consciouslifenews--2020-05-05--Great News! Iceland Won’t Be Killing Any Whales This Year

( TMU ) — Iceland ’ s notorious tradition of killing whales may be finally coming to an end .
Earlier this week , one of the country ’ s two whaling companies announced that it would halt its whaling activities for good .
The announcement came mere days after Iceland said that for the second consecutive year , all whale hunts would be canceled .
IP-Utgerd , one of the main companies specializing in hunting minke whales in Iceland , told AFP that it would hang up its harpoons mainly due to regulations introduced by the Icelandic government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whaling with only a single boat in late June or early July , decided that it makes the most financial sense to simply abandon the summer season altogether rather than attempt to get around extended no-fishing coastal zones rolled out to protect marine life .
The delineation of such zones had forced the company to go further and further offshore due to the no-fishing zones , making such activities no longer financially viable in Icelandic waters , the company said .
“ I ’ m never going to hunt whales again , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s largest whaling firm called Hvalur , which specializes in hunting fin whales , is also ceasing its operations for the second year in a row due to stiff competition from Japanese whaling firms , among other reasons .
Hulvar CEO Kristján Loftsson also admitted that the coronavirus pandemic would make it “ extremely difficult , if not impossible ” for his staff to work as normal due to their close proximity and the need to uphold physical distancing guidelines .
Loftsson also said that most of the whale meat it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where it is desired as an “ iron-rich dietary supplement for anemia patients.
” However , he added that his company is unable to compete with the Japanese whaling industry which is subsidized by the country ’ s government .
According to Humane Society International , a total of 146 fin whales and six minke whales were killed in 2018 , the last year during which Iceland ’ s whaling fleet was active .
Animal rights advocates have warmly welcomed the news and trumpeted it as a signal that the whaling industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
“ This is indeed terrific news that for a second straight year , vulnerable fin whales will get a reprieve from Hvalur hf ’ s harpoons , the sole fin whaling company .
“ This said , fin whaling has been suspended in Iceland in the past , only to resume .
While it looks promising that whaling in Iceland might stop for good , the temporary cessation of fin whaling must become permanent.
” However , Arne Feuerhahn , the founder of Hard to Port , warned that whaling could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Loftsson is able to figure out a way to get around COVID-19 guidelines and find a solution to the challenges presented by Japanese firms .
He said : “ We ’ re celebrating the moment that there ’ s not going to be any whaling , but we ’ re also aware of the possibility that they ’ re going to resume next year .
“ We have to look at the past , and I know that with fin whaling , Iceland sometimes takes a pause for two years .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he [ Loftsson ] wants to keep it alive , so despite all the problems with the Japanese market , and the problems in Iceland with the [ Covid-19 ] guidelines , he might come up with a solution for it , and we could go back to whaling in 2021.
” Kitty Block , the CEO of Humane Society International , slammed Japan and Norway in a statement for defying the global moratorium on whaling and continuing to slaughter hundreds of animals every year , despite demand for the highly-subsidized whale meat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The news from Iceland marks a major turning point in the battle against whaling .
We are happy that the whaling companies there have realized the futility of this enterprise in the modern world .
”

(TMU) — Iceland’s notorious tradition of killing whales may be finally coming to an end.
Earlier this week, one of the country’s two whaling companies announced that it would halt its whaling activities for good. The announcement came mere days after Iceland said that for the second consecutive year, all whale hunts would be canceled.
IP-Utgerd, one of the main companies specializing in hunting minke whales in Iceland, told AFP that it would hang up its harpoons mainly due to regulations introduced by the Icelandic government.
The company, which had been considering whaling with only a single boat in late June or early July, decided that it makes the most financial sense to simply abandon the summer season altogether rather than attempt to get around extended no-fishing coastal zones rolled out to protect marine life.
The delineation of such zones had forced the company to go further and further offshore due to the no-fishing zones, making such activities no longer financially viable in Icelandic waters, the company said.
Managing director Gunnar Bergmann Jonsson said:
“I’m never going to hunt whales again, I’m stopping for good.”
One of Iceland's two whaling companies has announced it will stop whaling for good It is now no longer economical to kill Whales Story by Kitty Block of Humane Society . Photo by Christin Khan/NOAA Fisheries pic.twitter.com/FX4MnQB7hN — Robb Edwards 🌱 (@RobRobbEdwards) April 27, 2020
The country’s largest whaling firm called Hvalur, which specializes in hunting fin whales, is also ceasing its operations for the second year in a row due to stiff competition from Japanese whaling firms, among other reasons.
Hulvar CEO Kristján Loftsson also admitted that the coronavirus pandemic would make it “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for his staff to work as normal due to their close proximity and the need to uphold physical distancing guidelines.
Loftsson also said that most of the whale meat it specializes in procuring is sold to Japan, where it is desired as an “iron-rich dietary supplement for anemia patients.” However, he added that his company is unable to compete with the Japanese whaling industry which is subsidized by the country’s government.
According to Humane Society International, a total of 146 fin whales and six minke whales were killed in 2018, the last year during which Iceland’s whaling fleet was active.
Animal rights advocates have warmly welcomed the news and trumpeted it as a signal that the whaling industry in Iceland may have come to an end.
For the second year in a row, neither of Iceland's whaling companies will be hunting this summer. One of them has even told press that they're stopping whaling for good!#OPSociety @RacingXtinction pic.twitter.com/JyeteGUm9u — Oceanic Preservation Society / OPS (@OP_Society) April 28, 2020
Fabienne McLellan, co-director of international relations at Ocean Care, told Mongabay:
“This is indeed terrific news that for a second straight year, vulnerable fin whales will get a reprieve from Hvalur hf’s harpoons, the sole fin whaling company.
“This said, fin whaling has been suspended in Iceland in the past, only to resume. While it looks promising that whaling in Iceland might stop for good, the temporary cessation of fin whaling must become permanent.”
However, Arne Feuerhahn, the founder of Hard to Port, warned that whaling could potentially begin again next year – especially if Loftsson is able to figure out a way to get around COVID-19 guidelines and find a solution to the challenges presented by Japanese firms. He said:
“We’re celebrating the moment that there’s not going to be any whaling, but we’re also aware of the possibility that they’re going to resume next year.
“We have to look at the past, and I know that with fin whaling, Iceland sometimes takes a pause for two years.
“It’s a family business and he [Loftsson] wants to keep it alive, so despite all the problems with the Japanese market, and the problems in Iceland with the [Covid-19] guidelines, he might come up with a solution for it, and we could go back to whaling in 2021.”
Kitty Block, the CEO of Humane Society International, slammed Japan and Norway in a statement for defying the global moratorium on whaling and continuing to slaughter hundreds of animals every year, despite demand for the highly-subsidized whale meat declining.
Nevertheless, she said:
“The news from Iceland marks a major turning point in the battle against whaling. We are happy that the whaling companies there have realized the futility of this enterprise in the modern world.”


consciouslifenews--2020-05-05--‘Outrageous, Callous, and Cruel’: Seniors Rip Trump for Holding COVID-19 Relief Hostage to Push Soci

‘Outrageous, Callous, and Cruel’: Seniors Rip Trump for Holding COVID-19 Relief Hostage to Push Social Security Cuts

Grassroots advocacy groups representing millions of retirees and seniors across the United States are speaking out against and urging Congress to oppose President Donald Trump 's threat to block desperately needed Covid-19 relief legislation if it does not slash the payroll tax , which funds Social Security and Medicare .
“ It is outrageous , callous , and cruel for President Trump to hold the American people , and seniors in particular , hostage if Congress does n't go along with his plan to gut Social Security for current and future retirees , ” said Richard Fiesta , executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an organization with over four million members nationwide .
“ The president 's plan is also bad economics .
Social Security puts more than $ 800 billion into the economy each year .
Destabilizing the system when we are in the middle of an economic downtown is exactly the opposite of what we need to do , ” Fiesta added .
“ The 4.4 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans call on all members of Congress to refuse to make such a deal .
We will fight this attempt to gut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember who was willing to defend and protect our earned benefits.
” During a Fox News town hall Sunday night , Trump said he would oppose any additional coronavirus stimulus package that does not include his long-desired payroll tax cut , which would provide zero direct relief to the more than 30 million Americans who have lost their jobs over the past six weeks .
The president suggested at a press briefing last month that the tax cut should be permanent .
“ We 're not doing anything unless we get a payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just days after vowing to protect Social Security and Medicare .
Max Richtman , president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare , said in a statement Monday that Trump 's remarks “ set off alarm bells for America 's seniors and their advocates.
” “ Make no mistake : by pushing to cut off the program 's funding stream , President Trump is taking the first step toward dismantling Social Security , ” said Richtman .
“ The president 's campaign to eliminate payroll taxes is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seniors ‘ not to touch ' Social Security .
This proposal goes way beyond ‘ touching . '
Choking off Social Security 's funding stream is an existential threat to seniors ' earned benefits .
”

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consciouslifenews--2020-05-05--True Resilience Involves Pushing Forward From COVID-19, Not Just Bouncing Back

COVID-19 has set the U.S. economy on fire .
More than 30.3 million unemployment insurance claims were made over the last six weeks – the equivalent of roughly 19 % of the nation ’ s civilian workforce .
By some estimates , 12.7 million workers may have already lost their employer-provided health insurance , not counting any dependents who were covered under those plans .
And , while the pandemic is affecting everyone , everywhere , persons , communities , and businesses of color are bearing disproportionate shares of the burdens .
Given the magnitude of devastation experienced thus far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly hostile calls for the suffering to end .
Americans want to put out the fire .
And top officials at all levels of government seem quick to respond with promises that life will go “ back to normal ” in short order .
The economy , they say , will “ really bounce back ” in a matter of months .
Setting aside questions of how ( un ) realistic such promises might be , is an unqualified “ return to normal ” a good thing ?
Do we really want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , before the coronavirus hit , the U.S. was already experiencing some of the highest levels of inequality and largest racial wealth gaps in recent memory – disparities that are on track to be exacerbated by COVID-19 .
At the same time , more than one-fifth of American children already lived in poverty .
Experts suggest that food security has become an even greater issue for these children as a result of the pandemic .
Are these the “ normal ” circumstances to which we hope for an immediate return ?
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followers ) are so eager to settle for “ bouncing back ” from crises is that moving in a different direction would necessitate more short-term sacrifice .
In other words , it is neither quick nor cheap – nor always popular – to wage war on the “ institutional rigidity ” of the status quo .
Another reason is that many leaders and experts genuinely believe that bouncing back to normal is the hallmark of resilience ; and , as such , it is what we ought to aim for once the fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are weak , though the latter is especially flimsy .
In particular , a social system is not resilient because it returns to the way it was before a disaster , pandemic , or terrorist attack .
A system like that – one characterized by constancy , persistence , and the ability to go back to the way things were – is a stable system .
By contrast , a resilient system is one that , when faced with a crisis , adapts and self-organizes to become better prepared to function in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resilience involves pushing forward – building new capacity in the present to flourish in the future – not just bouncing back .
So , in what ways might we demand COVID-19 responses that contribute to transformative resilience as opposed to idle stability ?
Recently , a spate of bold proposals and guiding frameworks for approaching recovery have emerged and deserved the full attention of citizens and decision-makers in political jurisdictions everywhere .
More narrowly , a specific arena where new public policy efforts can help build resilience is enterprise ownership and design .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enterprises fail at lower rates than traditional firms during economic crises .
One reason is that worker-owners can often act more nimbly in difficult times , making short-term collective sacrifices ( e.g.
, production or salary cuts ) that promote long-term collective interests .
There are numerous mechanisms for advancing worker ownership through federal , state , and local policy .
Yet , one of the timeliest strategies might be to pass federal legislation like the United States Employee Ownership Bank Act .
The Act ( 1 ) calls for employees to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm is planned to be sold or closed , meaning that workers have the right to band together to collectively purchase the firm before it can be sold or shut down ; and ( 2 ) creates a bank to provide loans to facilitate such acquisitions , so long as the buyers are a majority ( 51 % ) of the firm ’ s employees .
Like any national-scale COVID-19 response , creating and endowing an Employee Ownership Bank will come at a large cost .
However , as March ’ s stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar “ how will you pay for it ?
” question swiftly and decisively when crisis brings mass devastation .
With the unsettling reality that scores of businesses are at risk of permanent closure due to the pandemic , it seems that more devastation – and not a return to “ normal ” – is what ’ s in store for many workers and their families in the months ahead .
Rather than sparing no expense on a bounce back , it seems like a better time to start investing in a push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in workers ’ hands are vital nodes along that headlong path .
If , following the Great Fire of 1666 , London would have simply rebuilt the same “ clogged ” , “ narrow ” combustible urban fabric that it had before , the city would have been in flames again by the time the ashes were scattered .
Instead , the 1667 Act for Rebuilding London established institutions to prevent future fires from being able to wreak the same level of havoc on the city .
The Act limited “ private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” future disasters .
As we rush to put out the fire that COVID-19 ignited on our economy , we need to take the same approach .
Resilience does not mean simply bouncing back – it is about boldly advancing into the post-crisis world with fewer vulnerabilities than we had before .
Reducing systemic inequities and building the capacity of vulnerable workers and vulnerable populations is how we become a more resilient society going forward .

COVID-19 has set the U.S. economy on fire. More than 30.3 million unemployment insurance claims were made over the last six weeks – the equivalent of roughly 19% of the nation’s civilian workforce. By some estimates, 12.7 million workers may have already lost their employer-provided health insurance, not counting any dependents who were covered under those plans. And, while the pandemic is affecting everyone, everywhere, persons, communities, and businesses of color are bearing disproportionate shares of the burdens.
Given the magnitude of devastation experienced thus far, it is not surprising to see increasingly hostile calls for the suffering to end. Americans want to put out the fire. And top officials at all levels of government seem quick to respond with promises that life will go “back to normal” in short order. The economy, they say, will “really bounce back” in a matter of months.
Setting aside questions of how (un)realistic such promises might be, is an unqualified “return to normal” a good thing? Do we really want to just “bounce back?” After all, before the coronavirus hit, the U.S. was already experiencing some of the highest levels of inequality and largest racial wealth gaps in recent memory – disparities that are on track to be exacerbated by COVID-19. At the same time, more than one-fifth of American children already lived in poverty. Experts suggest that food security has become an even greater issue for these children as a result of the pandemic. Are these the “normal” circumstances to which we hope for an immediate return?
One reason that leaders (and their loyal followers) are so eager to settle for “bouncing back” from crises is that moving in a different direction would necessitate more short-term sacrifice. In other words, it is neither quick nor cheap – nor always popular – to wage war on the “institutional rigidity” of the status quo. Another reason is that many leaders and experts genuinely believe that bouncing back to normal is the hallmark of resilience; and, as such, it is what we ought to aim for once the fire is extinguished.
Both of these justifications are weak, though the latter is especially flimsy. In particular, a social system is not resilient because it returns to the way it was before a disaster, pandemic, or terrorist attack. A system like that – one characterized by constancy, persistence, and the ability to go back to the way things were – is a stable system. By contrast, a resilient system is one that, when faced with a crisis, adapts and self-organizes to become better prepared to function in the post-crisis world. Put differently, true resilience involves pushing forward – building new capacity in the present to flourish in the future – not just bouncing back.
So, in what ways might we demand COVID-19 responses that contribute to transformative resilience as opposed to idle stability? Recently, a spate of bold proposals and guiding frameworks for approaching recovery have emerged and deserved the full attention of citizens and decision-makers in political jurisdictions everywhere. More narrowly, a specific arena where new public policy efforts can help build resilience is enterprise ownership and design. Ample research shows that worker-owned and worker-controlled enterprises fail at lower rates than traditional firms during economic crises. One reason is that worker-owners can often act more nimbly in difficult times, making short-term collective sacrifices (e.g., production or salary cuts) that promote long-term collective interests.
There are numerous mechanisms for advancing worker ownership through federal, state, and local policy. Yet, one of the timeliest strategies might be to pass federal legislation like the United States Employee Ownership Bank Act. The Act (1) calls for employees to have a right of first refusal when their firm is planned to be sold or closed, meaning that workers have the right to band together to collectively purchase the firm before it can be sold or shut down; and (2) creates a bank to provide loans to facilitate such acquisitions, so long as the buyers are a majority (51%) of the firm’s employees.
Like any national-scale COVID-19 response, creating and endowing an Employee Ownership Bank will come at a large cost. However, as March’s stimulus package demonstrated, Congress can answer the familiar “how will you pay for it?” question swiftly and decisively when crisis brings mass devastation. With the unsettling reality that scores of businesses are at risk of permanent closure due to the pandemic, it seems that more devastation – and not a return to “normal” – is what’s in store for many workers and their families in the months ahead. Rather than sparing no expense on a bounce back, it seems like a better time to start investing in a push forward. Strategies that keep firms open and in workers’ hands are vital nodes along that headlong path.
If, following the Great Fire of 1666, London would have simply rebuilt the same “clogged”, “narrow” combustible urban fabric that it had before, the city would have been in flames again by the time the ashes were scattered. Instead, the 1667 Act for Rebuilding London established institutions to prevent future fires from being able to wreak the same level of havoc on the city. The Act limited “private freedom to a degree necessary to prevent” future disasters. As we rush to put out the fire that COVID-19 ignited on our economy, we need to take the same approach. Resilience does not mean simply bouncing back – it is about boldly advancing into the post-crisis world with fewer vulnerabilities than we had before. Reducing systemic inequities and building the capacity of vulnerable workers and vulnerable populations is how we become a more resilient society going forward.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-05--Morning Inspiration: Never Stop On Your Dream (Motivational Video)

It 's a surety that once you work hard enough and stay committed you can achieve much more than you 'd ever imagine .
Putting in continued effort is a major determinant of success in any area .
“ I feel very strongly that we are who we choose to be.
” “ You 're not going to outwork me !
It 's such a simple basic concept .
The guy who is willing to hustle the most , is gon na be that guy that just gets that loose ball.
” Will Smith “ Number one , that hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that dreams come true ” Conor McGregor “ If other people are putting in a 40 hour work week and you 're putting in 100 hour work weeks , then even if you 're doing the same thing , you will achieve in a month what it takes them a year to achieve.
” Elon Musk Tags : `` featured , featured , how to accomplish goals , how to accomplish more in your lifetime , How to achieve your dreams , how to approach dreams and goals , never stop on your @

Source: Mulligan Brothers MOTIVATION
It's a surety that once you work hard enough and stay committed you can achieve much more than you'd ever imagine. Putting in continued effort is a major determinant of success in any area.
“I feel very strongly that we are who we choose to be.”
“You're not going to outwork me! It's such a simple basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most, is gonna be that guy that just gets that loose ball.” Will Smith
“Number one, that hard work pays off and number two, that dreams come true” Conor McGregor
“If other people are putting in a 40 hour work week and you're putting in 100 hour work weeks, then even if you're doing the same thing, you will achieve in a month what it takes them a year to achieve.” Elon Musk
Watch and be motivated today!!


consciouslifenews--2020-05-06--Working With Your Hands Does Wonders for Your Brain

Using our hands may actually be key to maintaining a healthy mood , and the lack of this type of activity may contribute to feelings of irritability , apathy , and depression .
When we use our hands on a task that does n't demand much cognitively , it gives the mind a chance to relax and rest .
Knowledge workers constantly use their brain and it rarely catches a break .
There is a huge sense of relief and pleasure from doing something with our hands that does n't require us to think much about anything .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offline , ” it gives it a chance to work on problems behind the scenes .
Dr. Herbert Benson wrote about this phenomenon ( and strategy ) in his book , .
When we engage in a repetitive task , completely taking our minds off whatever problem or issue we have been struggling with , the solution will often magically appear .
Working productively with our hands is profoundly pleasurable .
There is something primal about this .
We are made to be active and have actively used our hands as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With the advent of so much technology , many of us move through our days with minimal physical effort .
We push a button instead of scrubbing dishes or laundry .
Overall , we get the far less physical activity that would be optimal for our bodies and minds .
Kelly Lambert wrote about this in her book , “ What revs up the crucial effort-driven rewards circuit–the fuel , if you will–is generated by doing certain types of physical activities , especially ones that involve your hands .
It 's important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see , feel , and touch , such as knitting a sweater or tending a garden .
Such actions and their associated thoughts , plans and ultimate results change the physiology and chemical makeup of the effort-driven rewards circuit , activating it in an energized way .
I call the emotional sense of well-being that results in effort-driven rewards.
” She also links a lack of hands-on physical activity to the onset of depression , perhaps contributing to the unusually high rates of mood disorders that we see in today 's world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interactive experiences generate much more intense and pervasive reactions in your brain than the neurochemical alterations produced by a single pill .
The result ?
You begin to feel more control over your environment and more connected to the world around you .
This reduces stress and anxiety and , most important , builds resilience against the onset of depression.
” What do you normally do when you 're feeling stuck or stressed ?
For a lot of us , we default to eating comfort food , watching Netflix , scrolling through social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These things may be relaxing , sure , but we may often feel regret afterward without much brain relief .
What works for you ?
It could be anything from painting , to washing dishes , to fiddling with a motor .
The next time you are feeling stressed or stuck , try doing something with your hands .
It may be exactly what your brain and body need .
Tags : `` featured , brain hacks , brain hacks to improve productivity , featured , health benefits of using our hands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using our hands , working with hands , working with your hands

By Susan Biali | Prevent Disease
Using our hands may actually be key to maintaining a healthy mood, and the lack of this type of activity may contribute to feelings of irritability, apathy, and depression.
When we use our hands on a task that doesn't demand much cognitively, it gives the mind a chance to relax and rest. Knowledge workers constantly use their brain and it rarely catches a break.
There is a huge sense of relief and pleasure from doing something with our hands that doesn't require us to think much about anything. It's magnificent. When the brain is “offline,” it gives it a chance to work on problems behind the scenes.
Dr. Herbert Benson wrote about this phenomenon (and strategy) in his book, The Breakout Principle. When we engage in a repetitive task, completely taking our minds off whatever problem or issue we have been struggling with, the solution will often magically appear.
Working productively with our hands is profoundly pleasurable. There is something primal about this. We are made to be active and have actively used our hands as part of our daily survival for thousands of years. With the advent of so much technology, many of us move through our days with minimal physical effort. We push a button instead of scrubbing dishes or laundry. Overall, we get the far less physical activity that would be optimal for our bodies and minds.
Kelly Lambert wrote about this in her book, Lifting Depression: A Neuroscientist's Hands-On Approach to Activating Your Brain's Healing Power:
“What revs up the crucial effort-driven rewards circuit–the fuel, if you will–is generated by doing certain types of physical activities, especially ones that involve your hands. It's important that these actions produce a result you can see, feel, and touch, such as knitting a sweater or tending a garden. Such actions and their associated thoughts, plans and ultimate results change the physiology and chemical makeup of the effort-driven rewards circuit, activating it in an energized way. I call the emotional sense of well-being that results in effort-driven rewards.”
She also links a lack of hands-on physical activity to the onset of depression, perhaps contributing to the unusually high rates of mood disorders that we see in today's world:
“Effort-driven rewards and other real-world interactive experiences generate much more intense and pervasive reactions in your brain than the neurochemical alterations produced by a single pill. The result? You begin to feel more control over your environment and more connected to the world around you. This reduces stress and anxiety and, most important, builds resilience against the onset of depression.”
Wonderful, isn't it?
What do you normally do when you're feeling stuck or stressed? For a lot of us, we default to eating comfort food, watching Netflix, scrolling through social media feeds, and so on. These things may be relaxing, sure, but we may often feel regret afterward without much brain relief.
What works for you? It could be anything from painting, to washing dishes, to fiddling with a motor.
The next time you are feeling stressed or stuck, try doing something with your hands. It may be exactly what your brain and body need.
Read more great articles at Prevent Disease.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-06--Even Hungry Babies Want to Share

Even Hungry Babies Want to Share

Why do we humans engage in altruistic behavior , from helping neighbors to donating money to people across the globe ?
This is a question that has confounded many scientists .
It seems that , if our goal in life is self-preservation and passing on our genes to our children—as evolutionary biologists will tell you—then we should always make selfish choices to help ourselves first , rather than sacrificing for the benefit of others .
In response , some argue that helping others in need is only a way of feeling good ourselves .
After all , we can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s high ” —a warm feeling activated by giving—and enjoy the gratitude of others , as well as their admiration .
This view makes altruism seem , well , not so altruistic .
But a new study suggests that altruism may run deeper than that .
Children as young as 19 months old gave to others , even when it cost them and they received no thanks or reward .
In this study , 96 infants around 19 months old experienced one of two scenarios .
In one scenario , babies watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fruit onto a tray ( that only the baby could reach ) and then held out his arm as if begging for the fruit .
In the other scenario , the experimenter also dropped the fruit on the tray but showed no signs of needing it , though he did hold out his hand .
Then , the experimenters watched to see if the baby would try to give the fruit to the researcher or keep it for themselves , running different tests with bananas , blueberries , grapes , and strawberries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the begging researcher 58 percent of the time and only 4 percent when he didn ’ t beg .
The second time around , there was a catch : The researchers made sure that the babies were at the end of a feeding cycle and hungry themselves , which meant they would covet the fruits even more .
But even when hungry , 37.5 percent of the babies gave the fruit to the begging researcher , while none of them gave it away when he didn ’ t beg .
This suggests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it costs them .
“ The infants were perfectly capable of giving away something that was of very personal value to them , ” says lead researcher Rodolfo Cortes Barragan of the University of Washington .
“ This action—of actively giving away highly desirable food to a stranger , even when one is hungry—is not something we see in any other species.
” It also suggests that babies may develop some aspects of empathy at pretty young ages .
“ They certainly are able to understand what other people ’ s needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He suggests that babies may learn this through modeling—by seeing their own mothers reading their emotional cues and helping them out .
Interestingly , this behavior wasn ’ t due to the babies being trained during the experiment—they tended to give away the fruit the first time they were tested .
And , since the experimenters did not show any emotion or thank the babies when they received the fruit , there was no social reward or emotional cue for the babies that might have encouraged them to keep giving .
Socialization may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , says Cortes Barragan .
In fact , he and his team found that babies with siblings gave more often , “ perhaps because they had more experience reading another person ’ s gestures and understanding that indicated a need , ” he says .
He also considered cultural influences by comparing babies from Asian and Hispanic/Latino families—whose cultures are considered to be more collectivist—to babies from European-American families , assumed to be more individualistic .
Babies from collectivist cultures were more likely to give up the fruit , suggesting culture plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t usually look for cultural differences in children that young , but by 19 months of age , children have learned a wealth of information , and that includes cultural manners , ” says Cortes Barragan .
Overall , Cortes Barragan ’ s experiment suggests that altruism is both hardwired and socially reinforced—likely through cultural and familial role modeling .
One of his promising lines of research found that when parents engage their children in play that is mutually engaging and involves reciprocity , they tend to be more responsive and altruistic toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will eventually uncover what ’ s needed to nudge children toward developing altruism over time , which , in turn , might contribute to a more cohesive , compassionate society .
“ What are the social ingredients that go into it ?
Once we know that , it can inform us about how children might be learning these social skills and social behaviors in everyday life , ” he says .

By Jill Suttie | Greater Good Magazine
Why do we humans engage in altruistic behavior, from helping neighbors to donating money to people across the globe?
This is a question that has confounded many scientists. It seems that, if our goal in life is self-preservation and passing on our genes to our children—as evolutionary biologists will tell you—then we should always make selfish choices to help ourselves first, rather than sacrificing for the benefit of others.
In response, some argue that helping others in need is only a way of feeling good ourselves. After all, we can get a quick hit of the “helper’s high”—a warm feeling activated by giving—and enjoy the gratitude of others, as well as their admiration. This view makes altruism seem, well, not so altruistic.
But a new study suggests that altruism may run deeper than that. Children as young as 19 months old gave to others, even when it cost them and they received no thanks or reward.
In this study, 96 infants around 19 months old experienced one of two scenarios. In one scenario, babies watched as a researcher accidentally dropped a piece of fruit onto a tray (that only the baby could reach) and then held out his arm as if begging for the fruit. In the other scenario, the experimenter also dropped the fruit on the tray but showed no signs of needing it, though he did hold out his hand.
Then, the experimenters watched to see if the baby would try to give the fruit to the researcher or keep it for themselves, running different tests with bananas, blueberries, grapes, and strawberries. The babies gave the fruits to the begging researcher 58 percent of the time and only 4 percent when he didn’t beg.
The second time around, there was a catch: The researchers made sure that the babies were at the end of a feeding cycle and hungry themselves, which meant they would covet the fruits even more. But even when hungry, 37.5 percent of the babies gave the fruit to the begging researcher, while none of them gave it away when he didn’t beg. This suggests that babies want to help out, even when it costs them.
“The infants were perfectly capable of giving away something that was of very personal value to them,” says lead researcher Rodolfo Cortes Barragan of the University of Washington. “This action—of actively giving away highly desirable food to a stranger, even when one is hungry—is not something we see in any other species.”
It also suggests that babies may develop some aspects of empathy at pretty young ages.
“They certainly are able to understand what other people’s needs are,” says Cortes Barragan. He suggests that babies may learn this through modeling—by seeing their own mothers reading their emotional cues and helping them out.
Interestingly, this behavior wasn’t due to the babies being trained during the experiment—they tended to give away the fruit the first time they were tested. And, since the experimenters did not show any emotion or thank the babies when they received the fruit, there was no social reward or emotional cue for the babies that might have encouraged them to keep giving.
Socialization may still play a role in altruism, though, says Cortes Barragan. In fact, he and his team found that babies with siblings gave more often, “perhaps because they had more experience reading another person’s gestures and understanding that indicated a need,” he says.
He also considered cultural influences by comparing babies from Asian and Hispanic/Latino families—whose cultures are considered to be more collectivist—to babies from European-American families, assumed to be more individualistic. Babies from collectivist cultures were more likely to give up the fruit, suggesting culture plays a role.
“People don’t usually look for cultural differences in children that young, but by 19 months of age, children have learned a wealth of information, and that includes cultural manners,” says Cortes Barragan.
Overall, Cortes Barragan’s experiment suggests that altruism is both hardwired and socially reinforced—likely through cultural and familial role modeling. One of his promising lines of research found that when parents engage their children in play that is mutually engaging and involves reciprocity, they tend to be more responsive and altruistic toward others. He is hopeful that science will eventually uncover what’s needed to nudge children toward developing altruism over time, which, in turn, might contribute to a more cohesive, compassionate society.
“What are the social ingredients that go into it? Once we know that, it can inform us about how children might be learning these social skills and social behaviors in everyday life,” he says.
About the Author


consciouslifenews--2020-05-06--Falling in Love with Mother Earth

Falling in Love with Mother Earth

The Earth is our mother , nourishing and protecting us in every moment–giving us air to breathe , fresh water to drink , food to eat , and healing herbs to cure us when we are sick .
Every breath we inhale contains our planet ’ s nitrogen , oxygen , water vapor , and trace elements .
When we breathe with mindfulness , we can experience our interbeing with the Earth ’ s delicate atmosphere , with all the plants , and even with the sun , whose light makes possible the miracle of photosynthesis .
With every breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every breath , we can savor the wonders of life .
We need to change our way of thinking and seeing things .
We need to realize that the Earth is not just our environment .
The Earth is not something outside of us .
Breathing with mindfulness and contemplating your body , you realize that you are the Earth .
You realize that your consciousness is also the consciousness of the Earth .
Look around you–what you see is not your environment , it is you .
Whatever nationality or culture we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether we ’ re Buddhists , Christians , Muslims , Jews , or atheists , we can all see that the Earth is not inert matter .
She is a great being , who has herself given birth to many other great beings–including Buddhas and bodhisattvas , prophets and saints , sons and daughters of God and humankind .
The Earth is a loving mother , nurturing and protecting all peoples and all species without discrimination .
When you realize the Earth is so much more than simply your environment , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same way as you would yourself .
This is the kind of awareness , the kind of awakening that we need , and the future of the planet depends on whether we ’ re able to cultivate this insight or not .
The Earth and all species on Earth are in real danger .
Yet if we can develop a deep relationship with the Earth , we ’ ll have enough love , strength , and awakening in order to change our way of life .
We can all experience a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we see the great harmony , elegance , and beauty of the Earth .
A simple branch of cherry blossom , the shell of a snail or the wing of a bat–all bear witness to the Earth ’ s masterful creativity .
Every advance in our scientific understanding deepens our admiration and love for this wondrous planet .
When we can truly see and understand the Earth , love is born in our hearts .
We feel connected .
That is the meaning of love : To be at one .
Only when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love with the Earth will our actions spring from reverence , and the insight of our interconnectedness .
Yet many of us have become alienated from the Earth .
We are lost , isolated , and lonely .
We work too hard , our lives are too busy , and we are restless and distracted , losing ourselves in consumption .
But the Earth is always there for us , offering us everything we need for our nourishment and healing : The miraculous grain of corn , the refreshing stream , the fragrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the joyful birdsong at dawn .
Many of us think we need more money , more power , or more status before we can be happy .
We ’ re so busy spending our lives chasing after money , power , and status that we ignore all the conditions for happiness already available .
At the same time , we lose ourselves in buying and consuming things we don ’ t need , putting a heavy strain on both our bodies and the planet .
Yet much of what we drink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen to , is toxic and is polluting our bodies and minds with violence , anger , fear , and despair .
As well as the carbon dioxide pollution of our physical environment , we can speak of the spiritual pollution of our human environment : The toxic and destructive atmosphere we ’ re creating with our way of consuming .
We need to consume in such a way that truly sustains our peace and happiness .
Only when we ’ re sustainable as humans will our civilization become sustainable .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now .
We don ’ t need to consume a lot to be happy ; in fact , we can live very simply .
With mindfulness , any moment can become a happy moment .
Savoring one simple breath , taking a moment to stop and contemplate the bright blue sky , or to fully enjoy the presence of a loved one , can be more than enough to make us happy .
Each one of us needs to come back to reconnect with ourselves , with our loved ones and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , power , or consuming that can make us happy , but having love and understanding in our hearts .
The Bread in Your Hand is the Body of the Cosmos We need to consume in such a way that keeps our compassion alive .
And yet many of us consume in a way that is very violent .
Forests are cut down to raise cattle for beef , or to grow grain for liquor , while millions in the world are dying of starvation .
Reducing the amount of meat we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % is a true act of love for ourselves , for the Earth and for one another .
Eating with compassion can already help transform the situation our planet is facing , and restore balance to ourselves and the Earth .
Nothing Is More Important than Brotherhood and Sisterhood There ’ s a revolution that needs to happen and it starts from inside each one of us .
We need to wake up and fall in love with Earth .
We ’ ve been homo sapiens for a long time .
Now it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our love and admiration for the Earth have the power to unite us and remove all boundaries , separation , and discrimination .
Centuries of individualism and competition have brought about tremendous destruction and alienation .
We need to re-establish true communication–true communion–with ourselves , with the Earth , and with one another , as children of the same mother .
We need more than new technology to protect the planet .
We need real community and co-operation .
All civilizations are impermanent and must come to an end one day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , there ’ s no doubt that our civilization will be destroyed sooner than we think .
The Earth may need millions of years to heal , to retrieve her balance , and restore her beauty .
She will be able to recover , but we humans and many other species will disappear until the Earth can generate conditions to bring us forth again in new forms .
Once we can accept the impermanence of our civilization with peace , we will be liberated from our fear .
Only then will we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love we need to bring us together .
Cherishing our precious Earth–falling in love with the Earth–is not an obligation .
It is a matter of personal and collective happiness and survival .

The Earth is our mother, nourishing and protecting us in every moment–giving us air to breathe, fresh water to drink, food to eat, and healing herbs to cure us when we are sick. Every breath we inhale contains our planet’s nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and trace elements. When we breathe with mindfulness, we can experience our interbeing with the Earth’s delicate atmosphere, with all the plants, and even with the sun, whose light makes possible the miracle of photosynthesis. With every breath, we can experience communion. With every breath, we can savor the wonders of life.
We need to change our way of thinking and seeing things. We need to realize that the Earth is not just our environment. The Earth is not something outside of us. Breathing with mindfulness and contemplating your body, you realize that you are the Earth. You realize that your consciousness is also the consciousness of the Earth. Look around you–what you see is not your environment, it is you.
Great Mother Earth
Whatever nationality or culture we belong to, whatever religion we follow, whether we’re Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, or atheists, we can all see that the Earth is not inert matter. She is a great being, who has herself given birth to many other great beings–including Buddhas and bodhisattvas, prophets and saints, sons and daughters of God and humankind. The Earth is a loving mother, nurturing and protecting all peoples and all species without discrimination.
When you realize the Earth is so much more than simply your environment, you’ll be moved to protect her in the same way as you would yourself. This is the kind of awareness, the kind of awakening that we need, and the future of the planet depends on whether we’re able to cultivate this insight or not. The Earth and all species on Earth are in real danger. Yet if we can develop a deep relationship with the Earth, we’ll have enough love, strength, and awakening in order to change our way of life.
Falling in Love
We can all experience a feeling of deep admiration and love when we see the great harmony, elegance, and beauty of the Earth. A simple branch of cherry blossom, the shell of a snail or the wing of a bat–all bear witness to the Earth’s masterful creativity. Every advance in our scientific understanding deepens our admiration and love for this wondrous planet. When we can truly see and understand the Earth, love is born in our hearts. We feel connected. That is the meaning of love: To be at one.
Only when we’ve truly fallen back in love with the Earth will our actions spring from reverence, and the insight of our interconnectedness. Yet many of us have become alienated from the Earth. We are lost, isolated, and lonely. We work too hard, our lives are too busy, and we are restless and distracted, losing ourselves in consumption. But the Earth is always there for us, offering us everything we need for our nourishment and healing: The miraculous grain of corn, the refreshing stream, the fragrant forest, the majestic snow-capped mountain peak, and the joyful birdsong at dawn.
True Happiness is Made of Love
Many of us think we need more money, more power, or more status before we can be happy. We’re so busy spending our lives chasing after money, power, and status that we ignore all the conditions for happiness already available. At the same time, we lose ourselves in buying and consuming things we don’t need, putting a heavy strain on both our bodies and the planet. Yet much of what we drink, eat, watch, read or listen to, is toxic and is polluting our bodies and minds with violence, anger, fear, and despair.
As well as the carbon dioxide pollution of our physical environment, we can speak of the spiritual pollution of our human environment: The toxic and destructive atmosphere we’re creating with our way of consuming. We need to consume in such a way that truly sustains our peace and happiness. Only when we’re sustainable as humans will our civilization become sustainable. It is possible to be happy in the here and now.
We don’t need to consume a lot to be happy; in fact, we can live very simply. With mindfulness, any moment can become a happy moment. Savoring one simple breath, taking a moment to stop and contemplate the bright blue sky, or to fully enjoy the presence of a loved one, can be more than enough to make us happy. Each one of us needs to come back to reconnect with ourselves, with our loved ones and with the Earth. It’s not money, power, or consuming that can make us happy, but having love and understanding in our hearts.
The Bread in Your Hand is the Body of the Cosmos
We need to consume in such a way that keeps our compassion alive. And yet many of us consume in a way that is very violent. Forests are cut down to raise cattle for beef, or to grow grain for liquor, while millions in the world are dying of starvation. Reducing the amount of meat we eat and alcohol we consume by 50% is a true act of love for ourselves, for the Earth and for one another. Eating with compassion can already help transform the situation our planet is facing, and restore balance to ourselves and the Earth.
Nothing Is More Important than Brotherhood and Sisterhood
There’s a revolution that needs to happen and it starts from inside each one of us. We need to wake up and fall in love with Earth. We’ve been homo sapiens for a long time. Now it’s time to become homo conscious. Our love and admiration for the Earth have the power to unite us and remove all boundaries, separation, and discrimination. Centuries of individualism and competition have brought about tremendous destruction and alienation. We need to re-establish true communication–true communion–with ourselves, with the Earth, and with one another, as children of the same mother. We need more than new technology to protect the planet. We need real community and co-operation.
All civilizations are impermanent and must come to an end one day. But if we continue on our current course, there’s no doubt that our civilization will be destroyed sooner than we think. The Earth may need millions of years to heal, to retrieve her balance, and restore her beauty. She will be able to recover, but we humans and many other species will disappear until the Earth can generate conditions to bring us forth again in new forms. Once we can accept the impermanence of our civilization with peace, we will be liberated from our fear. Only then will we have the strength, awakening, and love we need to bring us together. Cherishing our precious Earth–falling in love with the Earth–is not an obligation. It is a matter of personal and collective happiness and survival.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-06--YouTube CEO Vows to Censor Anyone Speaking Against WHO

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki — wife of Google product director Dennis Troper — says the platform will ban videos that contradict World Health Organization guidance on the pandemic or share “ fake or unproven coronavirus remedies ” Facebook is also censoring posts that refer to SARS-CoV-2 possibly originating in a lab .
The “ fact check ” basis for this censorship is an article written by a researcher who works with the Wuhan lab NewsGuard recently classified mercola.com as fake news because we reported the SARS-CoV-2 virus as potentially having been leaked from the biosafety level 4 laboratory in Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. government officials admitting they are considering this possibility April 26 , 2020 , Twitter suspended the account of the publicly traded biotech company AYTU BioScience for sharing information about its novel UV light therapy for COVID-19 , which it is developing in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai medical center .
YouTube also removed a video demonstrating how the technology works Content that questions or contradicts the biased edicts of the World Health Organization is now being blocked , taken down or tagged as fake news on social media platforms such as Twitter , Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full swing again , this time around the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 .
Just about anything that questions or contradicts the biased edicts of the World Health Organization is now being blocked , taken down , or tagged as fake news on social media platforms .
For example , on April 26 , 2020 , Twitter suspended the account of the publicly traded biotech company AYTU BioScience.1 Its crime ?
Sharing information about its novel UV light therapy for COVID-19 , which it is developing in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai medical center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being sought for the technology , which involves administering “ intermittent ultraviolet ( UV-A ) light inside a patient 's trachea.
” 2 Shortly before Twitter suspended the company 's account , YouTube also removed a video demonstrating how the technology works .
Both YouTube and Twitter claim AYTU violated terms of service — which now apparently include sharing factual and truthful information that might jeopardize the surveillance capitalists ' agenda to control and vaccinate the entire world against SARS-CoV-2 .
Similarly , NewsGuard recently classified mercola.com as fake news because we reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaked from the biosafety level 4 laboratory in Wuhan City , China , the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak .
NewsGuard intern Nina Zweig ( edited by deputy editor John Gregory ) referred to my February 4 , 2020 , article , “ Novel Coronavirus — The Latest Pandemic Scare , ” in which I stated : According to NewsGuard,7 “ There is no evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source of the outbreak , and genomic evidence has found that the virus is ‘ 96 % identical at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ” Clearly , NewsGuard does n't understand or adhere to the definition of fake news , considering multiple government sources are reportedly looking into the virus ' origin , including Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , whom Fox News quotes saying:8 According to an April 5 , 2020 , article9 in Daily Mail , British government officials are also considering the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from the Wuhan facility , stating the possibility of this “ is no longer being discounted.
” Interestingly , April 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the censorship of articles mentioning the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may have leaked from the Wuhan BSL4 facility appears to come from China , which means NewsGuard , Facebook and others are functionally protecting Chinese interests and inhibiting scientific inquiry .
Questioning the origins of SARS-CoV-2 will also land you in “ Fakebook jail.
” As reported in investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson 's news analysis , “ Facebook 's Dangerously Fake ‘ Fact-Checking ' ” :11 Would it surprise you in the least to learn that the “ fact check ” basis for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher who works with the Wuhan lab ?
Me neither .
Like NewsGuard , Facebook has placed itself as judge and jury over what lines of thinking people are allowed to engage in , and this tactic simply has no place in a free and democratic society .
So , what does that tell you about these organizations and platforms ?
On April 23 , 2020 , article,12 Business Insider reported statements made by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki , wife of Google product director Dennis Troper .
She too spits in the proverbial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Among the censored YouTube videos is a viral video13 by Drs .
Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi , co-owners of Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield , California , in which they questioned the logic behind California ’ s stay-at-home order .
The video had garnered 5 million views by the time it was taken down .
In the video , Erickson pointed out that there ’ s : Erickson also criticized the fact that mortality statistics are being skewed by counting people who die from other conditions as COVID-19 deaths .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization 's recommendations , Wojcicki asserts that the WHO is infallible , which it clearly is not .
There 's no shortage of examples proving WHO has been wrong on many occasions and should not be relied upon as the premier , let alone sole , source of information and medical instruction .
The WHO is beyond conflict , and because of its existing funding fails to complete its initial mandate to promote the attainment of “ the highest possible level of health ” by all peoples .
The WHO Has Long Been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 11 , 2009 , the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of novel influenza A ( H1N1 ) .14 A vaccine was rapidly unveiled , and within months , cases of disability and death from the H1N1 vaccine were reported in various parts of the world .
In the aftermath , the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly ( PACE ) questioned the WHO 's handling of the pandemic .
In June 2010 , PACE concluded “ the handling of the pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a ‘ waste of large sums of public money and unjustified scares and fears about the health risks faced by the European public . '
” 15 Specifically , PACE concluded that the drug industry had influenced the organization 's decision-making.16 Another example is presented in the 2019 report17 “ Corrupting Influence : Purdue & the WHO , ” produced by U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark ( D-Mass . )
and Hal Rogers ( R-Ky. ) , which concluded Purdue Pharma had influenced WHO 's opioid guidelines.18,19 The WHO was also heavily criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the 2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.20 Two separate reports published in 2015 highlighted the WHO 's failures , one issued by a panel of independent experts commissioned by WHO itself,21 and one by an independent group of 19 international experts convened by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) and the Harvard Global Health Institute.22 The LSHTM and Harvard Global Health Institute experts pointed out that the WHO has lost so much trust that radical reforms will be required before it will be able to assume an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WHO Pending Investigation Considering the fact that nothing has actually changed within the organization since then , it 's not inconceivable that the WHO 's COVID-19 pandemic response is questionable .
The drug industry has no lesser influence over WHO today than it did in 2009 , and the Gates Foundation 's influence has only grown since then too .
April 7 , House Rep .
Guy Reschenthaler , R-Pa. , and 20 additional co-sponsors introduced a resolution calling for the U.S. to defund the WHO “ until its embattled Director-General Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations-backed organization is investigated over its treatment of China during the coronavirus pandemic , ” Fox News reported.23 Republican Sen. Rick Scott , Florida , is also calling for a congressional committee to investigate the WHO .
According to Scott:24 A week later , President Trump announced the U.S. will temporarily suspend its funding to the WHO while the White House investigates the organizations handling of the pandemic.25 Remember Mark Lynas ?
Lynas is a Monsanto ambassador26 and well-established shill for the GMO industry27,28 who in recent years has started defending vaccines as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups are closely linked .
I wrote about this evolving trend in my 2018 article , “ Strange Bedfellows : GMO and Vaccine Partnerships.
” On April 20 , 2020 , article29 for Cornell Alliance for Science , Lynas tries to debunk the “ Top 10 current conspiracy theories ” on COVID-19 .
The second conspiracy theory on his lists is “ Bill Gates as the scapegoat.
” How convenient , considering Cornell Alliance for Science is funded by the Gates Foundation.30 Third , on the list is the claim that “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As discussed above , government officials in the U.S. and U.K. are not discounting this possibility , so why is Lynas ?
Could it be because the Gates Foundation funds the WHO , which in turn protects China ?
Also on his list is the claim that “ COVID death rates are inflated , ” which he says “ has no basis in fact.
” Is that so ?
The CDC no longer requires doctors to do testing in order to confirm that a patient is in fact infected with SARS-CoV-2 or died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ suspected ” and “ assumed ” cases .
How could this not result in an overestimation of the problem ?
Censorship inevitably leads to public distrust .
There 's no need for censorship when you have nothing to hide and are willing to address shortcomings .
Ninety percent of news media is controlled by six corporations .
As a result , the vast majority of what you read , see and hear is already part of a carefully orchestrated narrative created and controlled by special interest groups .
When you tack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , YouTube , and Facebook , your chances of being grossly underinformed or misinformed are exponentially magnified .
The end result is a Truman-esque fictitious reality where most of what you believe to be true are in fact false .

By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki — wife of Google product director Dennis Troper — says the platform will ban videos that contradict World Health Organization guidance on the pandemic or share “fake or unproven coronavirus remedies”
Facebook is also censoring posts that refer to SARS-CoV-2 possibly originating in a lab. The “fact check” basis for this censorship is an article written by a researcher who works with the Wuhan lab
NewsGuard recently classified mercola.com as fake news because we reported the SARS-CoV-2 virus as potentially having been leaked from the biosafety level 4 laboratory in Wuhan City, China, despite U.S. and U.K. government officials admitting they are considering this possibility
April 26, 2020, Twitter suspended the account of the publicly traded biotech company AYTU BioScience for sharing information about its novel UV light therapy for COVID-19, which it is developing in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai medical center. YouTube also removed a video demonstrating how the technology works
Content that questions or contradicts the biased edicts of the World Health Organization is now being blocked, taken down or tagged as fake news on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Draconian censorship is in full swing again, this time around the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Just about anything that questions or contradicts the biased edicts of the World Health Organization is now being blocked, taken down, or tagged as fake news on social media platforms.
Twitter Suspends Biotech Company
For example, on April 26, 2020, Twitter suspended the account of the publicly traded biotech company AYTU BioScience.1 Its crime? Sharing information about its novel UV light therapy for COVID-19, which it is developing in collaboration with Cedars-Sinai medical center.
Expedited Food and Drug Administration approval is being sought for the technology, which involves administering “intermittent ultraviolet (UV-A) light inside a patient's trachea.”2
Shortly before Twitter suspended the company's account, YouTube also removed a video demonstrating how the technology works. Both YouTube and Twitter claim AYTU violated terms of service — which now apparently include sharing factual and truthful information that might jeopardize the surveillance capitalists' agenda to control and vaccinate the entire world against SARS-CoV-2.
NewsGuard Is a True News Blocker
Similarly, NewsGuard recently classified mercola.com as fake news because we reported the SARS-CoV-2 virus as potentially having been leaked from the biosafety level 4 laboratory in Wuhan City, China, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
NewsGuard intern Nina Zweig (edited by deputy editor John Gregory) referred to my February 4, 2020, article, “Novel Coronavirus — The Latest Pandemic Scare,” in which I stated:
“In January 2018, China's first maximum security virology laboratory (biosecurity level 4) designed for the study of the world's most dangerous pathogens opened its doors — in Wuhan.3,4 Is it pure coincidence that Wuhan City is now the epicenter of this novel coronavirus infection?
The year before, Tim Trevan, a Maryland biosafety consultant, expressed concern about viral threats potentially escaping the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory,5 which happens to be located just 20 miles from the Wuhan market identified as ground zero for the current NCIP outbreak.6“
According to NewsGuard,7 “There is no evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source of the outbreak, and genomic evidence has found that the virus is ‘96% identical at the whole-genome level to a bat coronavirus.'”
Clearly, NewsGuard doesn't understand or adhere to the definition of fake news, considering multiple government sources are reportedly looking into the virus' origin, including Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whom Fox News quotes saying:8
“It should be no surprise to you that we have taken a keen interest in that and we've had a lot of intelligence take a hard look at that. I would just say at this point, it's inconclusive, although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural, but we don't know for certain.”
According to an April 5, 2020, article9 in Daily Mail, British government officials are also considering the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from the Wuhan facility, stating the possibility of this “is no longer being discounted.”
Interestingly, April 16, 2020, report10 by CNN reveals the censorship of articles mentioning the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may have leaked from the Wuhan BSL4 facility appears to come from China, which means NewsGuard, Facebook and others are functionally protecting Chinese interests and inhibiting scientific inquiry.
Facebook's Fake Fact-Checking
Questioning the origins of SARS-CoV-2 will also land you in “Fakebook jail.” As reported in investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson's news analysis, “Facebook's Dangerously Fake ‘Fact-Checking'”:11
“I have often spoken of disingenuous ‘fact checking' efforts conducted by conflicted third parties who are actually trying to shape public opinion and control the information the public can access …
A recent example is a popular documentary by Epoch Times about the possible link between Covid-19 and a research lab in Wuhan, China. The documentary formed no conclusions and the theories it discussed had not been disproven.
However, Facebook intervened to punish me and others who dared to share this factually accurate documentary on Facebook. Without warning, the social media company notified us that our pages were being throttled or shown to fewer people … Facebook also said that people visiting our pages would be told we share fake news.”
Would it surprise you in the least to learn that the “fact check” basis for this censorship is an article written by a researcher who works with the Wuhan lab? Me neither. Like NewsGuard, Facebook has placed itself as judge and jury over what lines of thinking people are allowed to engage in, and this tactic simply has no place in a free and democratic society. So, what does that tell you about these organizations and platforms?
YouTube CEO Vows to Ban Content Contradicting WHO
On April 23, 2020, article,12 Business Insider reported statements made by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, wife of Google product director Dennis Troper. She too spits in the proverbial face of America's freedom of speech:
“Wojcicki says the platform will ban content peddling fake or unproven coronavirus remedies. In an interview with CNN, she also suggested that video that ‘goes against' WHO guidance on the pandemic will be blocked …
For example, she said, content that claimed vitamin C or turmeric would cure people of COVID-19 would be ‘a violation of our policy' and removed accordingly. She continued: ‘Anything that goes against WHO recommendations would be a violation of our policy …'”
Among the censored YouTube videos is a viral video13 by Drs. Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi, co-owners of Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield, California, in which they questioned the logic behind California’s stay-at-home order. The video had garnered 5 million views by the time it was taken down. In the video, Erickson pointed out that there’s:
“… a 0.03 chance of dying from COVID in the state of California. Does that necessitate sheltering in place? Does that necessitate shutting down medical systems? Does that necessitate people being out of work?”
Erickson also criticized the fact that mortality statistics are being skewed by counting people who die from other conditions as COVID-19 deaths.
“When someone dies in this country right now, they’re not talking about the high blood pressure, the diabetes, the stroke. They’re saying ‘Did they die from COVID?'” Erickson said in the video.
“We’ve been to hundreds of autopsies. You don’t talk about one thing, you talk about comorbidities. ER doctors now [say] ‘It’s interesting when I’m writing about my death report, I’m being pressured to add COVID. Why is that?”
By banning anything that contradicts the World Health Organization's recommendations, Wojcicki asserts that the WHO is infallible, which it clearly is not. There's no shortage of examples proving WHO has been wrong on many occasions and should not be relied upon as the premier, let alone sole, source of information and medical instruction.
The WHO is beyond conflict, and because of its existing funding fails to complete its initial mandate to promote the attainment of “the highest possible level of health” by all peoples.
The WHO Has Long Been Criticized for Its Bias
For example, on June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1).14 A vaccine was rapidly unveiled, and within months, cases of disability and death from the H1N1 vaccine were reported in various parts of the world.
In the aftermath, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) questioned the WHO's handling of the pandemic. In June 2010, PACE concluded “the handling of the pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), EU health agencies and national governments led to a ‘waste of large sums of public money and unjustified scares and fears about the health risks faced by the European public.'”15
Specifically, PACE concluded that the drug industry had influenced the organization's decision-making.16 Another example is presented in the 2019 report17 “Corrupting Influence: Purdue & the WHO,” produced by U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), which concluded Purdue Pharma had influenced WHO's opioid guidelines.18,19
The WHO was also heavily criticized for its lack of leadership during 2013 through the 2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.20 Two separate reports published in 2015 highlighted the WHO's failures, one issued by a panel of independent experts commissioned by WHO itself,21 and one by an independent group of 19 international experts convened by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Harvard Global Health Institute.22
The LSHTM and Harvard Global Health Institute experts pointed out that the WHO has lost so much trust that radical reforms will be required before it will be able to assume an authoritative role.
US Suspends Funding to the WHO Pending Investigation
Considering the fact that nothing has actually changed within the organization since then, it's not inconceivable that the WHO's COVID-19 pandemic response is questionable. The drug industry has no lesser influence over WHO today than it did in 2009, and the Gates Foundation's influence has only grown since then too.
April 7, House Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., and 20 additional co-sponsors introduced a resolution calling for the U.S. to defund the WHO “until its embattled Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus resigns and the United Nations-backed organization is investigated over its treatment of China during the coronavirus pandemic,” Fox News reported.23
Republican Sen. Rick Scott, Florida, is also calling for a congressional committee to investigate the WHO. According to Scott:24
“When it comes to coronavirus, the WHO failed. They need to be held accountable for their role in promoting misinformation and helping Communist China cover up a global pandemic. We know Communist China is lying about how many cases and deaths they have, what they knew and when they knew it — and the WHO never bothered to investigate further.”
A week later, President Trump announced the U.S. will temporarily suspend its funding to the WHO while the White House investigates the organizations handling of the pandemic.25
Gates Funds Not-So-Independent Defense
Remember Mark Lynas? Lynas is a Monsanto ambassador26 and well-established shill for the GMO industry27,28 who in recent years has started defending vaccines as well, suggesting that anti-GMO and anti-vaccine groups are closely linked. I wrote about this evolving trend in my 2018 article, “Strange Bedfellows: GMO and Vaccine Partnerships.”
On April 20, 2020, article29 for Cornell Alliance for Science, Lynas tries to debunk the “Top 10 current conspiracy theories” on COVID-19. The second conspiracy theory on his lists is “Bill Gates as the scapegoat.” How convenient, considering Cornell Alliance for Science is funded by the Gates Foundation.30
Third, on the list is the claim that “The virus escaped from a Chinese lab.” As discussed above, government officials in the U.S. and U.K. are not discounting this possibility, so why is Lynas? Could it be because the Gates Foundation funds the WHO, which in turn protects China?
Also on his list is the claim that “COVID death rates are inflated,” which he says “has no basis in fact.” Is that so? The CDC no longer requires doctors to do testing in order to confirm that a patient is in fact infected with SARS-CoV-2 or died from COVID-19. The numbers now include “suspected” and “assumed” cases. How could this not result in an overestimation of the problem?
Censorship Breeds Distrust
Censorship inevitably leads to public distrust. There's no need for censorship when you have nothing to hide and are willing to address shortcomings. Ninety percent of news media is controlled by six corporations. As a result, the vast majority of what you read, see and hear is already part of a carefully orchestrated narrative created and controlled by special interest groups.
When you tack on censorship by internet platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, your chances of being grossly underinformed or misinformed are exponentially magnified. The end result is a Truman-esque fictitious reality where most of what you believe to be true are in fact false.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-06--Morning Inspiration: How To Overcome Failure and Make an Impact (Motivational Video)

They say the hardest prison to escape from is the mind .
That simply shows that in order to reach for your potential you have to be willing to change your perspective while utilizing your innate abilities .
This is how you will be able to constantly overcome failure .
“ Everybody wants to judge themselves through the realms of a moment .
They want to be cool right now today and they 're asking themselves , what 's the least I need to do to feel cool ?
What 's the least I need to do to be successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question and I started really thinking about who I could become and really harnessing the human ability to adapt .
What you need to understand is that humans have become the apex predator not by being the strongest , not even by being the most intelligent but rather by being the most adaptive to change… ” Tags : `` featured , featured , how to adapt to change , how to be successful , how to change your perspective and create an impact , how to make an impact , how to overcome @

Source: Absolute Motivation
They say the hardest prison to escape from is the mind. That simply shows that in order to reach for your potential you have to be willing to change your perspective while utilizing your innate abilities. This is how you will be able to constantly overcome failure.
“Everybody wants to judge themselves through the realms of a moment. They want to be cool right now today and they're asking themselves, what's the least I need to do to feel cool? What's the least I need to do to be successful? But once I stopped asking that question and I started really thinking about who I could become and really harnessing the human ability to adapt. What you need to understand is that humans have become the apex predator not by being the strongest, not even by being the most intelligent but rather by being the most adaptive to change…”
Watch and be motivated today!!