jewworldorder--2020-12-17--An especially bleak darkness over sexual assault survivors

We have come to drive away the darkness… Each one is a small light and together we are a strong surge of brightness .
Depart darkness !
Onwards blackness !
Depart before the light !
This Israeli children ’ s song is hanging across from me , decorating our office wall .
Every year , kindergarteners across Israel , brandishing flashlights and other Chanukah paraphernalia , ‘ chase off the darkness ’ with their lights as their parents clap along .
But this year is darker than usual .
It is even harder to believe in our collective ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distanced and emotionally fatigued after so many months of pandemic .
So many have suffered and are suffering from this virus along with the extreme ripple effects that have racked society in its wake .
During the October/November nationwide lockdown , crisis interventions on the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center ’ s three hotlines — one for women in the greater Tel Aviv area , one for men throughout Israel , and a dedicated line for national-religious/Haredi men — rose more than 50 % .
Once again survivors of sexual violence were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the support that they need so desperately .
Every day the darkness that survivors experience as a result of their trauma threatens to consume them .
Every day the Center ’ s incredible staff and volunteers are there for them , trying to help them chase off that blackness .
Some days it feels like light will never be able to pierce through .
Casting another heavy shadow is the ongoing anxiety over how we will continue making sure that such crucial services will continue .
According to a report released last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one out of every three Israeli NGOs ceased activities over the past eight months and 84 % of nonprofits face severe budgetary cuts .
I have heard a number of experts estimate that we may find as many as half of Israeli NGOs closing within the coming year .
This is especially troubling as the state chose to outsource a large percentage of social services over the past decade , meaning that the nonprofits that are now providing some of Israel ’ s most critical social services may no longer be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week the government announced that there will be significant budget cuts , so funding for social services will be slashed in 2021 , further compromising vulnerable populations .
The go-to alternatives that could generate funding for vital services are impossible as benefit events are potential Coronavirus super-spreaders .
At this time , when needs are the greatest , nonprofits are facing overwhelming pressures .
Usually , this time of year is a period of frenzied inspiration for me .
For the past 17 years , hundreds of volunteers , more than 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of supporters have mobilized for our annual weekend fashion bazaar “ Mitlabshot Al ’ Ze ” .
The amazing positive energy generated by the event and the acts of generosity that I get to witness there always leave me on a high .
It was with a very heavy heart that I finally accepted the fact that the bazaar would not be happening this year .
To be honest , knowing that this incredible event , which feeds my soul while also generating 25 % of the Center ’ s operating budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horizon for weeks .
Then small rays of light began shining through .
The Center ’ s devoted bazaar volunteers decided to explore alternative online possibilities .
An online “ Giveback ” fundraising campaign was launched and survivors began speaking out , sharing on social media how the Center has impacted their lives .
Sarita Maya-Maamrot , posted : I remember the girl I was .
The great fear and shame that gnawed from within .
The girl who went through that gang rape at school and was raped repeatedly afterwards .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard , and especially everyone who was silent along the way .
And in the same breath , I think to myself how lucky I was to get to the Center .
I remember my first meeting with the Center volunteer who accompanied me throughout my journey .
She was the first woman to believe me .
She did everything to give me a reason to fight my demons .
She held my hand in examinations , in meetings with the lawyer , in medical committees .
When I was silent , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if she could enter my mind – understand my pain and see with such clarity the atrocities that had taken place .
It took me a long time to understand the phrase ‘ you are not alone ’ , even though truthfully… I was never alone .
Today , when I am working towards fulfilling my dreams , everything seems possible .
Today , my friend is no longer shouting for me .
Today we shout together : “ You are not alone !
” Sarit faced so much darkness , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be defeated !
She volunteers and has become an activist in her community , helping young women find their own voices .
Her strength and kindness shine through the shadows .
As survivors like Sarit shared their stories , both openly and anonymously , more light has begun radiating through .
So many people have come forward to contribute in any way they can – whether it is a local grandmother offering a cooking class on how to prepare homemade gefilte fish from scratch accompanied by dramatic storytelling on the subject of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medalist Oren Smadja , who has donated a series of motivational lectures – each patch of brightness brings its own powerful glimmer , driving away the darkness of these past months .
I have reflected many times before that working at the Center spotlights the worst side of Israeli society : violent perpetrators , silenced victims and apathetic enablers .
Yet , it also brings into sharp focus the best side of what the Israeli people have to offer : generosity , acts of kindness , social consciousness and immense resilience .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who reinforce that we are capable of not only banishing the darkness , but also that we can truly illuminate this world .
Let ’ s spark change together !
The Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Center ’ s Giveback Campaign is running until December 31st .
The “ all or nothing ” campaign will go directly to helping the thousands of survivors of sexual violence who turn to the Center each year as well as our extensive prevention and education programming .
Click for more information .
If you need support please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Women ’ s Hotline : 1202∙ Men ’ s National Hotline : 1203∙ National Hotline for Religious Men : 02-5328000

“…באנו חושך לגרש”
We have come to drive away the darkness…
Each one is a small light
and together we are a strong surge of brightness.
Depart darkness! Onwards blackness! Depart before the light!
This Israeli children’s song is hanging across from me, decorating our office wall.
Every year, kindergarteners across Israel, brandishing flashlights and other Chanukah paraphernalia, ‘chase off the darkness’ with their lights as their parents clap along. But this year is darker than usual. It is even harder to believe in our collective ability to dispel the darkness. We are socially distanced and emotionally fatigued after so many months of pandemic. So many have suffered and are suffering from this virus along with the extreme ripple effects that have racked society in its wake.
During the October/November nationwide lockdown, crisis interventions on the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center’s three hotlines — one for women in the greater Tel Aviv area, one for men throughout Israel, and a dedicated line for national-religious/Haredi men — rose more than 50%. Once again survivors of sexual violence were trapped with their abusers, isolated from the support that they need so desperately. Every day the darkness that survivors experience as a result of their trauma threatens to consume them. Every day the Center’s incredible staff and volunteers are there for them, trying to help them chase off that blackness. Some days it feels like light will never be able to pierce through.
Casting another heavy shadow is the ongoing anxiety over how we will continue making sure that such crucial services will continue. According to a report released last month by The Israeli Civic Leadership Association, one out of every three Israeli NGOs ceased activities over the past eight months and 84% of nonprofits face severe budgetary cuts. I have heard a number of experts estimate that we may find as many as half of Israeli NGOs closing within the coming year.
This is especially troubling as the state chose to outsource a large percentage of social services over the past decade, meaning that the nonprofits that are now providing some of Israel’s most critical social services may no longer be able to keep their doors open. Moreover, this week the government announced that there will be significant budget cuts, so funding for social services will be slashed in 2021, further compromising vulnerable populations. The go-to alternatives that could generate funding for vital services are impossible as benefit events are potential Coronavirus super-spreaders. At this time, when needs are the greatest, nonprofits are facing overwhelming pressures.
Usually, this time of year is a period of frenzied inspiration for me. For the past 17 years, hundreds of volunteers, more than 700 of Israeli’s top designers and thousands of supporters have mobilized for our annual weekend fashion bazaar “Mitlabshot Al’Ze”. The amazing positive energy generated by the event and the acts of generosity that I get to witness there always leave me on a high. It was with a very heavy heart that I finally accepted the fact that the bazaar would not be happening this year. To be honest, knowing that this incredible event, which feeds my soul while also generating 25% of the Center’s operating budget, had to be canceled darkened my horizon for weeks.
Then small rays of light began shining through.
The Center’s devoted bazaar volunteers decided to explore alternative online possibilities. An online “Giveback” fundraising campaign was launched and survivors began speaking out, sharing on social media how the Center has impacted their lives. Sarita Maya-Maamrot, posted:
I remember the girl I was. The great fear and shame that gnawed from within. The girl who went through that gang rape at school and was raped repeatedly afterwards. I remember everyone who saw, knew, heard, and especially everyone who was silent along the way. And in the same breath, I think to myself how lucky I was to get to the Center. I remember my first meeting with the Center volunteer who accompanied me throughout my journey. She was the first woman to believe me. She did everything to give me a reason to fight my demons. She held my hand in examinations, in meetings with the lawyer, in medical committees. When I was silent, she shouted on my behalf. It was as if she could enter my mind – understand my pain and see with such clarity the atrocities that had taken place. It took me a long time to understand the phrase ‘you are not alone’, even though truthfully… I was never alone. Today, when I am working towards fulfilling my dreams, everything seems possible. Today, my friend is no longer shouting for me. Today we shout together: “You are not alone!”
Sarit faced so much darkness, so much adversity, yet, she refuses to be defeated! She volunteers and has become an activist in her community, helping young women find their own voices. Her strength and kindness shine through the shadows.
As survivors like Sarit shared their stories, both openly and anonymously, more light has begun radiating through. So many people have come forward to contribute in any way they can – whether it is a local grandmother offering a cooking class on how to prepare homemade gefilte fish from scratch accompanied by dramatic storytelling on the subject of this traditional dish, or Olympic Judo medalist Oren Smadja, who has donated a series of motivational lectures – each patch of brightness brings its own powerful glimmer, driving away the darkness of these past months.
I have reflected many times before that working at the Center spotlights the worst side of Israeli society: violent perpetrators, silenced victims and apathetic enablers. Yet, it also brings into sharp focus the best side of what the Israeli people have to offer: generosity, acts of kindness, social consciousness and immense resilience. I am full of thanks to the incredible people who reinforce that we are capable of not only banishing the darkness, but also that we can truly illuminate this world. Let’s spark change together!
–
The Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Center’s Giveback Campaign is running until December 31st. The “all or nothing” campaign will go directly to helping the thousands of survivors of sexual violence who turn to the Center each year as well as our extensive prevention and education programming. Click for more information.
If you need support please contact us. You are not alone!
Women’s Hotline: 1202∙ Men’s National Hotline: 1203∙ National Hotline for Religious Men: 02-5328000


jewworldorder--2020-12-17--Israel may hand spare Covid-19 vaccines to Palestine, but own citizens ‘come first’ – official

If Israel ends up having a surplus of vaccines against the coronavirus it may well consider giving those extra doses to the Palestinians , Israeli Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch has said .
The Jewish state currently possesses more than 300,000 doses of the US-made vaccine from Pfizer and expects to have 3.8 million doses by end of December .
The country is planning to begin vaccination of the general public next week .
“ If we see Israel ’ s needs have been fulfilled and we have more capabilities , we will definitely also consider helping the Palestinian Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with broadcaster Kan .
However , he added that “ Israeli citizens will come first.
” “ Israel is ensuring it has more than 100 percent of the vaccines for Israel , ” the deputy minister pointed out .
Palestine has so far registered more than 116,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,048 deaths , with a local official describing the situation as a “ health disaster ” in an interview with the Times of Israel .
Forty-one percent of recent Covid-19 tests have come back positive , according to the Gaza Health Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will issue Covid vaccine passports granting access to places ‘ restricted to other populations ’ In late November , the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow announced that talks were under way to purchase the Russian Sputnik V vaccine .
But in order to be supplied to the State of Palestine , the drug needs to be approved by the Israeli Health Ministry .
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Share this story !

If Israel ends up having a surplus of vaccines against the coronavirus it may well consider giving those extra doses to the Palestinians, Israeli Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch has said.
The Jewish state currently possesses more than 300,000 doses of the US-made vaccine from Pfizer and expects to have 3.8 million doses by end of December. The country is planning to begin vaccination of the general public next week.
“If we see Israel’s needs have been fulfilled and we have more capabilities, we will definitely also consider helping the Palestinian Authority,” Kisch said in an interview with broadcaster Kan. However, he added that “Israeli citizens will come first.”
“Israel is ensuring it has more than 100 percent of the vaccines for Israel,” the deputy minister pointed out.
Palestine has so far registered more than 116,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,048 deaths, with a local official describing the situation as a “health disaster” in an interview with the Times of Israel. Forty-one percent of recent Covid-19 tests have come back positive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Also on rt.com Israeli govt confirms it will issue Covid vaccine passports granting access to places ‘restricted to other populations’
In late November, the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow announced that talks were under way to purchase the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. But in order to be supplied to the State of Palestine, the drug needs to be approved by the Israeli Health Ministry.
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jewworldorder--2020-12-17--IS operative faces possible life sentence in failed Amsterdam-Paris train attack

PARIS — A verdict is due Thursday in the month-long trial of an Islamic State operative thwarted in his effort to attack a French train five years ago by a dramatic tackle by three American passengers .
The prosecution has asked for life in prison for Ayoub El Khazzani , charged with attempted terrorist murder .
The Moroccan-born El Khazzani , who was armed with an arsenal of weapons , claimed in court that he changed his mind about carrying out the attack , although he seriously wounded a French-American passenger who had grabbed his Kalashnikov .
Three alleged accomplices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily guarded courtroom .
Get The Times of Israel ’ s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up The prosecution is seeking 30 years for Bilal Chatra who allegedly would have been the second attacker on the Amsterdam to Paris fast train if he hadn ’ t backed out ; 25 years for Mohamed Bakkali ; and eight years for Redouane El Amrani Ezzerrifi .
Few if any of the passengers in car 12 of the train on August 21 , 2015 , would have reached their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off as planned , prosecutors , lawyers and some witnesses contended .
El Khazzani , armed with an assault rifle , nearly 300 rounds of ammunition , a hand gun and a cutter when he boarded the train in Brussels , was tackled , choked and knocked out with his own Kalashnikov by the two American servicemen and their friend .
The depictions of the heroics of childhood California friends Spencer Stone , Alek Skarlotta and Anthony Sadler were the highlight of the trial .
But it was the underlying plot the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alleged network of connections that culminated , months after the train attack , in the attacks on a Paris music hall , cafes and restaurants and at a sports stadium that left 130 people dead .
The train attack was allegedly organized by Abdelhamid Abaaoud , portrayed as also the coordinator of the November 2015 attacks in Paris .
El Khazzani was with Abaaoud in Syria and traveled with him back to Brussels .
He told the court that Abaaoud concocted the plan for the train attack and he followed it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind .
El Khazzani ’ s testimony was often confused , but he agreed when the presiding judge said he appeared to be “ a puppet ” of Abaaoud , who was killed by French special forces shortly after the Paris massacre .
“ I believed him .
It ’ s stupid but I believed , ” he said during testimony in November .
El Khazzani said Abaaoud told him to kill three to five American soldiers in the car , along with the “ European Commission , ” though no members were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him they were responsible for bombings in Syria , including a mosque that El Khazzani said triggered his wish for revenge .
It remained unclear at the trial ’ s end how he identified the vacationing Americans as servicemen , as he claimed he had , because they were in civilian clothes .
The verdict comes a day after 14 people were convicted of involvement in the January 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and another deadly attack .
All three attackers were killed .

PARIS — A verdict is due Thursday in the month-long trial of an Islamic State operative thwarted in his effort to attack a French train five years ago by a dramatic tackle by three American passengers.
The prosecution has asked for life in prison for Ayoub El Khazzani, charged with attempted terrorist murder. The Moroccan-born El Khazzani, who was armed with an arsenal of weapons, claimed in court that he changed his mind about carrying out the attack, although he seriously wounded a French-American passenger who had grabbed his Kalashnikov.
Three alleged accomplices were tried with El Khazzani in a heavily guarded courtroom.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
The prosecution is seeking 30 years for Bilal Chatra who allegedly would have been the second attacker on the Amsterdam to Paris fast train if he hadn’t backed out; 25 years for Mohamed Bakkali; and eight years for Redouane El Amrani Ezzerrifi.
Police work on a platform next to a Thalys train of French national railway operator SNCF at the main train station in Arras, northern France, on August 21, 2015. (AFP Photo/Philippe Hugeun)
Few if any of the passengers in car 12 of the train on August 21, 2015, would have reached their destination alive if the attack had gone off as planned, prosecutors, lawyers and some witnesses contended.
El Khazzani, armed with an assault rifle, nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, a hand gun and a cutter when he boarded the train in Brussels, was tackled, choked and knocked out with his own Kalashnikov by the two American servicemen and their friend.
The depictions of the heroics of childhood California friends Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlotta and Anthony Sadler were the highlight of the trial. But it was the underlying plot the prosecution portrayed that chilled.
Investigators had exposed an alleged network of connections that culminated, months after the train attack, in the attacks on a Paris music hall, cafes and restaurants and at a sports stadium that left 130 people dead.
Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected mastermind of the Paris terror attacks on November 13, 2015, waves an Islamic State flag in this undated picture taken from a magazine published by IS. (screenshot)
The train attack was allegedly organized by Abdelhamid Abaaoud, portrayed as also the coordinator of the November 2015 attacks in Paris. El Khazzani was with Abaaoud in Syria and traveled with him back to Brussels. He told the court that Abaaoud concocted the plan for the train attack and he followed it to the letter — until he changed his mind.
El Khazzani’s testimony was often confused, but he agreed when the presiding judge said he appeared to be “a puppet” of Abaaoud, who was killed by French special forces shortly after the Paris massacre.
“I believed him. It’s stupid but I believed,” he said during testimony in November.
El Khazzani said Abaaoud told him to kill three to five American soldiers in the car, along with the “European Commission,” though no members were on the train. Abaaoud had told him they were responsible for bombings in Syria, including a mosque that El Khazzani said triggered his wish for revenge.
Then French President Francois Hollande, second left, hugs US Airman Spencer Stone, center, while US National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos applauds after they were awarded with the Legion of Honor at the Elysee Palace, Paris, France, August 24, 2015. (AP/Michel Euler, Pool)
It remained unclear at the trial’s end how he identified the vacationing Americans as servicemen, as he claimed he had, because they were in civilian clothes.
The verdict comes a day after 14 people were convicted of involvement in the January 2015 massacre at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and another deadly attack. All three attackers were killed.


jewworldorder--2020-12-17--Denying poisoning of dissident, Putin says if he wanted him dead, he’d be dead

MOSCOW ( AP ) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday rejected allegations that the Kremlin was behind the poisoning of his top political foe , opposition leader Alexei Navalny , and accused US intelligence agencies of fomenting the claims .
Speaking via video call during an annual marathon news conference , the Russian leader countered the accusations by saying that if the Kremlin wanted to poison Navalny it would have pressed the attack home .
“ If there was such a desire , it would have been done , ” Putin said with a chuckle .
Get The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up Navalny fell sick on August 20 during a domestic flight in Russia , and was flown while he was in a coma to Germany for treatment two days later .
Labs in Germany , France and Sweden , and tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons , established that he was exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent .
Russian authorities have vehemently rejected the accusations of involvement in the poisoning .
On Monday , the investigative group Bellingcat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging that operatives from the FSB , Russia ’ s domestic security agency , which is a top KGB successor , followed Navalny during his trips since 2017 , had “ specialized training in chemical weapons , chemistry and medicine ” and “ were in the vicinity of the opposition activist in the days and hours of the time-range during which he was poisoned.
” The investigation , conducted by Bellingcat and The Insider in cooperation with CNN and Der Spiegel , identified the supposed FSB operatives and laboratories where poisons like Novichok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight information .
It mentioned two instances in 2019 and 2020 , in which Navalny or his wife Yulia suffered from unexplained symptoms .
Navalny said the investigation has proven beyond doubt that FSB operatives tried to kill him on Putin ’ s orders .
In his first comment after the report ’ s publication , Putin charged that the new report relied on the data provided by US spy agencies , even though its authors have denied any link to US or any other Western intelligence services .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just the legalization of materials provided by US special services , ” he said , adding that it means that Navalny “ relies on the support of US special services.
” “ It ’ s curious , and in that case , special services indeed need to keep an eye on him , ” Putin said .
“ But that doesn ’ t mean that there is a need to poison him , who would need that ?
” He alleged that Navalny was accusing the Kremlin of ordering to poison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profile as the top opposition figure .
Even as the Russian leader leveled accusations against US spy agencies , he held the door open for cooperation with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden .
“ We proceed from the assumption that the newly elected US president would realize what ’ s going on .
He ’ s quite experienced in both domestic and foreign policies , and we hope that the problems that have emerged , at least some of them , would be solved under the new administration , ” Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-Cold War lows after Moscow ’ s 2014 annexation of Ukraine ’ s Crimea and Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election .
Putin has reaffirmed Russian denials of meddling in the 2016 US vote and rejected media reports earlier this month that alleged a new attack by Russian hackers , charging that US intelligence agencies had spread the information for domestic policy goals .

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday rejected allegations that the Kremlin was behind the poisoning of his top political foe, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and accused US intelligence agencies of fomenting the claims.
Speaking via video call during an annual marathon news conference, the Russian leader countered the accusations by saying that if the Kremlin wanted to poison Navalny it would have pressed the attack home.
“If there was such a desire, it would have been done,” Putin said with a chuckle.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Navalny fell sick on August 20 during a domestic flight in Russia, and was flown while he was in a coma to Germany for treatment two days later. Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established that he was exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent.
Russian authorities have vehemently rejected the accusations of involvement in the poisoning.
Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny speaks during a political protest in Moscow, Russia, July 20, 2019. (Pavel Golovkin/AP)
On Monday, the investigative group Bellingcat and Russian outlet The Insider released a report alleging that operatives from the FSB, Russia’s domestic security agency, which is a top KGB successor, followed Navalny during his trips since 2017, had “specialized training in chemical weapons, chemistry and medicine” and “were in the vicinity of the opposition activist in the days and hours of the time-range during which he was poisoned.”
The investigation, conducted by Bellingcat and The Insider in cooperation with CNN and Der Spiegel, identified the supposed FSB operatives and laboratories where poisons like Novichok were made after analyzing telephone metadata and flight information. It mentioned two instances in 2019 and 2020, in which Navalny or his wife Yulia suffered from unexplained symptoms.
Navalny said the investigation has proven beyond doubt that FSB operatives tried to kill him on Putin’s orders.
In his first comment after the report’s publication, Putin charged that the new report relied on the data provided by US spy agencies, even though its authors have denied any link to US or any other Western intelligence services.
“It’s not some kind of investigation, it’s just the legalization of materials provided by US special services,” he said, adding that it means that Navalny “relies on the support of US special services.”
“It’s curious, and in that case, special services indeed need to keep an eye on him,” Putin said. “But that doesn’t mean that there is a need to poison him, who would need that?”
He alleged that Navalny was accusing the Kremlin of ordering to poison him in order to raise his political profile as the top opposition figure.
An ambulance believed to be transporting Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny arrives at the Charite hospital in Berlin, Germany, August 22, 2020. (Markus Schreiber/AP)
Even as the Russian leader leveled accusations against US spy agencies, he held the door open for cooperation with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“We proceed from the assumption that the newly elected US president would realize what’s going on. He’s quite experienced in both domestic and foreign policies, and we hope that the problems that have emerged, at least some of them, would be solved under the new administration,” Putin said.
Russia-US relations have sunk to post-Cold War lows after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
Putin has reaffirmed Russian denials of meddling in the 2016 US vote and rejected media reports earlier this month that alleged a new attack by Russian hackers, charging that US intelligence agencies had spread the information for domestic policy goals.


jewworldorder--2020-12-17--Massive ‘dark vortex’ storm on Neptune just changed direction without warning and scientists don’t k

Massive ‘dark vortex’ storm on Neptune just changed direction without warning and scientists don’t know why

As with many planets in the solar system , massive storms are the norm on Neptune – but astronomers have just observed one of the ice giant ’ s tempests suddenly and dramatically changing course without explanation .
The incident marks the first time a storm on the ice giant has been observed reversing course , turning back towards the polar region it came from rather than heading towards the equator and disappearing into the ether .
Scientists still don ’ t know how or why this happened , but the answer could yield fascinating insights into the atmospheric dynamics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as its distant cousins in other solar systems .
Neptune maintains an average distance from the Sun over thirty times that of Earth ’ s orbit , making it extremely difficult to observe in any kind of detail .
The Voyager 2 probe ’ s flyby in 1989 detected two storms rampaging across the planet ’ s surface .
Hubble has since spotted four more of these megastorms , named ‘ dark spots ’ .
These ‘ spots ’ typically appear at mid latitudes , linger for roughly two years as they slowly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then disappear without a trace until another one takes their place some four to six years later .
This latest storm observed by Hubble , known as NDS-2018 after the year in which it was discovered , has proven to be the exception to the rule .
Measuring roughly 11,000 kilometers ( 6,800 miles ) across , NDS-2018 was observed heading southwards from the northern mid-latitudes towards the equator , at which point it should have slowly dissipated in accordance with previous observations and the most up-to-date models .
Also on rt.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detected radio emissions from a distant exoplanet for the first time ever Instead , it split in two , with the original storm now measuring 7,400 kilometers ( 4,600 miles ) and what has now affectionately been dubbed ‘ Dark Spot Jr. ’ measuring 6,275 kilometers ( 3,900 miles ) across .
By the time Hubble checked back again in August , Jr. had disappeared and the original Dark Spot was inexplicably headed back northwards .
“ It was really exciting to see this one act like it ’ s supposed to act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just stops and swings back , ” said planetary scientist Michael Wong of the University of California , Berkeley .
“ This is a process that ’ s never been observed .
We have seen some other dark spots fading away , and they ’ re gone , but we ’ ve never seen anything disrupt , even though it ’ s predicted in computer simulations.
” The timing ( January ) and placement ( in the atmosphere ’ s ‘ unstable region ’ ) of the second dark spot might hint at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists can ’ t be sure given the difficulty of observing the distant ice world .
They ’ ll just have to wait until Hubble can turn its gaze back toward the planet to find out what ’ s really going on .
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Share this story !

As with many planets in the solar system, massive storms are the norm on Neptune – but astronomers have just observed one of the ice giant’s tempests suddenly and dramatically changing course without explanation.
The incident marks the first time a storm on the ice giant has been observed reversing course, turning back towards the polar region it came from rather than heading towards the equator and disappearing into the ether.
Scientists still don’t know how or why this happened, but the answer could yield fascinating insights into the atmospheric dynamics of the celestial outlier, as well as its distant cousins in other solar systems.
Neptune maintains an average distance from the Sun over thirty times that of Earth’s orbit, making it extremely difficult to observe in any kind of detail.
The Voyager 2 probe’s flyby in 1989 detected two storms rampaging across the planet’s surface. Hubble has since spotted four more of these megastorms, named ‘dark spots’.
These ‘spots’ typically appear at mid latitudes, linger for roughly two years as they slowly make their way towards the equator, and then disappear without a trace until another one takes their place some four to six years later.
This latest storm observed by Hubble, known as NDS-2018 after the year in which it was discovered, has proven to be the exception to the rule.
Measuring roughly 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) across, NDS-2018 was observed heading southwards from the northern mid-latitudes towards the equator, at which point it should have slowly dissipated in accordance with previous observations and the most up-to-date models.
Also on rt.com Something out there? Scientists may have detected radio emissions from a distant exoplanet for the first time ever
Instead, it split in two, with the original storm now measuring 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles) and what has now affectionately been dubbed ‘Dark Spot Jr.’ measuring 6,275 kilometers (3,900 miles) across.
By the time Hubble checked back again in August, Jr. had disappeared and the original Dark Spot was inexplicably headed back northwards.
“It was really exciting to see this one act like it’s supposed to act and then all of a sudden it just stops and swings back,” said planetary scientist Michael Wong of the University of California, Berkeley.
“This is a process that’s never been observed. We have seen some other dark spots fading away, and they’re gone, but we’ve never seen anything disrupt, even though it’s predicted in computer simulations.”
The timing (January) and placement (in the atmosphere’s ‘unstable region’) of the second dark spot might hint at what may have caused it, but scientists can’t be sure given the difficulty of observing the distant ice world. They’ll just have to wait until Hubble can turn its gaze back toward the planet to find out what’s really going on.
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jewworldorder--2020-12-17--Maria Bartiromo: “Intel Source” Told Me Trump Did Win Election – It’s up to SCOTUS Now

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo dropped a bombshell on her Monday show , claiming that an intel source confirmed to @ @ @ @ @ win the 2020 election .
Bartiromo then added that the Supreme Court must take the @ @ @ @ @ and stop the clock .
Partial transcript is as follows : Maria Bartiromo : “ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump did , in fact , win the election .
He says that it @ @ @ @ @ Court to hear suits from other cases across the country to stop the clock .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s refusal to hear the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .
”

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo dropped a bombshell on her Monday show, claiming that an intel source confirmed to her that President Trump did win the 2020 election.
Bartiromo then added that the Supreme Court must take the cases challenging the election results and stop the clock.
Partial transcript is as follows:
Maria Bartiromo: “An intel source told me President Trump did, in fact, win the election. He says that it is up to the Supreme Court to hear suits from other cases across the country to stop the clock. This follows the high court’s refusal to hear the lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.”
WATCH:


jewworldorder--2020-12-20--Has the Star of Bethlehem returned? Christmas Star for first time in 800 years on December 21

A phenomenon not seen for nearly 800 years will light up the sky next week .
Two of the largest planets – Jupiter and Saturn – in the solar system will come together in “ a great conjunction ” right in time for Christmas , the U.S. space agency NASA reported .
It is also the same day as the winter solstice .
Jupiter and Saturn are , actually separated by more than four times , hundreds of millions of miles , the distance between Earth and the sun .
But on the night of the winter solstice , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distance equal to about one-fifth of a full moon ’ s diameter , according to Patrick Hartigan , an astronomer from Rice University in Texas .
The cosmic phenomenon , which could have caused such awe and wonder more than 2,000 years ago , is set to take place once again – just four days before Christmas as it happens .
The alignment of Jupiter and Saturn will be visible from anywhere on Earth – though conditions will be best near the equator .
“ What has become known popularly as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together , culminating on the night of December 21 , ” NASA said on its website .
Saturn and Jupiter seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia , December 13 , 2020 .
NASA/Bill Ingalls The conjunction of the two planets happens about every 20 years , but they are not always the same .
This year ’ s grand conjunction will be the closest observable since 1226 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they will appear so close that a pinkie finger at arm ’ s length will easily cover both planets in the sky , ” NASA said .
“ The planets will be easy to see with the unaided eye by looking toward the southwest just after sunset.
” “ Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible , ” NASA said .
“ Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21 , when Jupiter will overtake it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It is one of the central and most enduring elements of the Christmas story – the sighting of a bright star in the skies guiding the Wise Men to Bethlehem and heralding the birth of Jesus Christ .
The Vatican now believes one explanation for the Star of Bethlehem may have been what is known as a ‘ Great Conjunction ’ of planets creating an unusually bright light in the sky above the Holy Land .
The closest approach of two planets since 1226 will take place on Monday , December 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alignment , creating what astronomers predict will be the marvellous spectacle of an apparently single bright ‘ star ’ .
In 1610 , Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei discovered both the four moons of Jupiter — Io , Europa , Ganymede , and Callisto — and the rings of Saturn .
Not long after , in 1623 , the two planets were spotted aligning for the first time .
In an online lecture on Thursday evening one of the Catholic Church ’ s most eminent scientists said the latest Great Conjunction may provide us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the story of the Star of Bethlehem , chronicled in the Gospel of Matthew .
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ , planetary scientist and Director of the Vatican Observatory , said in a virtual lecture , said : “ Every year , people ask us astronomers , what was the star ?
“ This year is special because one of the more popular explanations for the star is a close conjunction of bright planets and it is going to be visible to anybody with a clear sky.
” Several conjunctions of the planets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point now taken as the beginning of the Christian era and may have been responsible for the phenomenon of the bright star above Bethlehem .
One was a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 2BC , which , according to the Encyclopedia Britannica “ would have appeared to observers in Babylon to have merged just before setting in the general direction of Bethlehem to the west.
” Another was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7BC .
Speaking to the Catholic News Agency before Thursday night ’ s lecture , Brother Consolmagno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Star of Bethlehem was ?
No one knows for sure what the star was , and until we have a time machine where we can go back and interview Matthew with a video recorder , no one ever will know for sure !
” “ The important thing to remember is that the Star of Bethlehem is just a small part of the infancy narrative in Matthew ’ s Gospel .
The point of his story is not the star .
It is the baby.
” As Jupiter ’ s and Saturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them together , they will appear low in the western sky .
When was the last time this happened ?
The last great conjunction was in May 2000 , but its position in the sky that year meant it was difficult to see .
The great conjunction of 1623 was also hard to spot because it appeared close enough to the sun that it would have been lost in the glare .
“ You ’ d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4 , 1226 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objects visible in the night sky.
” How Jupiter and Saturn will appear in a telescope set up in Houston , Texas , on December 21 .
Patrick Hartigan/Rice University/Adapted from Stellarium graphics How do I watch the planetary alignment ?
Even before Monday observers standing at a vantage point with a clear horizon will be able to see the planets already edging closer together , provided there are clear skies .
NASA said people should look for them low in the south-west in the hour after sunset when “ the two giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a degree apart – that ’ s about the thickness of a coin held at arm ’ s length.
” Viewed through a small telescope , Jupiter and Saturn should appear in the same field of view , along with some of their moons .
For viewers in the U.S. , Canada , and Europe , it could be challenging to see this conjunction because of how low it will be on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere , Hartigan said .
“ Viewing conditions are best close to the equator , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe an hour or so to observe this conjunction before the planets sink into the haze , ” he added .
To catch a glimpse , head out around twilight – the hour after sunset – and point your telescope toward the southwestern sky .
( Websites like Stellarium can help you orient your telescope . )
“ You will need to have a clear southwestern horizon and no low clouds in the distance , ” Hartigan said .
He recommends setting up your telescope before it gets dark and bringing binoculars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s four moons too .
If it ends up being cloudy on the night of the solstice , do not worry , Hartigan said .
The conjunction is an ongoing event from December 17 to 25 , December 21 is just when the two planets will be the closest in the sky .
“ You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack , with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium , ” Henry Throop , a NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ From our vantage point , we ’ ll be able to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane , approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21.
” During the last great conjunction in 2000 , Jupiter and Saturn were so close to the sun that the event was difficult to observe .
But skywatchers should have a clearer view of the celestial event this time around .
The great conjunction will be shining bright shortly after sunset , low in the southwestern sky , as viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Through the entirety of December , skywatchers will easily be able to spot the two planets with the naked eye .
You can look up each evening to watch them get closer and closer in the sky — they are so bright , they are even visible from most cities .
Jupiter currently appears brighter than any star in the sky .
Saturn is slightly dimmer , but still just as bright as the brightest stars , with a recognizable golden glow .
Saturn will appear slightly above and to the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as close to the planet as some of its own moons , visible with binoculars or a telescope .
Unlike stars , which twinkle , both planets will hold consistent brightness , easy to find on clear nights .
“ You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack , with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium , ” said Henry Throop , an astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters .
“ From our vantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane , approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21.
” The event is observable from anywhere on Earth , provided the sky is clear .
“ The further north a viewer is , the less time they will have to catch a glimpse of the conjunction before the planets sink below the horizon , ” Hartigan said .
The planets will appear extremely close for about a month , giving skywatchers plenty of time to witness the spectacular alignment throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the December solstice , marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere .
“ Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year , depending on where the planets are in their orbits , ” said Throop .
“ The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter , Saturn , and the Earth in their paths around the Sun , while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth ’ s axis .
The solstice is the longest night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.
” To learn more about when and where to look up to see the conjunction , Throop will be live on NASA ’ s website to answer questions on Thursday afternoon .
Dr Brad Tucker from the Australian National University , who has described the phenomenon as a Christmas Kiss , said observers should look for “ a thin crescent moon and two bright objects right next to it.
” It can be photographed with cell phone camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be photographed easily on DSLR cameras and many cell phone cameras , ” NASA said .
The agency suggests using the “ night mode ” feature on an iPhone , Pixel , or Galaxy to get a stable , long-exposure photo .
“ Try to frame the planets with something – the silhouette of a tree , an outdoor landscape , the arch of a building , or even a neon sign , ” NASA said .
If a DSLR camera is used , a tripod is recommended to get good long-exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tripod , set your camera to a shutter speed of less than one-quarter of a second .
Also be sure to open your camera ’ s aperture to its widest setting and use manual focus mode , NASA said .
For people who can ’ t head outside for the event , the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff , Arizona , will host a YouTube livestream of views through its telescopes starting at 7 p.m .
ET on December 21 .
In Rome , the Virtual Telescope Project also plans to share live views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this will come in 2080 In the last 2,000 years , there were just two times that Jupiter and Saturn came closer in the sky than they will get this year .
One was in 1623 , but the sun ’ s glare made it impossible to see .
The other was in 1226 .
If you miss this upcoming conjunction , another will come in 60 years .
On March 15 , 2080 , Jupiter and Saturn will look just as close as they do this year .
That event will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear higher above the horizon , Hartigan said .
“ The major challenge there is you will have to stay alive for another 60 years to see it !
” he added .

A phenomenon not seen for nearly 800 years will light up the sky next week.
Two of the largest planets – Jupiter and Saturn – in the solar system will come together in “a great conjunction” right in time for Christmas, the U.S. space agency NASA reported. It is also the same day as the winter solstice.
Jupiter and Saturn are, actually separated by more than four times, hundreds of millions of miles, the distance between Earth and the sun. But on the night of the winter solstice, they will be separated in the sky by a distance equal to about one-fifth of a full moon’s diameter, according to Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer from Rice University in Texas.
The cosmic phenomenon, which could have caused such awe and wonder more than 2,000 years ago, is set to take place once again – just four days before Christmas as it happens.
The alignment of Jupiter and Saturn will be visible from anywhere on Earth – though conditions will be best near the equator.
“What has become known popularly as the ‘Christmas Star’ is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of December 21,” NASA said on its website.
Saturn and Jupiter seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, December 13, 2020. NASA/Bill Ingalls
The conjunction of the two planets happens about every 20 years, but they are not always the same. This year’s grand conjunction will be the closest observable since 1226, EarthSky reported.
“On the 21st, they will appear so close that a pinkie finger at arm’s length will easily cover both planets in the sky,” NASA said. “The planets will be easy to see with the unaided eye by looking toward the southwest just after sunset.”
“Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible,” NASA said. “Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky.”
Star of Bethlehem
It is one of the central and most enduring elements of the Christmas story – the sighting of a bright star in the skies guiding the Wise Men to Bethlehem and heralding the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Vatican now believes one explanation for the Star of Bethlehem may have been what is known as a ‘Great Conjunction’ of planets creating an unusually bright light in the sky above the Holy Land.
The closest approach of two planets since 1226 will take place on Monday, December 21, when Jupiter and Saturn come into alignment, creating what astronomers predict will be the marvellous spectacle of an apparently single bright ‘star’.
In 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei discovered both the four moons of Jupiter — Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto — and the rings of Saturn. Not long after, in 1623, the two planets were spotted aligning for the first time.
In an online lecture on Thursday evening one of the Catholic Church’s most eminent scientists said the latest Great Conjunction may provide us with significant clues to enhance our understanding of the story of the Star of Bethlehem, chronicled in the Gospel of Matthew.
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ, planetary scientist and Director of the Vatican Observatory, said in a virtual lecture, said: “Every year, people ask us astronomers, what was the star?
“This year is special because one of the more popular explanations for the star is a close conjunction of bright planets and it is going to be visible to anybody with a clear sky.”
Several conjunctions of the planets occurred within 10 years of the chronological point now taken as the beginning of the Christian era and may have been responsible for the phenomenon of the bright star above Bethlehem.
One was a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 2BC, which, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica “would have appeared to observers in Babylon to have merged just before setting in the general direction of Bethlehem to the west.”
Another was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7BC.
Speaking to the Catholic News Agency before Thursday night’s lecture, Brother Consolmagno said: “Is this really what the Star of Bethlehem was? No one knows for sure what the star was, and until we have a time machine where we can go back and interview Matthew with a video recorder, no one ever will know for sure!”
“The important thing to remember is that the Star of Bethlehem is just a small part of the infancy narrative in Matthew’s Gospel. The point of his story is not the star. It is the baby.”
As Jupiter’s and Saturn’s 12- and 29-year orbits bring them together, they will appear low in the western sky.
When was the last time this happened?
The last great conjunction was in May 2000, but its position in the sky that year meant it was difficult to see. The great conjunction of 1623 was also hard to spot because it appeared close enough to the sun that it would have been lost in the glare.
“You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”
How Jupiter and Saturn will appear in a telescope set up in Houston, Texas, on December 21. Patrick Hartigan/Rice University/Adapted from Stellarium graphics
How do I watch the planetary alignment?
Even before Monday observers standing at a vantage point with a clear horizon will be able to see the planets already edging closer together, provided there are clear skies.
NASA said people should look for them low in the south-west in the hour after sunset when “the two giant planets will appear just a tenth of a degree apart – that’s about the thickness of a coin held at arm’s length.”
Viewed through a small telescope, Jupiter and Saturn should appear in the same field of view, along with some of their moons.
For viewers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, it could be challenging to see this conjunction because of how low it will be on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere, Hartigan said.
“Viewing conditions are best close to the equator, though no matter where you are there is maybe an hour or so to observe this conjunction before the planets sink into the haze,” he added.
To catch a glimpse, head out around twilight – the hour after sunset – and point your telescope toward the southwestern sky. (Websites like Stellarium can help you orient your telescope.)
“You will need to have a clear southwestern horizon and no low clouds in the distance,” Hartigan said.
He recommends setting up your telescope before it gets dark and bringing binoculars, which could help you spot Jupiter’s four moons too.
If it ends up being cloudy on the night of the solstice, do not worry, Hartigan said. The conjunction is an ongoing event from December 17 to 25, December 21 is just when the two planets will be the closest in the sky.
“You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack, with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium,” Henry Throop, a NASA astronomer, said in a press release. “From our vantage point, we’ll be able to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21.”
During the last great conjunction in 2000, Jupiter and Saturn were so close to the sun that the event was difficult to observe. But skywatchers should have a clearer view of the celestial event this time around. The great conjunction will be shining bright shortly after sunset, low in the southwestern sky, as viewed from the Northern hemisphere, NASA said.
Through the entirety of December, skywatchers will easily be able to spot the two planets with the naked eye. You can look up each evening to watch them get closer and closer in the sky — they are so bright, they are even visible from most cities.
Jupiter currently appears brighter than any star in the sky. Saturn is slightly dimmer, but still just as bright as the brightest stars, with a recognizable golden glow.
Saturn will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter, and will even look as close to the planet as some of its own moons, visible with binoculars or a telescope. Unlike stars, which twinkle, both planets will hold consistent brightness, easy to find on clear nights.
“You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack, with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium,” said Henry Throop, an astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. “From our vantage point, we’ll be able to be to see Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on December 21.”
The event is observable from anywhere on Earth, provided the sky is clear. “The further north a viewer is, the less time they will have to catch a glimpse of the conjunction before the planets sink below the horizon,” Hartigan said.
The planets will appear extremely close for about a month, giving skywatchers plenty of time to witness the spectacular alignment throughout the holiday season. The event coincidentally aligns with the December solstice, marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere.
“Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits,” said Throop. “The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth’s axis. The solstice is the longest night of the year, so this rare coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.”
To learn more about when and where to look up to see the conjunction, Throop will be live on NASA’s website to answer questions on Thursday afternoon.
Dr Brad Tucker from the Australian National University, who has described the phenomenon as a Christmas Kiss, said observers should look for “a thin crescent moon and two bright objects right next to it.”
It can be photographed with cell phone camera
Jupiter and Saturn’s conjunction “can be photographed easily on DSLR cameras and many cell phone cameras,” NASA said.
The agency suggests using the “night mode” feature on an iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy to get a stable, long-exposure photo.
“Try to frame the planets with something – the silhouette of a tree, an outdoor landscape, the arch of a building, or even a neon sign,” NASA said.
If a DSLR camera is used, a tripod is recommended to get good long-exposure photos. In the absence of a tripod, set your camera to a shutter speed of less than one-quarter of a second. Also be sure to open your camera’s aperture to its widest setting and use manual focus mode, NASA said.
For people who can’t head outside for the event, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, will host a YouTube livestream of views through its telescopes starting at 7 p.m. ET on December 21. In Rome, the Virtual Telescope Project also plans to share live views of the conjunction.
Another conjunction like this will come in 2080
In the last 2,000 years, there were just two times that Jupiter and Saturn came closer in the sky than they will get this year. One was in 1623, but the sun’s glare made it impossible to see. The other was in 1226.
If you miss this upcoming conjunction, another will come in 60 years.
On March 15, 2080, Jupiter and Saturn will look just as close as they do this year. That event will be easier to see, since it will appear higher above the horizon, Hartigan said.
“The major challenge there is you will have to stay alive for another 60 years to see it!” he added.
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jewworldorder--2020-12-20--Marital rape- Why still not a crime in India

To Indian ladies above 15 : ‘ Think before you marry ’ – By section 375 exception 2 of IPC When I searched for the status of marital rape in India , the first link that popped up had content that was both bizarre as well as mind wobbling – ‘ It says Section 375 of IPC considers the forced sex in marriages as a crime only when the wife is below age 15 ’ .
It raises two questions .
First , for the minor wives aged between 16 – 18 , our law allows them to be married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Second , the law considers adult married women as their husbands ’ properties .
It is a common notion in our country that juveniles are treated differently ( read : leniently ) in matters involving crime .
They are considered to not have attained the level of maturity required for an individual to make an informed decision .
True .
With age and proper guidance , human beings do exhibit emotional growth and stability in thought process .
Then going by this logic where there are laws to protect the interests of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t there be even stricter laws for the minor victims ?
Well known activist Mrs Madhu Garg , Joint Secretary of AIDWA says a vehement yes .
We , a group of 3 PGP students at IIMA , spoke to her at length about this and other issues grappling the interests of women especially those of minority and weaker sections .
She has been fighting for such causes since a couple of decades and draws inspiration from her husband , an ex-JNU pass out .
Mrs Garg has been actively involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one such case related to dishonest religion conversion and domestic violence , she and the organization had helped two Muslim women in Lucknow get their cases registered with the police and thereafter , arrest of the accused .
Recently , she had staged a protest , from 25th November till December 10th of this year , with her colleagues against false portrayal of voluntary religion conversion post marriage as a dishonest and forced one .
This was following a series of false claims made by the Bajrang Dal of Hindu women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She strongly opposes this attack on secular fabric .
The anti-conversion law Bill was passed on the day before she started the protest .
Since times immemorial , it has been observed that whenever there has been a new ushering , obstacles have paved the way before it took the shape of a movement .
Mrs Madhu , also the state president of AIDWA , says she and her colleagues have faced repeated threats while helping the victims .
These threats had been from the accused owing to their network and money ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victim ’ s families out of fear of being ostracized from the society .
But where there is a will , there is a way .
The organization supporters ’ relentless efforts bore fruits in their 11 year-long battle in the ‘ Ashiana rape case ’ of 2005 .
The accused in this case , Gaurav Shukla ( nephew of a then Samajwadi Party leader ) , along with his 5 other friends had put in all their might to escape the law by forging documents to portray themselves as juveniles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ took lack of stronger laws as an excuse to exploit the underprivileged .
While the exploiters were busy in filing petitions against the complaint and were roaming freely on bai , the victim had to stay keeping her identity a secret , making more than 35 court appearances , continuing her education , and facing the society wrath .
However , it was her own grit and willpower coupled with the support of organizations like AIDWA that the crime perpetrators were finally convicted in 2016 .
Mrs Madhu says that in most cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of willpower and courage that it acts as amotivation for her to continue fighting the battle .
In the above case , she had to run from pillar to post to get the documents , collect proofs that Gaurav Shukla was not a minor at the time of crime , stage collective protests and put pressure on the judicial system of the country to get the justice delivery process expedited .
When asked about her opinion about whether there has been transformation of the society with regards to its sensitivity towards women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been true .
She says the society has regressed in terms of secularism .
There has been sharp rise in instances of communal disharmony , the society seems divided and the poor and underprivileged women who falls at the bottom of the pyramid .
She blames the apathetic stance of the current government for spreading this hatred .
The past few years have witnessed considerable improvements in the legal thread of the country in the form of more stringent laws as regards to safety of women .
Then why law against marital rape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet started ’ domain ?
India , one of only 36 countries where marital rape has not been penalised yet , should take cognizance of its erstwhile rulers in UK .
In a landmark judgement in R v. R , UK , the Court convicted a man for raping his wife and stated that ‘ for a person to be penalised for rape the relationship between parties is immaterial ’ .
Apart from moral grounds , the lack of law against marital rape itself presents 2 existing laws in contradiction of each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Violence Act , 2005 includes the words ‘ any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses , humiliates , degrades or otherwise violates the dignity of woman ’ in its definition of domestic violence .
In the contrary , Section 375 exception 2 exempts the act of rape by a man against a woman if the former happens to be her husband .
This law indirectly takes away the right to privacy , sanctity of female and to make choices relating to sexual activity , from a girl post her marriage .
Experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entail a suit of false claims by females against their husbands to extort gains .
However , the fear of misuse of loopholes in a hole is not a sufficient ground to allow injustice and oppression to the real victims who are not miniscule in number in a country like ours with arranged marriages still a common practice .
It is almost as if the laws of the land are warning a girl from getting married , that if you get raped now , we will punish the culprit , but if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are sorry .
Plus , the lawmakers have never denied of the crime ’ s existence .
Then I do not understand what is stopping them to make use of their authority and more so , responsibility in making our nation a safer haven for women .
Anjali Agarwal is a second year PGP student at IIM Ahmedabad

To Indian ladies above 15: ‘Think before you marry’ – By section 375 exception 2 of IPC
When I searched for the status of marital rape in India, the first link that popped up had content that was both bizarre as well as mind wobbling – ‘It says Section 375 of IPC considers the forced sex in marriages as a crime only when the wife is below age 15’. It raises two questions. First, for the minor wives aged between 16 – 18, our law allows them to be married as well as raped post the license-cum-rituals. Second, the law considers adult married women as their husbands’ properties.
It is a common notion in our country that juveniles are treated differently (read: leniently) in matters involving crime. They are considered to not have attained the level of maturity required for an individual to make an informed decision. True. With age and proper guidance, human beings do exhibit emotional growth and stability in thought process. Then going by this logic where there are laws to protect the interests of minors (here accused), shouldn’t there be even stricter laws for the minor victims?
Well known activist Mrs Madhu Garg, Joint Secretary of AIDWA says a vehement yes. We, a group of 3 PGP students at IIMA, spoke to her at length about this and other issues grappling the interests of women especially those of minority and weaker sections. She has been fighting for such causes since a couple of decades and draws inspiration from her husband, an ex-JNU pass out. Mrs Garg has been actively involved in getting oppressed women fair trial and justice. In one such case related to dishonest religion conversion and domestic violence, she and the organization had helped two Muslim women in Lucknow get their cases registered with the police and thereafter, arrest of the accused.
Recently, she had staged a protest, from 25th November till December 10th of this year, with her colleagues against false portrayal of voluntary religion conversion post marriage as a dishonest and forced one. This was following a series of false claims made by the Bajrang Dal of Hindu women being forcefully married to Muslim men. She strongly opposes this attack on secular fabric. The anti-conversion law Bill was passed on the day before she started the protest.
Since times immemorial, it has been observed that whenever there has been a new ushering, obstacles have paved the way before it took the shape of a movement. Mrs Madhu, also the state president of AIDWA, says she and her colleagues have faced repeated threats while helping the victims. These threats had been from the accused owing to their network and money (in most cases) and also from the victim’s families out of fear of being ostracized from the society. But where there is a will, there is a way.
The organization supporters’ relentless efforts bore fruits in their 11 year-long battle in the ‘Ashiana rape case’ of 2005. The accused in this case, Gaurav Shukla (nephew of a then Samajwadi Party leader), along with his 5 other friends had put in all their might to escape the law by forging documents to portray themselves as juveniles. They were influential but spoilt people who took lack of stronger laws as an excuse to exploit the underprivileged. While the exploiters were busy in filing petitions against the complaint and were roaming freely on bai, the victim had to stay keeping her identity a secret, making more than 35 court appearances, continuing her education, and facing the society wrath. However, it was her own grit and willpower coupled with the support of organizations like AIDWA that the crime perpetrators were finally convicted in 2016.
Mrs Madhu says that in most cases the victims themselves have displayed surprising quantum of willpower and courage that it acts as amotivation for her to continue fighting the battle. In the above case, she had to run from pillar to post to get the documents, collect proofs that Gaurav Shukla was not a minor at the time of crime, stage collective protests and put pressure on the judicial system of the country to get the justice delivery process expedited.
When asked about her opinion about whether there has been transformation of the society with regards to its sensitivity towards women, she sighs and says the opposite has been true. She says the society has regressed in terms of secularism. There has been sharp rise in instances of communal disharmony, the society seems divided and the poor and underprivileged women who falls at the bottom of the pyramid. She blames the apathetic stance of the current government for spreading this hatred.
The past few years have witnessed considerable improvements in the legal thread of the country in the form of more stringent laws as regards to safety of women. Then why law against marital rape is still lying in the ‘Not yet started’ domain? India, one of only 36 countries where marital rape has not been penalised yet, should take cognizance of its erstwhile rulers in UK. In a landmark judgement in R v. R, UK, the Court convicted a man for raping his wife and stated that ‘for a person to be penalised for rape the relationship between parties is immaterial’.
Apart from moral grounds, the lack of law against marital rape itself presents 2 existing laws in contradiction of each other. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 includes the words ‘any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses, humiliates, degrades or otherwise violates the dignity of woman’ in its definition of domestic violence. In the contrary, Section 375 exception 2 exempts the act of rape by a man against a woman if the former happens to be her husband. This law indirectly takes away the right to privacy, sanctity of female and to make choices relating to sexual activity, from a girl post her marriage.
Experts had argued that criminalizing this offence would entail a suit of false claims by females against their husbands to extort gains. However, the fear of misuse of loopholes in a hole is not a sufficient ground to allow injustice and oppression to the real victims who are not miniscule in number in a country like ours with arranged marriages still a common practice. It is almost as if the laws of the land are warning a girl from getting married, that if you get raped now, we will punish the culprit, but if the same happens post marriage by your husband, we are sorry. Plus, the lawmakers have never denied of the crime’s existence. Then I do not understand what is stopping them to make use of their authority and more so, responsibility in making our nation a safer haven for women.
Anjali Agarwal is a second year PGP student at IIM Ahmedabad
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jewworldorder--2020-12-20--European Hypocrisy Laid Bare in Kosher-Slaughter Legal Judgement

JNS.org – Last time I checked , the French were still preparing their famed foie gras delicacy using the method of “ gavage.
” This involves force-feeding a duck or a goose with grain passed through a tube over a period of several days so that its liver swells to approximately 600 % of its normal size .
The point is , if you don ’ t put the bird through this plainly ghastly experience , you can not produce the rich flavor and buttery texture that makes foie gras so prized among gastronomes .
Many people refuse to eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in its production , but equally , many more people clearly aren ’ t bothered by it at all , as revenues internationally run into the hundreds of millions of dollars every year .
Its sale has been banned by local officials in a handful of places , including New York starting in 2022 , but that isn ’ t going to stop French , as well as Spanish , Hungarian , Belgian , and Bulgarian farmers from producing foie gras with the only method available to them .
Indeed , any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to come from the European Union , and there is precious little sign of that happening .
To be clear , I ’ m not advocating a renewed European Union legal crackdown on foie gras ; frankly , it ’ s not an issue on which I have strong feelings either way .
I raise the issue in order to illustrate a glaring double standard that has , in the last week , left both Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe feeling like rank and unwanted outsiders .
Last Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ECJ ) , which is the final arbiter of EU law , drew a line between the “ civilized ” and the “ uncivilized ” in terms of how farm animals that are slaughtered for human consumption are treated by different religious groups in Europe .
On the “ civilized ” side of the line are those carnivores whose meat is stunned before it is slaughtered , which the ECJ deems to be humane .
On the “ uncivilized ” side are those — overwhelmingly Muslims and Jews — whose religious commandments strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are slaughtered , which the ECJ deems to be inhumane .
Of course , that doesn ’ t change the fact that meat that has been slaughtered with a pre-stunning process is not considered kosher or halal , nor can it be .
The ECJ ’ s determination was part of a ruling that rejected an appeal brought by the Belgian Federation of Jewish Communities against a ban on kosher and halal slaughter in the Wallonia region imposed by the local authorities in 2017 .
By upholding the ban , the ECJ has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU to outlaw ritual slaughter — or the sale of kosher and halal products — without the threat of mass discrimination lawsuits .
Unusually , the court ’ s decision eschewed the opinion of one of its 11 Advocate Generals , Gerard Hogan , who stated last September that the member states of the EU “ are obliged to respect the deeply held religious beliefs of adherents to the Muslim and Jewish faiths by allowing for the ritual slaughter of animals.
” For the judges of the ECJ , evidently , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From their perspective , the ruling did not outlaw ritual slaughter itself , but merely “ one aspect of the specific ritual act of slaughter.
” It added that the law allowed for a “ fair balance ” between animal welfare and the “ freedom of Jewish and Muslim believers to manifest their religion.
” No such “ fair balance ” between animal welfare and human traditions is on display when it comes to the annual production of 17,000 tons of foie gras .
The stench of hypocrisy , the nagging sense that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions are just bullying observant Jewish and Muslim communities with this latest edict , is unmistakable .
Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt of the Conference of European Rabbis elegantly summarized both the insult and the absurdity of the ECJ ’ s ruling thus : “ We are told by European leaders that they want Jewish communities to live and be successful in Europe , but they provide no safeguards for our way of life.
” While there are many more Muslims than there are Jews in Europe these days , the roots of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Judaic and antisemitic traditions that have persisted and so often flourished throughout the continent ’ s history .
Europe , after all , is the continent of the so-called “ Judensau ” — grotesque carvings on medieval churches that mocked the Jewish prohibition on pork by showing Jews in obscene acts with pigs .
The method of shechita ( kosher slaughter ) has been twisted and distorted by antisemites for various tales of blood libel and theologically mandated cruelty allegedly practiced by Jews down the ages .
And lest we forget , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nazi regime in Germany was a ban on kosher slaughter , which was depicted in official propaganda as an ugly , alien , and thoroughly un-German practice .
The ECJ is making much the same declaration in 2020 , albeit in language that avoids the demonic ravings of Nazi official rhetoric .
Its judges are surely aware that the rules of shechita are not flexible ; therefore , any part of Europe that prevents the sale of meat that has not been pre-stunned is effectively telling observant Jews that they are unwelcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If kosher slaughter is a legitimate target for the ECJ , then why not add male infant circumcision as well — another requirement of the Jewish and Muslim faiths that has been faced with legal and political challenges across Europe in yet one more demonstration of how centuries of antisemitism have reappeared dressed in humanist concerns .
Instructively , the ECJ ’ s ruling came just weeks after the EU Council , the bloc ’ s main coordinating body , issued a solemn six-page declaration against antisemitism .
The declaration stated that antisemitism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must remain unacceptable and all steps must be taken to counteract it , including , where necessary , through legal measures at European level.
” It went on to underline that “ the member states of the European Union support policy initiatives at European level that aim to combat incitement to antisemitic hatred and acts of violence , as well as the dissemination of antisemitic conspiracy myths online.
” I beg your pardon ?
By telling European publics , as the ECJ is doing , that Jewish methods for slaughtering kosher meat are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jews that their core religious beliefs and rituals are under legal attack ?
No matter how many words the EU expends on the evils of antisemitism , no matter how many definitions of antisemitism it adopts , any restrictions on the supply or sale of kosher products will render all of those efforts meaningless .
Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS .

JNS.org – Last time I checked, the French were still preparing their famed foie gras delicacy using the method of “gavage.” This involves force-feeding a duck or a goose with grain passed through a tube over a period of several days so that its liver swells to approximately 600% of its normal size. The point is, if you don’t put the bird through this plainly ghastly experience, you cannot produce the rich flavor and buttery texture that makes foie gras so prized among gastronomes.
Many people refuse to eat foie gras precisely because of the cruelty involved in its production, but equally, many more people clearly aren’t bothered by it at all, as revenues internationally run into the hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Its sale has been banned by local officials in a handful of places, including New York starting in 2022, but that isn’t going to stop French, as well as Spanish, Hungarian, Belgian, and Bulgarian farmers from producing foie gras with the only method available to them. Indeed, any initiative to shut down the industry would need to come from the European Union, and there is precious little sign of that happening.
To be clear, I’m not advocating a renewed European Union legal crackdown on foie gras; frankly, it’s not an issue on which I have strong feelings either way. I raise the issue in order to illustrate a glaring double standard that has, in the last week, left both Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe feeling like rank and unwanted outsiders.
Last Thursday, the Luxembourg-based European Union Court of Justice (ECJ), which is the final arbiter of EU law, drew a line between the “civilized” and the “uncivilized” in terms of how farm animals that are slaughtered for human consumption are treated by different religious groups in Europe.
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On the “civilized” side of the line are those carnivores whose meat is stunned before it is slaughtered, which the ECJ deems to be humane. On the “uncivilized” side are those — overwhelmingly Muslims and Jews — whose religious commandments strictly forbid the stunning of animals before they are slaughtered, which the ECJ deems to be inhumane.
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that meat that has been slaughtered with a pre-stunning process is not considered kosher or halal, nor can it be.
The ECJ’s determination was part of a ruling that rejected an appeal brought by the Belgian Federation of Jewish Communities against a ban on kosher and halal slaughter in the Wallonia region imposed by the local authorities in 2017. By upholding the ban, the ECJ has effectively licensed other states and regions within the EU to outlaw ritual slaughter — or the sale of kosher and halal products — without the threat of mass discrimination lawsuits.
Unusually, the court’s decision eschewed the opinion of one of its 11 Advocate Generals, Gerard Hogan, who stated last September that the member states of the EU “are obliged to respect the deeply held religious beliefs of adherents to the Muslim and Jewish faiths by allowing for the ritual slaughter of animals.”
For the judges of the ECJ, evidently, there were no such fundamental stakes involved. From their perspective, the ruling did not outlaw ritual slaughter itself, but merely “one aspect of the specific ritual act of slaughter.” It added that the law allowed for a “fair balance” between animal welfare and the “freedom of Jewish and Muslim believers to manifest their religion.”
No such “fair balance” between animal welfare and human traditions is on display when it comes to the annual production of 17,000 tons of foie gras. The stench of hypocrisy, the nagging sense that the high-minded secular humanists who run European institutions are just bullying observant Jewish and Muslim communities with this latest edict, is unmistakable. Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt of the Conference of European Rabbis elegantly summarized both the insult and the absurdity of the ECJ’s ruling thus: “We are told by European leaders that they want Jewish communities to live and be successful in Europe, but they provide no safeguards for our way of life.”
While there are many more Muslims than there are Jews in Europe these days, the roots of this enmity towards ritual slaughter lie in the anti-Judaic and antisemitic traditions that have persisted and so often flourished throughout the continent’s history. Europe, after all, is the continent of the so-called “Judensau” — grotesque carvings on medieval churches that mocked the Jewish prohibition on pork by showing Jews in obscene acts with pigs. The method of shechita (kosher slaughter) has been twisted and distorted by antisemites for various tales of blood libel and theologically mandated cruelty allegedly practiced by Jews down the ages. And lest we forget, one of the first legislative actions undertaken by the Nazi regime in Germany was a ban on kosher slaughter, which was depicted in official propaganda as an ugly, alien, and thoroughly un-German practice.
The ECJ is making much the same declaration in 2020, albeit in language that avoids the demonic ravings of Nazi official rhetoric. Its judges are surely aware that the rules of shechita are not flexible; therefore, any part of Europe that prevents the sale of meat that has not been pre-stunned is effectively telling observant Jews that they are unwelcome as residents.
Not only that. If kosher slaughter is a legitimate target for the ECJ, then why not add male infant circumcision as well — another requirement of the Jewish and Muslim faiths that has been faced with legal and political challenges across Europe in yet one more demonstration of how centuries of antisemitism have reappeared dressed in humanist concerns.
Instructively, the ECJ’s ruling came just weeks after the EU Council, the bloc’s main coordinating body, issued a solemn six-page declaration against antisemitism.
The declaration stated that antisemitism “in any form, is and must remain unacceptable and all steps must be taken to counteract it, including, where necessary, through legal measures at European level.” It went on to underline that “the member states of the European Union support policy initiatives at European level that aim to combat incitement to antisemitic hatred and acts of violence, as well as the dissemination of antisemitic conspiracy myths online.”
I beg your pardon? By telling European publics, as the ECJ is doing, that Jewish methods for slaughtering kosher meat are inherently suspect? By stoking fears among Jews that their core religious beliefs and rituals are under legal attack? No matter how many words the EU expends on the evils of antisemitism, no matter how many definitions of antisemitism it adopts, any restrictions on the supply or sale of kosher products will render all of those efforts meaningless.
I say again: meaningless.
Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS.
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jewworldorder--2020-12-20--Reforms Which Can Help to Improve Crop Procurement Significantly

Procurement of various crops from farmers at a fair price by the government is an integral part of the farm and food system of India .
This can be reformed in various ways—reducing costs while improving income of farmers and overall food security .
When various crops are being harvested in a village , the government should procure a part of the staple food crops right there in the village at a fair and just price .
This procurement should be enough to meet the needs of various staple foods by the public distribution system and nutrition schemes ( ICDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheme for adolescent girls etc . )
of the village community .
The purchase should be somewhat in excess of exact need to provide for an emergency stock right within the village .
Small farmers should get priority .
A higher premium payment should be made for healthy food grown using organic/natural methods and avoiding dangerous chemicals etc .
The payment to farmers at a fair price should be made immediately .
As a wide diversity of staple food crops will be purchased this will lead to the farmers being encouraged to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems .
Nutrition schemes need not just one or two time purchase but also continuing year round purchase of milk , milk products , vegetables , fruits , eggs etc .
Hence at the time of two main harvests there will be heavy procurement , but much smaller procurement will continue throughout the year , through the agency of a government procurement representative in the village , which can be a self-help group of women working at a low margin for the benefit of the entire village .
This will help to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutrition schemes and public distribution system as farmers are likely to be more conscious of food safety and quality while meeting the needs of their own village .
Farmers , particularly small farmers will be saved the bother to rush to mandis immediately after harvesting .
Some cash they receive right in the village will enable farmers to sell their remaining crop in a more relaxed way .
Storages will be created in the village with government help and there will be storage also for any sudden need or emergency .
This arrangement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept of lowering food miles , or the concept that food consumption should be close to food production whenever possible , avoiding unnecessary transport costs and the use of fossil fuels associated with this .
Higher costs of centralized storage will also be avoided in this scheme .
This scheme inevitably leads to several food processing activities starting right within the village .
This also is very good and can lead the wider shift to village-level processing of food and other crops ( such as cotton ) much along Gandhian lines .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but in addition this will be good from the point of view of reducing costs of the government as well .
They will not have to arrange for transport of food to the village .
As far as the remaining crop is concerned , some of this can be purchased later by the government for meeting urban needs and buffer stock needs , and some can be sold elsewhere .
In case of bumper surplus crop , the government can also purchase some food for sending food free to famine affected parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional balance in farm development , prioritization of mixed farming systems for meeting local staple food needs , avoiding monocultures , self-reliance of rural communities , eco-friendly low cost farming are all integral to this thinking of reforms in the procurement sector .
Bharat Dogra is a freelance journalist and author .
He has documented the efforts and struggles of several leading social and ecological movements in India , with a special emphasis on various Gandhian movements , in many of his books and articles .

Procurement of various crops from farmers at a fair price by the government is an integral part of the farm and food system of India. This can be reformed in various ways—reducing costs while improving income of farmers and overall food security.
When various crops are being harvested in a village, the government should procure a part of the staple food crops right there in the village at a fair and just price. This procurement should be enough to meet the needs of various staple foods by the public distribution system and nutrition schemes ( ICDS or anganwadi, mid-day meals, sabla scheme for adolescent girls etc. ) of the village community. The purchase should be somewhat in excess of exact need to provide for an emergency stock right within the village.
Small farmers should get priority. A higher premium payment should be made for healthy food grown using organic/natural methods and avoiding dangerous chemicals etc. The payment to farmers at a fair price should be made immediately. As a wide diversity of staple food crops will be purchased this will lead to the farmers being encouraged to grow diversity of food crops in mixed farming systems.
Nutrition schemes need not just one or two time purchase but also continuing year round purchase of milk, milk products, vegetables, fruits, eggs etc. Hence at the time of two main harvests there will be heavy procurement, but much smaller procurement will continue throughout the year, through the agency of a government procurement representative in the village, which can be a self-help group of women working at a low margin for the benefit of the entire village.
This will help to ensure good quality , high nutrition food for nutrition schemes and public distribution system as farmers are likely to be more conscious of food safety and quality while meeting the needs of their own village. Farmers, particularly small farmers will be saved the bother to rush to mandis immediately after harvesting. Some cash they receive right in the village will enable farmers to sell their remaining crop in a more relaxed way.
Storages will be created in the village with government help and there will be storage also for any sudden need or emergency. This arrangement is also much in accordance with the concept of lowering food miles , or the concept that food consumption should be close to food production whenever possible, avoiding unnecessary transport costs and the use of fossil fuels associated with this. Higher costs of centralized storage will also be avoided in this scheme.
This scheme inevitably leads to several food processing activities starting right within the village. This also is very good and can lead the wider shift to village-level processing of food and other crops ( such as cotton) much along Gandhian lines.
This will be very good for the village, but in addition this will be good from the point of view of reducing costs of the government as well. They will not have to arrange for transport of food to the village.
As far as the remaining crop is concerned, some of this can be purchased later by the government for meeting urban needs and buffer stock needs, and some can be sold elsewhere. In case of bumper surplus crop, the government can also purchase some food for sending food free to famine affected parts of the world.
The concepts of regional balance in farm development, prioritization of mixed farming systems for meeting local staple food needs, avoiding monocultures, self-reliance of rural communities, eco-friendly low cost farming are all integral to this thinking of reforms in the procurement sector.
Bharat Dogra is a freelance journalist and author. He has documented the efforts and struggles of several leading social and ecological movements in India, with a special emphasis on various Gandhian movements, in many of his books and articles.
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