief filed in December .
Bayer ’ s stock soared immediately thereafter .
This decision isn ’ t surprising seeing as though Trump ran his whole campaign on the economy , not environmental or health safety .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost half of Trump ’ s EPA appointees have previous industry ties , with about one-third previously working as lawyers or lobbyists for chemical or fossil fuels companies like Monsanto .
Twenty-four ethics waivers were signed by Trump pick Don McGahn allowing former industry members to oversee the industries they used to work for .
During Obama ’ s administration , almost seventy of those waivers were signed .
In November , a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump Administration had unlawfully excluded millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review , including common products such as fire retardant , house paint , and insulation .
The Trump Administrations argument as to why the Hardman case should be ignored is that the Trump EPA does not classify glyphosate as a carcinogen , and therefor Bayer and Monsanto have no need to label it as such .
However , a plethora of research shows the opposite .
In a recent 2019 meta-analysis , scientists found that glyphosate exposure could raise the risk of developing non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma cancer by as much as 41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with findings from experimental animal and mechanistic studies , our current meta-analysis of human epidemiological studies suggests a compelling link between exposures to GBHs and increased risk for NHL.
” – Luoping Zhang , Study Author Another recent study from Environmental Sciences Europe found that the EPA generally bases their conclusions on studies done by regulatory agencies , while ignoring independent and peer-reviews studies , “ of which 70 % were positive ” for a glyphosate-cancer link .
“ EPA ’ s evaluation was focused on typical , general population dietary exposures assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take into account , nor address generally higher occupational exposures and risks.
” – Charles M. Benbrook , Study Author It doesn ’ t appear that the Trump Administration will allow Bayer ’ s stock to go down without a fight , but I have a feeling that isn ’ t going to stop victims of Round-Up from seeking justice .
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times .
If you would like to see more of his work , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the free speech social network Minds .
This article ( The Trump Administration Wants to Reverse Round-Up Verdict , Protecting Bayer and Monsanto ) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .

By Phillip Schneider
After Bayer AG, which recently acquired the Round-Up herbicide in a $63 billion buyout of Monsanto, has once again been found guilty in a California court for not informing customers that their product can cause cancer. The Trump Administration on the other hand, wants that ruling overturned.
In August of 2018, Monsanto lost their first big lawsuit alleging that the active ingredient of their Round-Up herbicide causes cancer. Dewayne Johnson, a groundskeeper in California, successfully argued that Monsanto had hidden evidence of a link to cancer in past documents and that Round-Up was the only possible cause of his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The California jury decided that the Monsanto company had acted with “malice” and was ordered to pay $289 million in damages, still arguing that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up “does not cause cancer.”
Ever since that day, thousands of plaintiffs have began suing Monsanto for causing their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. One of those plaintiffs is Edwin Hardeman, who was the first to challenge Monsanto in a federal court.
The judge overseeing Edwin’s suit even restricted him from discussing Monsanto’s past, Hardeman’s “personal history”, and information about regulatory decisions, barring him from talking about anything besides whether Round-Up caused his cancer. Despite what his attorneys argued was a huge disadvantage, he was still able to get his point across, won the suit against Monsanto, and was awarded $25 million.
“Although the evidence that Roundup causes cancer is quite equivocal, there is strong evidence from which a jury could conclude that Monsanto does not particularly care whether its product is in fact giving people cancer, focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about the issue.” – Edwin Hardeman
However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Justice Department want to see that ruling overturned by a higher court, according to a Ninth Circuit court brief filed in December. Bayer’s stock soared immediately thereafter.
This decision isn’t surprising seeing as though Trump ran his whole campaign on the economy, not environmental or health safety. According to a 2017 Associated Press analysis, almost half of Trump’s EPA appointees have previous industry ties, with about one-third previously working as lawyers or lobbyists for chemical or fossil fuels companies like Monsanto.
Twenty-four ethics waivers were signed by Trump pick Don McGahn allowing former industry members to oversee the industries they used to work for. During Obama’s administration, almost seventy of those waivers were signed.
In November, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump Administration had unlawfully excluded millions of tons of toxic materials from undergoing safety review, including common products such as fire retardant, house paint, and insulation.
The Trump Administrations argument as to why the Hardman case should be ignored is that the Trump EPA does not classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, and therefor Bayer and Monsanto have no need to label it as such.
However, a plethora of research shows the opposite. In a recent 2019 meta-analysis, scientists found that glyphosate exposure could raise the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer by as much as 41%.
“Overall, in accordance with findings from experimental animal and mechanistic studies, our current meta-analysis of human epidemiological studies suggests a compelling link between exposures to GBHs and increased risk for NHL.” – Luoping Zhang, Study Author
Another recent study from Environmental Sciences Europe found that the EPA generally bases their conclusions on studies done by regulatory agencies, while ignoring independent and peer-reviews studies, “of which 70% were positive” for a glyphosate-cancer link.
“EPA’s evaluation was focused on typical, general population dietary exposures assuming legal, food-crop uses, and did not take into account, nor address generally higher occupational exposures and risks.” – Charles M. Benbrook, Study Author
It doesn’t appear that the Trump Administration will allow Bayer’s stock to go down without a fight, but I have a feeling that isn’t going to stop victims of Round-Up from seeking justice.
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times. If you would like to see more of his work, you can visit his website, or follow him on the free speech social network Minds.
This article (The Trump Administration Wants to Reverse Round-Up Verdict, Protecting Bayer and Monsanto) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.
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Author: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: Thanks for being a reader of this site. Your contributions make this all possible. You can send support to: Kyle Hunt, PO Box 1052, Sorrento FL 32776. Bitcoin address: 1AfppjYZddJzc2C15PXKMsnyBPjPJQezwA . CashApp: https://cash.app/$thekylehunt


renegadetribune--2020-01-17--How Perseus Slew the Gorgon

How Perseus Slew the Gorgon

by Charles Kingsley From The Heroes ( Or , Greek Fairy Tales for my Children ) [ 1901 ] SO Perseus started on his journey , going dry-shod over land and sea ; and his heart was high and joyful , for the winged sandals bore him each day a seven days ’ journey .
And he went by Cythnus , and by Ceos , and the pleasant Cyclades to Attica ; and past Athens and Thebes , and the Copaic lake , and up the vale of Cephissus , and past the peaks of Œta and Pindus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sunny hills of Greece were behind him , and before him were the wilds of the north .
Then he passed the Thracian mountains , and many a barbarous tribe , Pæons and Dardans and Triballi , till he came to the Ister stream , and the dreary Scythian plains .
And he walked across the Ister dry-shod , and away through the moors and fens , day and night toward the bleak northwest , turning neither to the right hand nor the left , till he came to the Unshapen Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name .
And seven days he walked through it , on a path which few can tell ; for those who have trodden it like least to speak of it , and those who go there again in dreams are glad enough when they awake ; till he came to the edge of the everlasting night , where the air was full of feathers , and the soil was hard with ice ; and there at last he found the three Grey Sisters , by the shore of the freezing sea , nodding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneath the cold white winter moon ; and they chanted a low song together , “ Why the old times were better than the new.
” There was no living thing around them , not a fly , not a moss upon the rocks .
Neither seal nor sea-gull dare come near , lest the ice should clutch them in its claws .
The surge broke up in foam , but it fell again in flakes of snow ; and it frosted the hair of the three Grey Sisters , and the bones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They passed the eye from one to the other , but for all that they could not see ; and they passed the tooth from one to the other , but for all that they could not eat ; and they sat in the full glare of the moon , but they were none the warmer for her beams .
And Perseus pitied the three Grey Sisters ; but they did not pity themselves .
So he said , “ Oh , venerable mothers , wisdom is the daughter of old age .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tell me , if you can , the path to the Gorgon.
” Then one cried , “ Who is this who reproaches us with old age ?
” And another , “ This is the voice of one of the children of men.
” And he , “ I do not reproach , but honour your old age , and I am one of the sons of men and of the heroes .
The rulers of Olympus have sent me to you to ask the way to the Gorgon.
” Then one– @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and all new things are bad.
” And another– “ We hate your rulers , and the heroes , and all the children of men .
We are the kindred of the Titans , and the Giants , and the Gorgons , and the ancient monsters of the deep.
” And another– “ Who is this rash and insolent man who pushes unbidden into our world ?
” And the first– “ There never was such a world as ours , nor will be ; if we let him see it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one cried , “ Give me the eye , that I may see him ; ” and another , “ Give me the tooth , that I may bite him.
” But Perseus , when he saw that they were foolish and proud , and did not love the children of men , left off pitying them , and said to himself , “ Hungry men must needs be hasty ; if I stay making many words here , I shall be starved.
” Then he stepped close to them , and watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hand .
And as they groped about between themselves , he held out his own hand gently , till one of them put the eye into it , fancying that it was the hand of her sister .
Then he sprang back , and laughed , and cried , – “ Cruel and proud old women , I have your eye ; and I will throw it into the sea , unless you tell me the path to the Gorgon , and swear to me that you tell me right.
” Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scolded ; but in vain .
They were forced to tell the truth , though when they told it , Perseus could hardly make out the road .
“ You must go , ” they said , “ foolish boy , to the southward , into the ugly glare of the sun , till you come to Atlas the Giant , who holds the heaven and the earth apart .
And you must ask his daughters , the Hesperides , who are young and foolish like yourself .
And now give us back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the rest.
” So Perseus gave them back their eye ; but instead of using it , they nodded and fell fast asleep , and were turned into blocks of ice , till the tide came up and washed them all away .
And now they float up and down like icebergs forever , weeping whenever they meet the sunshine , and the fruitful summer and the warm south wind , which fill young hearts with joy .
But Perseus leaped away to the southward , leaving the snow and the ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hyperboreans , and the tin isles , and the long Iberian shore ; while the sun rose higher day by day upon a bright blue summer sea .
And the terns and the sea-gulls swept laughing round his head , and called to him to stop and play , and the dolphins gambolled up as he passed , and offered to carry him on their backs .
And all night long the sea-nymphs sang sweetly , and the Tritons blew upon their conchs , as they played round Galatæa their queen , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by day the sun rose higher , and leaped more swiftly into the sea at night , and more swiftly out of the sea at dawn ; while Perseus skimmed over the billows like a sea-gull , and his feet were never wetted ; and leapt on from wave to wave , and his limbs were never weary , till he saw far away a mighty mountain , all rose-red in the setting sun .
Its feet were wrapped in forests , and its head in wreaths of cloud ; and Perseus knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heavens and the earth apart .
He came to the mountain , and leapt on shore , and wandered upward , among pleasant valleys and waterfalls , and tall trees and strange ferns and flowers ; but there was no smoke rising from any glen , nor house , nor sign of man .
At last he heard sweet voices singing ; and he guessed that he was come to the garden of the Nymphs , the daughters of the Evening Star .
They sang like nightingales among the thickets , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the words which they spoke he could not understand ; no , nor no man after him for many a hundred years .
So he stepped forward and saw them dancing , hand in hand around the charmed tree , which bent under its golden fruit ; and round the tree-foot was coiled the dragon , old Ladon the sleepless snake , who lies there for ever , listening to the song of the maidens , blinking and watching with dry bright eyes .
Then Perseus stopped , not because he feared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bashful before those fair maids ; but when they saw him , they too stopped , and called to him with trembling voices , – “ Who are you ?
Are you Heracles the mighty , who will come to rob our garden , and carry off our golden fruit ?
” And he answered , – “ I am not Heracles the mighty , and I want none of your golden fruit .
Tell me , fair nymphs , the way which leads to the Gorgon , that I may go on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not yet , not yet , fair boy ; come dance with us around the tree in the garden which knows no winter , the home of the south wind and the sun .
Come hither and play with us awhile ; we have danced alone here for a thousand years , and our hearts are weary with longing for a playfellow .
So come , come , come !
” “ I can not dance with you , fair maidens ; for I must do the errand of the Immortals .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lest I wander and perish in the waves.
” Then they sighed and wept ; and answered : – “ The Gorgon !
she will freeze you into stone.
” “ It is better to die like a hero than to live like an ox in a stall .
The Immortals have lent me weapons , and they will give me wit to use them.
” Then they sighed again and answered : “ Fair boy , if you are bent on your own ruin , be it so .
We know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we will ask the giant Atlas , above upon the mountain peak , the brother of our father , the silver Evening Star .
He sits aloft and sees across the ocean , and far away into the Unshapen Land.
” So they went up the mountain to Atlas their uncle , and Perseus went up with them .
And they found the giant kneeling , as he held the heavens and the earth apart .
They asked him , and he answered mildly , pointing to the sea-board with his mighty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gorgons lying on an island far away , but this youth can never come near them , unless he has the hat of darkness , which whosoever wears can not be seen.
” Then cried Perseus , “ Where is that hat , that I may find it ?
” But the giant smiled .
“ No living mortal can find that hat , for it lies in the depths of Hades , in the regions of the dead .
But my nieces are immortal , and they shall fetch it for you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing and keep your faith.
” Then Perseus promised ; and the giant said : “ When you come back with the head of Medusa , you shall show me the beautiful horror ; that I may lose my feeling and my breathing , and become a stone forever ; for it is weary labor for me to hold the heavens and the earth apart.
” Then Perseus promised ; and the eldest of the nymphs went down , and into a dark cavern among the cliffs , out of which came smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mouths of Hell .
And Perseus and the nymphs sat down seven days , and waited trembling , till the nymph came up again ; and her face was pale , and her eyes dazzled with the light , for she had been long in the dreary darkness ; but in her hand was the magic hat .
Then all the nymphs kissed Perseus , and wept over him a long while ; but he was only impatient to be gone .
And at last they put the hat upon his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their sight .
But Perseus went on boldly , past many an ugly sight , far away into the heart of the Unshapen Land , beyond the streams of Ocean , to the isles where no ship cruises , where is neither night nor day , where nothing is in its right place , and nothing has a name ; till he heard the rustle of the Gorgons ’ wings and saw the glitter of their brazen talons ; and then he knew that it was time to halt , lest Medusa should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awhile with himself , and remembered Athené ’ s words .
He rose aloft into the air , and held the mirror of the shield above his head , and looked up into it that he might see all that was below him .
And he saw the three Gorgons sleeping , as huge as elephants .
He knew that they could not see him , because the hat of darkness hid him ; and yet he trembled as he sank down near them , so terrible were those brazen claws .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and lay sleeping heavily , as swine sleep , with their mighty wings outspread ; but Medusa tossed to and fro restlessly , and as she tossed , Perseus pitied her , she looked so fair and sad .
Her plumage was like the rainbow , and her face was like the face of a nymph , only her eyebrows were knit , and her lips clenched , with everlasting care and pain ; and her long neck gleamed so white in the mirror that Perseus had not the heart to strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it had been either of her sisters !
” But as he looked , from among her tresses the vipers ’ heads awoke , and peeped up with their bright dry eyes , and showed their fangs , and hissed ; and Medusa , as she tossed , threw back her wings , and showed her brazen claws ; and Perseus saw that , for all her beauty , she was as foul and venomous as the rest .
Then he came down and stepped to her boldly , and looked steadfastly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herpé stoutly once ; and he did not need to strike again .
Then he wrapped the head in the goat-skin , turning away his eyes , and sprang into the air aloft , faster than he ever sprang before .
For Medusa ’ s wings and talons rattled as she sank dead upon the rocks ; and her two foul sisters woke , and saw her lying dead .
Into the air they sprang yelling , and looked for him who had done the deed .
Thrice they swung round and round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partridge ; and thrice they snuffed round and round , like hounds who draw upon a deer .
At last they struck upon the scent of the blood , and they checked for a moment to make sure ; and then on they rushed with a fearful howl , while the wind rattled hoarse in their wings .
On they rushed , sweeping and flapping , like eagles after a hare ; and Perseus ’ blood ran cold , for all his courage , as he saw them come howling on his track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me well , now , brave sandals , for the hounds of death are at my heels !
” And well the brave sandals bore him , aloft through cloud and sunshine , across the shoreless sea ; and fast followed the hounds of Death , as the roar of their wings came down the wind .
But the roar came down fainter and fainter , and the howl of their voices died away ; for the sandals were too swift , even for Gorgons , and by nightfall they were far behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sky , till the sun sank and he saw them no more .
Then he came again to Atlas , and the garden of the Nymphs ; and when the giant heard him coming , he groaned , and said : “ Fulfil thy promise to me.
” Then Perseus held up to him the Gorgon ’ s head , and he had rest from all his toil ; for he became a crag of stone , which sleeps forever far above the clouds .
Then he thanked the Nymphs , and asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I go homeward again , for I wandered far round in coming hither ?
” And they wept and cried : “ Go home no more , but stay and play with us , the lonely maidens , who dwell forever far away from gods and men.
” But he refused , and they told him his road , and said : “ Take with you this magic fruit , which , if you eat once , you will not hunger for seven days .
For you must go eastward and eastward ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Poseidon gave to Father Zeus , when he burst open the Bosphorus and the Hellespont , and drowned the fair Lectonian land .
And Zeus took that land in exchange , a fair bargain , much bad ground for a little good , and to this day it lies waste and desert with shingle , and rock , and sand.
” Then they kissed Perseus , and wept over him , and he leapt down the mountain , and went on , lessening and lessening like a sea-gull , away and out @ @ @

by Charles Kingsley
From The Heroes (Or, Greek Fairy Tales for my Children) [1901]
SO Perseus started on his journey, going dry-shod over land and sea; and his heart was high and joyful, for the winged sandals bore him each day a seven days’ journey.
And he went by Cythnus, and by Ceos, and the pleasant Cyclades to Attica; and past Athens and Thebes, and the Copaic lake, and up the vale of Cephissus, and past the peaks of Œta and Pindus, and over the rich Thessalian plains, till the sunny hills of Greece were behind him, and before him were the wilds of the north. Then he passed the Thracian mountains, and many a barbarous tribe, Pæons and Dardans and Triballi, till he came to the Ister stream, and the dreary Scythian plains. And he walked across the Ister dry-shod, and away through the moors and fens, day and night toward the bleak northwest, turning neither to the right hand nor the left, till he came to the Unshapen Land, and the place which has no name.
And seven days he walked through it, on a path which few can tell; for those who have trodden it like least to speak of it, and those who go there again in dreams are glad enough when they awake; till he came to the edge of the everlasting night, where the air was full of feathers, and the soil was hard with ice; and there at last he found the three Grey Sisters, by the shore of the freezing sea, nodding upon a white log of drift-wood, beneath the cold white winter moon; and they chanted a low song together, “Why the old times were better than the new.”
There was no living thing around them, not a fly, not a moss upon the rocks. Neither seal nor sea-gull dare come near, lest the ice should clutch them in its claws. The surge broke up in foam, but it fell again in flakes of snow; and it frosted the hair of the three Grey Sisters, and the bones in the ice-cliff above their heads. They passed the eye from one to the other, but for all that they could not see; and they passed the tooth from one to the other, but for all that they could not eat; and they sat in the full glare of the moon, but they were none the warmer for her beams. And Perseus pitied the three Grey Sisters; but they did not pity themselves.
So he said, “Oh, venerable mothers, wisdom is the daughter of old age. You therefore should know many things. Tell me, if you can, the path to the Gorgon.”
Then one cried, “Who is this who reproaches us with old age?” And another, “This is the voice of one of the children of men.”
And he, “I do not reproach, but honour your old age, and I am one of the sons of men and of the heroes. The rulers of Olympus have sent me to you to ask the way to the Gorgon.”
Then one–“There are new rulers in Olympus, and all new things are bad.” And another–“We hate your rulers, and the heroes, and all the children of men. We are the kindred of the Titans, and the Giants, and the Gorgons, and the ancient monsters of the deep.” And another–“Who is this rash and insolent man who pushes unbidden into our world?” And the first–“There never was such a world as ours, nor will be; if we let him see it, he will spoil it all.”
Then one cried, “Give me the eye, that I may see him;” and another, “Give me the tooth, that I may bite him.” But Perseus, when he saw that they were foolish and proud, and did not love the children of men, left off pitying them, and said to himself, “Hungry men must needs be hasty; if I stay making many words here, I shall be starved.” Then he stepped close to them, and watched till they passed the eye from hand to hand. And as they groped about between themselves, he held out his own hand gently, till one of them put the eye into it, fancying that it was the hand of her sister. Then he sprang back, and laughed, and cried,–
“Cruel and proud old women, I have your eye; and I will throw it into the sea, unless you tell me the path to the Gorgon, and swear to me that you tell me right.”
Then they wept, and chattered, and scolded; but in vain.
They were forced to tell the truth, though when they told it, Perseus could hardly make out the road.
“You must go,” they said, “foolish boy, to the southward, into the ugly glare of the sun, till you come to Atlas the Giant, who holds the heaven and the earth apart. And you must ask his daughters, the Hesperides, who are young and foolish like yourself. And now give us back our eye; for we have forgotten all the rest.”
So Perseus gave them back their eye; but instead of using it, they nodded and fell fast asleep, and were turned into blocks of ice, till the tide came up and washed them all away. And now they float up and down like icebergs forever, weeping whenever they meet the sunshine, and the fruitful summer and the warm south wind, which fill young hearts with joy.
But Perseus leaped away to the southward, leaving the snow and the ice behind: past the isle of the Hyperboreans, and the tin isles, and the long Iberian shore; while the sun rose higher day by day upon a bright blue summer sea. And the terns and the sea-gulls swept laughing round his head, and called to him to stop and play, and the dolphins gambolled up as he passed, and offered to carry him on their backs. And all night long the sea-nymphs sang sweetly, and the Tritons blew upon their conchs, as they played round Galatæa their queen, in her car of pearled shells. Day by day the sun rose higher, and leaped more swiftly into the sea at night, and more swiftly out of the sea at dawn; while Perseus skimmed over the billows like a sea-gull, and his feet were never wetted; and leapt on from wave to wave, and his limbs were never weary, till he saw far away a mighty mountain, all rose-red in the setting sun. Its feet were wrapped in forests, and its head in wreaths of cloud; and Perseus knew that it was Atlas, who holds the heavens and the earth apart.
He came to the mountain, and leapt on shore, and wandered upward, among pleasant valleys and waterfalls, and tall trees and strange ferns and flowers; but there was no smoke rising from any glen, nor house, nor sign of man.
At last he heard sweet voices singing; and he guessed that he was come to the garden of the Nymphs, the daughters of the Evening Star.
They sang like nightingales among the thickets, and Perseus stopped to hear their song; but the words which they spoke he could not understand; no, nor no man after him for many a hundred years. So he stepped forward and saw them dancing, hand in hand around the charmed tree, which bent under its golden fruit; and round the tree-foot was coiled the dragon, old Ladon the sleepless snake, who lies there for ever, listening to the song of the maidens, blinking and watching with dry bright eyes.
Then Perseus stopped, not because he feared the dragon, but because he was bashful before those fair maids; but when they saw him, they too stopped, and called to him with trembling voices,–
“Who are you? Are you Heracles the mighty, who will come to rob our garden, and carry off our golden fruit?” And he answered,–
“I am not Heracles the mighty, and I want none of your golden fruit. Tell me, fair nymphs, the way which leads to the Gorgon, that I may go on my way and slay her.”
“Not yet, not yet, fair boy; come dance with us around the tree in the garden which knows no winter, the home of the south wind and the sun. Come hither and play with us awhile; we have danced alone here for a thousand years, and our hearts are weary with longing for a playfellow. So come, come, come!”
“I cannot dance with you, fair maidens; for I must do the errand of the Immortals. So tell me the way to the Gorgon, lest I wander and perish in the waves.”
Then they sighed and wept; and answered:–
“The Gorgon! she will freeze you into stone.”
“It is better to die like a hero than to live like an ox in a stall. The Immortals have lent me weapons, and they will give me wit to use them.”
Then they sighed again and answered: “Fair boy, if you are bent on your own ruin, be it so. We know not the way to the Gorgon; but we will ask the giant Atlas, above upon the mountain peak, the brother of our father, the silver Evening Star. He sits aloft and sees across the ocean, and far away into the Unshapen Land.”
So they went up the mountain to Atlas their uncle, and Perseus went up with them. And they found the giant kneeling, as he held the heavens and the earth apart.
They asked him, and he answered mildly, pointing to the sea-board with his mighty hand: “I can see the Gorgons lying on an island far away, but this youth can never come near them, unless he has the hat of darkness, which whosoever wears cannot be seen.”
Then cried Perseus, “Where is that hat, that I may find it?”
But the giant smiled. “No living mortal can find that hat, for it lies in the depths of Hades, in the regions of the dead. But my nieces are immortal, and they shall fetch it for you, if you will promise me one thing and keep your faith.”
Then Perseus promised; and the giant said: “When you come back with the head of Medusa, you shall show me the beautiful horror; that I may lose my feeling and my breathing, and become a stone forever; for it is weary labor for me to hold the heavens and the earth apart.”
Then Perseus promised; and the eldest of the nymphs went down, and into a dark cavern among the cliffs, out of which came smoke and thunder, for it was one of the mouths of Hell.
And Perseus and the nymphs sat down seven days, and waited trembling, till the nymph came up again; and her face was pale, and her eyes dazzled with the light, for she had been long in the dreary darkness; but in her hand was the magic hat.
Then all the nymphs kissed Perseus, and wept over him a long while; but he was only impatient to be gone. And at last they put the hat upon his head, and he vanished out of their sight.
But Perseus went on boldly, past many an ugly sight, far away into the heart of the Unshapen Land, beyond the streams of Ocean, to the isles where no ship cruises, where is neither night nor day, where nothing is in its right place, and nothing has a name; till he heard the rustle of the Gorgons’ wings and saw the glitter of their brazen talons; and then he knew that it was time to halt, lest Medusa should freeze him into stone.
He thought awhile with himself, and remembered Athené’s words. He rose aloft into the air, and held the mirror of the shield above his head, and looked up into it that he might see all that was below him.
And he saw the three Gorgons sleeping, as huge as elephants. He knew that they could not see him, because the hat of darkness hid him; and yet he trembled as he sank down near them, so terrible were those brazen claws.
Two of the Gorgons were foul as swine, and lay sleeping heavily, as swine sleep, with their mighty wings outspread; but Medusa tossed to and fro restlessly, and as she tossed, Perseus pitied her, she looked so fair and sad. Her plumage was like the rainbow, and her face was like the face of a nymph, only her eyebrows were knit, and her lips clenched, with everlasting care and pain; and her long neck gleamed so white in the mirror that Perseus had not the heart to strike, and said: “Ah, that it had been either of her sisters!”
But as he looked, from among her tresses the vipers’ heads awoke, and peeped up with their bright dry eyes, and showed their fangs, and hissed; and Medusa, as she tossed, threw back her wings, and showed her brazen claws; and Perseus saw that, for all her beauty, she was as foul and venomous as the rest.
Then he came down and stepped to her boldly, and looked steadfastly on his mirror, and struck with Herpé stoutly once; and he did not need to strike again.
Then he wrapped the head in the goat-skin, turning away his eyes, and sprang into the air aloft, faster than he ever sprang before.
For Medusa’s wings and talons rattled as she sank dead upon the rocks; and her two foul sisters woke, and saw her lying dead.
Into the air they sprang yelling, and looked for him who had done the deed. Thrice they swung round and round, like hawks who beat for a partridge; and thrice they snuffed round and round, like hounds who draw upon a deer. At last they struck upon the scent of the blood, and they checked for a moment to make sure; and then on they rushed with a fearful howl, while the wind rattled hoarse in their wings.
On they rushed, sweeping and flapping, like eagles after a hare; and Perseus’ blood ran cold, for all his courage, as he saw them come howling on his track; and he cried: “Bear me well, now, brave sandals, for the hounds of death are at my heels!”
And well the brave sandals bore him, aloft through cloud and sunshine, across the shoreless sea; and fast followed the hounds of Death, as the roar of their wings came down the wind. But the roar came down fainter and fainter, and the howl of their voices died away; for the sandals were too swift, even for Gorgons, and by nightfall they were far behind, two black specks in the southern sky, till the sun sank and he saw them no more.
Then he came again to Atlas, and the garden of the Nymphs; and when the giant heard him coming, he groaned, and said: “Fulfil thy promise to me.” Then Perseus held up to him the Gorgon’s head, and he had rest from all his toil; for he became a crag of stone, which sleeps forever far above the clouds.
Then he thanked the Nymphs, and asked them: “By what road shall I go homeward again, for I wandered far round in coming hither?”
And they wept and cried: “Go home no more, but stay and play with us, the lonely maidens, who dwell forever far away from gods and men.”
But he refused, and they told him his road, and said: “Take with you this magic fruit, which, if you eat once, you will not hunger for seven days. For you must go eastward and eastward ever, over the doleful Lybian shore, which Poseidon gave to Father Zeus, when he burst open the Bosphorus and the Hellespont, and drowned the fair Lectonian land. And Zeus took that land in exchange, a fair bargain, much bad ground for a little good, and to this day it lies waste and desert with shingle, and rock, and sand.”
Then they kissed Perseus, and wept over him, and he leapt down the mountain, and went on, lessening and lessening like a sea-gull, away and out to sea.
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