Master Your Life With These 7 Simple Powerful Mind Tweaks

Life can certainly be a roller coaster of stress and anxiety sometimes .
With so many responsibilities and time restraints your hectic schedule can begin to take its toll .
The good news is there are a number of ways you can change your life to help you ride the chaotic wave of life .
Master your life with the following 7 simple powerful mind tweaks .
These will help you live a happier , less stressful and more peaceful life while helping you to flow through daily living with minimum resistance and maximum ease .
1 ) Change your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and how you experience it is a product of your mind .
What you perceive , think and belief shape how you view yourself , others , and life in general .
When you look at something you don ’ t see it as it truly is .
You see it as ‘ you ’ are .
Your ideas , concepts , thoughts and preconceptions all influence how you interpret something .
So what you see before you may not be the true reality .
It may be your individualized version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used in a positive way however .
If your experience of reality is a reflection of your own mind , it stands to reason that you can change your mind and alter your perception of reality .
The story of the Elephant and the Blind Men is a good example of this principle .
Six blind men placed their hands upon an elephant , not knowing what an elephant was because they had never seen one before .
One man had his hands on the foot .
The other on the tail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had his hands on the trunk .
The next man had his hands on the elephants ears and the other man had his hands on the elephants side .
Every man argued that they knew what an elephant looked like .
One thought it was a branch , the other a fan , a pipe , a tree trunk , a wall , or a piece of rope , depending upon what part of the elephant they were touching .
Until one man looking on shouted to them , “ You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The deeper message is that we can not always see the full picture from our limited perspective .
Sometimes we have to take a step back and view all perspectives before we can fully realize the truth that ’ s before us .
The Buddha once said that , “ attachment is at the root of all suffering.
” While attachments can take many forms and can include pets , people , places , material things , and so on , there ’ s one form of attachment you can learn to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this one attachment can have a dramatic positive effect upon your life .
That is the attachment to expectation .
When you become emotionally and mentally attached to your expectations you lay the groundwork for potential future disappointment .
Whether you expect people to be a certain way , you expect something to come into your life , or you otherwise expect everything to go the way you want it to , you can experience disappointment and emotional turmoil when reality does not meet your expectations .
When you detach from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of others , you free yourself from disappointment and become open , receptive and accepting of what comes your way .
This is one of the secrets to achieving lasting peace within your life .
Wu Wei is a Principle found in Chinese Taoism and is known as the principle of non-doing , non-action and non-forcing .
It is seen as being the abstention of any action that goes against the flow of nature .
Similar to how the planets circle the Sun and water flows down a stream , there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planets and water .
Each flows naturally down the channel meant for it without resistance and flows effortlessly .
The Wu Wei Principle gives insight into how you can be less resistant to your environment through non-doing , non-action and non-forcing .
What these three aspects of Wu Wei mean is that you too , like the planets and water , can flow effortlessly through your life free from friction , disturbance and suffering by learning how to be non-resistant to where the flow of your life is taking you .
Everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too are energy .
And your life can be viewed as being a specific flow of energy .
When you attempt to control everything in your life and you strive to force a path ahead , as the natural flow of your life is trying to take you elsewhere , you experience friction , disturbance and suffering within your mind .
When you let go of having to be in control however , the root cause of this friction , disturbance and suffering is no longer present .
At this point , your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you effortlessly glide through life with minimal resistance and maximum ease .
At the heart of the Wu Wei Principle is a deeply profound spiritual message .
“ You are not here to forge a path in life .
You are here to observe where your path is guiding you.
” 4 ) Let go of what ’ s not meant for you !
As we move through life we naturally acquire things , surround ourselves with people and form new relationships .
There will perhaps come a time however when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these people and these relationships and walk in a new direction .
Many of us are willing to experience continual pain and suffering because we can ’ t bear to let go of the source of that pain and suffering .
This is often seen in difficult relationships .
Life however will naturally guide us in the direction we are supposed to travel .
The key is to know what helps us on our journey and what holds us back and choosing what helps .
Like the 13th Century Sufi Mystic Maulana Rumi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tree and let the dead leaves drop.
” Everyone in life is there to show you something important about your inner self and there is a lesson to be learned in every relationship .
Especially the most challenging of relationships .
These often have the deepest messages for us .
There often comes a time however when our relationships have served their purpose and it ’ s time to trim the leaves and move on .
Because a dead leaf will sooner or later fall to the ground .
No matter how hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From the moment of birth to your eventual death , one thing guaranteed in life is change .
Change is the one unchangeable constant in all our lives .
However many people dislike change and some actively fight against it .
Many people have a need to hold onto what they have .
This is a natural desire .
We humans prefer the security and familiarity of knowing what we have when we wake up in the morning rather than taking a chance with an unknown .
Despite this , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , dislike it or otherwise resist it , if you can train yourself to love change you will notice quite a profound change develops in your life .
Learning to love change naturally flows on from the previous mind tweaks mentioned .
If you can live your life without being attached to expectation , not resisting , forcing or controlling everything in life , and gracefully letting go of that which no longer serves you , you will already be flowing effortlessly through life as you change from one moment to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes that ’ s process an adventure .
When your mind is focused upon the excitement of not knowing what ’ s coming next in your life and who ’ s going to enter it , change becomes a joy .
Truly love change and you will free yourself from the fear , anxiety and apprehensiveness of where life takes you .
6 ) Let your mind flow like water !
Imagine a stream trickling through your mind .
Gently the water flows in through your head and out the other end .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughts simply flow like water through your head and right out of your mind .
This is a simple technique you can use during meditation to help clear your mind of busyness .
It ’ s also a technique you can use in your day to day life too .
When we experience thing we don ’ t like , such as difficult situations , unpleasant people , or verbal confrontation , these things have a tendency to bounce around within our head for quite some time .
Naturally , this can have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our emotions and how those emotions continue to make us feel .
If you spend some time working on this visualization of water flowing through your mind , taking negative thoughts , stress , anxiety and busyness with it , you will in time train yourself to become more resilient to the challenges in your life .
Similar to how the Wu Wei Principle can be seen as water freely flowing down a stream , you can allow the negative energies within your mind to flow through you , and away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
With a little practise , you will learn to let go of your burdens , rather than carry them with you .
7 ) Have an attitude of gratitude !
Having an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important traits you can adopt in life .
Expressing genuine heart felt gratitude for what the Universe has given lays the foundation for building these mind tweaks into your life .
Gratitude also holds a deeper purpose and value .
When you express gratitude , at any given moment , your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your life path .
The energy of your heart expands when you express gratitude and this can have many positive effects upon you .
This helps you to be less focused upon negativity and in a neutral state of mind .
This neutral state of mind helps you to be present here and now , rather than focused on the past or the future .
One of the biggest benefits to gratitude is that you change to a more productive state of being .
Gratitude helps you to shift your focus from what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do have .
With this shift , your personal energy becomes one of abundance , rather than an energy that is lacking .
This state of abundance in your energy opens you up to receive more from the Universe while helping you to flow through life with relative ease .
You have the power to change your experience of life by changing how you choose to think .
Your entire reality and how you interact with your environment is determined by what thoughts you choose to express .
Your thoughts affect how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life , and they can limit your progress should you allow them that power .
Strive to master these previous seven mind tweaks and you will learn not only how to master yourself , but how to master the flow of energy guiding you through life .
Ricky is a Yogi , Reiki Master , Kundalini Yoga Master and spiritual guide who specializes in energy healing and spiritual development .
As a published author and Reiki Teacher , Ricky offers attunement , training and certification in his unique system of energy channelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healing treatments to his international clients .
Tags : `` featured , change your reality , how to be happy , powerful mind tweaks , Wu Wei principle

By Ricky Mathieson
Life can certainly be a roller coaster of stress and anxiety sometimes. With so many responsibilities and time restraints your hectic schedule can begin to take its toll.
The good news is there are a number of ways you can change your life to help you ride the chaotic wave of life.
Master your life with the following 7 simple powerful mind tweaks.
These will help you live a happier, less stressful and more peaceful life while helping you to flow through daily living with minimum resistance and maximum ease.
The 7 Simple Powerful Mind Tweaks
1) Change your mind to alter your reality!
Your life and how you experience it is a product of your mind. What you perceive, think and belief shape how you view yourself, others, and life in general. When you look at something you don’t see it as it truly is. You see it as ‘you’ are.
Your ideas, concepts, thoughts and preconceptions all influence how you interpret something. So what you see before you may not be the true reality. It may be your individualized version of it.
This is something that can be used in a positive way however. If your experience of reality is a reflection of your own mind, it stands to reason that you can change your mind and alter your perception of reality.
The story of the Elephant and the Blind Men is a good example of this principle. Six blind men placed their hands upon an elephant, not knowing what an elephant was because they had never seen one before.
One man had his hands on the foot. The other on the tail. One on the tusk. One had his hands on the trunk. The next man had his hands on the elephants ears and the other man had his hands on the elephants side.
Every man argued that they knew what an elephant looked like. One thought it was a branch, the other a fan, a pipe, a tree trunk, a wall, or a piece of rope, depending upon what part of the elephant they were touching. Until one man looking on shouted to them, “You’re all touching the same big animal.”
The deeper message is that we cannot always see the full picture from our limited perspective. Sometimes we have to take a step back and view all perspectives before we can fully realize the truth that’s before us.
2) Free yourself from expectation!
The Buddha once said that, “attachment is at the root of all suffering.” While attachments can take many forms and can include pets, people, places, material things, and so on, there’s one form of attachment you can learn to let go of relatively easily. Letting go of this one attachment can have a dramatic positive effect upon your life. That is the attachment to expectation.
When you become emotionally and mentally attached to your expectations you lay the groundwork for potential future disappointment.
Whether you expect people to be a certain way, you expect something to come into your life, or you otherwise expect everything to go the way you want it to, you can experience disappointment and emotional turmoil when reality does not meet your expectations.
When you detach from the results of your actions, and that of others, you free yourself from disappointment and become open, receptive and accepting of what comes your way. This is one of the secrets to achieving lasting peace within your life.
3) Follow the Wu Wei Principle!
Wu Wei is a Principle found in Chinese Taoism and is known as the principle of non-doing, non-action and non-forcing. It is seen as being the abstention of any action that goes against the flow of nature.
Similar to how the planets circle the Sun and water flows down a stream, there is no control or force in the movement of the planets and water. Each flows naturally down the channel meant for it without resistance and flows effortlessly.
The Wu Wei Principle gives insight into how you can be less resistant to your environment through non-doing, non-action and non-forcing.
What these three aspects of Wu Wei mean is that you too, like the planets and water, can flow effortlessly through your life free from friction, disturbance and suffering by learning how to be non-resistant to where the flow of your life is taking you.
Everything in the Universe is energy. You too are energy. And your life can be viewed as being a specific flow of energy. When you attempt to control everything in your life and you strive to force a path ahead, as the natural flow of your life is trying to take you elsewhere, you experience friction, disturbance and suffering within your mind.
When you let go of having to be in control however, the root cause of this friction, disturbance and suffering is no longer present. At this point, your body and mind finds its natural flow as you effortlessly glide through life with minimal resistance and maximum ease.
At the heart of the Wu Wei Principle is a deeply profound spiritual message.
“You are not here to forge a path in life. You are here to observe where your path is guiding you.”
4) Let go of what’s not meant for you!
As we move through life we naturally acquire things, surround ourselves with people and form new relationships. There will perhaps come a time however when it’s time to let go of these people and these relationships and walk in a new direction.
Many of us are willing to experience continual pain and suffering because we can’t bear to let go of the source of that pain and suffering. This is often seen in difficult relationships. Life however will naturally guide us in the direction we are supposed to travel. The key is to know what helps us on our journey and what holds us back and choosing what helps.
Like the 13th Century Sufi Mystic Maulana Rumi once said, “Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.”
Everyone in life is there to show you something important about your inner self and there is a lesson to be learned in every relationship. Especially the most challenging of relationships. These often have the deepest messages for us.
There often comes a time however when our relationships have served their purpose and it’s time to trim the leaves and move on. Because a dead leaf will sooner or later fall to the ground. No matter how hard we try to remain part of it.
5) Learn to love change!
From the moment of birth to your eventual death, one thing guaranteed in life is change. Change is the one unchangeable constant in all our lives. However many people dislike change and some actively fight against it.
Many people have a need to hold onto what they have. This is a natural desire. We humans prefer the security and familiarity of knowing what we have when we wake up in the morning rather than taking a chance with an unknown. Despite this, we cannot avoid change.
Rather than fear change, dislike it or otherwise resist it, if you can train yourself to love change you will notice quite a profound change develops in your life. Learning to love change naturally flows on from the previous mind tweaks mentioned.
If you can live your life without being attached to expectation, not resisting, forcing or controlling everything in life, and gracefully letting go of that which no longer serves you, you will already be flowing effortlessly through life as you change from one moment to the next.
Learning to love change however makes that’s process an adventure. When your mind is focused upon the excitement of not knowing what’s coming next in your life and who’s going to enter it, change becomes a joy. Truly love change and you will free yourself from the fear, anxiety and apprehensiveness of where life takes you.
6) Let your mind flow like water!
Imagine a stream trickling through your mind. Gently the water flows in through your head and out the other end. All the stress, anxiety and negative thoughts simply flow like water through your head and right out of your mind.
This is a simple technique you can use during meditation to help clear your mind of busyness. It’s also a technique you can use in your day to day life too.
When we experience thing we don’t like, such as difficult situations, unpleasant people, or verbal confrontation, these things have a tendency to bounce around within our head for quite some time. Naturally, this can have a negative effect upon our thought processes, our emotions and how those emotions continue to make us feel.
If you spend some time working on this visualization of water flowing through your mind, taking negative thoughts, stress, anxiety and busyness with it, you will in time train yourself to become more resilient to the challenges in your life.
Similar to how the Wu Wei Principle can be seen as water freely flowing down a stream, you can allow the negative energies within your mind to flow through you, and away from you, without resistance, force or control. With a little practise, you will learn to let go of your burdens, rather than carry them with you.
7) Have an attitude of gratitude!
Having an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important traits you can adopt in life. Expressing genuine heart felt gratitude for what the Universe has given lays the foundation for building these mind tweaks into your life.
Gratitude also holds a deeper purpose and value. When you express gratitude, at any given moment, your energy opens to being better guided on your life path. The energy of your heart expands when you express gratitude and this can have many positive effects upon you.
This helps you to be less focused upon negativity and in a neutral state of mind. This neutral state of mind helps you to be present here and now, rather than focused on the past or the future.
One of the biggest benefits to gratitude is that you change to a more productive state of being. Gratitude helps you to shift your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have. With this shift, your personal energy becomes one of abundance, rather than an energy that is lacking.
This state of abundance in your energy opens you up to receive more from the Universe while helping you to flow through life with relative ease.
Conclusion
You have the power to change your experience of life by changing how you choose to think. Your entire reality and how you interact with your environment is determined by what thoughts you choose to express.
Your thoughts affect how you feel, they change your experience of life, and they can limit your progress should you allow them that power.
Strive to master these previous seven mind tweaks and you will learn not only how to master yourself, but how to master the flow of energy guiding you through life.
About the Author:
Ricky is a Yogi, Reiki Master, Kundalini Yoga Master and spiritual guide who specializes in energy healing and spiritual development. As a published author and Reiki Teacher, Ricky offers attunement, training and certification in his unique system of energy channelling, Reiki Solas, and offers distant healing treatments to his international clients.
Learn More About Reiki Solas (https://www.selfhelphealing.co.uk/how-to-do-reiki-energy-healing/)
Watch More on YouTube
(https://www.youtube.com/c/selfhelphealingukinstituteforselfawareness)


consciouslifenews--2020-10-22--Can America Make a Course Correction? We’ve Done It Before

The United States is facing a pandemic , civil unrest , climate devastation , and a damaged economy , all in the midst of rising social divisions and political polarization .
How can we possibly turn things around and work toward a better future together ?
In their new book , The Upswing : How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again , Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett argue that , though the U.S. suffered a similar litany of political , economic , cultural , and social upheaval in the past , Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalitions , creating the right ingredients for change .
And , they believe , we can do it again .
Garrett is a social entrepreneur and writer .
Her coauthor , the political scientist Robert Putnam , is best known as the author of the 2000 book , which influentially argued that “ social capital ” —our network of connections in family and community—was declining in America .
I spoke to them about the book , the lessons they extracted from the data , and their thoughts about our future course .
Jill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was happening politically , culturally , and economically in the U.S. about 125 years ago to what ’ s happening today .
How are these two eras similar , and how did we get to where we are now ?
Robert Putnam : During the Gilded Age , which ran roughly speaking from 1880 to about 1900 , there were very high levels of economic inequality , political polarization , social breakdowns ( social isolation , social disconnection ) , and cultural self-centeredness—I would even say narcissism .
But it was succeeded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Era , where America began moving in another direction .
That change did not happen overnight .
On the contrary , it took a long time for that new trend to play itself out .
But , over the next roughly 70 years , things got better in every way .
We became less unequal , less polarized , more connected with one another , and less socially isolated .
Culturally , more and more Americans became convinced that we really are all in this together .
Then , beginning about the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned exactly the opposite direction .
And , for the last 50 years since then , America has been getting more and more polarized , unequal , socially isolated , more and more focused on “ I ” [ on individual well-being ] .
We call that the “ I , We , I ” curve .
We moved from a period in which we were extremely “ I ” up to a peak in which we became pretty “ we ” as a country until it turned on a dime and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” again .
The second half of that story is familiar .
Everybody paying attention in America knows that we ’ re now very polarized , unequal , and so on .
I wrote a book called that was focused on the loss-of-social-capital part over the last 50 years , and that ’ s true enough .
But , if you widen your lens and look back at the last 125 years , you get a very different picture .
America right now , in 2020 , is uncannily like the America of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , there are a lot of lessons to be learned from that time when our country went through the same kind of crisis and came out of it in the right direction .
JS : What was happening after the Gilded Age to make things start trending upward , and how might that be relevant today ?
Shaylyn Romney Garrett : It ’ s important to keep in mind that the Progressive Era was progressive in a different sense than we use that word today .
Today , that word is used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political spectrum .
But back then , “ progressive ” was a banner under which a really diverse , bipartisan coalition of Americans came together .
And even though they were so diverse as to be barely coherent , they became unified over a couple of things .
One was a real , compelling desire to reverse this downward trend of our nation and a real galvanizing belief in the power of ordinary citizens to do it .
These progressives were unified by this belief that we needed to right the ship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
So , the Progressive Era was characterized by a moral awakening .
It was a time when people were questioning social Darwinism , which was the reigning mindset of the Gilded Age—that the dog-eat-dog , “ survival of the fittest ” applied not just to the biological world , but to the social-political world .
You saw a movement of people coming along to say , you know , there ’ s something really wrong with this way of viewing the world .
The social Darwinism movement quickly became replaced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a movement to help us see we ’ re all in this together and to focus more on our duties to one another .
To a large extent , that moral awakening was really directed inward .
It wasn ’ t just pointing at other people and saying , “ You ’ ve caused this problem.
” It was reformers asking themselves how they had been complicit in creating the America they were seeing and how they could participate in turning that around .
One of the things we also like to highlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an incredibly youth-driven movement .
Some of the most famous people from that era , like Jane Addams or [ Theodore ] Roosevelt , we tend to think of them in their later years .
But when they were doing their most invigorated and innovative work , they were under the age of 30 .
That mindset , that energy of youth to really reclaim the future of America , was a huge component of what was going on then .
And that translated into a vast amount of citizen innovation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how we solve our problems .
JS : You write about how different subgroups in American society ( like African Americans ) experienced upswings , too , but with a different pattern .
How is that relevant for making a course correction now ?
SRG : As the 19th century ended , the outlook for African Americans was incredibly bleak .
Then you saw this upswing in America , in general , where income inequality was decreasing and people were coming together more .
But it ’ s definitely important to say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not include Black Americans within their circle of moral concern .
So , the “ we ” that was created over the course of the first two-thirds of the 20th century in many ways was a white “ we.
” When we looked closely at the century-long data , asking how it reflects , or not , the experience of Black Americans , we saw some interesting things .
Black Americans were actually moving somewhat steadily toward parity on material well-being with white Americans—things like educational access , health , income distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voter participation .
These are real measures of people ’ s actual lived experience .
Over this “ we ” period , things were getting surprisingly better for black Americans—surprisingly , because the reality against which this was happening was Jim Crow , the exclusionary system that was violently enforced .
This is a story of Black Americans persisting and , against all odds , standing up to claim their place within the American “ we ” by , first and foremost , migrating by the millions out of the violent South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then creating their own civic institutions and organizations that created vast stores of social capital in their communities .
Then , America makes this broader turn toward civil rights in the mid-1960s .
This watershed change would not have been possible without the building of a wider “ we ” over the course of the previous six or seven decades—what historians refer to as the long civil rights movement .
Sometimes , we think of the civil rights movement as only the decade between Brown v. Board of Education and the passage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was going on throughout the entire century , the culmination of which was the passage of the legislation .
But , at that moment , America slipped , and there was a massive white backlash against widening the “ we ” and the implementation of desegregation .
White Americans were happy with the civil rights movement —but when it came to actually share the pie , there were a lot of backlashes and stagnation of progress for African Americans .
I think a lot of white Americans don ’ t really see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s against that backdrop that you see the anger , the frustration , and the sense of being set up that we see in the Black Lives Matter movement today .
Taking that history seriously is something that creates a broader coalition of Americans ready to finally make good on this promise of equality that America has not yet figured out how to do .
JS : How do you think experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic right now might be affecting our sense of social solidarity going forward and our ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s an interesting question , but I want to ask the reverse question : What ’ s the effect of all the things we ’ ve been talking about on the pandemic ?
There , the research findings are quite striking .
The places that have a lot of social capital and social trust now , and have had them for many years , are the places that are now resisting the epidemic more effectively—and that ’ s after controlling for lots of other things , like how old the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or how racially diverse they are .
It ’ s interesting to ask what ’ s the effect of the pandemic on those factors .
But I think it ’ s even more surprising to say that traditions of social trust and social capital have powerful , real effects right now—even on things like the number of people who are dying .
JS : If we need to form coalitions and increase trust to make a change , do you see any way of doing that when we ’ re so polarized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the earlier period , as we do for our inspiration , it ’ s quite striking how the actual issues being addressed then are similar to now .
For example , the regulation was a big deal then , and it ’ s a big deal now—although back then , it was about the oil and railroad barons , and now it ’ s about the internet or other monopolies .
Still , you could look back to that period for actual policy suggestions , like Senator Elizabeth Warren has been explicitly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not that we can just borrow the very policy proposals from that period , because , obviously , the world is quite different in some respects .
The larger point is that there are some of the strategic lessons from that period that apply very much now .
For example , if you ’ re trying to make a change in America today , you want to focus your attention on getting the active involvement of young people .
Now , they have a lot to be cynical about , and many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our book is to be cynical .
You can make changes , just like people did 125 years ago .
Another lesson is that some people , looking back , think Roosevelt was really important and that maybe we need another charismatic leader like that .
But , as we discuss in the book , Teddy Roosevelt was a “ lagging indicator ” —meaning , he came to the party late .
He important , but most of the really good ideas had come from other people earlier , from the grassroots movements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be political here , but it would be a mistake to think that our solution is going to come from some new charismatic leader .
It wasn ’ t true then ; it isn ’ t true now .
Instead , the agency is what ’ s important .
The reformers back then did not think of themselves as prisoners of intellectual history ; they rejected that idea explicitly and , instead , told themselves that they could make a difference .
They avoided pessimism and cynicism , and they really did make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with everything that Bob said , but I would also add that the progressives really viewed relationships—getting people physically and socially together—as both an end and a means to what they were trying to do .
It was important to combat the loneliness , isolation , and social dislocation that people were experiencing in the Industrial Revolution and still experience today .
We have a lot of young people today who think that the best way to build a movement is through the internet and social media .
And , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awareness to issues .
But some research shows that those movements built around social media organizing are pretty fragile when it comes to not just tearing down broken systems but building new systems .
It ’ s easy to use Twitter to tear things down that we want to change ; it ’ s not as easy to use Twitter to build something new .
We are going to need to reinvest in face-to-face connections .
Bob and I really advocate for using online and social media ties in conjunction with face-to-face , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships with one another .
This needs to be an important component .
Anybody that wants to get involved in building an upswing today needs to get out and get to know their neighbors , to reach across lines of difference , to build relationships .
That will be the fuel that pushes this forward .
Tags : `` featured , American activism , American societies , American society , American spirit , American willpower , can America make a course correction , collapse of American society , featured , Robert Putnam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American spirit , The United States , The Upswing , The Upswing : How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again

By Jill Suttie | Greater Good Magazine
The United States is facing a pandemic, civil unrest, climate devastation, and a damaged economy, all in the midst of rising social divisions and political polarization. How can we possibly turn things around and work toward a better future together?
In their new book, The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again, Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett argue that, though the U.S. suffered a similar litany of political, economic, cultural, and social upheaval in the past, Americans were able to come together and form coalitions, creating the right ingredients for change. And, they believe, we can do it again.
Garrett is a social entrepreneur and writer. Her coauthor, the political scientist Robert Putnam, is best known as the author of the 2000 book Bowling Alone, which influentially argued that “social capital”—our network of connections in family and community—was declining in America. I spoke to them about the book, the lessons they extracted from the data, and their thoughts about our future course.
Jill Suttie: In Upswing, you compare what was happening politically, culturally, and economically in the U.S. about 125 years ago to what’s happening today. How are these two eras similar, and how did we get to where we are now?
Robert Putnam: During the Gilded Age, which ran roughly speaking from 1880 to about 1900, there were very high levels of economic inequality, political polarization, social breakdowns (social isolation, social disconnection), and cultural self-centeredness—I would even say narcissism.
But it was succeeded by a period that historians call the Progressive Era, where America began moving in another direction. That change did not happen overnight. On the contrary, it took a long time for that new trend to play itself out. But, over the next roughly 70 years, things got better in every way. We became less unequal, less polarized, more connected with one another, and less socially isolated. Culturally, more and more Americans became convinced that we really are all in this together.
Then, beginning about the late 1960s, all of those upward curves turned exactly the opposite direction. And, for the last 50 years since then, America has been getting more and more polarized, unequal, socially isolated, more and more focused on “I” [on individual well-being]. We call that the “I, We, I” curve. We moved from a period in which we were extremely “I” up to a peak in which we became pretty “we” as a country until it turned on a dime and we became much less connected or “I” again.
The second half of that story is familiar. Everybody paying attention in America knows that we’re now very polarized, unequal, and so on. I wrote a book called Bowling Alone that was focused on the loss-of-social-capital part over the last 50 years, and that’s true enough. But, if you widen your lens and look back at the last 125 years, you get a very different picture. America right now, in 2020, is uncannily like the America of 1900. For people who care about America, there are a lot of lessons to be learned from that time when our country went through the same kind of crisis and came out of it in the right direction.
JS: What was happening after the Gilded Age to make things start trending upward, and how might that be relevant today?
Shaylyn Romney Garrett: It’s important to keep in mind that the Progressive Era was progressive in a different sense than we use that word today. Today, that word is used to describe the left end of the political spectrum. But back then, “progressive” was a banner under which a really diverse, bipartisan coalition of Americans came together. And even though they were so diverse as to be barely coherent, they became unified over a couple of things.
One was a real, compelling desire to reverse this downward trend of our nation and a real galvanizing belief in the power of ordinary citizens to do it. These progressives were unified by this belief that we needed to right the ship, that something had gone fundamentally wrong in America.
So, the Progressive Era was characterized by a moral awakening. It was a time when people were questioning social Darwinism, which was the reigning mindset of the Gilded Age—that the dog-eat-dog, “survival of the fittest” applied not just to the biological world, but to the social-political world. You saw a movement of people coming along to say, you know, there’s something really wrong with this way of viewing the world.
The social Darwinism movement quickly became replaced by the social gospel movement, which was a movement to help us see we’re all in this together and to focus more on our duties to one another. To a large extent, that moral awakening was really directed inward. It wasn’t just pointing at other people and saying, “You’ve caused this problem.” It was reformers asking themselves how they had been complicit in creating the America they were seeing and how they could participate in turning that around.
One of the things we also like to highlight about the Progressive Era is that it was an incredibly youth-driven movement. Some of the most famous people from that era, like Jane Addams or [Theodore] Roosevelt, we tend to think of them in their later years. But when they were doing their most invigorated and innovative work, they were under the age of 30. That mindset, that energy of youth to really reclaim the future of America, was a huge component of what was going on then. And that translated into a vast amount of citizen innovation that created all sorts of new ideas for how we solve our problems.
JS: You write about how different subgroups in American society (like African Americans) experienced upswings, too, but with a different pattern. How is that relevant for making a course correction now?
SRG: As the 19th century ended, the outlook for African Americans was incredibly bleak. Then you saw this upswing in America, in general, where income inequality was decreasing and people were coming together more. But it’s definitely important to say that these progressives were largely racist. They did not include Black Americans within their circle of moral concern. So, the “we” that was created over the course of the first two-thirds of the 20th century in many ways was a white “we.”
When we looked closely at the century-long data, asking how it reflects, or not, the experience of Black Americans, we saw some interesting things. Black Americans were actually moving somewhat steadily toward parity on material well-being with white Americans—things like educational access, health, income distribution, wealth, and both voter registration and voter participation. These are real measures of people’s actual lived experience.
Over this “we” period, things were getting surprisingly better for black Americans—surprisingly, because the reality against which this was happening was Jim Crow, the exclusionary system that was violently enforced. This is a story of Black Americans persisting and, against all odds, standing up to claim their place within the American “we” by, first and foremost, migrating by the millions out of the violent South and into the more hospitable North, then creating their own civic institutions and organizations that created vast stores of social capital in their communities.
Then, America makes this broader turn toward civil rights in the mid-1960s. This watershed change would not have been possible without the building of a wider “we” over the course of the previous six or seven decades—what historians refer to as the long civil rights movement. Sometimes, we think of the civil rights movement as only the decade between Brown v. Board of Education and the passage of civil rights legislation. But actually, this was going on throughout the entire century, the culmination of which was the passage of the legislation.
But, at that moment, America slipped, and there was a massive white backlash against widening the “we” and the implementation of desegregation. White Americans were happy with the civil rights movement in principle—but when it came to actually share the pie, there were a lot of backlashes and stagnation of progress for African Americans.
I think a lot of white Americans don’t really see this reversal of progress for Black Americans. It’s against that backdrop that you see the anger, the frustration, and the sense of being set up that we see in the Black Lives Matter movement today. Taking that history seriously is something that creates a broader coalition of Americans ready to finally make good on this promise of equality that America has not yet figured out how to do.
JS: How do you think experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic right now might be affecting our sense of social solidarity going forward and our ability to turn things around?
RP: That’s an interesting question, but I want to ask the reverse question: What’s the effect of all the things we’ve been talking about on the pandemic? There, the research findings are quite striking. The places that have a lot of social capital and social trust now, and have had them for many years, are the places that are now resisting the epidemic more effectively—and that’s after controlling for lots of other things, like how old the population is, how densely they live together, or how racially diverse they are.
It’s interesting to ask what’s the effect of the pandemic on those factors. But I think it’s even more surprising to say that traditions of social trust and social capital have powerful, real effects right now—even on things like the number of people who are dying.
JS: If we need to form coalitions and increase trust to make a change, do you see any way of doing that when we’re so polarized?
RP: If you look back at the earlier period, as we do for our inspiration, it’s quite striking how the actual issues being addressed then are similar to now. For example, the regulation was a big deal then, and it’s a big deal now—although back then, it was about the oil and railroad barons, and now it’s about the internet or other monopolies. Still, you could look back to that period for actual policy suggestions, like Senator Elizabeth Warren has been explicitly doing.
But our major point is not that we can just borrow the very policy proposals from that period, because, obviously, the world is quite different in some respects. The larger point is that there are some of the strategic lessons from that period that apply very much now.
For example, if you’re trying to make a change in America today, you want to focus your attention on getting the active involvement of young people. Now, they have a lot to be cynical about, and many of them are cynical. But the lesson in our book is not to be cynical. You can make changes, just like people did 125 years ago.
Another lesson is that some people, looking back, think Roosevelt was really important and that maybe we need another charismatic leader like that. But, as we discuss in the book, Teddy Roosevelt was a “lagging indicator”—meaning, he came to the party late. He was important, but most of the really good ideas had come from other people earlier, from the grassroots movements.
I’m trying not to be political here, but it would be a mistake to think that our solution is going to come from some new charismatic leader. It wasn’t true then; it isn’t true now. Instead, the agency is what’s important. The reformers back then did not think of themselves as prisoners of intellectual history; they rejected that idea explicitly and, instead, told themselves that they could make a difference. They avoided pessimism and cynicism, and they really did make a difference.
SRG: I agree with everything that Bob said, but I would also add that the progressives really viewed relationships—getting people physically and socially together—as both an end and a means to what they were trying to do. It was important to combat the loneliness, isolation, and social dislocation that people were experiencing in the Industrial Revolution and still experience today.
We have a lot of young people today who think that the best way to build a movement is through the internet and social media. And, of course, that is a powerful way to bring awareness to issues. But some research shows that those movements built around social media organizing are pretty fragile when it comes to not just tearing down broken systems but building new systems. It’s easy to use Twitter to tear things down that we want to change; it’s not as easy to use Twitter to build something new.
We are going to need to reinvest in face-to-face connections. Bob and I really advocate for using online and social media ties in conjunction with face-to-face, boots-on-the-ground organizing, where people are inactive relationships with one another. This needs to be an important component. Anybody that wants to get involved in building an upswing today needs to get out and get to know their neighbors, to reach across lines of difference, to build relationships. That will be the fuel that pushes this forward.
About the Author


consciouslifenews--2020-10-22--Scientist Attacked for Fluoridation Facts

Depositions by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials in 2018 have also confirmed the agency does not have any safety data on fluoride intake and neurotoxic effects .
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also does not have any data showing fluoride intake is harmless to the brain .
Meanwhile , more than 400 animal and human studies have found fluoride is neurotoxic and damages the brain For now , it doesn ’ t appear as though York University will comply with the call for an independent probe into Till ’ s research and public statements about water fluoridation After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that included speakers who question the safety of mercury and vaccines , a group of 14 scientists is calling for an independent review of Till ’ s work on fluoridation “ to determine whether her ‘ ideology is being misrepresented as science ’ ” In 2019 , Till received the President ’ s Emerging Research Leadership Award ( PERLA ) from York University for her research into the neurotoxicity of fluoride exposure Christine Till , Ph.D. , an associate professor at York University in Toronto , Canada , has published several damning studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IQ While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century , hundreds of studies reveal it ’ s one of the most harmful public health strategies ever implemented .
Among the many researchers who have published damning fluoride studies is Christine Till , Ph.D. , an associate professor at York University in Toronto , Canada1 who in 2019 received the President ’ s Emerging Research Leadership Award ( PERLA ) for her research into the neurotoxicity of fluoride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research3,4 showing maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy lowered IQ in children .
In 2020 , Till and her team published another study,5 showing children who were bottle-fed in Canadian fluoridated communities lost up to 9.3 IQ points compared to those in non-fluoridated communities .
She ’ s also listed as a co-author on several other important fluoride studies published in the last five years .
Till ’ s studies are part of hundreds of studies presented as evidence during the landmark fluoridation trial held in federal court in June 2020 , reviewed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are considered some of the strongest evidence against water fluoridation to date .
Now , Till is suddenly facing the same “ cancel culture ” that so many other researchers have faced when they present evidence that challenges industry propaganda and threatens the continuation of a toxic but profitable practice .
According to October 8 , 2020 , report6 by CTV News , 14 scientists , referring to themselves as an “ International Group of Fluoridation Experts , ” have written a letter7 to York University ’ s board of governors , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s work on fluoridation “ to determine whether her ‘ ideology is being misrepresented as science.
’ ” September 21 , 2020 , letter reads , in part:8 In response to the accusations , Till told CTV News:9 In addition , to questioning Till ’ s scientific integrity , the group questions the truthfulness of a number of public statements she ’ s made .
That includes the short video featured above , produced by Till and Dr. Bruce Lanphear , a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University11 in Canada .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an invited member of the Council of Fellows of the Collegium Ramazzini12 in Italy , an international scientific academy comprised of physicians and scientists that seeks to increase scientific knowledge of the environmental and occupational causes of disease to protect public health .
The Collegium Ramazzini collaborates with the Ramazzini Institute,13 a nonprofit social cooperative dedicated to independent scientific research into environmental toxins .
You may recall hearing about the Ramazzini Institute in relation to the harms of cellphone radiation — another hotly contested area of research where organizations with vested interests are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss findings showing that electromagnetic fields ( EMFs ) cause physical harm .
Getting back to the video , in it , Till and Lanphear review the history of water fluoridation , research showing fluoride to be toxic to the developing brain , and the implications of an IQ loss of three to five points .
As noted in the video , most people have an IQ score between 85 and 115 points .
Only 2.5 % of children have an IQ above 130 , which is considered gifted .
Another 2.5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is considered challenging .
A mere five points drop in IQ , which doesn ’ t sound like much , actually results in a whopping 57 % increase in the number of children who are intellectually and academically challenged , from 6 million to 9.4 million .
There ’ s also a corresponding decrease in those who are gifted , from 6 million down to 2.4 million , and the overall societal impact of this downward slide is tremendous .
The group also wants the reviewing committee to ascertain whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings , and if not , they call for a “ forensic audit into whether public funds meant for research or knowledge translation was used to create the video , and , if so , require those funds to be reimbursed.
” 15 Why Was Till Singled Out ?
For now , it doesn ’ t appear as though York University will comply with the call for an independent probe into Till ’ s research and public statements about water fluoridation , but it raises the question of why she was targeted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , the attack came on the heels of a lecture she gave in September 2020 at the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology ( IAOMT ) conference , held in Nashville , Tennessee .
Till gave her presentation virtually , from Canada .
According to September 30 , 2020 , article16 by Canadian journalist Tom Blackwell , presenters at the event included “ a who ’ s who of the anti-vaccination and COVID-19 conspiracy-theory movements.
” Among the presenters17 receiving “ top billing ” were Andrew Wakefield , producer of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and Judy Mikovitz , Ph.D. , featured in the highly-censored documentary “ Plandemic.
” Other criticized presenters included Marc Geier and retired chemistry professor Boyd Haley , both of whom have linked vaccines to autism .
According to Blackwell , “ Till said she didn ’ t learn who else was presenting until organizers sent her an agenda two weeks before the event.
” Blackwell also reports that , in an interview , Till : As detailed in “ Fluoride on Trial ” ( hyperlinked above ) and many other articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no shortage of scientific evidence showing water fluoridation causes more harm than good .
More than 400 animal and human studies have in fact found fluoride is neurotoxic and damages the brain,18 and have been published in some of the most prestigious peer-reviewed journals .
The claim that Till ’ s research conclusions “ diverge significantly from current research ” therefore doesn ’ t hold water .
What ’ s more , depositions by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials , which took place in 2018 , have also confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data on fluoride intake and neurotoxic effects .
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also does not have any safety data on fluoride intake and its effects on the brain .
During the fluoride trial against the EPA , which took place in June 2020 , Michael Connett , an attorney for the Fluoride Action Network ( FAN ) who is leading the lawsuit , asked the EPA to identify all studies that demonstrate or support the neurological safety of prenatal fluoride exposure .
They produced a single study from 1995 , in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rats .
Ironically , this study actually shows that neonatal fluoride exposure is neurotoxic , and EPA scientists confirmed that this was indeed the case .
So , the only study they could find to support safety is actually showing harm .
Aside from the 201919,20 and 202021 studies that Till led , the following also implicate fluoride as a neurotoxin that has no place in communal water supplies : As early as 2006 , the National Research Council ( NRC ) looked at the toxicology of fluoride , concluding that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , fluoride poses a threat to the brain.31 Studies have also demonstrated that fluoride is an endocrine disruptor32 that suppresses thyroid function,33,34,35 and this too can lower IQ in offspring if the mother has underactive thyroid function during pregnancy .
Excessive fluoride exposure also causes dental fluorosis , which in turn increases rates of dental cavities.36,37 This alone should be cause for reconsidering water fluoridation , considering it ’ s a public health strategy aimed at preventing cavities .
Hopefully , FAN ’ s legal action against the EPA will result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies .
We still have a ways to go through .
As it stands , the judge in the case has asked FAN to allow the EPA to reassess the evidence before he makes a ruling .
According to the judge , the EPA has used the wrong standard to assess the evidence ( which , incidentally , means the “ International Group of Fluoridation Experts ” are likely to have made the same mistake when judging the available research ) .
The judge also noted , on the record , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the policy to fluoridate water supplies .
If the EPA tries to drag out this process , he is prepared to make a ruling based on the evidence presented .
So , we still have to wait for the conclusion to this groundbreaking trial but , clearly , we are closer than we ’ ve ever been to see an end to this tragic and unnecessary poisoning of millions of individuals .
In the end , researchers like Till may well end up having the last word on the matter .
Help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no doubt about it : Fluoride should not be ingested .
Even scientists from the EPA 's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory have classified fluoride as a “ chemical having substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.
” Furthermore , according to screenings conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , 65 % of American adolescents now have dental fluorosis — unattractive discoloration and mottling of the teeth that indicate overexposure to fluoride—up from 41 % a decade ago .
Clearly , children are continuing to be overexposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jeopardy .
Why ?
The only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of artificial water fluoridation in the first place .
Fortunately , the Fluoride Action Network ( FAN ) , has a game plan to END fluoridation worldwide .
Clean pure water is a prerequisite to optimal health .
Industrial chemicals , drugs , and other toxic additives really have no place in our water supplies .
So please , protect your drinking water and support the fluoride-free movement by making a tax-deductible donation to the Fluoride Action Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Learn More I encourage you to visit the website of the Fluoride Action Network and visit the links below : • Like FAN on Facebook , follow on Twitter and Instagram , and sign up for campaign alerts .
• 10 Facts About Fluoride : Attorney Michael Connett summarizes 10 basic facts about fluoride that should be considered in any discussion about whether to fluoridate water .
Also , see the 10 Facts Handout ( PDF ) .
• 50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation : Learn why fluoridation is a bad medical practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PDF .
• Moms2B Avoid Fluoride : Help spread the word to expecting parents to avoid fluoride during pregnancy due to potential harm to the fetus .
• Health Effects Database : FAN 's database sets forth the scientific basis for concerns regarding the safety and effectiveness of ingesting fluorides .
They also have a Study Tracker with the most up-to-date and comprehensive source for studies on fluoride 's effects on human health .
Together , Let 's Help FAN Get the Funding They Deserve In my opinion , there are very few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as FAN .
Its small team has led the charge to end fluoridation and will continue to do so with our help !
Please make a donation today to help FAN end the absurdity of fluoridation .

By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
Depositions by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials in 2018 have also confirmed the agency does not have any safety data on fluoride intake and neurotoxic effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also does not have any data showing fluoride intake is harmless to the brain. Meanwhile, more than 400 animal and human studies have found fluoride is neurotoxic and damages the brain
For now, it doesn’t appear as though York University will comply with the call for an independent probe into Till’s research and public statements about water fluoridation
After giving a lecture at a recent conference that included speakers who question the safety of mercury and vaccines, a group of 14 scientists is calling for an independent review of Till’s work on fluoridation “to determine whether her ‘ideology is being misrepresented as science’”
In 2019, Till received the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) from York University for her research into the neurotoxicity of fluoride exposure
Christine Till, Ph.D., an associate professor at York University in Toronto, Canada, has published several damning studies showing fluoride damages the brain and lowers IQ
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotes water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, hundreds of studies reveal it’s one of the most harmful public health strategies ever implemented.
Among the many researchers who have published damning fluoride studies is Christine Till, Ph.D., an associate professor at York University in Toronto, Canada1 who in 2019 received the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA) for her research into the neurotoxicity of fluoride exposure.2
That same year, she published research3,4 showing maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy lowered IQ in children. In 2020, Till and her team published another study,5 showing children who were bottle-fed in Canadian fluoridated communities lost up to 9.3 IQ points compared to those in non-fluoridated communities.
She’s also listed as a co-author on several other important fluoride studies published in the last five years. Till’s studies are part of hundreds of studies presented as evidence during the landmark fluoridation trial held in federal court in June 2020, reviewed in “Fluoride on Trial,” and are considered some of the strongest evidence against water fluoridation to date.
Policymakers, health professionals, and scientists must have access to all high-quality evidence to make informed decisions. It would be unacceptable to censor scientific results because they do not conform to a certain set of beliefs. ~ Christine Till, Ph.D.
Now, Till is suddenly facing the same “cancel culture” that so many other researchers have faced when they present evidence that challenges industry propaganda and threatens the continuation of a toxic but profitable practice.
Pro-Fluoride Group Calls for Independent Probe
According to October 8, 2020, report6 by CTV News, 14 scientists, referring to themselves as an “International Group of Fluoridation Experts,” have written a letter7 to York University’s board of governors, calling for an independent review of Till’s work on fluoridation “to determine whether her ‘ideology is being misrepresented as science.’” September 21, 2020, letter reads, in part:8
“… Till’s work continues to have sway in the political and public decision making process because it asserts a ‘possibility’ that water fluoridation is dangerous, however dubious the work’s methodology and conclusions.
That ‘possibility’ frightens some elected officials and administrators. We are advised that several United States boards, which oversee water quality, are currently deciding whether to cease community water fluoridation because of concerns advanced by Dr. Till, her students and associates, including that fluoride harms the developing brain …
Dr. Till’s fluoride research conclusions diverge significantly from current research on the safety of community water fluoridation (CWF) … We believe that some or all of Dr. Christine Till's fluoride publications might well contain significant error …
Therefore, we are acting on our moral duty to make this belief known by asking you to establish an international, independent, expert committee to determine whether our concerns are justified.”
In response to the accusations, Till told CTV News:9
“Our study underwent extensive scrutiny to meet the scientific standards for publishing in the highest-ranking pediatric journal in the world. Policy makers, health professionals and scientists must have access to all high-quality evidence to make informed decisions. It would be unacceptable to censor scientific results because they do not conform to a certain set of beliefs.”
University Defends Scientific Freedom of Its Faculty
September 29, 2020, York University President Rhonda Lenton issued a public reply10 to the letter, stating:
“Over the past few months, several incidents bearing on the academic freedom of members of the York Community have been brought to my attention.
In each case, individuals and groups external to the University have appealed to senior leadership to intercede against faculty members due to statements made, or research published, in the course of their legitimate scholarly activities.
I believe this presents an important opportunity to restate York’s unequivocal support of academic freedom …
We must always defend the right of students, professors and instructional staff to express their views and conduct free inquiry. It is, however, not required that we agree with the content of that speech.
Free expression, especially on controversial topics, is best regulated by vigorous counterspeech. It is not appropriate for the University to decide which side of a particular issue is correct …
As a leading research university, York remains steadfast in its defense of academic freedom. We will not censure any member of our community for their research or their public statements made in the course of their scholarly work within limits prescribed by law and applicable policies governing the responsible conduct of research.”
Till’s Public Statements Questioned
In addition, to questioning Till’s scientific integrity, the group questions the truthfulness of a number of public statements she’s made. That includes the short video featured above, produced by Till and Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University11 in Canada.
On a side note, Lanphear is also an invited member of the Council of Fellows of the Collegium Ramazzini12 in Italy, an international scientific academy comprised of physicians and scientists that seeks to increase scientific knowledge of the environmental and occupational causes of disease to protect public health.
The Collegium Ramazzini collaborates with the Ramazzini Institute,13 a nonprofit social cooperative dedicated to independent scientific research into environmental toxins.
You may recall hearing about the Ramazzini Institute in relation to the harms of cellphone radiation — another hotly contested area of research where organizations with vested interests are doing everything they can to smear and dismiss findings showing that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) cause physical harm.
Getting back to the video, in it, Till and Lanphear review the history of water fluoridation, research showing fluoride to be toxic to the developing brain, and the implications of an IQ loss of three to five points.
As noted in the video, most people have an IQ score between 85 and 115 points. Only 2.5% of children have an IQ above 130, which is considered gifted. Another 2.5% of children have an IQ below 70, which is considered challenging.
A mere five points drop in IQ, which doesn’t sound like much, actually results in a whopping 57% increase in the number of children who are intellectually and academically challenged, from 6 million to 9.4 million. There’s also a corresponding decrease in those who are gifted, from 6 million down to 2.4 million, and the overall societal impact of this downward slide is tremendous.
“We ask the international, expert, arm’s length committee to consider whether Dr. Till is in a possible conflict of interest as between her duty (to collect and to report research data reliably) and her probable interest (which appears to be to cause and end to community water fluoridation),” the “International Group of Fluoridation Experts” write.14
The group also wants the reviewing committee to ascertain whether the video fairly represents Till’s scientific findings, and if not, they call for a “forensic audit into whether public funds meant for research or knowledge translation was used to create the video, and, if so, require those funds to be reimbursed.”15
Why Was Till Singled Out?
For now, it doesn’t appear as though York University will comply with the call for an independent probe into Till’s research and public statements about water fluoridation, but it raises the question of why she was targeted in the first place.
As it turns out, the attack came on the heels of a lecture she gave in September 2020 at the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) conference, held in Nashville, Tennessee. Till gave her presentation virtually, from Canada.
According to September 30, 2020, article16 by Canadian journalist Tom Blackwell, presenters at the event included “a who’s who of the anti-vaccination and COVID-19 conspiracy-theory movements.”
Among the presenters17 receiving “top billing” were Andrew Wakefield, producer of the excellent documentary “1986: The Act,” and Judy Mikovitz, Ph.D., featured in the highly-censored documentary “Plandemic.” Other criticized presenters included Marc Geier and retired chemistry professor Boyd Haley, both of whom have linked vaccines to autism.
According to Blackwell, “Till said she didn’t learn who else was presenting until organizers sent her an agenda two weeks before the event.” Blackwell also reports that, in an interview, Till:
“… stressed that she accepted no payment from the IAOMT, and does back childhood vaccination of the sort her fellow speakers decry … ‘Just because I speak to an organization does not mean I subscribe to the views of the other speakers … To me the invitation to speak is to present our research findings, make them accessible to this group.’”
Fluoride Research
As detailed in “Fluoride on Trial” (hyperlinked above) and many other articles over the past decade, there’s no shortage of scientific evidence showing water fluoridation causes more harm than good. More than 400 animal and human studies have in fact found fluoride is neurotoxic and damages the brain,18 and have been published in some of the most prestigious peer-reviewed journals.
The claim that Till’s research conclusions “diverge significantly from current research” therefore doesn’t hold water. What’s more, depositions by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials, which took place in 2018, have also confirmed the agency does not have any safety data on fluoride intake and neurotoxic effects.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also does not have any safety data on fluoride intake and its effects on the brain. During the fluoride trial against the EPA, which took place in June 2020, Michael Connett, an attorney for the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) who is leading the lawsuit, asked the EPA to identify all studies that demonstrate or support the neurological safety of prenatal fluoride exposure.
They produced a single study from 1995, in which the neurotoxicity of sodium fluoride was assessed in rats. Ironically, this study actually shows that neonatal fluoride exposure is neurotoxic, and EPA scientists confirmed that this was indeed the case.
So, the only study they could find to support safety is actually showing harm. Aside from the 201919,20 and 202021 studies that Till led, the following also implicate fluoride as a neurotoxin that has no place in communal water supplies:
Bashash 2017 22 , 23 — Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the EPA, this study followed pregnant women and their babies for 12 years, measuring the fluoride in their urine, which reveals total exposure, regardless of the source. They found a strong relationship between the fluoride level in mothers’ urine and IQ scores in their children at the ages of 4, and between 6 and 12. Green 2019 24 — Published in JAMA Pediatrics, this study reported substantial IQ loss in Canadian children from prenatal exposure to fluoride from water fluoridation. Riddell 2019 25 — Published in Environment International, this study found a shocking 284% increase in the prevalence of ADHD among children in fluoridated communities in Canada compared to non-fluoridated ones. Malin 2019 26 — Published in Environmental Health, it linked a doubling of symptoms indicative of sleep apnea in adolescents in the U.S. to levels of fluoride in the drinking water. The link between fluoride and sleep disturbances may be through fluoride’s effect on the pineal gland. Malin 2019 27 — Published in Environment International. A second study by Malin’s team reported that exposure to fluoridated water led to a reduction in kidney and liver function among adolescents in the U.S., and suggested those with poorer kidney or liver function may absorb more fluoride. The CDC funded this study. Uyghurturk 2020 28 — Published in Environmental Health, it found that pregnant women in fluoridated communities in California had significantly higher levels of fluoride in their urine than those in non-fluoridated communities. The levels found in their urine were the same as those found to lower the IQ of the fetus in Green et al, 2019, and Bashash et al, 2017. 29 , 30
As early as 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) looked at the toxicology of fluoride, concluding that, based on the studies available at that time, fluoride poses a threat to the brain.31
Studies have also demonstrated that fluoride is an endocrine disruptor32 that suppresses thyroid function,33,34,35 and this too can lower IQ in offspring if the mother has underactive thyroid function during pregnancy.
Excessive fluoride exposure also causes dental fluorosis, which in turn increases rates of dental cavities.36,37 This alone should be cause for reconsidering water fluoridation, considering it’s a public health strategy aimed at preventing cavities.
The Fight Against Water Fluoridation Continues
Hopefully, FAN’s legal action against the EPA will result in the elimination of fluoride from U.S. water supplies. We still have a ways to go through. As it stands, the judge in the case has asked FAN to allow the EPA to reassess the evidence before he makes a ruling.
According to the judge, the EPA has used the wrong standard to assess the evidence (which, incidentally, means the “International Group of Fluoridation Experts” are likely to have made the same mistake when judging the available research).
The judge also noted, on the record, that the evidence presented by plaintiffs raises serious questions about the policy to fluoridate water supplies. If the EPA tries to drag out this process, he is prepared to make a ruling based on the evidence presented.
So, we still have to wait for the conclusion to this groundbreaking trial but, clearly, we are closer than we’ve ever been to see an end to this tragic and unnecessary poisoning of millions of individuals. In the end, researchers like Till may well end up having the last word on the matter.
Help End the Practice of Fluoridation
There's no doubt about it: Fluoride should not be ingested. Even scientists from the EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory have classified fluoride as a “chemical having substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.”
Furthermore, according to screenings conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 65% of American adolescents now have dental fluorosis — unattractive discoloration and mottling of the teeth that indicate overexposure to fluoride—up from 41% a decade ago. Clearly, children are continuing to be overexposed, and their health and development put in jeopardy. Why?
The only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of artificial water fluoridation in the first place. Fortunately, the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), has a game plan to END fluoridation worldwide.
Clean pure water is a prerequisite to optimal health. Industrial chemicals, drugs, and other toxic additives really have no place in our water supplies. So please, protect your drinking water and support the fluoride-free movement by making a tax-deductible donation to the Fluoride Action Network today.
Internet Resources Where You Can Learn More
I encourage you to visit the website of the Fluoride Action Network and visit the links below:
Together, Let's Help FAN Get the Funding They Deserve
In my opinion, there are very few NGOs that are as effective and efficient as FAN. Its small team has led the charge to end fluoridation and will continue to do so with our help! Please make a donation today to help FAN end the absurdity of fluoridation.


consciouslifenews--2020-10-22--Human Rights Watchdog Says Governments Using Pandemic To Crack Down On Online Dissent

Governments around the world are using the ongoing pandemic to crack down on online dissent according to a human rights watchdog .
Washington-based Freedom House said dozens of countries have cited CV as a means “ to justify expanded surveillance powers and the deployment of new technologies that were once seen as too intrusive.
” They added that it marks the 10th consecutive annual decline in internet freedom , Barron ’ s reported .
The expansion of technological systems is enabling governments ' social control , according to the report .
“ The pandemic is accelerating society ’ s reliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internet is becoming less and less free , ” said Michael Abramowitz , president of the nonprofit group .
“ Without adequate safeguards for privacy and the rule of law , these technologies can be easily repurposed for political repression.
” China was singled out in the report noting , Chinese authorities “ combined low- and high-tech tools not only to manage the outbreak of the coronavirus , but also to deter internet users from sharing information from independent sources and challenging the official narrative.
” The report stated this shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” globally and a “ splintering ” of the internet as each government imposes its own regulations for citizens .
Freedom House said that of the estimated 3.8 billion people using the internet , just 20 percent live in countries with free internet , 32 percent in countries “ partly free , ” while 35 percent were in places where online activities are not free .
The remainder lives in countries that weren ’ t among the 65 assessed .
has previously reported that countries were using the pandemic to shutdown online dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Expressing that governments around the world were using fake news to hide behind their online censorship efforts .
Hungary is one of the countries that began arresting citizens for allegedly spreading fake news related to the CV pandemic as ordered by Prime Minister Viktor Orban .
Hungary isn ’ t the only country that is using the CV crisis to push draconian laws on its citizens .
previously reported early on during the CV outbreak that two individuals were arrested under Thailand ’ s new “ Anti-Fake News Center ” for spreading false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued four arrests of its citizens for spreading rumors and “ disinformation , ” according to a report by Hong Kong ’ s .
Those “ suspects ” included a tutor , two pharmacy assistants , and a university student whom if found guilty will face upwards to a $ 12,000 fine and up to 1 year in prison if convicted .
Then there is China , which arrested 8 people who were charged with spreading rumors about a virus before the coronavirus was publicly known .
Beyond that , China recently highlighted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law by censoring a media outlet which is one of the most reputable outlets in the country .
In that article , the authors claimed that China significantly under reported both the cases and deaths , especially among the elderly .
( archive ) ( translation ) Another country , Singapore , on April 1st proposed a law to combat online fake news .
Under the draft law , those who spread online falsehoods with a malicious intent to harm public interest could face jail terms of up to 10 years , reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be used as a Trojan horse to take away our rights and be used to push increased digital surveillance via our smartphones .
But that ’ s not all , it also serves a means for other facial recognition technology to be more frequently used .
Top10VPN continues to monitor the increase of the police state and decrease our digital and physical rights noting the following figures .
• 120 contact tracing apps are available in 71 countries • 45 apps now use Google and Apple ’ s API • The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other country in the world • 19 apps , with 4 million downloads combined , have no privacy policy • 60 digital tracking measures have been introduced in 38 countries • 43 physical surveillance measures have been adopted in 27 countries • Drones have been used in 22 countries to help enforce lockdowns • Europe introduced more surveillance measures than any other region As previously wrote while discussing the increase of a police surveillance state , these measures being put into place now will likely remain long after the pandemic has stopped and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s the everlasting effect that COVID-19 will have on our society .
The coronavirus may very well be a legitimate health concern for all of us around the world .
But it ’ s the government ’ s response that should worry us all more in the long run .
Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post where this article ( OCTOPUS PROMIS : The Rise Of Thought Crime Technology — We ’ re Living In Orwell ’ s 1984 ) was originally published .

By Aaron Kesel | Activist Post
Governments around the world are using the ongoing pandemic to crack down on online dissent according to a human rights watchdog.
Washington-based Freedom House said dozens of countries have cited CV as a means “to justify expanded surveillance powers and the deployment of new technologies that were once seen as too intrusive.” They added that it marks the 10th consecutive annual decline in internet freedom, Barron’s reported.
The expansion of technological systems is enabling governments' social control, according to the report.
“The pandemic is accelerating society’s reliance on digital technologies at a time when the internet is becoming less and less free,” said Michael Abramowitz, president of the nonprofit group. “Without adequate safeguards for privacy and the rule of law, these technologies can be easily repurposed for political repression.” China was singled out in the report noting, Chinese authorities “combined low- and high-tech tools not only to manage the outbreak of the coronavirus, but also to deter internet users from sharing information from independent sources and challenging the official narrative.”
The report stated this shows a growing trend toward Chinese-style “digital authoritarianism” globally and a “splintering” of the internet as each government imposes its own regulations for citizens.
Freedom House said that of the estimated 3.8 billion people using the internet, just 20 percent live in countries with free internet, 32 percent in countries “partly free,” while 35 percent were in places where online activities are not free. The remainder lives in countries that weren’t among the 65 assessed.
The report cited declines in countries where authorities have imposed internet shutdowns including Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan and India, and in Rwanda for its use of “sophisticated spyware to monitor and intimidate exiled dissidents.”
Activist Post has previously reported that countries were using the pandemic to shutdown online dissent back in May of this year. Expressing that governments around the world were using fake news to hide behind their online censorship efforts. Hungary is one of the countries that began arresting citizens for allegedly spreading fake news related to the CV pandemic as ordered by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Hungary isn’t the only country that is using the CV crisis to push draconian laws on its citizens. Activist Post previously reported early on during the CV outbreak that two individuals were arrested under Thailand’s new “Anti-Fake News Center” for spreading false information about the coronavirus. Malaysia also issued four arrests of its citizens for spreading rumors and “disinformation,” according to a report by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Those “suspects” included a tutor, two pharmacy assistants, and a university student whom if found guilty will face upwards to a $12,000 fine and up to 1 year in prison if convicted.
Then there is China, which arrested 8 people who were charged with spreading rumors about a virus before the coronavirus was publicly known. Beyond that, China recently highlighted what can be done with such a law by censoring a media outlet Caijing, which is one of the most reputable outlets in the country. In that article, the authors claimed that China significantly under reported both the cases and deaths, especially among the elderly. (archive) (translation)
Another country, Singapore, on April 1st proposed a law to combat online fake news. Under the draft law, those who spread online falsehoods with a malicious intent to harm public interest could face jail terms of up to 10 years, Reuters reported.
Activist Post previously highlighted that the CV pandemic would be used as a Trojan horse to take away our rights and be used to push increased digital surveillance via our smartphones. But that’s not all, it also serves a means for other facial recognition technology to be more frequently used. Top10VPN continues to monitor the increase of the police state and decrease our digital and physical rights noting the following figures.
120 contact tracing apps are available in 71 countries
45 apps now use Google and Apple’s API
The U.S. has 23 apps, more than any other country in the world
19 apps, with 4 million downloads combined, have no privacy policy
Digital Tracking Measures:
60 digital tracking measures have been introduced in 38 countries
Telecom providers have shared user data in 20 countries
Physical Surveillance Initiatives:
43 physical surveillance measures have been adopted in 27 countries
Drones have been used in 22 countries to help enforce lockdowns
Europe introduced more surveillance measures than any other region
As Activist Post previously wrote while discussing the increase of a police surveillance state, these measures being put into place now will likely remain long after the pandemic has stopped and the virus has run its course. That’s the everlasting effect that COVID-19 will have on our society. The coronavirus may very well be a legitimate health concern for all of us around the world. But it’s the government’s response that should worry us all more in the long run.
About the Author
Aaron Kesel writes for Activist Post where this article (OCTOPUS PROMIS: The Rise Of Thought Crime Technology — We’re Living In Orwell’s 1984) was originally published.


consciouslifenews--2020-10-22--How The EU Stopped The Pandemic (The Comic)

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FAIR USE NOTICE. Many of the articles on this site contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making this material available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental issues, human rights, economic and political democracy, and issues of social justice. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law which contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. If you wish to use such copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use'...you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. And, if you are a copyright owner who wishes to have your content removed, let us know via the "Contact Us" link at the top of the site, and we will promptly remove it.
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