Cognitive Liberty's topics - tribe.net

Can we, as Individuals, create impact - YES

2009-10-15T10:14:12Z

The concept that we are at the threshold of a 'new age' is well established in the collective mindset. However, the term 'New Age' has become associated with a broad spectrum of contemporary practices, some of sound origin, some riding the bandwagon that has created a ‘new spiritual supermarket’. After all of the workshops, all of the healing practices and tools, all of the questing and personal growth, are we collectively shining a brighter light that has impact? How much have we collectively created a pattern where it is easier to seek healing than to be healed? It can be safer to pretend to have dysfunctions than to stop pretending that we are not powerful and beautiful.

www.contactzero.org
www.psi.gfc.uk.net
www.network.gfc.uk.net
www.gfc.uk.net

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Legalise drugs

2009-10-14T19:52:39Z

see whole article:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327251.100-legalise-drugs.html
Better world: Legalise drugs
11 September 2009 by Clare Wilson

Far from protecting us and our children, the war on drugs is making the world a much more dangerous place.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Psi Intel

2009-10-03T22:23:03Z

"It is a perverse reflection of political thinking and of the power of media that solutions are still viewed through the lens of finance. This is evident in the approach to Global Warming, where carbon emission taxing or cap-and-trade policies are the proposed means of solution and the people are sold ‘feel good’ incentives and given to concern over their individual ‘carbon footprints’. This is an appalling continuance of politically short-sighted policy and hoodwinking of the people. It will not bring solution.

Climate change is certain, but climate change and environmental degradation are an unnatural outcome of human dysfunction related to the entropy of a closed system and purely mechanical science. The gluttony of profit motive and product consciousness is manifest as an addictive behaviour dysfunction that is delusional in its relationship to reality and only views reality through an economic process of measure. Our world leaders and governments are committing invisible genocide through their policies. The victims of this invisible genocide are the future generations. The ecological crisis of our time is manifest and deepening. The severity of the crisis is recognised. It must also be recognised that the current strategies for solution are inadequate.

Globalisation does not mean plutocratic domination under a one-currency (Ameru) economy, it means that there is no longer a carpet to sweep our inexcusable behaviour under.

As One people who all share red blood, we must collectively accept responsibility for the error of our forebears and the miscreations of our current world leaders".

From the 70% Plan for Planetary Transformation, at www.psi.gfc.uk.net

The plan can be downloaded at www.gfc.uk.net/gfc_v3/pdf...-%20GFC.pdf

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Paradigm shifting...

2009-10-01T02:49:28Z

I have had similar conversations with many different people. I use words differently than they do. Marriage can be between opposite or same sex people. God is not a being as much as an experience. Feminism , is shifting for a new generation of women. Etc... Lots of words are shifting meaning these days. People sometimes get irrated when their meaning and my meaning is different. I may be taking liberties with these words or I may be refelcting a new way of seeing things,
What do you think about using the same words but now in new ways? And the division that occurs between people when the old meaning and the new meanings clash. I know I am talking to people here who probably think marriage is fine with same sex people and that god is not a man in the sky. But feminism I find is different for women in our 20's and 30's than for women in their 50's and 60's.
What do you think happen society wide when this shifting happens on a mass scale?

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Our Cognitive Behavioral World.....

2009-09-26T06:10:50Z

It's a real possibility we are entering the cognitive behavioral millenium. I am studying cognitivie behavioral therapy at school but I am also noticing that it is all around. It is " the secret" it is The Prophet " by Kahlil Gibran, it is on Oprah ' It may be so embedded in our culture that it's hard to see at this point. Cognitive ( thinking) behavioral therpy is about changing our thinking to change our behavior. And it works, it was what BF Skinner and Pavlov worked on in their own way. I see it on Oprah where she talks about Stepping out of our pasts with new thinking. It's ancient and yet new again. The reason why I think that nobody needs to teach freud anymore is because we live in a freudnian world, we talk about our mother issues, Oedipal, family dynamics all the time. We live in a freundian world.
Now we are stepping into a Cognitive behavioral world, it gets taught to us from all angles.
I really can't wait to start my real career at a private pratice and have more people to talk about this stuff with.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Legalize Hemp and Cannabis in California

2009-09-14T02:42:25Z

Hi Family,

Right now there are two competing signature drives to put Cannabis legalization initiatives on the ballot in California in

November 2010.

One is found at www.taxcannabis2010.org

The other is found at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org

Please look carefully at the text of both laws (the text of each is finalized) and make up your own mind which one you support.

I am supporting www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org because our law will protect Cannabis users from discrimination in

healthcare, employment, and housing. It is a full legalization measure for industrial hemp and recreational cannabis which will restore full human rights to Hemp farmers and Cannabis users all across California. Of course supplying Cannabis to children will remain illegal just as it is today. Driving vehicles under the influence will remain illegal just as it is today. Cannabis users will still be fired from their jobs if they show up to work impaired.

There are two parts to our plan. The first part is to publicly post and personally distribute our "Freedom Lover's Call to Arms" in order to recruit volunteers. This document is available here-

www.imgur.com/dbU83

The second part of our plan is to ask everyone who volunteers to make a pledge for how many signatures they can collect in

the next 30 days or so. 15-30 signatures is a good number. If enough volunteers show this level of commitment we can succeed. You can probably get that number from your family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors without having to solicit in public too much. This is an "out of the closet" movement. We will have to proudly advocate human rights for responsible, honest, hard-working Cannabis smokers in order to convince legitimate people to support us. I can supply stickers equivalent to each persons pledge number. These stickers can be used to generate interest and be given to voters who sign the petition. Here is the sticker design-

www.imgur.com/2cjvb

Feel free to distribute and use these images. Just don't copyright them.

We have 145 days in order to get the number of signatures that we need. Our petition is hot off the press on 9/11 and we

have started collecting the first signatures yesterday 9/12.

We are polling 56% public support for Cannabis legalization in California which menas that this is an initiative which is not doomed. Its time has finally arrived; we are at the tipping point right now. Now is the time to do this and to do it right. We may only get one chance. If a law which is not exactly what we want is implemented then we may lose our critical mass and our ability to set it right.

I believe that less adults will smoke cannabis after it is legal. This is the case in the Netherlands where it has been

available over-the-counter for 30 years yet only half as many citizens (percentage-wise) smoke as do citizens here. My economics professor has taught for years that prohibition has not succeeded in decreasing usage by increasing penalties. Instead it has destroyed lives and families without substantial benefit to society. After legalization hard-drug usage will decrease due to a "separation of the markets," a decline in the price of Cannabis relative to hard-drugs, and the restoration of honesty and common sense in drug education. Violence, thievery, and the incarceration of honest people will decrease as well. I also believe that a well regulated market will decrease the availability and appeal of cannabis to children. In fact teenage Cannabis use in California has fallen steadily since the passage of Proposition 215. Furthermore the adults who smoke Cannabis after legalization will be better able appreciate the majesty of nature in peace and unity without learning to fear and disrespect authority figures. This will be better for their spirits and better for society. Finally the human rights of legitimate medical Cannabis patients will be better protected than they are today. Legalizing Cannabis will create a safer, healthier, and more humane California for us all to live in.

If you want to help me in any way please contact the CCI campaign at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org or write me at

deep_space_underground@yahoo.com I give you my encouragement to modify this message if necessary and distribute it to anyone who might help on any forum or by any mechanism.

Love,
-Fully Committed

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Paradigm shifting....

2009-09-11T07:48:24Z

I don't know where I am going with this so thanks for watching me ramble.

So I'm shfting a lot. The past , the dysfunctional relationships, the pain of being less than, it's dissolving. Which is great. It is also leaving me feeling unsure of who I am. It is cognitive libery to be done with the past. I don't want it all to disolve immediatly though. For instance , what if I am totally capable of having a healthy relationship? What if I have meaningful work that supports me well. It's all so new. I was this depressed, needy, broken person for so long and now I am not. I did the work to not be so I take credit for that. What if everything is good with me and around me now? It's like being a whole new person and I don't know who that is exactly yet. Now what? What do do with this cognitive freedom? Help others? for sure. Create a better society ? yes of course.
What do you do with your cognitive freedom? What got you here to cognitive liberty anyway? Where are we going from here?

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 11 replies

perceptual shift

2009-06-04T22:41:55Z

Ecstatic movement past revelation
from which there is no return
to what you used to see
who you used to be
That ultimate step to transcend
eternity's threshold,
magic's trick of the eye
Mind when it moves
so easily
shining newly emitted
light that belies
primeval storm,
primal fear, the attacks
unclear of meaning
Reset
Dance reveals new landscape
Eyes, now excited, aware
ready to venture forward
Intuition follows
this blazing trail

June 4, 2009 Laurie Corzett/libramoon

brought to you by Emerging Visions visionary art ezine #15 ~ Shitfing Perceptions
http://emergingvisions.blogspot.com

please, send out your visions to get to me by noon GMT on 6/6/09

make it happen

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

KosmiK Nexus

2009-05-27T06:36:50Z

Hi All,

Just thought I'd share with you a very interesting link I found recently:

http://www.divine-portal.com/KosmiK_Nexus.htm

Here's the quote from the website:

[quote]
The Kosmik Nexus is a place of helpful & empowering information for all Truth and Light seekers. Knowledge and Wisdom hold the keys to healing, understanding and liberation for all sentient beings.

Within these pages my fellow Light Soldiers you will find Esoteric, Scientific and Spiritual Knowledge of many types & varieties that will aid you in your Quest.

Inside each and every one of us lie untapped spiritual gems that can awaken. Here you will learn how to energize and grow this potential for it is only when we change ourselves do we really change the world.

The future of our reality hangs in the balance. We must begin to stem the tide of oppression that is afflicting our home and begin to empower and awaken ourselves and those around us. Come, let us arise to a new dawn. The revolution begins.....

[/quote]

All the books and videos there are all free to download.

Enjoy :)

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Amazing Products

2009-05-19T06:31:39Z

http;//www.jointech.com.hk/products.html

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Ending the War

2009-05-15T19:49:09Z

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/ending-the-war-on-drugs-t_b_203768.html

Arianna Huffington

Posted: May 14, 2009 08:18 PM
Ending the War on Drugs: The Moment is Now

When it comes to addressing America's disastrous war on drugs, the Obama administration appears to be moving in the right direction -- albeit very, very cautiously.
On the rhetorical front, all the president's men are saying the right things.

In his first interview since being confirmed, Obama's new drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, said that we need to stop looking at our drug problem as a war. "Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs" or a 'war on product,'" he told the Wall Street Journal, "people see war as a war on them. We're not at war with people in this country."

He also said that it was time to focus more on treatment and less on incarceration.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government would no longer raid and prosecute distributors of medical marijuana who operate in accordance with state law in the 13 states where voters have made it legal.

Holder has also said that his department intends to eliminate the outrageous and prejudicial sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

And while on the campaign trail, President Obama called for repealing the ban on federal funding for anti-AIDS programs that supply clean needles to drug users.

All positive signs that we are ready to move beyond our failed war on drugs.

But when it comes to putting its rhetoric into action, the Obama administration has faltered.

Just a week after the Attorney General said there would be no more medical marijuana raids, the DEA raided a licensed medical marijuana dispensary in California.

Obama's '09-'10 budget proposes to continue the longstanding ban on federal funding of needle exchange programs.

The current budget is still overwhelmingly skewed in favor of the drug war approach -- indeed, it allocates more to drug enforcement and less to prevention than even George Bush did.

Testifying today in front of the House Judiciary Committee, Holder, in his opening statement, called for a working group to examine federal cocaine sentencing policy: "Based on that review, we will determine what sentencing reforms are appropriate, including making recommendations to Congress on changes to crack and powder cocaine sentencing policy." A working group? Why? As a senator, Obama co-sponsored legislation (introduced by Joe Biden) to end the disparity. What further review is needed?

(To be fair, during questioning, Holder said he and the president both favored doing away with the crack/powder disparity and said that Justice would even consider doing away with mandatory minimums altogether. But why the initial equivocation and the use of the very familiar needs-further-review dodge?)

So the question becomes: is the Obama administration really committed to a fundamental shift in America's approach to drug policy or is this about serving up a kinder, gentler drug war?

And this at a time when the tide is clearly turning. Inspired by the massive budget crises facing many states, and the increase in drug violence both at home and abroad -- leaders on all points across the political spectrum appear more willing to rethink our ruinous drug policies.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for "an open debate" and careful study of proposals to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has also urged renewing the debate, saying that he isn't convinced taxing and regulating drugs is the answer but "why not discuss it?" Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, pointing to evidence that Mexican drug cartels draw 60 to 80 percent of their revenue from pot, suggested legalization might be an effective tool to combat Mexican drug traffickers and American gangs.

And, in a major shift in the global drug policy debate, a Latin American commission, headed by the former presidents Fernando Cardoso of Brazil, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, and Cesar Gavaria of Colombia issued a devastating report condemning America's 40-year war on drugs.

"Prohibitionist policies based on eradication, interdiction and criminalization of consumption simply haven't worked," the former presidents wrote in a joint op-ed. "The revision of U.S.-inspired drug policies is urgent in light of the rising levels of violence and corruption associated with narcotics. The alarming power of the drug cartels is leading to a criminalization of politics and a politicization of crime."

They called for "a paradigm shift in drug policies" that begins with "changing the status of addicts from drug buyers in the illegal market to patients cared for by the public health system."

And in Congress, Sen. Jim Webb has introduced legislation, with co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle, to create a blue-ribbon commission to examine criminal justice and drug policies and how they have led to our nation's jam-packed jails -- now filled with tens of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders.

"With so many of our citizens in prison compared with the rest of the world," Webb wrote in a recent Parade cover story, "there are only two possibilities: Either we are home to the most evil people on earth or we are doing something different--and vastly counterproductive. Obviously, the answer is the latter."

I understand that drugs continue to be a political hot potato, fueled by what the Latin American presidents described as "prejudices and fears that sometimes bear little relation to reality." And I can easily picture some on the president's team advising him to keep the issue on the backburner lest it turn into his "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

But the cost of the drug war -- both human and financial -- is far too high to allow politics to dictate the administration's actions. Indeed, with all the budget cutting going on, how can anyone justify spending tens of billions of dollars a year on an unwinnable war against our own people?

Change won't be easy. The prison-industrial complex has a deeply vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Which is why we need to keep the pressure on the president and his team to follow through on their drug policy promises.

As with the regulation of Wall Street, real reform of our nation's drugs policies won't happen without someone in the administration making it a top priority.

The jury is still out on Kerlikowske. His law enforcement background could make him the drug war equivalent of Tim Geithner -- too enmeshed in the system he is tasked with overhauling.

Holder shows more promise. But he'll have to avoid the let's-have-a-working-group-review-decisions-that-have-already-been-decided approach.

As a reminder, I'm planning to send the Attorney General a few copies of This Is Your Country On Drugs, a book out next month on the history of drug use and drug policy in America by our HuffPost Congressional correspondent Ryan Grim. In it, he argues that the goal of U.S. policy should not be to eliminate drugs, but to prevent and treat the addiction and other problems that come with them: "As currently understood and implemented, drug policy attempts to isolate a phenomenon that can't be taken in isolation. Economic policy is drug policy. Healthcare policy is drug policy. Foreign policy, too, is drug policy. When approached in isolation, drug policy almost always leads to unfortunate and unintended consequences."

With three-quarters of the drug offenders clogging our state prisons there for nonviolent offenses -- and a disproportionate number of those young men of color -- the time has come to wage a full-scale war on the war on drugs.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

White House Czar Calls for End to 'War on Drugs'

2009-05-15T02:52:34Z

"Kerlikowske Says Analogy Is Counterproductive; Shift Aligns With Administration Preference for Treatment Over Incarceration"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124225891527617397.html

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

The Dalai Lama at MIT, Harvard Medical School and U Cal Santa Barbara this Spring

2009-05-04T05:43:55Z

Re:
"The right of each individual to think independently and autonomously, to use the full spectrum of his or her mind, and to engage in multiple modes of thought."

Okay, with that in mind, here goes: my first post to tribe Cognitive Liberty ever ( over the last many months ). Same with tribe Cognitive Science.

The Dalai Lama is a major player in the cognitive science arena. You can see this in books such as "The Dalai Lama at MIT." He's also appearing at MIT, Harvard Medical School, Berzerkley and U Cal Santa Barbara in the coming days. His western academic credentials are second to none.

Some relevant upcoming events are:

Lecture in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a lecture on The Nature of Mind organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center. Contact Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu/dalailama/

Public Talk in Boston, MA, USA on April 30: His Holiness will give a public talk to the Harvard University Community on Educating the Heart organized by Harvard University at the Memorial Church. Contact Website: www.harvard.edu

Inauguration of The Dalai Lama Center on April 30: His Holiness will inaugurate The Dalai Lama Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by giving a talk on Ethics and Enlightened Leadership. Contact Website: www.thecenter.mit.edu

Panel Discussion in Boston, MA on May 1: His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion on Meditation and Psychotherapy – Cultivating Compassion and Wisdom organized by the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education at Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Contact Website: www.cme.med.harvard.edu/

He also shows up at a lot of bookstores and libraries, including no doubt some near each of you.

I'm sure that many of you are already familiar with the Dalai Lama in some sense or setting already. A significant purpose of this post is to establish ( or test or put forward ) the relevance of this teacher to this tribe ( as well as many others ). So I'll check back later.

May this be beneficial.

KT

Keywords : HH The Dalai Lama, public Dalai Lama talks on world peace, Dalai Lama resources and current schedule, Nobel Peace Prize, universal human [ secular ] ethics, deep permaculture ethics.

Summary: Provided here is (1) the current tour schedule for His Holiness the Dalai Lama [ for California, Massachusetts, New York, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, India, Germany ], (2) an introduction to the life and work of HH the Dalai Lama, (3) book references and resources, and (4) curriculum vitae.

HH the Dalai Lama:
“Never give up.
No matter what is going on.
Never give up.
Develop the heart.
Be compassionate.
Not just to your friends but to everyone.
Work for peace in your heart and in the world.
Work for peace and I say again:
Never give up.
No matter what is happening.
No matter what is going on around you.
Never give up.”

Introduction:

All Our Relations. Mitakuye Oyasin.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the pivotal figures of our time. He is, more than anyone else that can be presently named, a world citizen and world teacher.

His work in ethics, human rights,world peace, psychology and education, Buddhist teaching and East West relations, is second to none in our generation.

In addition to a Nobel Peace Prize and the US Congressional Gold Medal, HH the Dalai Lama has received scores of honorary Doctorates ( in Laws, Philosophy, Human Letters, Divinity, Buddhist Philosophy, and so forth ) from major teaching centers worldwide. These include Columba, Brandeis, Universite de Paris, Benaras Hindu University, Hebrew University Jerusalem, U California San Francisco, and Rissho University Tokyo. He is an honorary citizen of Canada, of Roma Italia and so forth.

He speaks worldwide and has published more than seventy two books.

He is one of the most respected and revered persons on the the planet. On one visit to New York City some years back, forty thousand people turned out to see the Dalai Lama in the park.

When the Dalai Lama gives the Highest Yoga Tantra initiation ( abhisekha ) of Kalacakra, the attendees sometimes number 100,000 or even 200,000. HH the Dalai Lama has given this initiation thirty times in different parts of the world. In addition to being a master of the Great Seal ( Mahamudra ) lineage of Buddhist tantra, he also gives initiations of the Great Perfection ( Mahasandhi, Atiyoga ), for example in London, in San Francisco, and Paris.

You can see him this year at public talks in several areas, such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Europe, and India. A current schedule is provided below.

I have seen HH the Dalai Lama give extremely worthwhile empowerments in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and represented him to the State Legislature of Hawaii in 1993, where he was invited to give a talk, and did. I have listened carefully to him conferencing with Hawaiian elders in public and was struck by the care and attention he gave in listening to others, and in asking questions.

HH the Dalai Lama has written extremely important books on psychology and ethics, and I recommend these to the general public for self-help purposes, and also recommend some of his books to those committed to public service, especially in the area of multiculturalism, international human rights work, and the international Green Party movement.

Because of the profound confluence of modern events, global economics, environmental issues and human cultures, the importance of broader and deeper human co-operation becomes ever greater.

To obtain a broader and clearer understanding and principles for working with these issues, studying the secular works of the Dalai Lama is of great value.

Similarly, His Holiness is one of the few people who can and does speak for the diverse Buddhist populations and traditions worldwide. He has taught senior Japanese tantric Buddhist gurus of the Shingon lineage in their country, for instance. His Holiness is a paragon of the Buddhist renunciate order ( bhiksu-sangha ), of Buddhist scholarship, and of the Mahayana Great Way lineages, all of which are profoundly universal.

This teacher is one of our very very best, be you a psychologist or academic, a diplomat, a tantric yogi, or a Buddhist practitioner. He has completely revolutionized Buddhist teaching, parts of popular modern culture, the understanding of international diplomacy and so forth in our lifetime.

This is someone who actually embodies many of the key principles of the United Nations treaties on human rights, and also the key Buddhist Mahayana principles and teachings. It is important to note that the Mahayana Buddhist principles and the principles of the UN human rights work are essentially identical. There are universal principles that take us all forward, individually and together. In Buddhist Sanskrit these terms are, for instance pratitya-samutpada and karma. Now you know.

The final point I wish to put forward to all is this: the Dalai Lama believes in all of us as people who *already* have sensitive human hearts that can be educated and developed, and he shows all of us a very real and practical way forward, a way based on self-understanding, listening and mutual respect, and patient co-operation.

You could do worse, and please remember that due to impermanence, this master teacher will not live forever. It is not clear how anyone anywhere can replace him.

I see no real alternative to respect and co-operation for the common good, because we are one world. For this broader and deeper reason, and not specifically because he is a Buddhist guru, I support this teacher. He was not allowed by their government to attend a recent peace conference in South Africa, but he is available to you, and he is here for All Our Relations. May he live long and may his brilliant consciousness reach many many more.

Thank you,
KT, Rio Earth Summit Green Party organizer and so forth

In partial fulfillment of my formal Mahayana teaching responsibilities.
Sarva mangalam! Siddhi rastu!
[ May it be auspicious! May there be accomplishment! ]

John David Bartoe, Challenger 8 NASA space mission, July 1985:
“As I looked down, I saw large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping. I also saw huge forests, extending across several borders. And I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of several continents. Two words leaped to mind as I looked down on all of this: commonality and interdependence. We are one world.”

Some of the following materials are taken from
www.dalailama.com/
Published books and multimedia materials are available at libraries throughout the world, and from Snow Lion Publications at
www.snowlionpub.com

From the official web site:

“Universal Recognition

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.

“His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning 6 continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.

“Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books.

“His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.”

“Three Main Commitments in Life
“Firstly, on the level of a human being, His Holiness first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their life happier. His Holiness refers to these human values as secular ethics. He remains committed to talk about the importance of these human values and share them with everyone he meets.

“Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, His Holiness second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world's major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of each other's respective traditions. As far as one truth, one religion is concerned, this is relevant on an individual level. However, for the community at large, several truths, several religions are necessary.

“Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and carries the name of the Dalai Lama. Tibetans place their trust in him. Therefore, his third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. His Holiness has a responsibility to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice. As far as this third commitment is concerned, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.

However, His Holiness will carry on with the first two commitments till his last breath.”

Upcoming Schedule
2009
Lecture in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a lecture on The Nature of Mind organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center. Contact Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu/dalailama/
Public Talk in Santa Barbara, CA, USA on April 24: His Holiness will give a public talk on Ethics for Our Time organized by the University of Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center. Contact Website: www.religion.ucsb.edu/dalailama/
Public Talk in Berkeley, CA, USA on April 25: His Holiness will give a public talk on Peace Through Compassion organized by the University of California, Berkeley at the Greek Theater. Contact Website: www.berkeley.edu

Public Talk in Boston, MA, USA on April 30: His Holiness will give a public talk to the Harvard University Community on Educating the Heart organized by Harvard University at the Memorial Church. Contact Website: www.harvard.edu
Inauguration of The Dalai Lama Center on April 30: His Holiness will inaugurate The Dalai Lama Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by giving a talk on Ethics and Enlightened Leadership. Contact Website: www.thecenter.mit.edu
Panel Discussion in Boston, MA on May 1: His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion on Meditation and Psychotherapy – Cultivating Compassion and Wisdom organized by the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education at Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Contact Website: www.cme.med.harvard.edu/index.asp
Teaching in Boston, MA on May 2: His Holiness will give a teaching in the morning on What Is Buddhism & Commentary on The Four Noble Truths organized by the Tibetan Association of Boston at the Gillette Stadium, Foxboro. Contact Website: www.bostontibet.org
Public Talk in Boston, MA on May 2: His Holiness will give a public talk in the afternoon on The Path to Peace and Inner Happiness organized by the Tibetan Association of Boston at the Gillette Stadium, Foxboro. Contact Website: www.bostontibet.org

Public Talk in New York, NY on May 3: His Holiness will participate in a conversation with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and moderated by Pico Iyer on Wisdom & Compassion for Challenging Times and organized by The Tibet Fund at The Town Hall. Contact Website: www.tibetfund.org

Teaching in New York, NY on May 4: His Holiness will give a teaching on The Quintessence of Compassion organized by The Tibet House at The New Beacon Theater. Contact Website: www.tibethouse.org
Public Talk in Albany, NY on May 6: His Holiness will give a public talk on Compassionate Ethics in Difficult Times organized by the World Ethical Foundations Consortium at the Albany Palace Theater. Contact Website: www.worldethicalfoundations.org

Teaching in Copenhagen, Denmark from May 30 & 31: His Holiness will give a day and a half teaching on Nagarjuna's Commentary on Bodhicitta (jangchup semdrel) & Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) at the Bella Center. Contact Website: www.dalailama.dk
Public Talk in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 31: His Holiness will give a public talk on Peace Through Inner Peace at the Bella Center. Contact Website: www.dalailama.dk

Public Talk in Reykjavik, Iceland on June 2: His Holiness will give a public talk on the topic on Values, Attitude and Happiness at the Laugardalsholl Sporting Arena. Contact Website: www.dalailama.is

Teaching in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 4: His Holiness will give a teaching on Shantideva’s Chapter 6 on Patience from A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life at the Rai Congress Center. Contact Website: www.dalailamanederland.nl
Public Talk in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 4: His Holiness will give a public talk on The Power of Compassion At A Turbulent Time at the Rai Congress Center. Contact Website: www.dalailamanederland.nl

Teaching in Kaza, H.P., India from July 10 to 12: His Holiness will give three-day teachings at the request of the Sakya Monastery in Kaza. On July 10 His Holiness will give a Buddhist teaching (topic yet to be decided). On July 11 and 12 His Holiness will confer the Avalokiteshvera Initiation (chenresig wangchen).

Teaching in Frankfurt, Germany on July 30 & 31: His Holiness will give a day and a half teaching on Kamalashila's The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa). On the morning of July 31 he will confer an Amitabha Empowerment (opakmey jenang). Contact Website: www.dalailama-frankfurt.de

Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
[ University Aula, Oslo, 10 December 1989 ] :

Your Majesty, Members of the Nobel Committee, Brothers and Sisters.

I am very happy to be here with you today to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. I feel honored, humbled and deeply moved that you should give this important prize to a simple monk from Tibet I am no one special. But I believe the prize is a recognition of the true value of altruism, love, compassion and non-violence which I try to practice, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet, I accept the prize with profound gratitude on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace.

I accept it as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of non-violent action for change Mahatma Gandhi whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated.

No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and is concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world, from Eastern Europe to Africa are a clear indication of this.

In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation.

Last week a number of Tibetans were once again sentenced to prison terms of upto nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only 'crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of Tibetans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence.
The suffering of our people during the past forty years of occupation is well documented. Ours has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just Because violence can only breed more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain non-violent and free of hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people, not to inflict suffering upon others.

It is with this in mind that I proposed negotiations between Tibet and China on numerous occasions. In 1987, I made specific proposals in a Five-Point plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. This included the conversion of the entire Tibetan plateau into a Zone of Ahimsa, a sanctuary of peace and non-violence where human beings and nature can live in peace and harmony.
last year, I elaborated on that plan in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament I believe the ideas I expressed on those occasions are both realistic. and reasonable although they have been criticised by some of my people as being too conciliatory. Unfortunately, China's leaders have not responded positively to the suggestions we have made, which included important concessions. If this continues we will be compelled to reconsider our position.

Any relationship between Tibet and China will have to be based on the principle of equality, respect, trust and mutual benefit. It will also have to be based on the principle which the wise rulers of Tibet and of China laid down in a treaty as early as 823 AD, carved on the pillar which still stands today in front of the Jokhang, Tibet's holiest shrine, in Lhasa, that "Tibetans will live happily in the great land of Tibet, and the Chinese will live happily in the great land of China".

As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and compassion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.

With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.

I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.
As we enter the final decade of this century I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century.

I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.
Thank you.

[ end posting ]

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

TIME: The Portuguese Experiment: Did Legalizing Drugs Work?

2009-04-26T18:50:22Z

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

OT: New Tribe

2009-04-20T00:25:22Z

New tribe started for Agnostics: tribes.tribe.net/agnosticsonly

Being certain is stupid, whereas exercising doubt and critical thinking is more intelligent. Agnosticism is simply about being skeptical. Skeptical Atheists are welcome, and we ask that all people be considerate and polite when posting. Labels matter little, it's what's going on between the ears that counts.

True skeptics are skeptical of skeptics, skepticism, and him/herself.

Admitting that you may be wrong shows strength of character. We're only human. The only people who don't make mistakes aren't doing anything at all.

Agnostics may have suspicions about social/scientific/spiritual concepts having more or less validity, but our trick is discussing such topics without an emotional investment in any particular outcome.

So, with an open mind, a warm heart, and a colorful sense of humor, we extend our invitation to anyone inclined towards the Agnostic point of view.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

This Week on The New American Dream

2009-04-13T22:49:07Z

http://www.newamericandream.net/index.html

The New American Dream
... well ... because we're dreaming of Dick Cheney and George Bush in a big black car limousine motorcade with those little American flags on the front quarter panels on their way to prison

... we're dreaming of a USA truth commission and Cub Scout tours of the "secret" FBI and CIA

and some other stuff

This Week's Feature Interviews:

Monday - Timbre Wolf, a musician who moved from Tulsa to Hawaii

Tuesday - Al Markovitz, of Norfolk, Virginia, the Tulsa of the east coast, editor of the Blue Collar Review, "journal of working class literature"

Wednesday - Aimee England, the mayor of Tulsa — no, actually, Aimee lives in Michigan and spent over twenty years working in an independent, radical bookstore

Thursday - Lee Rayburn, radio show host, formerly of Air American Radio and also Madison, Wisconsin. [never been to Tulsa.]

Friday - Bartcop, of Bartcop.com, from where else? Tulsa.

Columns:
Steve Clemens of the Twin Cities
Lydia Sems from Atlanta

Poetry:
More from Ava Bird of Berkeley

and some other stuff

Thank you.

The Dream Team
http://www.newamericandream.net/index.html

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Congress Debates Drug War

2009-04-08T04:54:54Z

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977649676

Congress is Debating the Drug War.
Are Your Representatives Part of the Discussion?

Recently on Capitol Hill, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virginia) introduced a bill to create a blue ribbon commission to initiate a comprehensive review of America's criminal justice and drug policies. The commission will spend eighteen months studying all aspects of the criminal justice system, report the findings to Congress and offer tangible recommendations for reform, including, possibly, an end to the cruel drug laws that send too many people to prison for too long.

But that's only if we build enough support to pass this important legislation.

We've made it easy for you to contact your legislators about supporting Sen. Webb's bill. All you have to do is go to http://www.DrugWarDebate.com and enter in your contact information.

The United States is the number one incarcerator in the world, with one out of every one hundred American adults behind bars. Sadly, the lion's share of this insane level of incarceration is driven by drug prohibition.

~@~

How is it that the country which purports to support Freedom also is the number one incarcerator in the world for minor non-violent offences ? We as a nation are spending vast sums of money and, the only result for this effort is ruining 100's of 1000's, if not Millions of citizens lives without any social benefits being realized.

Could this be an effort of revoking citizens voting rights en mass ?

Isn't that one of the contributing factors which allowed Bush to take office, purging of the Felon off the voter roles? How many of those people did nothing more than be charged with possession of small, personal-use quantities of marijuana ?

Please visit http://www.DrugWarDebate.com today to contact your senators and representatives, asking them to support S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Act of 2009.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5663/t/4025/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=918
We Can Do It Again: Repealing Today's Failed Prohibition -- TAKE ACTION!
December 2008 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of alcohol prohibition. You can help teach a lesson from history by asking your representatives to repeal today’s failed prohibition of drugs.

When America’s leaders repealed alcohol prohibition,it wasn't because they suddenly decided that liquor was safe and that everyone should drink. Rather, it was because they were tired of gangsters raking in rich illegal profits and terrorizing neighborhoods. And we simply could not afford to keep enforcing the failed prohibition during the Great Depression, our nation's worst economic crisis.

Today, America is in the grip of a new economic crisis, but we keep paying for an even more devastating prohibition, the "war on drugs."

If you're tired of paying for laws that only make our streets more dangerous, take one minute to let your federal and state elected officials know how you feel by adapting our pre-written letter below. We can do it again!

Go to: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5663/t/4025/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=918 to personalize and send it :

As your constituent, I'm writing to you with an important question: Would you like to know how we can boost America’s ailing economy by tens of billions of dollars every year and make our communities safer?

All we have to do is learn a lesson from 75 years ago in America's history, back in December 1933, when our leaders had the good sense to stop spending so much money on the ineffective prohibition of alcohol in the midst of the Great Depression.

Today, we spend tens of billions of dollars a year arresting, prosecuting and locking up far too many Americans under this generation's failed prohibition policy, the "war on drugs." But drugs are generally cheaper, more potent and more available than at any point in history.

But that's not the worst of it. During alcohol prohibition, gangsters like Al Capone were using illegal booze profits to run rampant in our cities. Today, in addition to dealing with violent domestic gangs, we are also under attack from international cartels and terrorist networks like Al Qaeda, who make money off of drugs only because of today’s prohibition.

Ultimately, judging the merits of our drug policy - which seems to hurt countless citizens and help only violent criminals and traffickers - requires that we first have a true accounting of all its costs.

But while we know that direct government expenditures on drug prohibition cost tens of billions of dollars every year, there are also numerous corollary costs that aren't easily tallied. For example, what about tax revenue not collected from wages of drug market employees and on properties where drugs are produced? And let's not not forget the diminished wages (and tax payments) of people who find it hard to secure gainful employment because of criminal records.

That's why I'm writing to urge you to support the creation of blue ribbon commission that can take a serious look at the real cost of continuing our ineffective approach during a time of economic crisis. The results of a comprehensive review, I believe, will make it crystal clear that under our limited budgets, prohibition is a failed drug control policy that we just can't afford any longer.

Why not take a good look at the facts before our fiscal reality forces us to cut essential services that are actually necessary for protecting public health and safety for our children and families?

This is a serious issue with real consequences that we cannot afford to ignore. I look forward to reading your thoughts on what actions you think policymakers should take to solve the problems caused by our failed drug prohibition policy. Thanks in advance for your attention to this important matter.

http://leap.cc/dia/report.php

INTRODUCTION

America is in an economic and fiscal crisis, our worst since the Great Depression. Unemployment is rising dramatically. Corporate earnings are collapsing. Great financial institutions are disappearing. Analysts speculate about the very real possibility that our greatest industrial corporations such as General Motors and Ford will face bankruptcy.

Many federal, state and local government agencies are cutting their budgets and shrinking basic public services like schools, police, child protection, recreation and transportation. Public employees are facing an end to cost of living adjustments and merit raises and are anticipating furloughs, layoffs and reductions in force. Assuredly, this fiscal crisis will endanger public health and safety.

But by learning a lesson from American history and ending today’s expensive and counterproductive prohibition of drugs like we ended the earlier prohibition of alcohol, we can cut wasteful spending and generate new revenues, all while making America’s streets safer. A legal and regulated drug trade will lead to far fewer people being arrested and incarcerated at taxpayer expense and will generate essential new revenues, some of which can be earmarked to finance improved drug treatment and recovery.

Under the current prohibition approach, police are forced to endlessly chase and imprison dealers and users. When we take cops off this beat, we need not fear increased violence, crime or drug abuse, because we can apply the protective tools that regulate markets to improve public safety and health.

As we saw in the earlier prohibition of the 1920s and 1930s, much of our street violence stems not from drug use but from the illegal nature of the drug market. In any trade, competitors vie to control markets. Under drug prohibition, rival organizations resort to violence to decide who will triumph in the marketplace. Disputes surrounding quality, delivery, price and credit are not resolved in courts or by arbitration, but at the point of a gun. In legal businesses, valuable inventory can be protected from thieves with legitimate security firms, but in prohibition, only gangsters are hired to provide protection against robbery, embezzlement or fraud. In the illegal market, price and quality information is unreliable. There is no trademark protection, no dependable quality control.

But while today’s prohibition is a failure for much the same reasons as the last one, its consequences are even graver. Whereas alcohol prohibition allowed domestic gangsters like Al Capone to rake in rich profits, today’s illegal market helps fund the efforts of international cartels and terrorist networks like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. After prohibition is repealed, America will be rid of a major source of violence, crime and disorder that plagues every major city and most Indian reservations, counties and municipalities in the United States as well as communities worldwide.

The professionals of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation (CJPF) know from long experience that when we arrest a rapist or robber the number of rapes and robberies in the community diminishes because “we got the guy.” But when we arrest a drug dealer at any level, we simply create a job opening that is quickly filled from the endless ranks of people willing to risk prison or death for the chance of obtaining huge profits.

After spending a trillion tax dollars and making 39 million arrests1 for nonviolent drug offenses, drugs are now generally cheaper, more potent and easier for our children to access than they were 40 years ago at the beginning of the “drug war.”

Whenever we attempt to confront our very real drug problems with the brute force of prohibition, we make little progress. The few who have been helped are greatly exceeded by the millions who have been hurt, all while precious resources and opportunities are squandered in the process.

In addition to necessitating billions of dollars in direct police and corrections expenditures, our policies have numerous indirect costs that act as a significant drag on our economy. For example, how many cars do prisoners and convicted felons buy each year? How much shopping do they do? Has one of our fastest growing industries – prison construction – made us competitive with other industrialized countries? How could denying college aid to some 200,000 students as a punishment for drug use help develop our workforce? How does denying credit to people with past drug offenses help to grow our economy? These are some of the reasons a large and growing movement of citizens, lawmakers – and cops – are calling for an end to today’s dysfunctional drug prohibition.

The 75th anniversary of the end of alcohol prohibition is an appropriate occasion to examine the historical parallels between that failed experiment’s unintended consequences and the even farther-reaching harms of today’s drug prohibition.

ALCOHOL PROHIBITION

America has a long history with temperance movements, which achieved full expression through the 1919 ratification and 1920 enactment of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, banning the manufacture, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages nationwide. To overcome traditional states’ rights concerns, prohibitionists in some parts of the country played on fears of immigrants and growing urbanization. During World War I, for example, beer (strongly associated with German culture) was equated with a lack of American patriotism. Interestingly, prohibition took root at a time when alcohol consumption was continuing a steep, multi-year decline.

It failed as prohibitions fail:

While estimates on alcohol use before, during and immediately after prohibition rely upon incomplete data, sociologists identify two trends: first, alcohol became associated with a rebellious, adventurous lifestyle, which increased its desirability, especially among the young. Second, alcohol remained fully present in daily urban life. In New York City, for example, in the year before prohibition went into effect, there were 15,000 saloons. Five years into prohibition, those saloons were replaced by as many as 32,000 underground speakeasies.2 It is without question that problematic alcohol use of all kinds increased due to this policy.
The prohibited drug became more available in its most concentrated and potent form, a natural result of the costs involved in smuggling and concealing it. Beer and wine were largely replaced by liquor in illegal speakeasies.
Providing liquor to meet the public demand required industrial scale production and distribution, and it was enormously profitable. The inevitable result was the creation of modern organized crime syndicates. The Great Depression made things even worse, as laid-off workers and even active duty cops found employment with the alcohol smugglers. The homicide rate reached unprecedented levels during this period, as gangsters struggled for control of the lucrative market by killing each other, police officers and any innocent citizen who stood in the way of their immense, untaxed profits.
Public health suffered. In New York, for example, there was a 525% increase in deaths related to alcoholism and alcohol poisonings during the first six years of prohibition.3 Since there was no regulation or oversight of the manufacture or sale of the drug, thousands of people were blinded or killed by adulterated bathtub gin, the “poor man’s alcohol.”
Courts were clogged with alcohol prohibition-related offenses. Increasingly, public officials at all levels allowed themselves to become corrupted by the gangsters’ payrolls rather than enforce an increasingly unpopular, untenable policy. Public respect for the rule of law suffered greatly as a consequence. Corruption was so widespread that one upstanding Treasury Department unit became famously known as “The Untouchables” because, in not responding to bribes or intimidation, they were the exception and not the rule.
Vital services and programs had to be cut because, in addition to the expensive costs of prohibition enforcement, government budgets were deprived of tax revenue from alcohol sales, alcohol industry workers’ salaries and the properties where alcohol was produced, stored and consumed.
Things hadn’t worked out as well as the prohibitionists had planned.

It didn’t take very long for Americans to conclude that prohibition – even for a drug as dangerous as alcohol – was an unaffordable, dysfunctional “luxury” that could no longer be tolerated during an economic crisis.

A large and active anti-prohibition movement emerged and grew very rapidly in the late 1920s and early 1930s. While Democrat Alfred E. Smith, an anti-prohibition presidential candidate, was defeated in 1928 by prohibitionist Herbert Hoover, by 1932 the Democrats had included an official anti-prohibition plank in the party platform and 40 percent of the Republican convention delegates that re-nominated President Hoover also voted for a prohibition repeal plank of their own.4 In the November 1932 elections, voters elected to repeal state prohibition policies in nine states and gave the presidency to anti-prohibition Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in an Electoral College landslide.

Thereafter, the repeal movement gained momentum so quickly that the prohibitionists couldn’t even muster enough support in 13 states to block repeal. On December 5, 1932, a resolution to repeal the 18th Amendment was introduced in the lame duck session of the 72nd Congress. It was immediately considered and came within six votes of the two-thirds necessary for passage. On February 20, 1933, the 73rd Congress sent the proposed repeal amendment to the consideration of the state ratifying conventions. The 21st Amendment was added to the Constitution when Utah became the 36th state to ratify it on December 5, 1933. What many had once called “the noble experiment” was officially certified as a failure.5

With the end of prohibition, the homicide rate plunged, and those rates stayed low until the 1970s, when active enforcement of the “war on drugs” began in earnest.6

TODAY’S DRUG PROHIBITION

Today’s prohibition of the many so-called “controlled substances” is similar to, but is in many respects significantly more complex than, alcohol prohibition. The wide variety of prohibited substances; their global cultivation, production and trade; the global ease of capital movement and the connection between the illegal drug trade and political insurgencies are all modern features of prohibition that our great grandparents did not have to face. Nonetheless, in so many of its essential features drug prohibition has echoed alcohol prohibition’s impact on the economy, crime, public safety and public health. Alcohol prohibition involved ethnic, religious and regional prejudices, and those ugly features are dramatically worse under the racial stereotyping and disparities of today’s drug enforcement.

Fueled by fears of children becoming addicted, of “date rape drugs” and of drug-inducing insanity and promiscuity, the “war on drugs” has had enormous impact. Since its rhetorical and legal launch in 1970, annual federal spending on the war has increased to $19.2 billion7, annual arrests for nonviolent drug offenses have quadrupled8 and imprisonment for federal drug offenses has increased by 28 times.9, 10
It fails as alcohol prohibition failed. Only worse.

According to the federal government, in the decade preceding the start of the war, 4 million people in the United States above the age of 12 had used an illegal drug in their lifetime (2 percent of the population).11 By 2007, the government revealed that 114 million people above the age of 12 had tried an illegal drug (46 percent of that population), an increase of 2,850 percent.12 Drug use became a badge of rebellion, although very widely worn. According to the World Health Organization, the United States has the highest rates of marijuana and cocaine use in the world, despite our having some of the harshest penalties.
Drugs have become more concentrated and potent, a natural result of the costs involved in avoiding law enforcement. The average purity of cocaine at retail increased from 40 percent pure in 1981 to 70 percent pure in 2003, while its wholesale cost dropped by 84 percent over the same period. The purity of street-level heroin nearly tripled, while its wholesale cost has dropped by more than 86 percent.13
The homicide rate skyrocketed through the 1970s and 1980s, corresponding with increasing expenditures on enforcing prohibition.14
Organized crime has flourished once again, but this time goes well beyond mere domestic street gangsters running amok in our cities, although we still confront that. In Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica and the Bahamas, organizations specializing in delivering drugs to the United States have arisen along with violence and corruption. In Afghanistan, the Taliban that hosted international terrorist Osama Bin Laden in 2001 alternately profited from taxing the opium crop and banning its cultivation after it had cornered the market.Over the past two years in Mexico, President Felipe Calderón has stepped up his country’s war on drug traffickers, asking U.S. taxpayers for $1.4 billion to fund increased police and military operations. While these efforts have slowed neither the supply nor the demand for cocaine, the crackdown has resulted in increased illegal drug market violence as well as corruption reaching even the highest levels of the country’s law enforcement apparatus, including the federal attorney general’s office. The cartels have used the insider intelligence that they have gained to keep tabs on the government’s operations and respond accordingly, most flagrantly to determine the location of Mexico’s top law enforcement official, whom they murdered in May 2008.15. It is not hard to imagine how so many Mexican police have allowed themselves to become corrupted by the cartels. They are tasked with confronting a well-armed, well-funded enemy operating what American authorities estimate is a $23-billion-a-year business16 that has been blamed for 58 deaths on one day alone in November 2008 and a total 2008 death toll to date of about 4,000,17 surpassing the nearly 2,500 deaths for all of 2007.18 The collateral damage of Mexico’s increased prohibition enforcement has spilled over into the U.S. as well. At least one U.S. Border Patrol agent has been charged with being on the payroll of the traffickers, having allegedly allowed 3,000 pounds of cocaine into the country under his watch.19 A seven-year-old boy was recently kidnapped at gunpoint in what authorities think was a drug market dispute.20 Thanks to Americans’ demand for illegal drugs, Mexican cartels are now active in every region of the United States and dominate the drug trade in most areas.21
Often, people addicted to drugs cannot support their habits with their salaries. To afford to buy drugs, many are reduced to prostitution, larceny and fraud or to selling drugs themselves. Estimates vary, but an undeniably significant portion of our street crime stems from our drug policy, not the drugs themselves.
Public health suffers. Since there are no regulations on drug production and distribution, our hospitals are besieged by people suffering not only from drug abuse, but often from unknown, cheaper and more dangerous substances that dealers sometimes cut into their products to maximize profits. And just as amateur distillers harmed themselves and others in accidents related to manufacturing “bathtub gin” under alcohol prohibition, today’s makeshift methamphetamine labs present great dangers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “injection drug use has directly and indirectly accounted for more than one-third (36%) of AIDS cases in the United States,”22 tragedies that could be avoided with safe needle exchange, an effort made far more difficult under prohibition.
Courts are clogged with drug cases; public officials at all levels are deeply corrupted by the enforcement of an increasingly unpopular, unenforceable policy and by the roughly $500 billion the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the United Nations estimate are generated by illegal commerce in drugs every year.23
One obvious result of arresting 1.8 million people a year on drug charges under prohibition is an ongoing squeeze on federal, state and local government budgets.24 Again.
As was the case during the Great Depression, people are saying, “Enough!”

Recent polls show that 67% of police chiefs25 and 76% of the public26 agree that the “war on drugs” is a failure. Thirteen states have legalized medical marijuana despite dire warnings of a floodgate effect from this “loophole” in the prohibition. And in not one of those states did youthful marijuana subsequently increase. Just last month, despite predictably dramatic opposition, voters in Massachusetts overwhelmingly approved a ballot question decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. The warnings of the prohibitionists are increasingly shrill, increasingly desperate, increasingly ignored.

The movement to repeal this prohibition is growing and has the support of a remarkably diverse constituency. What other movement can claim the support of a wide spectrum of progressives and conservatives like Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, William F. Buckley, Noam Chomsky, George Shultz and Barbara Ehrenreich?

Drug prohibition is undeniably entrenched and horrific, but thanks in part to an emerging group of law enforcement professionals who fought on the front lines of the “war on drugs” and who know it’s time for a new direction, it is newly vulnerable.

The case of Joel Giambra, a county executive in Erie County, NY is illustrative. When, in response to the brutal murder/robbery of a nun by a man addicted to crack cocaine, Giambra said that we should consider drug legalization to avoid such horrors, he was demonized in the press. The next week Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) lent its full support for Mr. Giambra at press conferences, on local talk-radio and television and by flooding the newspapers with letters to the editor each time the executive was portrayed negatively in the press. Two weeks later The Buffalo News allowed Mr. Giambra to publish an op-ed in favor of legalization and later published their own article, which suggested, “years from now, they may look at him in the same way we see Susan B. Anthony and other pioneers for women’s rights.”

While LEAP’s credibility played a part, the larger story behind this amazing media turnabout is prohibition’s weakening grip. Other examples abound: The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed resolutions calling for an end to the “war on drugs” and for drug abuse to be treated as a health problem. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Organization for Women and others have also passed supportive resolutions. Newark Mayor Cory Booker and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom have held press conferences to say the “war on drugs” must be stopped because it is destroying their cities.

We are in the early but unmistakable phase of an historic moment in which prohibition will be put on the defensive and revealed as unworkable, inexcusable and expendable.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS

Until federal prohibition in Congress and state prohibition in the 50 state legislatures are repealed, many of the harms detailed in this report will remain unaddressed.

We recognize that the belief that prohibition is the only appropriate means to control the problems of drug abuse has been well entrenched in our political and popular culture for almost 100 years. However, as our national experience with alcohol prohibition in 1932 and 1933 teaches, when a prohibition is widely understood to be a failure, a dramatic change in the economy and political environment can make change in policy much more rapid than anyone anticipated.

Yet, we acknowledge that it may still take some time for the modern repeal movement to reach critical mass. Accordingly, we immediately:

Call on the United States Congress to empanel a blue ribbon commission to do a true accounting of all costs to our nation stemming from this prohibition. A strict cost-benefit analysis would help Congress and the public evaluate the policy’s consequences. This analysis should include, but not be limited to, such indirect costs as lost wages, thwarted community economic development, lost educational opportunities and specific impacts on targeted economic sectors. Congress created the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse in 1970 (known as the Schafer Commission), which issued re-ports in 1972 and 1973 that evaluated our drug policies. President Nixon famously ignored its findings and recommendations, but in light of the current economic crisis, we believe the new administration and Congress will welcome an evidence-based approach to drug control issues.
Call on state legislatures and local governments to carefully review their police, courts and corrections policies and budgets to determine whether the expenditures for prohibition enforcement are the best use of extremely scarce resources. We urge policymakers to consider the real-life impacts of these policy and budget decisions: Should a teacher be laid off in order to pay several months of police officer overtime necessitated by the prosecution of a handful of drug cases? Should a school nurse be laid off in order to incarcerate someone who has lapsed in his or her effort to recover from opioid addiction? Should a recreation center for hundreds of children be closed in order to finance helicopter flights to detect illicit marijuana cultivation?
Support ongoing efforts to reduce incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction through incremental reforms and harm reduction strategies such as the repeal of mandatory minimum sentences, decriminalization of small amounts of drugs, clean needle exchange and all efforts to replace punitive incarceration with proven treatment.
However, until prohibition is repealed and drugs are legalized so they can be effectively regulated, we will have illegal drug money fueling gangs, cartels and terrorists; a deep hole in our public budgets; millions of Americans with criminal records removed from the productive arenas of education and the workplace; lack of respect for the rule of law; vulnerable people afraid to seek help for their addictions…the list is almost endless.

At a moment that is as economically threatening to millions of Americans as the Great Depression, we would do well to learn the lessons that history so clearly and compellingly provides and repeal prohibition, eliminating its numerous unintended consequences.

Again.

ENDNOTES

Crime in the United States. 2007. United States. U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2008.
Lerner, Michael A. Dry Manhattan: Prohibition in New York City. Harvard UP, 2007.
Oulahan, Richard V. “Dry Conflict Acute After 10-Year Test.” New York Times 1 Jan. 1930.
Kyvig, David. Repealing National Prohibition. Kent State UP, 2000.
Ibid.
Vital Statistics. United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2008.
National Drug Control Strategy: FY 2003 Budget Summary. United States. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. 2002.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, op. cit.
Pastore, Ann L., and Kathleen Maguire, eds. “Federal prison population, and number and per-cent sentenced for drug offenses.” Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t657.pdf.
Prisoners in 2006. United States. U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2007.
DEA History Book. United States. U.S. Department of Justice. Drug Enforcement Administration. 2003.
Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2008.
National Drug Control Strategy: Data Supplement. United States. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. 2005.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, op. cit.
Roig-Franzia, Manuel. “Mexico’s Police Chief Is Killed In Brazen Attack by Gunmen.” Washington Post 9 May 2008.
Drug Control: U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit Drugs into the United States Remains High. United States. Government Accountability Office. 2007.
Lacey, Marc. “In Mexico Drug War, Sorting Good Guys From Bad.” New York Times 1 Nov. 2008.
Miller Llana, Sara. “Mexico, U.S. step up drug-war cooperation.” Christian Science Monitor 23 Jan. 2008.
Becker, Andrew. “Border Inspector Accused of Allowing 3,000 Pounds of Cocaine Into U.S. Over 5 Years. New York Times 9 Nov. 2008.
“Abducted Boy Found Alive in Las Vegas.” Associated Press 19 Oct. 2008.
Situation Report: Cities in Which Mexican DTOs Operate Within the United States. United States. U.S. Department of Justice. National Drug Intelligence Center. 2008.
Drug-Associated HIV Transmission Continues in the United States. United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2002.
McCaffrey, Barry. “McCaffrey Urges Global Cooperation Against Drug Trafficking.” El Universal 8 Feb. 2000.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, op. cit.
Drugs and Crime Across America: Police Chiefs Speak Out. Drug Strategies & Police Foundation. 2004.
Zogby International. “Zogby/Inter-American Dialogue Survey: Public Views Clash with U.S. Policy on Cuba, Immigration, and Drugs.” Press release. 2 Oct. 2008.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Dreaming the NEW American Dream

2009-04-04T17:24:52Z

California poets Ava Bird & Rex Butters, and....

Santa Cruz artist Russell Brutsche - Karen Kwiatkowski of Virginia

Protests to stop immigration raids ... and more.
____________________

http://www.newamericandream.net

The New American Dream

What's New?

* Karen Kwiatkowski column
* Ava Bird poetry
* Rex Butters poetry
* Gary Mennie poetry

Columns:
Sherwood Ross — why not shut down a few prisons in the United States as well?
Mickey Z — Americans are cowards, too comfortable, will never-ever-not-in-one-million-years revolt-or-even-bother-to-stand-up — no matter what the rich folks do to them.
Lydia Sems — It's The American Dream that is the problem.

and more from Jack Saunders ...

Resistance:
* Planned civil disobedience in Minnesota to stop raids against immigrants
* Protests at Creech AFB against U.S. drone terroristic activity
*100 days of protest against Guantanamo to culminate

All this, Northern Exposure, The Big Lebowski, Paradise by the Dashboard Lights ... a certificate for free toast ... and more.

Join us.

The New American Dream
Dude.
... because ... Sister Mary Anne told us, "There are no wrong questions, if you don't know the answers."

... from the Dream Team

http://www.newamericandream.net

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Looking for liberty minded people

2009-04-02T13:44:31Z

Hello!

We are a budding ecovillage in the highlands of Mexico.

We are looking for some longer term volunteers to live here in exchange for the work they do.
We need: Kitchen manager, yoga instructor, massage therapist, domestic help, and teachers of Spanish and English.
Our regular volunteers pay a fee to work here, but for these positions we can make other arrangements. We are also open to new residents with compatible values.

After years of work, this forest serves as a retreat space for artists, performers, writers, and other creative and friendly people. It is called the "Bosque Village". Bosque means forest in Spanish.

This place is becoming an ongoing small festival as well as a growing community.

We have a constant stream of volunteers and amazing visitors! Some people come through when they are between jobs, traveling, or to live here for a time and telecommute. Some of our visitors are visiting many communities looking for one to live in.

WEB PAGE: http://bosquevillage.com
NEXT LITTLE FESTIVAL: http://jobutsu.com/cumbreyah

You can also add the Bosque as friends on social networking sites:

* http://www.facebook.com/people/Bosque-Forrest/1326703744
* MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/bosquevillage
* Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebosque/

See you in Mexico!

~La gente en el bosque

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

religion and violence

2009-03-17T03:52:33Z

The power of the Christian Church as a ... political institution has declined ... to near irrelevance ... in most of the developed world.

Contrast to a time when the church ... was the dominant power.

The church can no longer make ... law. Even if it makes law, it has no ... police ... to enforce its law.

Submission to the church is ... voluntary. Submission to the state is ... mandatory.

If you break the State's laws ... the State can punish you ... even put you to ...death.

If you break church law the most the church can ... do is ... kick you out of the church. If they kick you out, you no longer ... contribute any money to them. LOL!

Without the power of ... violence ... to enforce its way, the church sinks into ... irrelevance.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 6 replies

drug decrim

2009-03-17T03:47:11Z

see whole article:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/03/14/portugal/index.html?source=newsletter
Glenn Greenwald
Saturday March 14, 2009 06:19 EDT
The success of drug decriminalization in Portugal

In 2001, Portugal became the only EU-member state to decriminalize drugs, a distinction which continues through to the present. Last year, working with the Cato Institute, I went to that country in order to research the effects of the decriminalization law (which applies to all substances, including cocaine and heroin) and to interview both Portuguese and EU drug policy officials and analysts (the central EU drug policy monitoring agency is, by coincidence, based in Lisbon). Evaluating the policy strictly from an empirical perspective, decriminalization has been an unquestionable success, leading to improvements in virtually every relevant category and enabling Portugal to manage drug-related problems (and drug usage rates) far better than most Western nations that continue to treat adult drug consumption as a criminal offense.

* * *

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

I am filled with ... hate for ...my stepfather

2009-01-28T07:55:31Z

My stepfather tried to molest my little sister so I ...stabbed him in the left eye with a kitchen knife. Two years of reform school

I still hate my ... stepfather. I am filled with .... hate. For. Him.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

norml ideas for change

2008-12-12T10:11:07Z

http://blog.norml.org/2008/12/10/ideas-for-change-legalize-marijuana/

The website change.org is offering folks an opportunity to send an unmistakable message to the incoming administration. By logging onto the website here, visitors can “vote” on whether to “legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana.”
Having gained over 1,800 votes so far, pot legalization is currently the top vote getter in the “criminal justice” category.

UPDATE!!! UPDATE!!!

A few folks have written NORML in the past 24 hours expressing difficulty logging on to the change.org website. If so, try cutting and pasting the following url into your browser:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/legalize_the_medicinal_and_recreational_use_of_marijuana

I’ve also listed instructions in the comments section below to help folks better navigating the site and vote.

According to the website:

The ‘Top 10 Ideas for America’ will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day.

The ‘Top 10 Ideas for America’ will be determined through two rounds of voting. In the first round, ideas will compete against other ideas in the same issue category. The first round will end on December 31, 2008, and the top 3 rated ideas from each category will make it into the second round. The second round of voting will begin on Monday, January 5, and each qualifying idea will compete against the qualifying ideas from all other categories. Second round voting will end on Thursday, January 15.

What happens after voting?

Our work does not end with the voting process or the delivery of the top 10 ideas to the Obama administration on Inauguration Day. That is rather the end of the beginning. Instead of passively hoping the administration accepts each top idea, we will select a formal nonprofit sponsor for each idea to help create a nationwide movement to lobby the administration and Congress to turn the idea into real policy. … We will then build a national campaign to advance each idea in Congress, marshaling the resources of Change.org, MySpace, and our dozens of partner organizations and millions of combined members.

Want to assure that marijuana law reform is one of the “Top 10 Ideas” presented to President-Elect Obama? Then take five minutes to log on to the website and vote.

Please note that change.org is not affiliated with the with the Obama transition team website change.gov. If you have not yet done so, please take a moment today to contact the Office of the President Elect and demand that our next administration engages in a national dialogue on marijuana policy.

Here are three suggested ways that the Obama administration can take immediate, practical steps to reform America’s antiquated and punitive pot laws.

1. President Obama must uphold his campaign promise to cease the federal arrest and prosecution of (state) law-abiding medical cannabis patients and dispensaries by appointing leaders at the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Department of Justice, and the US Attorney General’s office who will respect the will of the voters in the thirteen states that have legalized the physician-supervised use of medicinal marijuana.

2. President Obama should use the power of the bully pulpit to reframe the drug policy debate from one of criminal policy to one of public health. Obama can stimulate this change by appointing directors to the Office of National Drug Control Policy who possess professional backgrounds in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.

3. President Obama should follow up on statements he made earlier in his career in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana by adults by calling for the creation of a bi-partisan Presidential Commission to review the budgetary, social, and health costs associated with federal marijuana prohibition, and to make progressive recommendations for future policy changes.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

stopthedrugwar.org writing campaign

2008-12-11T07:43:04Z

WRITERS: StoptheDrugWar.org is carrying out an ambitious
week-long writing-based campaign dealing with the mainstream
media's coverage of drug issues -- preparatory work is now
underway with the help of volunteers -- and we are seeking to
expand our team of volunteer writers who want to be part of it.
Along with writing skills, volunteers for this project should
have a fairly good understanding of the effects of drug
prohibition -- visit our Site Map page at
http://stopthedrugwar.org/sitemap and scroll down to the
"Consequences of Prohibition" section to get an idea of what we
mean by that. Contact David Borden at borden@drcnet.org or by
replying to a Chronicle email, or by phone at (202) 293-8340
ext. 301, for further information about this very exciting
effort.

For a seven-day period, hopefully in January, we intend to post rewritten versions of every English-language news story about drugs that appears on Google News. The rewriting will not be massive for any given article; in fact in many cases we will only be making slight changes to each sentence. The idea is to make the point about the drug laws being an example of prohibition, like Alcohol Prohibition, and that many of the types of circumstances that are commonly reported on as "drug-related" are really consequences of drug prohibition. "Drug-related shooting" may change to "prohibition-related shooting," for example, "police officers" to "prohibition agents" and so forth. In some cases we will add extra paragraphs to explain things that a simple word change can't fully relate, and we may add in quotes from allies as well.

There will also be types of stories for which we'll have to think how to address prohibition -- e.g., claims that may be inaccurate about the effects of marijuana, for example -- though we do intend to keep the effort focused pretty tightly on prohibition itself, as opposed to the many other ills and injustices and errors in the drug war. (Those many other ills and injustices are extremely important too, but any given campaign needs to have a specific focus to be effective -- perhaps we will do something similar for other aspects of the drug war in future efforts.)

The rationale behind rewriting every drug story during this timeframe, as opposed to merely choosing a representative sample, is three-fold. First, it's a more interesting hook. I believe that more people will take the time to look at what we are doing this way -- a "stunt" sort of. The second reason is that it is a framework for contacting large numbers of reporters, editors, newspaper ombudsmen and others around the country (around the world, really), to let them know that we rewrote their articles, or articles in their papers. This in turn points back to the first reason -- telling a reporter we have rewritten his or her own story is more likely to get their attention than merely saying go look at our web site where we've rewritten a similar story by someone else. Third, we should be able to get our own rewritten copies of articles picked up on Google News itself, which could be seen by a lot of people and further get the attention of reporters when they their own names come up in their Google news alerts.

So, this project is an effort to get the attention of large numbers of reporters who cover drug stories, get them thinking about prohibition and whether they should be talking about prohibition in their own reporting, and making them aware of our web site, newsletter and availability as sources. (Secondarily, we hope to get some media coverage of the campaign itself, though getting very much of it has probably an outside chance.)

Let me know if you are interested in being part of this, and if I so I will put you on the volunteers list. Thanks for expressing interest in volunteering; we are looking forward to working with you.

David Borden, Executive Director

StoptheDrugWar.org

Washington, DC

http://stopthedrugwar.org

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

psychedelic art/literature

2008-11-26T04:24:31Z

If anyone is interested in having a free digital copy of my annotated bibliography of 1,427 items of drug literature, please contact me via tribe or my email address, which is jdyf333 (at) yahoo.com and I will be more than pleased to email you a copy!
(The size of the bibliography is: 916 KB)
If you are interested in viewing the psychedelic art I made during the course of more than 5,000 LSD trips over the past 39 years, please google jdyf333 and follow the link to my Flickr gallery. (Once you are at my Flickr gallery, you can click on my "profile" to read my strange history, access the link to the scanned covers of the books about psychedelics, etc.)...PEACE...

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Remember, remember this 4th of November to VOTE!

2008-11-10T20:46:17Z

Obama '08

We no longer want to hear
the old politics of fear
Won't you please vote for Obama
for us all
We refuse to be divided
by what corporate greed's decided
Won't you please vote for Obama
because you've heard the call
We can change the world
Re-arrange the world
We know we can do better
Working for real solutions
to violence, poverty, pollution
Obama's got the courage and the plan
The will to do what's right
and lead us in our fight
to regain our hope, our nation
-- Yes we can!
We can change the world
Re-arrange the world
All we need's a real leader
With Obama we will stand

Feel free to spread it around. No copyright. I sing it to the old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Chicago" tune.

Peace, and Remember, remember this 4th of November to VOTE!

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 4 replies

JESUS CHRIST+JESU KRISTE+YESHUA HAMASHIACH+JESUS CHRISTUS+JESU KRISTU+ISOUS HRISTOS

2008-10-16T21:43:04Z

JESUS CHRIST+JESU KRISTE+YESHUA HAMASHIACH+JESUS CHRISTUS+JESU KRISTU+ISOUS HRISTOS

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophesy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. REVELATION 1:3

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." REVELATION 11:3

He who testifies to these things says, " Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. REVELATION 22:20-21

+++

Everyone, has the responsibility to find the truth for themselves. What is stated below, must be researched and verified, so that every individual can then decide to accept, or discard it as myth. The only truth is God the Father, the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Read the Bible, pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and our Lord Jesus Christ will not abandon you, but will place the truth in your heart.

+++

We must not try to copy the world, but be different to it, as the example set by our Teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ. Being the same as the world, sharing its base values, being part of the fashion trends, is all part of Satan's system (Sex changes that are taking place ever more frequently and therefore not knowing anymore who is a man or a woman). The Pope of Rome is one of Satan's instruments (the Papists have immense power and wealth, our Lord Jesus Christ was humble and owned nothing). Talmudists/Zionists want to rebuild Solomon's Temple and proclaim their own false king of the world (there is only one King of the Jews and Orthodox Christians and that is our Lord Jesus Christ). Their power base is the U.S.A (Superpower of the world). They contol many governments, banks, newspapers, television stations (the media in general), etc. We must not forget the very elusive and cunning Masonic Lodges which form part of Satan's means to spread anti-Christian and heretic information. Television and video has been one of the most powerful tools of Satan, which has ruined the ethics which sustained our youth and the family unit. With pornography in all its forms, men have been misled and subsequently their women, a whole generation of our youth and their families have been devoured by Satan. We have forgotten about God, the Bible and prayer and have allowed ourselves to go down the road to hell and have fallen into Satan's trap (in other words we are slaves to flesh and our desires). Hedonism is the aim of humanity.

The group that is attempting to rule the world, consists of three member countries, U.S.A, Europe and Japan (3 presidents). Their central control, consists of 32 members (of the 29, 8 are Americans; 9 from Japan; 12 from the European Union (contolled from Belgium/Luxembourg). Head of the 3 member group is Rockefeller (his head quaters is in Rhodes, Greece; his specific influence is in the U.S.A and E.U). Whoever does not obey the orders of this group are murdered. Death is the penalty for disobedience. Another Satanic "club" is called, Bildeberg. They can destroy any government and put a new one together again. They can make a country vanish and create a new one too. 200 members, which include intelligence agencies (CIA; BIA; BND (Ger.); SIB (Ital.); SPELA (Fra.)). There are members who are involved with NATO and hold important positions in the US administration, etc. They hold an extremely harsh stance against the East, especially with Russia because of its Christian Orthodox heritage. They exterminate/demolish any opposition.

An enemy going back thousands of years is head quatered in China (the Himalayas/Tibet). The Seljuks come from that region, who are the ancestors of the Turks, who attacked and oppressed Christian Orthodoxy in Asia Minor and Greece. The Turks/Jews have tried many times to wipe out the Greeks and Christian Orthodoxy. They call the Greeks and Christian Orthodoxy, the people of the "Blue Trigramaton" (which is refering to the Holy Light that emenates from our Lord Jesus Christ's tomb). The roots of martial arts is that region spoken of above. Martial arts are Satanic and anti-Christian and yet has our youth spellbound under the innocent guise of sport/fitness. In the Himalayas there is a glass pyramid (Sambala), it has many entrances. This is where the White Brotherhood is based. It's aim is to destroy all the world's religions except its own. It has more power than the U.S.A. It has more resources at its disposal than all the governments in the world. It has infiltrated and controls many governments and religions (Roman Catholics, Protestants and Judaism). The First and Second World Wars were masterminded by them. They are going to start the Third World War too. The White Brotherhood works with the Bildeberg club and all the others. They are assisted by the Zionists. They created Hitler and introduced the Swastika (broken cross, that is what it means). Hirohito of Japan was responsible for a massive bloodbath, but he was not punished like the others, after the Second World War because he was a member of the world ruling 3 member group mentioned above. Grey Wolves (Turkish Muslims), are connected to the White Brotherhood. Only Grey Wolves members may rule Turkey. They must always mantain a harsh stance against Greece/Christian Orthodoxy (Turgut Ozal, was exterminated for his softer stance).

The White Brotherhood want to destroy the followers of Jesus Christ. They call His followers, bipods or two-legged ones. Their methods are many: thirst, hunger on a worldwide scale. All plants and forests must be destroyed. Wars, so as to ensure maximum slaughter. They refer to humanity as a chicken breeding farm. They destroy humanity with drugs; they have contaminated our drinking water (it has been doctored with medication); our food is also contaminated and our clothes too from the fancy washing powders that we use (that is why everyone is getting ill and they don't know why). Thirst on a worldwide scale, for eg.. Euphrates to be dried up because of Turkey, which will lead to a confrontation with Iran/Syria. Hunger, for eg., Russia was the world's wheat provider, even the U.S.A relied on her. The White Brotherhood ensured that Russia would starve. In Moscow young women give themselves for a plate of food. Homosexuality, the U.S.A being its banner. One can go on and on, but there will be no end then. It is devestating. But do not despair, if you are a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ because He has defeated Satan and the world.

(This is a summarized version and a translation of a tape recording in Greek, from a Greek Orthodox perspective ofcourse, given to me by a Monk at Calvary/Golgotha in Jerusalem, Christmas, 2001. I cannot divulge any names, nor my own because this is a very dangerous subject. You will have to verify the truthfullness of the matter yourself. Please excuse my errors of spelling or other. May God forgive me if I am wrong about any of this, but I do it with honest intentions. God bless you. From a humble follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

+++

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." JOHN 16:33

+++

"LORD JESUS CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON ME."

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 18 replies

A must see film!

2008-10-05T07:18:24Z

I just saw it--it's great!

http://www.religulousmovie.net/

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Tyranny on Display at the Republican Convention

2008-09-28T03:36:29Z

see whole article:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080908_tyranny_on_display_at_the_republican_convention/

Tyranny on Display at the Republican Convention

By Chris Hedges

St. Paul is a window into our future. It is a future where, as one protester told me by phone, “people have been pepper-gassed, thrown on the ground by police who had drawn their weapons, had their documents seized and their tattoos photographed before being taken away to jail.” It is a future where illegal house raids are carried out. It is a future where vans containing heavily armed paramilitary units circle and film protesters. It is a future where, as the protester said, “people have been pulled from cars because their license plates were on a database and handcuffed, thrown in the back of a squad car and then watched as their vehicles were ransacked and their personal possessions from computers to literature seized.” It is a future where constitutional rights mean nothing and where lawful dissent is branded a form of terrorism.
***

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Scientology.

2008-08-26T08:55:16Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erbXsAA5Q9o

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

stopthedrugwar.org

2008-08-24T02:40:23Z

http://stopthedrugwar.org/reader_blogs/2008/aug/22/book_review_the_chemical_muse

The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization by D. C.A. Hillman, Ph.D. (2008, St. Martin’s Press)

Dr. Hillman’s Chemical Muse obliterates contemporary drug prohibitionist nonsense by taking the reader on a magical mystery tour to ancient Athens and Rome. There Hillman reveals that recreational drug-taking was the norm for the greatest thinkers of Western civilization.

Hillman exposes a history that until now has been kept under tight wraps. Traditional Classical scholars have been too prudish, too puritanical, or too conscious of modern society’s stigma toward drug users to translate the precise contents of certain ancient Greek and Latin texts into modern languages. With Hillman’s new book, things change.

The written record reveals that the intellectual giants, along with nearly everyone else of the period, used common, not-so-common, and some really strange herbal concoctions to light up their neurocircuits and brain cells like some colossal shopping mall Christmas tree.

Yes, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Pythagoras, Democritus, Galen, Pliny, and other luminaries and humanitarians, it turns out, were all major druggies. Potheads. Walking, talking pharmacopeias. The collective brain stimulus achieved by ingesting recreational drugs in Athens coincided with their creation or furtherance of medical science, democracy, the atomic theory, mathematics, formal logic, philosophy, poetry, art, architecture and the theater.

In one example [Hillman, p. 177], we find Plato writing in Phaedrus about drug-induced inspirations:

In reality, the greatest of blessings come to us through mania [effects of psychotropic drugs or madness] when it is sent as a gift from the gods.

And later:

And a third kind of possession and madness comes from the Muses. This takes hold upon a gentle and pure soul, arouses it and inspires it to songs and other poetry, and thus by adorning countless deeds of the ancients educates later generations. But he who without divine madness comes to the doors of the Muses, confident that he will be a good poet by art, meets with no success, and the poetry of the sane man vanishes into nothingness before that of the inspired madmen.

The peaceful and favorable coexistence of recreational drug users together with a healthy and productive society is a vision that modern drug warriors condemn as being wholly unrealistic and potentially disastrous. The Classics tell us that nothing could be less true. The wisdom of the sages provides solid evidence that Athenian and Roman cultures integrated recreational drug use into their cultures with minimal blowback.

No hysterical complaints about drug use and its consequences can be found in the ancient record. No evidence exists of efforts to change a pro-drug culture into one of prohibition-plus-persecution. Rather, prohibition schemes would be put on hold until the 4th-century when some bizarre social priorities emerged in Christian-era Rome.

For drug use to be favorably implicated in the dawn of Western civilization means that a safe and effective system of legal distribution of recreational drugs is not only achievable, but is also likely to be beneficial. Industrialized societies with economies partially based on the creative impulses of their individual citizens could not help but profit. In the U.S., estimates are that about 40-percent of the economy is driven by good old Yankee innovation, and it is common knowledge that recreational drugs play an active role in all types of creativity.

With kudos to Dr. Hillman for yanking the sheets off the Classics, a peaceful coexistence between drug users and the opposition culture has just moved a few degrees closer to the higher realms of reason and justice.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/548/mexico_PRD_legalization

from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #548, 8/22/08

Mexico's PRD May Call for Legalization

According to Mexican press reports this week, Mexico's Partido Revolucionario Democratico (PRD -- Democratic Revolutionary Party) is preparing to consider legalization of the drug trade as a response to the wave of narco-violence that has swept the country in the last year and a half. Around 5,000 people have been killed in prohibition-related violence since President Felipe Calderon escalated Mexico's long-running drug war by enlisting the military in the fight in December 2006.

PRD presidential candidate Andre Manuel Lopez Obrador came within a handful of votes of winning the presidency in 2006, and the party remains the second strongest political force in the country, behind the ruling Partido de Accion Nacional (PAN -- National Action Party). But because of party infighting since that election, the PRD may drop into third place after this year's midterm elections, behind both the PAN and the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI -- Revolutionary Institutional Party).

According to the Mexico City newspaper El Universal, the PRD's national council is calling on the party's legislators to begin discussing legalization as part of a "grand national accord" to deal with violence and insecurity in the country. The proposal came from the PRD's New Left faction, led by Jesus Zembrano, and was approved unanimously by the national council.

In an interview with Mexico's Televisa TV network, the PRD coordinator in the lower house, Javier Gonzalez Garza, upped the ante, saying legalization should be considered not only in Mexico, but also in the US. "We can't continue thinking that we are going to combat the problem of drug trafficking without more radical measures, and one of them has to be the legalization of drugs in the United States," he said. "After the United States will we continue with Mexico? Of course, or both at the same time... This war, the way it is outlined, is going to be lost, we're all going to lose, it makes no sense and there need to be some changes."

Some 25,000 Mexican army troops are fighting drug traffickers along the border and in a number of major cities and drug-growing areas. Many observers blame the spike in violence -- more people have been killed already this year than in all of last year -- on the aggressive stance of the Calderon government. But the US government is pleased; it recently passed a $1.4 billion, three-year anti-drug assistance package for Mexico, most of which will go to beefing up military and police capabilities.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

What matters to the dying?

2008-08-10T20:49:01Z

The Threshold Project is a response to the unmet needs of people as they attempt to complete living. With educational outreach to caregivers and direct service to those approaching their death, we intend to change cultural paradigms.

Please visit our website and link it to yours as we establish our internet presence.
www.thresholdproject.org
You are enthusiastically invited to participate and support our rapid and exciting evolution as a nonprofit organization.

With greatest respect,

Michael D. Fratkin, MD
Program Director
michael@thresholdproject.org

Laura Patterson
Program Coordinator
laura@thresholdproject.org

The Threshold Project
1062 G Street, Suite G
Arcata, CA 95521
707-825-0270

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

mj decrim bill in Congress

2008-08-02T21:13:27Z

HR 5843, entitled An Act To Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults
From NORML.ORG:

Press Advisory: Marijuana Decriminalization Bill in Congress

Monday, July 28, 2008

WHAT:
Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and other Congressional cosponsors will convene a press conference to announce the introduction of legislation to remove federal penalties for personal marijuana use, and take questions from the media.

HR 5843, entitled An Act To Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults, would eliminate federal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana, and for the not-for-profit transfer of up to one ounce of marijuana.

This proposal reflects the basic recommendations of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse (aka the Shafer Commission) in their groundbreaking report to Congress in 1972 entitled Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding.

This is the first federal marijuana decriminalization bill to be introduced in Congress since 1978, and reflects the changing public attitudes that no longer support treating responsible marijuana smokers like criminals. According to a nationwide Time/CNN poll, three out of four Americans now favor a fine only, no jail, for adults who possess or use small amounts of marijuana.

Representatives from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana LAWS (NORML), the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) will also participate in this press conference.

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 10:00am.

WHERE:
Room 2220 Rayburn House Office Building

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 202-483-5500:
Ask for NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup; keith@norml.org

~@~

The complete text of this legislation read:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no penalty may be imposed under an Act of Congress for the possession of marijuana for personal use, or for the not-for-profit transfer between adults of marijuana for personal use. For the purposes of this section, possession of 100 grams or less of marijuana shall be presumed to be for personal use, as shall the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana, except that the civil penalty provided in section 405 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844a) may be imposed for the public use of marijuana if the amount of the penalty does not exceed $100.
Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney
Cosponsors: Rep Baldwin, Tammy, Rep Blumenauer, Earl , Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy, Rep Lee, Barbara , Rep Lofgren, Zoe, Rep McDermott, Jim, Rep Paul, Ron

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 6 replies

apocalypse

2008-08-02T05:41:44Z

So You Say You Want a Revelation?

Disappointed mystic exile John,
eager to besiege his jailors
rendering unto Caesar
tales of woe and destruction
of Biblical proportion:
"The burning bush told me. I swear it's true."
Beware the ides, the armies of Megiddo,
the smoke and mirrors,
the mushroom clouds
invading our memories.
"I send you these frantic missives,
Oh my Christian soldiers.
Do not stray from Yahweh.
Look what He has done to His
soul-begotten Son,
in a fit of divinity."
I believe Jesus made it his mission,
gave every effort and sacrifice,
to save his mortal family
from mad jealous wrath of Dad.
His words clear, actions legend.
So sad that sheep easily forget,
falling under the evil eye
of any would-be butcher
figuring to grow strong on
the currency of blood.
There are beasts, and Beasts
numbering in legions.
Days end, begin, end again.
Murdering souls in the Name
of the Redeemer. Oh, the Rapture!
Any sane Judgment would leave us
drowning in bitter tears.
I am begging:
Open your eyes, minds, hearts.
Open and learn.
True revelation awaits in every leaf and vein,
in every newborn cry
revealing pain
is meant to be a message
of active compassion,
to nurture a future
kinder than the past.

(c) March 17, 2008 Laurie Corzett/libramoon

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

20 Astral Keys to Gates of Universal Consciousness

2008-06-22T18:37:27Z

Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist who developed the field of analytical psychology and introduced the concept of archetypes of consciousness being "innate universal psychic dispositions that form the substrate from which the basic themes of human life emerge. Being universal and innate, their influence can be detected in the form of myths, symbols, rituals and instincts of human beings. Archetypes are components of the collective unconscious and serve to organize, direct and inform human thought and behaviour. ...archetypes heavily influence the human life cycle, propelling a neurologically hard-wired sequence which he called the stages of life. Each stage is mediated through a new set of archetypal imperatives which seek fulfillment in action."[1]

Centuries before Jung, the Maya introduced the very similar concept of Archetypes of Divine Consciousness. (According to the Maya, there are 20 of them.) Likewise, these Archetypes form the substrate from which individual Divine Consciousness emerges. Also being components of the collective unconscious, the Maya-identified Archetypes organize, direct and engender Divine thought and behavior in the human experience, in stages, over the course of days, months, years, ...millennia. Hard wired into the binary code of DNA and the human brain, these Archetypes are mediated through the permutations of an universal, binary, object oriented Code evident in and galactically broadcast by harmonic star cycles. The Maya perceived the astral Nature of the Code and embodied It in a "lunar calendar." Regarded as their Sacred Calendar, they call it the "Tzolkin." The Tzolkin enables them to track the cycles, the individual stages of the cycles [i.e. days] and the progressive effects of those intermeshed stages in order to further enable them to live in conscious alignment and synchronicity with the 20 Archetypes. According to the Maya, living in such alignment and synchronicity activates the inherent Divine Consciousness latent within the individual consciousness. Thus activated, the Divine Unconscious within can be consciously harnessed and channeled for communlal and personal well being.

Being both harmonic and binary in Nature, the Tzolkin's Code has been digitized and expressed in sound. As the stuff of our bodies comes from starlight, the acoustic expressions (of the Code's objects relative to the individual Archetypes) directly facilitate an exclusively positive rewiring of the brain, aligning and synchronizing its synapses with the dynamics of the respective Archetypes, and having a sympathetic effect advancing the activation of analogous higher functions of DNA. (Rather than needing to track the individual harmonic stages of the Archetypes as they naturally occur staggered over the course of months and larger spans of Time, as Maya clerics have done for centuries, the Archetypes' entire harmonic sequences can be heard in seconds.) Each of the Archetypes has been individually recorded (in great for meditation lengths) and embodied in "The Mayan Book of Wisdom" (a cognitive/consciousness enhancement software product from DarkMother.com).

On this Summer Solstice weekend, in the interest of fostering the planetary increase of Light, you can download an abridged version of The Mayan Book of Wisdom containing 3:00.00 excerpts of the full length (13:00.00) expressions of the 20 Archetypes. They're for you - Download them, experience them, use them; enjoy them.

http://www.darkmother.com/mbow/mbow-demopack.exe

For more information on the harmonic nature of the Tzolkin, visit and peruse DarkMother.com. (These Archetypes are fundamental components of all the complex Tzolkin acoustic translations embodied in company's "Ascension" series.)

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

bored with the atom thing?

2008-06-07T20:13:31Z

anyone else?

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

The Mayan Sacred Calendar and Solar Wind

2008-06-02T11:11:04Z

The Mayan Sacred Calendar (the Tzolkin) is said to be a graphic representation of a Logic transmitted by star harmonics that unlock doors of Universal Consciousness and interdimensional reality. If so, it ought to sound something like solar wind, right. Having translated the Tzolkin into sound, we offer you a comparison between that and actual NASA recorded solar wind.

When the Tzolkin's harmonic Logic is sequenced in the sonic register and played back at high speed, it sounds very much like solar wind recorded by the Voyager spacecraft, also played back at high speed. The primary dif being the Tzolkin is composed of only 13 harmonics and the solar wind has them all.

Check it out:
http://www.darkmother.com/SolarwindTzolkinComparison

Enjoy! ;)

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Depression on PBS

2008-05-30T02:58:05Z

Have you seen the documentary on Depression currently being aired on PBS? I watched last night and was appalled. Their first line of defense against cognitive/behavioral issues was these dangerous drugs, which they admitted they don't really understand but just experiment patient by patient taking advantage of confusion and misery. They even touted electroshock. Yet, when we saw the results in the lives of the people whose stories they were following, the best result was for a young black man who refused to take drugs and transformed his life by engaging with an older woman activist and working for a community support group, along with talk therapy to work out his early life traumas and resultant ptsd. The white well-off parents of depressed teens talked about how they hated to send their kids away for treatment and now the kids are back home and doing better on daily drug cocktails, but you can see what was destroying these kids was lack of intimacy in their lives so they always felt they had to play a role to be acceptable. Nothing at all was mentioned about complementary or alternative therapies, such as expressive therapies, though it was pointed out that regular exercise helps keep depression at bay. What they did keep emphasizing: "This is a disease and therefore treatable." I may have it wrong, but I didn't know there was treatement for every disease, even postulating these basically faulty software issues to be "disease", but I digress. Of course, the major point was that poppa Psychiatric Association knows best, and what we know is you gotta take your medicines, no matter what the ill-effects, because we have more medicines for those.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 9 replies

Turning of the Tide - WGFT

2008-05-29T17:36:48Z

http://www.worldgathering.net/news24.html

Turning of the tide …
By Matthew,
Warrior-Poet from the Isle of Man, UK

We say we have it tough
But we always have enough
We say we are trying but the children are still dying
We read the news - got to get our daily blues... ohhhh

But we are ready
Ready for tomorrow
We got each other
From me you can borrow
They say you can never change a leopards spots
But they can’t see how we rearrange the dots

We are the power in everyone
We are the dance of the moon and the sun
We are the hope that will never hide
We are the turning of the tide

We will look to the stars and we will see the light
WE are powerful because we know what is right
We are ready
Ready for tomorrow
Sinking the ships of jealousy and sorrow

We are the power in everyone
We are the celestial dance of the moon and sun
We are the hope that refuses to hide
We are the turning of the tide

In your eyes a vision
In my heart a fire
We will unite our powers
To expose the Liar

We will not swallow any more excuses
We will not be party to your war on humanity
We have heard all your delusions
We are sated with your profanity...Liar

We are the power in everyone
We are the celestial dance of the moon and sun
We are the hope that refuses to hide
We are the turning of the tide

http://www.worldgathering.net/news24.html

---------

WORLD GATHERING FOR TRUTH
http://www.worldgathering.net

Subscribe to WGFT Newsletter at Google:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

Guide and index to all resources at WGFT website:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html

WORLD-ACTION: http://www.worldgathering.net/world

STOP CHEMTRAILS: http://www.worldgathering.net/stop

INSPIRING TIMES: http://www.worldgathering.net/times

WORDS WAKEN WORLD: http://www.worldgathering.net/words

WINDS OF TRUTH: http://www.worldgathering.net/winds

CELTIC ISLAND: http://www.worldgathering.net/celtic

WORLD-ACTION 2: http://www.worldgathering.net/world2

Slideshow Videos:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html#video

Sounds and Music:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html#audio

Spacecraft in Scotland:
http://www.worldgathering.net/scotland

"We must do what we conceive to be the right thing and not
bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we will be
successful. Because if we don’t do the right thing, we will be
doing the wrong thing and we will just be a part of the disease
and not a part of the cure." - E F Schumacher

Subscribe to WGFT Newsletter at Google:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

The Rainbow Dream Vision: This prophecy is a dream
and vision that is a potential reality for mankind. It is not
an ultimatum. But it is ours to behold and to create
if we only dare to dream it together.

Central American Mayan Elder: "Human beings must
come together in support of life. At present, each person
and group is going his or her own way. There is hope
if people can come together and unite."

World Gathering For Truth
http://www.worldgathering.net

Please send to friends and contacts and groups

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom

2008-05-29T17:35:04Z

If you like this vision, please copy it and send to friends. Thanks.

~~~~~~~~~

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom ~ 1993-2012
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope
Intertribal Medicine Societies of Turtle Island
The Twenty Count: 1993-2012

Make copies of the Rainbow prophecy, and give or send them to people anywhere on the planet. Then let them be guided by their hearts to do the same until all planetary citizens are brought to life in the Rainbow dream, so that we may dream and work together for true peace. Love, Thunder Woman

Introduction by Aleran
Throughout the ages humanity has sought out the prophecies of the spiritually gifted to instil a clear hope and vision into life. During this time many prophecies come to us trying to lead us in many different directions.
Some prophecy points to disaster, hopelessness and the annihilation of mankind. But other prophecies create a vision of joyful transformation through quantum leaps into love and light.
As things stand now, the human race is dreaming a hell.
But as individuals and as a collective humanity it is our potential to dream of paradise and to create the kingdom of heaven on our Mother Earth.
Could it be that the pain in our hearts caused by the hell we have created will spur us on into visions and creations of a world formed in love?
It is my prayer and dream, along with a multitude of others who have taught me to dream the Rainbow dream, that each and every one of you learn to dream both while awake and sleeping, the dream of unity and love through divine transformation.
This prophecy on the following pages is a dream and vision that is a potential reality for mankind. It is not an ultimatum. But it is ours to behold and to create if we only dare to dream it together.

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Turtle Island
Prophecies of The Native Americans
1993-2012

PART ONE ~
The distribution and giving back to humanity of the Twenty Count.
In the Turtle Island lore we say it is the time of finding one’s path with heart.
The time of seeking perfection, growth and development.
Most importantly the time of trust and innocence, when mythologies of the world are revealing secrets.

PART TWO ~
The critical time. The time of the animal. The time of Tuwalananie, the dark force.
The reason for this is that seeds of light have been planted and we are starting to grow and the teachings are starting to come out and all those ones who have taught partial truths, who have taught deliberate lies in history, are going to be threatened by the awakening of the Rainbow people because the Rainbow people exist in every country, in every nation, in every land.
The Dark Forces will be threatened and they will use their power and their power exists in technology. We are going to see new technology appearing which will be a tremendous threat to the survival of humanity.
We must exert our influence by gathering together and sharing our ideas and plans for alternative power and for world peace. If we put a double amount of energy with what we are for, we can change it. We can change it.

PART THREE ~
The time of human to human communication.
The time the human family finally starts to become human.
There will be more information brought out into open format than has ever been seen on this planet.
We will re-establish contact in a very knowledgeable way with our ancestors from the stars.
So mark that down because it will happen. The first contact will be with the Pleiades and will be totally acknowledged and will be known to all the world powers. The second contact will be with Sirius.

PART FOUR ~
When truth seekers begin to open the veil of the crack between the worlds, we will see our memory circles.
Many of the leaders who are trying to keep us locked in the past, will not function today, will fall.
Many teachers and wise people will be seen for who they are and they will be the farmers, the labourers and the gas station attendants because the tagashala will be fully awakened.
People will begin to link up with other people in gathering together circles.
Many of these will be the so-called 'common people' and not the teachers you see up there now.

PART FIVE ~
The various winged serpent wheels will begin to turn, to dance once again and when they do the rainbow lights will be seen in dreams all over the world and these rainbow light dreams will help awaken the rest of humanity.
We will sit in a new circle of law.
All civil and social laws will have to be in conformity with natural laws or the people will not accept them and they will have the enlightenment necessary to reject those laws.
Science will once again become metaphysics. They will discover four laws that will help them jump to universal law and transcend the time-space continuum which is the limitation of the age and once again we will begin to take our power and to work with rules and laws that are cosmic laws.

PART SIX ~
We will once again see the way to continue a new dream.
We will be given the road map back to the stars and we will see the star people come out of the illusion of their two-legged form and into their actual great sleeper-dreamer form.
A powerful time approaches humanity and its really hard for me to talk about it.
I am a great dreamer but I don’t know if I dream that large.
We will see a real shift in planetary consciousness.
Many of the enemies of the humans will begin to drop away.
We will totally gain the light of the great light wheel.
There will be one humanity, one planet composed of all the different ways of dancing in complete harmony in the great gathering together circle.
All the seeds will be planted.
The Earth will have its true reality formed.
It will join the sisterhood of planets, the daughters of Copperwoman and it will create within itself all forms of all things in harmony with the everything.
We will see a whole new way of perfection.
There will be plants on this grandmother earth that will give life and sustenance as never before seen.
Starvation on the earth, all those things will be gone. There will be total balance and harmony.

PART SEVEN ~
The new race of humans will begin to design their new reality of life on this planet as they intended it to be when they first came here from the stars.
We will begin to establish this planet and use the collective consciousness to hold the power of this space in harmony with the Great Circle of Twelve and all the planets. There is a whole lot I don’t even know. There is more that I am not supposed to talk about yet.
The dream will be actualised and this planet will hold its space in the great council of planets and become a part of the universal enlightened sisterhood and brotherhood of humanity and keepers of the light circles. It's happened on many planets and it's expected to happen on a lot of other planets.
There will be a moment when the population will be 'the' Population, and something great will happen.
This planet will have its design of energy movement guided by all of humanity living here.

The Great Spirit will leave its seed and the egg of everything here on this planet and it will create itself 20 times over at the speed of light and this prophecy ends as I have been given it by the Grandmothers that I share with you now.

~~~~~~~~~

Put a double amount of energy with what we are for. We can change it.

Make copies of the Rainbow prophecy, and give or send them to people anywhere on the planet. Then let them be guided by their hearts to do the same until all planetary citizens are brought to life in the Rainbow dream, so that we may dream and work together for true peace. Love, Thunder Woman

http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Background information ~ The Greatest Vision Ever Seen

~ The Greatest Vision Ever Seen ~
~ The Rainbow Dream of Freedom ~

http://worldgathering.net/greatest.html

The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom ~ 1993-2012
Intertribal Medicine Societies of Turtle Island
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

RDV extract: ~ A powerful time approaches humanity and its really hard for me to talk about it. ~ We will see a real shift in planetary consciousness. ~ The Earth will have its true reality formed. ~ We will see a whole new way of perfection. ~ Starvation on the earth, all those things will be gone. ~

~ VISION of FREEDOM ~

I hope many people will send the Vision of Freedom to friends, groups, etc.

I have been involved with the Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope and Freedom since 1984. In that year, three musicians and healers came into by one-man printing and publishing office, and said, "You really must look at this." They seemed a little (funny how life is at times) like the three wise men bringing gifts. Two days later I was distributing copies at a conference, and like me, people were amazed and astonished.

That's when my life started to be 'larger than life'.
And, in 1987, I went to visit the Hopi in Arizona, North America.

As I drove in from the west, an older man sitting by the roadside waved down my car... later, it felt to me that I was expected. He took me to meet Qwa David Monongye, and in the evening I was taken to a ceremony in the kiva. A dozen or more men descended from a ladder in the roof, and formed up in an arc of a circle.

They faced one direction, and started a slow foot-shuffling dance. Then fairly suddenly, domino-effect, turned one-by-one 180 degrees to face the other direction. At that point I very nearly fell off my chair ... something had hit me. A year or more later, thinking about it, the realisation seemed to be: 'We can change the direction the world is going in. It is possible.'

I drove off, eastwards, along the Hopi mesas to find somewhere to park up, and sleep the night. In the morning I got out of the car, and was surprised to see the face of the large rock only feet from the car had a carving on it. This was the Hopi's 'Prophecy Stone', and it shows people moving in a direction, and the path splitting into two. One path goes nowhere, it fades out. But the other path goes on, and corn symbols by the path indicate that this route leads to life and prosperity.

Many other unusual and significant things occurred out there in this ancient place where it feels like time had stopped. Indeed, after visiting the oldest township on the Hopi mesas ~ a tall, sharp-ended mesa, rather like a ship of the desert ~ my watch stopped, and never worked again. There is much more that happened.

In 1986 ~ the year before my first visit to the Hopi ~ I was within sixty feet of three disc craft, for around 25 minutes. This too, was like events were coming together to inform me of something significant, something much bigger than myself. In 1993, with friends, we were very close to craft in the area of the crop patterns of mid southern England on several occasions.

Since 1993, on most days when I first step out of doors I frequently see one or more flashes in the sky, seemingly from a source fairly close, and at a lowish elevation. I have always taken the flashes to indicate the locations of disc craft which are 'parked up' and are stationary. In 2007, possibly because I was loaned a camera with an unusual infra-red setting, many craft and aerial objects started to appear in my general scenic photographs. Most images are archived here: http://worldgathering.net/scotland

(A) The Rainbow Dream Vision says: "We can change it (the direction the world is going). If we put a DOUBLE AMOUNT of effort into what we are for."

(B) The Hopi Nation has a prophecy stone which predicts the world will come to a time of choice. And if we choose the good direction, we can go on into a good life.

(C) The craft appearing all over the world, seem to be waiting and watching. To see if we can figure things out. To see if we can: 'Seize The Day'.

The writing is on the wall, and it says: 'We CAN change direction.'

Please send the Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope and Freedom to your friends. And let's make a stand for what we really believe in. Put a DOUBLE amount of effort and energy into what you believe is important.

Don't feel disheartened. It looks like there are some unexpected, good moves to happen yet: "There is a whole lot I don’t even know. There is more that I am not supposed to talk about yet."

Text of The Rainbow Dream Vision of Freedom:
http://worldgathering.net/vision.html

Michael Irving
World-Action and The Big World Gathering
Scotland, United Kingdom ~ http://www.worldgathering.net

http://worldgathering.net/greatest.html

~~~~~~~~~

If you like this vision, please copy it and send to friends. Thanks.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Bob Barr, Libertarian Candidate

2008-05-26T08:00:00Z

So ex-Republican Congressman Bob Barr has become the Libertarian Presidential Candidate for 2008. He claims he split with the Republicans over the Iraq conflict, and that now that he has been taken in to the warm bosom of the Libertarian Party, he has seen the light and repudiated laws he once helped to pass, such as the US PATRIOT ACT, and the Defense of Marriage Act.

I can see that the Libs are non-foolishly taking the chance to get some big name recognition. Personally, I would have preferred Steve Kubby, to get the mmj issue front and center. You know all those sick pot-smokers in prison can't be helping the economy or the cause of social justice.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Rumor???

2008-04-30T15:42:03Z

A few rumors running around the intertubes today that Mr. Hoffman has passed away... No idea if it's true.

Nobody gets to leave this planet alive and 102 is a real good run... here's to hoping that if he's in this world or the next he's happy....

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

A dilema in our Glorious Times:

2008-03-31T06:40:39Z

"Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy, then gives them drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science fiction? It's already happening."
A mad man

Though, he makes a valid point. The vast majority of the people are indeed despondent, or at least extremely dissatisfied with their place in the great society. Maintaining the status quo enduces much disdain and dolor; however in order to be a functioanl cog in the machine you must treat the symptoms rather than the problem, since trating the problem would result in making some changes, and the majority are not ready for this. That and the powers that be would stop at nothing to diminish it...

I suppose every system is flawed, though to me the most essential aspect of the American dream was self reliance. Which is a concept that's cold and dead in these glorious times....

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

The Human Enlightenment Project

2008-03-20T02:56:08Z

~~~ A Tale of Awakening ~~~
The Veil is being lifted at http://wWw.POMOWORLD.com

The Human Enlightenment Project is an infant social network, launched just in September, that is connecting free minds towards the new era of total truth, love, and acceptance. Join us in the movement and enjoy all the mind-expanding media and information you will come across at PomoWorld!

Our mission is to fully represent, connect, and enlighten all kinds of people, while simultaneously working to break down the labels with which society defines and divides them.

The Human Enlightenment Project: A Tale of Awakening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trr96yKnu8Q

It All Begins With Choice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFGlfCm85Ho

The Veil is Being Lifted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MPYlQG_XLM

Pomosexuality and the Death of the Label
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXxODfmU_iU

Join the Movement!
http://wWw.POMOWORLD.com
Free your mind, and the rest will follow.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Looking for an Earth Woman Friendly community?

2008-03-10T23:09:06Z

There is a Meeting of the Kindred Spirits coming up March 29th! And
we do need to see some more Positive well integrated Female Energy in
this group who can work closely with other free thinkers.

http://edenvillage.net/18.htm

We are still looking to organize a group of volunteers to
help out some good folks one day out of the week, with some
organic gardening and we still do need someone to take Minutes
at the next meeting.

It would be possible, I would think, if there is a single female or
two out there who is cool about living closer to the Earth then
I may be able to provide a place for you to live, for
maybe 6 months out of the year up where I live in Northern
California.

If you can simply come to our next meeting on March 29th. - T

http://edenvillage.net/18.htm

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Conspiracy History compilation DVDs torrents

2008-03-07T09:43:24Z

**************************************************

Greetings to all my relations.

This is the last step of our project History Watch. If History is
defined and known by the texts, we can now add to this definition the
recorded events of the filmed archives. Animated images are harder to
deny than printed words. Our objective is to spread out freely some of
the little broadcast, even hidden informations about our collective
History.

We put online a collection of 391 documentaries and other selected and
recut videos, to offer to a wide public the best of the infos
available on the net in english and in french. If you are interested,
you have the time, the right equipment and connection, all you have to
do is open the joint document and decompress it if needed (but normaly
your system should do it automaticaly). You'll find therein nine links
that will open the torrents for the nine DVDs we compiled (around 4.6
Gig each, for a total of a little over 41 G, being over 100 hours of
videos).

Otherwise, you can go directly to btjunkie.com and search for these titles.

11 Septembre 2001 - 9-11
Bush family & friends
Capitalist & Communist regimes
Capitalist conspiracy
Mind Kontrol - Secret Programs
New World Order - Secret Societies
Secret services - cover up - covert ops
Secret weapons - UFO
Terrorism Theories propaganda

Torrents are a system of peer to peer data transfer. The more people
download a torrent, the faster it spreads and the longer it stays on
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download uTorrent on utorrent.com. If you want to participate in
facilitating the diffusion of these infos about our collective
History, download these torrents on as many computers as possible,
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posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

kids on drugs

2008-02-17T22:20:27Z

any composers want to co-create an anthem?

Kids on Drugs
(a walk on the child's side)

Janey just wants to be good,
to do as we all know she should,
to glow in our smiles and hugs.
And we try to fix her with drugs.

Johnny can't think and move well,
living in his chemical haze hell.
His outbursts caused such consternation;
we must keep him on his medication.

Children must be bound by rules.
We can't afford disruption in our schools,
or real help to sort out what's wrong,
or room for free expressive dance and song.

Maggie died so quietly, so young
her life unlived, her brilliant song unsung.
All the drugs, taunts, disappointed sighs
overwhelmed her instinct to survive.

(c) January 13, 2008 Laurie Corzett/libramoon

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 15 replies

bad science and alternate projects

2008-02-02T14:54:12Z

read whole article:

http://www.badscience.net/?p=607

Washing the numbers, selling the model
January 26th, 2008 by Ben Goldacre in neurostuff, regulating research, medicalisation, adverts, bad science |

* * *

Over the past few decades, we have been subjected to a relentless medicalisation of everyday life by people who want to sell us sciencey solutions. Chancers from the $56 billion international food supplement industry want you to believe that intelligence needs fish oil, and that obesity is just your body’s way of crying out for chromium pills (”to help balance sugar metabolism” etc).

Similarly, quacks from the $600 billion pharma industry sell the idea that depression is caused by low serotonin levels in the brain and so – therefore - you need drugs which raise the serotonin levels in your brain: you need SSRI antidepressants, which are “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors”.

That’s the serotonin hypothesis. It was always shaky, and the evidence now is hugely contradictory. I’m not giving that lecture here, but as a brief illustration, there is a drug called tianeptine – a selective serotonin reuptake enhancer, not an inhibitor – and yet research shows this drug is a pretty effective treatment for depression too.

Meanwhile in popular culture the depression/serotonin theory is proven and absolute, because it was never about research, or theory, it was about marketing, and journalists who pride themselves on never pushing pills or the hegemony will still blindly push the model until the cows come home.

* * *

http://theicarusproject.net/

Welcome to Icarus
The Icarus Project envisions a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences of 'mental illness' rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework.

We are a network of people living with experiences that are commonly labeled as bipolar or other psychiatric conditions. We believe we have mad gifts to be cultivated and taken care of, rather than diseases or disorders to be suppressed or eliminated. By joining together as individuals and as a community, the intertwined threads of madness and creativity can inspire hope and transformation in an oppressive and damaged world. Our participation in The Icarus Project helps us overcome alienation and tap into the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

The Shrub's "State of the Union" address tonight...which hallucinogen to take for the "full effect"

2008-01-28T23:23:30Z

Decisions, decisions. I am sitting here contemplating just which hallucinogen to take before settling down to listen to the State of the Union address. I am leaning toward these little pan cyans although LSD would most likely cause less anxiety should GW wear his red tie...

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

NCEF! Media sabotaged! Hijacked by lone wingnut! Accused of fraud and embezzlement!

2007-11-07T04:08:33Z

NCEF! Media in Humboldt County, Ca. is accused of fraud and donation embezzlement. Caution! Do not support this lone wingnut's scam! Other legitamate groups exist in the area. Caution! Do not be fooled by NCEF! Media and his fraudulent outreach. Shunka Wakan exists completely seperate from any active affinity group. Read about how he perpetuated a lawsuit under the guise of EF! against a legitamate environmental nonprofit:

Dog Days
From: http://northcoastjournal.com/100407/cover1004.html
October 4, 2007
Money On Trees

Big cash nearly fell into Shunka Wakan's lap. Other Earth First!ers are kinda happy it didn't.

by Heidi Walters

As the jury trial for the civil suit Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation puttered to a start last week inside Courtroom 3 at the Humboldt County Courthouse, Shunka Wakan — a key witness for the plaintiff — spent mornings sitting on the hard wooden benches in the long hallway outside the courtroom. During breaks, Miller's attorney Linda Mitlyng, would come out of the courtroom to join him. But otherwise, as other people and their legal affairs swirled around him in a warm, odiferous bath of humanity, Shunka sat alone. Or, sometimes, he stood alone, straight-spined, his small, stocky body swallowed by the huge, stiff blue suit out of which his newly shorn, razor-scraped bald head poked vulnerably — as if, at any moment, the suit could gulp once more and he'd disappear completely. Always, he clutched a paper folder with a wolf's face on its cover.

The North Coast Earth First! Media guru had shaved off his woolly rust-tinged brown hair and beard the night before jury selection started, after discussing it with attorney Mitlyng. Now, it took an uncertain moment to recognize him. Then, of course: Shunka's light blue eyes in the pink-pale face, Shunka's closed-lip smile, Shunka's trademark husky murmur, "Mm-hmm, for sure," in response to a comment.

In Courtroom 3, the amiable but no-nonsense Judge Christopher Wilson's domain, the fate of a $185,000 donation dangled. Would the plaintiff, donor Kathryn Miller, prevail in her claim that the defendant, the Trees Foundation, was not in fact the intended recipient of her generous gift? That Shunka Wakan's NCEF! Media Center and the treesitters were? Or would the Trees Foundation convince the jury that, in fact, the money was intended all along for Trees, with no instructions attached for funneling it elsewhere?

Richard Idell, left, who is defending the Trees Foundation against a lawsuit filed by Kathryn Miller, confers with Doug Wallace, community support coordinator for Trees. Photo by David Lawlor.

In her opening arguments, Miller's attorney, Mitlyng, said the case came down to "fraud and broken promises." "She believed [Trees] would hold [the money] in trust, for the benefit of North Coast Earth First!" said Mitlyng. The defense's attorney, Richard Idell, countered in his opening argument that the donation was an unconditional gift and Miller never wrote letters of instruction — as Miller claims she did. "Ms. Miller ... didn't do anything. She took the check [from her mother's estate] and flipped it over and wrote on the back, 'Payable to the Trees Foundation,'" said Idell.

Miller's claim sought the return of her $185,000, plus interest.

Out in the hallway, Shunka waited to tell his side of the story. Maybe he thought about the magical donation that never materialized, and now probably never would. Maybe he thought about the other times he'd been in this courthouse — dozens of times, along with other activists, often before Judge Wilson, answering to charges of trespassing and other forms of civil disobedience in the woods. Likely, he wondered when they were finally going to call him in to testify — it was taking forever in there. He'd even sent out an e-mail prematurely to the several hundred subscribers to his NCEF! online group erroneously announcing he would be first up to testify.

By the end of Friday's court session, Miller was still on the stand. Perhaps Monday it would be Shunka's turn. Whenever it was, he would be testifying on Miller's behalf; but he wasn't a party to the lawsuit. And in the end, after hearing all of the evidence, the jury would be determining who was telling the truth about intentions and letters of instructions. Shunka was just there to provide context and evidence in a contract dispute.

But to a number of forest activists, including a half dozen or so who appeared in the audience last Friday to watch the trial unfold, that context matters more to them than the legal questions. They say this lawsuit has placed a strain on the environmental community that could do as much damage as an ill-felled redwood that takes down other giants in its descent. They disapprove of the lawsuit, and they blame Shunka for it. And, they say, it's just another example of how Shunka has commandeered the North Coast Earth First! identity and used it for purposes that nobody else in the amorphous but consensus-driven local Earth First! movement has agreed to.

"For a lot of us, when we read about the lawsuit, this is kind of like Shunka on trial," said long-time forest activist Deane Rimerman last Friday, calling from Olympia, Wash. "And, to what extent is he worthy of that money?"

Kathryn Miller wanted her money to go toward saving trees, she said on the witness stand last Thursday. The slender 59-year-old was dressed in a pink print skirt and white sweater, with her gray-streaked dark hair pulled back into a neat, thin braid tinted slightly green. (Little did the jury know that Miller had spent the night in jail, in blue jail duds, and then had been "dressed out," in court lingo, in her street clothes before being escorted into the court by the bailiff. Miller had been arrested the week before, on Sept. 17, when she arrived in civil court for the pre-trial readiness hearing; according to the misdemeanor criminal charges filed against her, Miller allegedly had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation all hours of the day and night.)

On the stand, Miller described how she became an activist. She remembered how, when she was a child in Orinda, her mother decided to stop spraying the beautiful oak trees on their property after reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. "And then, when my son was 9, we were watching the news on TV about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown. And my son said to me, 'I wish I'd never been born. I don't think I'll get to live a full life.'"

She protested the building of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. She started a peace action group in the late 1980s in San Jose. She did nonviolent protests at the Nevada Test Site. And in 1990, she came up with some of her fellow protestors to help set up the camp for Redwood Summer, and to take part in demonstrations. She's been on and off involved in Earth First! actions in Humboldt ever since, she said, including huffing in supplies for treesitters and huffing out their garbage. She'd also, at one point, bought a condo in Arcata.

In 2004, Miller sold her condo and bought an acre of farmland, already planted with coffee, in Guatemala. She put in fruit trees to shade the coffee. That same year, her mother, who lived in Sonoma, died. "The last time I saw her was in 2003," said Miller. "She told me when she died, she was going to leave me some money. I told her I'd use it to further my work for the forest. And she was pleased, because she loved the treesitters and the forest."

Shortly after learning of her mother's death, Kathryn Miller sought out Shunka Wakan in front of the food co-op in Arcata, where he "tabled" to raise funds for the North Coast Earth First! Media office — selling T-shirts, and stickers, offering pamphlets, accepting donations. She'd known Shunka for about five years, she said.

"I said to him, I was going to inherit some money: What was the best way to get that to the North Coast Earth First!?"

In the spring of 2005, Shunka Wakan was floating above the treetops. "I was so excited," the 32-year-old said in an interview a few weeks ago, sitting inside his tiny but colorful North Coast Earth First! Media office in Arcata, walls covered in art and topo maps — including one of Buckeye Mountain, where in 2000-2001, during the "Mattole Free State" action, Shunka and others hiked 14 miles through waist-high snowdrifts to save trees.

Kathryn Miller, he recalled, had come up to him excitedly as he walked along the sidewalk outside the Arcata Co-op and said, "I just donated $185,000 to North Coast Earth First!'"

She'd talked to him the year before about making the donation — she'd said she was anticipating an inheritance from her mother's estate, and she wanted to make a big donation to his group. He'd told her to make it through the Trees Foundation, which handled the NCEF! Media office's finances through an arrangement that had been established years ago. (The Trees Foundation is an umbrella organization formed in 1991 to assist smaller environmental groups. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it can accept large, tax-deductible donations on behalf of affiliates, and provide professional resources. And it can lead large campaigns, like the one to save the Headwaters Forest back in the '90s.)

Well, now she'd finally done it.

Miller and Shunka agreed to meet at Fiesta Café in Sunny Brae, so she could tell him how she wanted the money spent: She wanted, straight away, for someone to organize a mediated workshop for the local Earth First! activists on ageism and sexism, issues she thought were fracturing the movement. And, she wanted the bulk of the donation to help support the forest activists who blockade logging roads and hunker up in ancient redwoods to fend off loggers' saws.

Not long after, Shunka was on his way to have lunch with some folks from the Trees Foundation, where they'd talk about Miller's wishes.

"Our media outreach was going to get a big boost," Shunka said. "The donation would keep the EF! office going for many years. So I walked into the Wildflower Café feeling elated, thinking we got all this money."

Barbara Ristow and Doug Wallace of the Trees Foundation were there. "I was super excited," Shunka said, "and I said, 'This is great, this big donation. Isn't it wonderful?' We ordered food, and still I'm all excited, talking about the money, but I notice they're looking nervously at each other. [Finally], they said, 'Well, we're just shocked that you think this money was for you.' And I was like, 'I just met with the donor, and that's what she said.' And they're like, 'Well, let's go ahead and plan the workshop and deal with that later.' I remember that, because it put me at ease."

After that, Shunka said he gave Trees a list of people he thought might benefit from the mediator-run workshop. "Some were people I knew had beefs with me, but I was willing to bring 'em into the circle and talk about it."

According to some vague accounts, the workshop was a disaster. One person who was there claims that Shunka, at one point, pounded his fists on the floor, blustered, then got up and stormed out, yelling as he walked away. Shunka says that's overblown.

"The letter from Kathryn Miller to Barbara Bristow said she wanted the mediation to be a safe place, safe to be emotional," he said. "And I think people are saying 'I freaked out.' The freak-out reports are exaggerated. It's just part of this ongoing character assassination. People say I was 'red-faced.' But my face is naturally red."

In late 2005, while Shunka was in Seattle, a friend called him from Arcata to say a woman had come by asking for the office key. She had a list of equipment she wanted to take away. The friend didn't give her the key.

When Shunka got back from Seattle, he discovered his reimbursement funds from Trees had been "frozen." He also learned about a letter someone in the NCEF! movement had circulated for signatures and then sent to Mark Knipper, who handled the Trees Foundation transactions for the NCEF! Media office. It said, in essence, "We don't want Shunka running EF!"

"I called the Trees Foundation," Shunka recalled. "I was sick, it was the middle of the winter, I'm trying to table, it's raining, it's cold. And Barbara Ristow told me, 'You just need to have a meeting [with the other Earth First!ers] and come to a group consensus on what the Trees Foundation funding should be used for."

The meeting never happened — nobody could agree to meet, said Mark Knipper, also in an interview last week. Knipper is a social worker and a long-time activist who had been the contact person between Trees and NCEF! Media. "So it ate itself," Knipper said. "And although I'm former Navy, a mariner, I said I'm not going down with this ship. So I divorced myself from it ... and signed it all back to Trees."

The NCEF! Media office was dropped from the Trees Foundation altogether.

Shunka and the NCEF! Media office never did see any of the big donation. Miller didn't even know that, he said, until she phoned him up in the summer of 2006, more than a year after she made the donation, to ask about a guy named "Jungle," who had been reported as missing on the NCEF! hotline. Miller was spending much of her time in Guatemala now, where she was raising fruit trees; after she'd made her big donation, Hurricane Stan had struck — she spent the ensuing year mopping up the mess.

First, Shunka told her Jungle was still missing. Then he told her about the money.

"I said, 'Yeah, they told me it wasn't for us,'" said Shunka. "And she said, 'I meant for all of it to go to you guys.' She sounded real upset. And I was like, 'I knew it! I knew it!'"

Shunka tried to sue Trees in small claims court, but it went nowhere.

Miller filed a claim against the Trees Foundation on Oct. 5, 2006, in Humboldt County Superior Court, seeking the return of the $185,000 plus interest so she could distribute the money herself.

And if she wins? "She may just spread it out more," said Shunka. "She's got tree planting ideas. Maybe she could buy a grove. She'd maybe not give it all to Earth First! this time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Trees blew for us."

On an uncomfortably hot afternoon last week, four forest activists who'd agreed to an interview for this story — Jeff, Shaggy, Sparrow and Farmer — sat on the ground at the Arcata Marsh next to a log bench on which a teeming crew of red ants worked a splintered notch. Someone had come along here in 1999 and carved a grouping of faces — bearded, grimacing, possibly mourning faces — onto the log and signed it Daniel. The carving had been drenched in red paint, and burnished by years of sitters.

"It kind of reminds me of the memorial for Gypsy," said one of them. "With the red paint."

Gypsy was the forest name of David Nathan Chain, who in September 1998, during an Earth First! action at Grizzly Creek, was crushed to death by a tree felled by an enraged logger. Farmer, actually, was there — he was just 16, but had a year of activism already under his belt. And Shunka was there — it was Shunka's first forest action.

Farmer, Shag, Sparrow and Jeff first made it clear that they spoke for themselves alone, although they participate in various forest defense affinity groups: Farmer works for the Mattole Wildlands Defense Group now, watchdogging the California Department of Forestry for new timber harvest plans, and keeping an eye on a Pacific Lumber Co. watershed analysis. Shag, who saw his first redwood about five years ago, helps keep the Fern Gully treesit village in Freshwater functioning. Jeff, who grew up in the high desert, and fell in love with the woods, works with the Nanning Creek treesit just outside of Scotia, as well as other groups. Sparrow, who was drawn to forest action because the cultural landscape was "like a folktale" he couldn't resist, is with the Fern Gully affinity group. These groups are all part of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association, a collective with a website but no formal structure.

The HFDA sprang into being six years ago — about the time the entity called North Coast Earth First! had essentially dissolved. It would take a book to describe that drawn-out dissolution — a book of lost causes, won causes, waning media interest, Judi Bari's death, Gypsy's death, ego-spurred squabbles, interpersonal catastrophes, a war overseas, hurricanes. And while the HFDA activists might still cherish the Earth First! name — the movement — in their hearts, it's now been further complicated by what you might call the Shunka effect.

"I still feel in many ways solidarity with the greater Earth First! movement abroad," said Farmer. "But in this county, in this climate, if you say you're with the North Coast Earth First!, many people associate you with North Coast Earth First! Media."

Shunka revived the North Coast Earth First! office around 2002. And he did what previous office managers had done — tabled, put out news releases, wrote articles for other publications. But it wasn't like the old days, in the '90s, when hundreds of people were getting arrested in forest actions and the jail support phone and legal resources were in constant use.

Shunka first worked in an office in Eureka, then later moved to Arcata. He called his outfit the NCEF! Media Center. For a time, he and other "affinity groups" tried to work together. But he alienated some people. He took over the North Coast Earth First! website. He controlled the North Coast Earth First! email list of 300 or more subscribers to the news alerts. He sent out press releases on his own.

"I felt the North Coast Earth First! Media Center was a unilateral effort on Shunka's part," said Farmer. Whereas, in the old days, "spokespeople were decided on by the group. And if you wrote an article it was passed by everyone. I feel Shunka appointed himself spokesperson at some point."

Many also claim they've been subject to a lashing anger from Shunka.

"I won't work with him because I pledge nonviolence in my actions," said Shag. "I don't believe he pledges the same thing. He has exhibited violent behavior towards me and towards other activists in my presence."

"He's a bear," said Jeff, making claw-fists with his hands.

But the sad thing is, all of this infighting probably has done nothing to help the actual trees. And the mediation workshop Kathryn Miller wanted didn't fix matters. Now, there was her lawsuit.

"When I heard about this lawsuit, I thought, the Trees Foundation does not deserve to be attacked in that way," said Farmer. "There's much bigger issues that need to be dealt with — with Maxxam and old-growth logging. ...If you look at Fern Gully and Nanning Creek (the Bonanza timber harvest plan), there's hundreds of old growth acres still standing whose fate is unclear."

Shag put it more bluntly: "If [Miller] knew Shunka and wanted to get the money to North Coast Earth First! Media, she should've given it to Shunka. But if she was trying to get it to treesits and forest defense, then the money went to the right place.

"My problem is this whole representation thing. There's people in the trees — how do you know who to get the money to, to help them?"

Shunka knows that a lot of fellow activists aren't happy with his role in the donation dispute. He also knows how some people talk about him and say he's hard to get along with. "I'm just standing up for the truth," he said. "And people don't like it. To me, it feels like a small clique of people who don't like me. I feel a lot of love and support in this community."

He certainly doesn't come off right away as someone who's angry, or who lashes out, or who locks the office and doesn't let people in. Why, recently, he helped a young woman hook up with the treesitters so she could learn the ropes. (Shaggy said that's proof Shunka doesn't have direct connections with the people doing direct action; but you can't deny it's a connection.)

It's probably a bad idea to ask Darryl Cherney, one of the founders of the local Earth First! movement, what he thinks of Shunka Wakan, whose real name is Jason Wilson. (Shunka tells a story of how he was named by a Lakota medicine man on the banks of the Cheyenne River in South Dakota in 1995. "Shunka Wakan," meaning "great dog," is only part of it. There's a secret part after that — altogether, his name means "the humble man called horse.")

"Shunka's a wingnut," Cherney said over the phone last Friday, sounding cheerfully vitriolic. "I have a 10-verse song about Shunka."

Here are the last few verses:

Who's at the co-op spanging a donation
Shunka, Shunka
Who's got a lawsuit 'gainst the Trees Foundation
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka
Who's gonna keep on fighting the fight
Shunka, Shunka
With four of his friends at swimmers delight
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka (Shunka voice: It's the last of the revolution)

There's no other word for it but "mean." But Cherney and Shunka have history — not all of it sour. Cherney said Shunka laughed when he heard the song, at least the first time.

"I met Shunka in 1998," Cherney said. "And I know he knew Julia ["Butterfly" Hill, whom Shunka had come west to find]. That was a good thing, helping Julia. That was good Shunka."

Cherney had even pushed for Shunka to go to Houston to talk with Charles Hurwitz, whose Maxxam Corp. bought out the old Pacific Lumber company back in 1985 and quickly became the forest activists' number one villain. Shunka went.

But now? "The current status of Shunka and me," Cherney said, "is that Shunka has sent me five or eight or nine e-mails threatening to sue me. Shunka is a joke."

Cherney can talk for hours about the problems he's had with Shunka over the years. His main point, though, is what has Shunka done for the trees lately?

"My question is, where's your topo maps?" he asked. "Where's your wilderness preservation proposal? Where's your lobbyist team in Sacramento?"

It has to be that, on some level, even the people in the movement who don't like Shunka understand somewhat where he's coming from. So he's emotional. Passionate. Perhaps he's caught up so completely in the cause he can't let go. Or, who knows — maybe he's a phony, like he accused Knipper of being back in 2005.

But being a forest activist comes with perils beyond the obvious physical ones.

"I'm really trying to have compassion for Shunka, even though he's kind of attacked us," said Susy Barsotti by phone from Laytonville a couple of weeks ago. Barsotti is president of the Trees Foundation board, and she says the lawsuit has held Trees hostage, unable to function fully. "I've been mystified and dismayed that he's participated like this in the suit. But Shunka witnessed Gypsy's death. And I think he may have post-traumatic stress syndrome. I don't think he's recovered from it. And that can affect your behavior."

A number of people mentioned this, actually, about Shunka. And he often refers to Gypsy's death himself. In an article titled "What Luna has taught me," posted on the website of Julia "Butterfly" Hill's organization, Circle of Life, Shunka writes: "I decided to commit to doing ground support after witnessing the death of David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain on September 17, 1998 ... I remember looking across the valley as we hiked up that day, seeing the rolling hills of forests and clear-cuts, and thinking out loud, "That's why we're here!" Seeing Gypsy's life taken from him, and then seeing the corruption and lies of the Humboldt County Sheriffs ... really opened my eyes to the situation our old-growth forests face."

Later, he did ground support for Hill in her second year in Luna. And in the same article on her website, something else Shunka writes indicates how ready he was to devote himself to a cause: "Being on the support team was the top priority in my life, and I was happy knowing that everything else revolved around when I'd be needed for the next supply run. I never felt lost because I knew what I was doing. That was a feeling I had not felt in years, between feeling dissatisfaction with life in college, and then more dissatisfaction with life as a minimum-wage worker after college. Before joining Julia's ground support team I was unhappy, even to the point of tears, wondering if my entire life was going to be a minimum-wage nightmare ...."

Pure devotion, without benefit of a little hypocrisy, could drive anyone batty. Deane Rimerman, the activist from Olympia who said it is Shunka who is on trial, said it's not uncommon for intense, stressful movements like Earth First! to produce an army of walking wounded. And he's been around, in forest actions up and down the coast, for long enough to know; he was the one, in fact, who "got the maps and led the first hikers up to the hill" to the Gypsy Mountain campaign and Luna treesit.

"In the forest activist movement, there's very little that's rewarding," Rimerman said. "There's a lot of post traumatic stress syndrome. All of us get it. Once you've been through the court process, and the jail process, and seen 1,000-year-old trees get cut down that you really cared about and thought you could save — it's devastating."

That alone, setting aside the troubles with Shunka, could explain the many rifts that have occurred within the local EF! ranks over the years. Josh Brown, who moved to Humboldt in 1995 right before the peak of the Headwaters campaign, said one of the unique qualities of Earth First! is that it "is primarily a youth movement."

"A lot of people that come through are young, are passionate — and it's a wonderful thing," he said. They get thrown into leadership positions quickly — and then they get burned out. Many move quickly on to other things. Brown stayed in longer than most. "When I left [in 2001], I was 30 years old. And I'd been a full-time activist since I was 18."

Paradoxically, said Brown, the youthful draw and the departure of seasoned activists leaves the movement with "no elders to kind of sit around and coach the [new kids]."

The movement also draws strong personalities, he said. Tenacious ones, too, like Shunka's.

"Shunka, I think he really does have a big heart," said Brown. "And I think he does care for the forest."

Last Friday, following the morning session of Miller v. Trees, a group of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association activists stood on the courthouse steps talking. The door opened, and Shunka walked out and down the steps toward the group. They didn't greet him. After a time, he tried to talk to one of them, Jeff. Jeff walked away. Shunka followed him, then stopped and talked to another guy. Then he stood alone again.

From: http://northcoastjournal.com/101107/news1011.html

Trees Foundation Wins

October 11th, 2007

The jury in the civil case Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation decided in favor of Trees, after deliberating all day Tuesday. (See "Money on Trees," Oct. 4).

Miller is the long-time forest activist who inherited a bundle from her mother and then signed $185,000 over to the Trees Foundation. In her lawsuit, she claimed she had intended the money to be passed through Trees to one of its affiliates, North Coast Earth First! Media, run by Shunka Wakan. She claimed she had made her intentions clear, verbally and in writing, and that Trees had agreed to the conditions, then broken its promise and kept the money. Trees denied making such promises, and said it had never seen any letters or heard of instructions to give the money to NCEF! Media. (Also, somewhat relatedly, in criminal court on Tuesday Miller pleaded no contest to charges that she had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation.)

So, that's that. Now, there are only the pieces to pick up.

For Shunka Wakan — featured in last week's Journal as a central figure in a messy nest of infighting that has fractured the current ranks of local Earth First!ians — it could be a long, lonely patching together of lost friends and broken alliances. Not only did he and Miller lose their attempt to retrieve her donation, but now he's been banned from the North Coast Co-op.

Yes, that happened last week. It was Thursday, around 4:15 in the evening, and two activists with the Humboldt Forest Defense Association were tabling — hawking brochures and such — outside the Co-op. It's an activity Shunka himself has spent many a day doing in that very same spot, raising cash to pay for his NCEF!Media outreach work and other causes. And, well, these two fellows, Jeff and Farmer, were on Shunka's shit list, now. They'd spoken gently, but unfavorably, about Shunka's doings in the North Coast Earth First! arena — said he lashed out at people, said he commandeered NCEF! resources, and so forth. Here's a snippet of Jeff's account of what happened, which he sent to the NCJ in an e-mail on Friday:

"Shunka was removed from the Arcata Co-op yesterday after a scuffle with myself and another activist around 5 p.m. Well, he wasn't exactly removed, but APD was called. He was asked to leave after threatening to flip over the HFD donation table while stating he was 'like Jesus in the marketplace ...'"

Sue Coulter, manager of the Arcata Co-op, recounted on Friday how an employee walking by heard the argument and went inside to get her. "So I went out to talk to [Shunka], because it's not the first time we've had problems," she said. "Most of the time, he's fine. Most of the time, I stick up for him." One time, she said, she even called the police to protect Shunka after someone had threatened him. "But he gets into arguments. I tried to talk to him. I told him to leave. ... He was causing a scene, right by the door, and I can't have it. He refused to leave. ... I said, fine. I went into the store. He followed me into the store, and he was still yelling at me, 'Oh, now you're going to call the police on me.'" Coulter called the police, but Shunka left before they arrived.

Shunka, waiting in the courthouse for the jury verdict Tuesday, said Coulter did indeed ask him to leave and he did, indeed, refuse to. As for the HFD tablers, he said he merely asked them why they had Trees Foundation literature on their table. "I said, 'Why do you want to represent these people?'" And then, he said, "Jeff accused me of embezzling — he said this in public. He said, 'You've embezzled thousands of dollars from the Earth First! movement through the years.' And I complained to one of the employees who was walking by. Because that's serious, accusing someone of embezzling."

But Shunka said the whole thing's yet another attack on him. "I don't consider I was yelling. We were talking. I'm an emotional person, I concede to that. I speak from my heart. I don't scream at people. I would love to — but I don't."

In his email, Jeff with HFD predicted Shunka would leave town within weeks, if not sooner. But at the courthouse, even before the verdict, Shunka said he wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm just going to continue to run the Earth First! office and continue to call Humboldt County home," he said. He's also going to write a letter to the Co-op, complaining about how he gets scapegoated and booted out of there even when other people, he says, are the culprits. And, as for the Miller v. Trees case, he said, he and Miller may now take their complaint to another venue.

-- Heidi Walters

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Liberty?

2007-11-03T18:10:33Z

There is no true liberty in the fascist states of amerika.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 9 replies

Homegrown Terrorism Prevention

2007-10-26T15:19:22Z

http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=4682

House Passes Thought Crime Prevention Bill
10-25-2007
www.roguegovernment.com
Lee Rogers

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed HR 1955 titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This bill is one of the most blatant attacks against the Constitution yet and actually defines thought crimes as homegrown terrorism. If passed into law, it will also establish a commission and a Center of Excellence to study and defeat so called thought criminals. Unlike previous anti-terror legislation, this bill specifically targets the civilian population of the United States and uses vague language to define homegrown terrorism. Amazingly, 404 of our elected representatives from both the Democrat and Republican parties voted in favor of this bill. There is little doubt that this bill is specifically targeting the growing patriot community that is demanding the restoration of the Constitution.
First let’s take a look at the definitions of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism as defined in Section 899A of the bill.

The definition of violent radicalization uses vague language to define this term of promoting any belief system that the government considers to be an extremist agenda. Since the bill doesn’t specifically define what an extremist belief system is, it is entirely up to the interpretation of the government. Considering how much the government has done to destroy the Constitution they could even define Ron Paul supporters as promoting an extremist belief system. Literally, the government according to this definition can define whatever they want as an extremist belief system. Essentially they have defined violent radicalization as thought crime. The definition as defined in the bill is shown below.

`(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization' means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.

The definition of homegrown terrorism uses equally vague language to further define thought crime. The bill includes the planned use of force or violence as homegrown terrorism which could be interpreted as thinking about using force or violence. Not only that but the definition is so vaguely defined, that petty crimes could even fall into the category of homegrown terrorism. The definition as defined in the bill is shown below.

`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

Section 899B of the bill goes over the findings of Congress as it pertains to homegrown terrorism. Particularly alarming is that the bill mentions the Internet as a main source for terrorist propaganda. The bill even mentions streams in obvious reference to many of the patriot and pro-constitution Internet radio networks that have been formed. It also mentions that homegrown terrorists span all ages and races indicating that the Congress is stating that everyone is a potential terrorist. Even worse is that Congress states in their findings that they should look at draconian police states like Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom as models to defeat homegrown terrorists. Literally, these findings of Congress fall right in line with the growing patriot community.

The biggest joke of all is that this section also says that any measure to prevent violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism should not violate the constitutional rights of citizens. However, the definition of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism as they are defined in section 899A are themselves unconstitutional. The Constitution does not allow the government to arrest people for thought crimes, so any promises not to violate the constitutional rights of citizens are already broken by their own definitions.

`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.

`The Congress finds the following:

`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism.

`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security.

`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.

`(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States.

`(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States.

`(6) The potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily prevented through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and requires the incorporation of State and local solutions.

`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.

`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.

Section 899C calls for a commission on the prevention of violent radicalization and ideologically based violence. The commission will consist of ten members appointed by various individuals that hold different positions in government. Essentially, this is a commission that will examine and report on how they are going to deal with violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism. So basically, the commission is being formed specifically on how to deal with thought criminals in the United States. The bill requires that the commission submit their final report 18 months following the commission’s first meeting as well as submit interim reports every 6 months leading up to the final report. Below is the bill’s defined purpose of the commission. Amazingly they even define one of the purposes of the commission to determine the causes of lone wolf violent radicalization.

(b) Purpose- The purposes of the Commission are the following:

`(1) Examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States, including United States connections to non-United States persons and networks, violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in prison, individual or `lone wolf' violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence, and other faces of the phenomena of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence that the Commission considers important.

`(2) Build upon and bring together the work of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of--

`(A) the Center of Excellence established or designated under section 899D, and other academic work, as appropriate;

`(B) Federal, State, local, or tribal studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence; and

`(C) foreign government studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence.

Section 899D of the bill establishes a Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States. Essentially, this will be a Department of Homeland Security affiliated institution that will study and determine how to defeat thought criminals.

Section 899E of the bill discusses how the government is going to defeat violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism through international cooperation. As stated in the findings section earlier in the legislation, they will unquestionably seek the advice of countries with draconian police states like the United Kingdom to determine how to deal with this growing threat of thought crime.

Possibly the most ridiculous section of the bill is Section 899F which states how they plan on protecting civil rights and civil liberties while preventing ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism. Here is what the section says.

`SEC. 899F. PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES WHILE PREVENTING IDEOLOGICALLY-BASED VIOLENCE AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.

`(a) In General- The Department of Homeland Security's efforts to prevent ideologically-based violence and homegrown terrorism as described herein shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, and civil liberties of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents.

`(b) Commitment to Racial Neutrality- The Secretary shall ensure that the activities and operations of the entities created by this subtitle are in compliance with the Department of Homeland Security's commitment to racial neutrality.

`(c) Auditing Mechanism- The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer of the Department of Homeland Security will develop and implement an auditing mechanism to ensure that compliance with this subtitle does not result in a disproportionate impact, without a rational basis, on any particular race, ethnicity, or religion and include the results of its audit in its annual report to Congress required under section 705.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting at the end of the items relating to title VIII the following:

It states in the first subsection that in general the efforts to defeat thought crime shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights and civil liberties of the United States citizens and lawful permanent residents. How does this protect constitutional rights if they use vague language such as in general that prefaces the statement? This means that the Department of Homeland Security does not have to abide by the Constitution in their attempts to prevent so called homegrown terrorism.

This bill is completely insane. It literally allows the government to define any and all crimes including thought crime as violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism. Obviously, this legislation is unconstitutional on a number of levels and it is clear that all 404 representatives who voted in favor of this bill are traitors and should be removed from office immediately. The treason spans both political parties and it shows us all that there is no difference between them. The bill will go on to the Senate and will likely be passed and signed into the law by George W. Bush. Considering that draconian legislation like the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act have already been passed, there seems little question that this one will get passed as well. This is more proof that our country has been completely sold out by a group of traitors at all levels of government.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

American Freedom Campaign

2007-10-14T20:53:01Z

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/american-tears_b_68141.html

http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=63

About AFC
The Constitution protects American Freedom. With checks and balances, and basic legal rights, it has prevented tyranny and safeguarded our liberty. Yet today, under the pretense of the "war on terror," the White House is dismantling the Constitution, concentrating power in the President and undermining the rule of law. THIS IS UN-AMERICAN. The American Freedom Campaign is dedicated to confronting and correcting these abuses of our America.

The mission of the American Freedom Campaign (AFC) is threefold. Our initial goal is to educate American citizens about the current Constitutional crisis in this country, about their individual rights, and about our Founders’ vision. As we educate, our secondary goal is to motivate and inspire individuals in order to build a grassroots citizens’ democracy movement. Finally, with the strength of this grassroots movement at our side, the American Freedom Campaign – through its advocacy arm, the American Freedom Campaign Action Fund – will push for the enactment of statutes that would end the infringement of fundamental rights by the executive and restore the Constitution’s hallowed system of checks and balances.

The American Freedom Campaign Agenda will work to restore the roles of Congress and the federal judiciary to protect against injustice and prevent abuses of executive power.

Americans’ support for restoring checks and balances and protections against the abuse of power transcends partisanship. In advancing the American Freedom Campaign Agenda, we are neither Conservative nor Liberal; neither Republican nor Democrat. We are above all Americans who cherish the Constitution. Thus, we call on Americans across the political spectrum to join us. The enactment of the American Freedom Campaign Agenda would mark one of America’s finest Constitutional hours and restore the core rights of our citizens while making the nation safer.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14, NKJV).

2007-10-12T16:58:23Z

http://www.messiahlutheransterling.org/symbol24.asp

The symbol of ST. JOHN is the eagle, because from first to last his Gospel soars on eagle's wings to the very throne of heaven. The figures near the bottom of each window are merely decorative.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14, NKJV).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17, NIV).

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:24-25, ESV).

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

kinda OT: New Freegan Tribe forming

2007-09-24T20:14:41Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/ef0f2448-2f81-4704-a66a-fda79c08384f?_click_path=Application%5Btribe%5D.Tribe%5Bef0f2448-2f81-4704-a66a-fda79c08384f%5D

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Nov. 6 General Strike

2007-09-24T18:42:33Z

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/10/0081720

Harper's magazine suggests a National Strike starting Nov. 6, 2007 to force
impeachment.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

welcome to Burnt Man 07

2007-09-07T09:35:21Z

http://laughingsquid.com/lolburn/

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

Hopi's BLUE STAR Appears

2007-08-27T03:34:00Z

World Truth Gathering 2000-2012 at TRIBE
http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

WORLD GATHERING FOR TRUTH - News
http://www.worldgathering.net/news15.html

Hopi Nation's BLUE STAR KACHINA Becomes Visible

This is the star MIRA. Mira is Latin for 'WONDERFUL'.
"Nothing like this has ever been seen before around a star"

"And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth ... It will appear as a blue star." ... "That time is not far off. It will come when the Saquasohuh (Blue Star) Kachina dances in the plaza and removes his mask. He represents a blue star, far off and yet invisible, which will make its appearance soon." - Hopi Nation's Traditional Prophecy

Star MIRA ..... MIRACLE ..... Wonderful

"Very soon after this, the ceremonies of my people will cease."
--- This signifies a positive development. The Hopi were told they must carry on keeping 'the Hopi way', including their ceremonies, until the Creator returned. This sign of a Blue Star indicates the return to the world and to the Hopi of the True White Brother and his two helpers. Hopi tradition says about the Hopi's three helpers: "The three will lay out a new life plan which leads to everlasting life and peace." Therefore, the Hopi's 'watch and wait' ceremonies, which they have maintained for so long, may no longer be needed or may change into another form.

Information on Hopi's Blue Star:
http://www.cyberspaceorbit.com/miraxy.htm

Thanks to hard-working website owner Kent at www.cyberspaceorbit.com

BIZARRE STAR - Galaxy Evolution Explorer Media Telecon: Aug. 15, 2007
--- Astronomers are scheduled to announce new findings about a star unlike any seen before at a media teleconference Wednesday, Aug. 15. The findings are from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. ... "I was shocked when I first saw this completely unexpected, humongous tail trailing behind a well-known star," said Christopher Martin of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, USA.

More here:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/galex/20070815/
And:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/galex/galex-20070815.html

Impressive video compilation on Mira / Hopi Nation's Blue Star Kachina:
http://www.nasa.gov/mov/186071main_V-MiraAnim-Web2.mov

Additional information by World Gathering ....

Dan Evehema, Hopi Nation Elder: “We are at the final stages now… so as our prophecy says. Then it must be up to the people with pure hearts that will not be afraid to help us to fulfil our destiny in peace for this world.”

An inter-tribal, interactive (you can make it happen) prediction ....
The 20 Count / Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope
"PLEASE ADVISE PEOPLE, IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION. PUT A DOUBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY WITH WHAT YOU ARE FOR. WE CAN CHANGE IT." --- If we carry on believing in a better world, and INCREASE OUR EFFORTS, we can change the direction the world is going.
http://www.worldgathering.net/world/vision.html

HOPI PROPHECY - The Three Helpers of the Hopi and World ....
http://www.worldgathering.net/winds/whitebrother.html

Join World Gathering GOOGLE news list:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

World Truth Gathering 2000-2012 at TRIBE
http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

This World Gathering For Truth news is at:
'Hopi Nation's BLUE STAR KACHINA Becomes Visible'
http://www.worldgathering.net/news15.html

World Gathering For Truth 2000-2012
http://www.worldgathering.net

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

call to arms

2007-07-24T21:53:05Z

This was sent to me in the Restore the Republic newsletter.

> FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING <

A CALL TO ACTION: CALL CONGRESS NOW!

Executive Order Overturns US Fifth Amendment!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

Dear friends and listeners,
we're asking everyone to call all of our "so called" elected representatives in Washington D.C. and insist they challenge Bush's new Executive Order of July 17th. The New Executive Order titled, Blocking Property Of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts In Iraq, IS AN ASSAULT ON THE CONSTITUTION and the end of free speech as we know it in America, and eventually the end of outlets of truth like the We The People Radio Network.

When you call the Capitol Hill switchboards ask the operator for the first senator on the list. Voice your opposition to the misuse of the Executive Order of July 17th, 2007, to go around the Constitution and take away our rights of free speech and a free press. Ask the receptionist to return you to the operator and request the next Senator on the list. Be brief and avoid getting into conversations with receptionists after Voicing your opposition. The following are the toll free and local phone numbers for the Capitol Hill switchboard. You can also contact the White House Here.

PLEASE, WHEN YOU PHONE ALWAYS BE POLITE AND RESPECTFUL.

List of the members of the 110th Congress

Here are the members of the 110th Congress. The House and Senate are now under the control of pro-war lobbists and unless thousands of Americans protest the outright misuse of these Executive Orders by the President, the gutting of our Constitution will continue and our country as we know it will be gone!

Protest Congress by Calling: 1-202-224-3121

or Toll-free: 1-877-851-6437 or 1-866-340-9281

Tell members of Congress: "Please Confront your Senators and Representatives about the Tyranny of Bush's new Executive Order of July 17th. .

Once you have called the first member of Congress, don't hang up. Ask to be transferred to the next member on the list below, and so on. You will have sent a powerful message against freedom-stealing Executive Orders with every member of Congress.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER!

SENATE:
**Names with asterisks represent newly elected members.

**Newly elected members.

REPUBLICAN SENATE MEMBERS
Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN) Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO) Hatch, Orrin- (R - UT)
Bennett, Robert- (R - UT) Hutchison, Kay- (R - TX)
Bond, Christopher- (R - MO) Inhofe, James- (R - OK)
Brownback, Sam- (R - KS) Isakson, Johnny- (R - GA)
Bunning, Jim- (R - KY) Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ)
Burr, Richard- (R - NC) Lott, Trent- (R - MS)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA) Lugar, Richard- (R - IN)
Coburn, Tom- (R - OK) Martinez, Mel- (R - FL)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS) McCain, John- (R - AZ)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN) McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Collins, Susan- (R - ME) Murkowski, Lisa- (R - AK)
Corker, Bob - (R - TN) ** Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX) Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Craig, Larry- (R - ID) Shelby, Richard- (R - AL)
Crapo, Michael- (R - ID) Smith, Gordon- (R - OR)
DeMint, Jim- (R - SC) Snowe, Olympia- (R - ME)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC) Specter, Arlen- (R - PA)
Domenici, Pete- (R - NM) Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Ensign, John- (R - NV) Sununu, John- (R - NH)
Enzi, Michael- (R - WY) Thomas, Craig- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC) Thune, John- (R - SD)
Grassley, Chuck- (R - IA) Vitter, David- (R - LA)
Gregg, Judd- (R - NH) Voinovich, George- (R - OH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

DEMOCRATIC SENATE MEMBERS
Akaka, Daniel- (D - HI) Klobuchar, Amy- (D - MN) **
Baucus, Max- (D - MT) Kohl, Herb- (D - WI)
Bayh, Evan- (D - IN) Landrieu, Mary- (D - LA)
Biden, Joseph- (D - DE) Lautenberg, Frank- (D - NJ)
Bingaman, Jeff- (D - NM) Leahy, Patrick- (D - VT)
Brown, Sherrod- (D - OH) ** Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA) Lieberman, Joseph- (D - CT)
Byrd, Robert- (D - WV) Lincoln, Blanche- (D - AR)
Cantwell, Maria- (D - WA) McCaskill, Claire- (D - MO) **
Cardin, B en- (D - MD) ** Mikulski, Barbara- (D - MD)
Carper, Thomas- (D - DE) Murray, Patty- (D - WA)
Casey, Bob- (D - PA) ** Nelson, Bill- (D - FL)
Clinton, Hillary- (D - NY) Nelson, Ben- (D - NE)
Conrad, Kent- (D - ND) Obama, Barack- (D - IL)
Robert Menendez - (D - NJ) Pryor, Mark- (D - AR)
Dodd, Christopher- (D - CT) Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
Dorgan, Byron- (D - ND) Reid, Harry- (D - NV)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL) Rockefeller, John- (D - WV)
Feingold, Russell- (D - WI) Salazar, Ken- (D - CO)
Feinstein, Dianne- (D - CA) Schumer, Charles- (D - NY)
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA) Stabenow, Debbie- (D - MI)
Inouye, Daniel- (D - HI) Tester, John- (D - MT) **
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD) Webb, Jim- (D - VA) **

Kennedy, Edward- (D - MA)
Whitehouse, Sheldon- (D - RI) **
Kerry, John- (D - MA) Wyden, Ron- (D - OR)

INDEPENDANT SENATE MEMBERS
Sanders, Bernard- (I - VT) **

House of Representatives & Staff Members

Go to State:

Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

Above text is posted at: http://wtprn.com/Executive_Order.html. Special thanks to Danny and Wes for compiling this information. This Executive order is a direct violation of our 1st amendment, make the calls today and take an active role in preserving our republic. Tell your Senator and Congressman to overturn the executive order while they can (less than 25 days)... before Bush and company start to use it.

Speak now or forever loose your piece of freedom.

Yours in Freedom and Truth,

Gary Franchi
AFTF / RTR National Director
www.restoretherepublic.com
www.freedomtofascism.com

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

Interesting article from NewScientist.com

2007-07-12T01:37:56Z

It also references the CCLE.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19125711.000

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

The Tzolkin: Music for positive planetary consciousness and change.

2007-07-11T20:29:56Z

Positive planetary climate change requires positive planetary consciousness change. www.DarkMother.com

Twenty years ago, I was sitting in my little studio in Los Angeles, CA, sequencing and recording the first acoustic translations of the Mayan Sacred Calendar, the Tzolkin, and shifting into what was being called the "Harmonic Convergence." Throughout the convergence, the acoustic translations of the Tzolkin's 20 Sacred Signs were being broadcast through my house and yard via the only radio transmission system accessible to me at the time, an el cheapo walkie talkie. Lolol... Hey, gotta do what ya gotta do and, having "coincidentally" translated the Tzolkin into sound only months before, my intention was to insure that the planet's ethereal body received both the galactic radio transmission and a local radio transmission of the [concentrated] Tzolkin's currents, simultaneously. It was the least I could do for the planet and, although I had the least of the consumer broadcasting possibilities, I got the job done. (A little leaven leavens the whole loaf.) Since that auspicious transit, the world's consciousness has followed a predicted course toward collective enlightenment, on and relative to all levels of society. Now, here we are, 20 years later, poised on the precipice of (and rapidly accelerating into) the most profound shift in planetary consciousness the world has ever experienced. Fortunately, the ancient Maya priests who foresaw this time also perceived and left us the Tzolkin as a tool to help us transit this period successfully.

Here is the fundamental value of the Tzolkin; it is a Key unlocking the Archetypal Properties embodied in cycles of the 4th dimension, Time, that enable us to ascend into higher levels of Life and being human (in the Highest sense of the word). Time is about periodicity, frequency. Basically, Consciousness, the All in all, uses Time to effect change in the 3rd, 2nd and 1st dimensions. The Tzolkin is a map of how Consciousness does so relative to the expression of specific Aspects of Itself. The Tzolkin is a table of the Logic embodying specific, cyclic Patterns of Time facilitating the expression of those Aspects through all states of manifestation via electromagnetic radiation. When those Patterns are expressed in their purest Form, i.e. electromagnetic frequency, e.g. sound or light, that expression effects a psychoactive, ethereal bridge to the 4th dimension and the Consciousness that generates, progresses and sustains all that is.

At this time, the world understands the principals of using complimentary sounds to effect brain synchronization and cognitive enhancement. Now, we understand the validity of using tone to effect remarkable physiological and psychological shifts. Furthermore, we not only accept, we embrace the mathematical plausibility of a multidimensional universe beyond the accepted 4 dimensions; length, width, height/depth and time. Today, we understand the unity of these dimensions and of all things in such a way that we can comprehend how certain harmonic patterns transmitted in the 3D expression of Life may effect links to their concurrent Life expressions in the 4D, 5D and higher realms. We understand that sound can be used to effect vibrational states whereby higher levels of perception and informations are obtained. And now, as a result of the Tzolkin acoustic translations, we are capable of taking an ordinary CD and tangibly applying dynamics of the 4th dimension to radically and positively progress individual and communal consciousness, health and vitality.

Jesus (the Christ, not Martinez) said "They that have ears to hear, let them hear." He knew not everyone was prepared to hear the enlightening Truth that Consciousness was pouring through him, nevertheless, he spoke so those who could hear It would have the opportunity to do so. I'm sure there are many people reading this who are dismissing the above as New Age delusion, at best, and that does not negate the validity of what I'm sharing, nor of my experience and the experiences of many others who have used the Tzolkin acoustic translations. At one point, we lacked the instruments to confirm we live in an heliocentric planetary system, that information can be transmitted across open air without wires, that our cells are individual microcomputers. We may not have the instruments required to validate string theory or the practical linking of our 3D experience to the vital currents of the 4th and higher dimensions using sound and/or light, however we will. Those who do or may understand and are seeking the value of the easily applied tools for personal enhancement such as the Tzolkin translations (who share this online community) deserve to hear now, and they can.

The Live Earth concerts!! Wow, speaking of hearing, the sound quality was incredible. I was online through most of the event, jumping from country to country, continent to continent. I heard a lot of great music and I heard a consistent message. The message is that we are ready to drop our individual b.s. and start making the necessary shifts in consciousness and personal responsibility necessary for planetary survival and well being. It was a motivating experience. Being motivated to directly further the positive planetary consciousness shift, I have decided to offer my company's mp3CD versions of the 4 most fundamental and dynamic Tzolkin acoustic translations at 1/2 price for 260 days, beginning July 11, (2007). The Tzolkin is a 260-day Calendar; if we're gonna do a Tzolkin music sale for the sake of raising planetary consciousness, we might as well do it for a full Calendrical cycle. (Otherwise, it's just a sale, and that's not what this is about.) The translations are among the most powerful and effective cognitive and personal enhancement tools available -- more comprehensively and enduringly effective than Hemi-Sync, Holo-Sync and other similar products -- at a very low and reasonable price for such products. Nonetheless, it's a pivotal time, and I would have DMG/DarkMother.com assist in the process of planetary ascension by making the core of our product line "Ascension" available to millions more people by simply making it more affordable.

Positive planetary climate change begins with positive planetary consciousness change. "They that have ears to hear, let them hear." Come, hear and experience Ascension @ www.DarkMother.com

May you grow daily as Light and Love,

Rev. Michaele de Cygne
President
DMG/DarkMother.com
www.DarkMother.com

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

THE NOTHING / MATRIX HAS YOU

2007-07-10T07:37:18Z

36 hours later .... NO DONATIONS SO FAR

Life is getting tricky again / worse than usual

With no donations, I have to decide whether to
cancel the website, or not be able to eat in a
week's time when my monthly payment is taken
for http://www.worldgathering.net

One reason I feel 'World Gathering' may be worth
pursuing is because two days after launching 'World
Gathering 25/26 August 2007' - on May 1st - the
power of the directed energy attack on me doubled.

This increase in harassment seemed to tell me
that there are things 'they' do not want me to do.
The truth is, though, whenever I do any large
postings on the Internet, the power of the laser,
microwave, pulse, sonic, or whatever it is, increases.

'They' just do not want me to communicate with
many other people.

Why are they worrying?

So far, hardly anyone seems interested in the
World Gathering.

A few weeks ago quite a large number of people
were copying World Gathering posters and banners
onto their websites and blogs. But I didn't really
receive feedback from anyone, saying it’s a great
idea, or promising organisation of a local supporting
event for 25/26 August.

I get a spooky feeling.

I was bankrupted in 2004 by four years of targeting,
24/7, by severe amounts of directed energy (my eyesight
went bad and I could hardly walk on many days). I was
therefore made homeless in 2004 and had my full time
attention on the Internet diverted.

The spooky feeling I get is that the world seems to
have disappeared in the three years I have been pushed
off the Net.

People won't participate.

People won't encourage other people.

People won't give donations.
(In the past three years, I have received three
donations via the Internet ... in that time many
millions of people have benefited from the information
I left on the Net and duplicated at perhaps 200+
other websites.... not a very good 'energy exchange',
is it?)

It feels like 'The Nothing' has rendered people useless.

It looks like people are lost in The Matrix.

I think the massive Chemtrail Spraying has perhaps
made most people even more apathetic than they were
three years ago.

Perhaps that is why the World Gathering 25/26 August
2007 would be important .... to help people waken up
again. And to warn the world about the 'Nothing'
spraying......

As the late Hopi elder Dan Evehema said:
We must unite for our SURVIVAL.

But .................... NO donations so far.

Michael Irving

> World Gathering 25 & 26 August 2007
> http://www.worldgathering.net
> http://www.michael-irving.com
> Mirror websites
>
> 1) Appeal By World-Action / World Gathering
> 2) Words of Inspiration To Change The World
>
> ---------
>
> 1) Appeal By World-Action / World Gathering
>
> WORLD GATHERING NEEDS DONATIONS
> - OR WEBSITE MAY GO
>
> World Gathering Needs Your Help ...
>
> http://www.worldgathering.net/news03.html
>
> I am asking people who have benefited now
> or in the past from inspiration, information
> and events organised through the various
> websites I have had over the years, to make
> a donation to help this effort to assist
> the world keep going.
>
> Can you put in a bit to help?
>
> Then, together we can press on forwards
> to help change the world.
>
> Please go to this webpage:
> http://www.worldgathering.net/news03.html
>
> Please pass this request to your friends who know
> about World-Action, Stop-Chemtrails, World Gathering,
> Inspiring Times, Words Waken World, etc. - thank you
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Sincerely,
> Michael Irving
> World Gathering, World-Action, Stop Chemtrails,
> Inspiring Times, Words Waken World, World-Action 2
> http://www.worldgathering.net
> http://www.michael-irving.com
>
> ---------
>
> 2) Words of Inspiration To Change The World
>
> "We must do what we conceive to be the right
> thing and not bother our heads or burden our
> souls with whether we will be successful.
> Because if we don't do the right thing, we
> will be doing the wrong thing and we will just
> be a part of the disease and not a part of
> the cure." - E. F. Schumacher
>
> "Each of us is put here in this time and this
> place to personally decide the future of humankind.
> Did you think you were put here for something
> less?" - Chief Arvol Looking Horse
>
> "To be yourself, in a world that tries, night
> and day, to make you just like everybody else
> - is to fight the greatest battle there ever
> is to fight, and never stop fighting."
> - e. e. cummings
>
> "We are at the final stages now ... so as our
> prophecy says. Then it must be up to the people
> with pure hearts that will not be afraid to
> help us to fulfil our destiny in peace for
> this world" - Dan Evehema, late Hopi elder
>
> "Learn to listen to the voice of truth which
> is within you and will lead you onto the path
> of evolution. This is our message to you,
> our dear friends. We have watched you growing
> for many years, just as you have watched our
> lights in the sky. You know now that we are
> here and that there are more beings on and
> around your Earth than your scientists care
> to admit. We are deeply concerned about you
> and your path towards the light and we will
> do all that we can to help you."
> --- This is the ending of the 1977 'Voice-Over
> Message' in the UK. Millions of TV viewers
> in southern England heard a voice give this
> message while normal TV pictures were shown.
> TV engineers struggled to stop the audio
> broadcast, but failed. A similar TV voice-over
> happened in the USA within a year or two
> of the above message.
>
> "Our lives begin to end the day we
> become silent about things that matter."
> - Martin Luther King, Jnr
>
> "The most courageous act is still to think
> for yourself. Aloud." - Coco Chanel
>
> "The world is now too dangerous for anything
> less than utopia." - Buckminster Fuller
>
> ---------
>
> WORLD GATHERING NEEDS DONATIONS
> - OR WEBSITE MAY GO
> World Gathering Needs Your Help ...
> http://www.worldgathering.net/news03.html
>
> ---------
>
> World Gathering 25 & 26 August 2007
> http://www.worldgathering.net
> http://www.michael-irving.com
> Mirror websites
>
> Please forward to friends and contacts
> - thank you

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Start revolution locally

2007-06-25T03:43:08Z

This was posted on another tribe I belong to. I think it needs to be shared here:

Passive:

- Know your facts! Don't spread misinformation or unverifiable stories.
- Do not pay taxes. Any.
- Do not buy food in packages, or that is shipped from anywhere further away than you can travel yourself.
- Buy only organic / naturally farmed / raised foods.
- Grow / raise food.
- Make clothing.
- Manufacture whatever you can manufacture.
- Barter.
- Buy energy saving appliances. Start with lightbulbs - it's an easy primer; get the curly kind. Look for the "Energy Star" label on appliances.
- Use freon tubing instead of conventional AC.
- Make sure all south-facing windows on your home are unobstructed.
- Install skylights.
- Install solar panels; install far more than you need for your own energy use, and sell the extra power back into the grid.
- Plant trees *where there are no trees* (and where trees are unlikely to grow otherwise), especially food trees like fruiting trees and nutting trees. Plant hemp *everywhere*.
- Investigate and invest in alternative energy sources (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, hydrogen, whatever rocks you like a hurricane).
- Walk or bike.
- Don't use gasoline for anything; don't burn oil for anything.
- Don't eat out. Save your money. Forever.
- Don't do any business with anyone you don't know. If you need service from a business, get to know someone that works there. If the company is too large for you to know someone or even try to - it's too big to ever be anything but a pointless danger and a certain drain on the world around you.
- Don't seek revenge. Don't mete out punishments. Forgive.
- Don't feel bad if you can't do it all. Do as much as you can and accept yourself inasmuch as you can convince yourself to reach just... a little... bit.... higher.

Active:

- Tell the truth!
- Fight disinformation on all sides; don't let unverifiable stories get momentum, don't give in to paranoia. Stay real, and *confront* disinformation when you encounter it. Don't let it go by without challenge.
- Be loud. Be vocal. Don't shut up. Don't shy away.
- Protest early, protest often, protest vigorously, protest cogently.
- Be active. Neighborhood council, city government, state government, federal governmet. Call your congressional reps *constantly* - make a fucking nuisance of yourself. Leave messages. Stay on hold.
- Makes signs. Freely distribute them. Put them about. Yes. Now. Do it.
- Quit your job if you don't know every single individual that works for your employer.
- Quit your job if you discover they're bad for the world around you. (good golly did *my* life ever change when i took that step)
- Find a job at which you know everyone involved with the enterprise, from the bottom up.
- Stop police from doing illegal things; video them, cellphone-video them, yell at them to stop, collect their badge numbers, file complaints. It's difficult to file a complaint; they'll try to talk you out of it and may threaten or otherwise seek to indimidate or discourage you. Don't be intimidated - document the entire experience. Remain. File that complaint. And then do it again. Immediately.
- Introduce yourself to your neighbor.
- Help your neighbor. Suggest passive revolution to your neighbor; if s/he digs it, suggest active revolution to your neighbor.
- Sabotage the efforts of wrongdoers whenever and wherever possible: free people you saw being arrested for bullshit (like, oh, protesting for instance) from police cars, take a chunk out of an elbow of the highway with a nice hefty mattock, send junk mail from one company to another company in yet another company's paid-postage commercial envelopes (stuff as *much* as possible in there), be on the lookout for any opportunity to fuck shit up.
- Raise the level of energy. Make your times crackle with danger and opportunity.
- See your ideals as goals to strive for and *achieve* - don't fantasize about things you can't and won't do. Do them.
- *Have fun* and *look good* when you're out there doing stuff. Make it look fucking cool and sexy, and make it fun as hell. Have an explosively good time.
- Take very good care of yourself and take very good care of other people around you, no matter how you feel about them individually. Love them.
- ORGANIZE. Get people together. Meet, discuss. Regular is good - once weekly, say. Workshop stuff I forgot to mention, and then come back and tell me about it, so I can tell my people and then we can do what you're doing.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

US Senate to pass National ID Card....

2007-06-12T21:12:30Z

(from http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/07/the-real-id-card-the-machine-readable-you/#comments)

The Real ID card: the machine readable you

Posted May 7th 2005 9:32AM by Barb Dybwad
Filed under: Wireless
RFID

If only it were some dystopian fiction, but the Senate is slated to pass the Real ID Act next week, which specifies that by 2008 all Americans who want to enjoy privileges such as bank accounts and air travel will be issued what will most likely be RFID-enabled ID cards (Homeland Security hasn't completely decided which machine readable technology they'll use, but they're leaning heavily towards RFID since the chips are already going to be used in our passports). The card will likely take the place of your driver's license and will store at the very minimum your name, birthdate, sex, ID number, a digital photograph and address, with the possibility of additional data such as a fingerprint or retinal scan. State DMVs will be receiving federal funds to hand over their databases, with the goal of making each state's data available to all other states. The House passed the measure on Thursday, and both the Senate and President Bush are expected to sign off on the bill next week. But the real question is, who will be the first to ask to have the chip implanted so they don't have to worry about forgetting their wallet?
==============================================
Check out these sites:
http://www.realnightmare.org/news/105/
http://www.realnightmare.org/news/16/
http://www.realnightmare.org/about/21/
ttp://www.privacycoalition.org/stoprealid/pressrelease.php#more
==============================================
Also see:

http://news.com.com/National+ID+cards+on+the+way/2100-1028_3-5573414.html
http://news.com.com/Congress+rethinks+the+Real+ID+Act/2100-1028_3-6182210.html?tag=st.ref.goo

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 5 replies

Nazi Socialist Movement Gains Momentum in South Carolina - Rally Photos from Near Home

2007-06-10T00:27:18Z

Ok - this is not meant to be alarmanistic, but please check this out.

My acquaintance and fellow Appalachian writer, Jennifer Bowen, is one of our areas leading digital, print and photography artists - she captured these images of the National Socialists Movement in America only a few days ago IN South Carolina, on the steps of the Capitol building. They had a HUGE South Carolina High Patrol security detail to protect them, South Carolina Law Enforcement Department agents combing the crowd and treating Nazi rally protestors - what in the hell is going on?

I'll make no judgements, but will simply forward the link so you can see for yourselves:

CLICK LINK TO SEE MORE PHOTOS, INFO AND ARTICLE - LOTS OF PHOTOS

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=3069261&blogID=257208563&MyToken=f66ae040-022e-4d36-b45e-49e497be98f7

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Everyone Dies

2007-05-26T09:05:37Z

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika
www.LamaJigme.com

Everyone Dies
Thursday, the 22nd of March, 2007

Everyone dies.
Jesus died.
Buddha died.
What does that say about everyday folks like me and you?

The question is NOT if we are going to die.
The question is How are we going to die.

Shall we die consumed with selfishness
and it’s fear, regret and aggression?
Or do we choose to die in peace
and it’s insight, love and joy?

That is a good way to die.
Couldn’t that also be a great way to live?

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

P.S.

Whether you invoke: Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin,
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig or the Great Compassionate One
using the Six syllable mantra pronounced
as “ Om Mani Padme Hum “ or “ Om Mani Peme Hung “ ;
the Buddha of Compassion is always there for you.

P.P.S.

If you desire to Automatically receive my latest essays
and learn when my seminar could be coming to your neck of the woods
you are welcome to subscribe to my Newsletter at
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LamaJigme

P.P.P.S

If your need is real
and your desire is earnest
you may write me at
lama_jigme_gyatso@yahoo.com

to arrange a private, Over-the-Telephone:
Teaching, Counseling or Healing Treatment.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 6 replies

World Gathering - 25 & 26 August 2007

2007-05-26T05:15:41Z

World Gathering - 25 & 26 August 2007

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering
--------------------------------------------

Please forward to friends, contacts and mailing lists.
---

World Gathering
- 25 & 26 August 2007
- Saturday and Sunday
http://www.worldgathering.net
http://www.michael-irving.com
(These 2 websites are mirror images of each other.)

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

- WORLD GATHERING 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007
- All Night Gathering On Hilltops Worldwide
- Use Powerful Flashlights To Signal Other Hilltops
- Time For The Gathering - New Dawn Coming
- Truth For The World - Peace For The World
- Global Meetings - Global Powwows
- The Truth Is Coming
- 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007 WORLD GATHERING
- HILLTOPS WORLDWIDE - BE THERE!

------------------
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Goethe
------------------
"A very great vision is needed and the person who
has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest
blue of the sky." - Chief Crazy Horse
------------------

WORLD GATHERING - August 2007
Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26
Three Events In One .....
(1) Saturday - DAY: Meet with friends and
contacts and discuss the world situation.
(2) Saturday - NIGHT: Meet on a hilltop and
shine a beacon of hope through the night.
(3) Sunday - DAY: Meet with friends and
contacts and discuss the world situation.

The main details for the World Gathering are here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/gathering.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/gathering.html

Arrange Meetings, Powwows, and Hilltop 'Beacon'
vigils for Saturday and Sunday, 25th & 26th August.
Then, send your event details to the email on this page:
http://www.worldgathering.net/contact.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/contact.html

Details of LOCAL 'World Gatherings' will be displayed
under fourteen 'World Regions'; then by Country/Nation;
then by area, state, etc. The main index for the details
of LOCAL 'World Gatherings' is on this webpage:
http://www.worldgathering.net/events.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/events.html

The World Gathering is being launched at the end of
May, 2007, so there may not be many details at our
websites for Local Events until the end of June.

'What should I organise in my area for the World
Gathering?' - Ideas and suggestions on this webpage:
http://www.worldgathering.net/yourevent.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/yourevent.html

Join our Google and/or Yahoo Newsletter lists:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldgathering

Discussion and Planning at TRIBE:
http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

Watch a short, 'World Gathering' slideshow video at
either Google Video or YouTube. Search at Google
Video or YouTube for: 'WORLD GATHERING'.

Please help publicise this unusual and unique global
linkup. Print out posters; place a WG banner on your
website; forward our Update mailings to your friends,
contacts, and mailing lists; and tell friends about the
World Gathering video at Google and YouTube.
Ideas and materials for WG promotion here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/publicity.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/publicity.html

------------------
"Use every letter you write, every conversation
you have, every meeting you attend, to express your
fundamental beliefs and dreams. Affirm to others
the vision of the world you want."
- Dr Robert Muller, formerly of the U.N.
------------------
“We are at the final stages now… so as our prophecy
says. Then it must be up to the people with pure hearts
that will not be afraid to help us to fulfil our destiny in
peace for this world.” - Dan Evehema, Hopi Nation
------------------

Additional 'World Gathering' inspiration here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/worldgathering.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/worldgathering.html

- WORLD GATHERING 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007
- All Night Gathering On Hilltops Worldwide
- Use Powerful Flashlights To Signal Other Hilltops
- Time For The Gathering - New Dawn Coming
- Truth For The World - Peace For The World
- Global Meetings - Global Powwows
- The Truth Is Coming
- 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007 WORLD GATHERING
- HILLTOPS WORLDWIDE - BE THERE!

World Gathering
25 & 26 August 2007
http://www.worldgathering.net
http://www.michael-irving.com
(These 2 websites are mirror images of each other.)

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

Please forward to friends, contacts and mailing lists.

Thank you. World Gathering.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

3rd Amazonian Shamanism Conference: Iqutios, Peru

2007-04-13T17:49:22Z

We are writing to inform you that the 3rd International Amazonian Shamanism Conference: Healing Plants, Navigational Tools, Dietas and much more... will again be held in Iquitos, Peru on the banks of the Amazon river in the middle of the Upper Amazon. Iquitos has a very passive population of nearly 400,000 peope, internet cafes everywhere, 8,000 three wheeled motor-car-taxix, etc.. The dates are: 07-07-07-14 (2007, July 7th - 14th).
The first two Conferences each drew around 170 like minded individuals from all over the Globe. WE hope you can make it. This year we have more shamans that ever, all of them are hand picked and excellent.

The website is: www.soga-del-alma.org click on shamanism conference

all the good things,
alan shoemaker

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

MAPS SF Fundraiser - April 28th - now with more guests and artists!

2007-04-10T23:33:44Z

MAPS Fundraiser: "The Final Frontier"

Brought to you by False Profit and MAPS--the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

April 28, 2007
8pm - sunrise
at a private star trek theme luxury home in San Francisco, CA

Featuring
Keynote By MAPS president Rick Doblin
and special guests:
* Stan and Christina Grof
* Ralph Metzner
* Erik Davis
* Anjuli Verma (ACLU Drug Law Reform Project)
* Allen Hopper (ACLU Drug Law Reform Project)
* Matt Baggott
* Dale Gieringer (NORML)
* Angel Raich (Medical Marijuana Patient)
* David Jay Brown (author)
* Steph Sherer (ASA)

Visionary Live Painting by:
* Robert Venosa
* Martina Hoffmann
* David Heskin
* Mars-1
(50% of proceeds on art sales go to MAPS)

Additional Artwork by:
Andrew Jones and Andrew Gonzales

Music by:
Welder (Myspace.com/weldersounds)
Dr. Toast (False Profit)
Kitty-D (Glitch Mob, Beat Church)
Neptune (Beat Church, Spiritual Technologies)
Auralox (MAPS)

Libations and Food provided by:
DogStar Catering
www.psychedeli.org

Open Bar before Midnight - Cash Bar after Midnight!

Special Chill Space provided by Fuzzy Philippe

Visit this address to find out more info and to purchase tickets on the MAPS website...

http://www.maps.org/bayarea/
~~~
~MAPS "Final Frontier" Fundraiser Tickets and Availability~
* there are 4 floating tiers @ $100, $200, $300, and $400

Tiers are as such:
1) Final Frontier “Bones” Tickets: limited availability @ $100
2) Final Frontier “Spock” Tickets: 35 available @ $200
3) Final Frontier “Captain Picard” Tickets: 10 available @ $300
Come early for a cocktail reception with the presenters at 7pm
4) Final Frontier “Captain Kirk” Tickets: 10 available @ $400+
Sponsor the ticket of a special guest and come early for a cocktail reception with the presenters at 7pm

LOW on $$$??? --- Inquire about an additional limited number of low cost tickets by submitting a ONE PAGE request detailing your interest in attending the event, financial situation and naming a price that you can afford to pay to:
stephen@maps.org

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

EMERGENCY ALERT: F.C.C MEETING ON MEDIA CONSOLIDATION 4/29/07 TAMPA FLORIDA

2007-04-06T19:13:20Z

EMERGENCY ALERT: F.C.C MEETING ON MEDIA CONSOLIDATION 4/29/07 TAMPA FLORIDA
Category: News and Politics

Official FCC Hearing on
Media Ownership
Monday, Apr. 30, Tampa, Fla.

http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=tampa

Tampa Speaks Out
OWNERSHIP HEARING 101:

Learn the FCC Basics
The FCC's rulemaking process and how you can make a difference.

What Should I Say?
Tips for testifying before the commissioners.

Four Points to Remember
Some important points to take to the hearings.

Read About the FCC's 'National Disgrace'
The FCC has abandoned its mandate to ensure diversity in U.S. media.

Recursos en Espanol

The FCC is holding its fourth official public hearing on media ownership issues in Tampa, Fla.:

Date: Monday, Apr. 30, 2007
Time: TBD (likely late afternoon)
Location: TBD

The hearing will feature panel presentations by local broadcasters and community leaders with opportunities for public comment after.

This public hearing is one of the public's few chances to speak out against Big Media before FCC Chairman Kevin Martin moves to lift the last significant limits to runaway media consolidation.

Martin has promised to "hold public hearings in diverse locations around the country to fully involve the American people" in the FCC's review of media ownership rules. The Tampa event will be the fourth of "half a dozen" proposed hearings.

At the first official hearing, held in Los Angeles, more than 1,000 members of the public attended and overwhelming expressed their opposition to any rule changes that would let Big Media companies swallow up more local outlets. Similar sentiments were expressed in Nashville and Harrisburg, Pa..

..

The F.C.C. wants to change the rules to let multibillion dollar media companies like News Corp, Viacom, Disney and Time Warner get even bigger. They're preparing to let giant media corporations buy up more local TV channels, radio stations and newspapers across America.

http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=fcc
Learn about the FCC's rules
..

The largest media conglomerates rake in billions by owning TV stations, cable channels, newspapers, radio stations, publishing houses and more.
Check out our interactive ownership chart
http://www.stopbigmedia.com/chart.php
What's at Stake
http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=learn

The Federal Communications Commission is once again taking up the issue of media ownership and deciding how media ownership rules should be changed. As FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has warned: "They screwed it up once. Believe me, they're 100 percent capable of screwing it up again."

That's why it's crucial for the public to weigh in now. Here's what's at stake:

* Big Media stifle viewpoints: If a corporation like News Corp. can buy multiple media outlets in a single city or town, it gains immense influence over what information is available. Consolidated corporations strip local newsrooms of staff, while pushing aside competing points of view. That means less diversity of voices and a narrower range of debate.

* Big Media don't serve local communities: In exchange for their free and exclusive use of the public airwaves, broadcasters such as Sinclair are supposed to serve the public interest. Yet they frequently ignore important local issues, pander to sensationalism, provide biased coverage of elections, and stifle diverse viewpoints.

* Big Media ignore diversity: Corporate media conglomerates like Tribune Company are more concerned with profits than responsible programming. Coverage of issues important to people of color, the working class and rural citizens are squelched or ignored because these people aren't advertisers' target audiences.

Without ownership limits, giant national corporations can buy up local stations and newspapers, eliminate diverse, local and independent programming. If the FCC is serious about fostering localism and diversity, it must enact protections against consolidated corporate ownership.

For decades, the biggest media companies have had the ear of the FCC and Congress, while the public has been ignored. As the FCC rewrites is ownership rules and Congress debates legislation that will shape the entire media system for years to come, it's time our policymakers listened to the public, not just the corporate lobbyists.
Costs of Consolidation
In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission attempted to loosen media ownership rules that would have unleashed a massive wave of corporate consolidation of radio, television and newspapers entities across the country.

The courts sent these rules back to the FCC for a rewrite. Now, as the FCC embarks upon writing new rules, the stakes are even higher:

* A handful of media companies dominate what you watch on television. As their influence spreads to other outlets, the diversity of what you see diminishes.

Five media conglomerates — Viacom/CBS, Disney, Time Warner, News Corp. and NBC/GE — control the big four networks, 80 percent of the primetime television market share, most cable channels, as well as vast holdings in radio, publishing, movie studios, music, Internet and other sectors. (To learn more, visit StopBigMedia.com's ownership charts)

Minority ownership — a crucial source of diverse and varied viewpoints -- has declined significantly over the past decade. Today, only 3.3% of television stations are minority-owned.

* Media conglomerates now stand to make incredible new profits from the public airwaves with no accountability to the public interest.

Over the next few years, television conglomerates will begin broadcasting digitally. This means that in the space it used to take to broadcast the local affiliate of ABC, NBC or CBS, these corporations will now be able to fit six or more stations — ABC-1, ABC-2, and so on. This opens up countless new revenue streams, and indeed, plans are already in the works to have infomercial-driven new channels pump up corporate profits.

The total worth of the publicly owned airwaves that U.S. broadcasters utilize has been valued at $367 billion -- more than the GDP of many nations — but the public has never been paid a dime in return. Now, these conglomerates claim they can't afford to be accountable to the public interest.

* Media consolidation has stifled independent voices and threatened public access to information.

Consolidation is killing local media choices. Since 1975, two-thirds of newspaper owners have disappeared, and one-third of television owners have vanished. There are less than 300 unique owners of the nation's 1,500 daily newspapers, and more than half of all U.S. markets are dominated by one paper.

Moreover, the number of radio station owners has plummeted by 35 percent since 1996, when ownership rules were gutted. That year, the largest radio owners controlled fewer than 65 stations; today, radio giant Clear Channel alone owns over 1,100.

* If the current ownership rules are eliminated, local communites will be turned into "company towns," where one media conglomerate dominates the public discourse.

Big Media wants the FCC to lift the restrictions on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership and allow one company to own two or more television stations in a single market. If the rules are changed, the largest conglomerates will immediately begin swapping newspaper and television properties. Then the radio giants like Clear Channel will begin selling off their already consolidated radio holdings for billions to the other dominant companies, creating local and regional media fiefdoms.

If FCC Chairman Kevin Martin tries to push through changes similar to those rejected in 2003, one company could potentially own the major daily newspaper, eight radio stations and three television stations in the same town. Once the digital television transition is completed in 2009 – allowing stations to broadcast multiple signals – one company could control 12 or even 18 television channels in a single city.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Ode To Voltaire A.K.A. The Kabbalah Rabbi

2007-03-12T06:32:27Z

You've been praying to the hebrew alphabet again
This time the natural disaster came
They prayed
To no avail
Your revealed religion nonscense
Keeps your position alive
Thankyou for preying on the feeble
My reason is intact
Crush the infamy
If they did'nt hear the first time
Crush the infamy
If they did'nt understand
Crush the infamy
As you expose yourselves
Oh rabbi, priest and imaam

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Jigga (a free-prose for your cognitive liberty.)

2007-03-12T06:31:44Z

The jigga doesnt understand liberty
Has a problem with cognition
Inadequate in valuing sovereignty of the individual and such
Luckily a government sheme
Wanting to neo-jim crow
The civil expectants

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Meal Blessing

2007-03-04T02:07:29Z

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika
www.LamaJigme.com

A Meal Blessing
Saturday, the 3rd of March, 2007

Mr. S, recently wrote:

“Everyday so many beings are dying or died.
Everyday so many are left behind.
A tornado stuck in Alabama.
People are dying in wars, of illnesses, starvation, and the like.

If you could take some time each day
and say a prayer or dedicate the merit of your practice
to those who dies and those who are left behind,
it would be a good thing to do.”

Dear Mr. S,

I was taught
that every meal or drink of water
is a great opportunity to both
generate and share good karma.

I do so
with the following prayers:

#1
Thank you La-ma Chen-re-zig
for your presence in my life.
Thank you for pacifying my karmic negativities
increasing my virtuous merit

guiding me directly and indirectly
and lavishing me with the blessings
of your body, speech and mind;
Om Ma-ni Pad-me Hum!

#2
I partake of this delicious food {water}
as an offering
to La-ma Chen-re-zig
who emanates

in his pea-sized aspect
of bliss-inducing light
upon this Throat-center;
Om Ma-ni Pad-me Hum!

#3
May ALL who have perished
over the last Forty-nine days
especially all who have perished
in the provision of this meal

or at my hand
now take immediate and auspicious Po-ta-la rebirth
without any other rebirths intervening.
And once there quickly accomplish full enlightenment

so they can better aid and liberate all others;
Om Ma-ni Pad-me Hum!

#4
By this virtue may I quickly attain
the enlightened state of La-ma Chen-re-zig
and then lead every living being
without exception to that state.

#5
May everyone be healthy, wealthy and happy,
may everyone practice skillfully and joyfully,
may everyone accomplish Chen-re-zig in THIS life
and then help many others do likewise;

for truly that is the meaning of life;
Om Ma-ni Pad-me Hum!

Mr. S,
Most of us eat three meals every day,
and drink a little water every hour,
so this three minuet practice could very well be performed 12-16 times every day.
I certainly hope this helps you to be of greater service to others.

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

P.S.

Whether you invoke: Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin,
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig or the Great Compassionate One
using the Six syllable mantra pronounced
as “ Om Mani Padme Hum “ or “ Om Mani Peme Hung “ ;
the Buddha of Compassion is always there for you.

P.P.S.

If you desire to Automatically receive my latest essays
and learn when my seminar could be coming to your neck of the woods
you are welcome to subscribe to my Newsletter at
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LamaJigme

P.P.P.S

If your need is real
and your desire is earnest
you may write me at
lama_jigme_gyatso@yahoo.com

to arrange a private, Over-the-Telephone:
Teaching, Counseling or Healing Treatment.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Invitation to a Peace Symposium

2007-02-06T14:00:30Z

INVITATION TO A PEACE SYMPOSIUM establishing the
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR THE MIDDDLE EAST (TRCME)

At Galillee / Bethlehem

August 6-12, 2008

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE SYMPOSIUM

ON

Ending The Wars, Making The Peace

And announcing the formation of an

ECOCOUNCIL OF THE MIDDLE EAST

This gathering is open to all whom have the long term interests of peacemaking in Israel and Palestine and particularly in finding a solution to the cultural and religious aspects of the conflict. It is being held in both Israel and Palestine to make it possible for participants to come both from both sides of the dispute.

The Sea of Galilee is a sacred place for both Jews, Christian and Muslims, and Bethlehem is also an important spiritual centre for all sides.. Among other participants we hope a number of Islamic scholars, Sufis, Rabbis, Kabbalists, Christian clergy, Christian mystics, Bahais, secularists and peace activists from both contemporary Israeli and Palestinian society as well as internationally will be in attendance.

With the peace process in the Middle East having stalled for too long, having moved so far, it is the hope of this symposium to encourage a healthy debate between both Israeli and Palestinian peace thinkers, activists and spiritual leaders, so as to vision together a long future for both Israel and Palestine, and one which will be beyond the threat or fear of violence.

We also intend to launch at this gathering a new body, an Eco-Council for the Middle East which will serve as a forum for representation of all those interested in the ecology of the wider Middle East region: with the Sea of Galilee dying, fishes depleted, and global warming effecting our weather patterns, we have an increasing ecological responsibility to end our conflicts and feuds, and pursue ways of peace, justice and harmony.

All those who have thought for the long term sustainability of our environment, who love and care for this magical and mysterious part of the world, and who have the protection of our sacred places at heart, and who have specific news of environmental issues and campaigns in their part of the world, are invited to attend or send representatives.

Hosting the meeting is Dr Thomas Daffern, Director of the International Institute of Peace Studies and Global Philosophy and founder of the Global Green University.

If you are able to attend, or send a representative, or if you can help with the administrative work involved in establishing the new TRCMI, or if you can help with funding, or prayer work. ,please contact:

The International Institute Of Peace Studies And Global Philosophy,
Llanerfyl, Nr. Welshpool, Powys, Wales, SY21 OER, Tel/Fax. 01938 820586 (m) 07951 600959 Email:iipsgp@educationaid.net Website:www.educationaid.net

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

finding the way

2007-01-27T18:09:17Z

Who are you? What is your purpose? And, What is all this stuff?

I wondered if I had a special purpose in life when I was a young shy puppy of a human. Then I discovered that my purpose lie in breathing, living arduously, and facing the environment with no fear. We are all the most naked animals on earth. An endangered species. So I feel my purpose is that. I am you, and you are me. Unless of course you are another species. But then we would still be on the same boat.

And what is all this stuff for? Some of it arose from desire, like plastics and bullets. But the majority of it was created by the universe. If the universe is building up to producing more and more complex machines and organic entities then the next step must be toward further expansion. We as terrans have evolved to the side step of what is inevitable to carry on life as some of us know it.

The next step will be a homocyber species. Whose, fundamental instinctual nature it will allow it to transverse lands we could only imagine. For us these things take time. For the machine, the mundane rituals of expressing thought through fingers on a keypad will become one movement.

And wisdom is sweet. And freedom.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

peyote

2007-01-10T21:31:48Z

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/news/utah_peyote_case.html

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

Energy Vampire?

2007-01-03T22:54:17Z

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika
www.LamaJigme.com

Energy Vampire?
Wednesday, the 3rd of January, 2007

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually Driven by anxiety or fear?
Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually Defensive or insecure?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually Self-centered or inconsiderate?
Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually Annoyed or angry?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually Controlling or manipulative?
Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be habitually, Disorganized, scattered or irresponsible?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be forever denying personal responsibility or accountability
for poor planning, disorganization or irresponsibility,
often demanding, no less expecting, others to come to the rescue?

How could folks respond to you, or maybe someone you know?
Are folks typically enthused and energized by encounters
with you, or maybe someone you know;
or could they often be left feeling drained, fatigued or annoyed?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be more defensive then spiritually ambitious?
Could you, or maybe someone you know;
be an Energy Vampire?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
thirst for a more meaningful existence?

Could you, or maybe someone you know;
hunger for greater:
Compassion, Insight, Peace,
Devotion, Bliss and Love?

Then now, quick, hurry:
find an effective teacher of Emotional Alchemy,
receive his or her blessings and guidance,
put his instructions into practice
and accomplish the path in THIS life!

Why? Why? Why?
Because the alternative
is UN-thinkable!

Because the alternative
is UN-bearable.

Because the alternative
denies your destiny.

Lord Buddha was born
to accomplish full enlightenment in one life
and take away the sufferings of the world.

Are you ready for the secret?
That is also why we were all born.
It is exactly why You were born!

Now!
Now is the time for action;

now is the time to find a teacher,
now is the time to receive the teachings,
now is the time to practice the teachings,
now is the time to accomplish the path!

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

P.S.

Whether you invoke: Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin,
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig or the Great Compassionate One
using the Six syllable mantra pronounced
as “ Om Mani Padme Hum “ or “ Om Mani Peme Hung “ ;
the Buddha of Compassion is always there for you.

P.P.S.

If you desire to Automatically receive my latest essays
and learn when my seminar could be coming to your neck of the woods
you are welcome to subscribe to my Newsletter at
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/LamaJigme

P.P.P.S

In two weeks, I will be teaching “Emotional Alchemy”
at the “Healing Weekend” seminar
in Anaheim, California,
during the weekend of January 13th and 14th.

My seminars tend to fill up quickly.
So, to reserve your seat
contact my seminar partner, Alan F. Rockefeller,
now at (619) 746-2171
or simply write him at alanfrock2@yahoo.com

P.P.P.P.S

It has been said that “Outer Beauty comes from Inner Rapture.”
This April, I will be teaching the “Blissful Path”
at the “Five Days of Buddha Bliss” spa retreat
in Orange County, California.

To reserve your accommodations
contact my seminar partner, Alan F. Rockefeller,
now at (619) 746-2171
or simply write him at alanfrock2@yahoo.com

P.P.P.P.P.S.

When you desire to learn more about
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika,
“Emotional Alchemy,” “Blissful Path” or
Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion
explore www.LamaJigme.com

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

CCLE Top News Winter 2006

2006-12-20T20:19:21Z

******************************************************
Top Cognitive Liberty News | Winter 2006/7
From the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (ccle)
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org
>> Read this online at: http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/topnews.html
******************************************************

In 2006 CCLE operated with a strategy that gives priority to setting and supporting high-level long-term protections for cognitive liberty.

Instead of reacting to the daily flux of hot-button cognitive liberty issues, our mission and projects are primarily designed to address the larger trends. By focusing on the long term and making necessary investments in the future, our efforts have a higher probability of securing a more systemic recognition and protection of freedom of thought. For a small organization like ours, which currently operates with volunteers, a minimal budget, and project-based grants, this strategy makes the best use of our resources.

We're happy to report that having now completed our first full year of operating with this longer horizon, we are already seeing cumulative benefits that should continue to compound over time. As we prepare to enter 2007, we are pleased to see the ripples of cognitive liberty continuing to make waves.

As always, we depend upon unique individuals like you to keep the Center operating.

If you haven't made a donation in some time, please take 5 minutes right now to donate whatever you can. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your donations to the CCLE are tax-deductible.

To donate online visit:

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html

Thanks for your interest in the work of the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics, and have a fantastic new year!

===========================================
Cognitive Liberty from Stanford to the United Nations
UN Panel: http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/ieet_iheu20061201/
Stanford: http://sentientdevelopments.blogspot.com/2006/06/hethr-reviews.html
===========================================

In the Spring of 2006, the CCLE teamed up with the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences, to hold a 3-day conference on Human Enhancement Technologies and Human Rights. Conversations that began at that conference, were recently continued at the UN Plaza in New York during an evening panel organized by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and The Appignani Center for Bioethics (the United Nation bioethics liaison office of the International Humanist and Ethical Union). Among the panelists and other participants who discussed the impacts of emerging neurotechnologies on cognitive liberty were James J. Hughes, executive director of the IEET, Elizabeth Phelps Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University, and Bradley Lewis MD, Ph.D., who teaches at the Gallatin School at New York University.

===========================================
CCLE provides input for CBS 60 Minutes segment "A Pill to Forget"
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/22/60minutes/main2205629.shtml
===========================================

Earlier this year, CCLE Senior Legal Fellow Richard Glen Boire spoke with producers from the 60 Minutes television show to provide the CCLE's viewpoint on new medications that are proving helpful at diminishing painful memories and treating post traumatic stress disorder. Richard also discussed a wide range of other cognitive liberty issues and story ideas with the producers, some of which may show up in future broadcasts. On Nov. 26, CBS's 60 Minutes broadcast the memory pill segment with favorable discussion on the core issue of an individual's right to manage his or her own memories and cognitive processes.

===========================================
RGB at TED Conference, March 2007
http://www.ted.com/
===========================================

Richard Glen Boire was invited to attend the 2007 TED conference in Monterey, California. This is an exciting opportunity to connect with 1000 of the most creative and visionary people on the planet today. The TED conference should be a fertile bed for spreading the cognitive liberty meme, and networking with other forward-looking ideas and projects that will be discussed during the three-day meeting. If you'll be attending TED, please let us know!

===========================================
Wrye Teaching Technology & Human Values at UC Davis
===========================================

After designing a new course on "Technology and Human Values" and discussing it with administrators at the University of California, Davis, CCLE Director Wrye Sententia was hired to teach the course in Summer 2006. The course covers topics such as cognitive enhancement, technologies of perception, and neuroethics in literature. The course was a definite success and will likely be offered in years to come. Following the success of her teaching, Wrye was hired as full-time faculty during the 2006/2007 academic year.

===========================================
CCLE Publications
===========================================
* Boire, Richard Glen & Feeney, Kevin _Medical Marijuana Law_ Ronin Press, [Due Spring 2007] (A new book on current medical marijuana laws. Co-authored, with Kevin Feeney, CCLE Summer Fellow.) << http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Marijuana-Richard-Glen-Boire/dp/1579510345/>>

* Boire, Richard Glen, "Neurocops: Drug Policy and the Future of Enforcing Social Policy From Inside the Body," Law Review Article in _Journal of Law and Health_ [Due Spring 2007] (Law review article on new trend toward "pharmacotherapy".) <<http://www.law.csuohio.edu/students/JLH/index.html>>

* Boire, Richard Glen, "Civil Liberties for the Mind," Chapter in _Neuromarketing: An Introduction_ (ed. Nareen Taher) ICFAI University Press, 2006 (Business text book). <<http://www.icfaipress.org/books/>>

* Boire, Richard Glen, "Student Drug Testing is an Invasion of Privacy," Chapter in _Drug Testing: At Issue_ (ed. Cindy Mur) Thomson & Gale, 2006 (Student text book). <<http://www.gale.com/greenhaven>>

==========================================
CCLE Fellow Dr. Danielle Turner honored for her research
http://www.thes.co.uk/Awards/2006/
==========================================

CCLE Fellow, Danielle Turner, was short-listed for the Britain-based Times Higher Education "Young Researcher of the Year" award, sponsored by the UK Research Council. Danielle's CCLE role, interests, and research in cognitive enhancement, are featured on page 10 of this comprehensive document: http://www.thes.co.uk/upload/2032695/Awards2006%20shortlist.pdf

===========================================
Research Grant Update: Collateral Punishments
===========================================

The CCLE has completed the first 6-month phase (legal research) of a year-long project funded by the Marijuana Policy Project. Our study examines the hidden punishments (e.g., loss of public housing, restrictions on adoption, professional licenses and employment bars, etc.) that are triggered by a marijuana conviction. The results of this comprehensive study will be available in early Summer 2007.

============================================================
SUPPORT THE CCLE - PLEASE DONATE TODAY
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html
============================================================
Most nonprofit organizations rely primarily on the generosity of individual donors in order to be effective. The CCLE is no exception; indeed 90 percent of our support comes from individuals like you. If you are learning about the CCLE for the first time, we invite you to join the community that supports our work. And if you are a current or past supporter, we invite you to reaffirm the stand you have taken, and consider increasing your support this year. Your support has never been more crucial. Please give what you can. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE WHAT YOU CAN!

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html
How do we do all this innovative work? Because unique people like you make the CCLE one of the charities they actively support. The CCLE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible in the US. Big donations, such as transferring appreciated stock, provide major tax advantages and really help us to plan beyond the short-term. Please make a donation today, and give whatever you can.

Thank you!

Top Cognitive Liberty News is a free service provided by the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics. The CCLE is rights-based public policy organization dedicated to promoting freedom of thought. The CCLE depends entirely on the private donations of individuals who seek to protect and enhance freedom of thought in the 21st century.

SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE HERE: http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/email_subscribe.html----------------------------------------

PO Box 73481
Davis, California 95617
United States

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

A constitutional amendment banning torture, secret prisons, and extraordinary rendition

2006-12-12T04:44:16Z

The first constitutional amendment I would like to propose for your consideration is an amendment banning torture, secret prisons, and extraordinary rendition. I present the text of it below. for the full essay & analysis please see:
http://demablogue.typepad.com/

Amendment XXVIII

Section 1. Amendments V, VI, and VIII shall be understood to apply to all persons, US citizens and non-citizens alike, in times of war as well as in times of peace.

Section 2. Neither the US government nor any branch of the Military or the Intelligence Services shall hold any person without trial or without access to a lawyer, under any circumstances whatsoever.

Section 3. Neither the US government nor any of its agencies shall hold any person, citizen or non-citizen, in any form of secret prison or detention center. Any prison operated by the US government or any of its agencies shall allow access by the media, lawyers, the Red Cross or any other medical agency, and any international watchdog agency wishing to verify the humane conditions therein. These agencies or persons must have access to individual prisoners for private interviews for the purposes of verifying the humane conditions of the prison.

Section 4. Torture of any kind, on any person, citizen or non-citizen, held by the US government or any of its agencies, is espressly forbidden. Torture shall be understood to mean the intentional infliction of any kind of pain or discomfort, physical, mental, or psychological, whether for the purposes of extracting information or not.

Section 5. The US government, or any of its agencies, may not transfer any prisoner, citizen or non-citizen, for any reason, to the custody of any other nation, agency, government or corporation that does not guarantee the same rights and protections specified in this amendment, or that has a verifiable record of torture or other human rights violations.

Section 6. Any prisoners currently held by the US government, or any of its agencies, in conditions prohibited by this amendment, shall be guaranteed trial or released within six months of the passage of this amendment.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 14 replies

the social cage

2006-12-08T01:57:42Z

1. Our society is based on Christian morality and ethics, which is anti intellectual, and anti"supernatural."
The whole point of christianity is to keep people from having genuine spiritual experiences so that those people can be controlled.
The whole point of Christianity is to keep people inside a mental cage, keep them dull and slow, and beholden to the Church. The whole point of Christianity is to make people into sheep; to herd people against their better interests away from the possibility of having genuine spiritual experience. If you could talk to god, you would usurp the churches authority over you. The whole point of christianity is to keep people in a cage of "Faith" and "Belief." They demand merely that you believe in their propaganda and lies, and provide no access to actual spiritual reality. If you follow their advice on spiritual matters, you will demonize the reptilian mind and thus end up inside an eternal war inside the psyche with yourself.

2. Atheism, Agnosticism, Satanism, New Age, And Anarchism are all easy rebellions in a hatbox that are designed to give people prescribed means and thought patterns by which to rebel against christianity, while still caging them in the box of thinking other peoples thoughts, and while still caging them in the box of not having actual spiritual experiences, and caging them in the box of not having access
to altered states of consciousness. Each of these paradigms appeals to people with different temperments, but each of them is really just the same psychological sentiment; "Christianity is bogus, so rebel." The problem is that the rebellion is thus contained and made harmless by paradigms which fail to disclose that they are really just branches of Christianity. Atheism is just Another type of Christianity;
The Christians who don't believe in God. They make all the same assumptions, and they use all the same false dualities. They are proponents of the same morality, and the same "belief" based system of thinking. Atheism denies that god exists and manages to pull this off because due to christianity, most people haven't experienced god. But Atheism is just a reversal; a belief in not believing. All of these paradigm are just Christianity in photo negative; an experiment in double think; simply reversing a belief system and turning it inside out and then pretending that its not the same thing that you started with.

3. Most other paradigms are infiltrated. The New Age movement is cointelpro operated and authored. They use infiltrators posing as legitamate participants to conquer and divide within. Wicca, the Hippie movement, and American Versions of Budhism all suffer from being
infiltrated and watered down so that they don't work and don't deliver the actual access to altered states of consciousness, or personal psychological liberty. The main and most dominant feature of this is that the one thing they will attempt to prevent at all costs is for anybody to have a genuine spiritual experience. If people start experiencing God or altered states of consciousness, they will very quickly realize that they hve been misled and controlled, and their capacity to remain controlled will rapidly evaporate. Spirituality is thus used by the vampyres
and luxocrats as a means to control the masses, as a way to program people and control mob movements.

4. This includes the modern sciences, which would be all of them much further along were it not for the intentional propaganda and lies and political mucking around that is done to keep people from gaining momentum with science knowledge. Modern psychology could deliver on the promise to build a functional spiritual practice, but its infiltrated and scattered and turned into a bickerfest instead of putting all of the peices of the puzzle together, Modern Psychology is really about 50 white men, their ideas, a few token other people, their ideas, and the bickering that ensues as people try to use theories as politicized excuses for more social control, esp psychiatry, which is hellbent on drugging people to keep them stupid. All of the sciences are effected, even the hard sciences. We would have hovercars and soft nuclear power and all sorts of free energy devices and all kinds of technologies were it not for the fact that the luxocrats control technology so that it benefits keeping them rich. Technologies which would empower individuals are hidden, destroyed, or obfuscated. Free energy devices are patents that are bought up by the oil industry (usually under serious pressure) and which are then not implemented.

5. Despite all of this, acheiving real spiritual experiences is actually very simple if you get your facts straight. The simple use of modern psychologies tools can bypass all the bickering created by religions, and its very easy if you know what you are looking at to apply modern psychology to get reproducable results. The simple formulae to follow is this;
A; There are four main states of consciousness when measured according to brainwaves.
B; Each of these states of consciousness can be further subdivided into two main types; sleeping and waking states.
C; Most people will only ever experience while awake only one brainwave state.
D; All four types of brainwaves are going on all the time. What state you are in depends mostly on which brainwave type is dominant,
and which areas of the brain are operational. A lot of trickery goes on getting people into alleged altered states of consciousness when they are actually still in a beta state but with increased activity of the other types of brainwaves. Most hoaxes are based on not telling you the difference between simply adding two brainwave patterns together, and actually changing state.
E; Beta Brainwaves are the ones responsible for waking states of consciousness.
F; Alpha, Delta, And Theta brainwave states are mostly only ever experienced by people who are asleep. Spiritual life is really about acheiveing waking versions of alpha, delta, and theta brainwave states.
G; It is next to impossible to acheive waking delta states without first learning to acheive waking alpha states, and next to impossible to acheive waking theta states without first acheiving waking delta states. One has to learn to crawl, then walk, then run, each level builds skills which enable and empower exploration at the next level.

6. New age materials are intentional misinformation, and a lot of that kind of information if followed will yeild no results, or bad results.
For every good reality model or schema out there, there are five more that were designed just to flood the market and make it harder to get
anywhere. Most alleged Psychics are fakers, frauds, and Charlatans. Most alleged "Channelers" are just selling books with a cheap gimmick.

7. The most useful paradigms other than modern psychology to help one get anywhere useful come from genuine spiritual paths of shamanistic societies. Wicce, Wicca, Stregheria, Druidism, Huna, Taoism, Budhism are all examples of religions which can work to help a person achieve genuine spiritual experiences. However, each of these paradigms has also been infiltrated by propaganda warriors who water thigns down, give disinfo and lies, and who in general try to make the paradigm useless for most people. Most western practicioners of these shamanistic paths thus still get no traction from their efforts because they don't know how to sort the good from the bad.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 14 replies

next three days: protect school children from forced drugging

2006-12-06T20:24:53Z

MindFreedom News - 6 December 2006
http://www.mindfreedom.org - please forward

Next 3 days -- URGENT:

To all USA citizens -- left or right, red or
blue!

Help last minute push for bill to protect
US kids from psychiatric drug abuse!

What bill unites Americans of *all* political
stripes -- red and blue
-- from NAACP to Eagle Forum?

It is a simple, commonsense bill to protect USA
families from
pressure by schools to put their kids on
psychiatric drugs.

The next three days (12/6 to 12/8) is your last
chance in 2006 to get
this bill through the US Senate.

The Child Medication Safety Act was first
introduced in Congress in
2003. It passed the House overwhelmingly but was
killed in the
Senate. Essentially the same bill was
re-introduced in the House in
2005. HR 1790 again passed the House
overwhelmingly -- 407 to 12 --
and now is awaiting action by the Senate.

The Child Medication Safety Act (CMSA) would
prohibit schools from
requiring parents to put their children on
powerful psychotropic
medications as a condition of keeping them in
school.

It's the end of the legislative cycle on this
year's bill, and that's
where you come in!

~~~~~~~~~~

ACTION ACTION ACTION

1) Please phone the office of Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist at
1-202-224-3344 and ask him:

"Please put the Child Medication Safety Act (HR
1790) on the
unanimous consent calendar -- the list of
non-controversial bills --
and pass it this week."

[Note: The office is busy, it may take several
rings for the phone to
be answered, don't give up.]

2) Ask others to do the same! Forward this alert
with personal words
of encouragement! Let's get lots of citizens to
inundate Sen. Frist's
office with civil, polite, but firm requests!

3) Also, please contact your two US Senators and
ask them to support
this bill. Plus, it is time for everyone who
cares about the problem
of kids and psychiatric drugs to know their
Senators' staff who work
on health issues both at home and in D.C.! We may
need to try again
in 2007.

To easily find your two Senators' full contact
information (phone,
Internet, etc.) you may use the pull down menu in
the upper right
hand corner of the Senate web site here:

http://www.senate.gov/

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Four out of five Fascists agree..

2006-12-02T05:56:43Z

.. GWB has gone too far for even THEM this time.

Hey kids, remember those funny little concepts like "freedom from persecution" and "civil liberties". Say goodbye to those, and hello to the "Military Commission’s Act of 2006"
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15220450/

The writ of habeas corpus (burden of proof, basically) no longer applies to those deemed by a military tribunal formed and appointed by president or secretary of defense to be enemies or foreign hostiles. How are they proved to be "enemies or foreign hostiles", one might ask. See above; the writ of habeas corpus no longer applies..
In other words, you can be sentenced or held indefinitely, without stated cause, if you are declared a threat to security; and once you are, no proof need be given.

I wish I were exaggerating, or taking the alarmist position. This is real, this is now.

I'll be holding a funeral for the constitution in my back yard. Unless I'm wrongly imprisoned before then..

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 7 replies

COGNITIVE LIBERTY...the key to immortality

2006-11-29T00:41:06Z

hello
The first chapter of my book after 25 years of research has within it the keys to IMMORTALITY IN PREPARATION FOR ASCENSION.
FROM CHAPTER ONE TAKE X the healing factor , apply it to the blood , body and brain, this will make the human body all positive and Immortal, once you have read the book , contact me for the 3 ways it will be done…2 slow , 1 on mass.....(via a pyramid using the Sun and Sirius energy on the dog days).... the the pyramids will be opened later on FOR LIGHT WORKERS,I hope you understand what I am saying...................Tell all your light worker friends to get the book as I am a Light Worker myself, who has been presented now with the understandings of immortality ,which I must give to other light workers. This is the information you have to pass on for the good of all light workers.
in the light
Dominic
I recommend my book ORMUS FROM AUTHORHOUSE
www.authorhouse.com/BookStor...alog.aspx
ORMUS, ORME....WHITE GOLD ...The manna, the white powder of gold, is the food, the light, one takes into their body. It is the FOOD OF THE GODS. A modern day Rabbi might tell you that no one has known how to make the manna, the white powder of Gold, since the destruction of the Temple of Solomon. The technique is, supposedly, a lost art or lost knowledge. But others argue that when the high priests left the Temple (when it was destroyed), the took the secret out into the desert and organized a commune called Qumrun. There, they became the Essenes. Eventually, the white powder was used to nourish a woman named Mary, and eventually, she gave birth to a man named Jesus.
These gifts include: perfect telepathy, the ability to know good and evil when it’s present, and to project thoughts into another person’s mind. There is also the ability to levitate, or to walk on water. By excluding all external magnetic fields (including the Earth’s gravity), the white powder of gold takes one beyond the four dimensional space time continuum, and the individual becomes a fifth dimensional being. They can literally think where they would like to be, and go there. They can heal by the laying on of hands, and can cleanse and resurrect the dead within two or three days after they died. They have so much energy that they can literally embrace people and bring light and energy back into them. We the International Order Of Knight Templars have the keys to Immortality.The International Order of Knight Templars has many hidden esoteric keys about ormus , immortality and 2012.
please take a look at these forums
groups.msn.com/KNIGHTSOFC...atsnew.msnw
my book ORMUS , HAS THE KEYS TO IMMORTALITY VEILED IN THE FIRST CHAPTER
www.authorhouse.com/BookStor...Home.aspx

LOVE AND LIGHT
DOMINIC

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 5 replies

Ferociously Happy Heart !

2006-11-27T23:46:45Z

Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika
www.LamaJigme.com

Ferociously Happy Heart
Monday, the 27th of November, 2006

Embrace the Ferociously Happy Heart.
Open wide the chest,
open wide it’s cage!
Free the Ferociously Happy Heart.

Stand with legs wide,
stand with a Warrior’s strength,
stand with a Mountain’s solidity.

There is NO puzzle of why…
just the wonder of what,
just the magick of Now!

Ultimately, the cloying slave driver of analysis
can NOT be grasped!

Take to the skies and fly
with the Ferociously Happy Heart!

Do NOT compress
the Ferociously Happy Heart.

Do NOT seek to contrive
the Ferociously Happy Heart.

It is the reality
lurking behind the dream.
It is the reality
dancing being the dream.

It is our true nature!

Come, let us increase our capacity for Joy!
Come, let us increase our capacity for Strength!
Come, let us increase our capacity for Peace!

Strength can scurry about the extremities,
or return to it’s home,
return to our heart.

Come, let us live from the Heart.
Come, let us live from our Center.
Come, let us live from the Now.

Our heart’s happy, solid, peaceful joy;
what is it?
It is the ultimate nature
of sorrow!

Yes, there are those
who throw spears;
spears that can fly
deep into our hearts.

Do NOT turn and run.
There is nothing to fear.
Stand firm your ground.
Open wide your heart.

Enlarge your world
with compassion’s Prayer…
“May all beings now benefit!;
Om Mani Padme Hum!”

Breath deep and explore,
“What are some of the ways
there could be NO separate or permanent
sadness to grasp?”

Relax deep into sorrow and ponder,
“How could this sadness
be just a fleeting dream?”

Do NOT fight the experience,
for that would just be Fear.
Courageously let go
into the fullness of THIS moment’s experience.

“Om Man Padme Hum,
Re-lax-ing.”

There is NO need
to violently “Pierce” the “veil of illusion,”
when all that is required
is to simply, let go.

It is folly
to chase after contemplative experience
like a silly child,
running to find the end of a rainbow!

Rather,
courageously,
stand your ground,
embrace the truth of THIS present moment.

No, NOT the idealized, ultra blissful “present moment”
of escapist fantasy;
but THIS authentic present moment,
be it gorgeous or grotesque.

Feel what you feel
and relax!

Yes, there are those
who rejoice to harm us.

But seen through the eyes
of enlightened courage
they can only
make us stronger.

This is NOT false strength
that comes from resisting;
this is true strength
that comes from surrender.

From Surrender
to a naked awareness of THIS present moment
and all it’s conventional Vulgarity…

from Surrender
to a naked awareness of THIS present moment
and all it’s ultimate Beauty!

An awareness
that is naked,
striped bare
and free from resistance…

free from avoidance,
free from retribution,
free from retreat,
free from deflection.

Breath deep
and embrace the ugliness of the nightmare
and you will relax
into the nature of the dream!

Breath deep
and embrace the ugliness of Hell
and you will relax
into the nature of Heaven.

Do NOT drop your head.
Do NOT cave your chest.
Do NOT seek
to protect your heart in vain.

Stand firm your ground.
Open wide your heart.
Let the foolish exhaust themselves
in their spear throwing.

Let their spears find their targets,
let the cutting edges do their damage.

There is nothing to fear,
there is nothing to hide from,
there is nothing to protect;
breath deep and relax!

Breath deep and relax
into the profound truth of deep insight;
breath deep and relax
into it’s vastly compassionate nature.

Compassion that is vast,
like two arms, infinitely stretched out
to hug the universe,
with a heart of strength.

The Ferocious Joy
of an Un-bound Heart.
The Ferocious Joy
of an Un-protected Heart.

The Ferocious Joy
of a vulnerable Heart.
The Ferocious Joy
of a naked Heart.

Oh how I want you
to have this!
Oh how I want you to soar with the joy
of a Ferociously Happy Heart!

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

P.S.

Whether you use the name:
Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin,
Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig or the Great Compassionate One;
the Buddha of Compassion is always there for you.

P.P.S.

If you desire to Automatically receive my latest essays
and learn when my seminar could be coming to your neck of the woods
you are welcome to join my E-mailing list at
lama_jigme_gyatso@yahoo.com

P.P.P.S

THIS week, I will be teaching “Emotional Alchemy”
at the “Healing Weekend seminar”
in San Diego, California,
during the weekend of December 2nd and 3rd.

If you are curious about attending
you are welcome to contact my seminar partner, Alan Rockefeller,
at (619) 470-8566
or simply write him at alanrock@pacbell.net

www.LamaJigme.com

www.myspace.com/lama_jigme_gyatso

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Mr. R's Contemplative Questions

2006-11-13T02:44:44Z

Mr. S, recently wrote:

Mr. R is one of the first members at E…
and he is online most every day if only for a short period.

Mr. R. moved towards the end of October
and has only been online twice since then
and not since November 2nd.

For those of you who don't know, Mr. R. is 84
and he and his wife are not in good health.
Recently they moved in with their daughter
in an attached apartment or section of the house.

I can't imagine Mr. R not getting online unless:

1. He is ill.
2. A death has occurred within the family.
3. Someone is limiting his ability to get online.

None of these scenarios is appealing and all could use some prayers.

Dear Mr.S,

I have just practiced on Mr. R's behalf.

When reciting mantras on the OUT-breath
I often find it helpful
to mentally and silently ask Contemplative questions
during the IN-breath.

After all, ya gotta breath-in some time…
otherwise, you’ll turn a funny color, tip over, and wiggle!

Having established the necessity of breathing in,
we might as well use those IN-breath’s
in the most spiritually constructive manner
that we can.

Perhaps you will enjoy these Contemplative Questions:

#1 "What are some of the ways
it could be in Mr. R's best interest
to now and evermore have internet access
whenever he wants, in the most wonderful way?"

#2 "What are some of the reasons
that Mr. R could now and evermore
receive internet access
whenever he wants, in the most wonderful way?"

#3 "If Mr. R now and evermore
received internet access
whenever he desired, in the most wonderful way;
what could that Feel like?"

I have found that these questions
can strengthen our experience
of Compassion, Confidence and Joy.

Have a beautiful day,
and thank you for caring for Mr. R,
as much as you do.
I suspect he is quite fortunate to have a friend such as you.

Om Mani Padme Hum,
Lama Jigme Gyatso: Rime Manipa Tantrika

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

to V or not to V

2006-10-24T00:01:37Z

http://knave.gratis-server.de/

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

blog article: A Self-Defeating War

2006-10-03T03:53:02Z

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-soros/a-selfdefeating-war_b_30591.html

George Soros
Bio

09.29.2006
A Self-Defeating War

The war on terror is a false metaphor that has led to counterproductive and self-defeating policies. Five years after 9/11, a misleading figure of speech applied literally has unleashed a real war fought on several fronts -- Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Somalia -- a war that has killed thousands of innocent civilians and enraged millions around the world.

Yet al Qaeda has not been subdued and, as our intelligence agencies have been telling President Bush, the terrorist threat has actually increased.

Unfortunately, the "war on terror" metaphor was uncritically accepted by the American public as the obvious response to 9/11. It is now widely admitted that the invasion of Iraq was a blunder. Yet the war on terror remains the frame into which American policy has to fit. Most Democratic politicians subscribe to it for fear of being tagged as weak on defense. The "alternative treatment" of terrorist support has just been codified by Congress.

What makes the war on terror self-defeating?

• First, war by its very nature creates innocent victims. A war waged against terrorists is even more likely to claim innocent victims because terrorists tend to keep their whereabouts hidden. The deaths, injuries and humiliation of civilians generate rage and resentment among their families and communities that in turn serves to build support for terrorists.

• Second, terrorism is an abstraction. It lumps together all political movements that use terrorist tactics. Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Sunni insurrection and the Mahdi army in Iraq are very different forces, but President Bush's global war on terror prevents us from differentiating between them and dealing with them accordingly.

• Third, the war on terror emphasizes military action while most territorial conflicts require political solutions. And, as the British have shown by foiling a plan to blow up to ten airplanes, terrorists are best dealt with by good intelligence. The war on terror increases the terrorist threat and makes the task of the intelligence agencies more difficult. Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are still at large; we need to focus on finding them, and preventing attacks like the one foiled in England.

• Fourth, the war on terror drives a wedge between "us" and "them." We are innocent victims. They are perpetrators. But we fail to notice that we also become perpetrators in the process; the rest of the world, however, does notice. That is how such a wide gap has arisen between America and much of the world.

Taken together, these four factors ensure that the war on terror cannot be won. An endless war waged against an unseen enemy is doing great damage to our power and prestige abroad and to our open society at home. It has led to a dangerous extension of executive powers; it has tarnished our adherence to universal human rights; it has inhibited the critical process that is at the heart of an open society; and it has cost a lot of money. Most importantly, it has diverted attention from other urgent tasks that require American leadership, such as finishing the job we so correctly began in Afghanistan, addressing the looming global energy crisis, and dealing with nuclear proliferation.

With American influence at low ebb, the world is in danger of sliding into a vicious circle of escalating violence. We can escape it only if we Americans repudiate the war on terror as a false metaphor. If we persevere on the wrong course, the situation will continue to deteriorate. It is not our will that is being tested, but our understanding of reality. It is painful to admit that our current predicaments are brought about by our own misconceptions. However, not admitting it is bound to prove even more painful in the long run. The strength of an open society lies in its ability to recognize and correct its mistakes. That is the test that confronts us.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 5 replies

BZP class D drugs in NZ.

2006-10-02T08:15:42Z

wow check out this web page. i wish something like this would be tried in the rest fo the world.
http://www.stargateinternational.org/index.htm

the lesser of two evils i guess. less toxic mind altering substances please...
wait a minute... nature all ready makes some...

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

legalization of police state schools

2006-09-29T22:34:25Z

Protect Students from Strip Searches
Imagine an America in which school officials could strip search every student in their school based on the unsubstantiated tip that one of them might have a joint. Congress is voting on a bill Tuesday or Wednesday that could make these police state tactics more common.
We can stop Congress in its tracks, though. Call your representative RIGHT NOW and tell them to vote against this dangerous bill.
If you don't know who your House representative is, simply call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and give them your address. They'll connect you directly with your representative's office. When you get a staffer on the phone, politely say something like:
"My name is [your name] and I live in [your city]. I'm calling to urge [the congressman/the congresswoman] to vote against the Student and Teacher Safety Act (HR 5295) when it comes to the floor this week. This bill would allow schools and police to invasively search large groups of innocent students based on the mere suspicion that just one of them has drugs. It strips Americans of their 4th Amendment rights. Please let me know how [the congressman/the congresswoman] votes.”
MORE INFORMATION
The Student Teacher Safety Act of 2006 (HR 5295) is a sloppily written bill that would require any school receiving federal funding (essentially every public school) to adopt policies allowing teachers and school officials to conduct random, warrantless searches of every student, at any time, for essentially any reason they want. All they would have to do is say they suspect one of their students might be carrying drugs, and then they could conduct a wide scale search of every student in the building. These searches could be pat-downs, bag searches, or strip searches depending on how far school administrators wanted to go. Although courts would have the power to overturn policies that went “too far”, it could take years – possibly decades – to safeguard the rights of students in every school.
Disconnecting searches from individualized suspicion is what led to the Goose Creek scandal in 2003. That South Carolina city sent a machine-gun toting SWAT team into a high school because the principal suspected one of the students might be selling marijuana. 150 terrified students were handcuffed and forced to the floor at gunpoint as drug dogs tore through their book bags. No drugs or guns were ever found.
Searching students without individualized suspicion that they have done something wrong fosters mistrust between adolescents and the adults they should feel comfortable turning to when they do have substance abuse problems. Treating groups of students as if they're guilty until proven innocent sends them the wrong message about what it means to be American citizens, and makes them less likely to seek help and guidance when they need it.
The legislation is supported by senior House Republicans and the National Education Association (NEA). It’s opposed by the Drug Policy Alliance, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the ACLU, the American Association of School Administrators, and the National School Boards Association.
The bill wasn’t voted on in committee and is being fast-tracked to the floor under a procedure that requires a 2/3 vote to pass. This means there’s a chance we can defeat it on the House floor.
The offending text of the legislation (which is not officially public yet) is as follows:
(a) In General- Each local educational agency shall have in effect throughout the jurisdiction of the agency policies that ensure that a search described in subsection (b) is deemed reasonable and permissible.
(b) Searches Covered- A search referred to in subsection (a) is a search by a full-time teacher or school official, acting on any reasonable suspicion based on professional experience and judgment, of any minor student on the grounds of any public school, if the search is conducted to ensure that classrooms, school buildings, school property and students remain free from the threat of all weapons, dangerous materials, or illegal narcotics. The measures used to conduct any search must be reasonably related to the search's objectives, without being excessively intrusive in light of the student's age, sex, and the nature of the offense.
Sincerely,
Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 9 replies

free-association.net EmbASSy

2006-09-28T21:47:44Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/freeassociationdualcitizens

free-association.net is a social networking site a lot more free than tribe.

Because there is a relaxed TOU almost any pic you put up will stay up.
There is considerably more freedom there.

Come by the embASSy and check it out.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 1 reply

Post-Democracy?

2006-09-07T21:29:55Z

Now that representative democracy has proven to be a sham, as it should now be painfully obvious that public opinion can always be molded by the various mind control techniques, subtle and overt, of the rich and powerful, I think it’s high time that we, the over-educated and under-employed of the technocratic class got hip, and figure out a way to grab the reigns of power and steer this runaway train back on tracks before the maniac bourgeois merchant class drives it straight off the cliff like some perverted Warner Bros. Loony Toon.

Personally, I’m partial to the social guild form explored in Neal Stephenson’s ‘The Diamond Age.’ Anybody else read that?

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 3 replies

Clamor Mag.

2006-09-05T22:05:26Z

I just found out about this publication and thot the word needed spreading:

http://clamormagazine.org/about/

Clamor is a quarterly print magazine and online community of radical thought, art, and action. An iconoclast among its peers, Clamor is an unabashed celebration of self-determination, creativity, and shit-stirring. Clamor publishes content of, by, for, and with marginalized communities. From the kitchen table to shop floor, the barrio to the playground, the barbershop to the student center, it's old school meets new school in a battle for a better tomorrow. Clamor is a do-it-yourself guide to everyday revolution.

Become the Media / Clamor Magazine
P.O. Box 20128 / Toledo, OH / 43610 / USA
info@clamormagazine.org

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

New laws...

2006-08-23T23:15:40Z

I heard part of an interview with someone fom the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) regarding a new law that the US Senate passed two days ago. It basically said that the US FBI will (or can) look into online violations of the laws of other countries by persons/citizens in the US. So I could, for example, be apprehended for conspiring to insult the ruling despot of ________, even though it is not a violation of the laws of my country or state. This could obviously get totally abused as a mental and political weapon. Anyone have more details? The EFF site didn't appear to have headlines for it yet, but it sounds like one hell of a trojan horse.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 4 replies

Getting High: A History of LSD, 46 minute online video

2006-08-14T13:33:11Z

youtube.com/watch?v=89S_o7fOwpA

"In the 1960s, LSD exploded into the popular consciousness--and inside the brains of the countless trippers who tried the revolutionary drug. Thirty years later its role in the cultural upheavals of that tumultuous time is still debated.

GETTING HIGH explores the legacy of LSD with the help of people like Tom Wolfe, author of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, which chronicles the San Francisco acid parties (where Ken Kesey was the host), and Jay Stephens, author of Storming Heaven. We'll visit the lab where the drug was first synthesized by the Swiss scientist Albert Hoffman in 1943, and examine the controversial tests conducted by the CIA and the military, as well as other nations. See how Timothy Leary and Aldous Huxley brought the drug into the public eye, while singer Grace Slick and Ralph Metzner--a member of the Harvard group that conducted early LSD experiments--share remarkably divergent tales of their encounters with acid. And scholars add perspective by examining the role of hallucinogens in societies throughout history."

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 7 replies

Transpersonal Psychology Conference

2006-08-03T23:21:37Z

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
THE 2006 ATP-ITP
TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONFERENCE
September 7-9, 2006, Palo Alto, California

<www.atpweb.org/> & <www.atpweb.org/Conference...ration.asp>

The Association for Transpersonal Psychology
is teaming up with The Institute for Transpersonal Psychology
to put on an annual Transpersonal Psychology Conference on
"100 Years of Transpersonal Psychology"
to be held in Palo Alto, CA
on September 7 through September 9, 2006

One-hundred years ago, William James used the word "transpersonal" for the first time, in reference to that which is shared amongst people. A century later, the Association for Transpersonal Psychology and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology invite you to our annual professional conference, to teach, learn, and share the innovations and discoveries that have shaped the field since that auspicious day, and to chart the future for the next 100 years.

* Keynote Speakers: Stanislav Grof, Jeanne Achterberg, Marilyn Schlitz, James Fadiman.

* Special Thursday evening opening event: Honoring Women in Transpersonal Psychology with Louisa Teisch, Christina Grof, Leslie Gray, Olga Louchakova, Rosemarie Anderson, Judy Schavrien, Kate Wolf-Pizor and others.

* Special Friday evening media Premiere of two documentary films, including Kevin Page’s, "The Science of Soul," a documentary of transpersonal psychology,

* Other outstanding presenters include Stanley Krippner, Estelle Frankel, Daniel Benor, Ronald Jue, Frances Vaughan, Brian Wittine, Ruth Cox, Charles Tart, Neil Fiore, Kirk Schneider, David and Cristel Lukoff, Stuart Sovatsky and Sylvia Nakkach.

Topics: transpersonal psychotherapy, therapy, transpersonal approaches to trauma, healing, transpersonal education, entheogens, Kaballah, dreams, expressive arts, women in transpersonal psychology, the contributions of William James, Otto Rank, C. G. Jung, & Baruch Spinoza, experiential workshops at no extra cost, and poster sessions.

Please visit the Association for Transpersonal Psychology website at www.atpweb.org for Conference information, the program of the presenters and topics, and lodging information. You can register at the website online, and by fax and mail. Rates increase after August 24th.

<www.atpweb.org/> & <www.atpweb.org/Conference...ration.asp>
Phone: (650) 424-8764.

Continuing Education units are available. Special rates for students, members of ATP and AHP, and presenters.

Please feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues and others who may be interested. Since this is our main way of announcing the conference, we appreciate your assistance.

Sponsored by the Association for Transpersonal Psychology and the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology. Conference sessions will be held at ITP and the Unity Church of Palo Alto.

<www.atpweb.org/> & <www.atpweb.org/Conference...ration.asp>
<mailto: Dan@atpweb.org>

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

psych torture and mind control

2006-08-03T22:23:06Z

anonymous well well 8:06 PM
Its sad how lying and spying go hand in hand, even while responding graciously do they seek to make us feel foolish.

I urge everyone to look at the information as it has been presented by victims of the technology. You will know in your heart what is truthful and what is designed to relieve you from having awareness of what is real.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 13 replies

Freedom of Speech

2006-07-26T17:42:22Z

to read whole article:

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/rightsof/speech.htm

Freedom of Speech
Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom
of speech....
— First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

If there is one right prized above all others in a democratic society, it is freedom of speech. The ability to speak one's mind, to challenge the political orthodoxies of the times,
to criticize the policies of the government without fear of recrimination by the state is the essential distinction between life in a free country and in a dictatorship. In the pantheon of the rights of the people, Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo, who served from 1932 to 1938, wrote of free speech that it is "the matrix . . . the indispensable condition of nearly every other freedom."

If Americans assume that free speech is the core value of democracy, they nonetheless disagree over the extent to which the First Amendment protects different kinds of expression. Does it, for example, protect hate speech directed at particular ethnic or religious groups? Does it protect "fighting words" that can arouse people to immediate violence? Is obscene material covered by the First Amendment's umbrella? Is commercial speech — advertisements or public relations material put out by companies — deserving of constitutional protection? Over the last several decades, these questions have been part of the ongoing debate both within the government and in public discussion, and in many areas no consensus has yet emerged. That, however, is neither surprising nor disturbing. Freedom is an evolving concept, and, as we confront new ideas, the great debate continues. The emergence of the Internet is but the latest in a series of challenges to understanding what the First Amendment protection of speech means in contemporary society.

* * * * *
Freedom of speech was not always the all-encompassing right it is today. When Sir William Blackstone wrote his famous Commentaries on the Laws of England in the mid-18th century, he defined freedom of speech as the lack of prior restraint. By that he meant that the government could not stop someone from saying or publishing what he believed, but once a person had uttered those remarks, he could be punished if the type of speech was forbidden. The English, like the ancient Greeks, had established legal restrictions on three types of speech — sedition (criticism of the government), defamation (criticism of individuals), and blasphemy (criticism of religion) — each of which they called "libels." Of these three, the one that is most important in terms of political liberty is seditious libel, because ruling elites in Blackstone's era believed that any criticism of government or of its officials, even if true, subverted public order by undermining confidence in the government. While the government, according to Blackstone, could not stop someone from criticizing the government, it could punish him once he had done so.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the British Crown prosecuted hundreds of cases of seditious libel, often imposing draconian penalties. When William Twyn declared that the people had the right to rebel against a government, he was arrested and convicted of sedition and of "imagining the death of the King." The court sentenced him to be hanged, emasculated, disemboweled, quartered, and then beheaded. Given the possibility of such punishment after publication, the lack of prior restraint meant little.

The English settlers who came to North America brought English law with them, but early on a discrepancy arose between theory and practice, between the law as written and the law as applied. Colonial assemblies passed a number of statutes regulating speech, but neither the royal governors nor the local courts seemed to have enforced them with any degree of rigor. Moreover, following the famous case of John Peter Zenger (discussed in the chapter on "Freedom of the Press"), the colonists established truth as a defense to the charge of seditious libel. One could still be charged if one criticized the government or its officials, but now a defendant could present evidence of the truth of the statements, and it would be up to a jury to determine their validity.

From the time the states ratified the First Amendment (Congress shall make no law?abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press?) in 1791, until World War I, Congress passed but one law restricting speech, the Sedition Act of 1798. This was an ill-conceived statute that grew out of the quasi-war with France and which expired three years later. Yet although this act has been widely and properly condemned, one should note that it contained truth as a defense. During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, there were also a few minor regulations aimed at sedition, but not until the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 did the real debate over the meaning of the First Amendment Speech Clause begin. That debate has been public and has involved the American people, Congress, and the President, but above all it has been played out in the courts.

* * *

Perhaps the most daunting task facing the American people as well as the judicial system is to determine how the First Amendment will apply to the new electronic technology. Is the Worldwide Web just another example of Justice Holmes's marketplace of ideas? Does the likelihood that some day every household in the world will have access to material already on the Web, and that each individual will have the opportunity to go online and say to the whole world what he or she wants make the First Amendment irrelevant?

These and other questions continue to be debated in the United States — in the courts, in congressional hearings, in presidential commissions, in universities, in public forums, and in individual households. Among the rights of the people none is so treasured as that of free speech, and none is so susceptible to changing views. Most Americans recognize, however, that as Justice Brandeis pointed out, their responsibilities as citizens require them to have the opportunity not only to propose unpopular views but also to hear others espouse their beliefs, so that in the end the democratic process can work. And while people are not always comfortable with the idea, they admit the truth that Justice Holmes declared when he said that the First Amendment is there not to protect the speech with which we agree, but the speech that we hate.

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 2 replies

Temple of the VIne

2006-07-10T07:09:45Z

Last December, in anticipation of yesterday's Supreme Court decision on the sacramental use of ayahuasca,
The Temple of the Vine was incorporated in the State of Oregon and registered with the IRS and the Federal Government as a tax exempt religious organization.

Membership in the Temple of the Vine is open to all practitioners of shamanic practices who profess a belief in the sanctity and guidance of Plant Teachers.

Future plans include the establishment of a shamanic ceremonial center within the State of Oregon.

Membership information will be available soon.

Donations are tax deductable and can be made through www.PayPal.com to templeofthevine@comcast.net

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 10 replies

MAPS

2006-07-08T17:59:57Z

Send maps_news mailing list submissions to
maps_news@maps.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.maps.org/mailman/listinfo/maps_news
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
maps_news-request@maps.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
maps_news-owner@maps.org

Today's Topics:

1. MAPS News: July 2006 (Jag Davies)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

To read this MAPS monthly news update online, click here:
http://www.maps.org/news

Greetings, MAPS Members and Friends!

We have lots of news to report this month:

1. FDA-Approved Changes to US MDMA/PTSD Study Implemented; New Subjects
Receive Supplemental Doses of MDMA or Placebo
2. MAPS Receives $25,000 Donation for US MDMA/PTSD Study
3. MAPS and Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy-Sponsored
MDMA/PTSD Research Receives Final Regulatory Approval
4. MAPS Purchases 35 Grams of Research-Grade MDMA from Swiss Manufacturer
5. Israeli MDMA/PTSD Team Receives Permit to Import MDMA for
MAPS-Sponsored Study
6. MAPS-Sponsored MDMA/PTSD Research in Spain Resuming Active Protocol
Design and Approval Process
7. Canadian Institutional Review Board to Review MAPS-Sponsored Ibogaine
Outcome Protocol this Month
8. Findings About LSD/Psilocybin as Treatment for Cluster Headaches
Published in Neurology, the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology
9. Journal of Pychopharmacology and Quarterly Journal of Mental Health
Accept Papers Advocating Psychedelic Research
10. Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Sends Letter of Support to DEA for
MAPS-Sponsored Medical Marijuana Production Facility
11. Upcoming MAPS Fundraiser on July 24 in Asheville, NC
12. Camp with MAPS at Burning Man for MAPS' 20th Anniversary Celebration
13. Now in the MAPS Online Store: Limited Edition Ram Dass Portrait by Dean
Chamberlain
14. Three Prints of Alex Grey's Portrait of Albert Hofmann Now Available!
15. Request for Calendar Art, Calendar Dates, T-Shirt Design
16. Classic 'Good Friday Experiment' Now Posted Online
17. $25,000 Grant to MAPS for Erowid.org

*** Like What You're Reading? Click Here to Support MAPS' Work With A
Financial Contribution: http://www.maps.org/catalog/ ***

1. FDA-Approved Changes to US MDMA/PTSD Study Implemented; New Subjects
Receive Supplemental Doses of MDMA or Placebo

Dr. Michael Mithoefer has now begun treatment of the 13th and 14th patients
out of 20 in his MAPS-sponsored MDMA/PTSD study, implementing several key
changes recently approved by the FDA, IRB, and Data Safety Monitoring Board.
These changes include administering a supplemental dose of MDMA (or a
placebo) 2 to 2 1/2 hours after the initial dose and adding a third
experimental session to the two that are currently included in the protocol.

The first subject to receive this supplemental dosing experienced an
extended period of therapeutic activity without any worrisome increase in
blood pressure or heart rate. This initial reaction, while in only one
subject, suggests that this protocol change may enhance the therapeutic
effectiveness of the experimental treatment without significantly increasing
risk.

Dr. Mithoefer's MAPS-sponsored FDA-approved protocol:
http://www.maps.org/mdma/protocol/index.html

2. MAPS Receives $25,000 Donation for US MDMA/PTSD Study

MAPS has just received a $25,000 donation from the Robert T. Keeler
Foundation, restricted for Dr. Mithoefer's MDMA/PTSD study. This is the
second $25,000 donation for Dr. Mithoefer's study from the Robert T. Keeler
Foundation, the first donated a year ago. MAPS is seeking an additional
$100,000 for this study.

3. MAPS and Swiss Medical Association for Psycholytic Therapy-Sponsored
MDMA/PTSD Research Receives Final Regulatory Approval

Switzerland's DEA equivalent, the BAG, has officially given the necessary
licenses for Dr. Peter Oehen's study evaluating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
as a treatment for subjects suffering from treatment-resistant Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). Permission from BAG was the final regulatory hurdle,
since Dr. Oehen has already received approval from the Ethics Committee
(Switzerland's IRB equivalent) and SwissMedic (Switzerland's FDA
equivalent). In addition, MAPS Clinical Research Associate Valerie Mojeiko
has completed preparation of Case Report Forms (CRFs), Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) and other documents that must be submitted to FDA under
MAPS' Investigational New Drug application for MDMA in the treatment of
PTSD. Dr. Oehen will receive the MDMA for his study within a few weeks and
can then begin his study. MAPS is seeking an additional $100,000 for this
study.

Read Dr. Oehen's government-approved protocol here:
http://www.maps.org/mdma/swissptsd/protocol011806.pdf

MAPS and Dr. Oehen are also going to collaborate with Dr. Franz
Vollenweider, University of Zurich, on an associated study that will examine
the subjects in Dr. Oehen's study before and after treatment with
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Vollenweider is going to measure several
physiological factors that have been associated with PTSD (startle response,
heart rate reactivity) as well as various EEG parameters to see if the
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy results in any changes in these measures.

4. MAPS Purchases 35 Grams of MDMA for Swiss and Israeli MDMA/PTSD Studies

MAPS has completed the purchase of 35 grams of MDMA of a purity of 99.66%
from a Swiss manufacturer for use in MAPS' MDMA studies that take place
outside of the US. The same batch of MDMA has been used before in clinical
research in Switzerland and will be used in Dr. Oehen's MDMA/PTSD study.
This same MDMA will be exported to Israel for use in MAPS' Israeli MDMA/PTSD
study. The cost was about $57 per gram.

5. Israeli MDMA/PTSD Team Receives Permit to Import MDMA for
MAPS-Sponsored Study

The Israeli MDMA/PTSD team received a permit this week to import MDMA from a
Swiss manufacturer for the MAPS-sponsored study set to take place at Beer
Yaakov Mental Health Center near Tel Aviv. Once the Swiss BAG issues an
export permit, the MDMA can be shipped to Israel. This is the final step
before initiation of Dr. Moshe Kotler's clinical trial evaluating
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in treatment-resistant subjects with war and
terrorism-related PTSD.

MAPS is seeking an additional $50,000 for this study.

Dr. Moshe Kotler's government-approved MAPS-sponsored protocol:
http://www.maps.org/mdma/israel_protocol_3.16.05.pdf

6. MAPS-Sponsored MDMA/PTSD Research in Spain Preparing to Resume Protocol
Design and Approval Process

Jose Carlos Bouso, Ph.D., has returned to the protocol design and approval
process for his MAPS-sponsored MDMA/PTSD study. This study was the world's
first government-approved MDMA psychotherapy study, with six patients
treated in 2001-02. However, in 2002, in response to positive reports about
the study that appeared in the Spanish media, the Madrid Anti-Drug Authority
pressured the hospital into withdrawing permission. The Ministry of Health
has not withdrawn permission, and we are hopeful that since we have now
obtained government approval for MDMA/PTSD studies in the US, Switzerland,
and Israel, it will be politically feasible to resume research in Spain
around the beginning of 2007, with a different protocol design. As a result
of the political suppression of his initial MDMA/PTSD study, Jose Carlos had
to initiate and complete a different research project for his dissertation
before he was able to return his attention to his MDMA/PTSD study.

Jose Carlos is now in the midst of writing up for publication the results
from the six subjects treated in his initial study. Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D.,
MAPS' expert on the scientific literature on MDMA, is assisting Jose Carlos
by reviewing and commenting on early drafts of his paper.

MAPS' MDMA Research in Spain: http://www.maps.org/mdma/spain/index.html

7. Canadian Institutional Review Board to Review MAPS-Sponsored Ibogaine
Outcome Protocol this Month

This week, MAPS submitted a revised version of the ibogaine case series
observational study protocol to a Canadian Institutional Review Board (IRB).
We have been negotiating for several months with an IRB for the
observational study of 20 opiate dependent subjects to be treated at the
Iboga Therapy House. We have incorporated the latest set of comments and
suggestions and have submitted the protocol for review at an upcoming
meeting on July 19.

Read more about MAPS' Ibogaine Research: http://www.maps.org/ibogaine/

Iboga Therapy House in Vancouver, Canada: http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net

8. Findings About LSD/Psilocybin as Treatment for Cluster Headaches
Published in Neurology, the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology

A paper by Andrew Sewell, M.D., coauthored by John Halpern, M.D., and
Harrison G. Pope Jr., M.D., describing MAPS-sponsored LSD/psilocybin cluster
headache research, has been published in Neurology, the official journal of
the American Academy of Neurology. The article contains interviews with
people who have treated cluster headaches with LSD or psilocybin mushrooms,
and reviews their medical records. Neurology is a top specialty journal,
read by most neurologists throughout the world, so news of this promising
use of LSD and psilocybin will be widely disseminated among doctors for the
first time.

Read Dr. Sewell's article here:
http://www.maps.org/w3pb/new/2006/2006_Sewell_22779_1.pdf

Andrew Sewell, M.D., and John Halpern, M.D., collected and analyzed hundreds
of case reports from Erowid and Clusterbusters, an organization run by and
for people with cluster headaches dedicated to evaluating new treatments for
cluster headache, including the use of psilocybin and LSD. Based on this
data, Drs. Sewell and Halpern are currently developing a protocol for a
randomized, dose-response study of psilocybin and LSD in people with
episodic cluster headaches.

Currently, there is no legal research with LSD in humans taking place
anywhere in the world. We hope that this will be the first study to renew
human research into the therapeutic use of LSD. Due to the previously
expressed concerns of the new McLean Administration, funding for any
clinical study will be provided by Clusterbusters, until the McLean
Administration becomes comfortable again accepting research support from
MAPS.

Read more about MAPS' LSD/psilocybin cluster headache research here:
http://www.maps.org/research/cluster/psilo-lsd/#cluster

9. Journal of Pychopharmacology and Quarterly Journal of Mental Health
Accept Papers Advocating Psychedelic Research

Ben Sessa, M.D., a British psychiatrist working courageously and effectively
towards the resumption of psychedelic research in England, recently had two
papers regarding psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy research accepted for
publication in two key international academic journals. The first paper, "Is
there a case for MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy in the UK?" will appear in the
peer-reviewed Journal of Psychopharmacology, and draws on evidence from
MAPS-sponsored FDA Phase I and Phase II research studies. The second paper,
"From Sacred Plants to Psychotherapy: The History and Re-Emergence of
Psychedelics in Medicine," will appear in the peer-reviewed Quarterly
Journal of Mental Health.

10. Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Sends Letter of Support to DEA for
MAPS-Sponsored Medical Marijuana Production Facility

This week, the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Foundation sent a letter to DEA
Administrator Karen Tandy urging DEA to issue a Schedule I license to Prof.
Lyle Craker for his proposed MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana production
facility at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Prof. Craker's proposed
facility would end the government's six decades-long monopoly on the
production of marijuana for research purposes and would create the necessary
independence of supply to justify the time and expense for MAPS to sponsor
clinical research evaluating the risks and benefits of marijuana as a
potential FDA-approved prescription medicine.

The MS Foundation letter is in support of Prof. Craker in his ongoing
MAPS-supported lawsuit against DEA taking place in a DEA Administrative Law
Judge (ALJ) hearing. With oral arguments complete and the final legal briefs
submitted, we are now awaiting a recommendation from ALJ Mary Ellen Bittner,
expected in 2-4 months. In the meantime, we are focusing our attention on
preparing to pressure the DEA to accept Judge Bittner's recommendation if
she actually recommends that the DEA should issue a Schedule I license to
Prof. Craker. DEA has already received letters of support for Prof. Craker's
marijuana growing facility from Americans for Tax Reform, the Lymphoma
Foundation of America, the National Association for Public Health Policy,
the United Methodist Church, the American Medical Students Association,
several state nurses' associations, the Massachusetts Dept. of Public
Health, Massachusetts Senators Kerry and Kennedy, and 38 members of the US
House of Representatives.

This latest letter was the result of work by MAPS' part-time staffer Kelly
Burns, who is currently laying the groundwork for an effort to obtain a
letter from the American Medical Association to DEA, urging DEA to issue
Prof. Crakers license so that the controversy over the medical use of
marijuana can be resolved through scientific research. We expect that such a
letter from the AMA would require action by the AMA House of Delegates at
its November 2006 meeting. Any physicians who belong to their state Medical
Associations who wish to help in this effort should contact Kelly at:
kelly426@gmail.com

For more information about Dr. Craker's MAPS-sponsored medical marijuana
production facility and DEA lawsuit, click here:
http://www.maps.org/mmj/DEAlawsuit.html

11. Upcoming MAPS Dinner Fundraiser on Monday, July 24 in Asheville, North
Carolina

MAPS will be holding a dinner fundraiser on Monday, July 24 in Asheville,
North Carolina. MAPS researchers Dr. Michael and Annie Mithoefer
(co-therapists for MDMA/PTSD study) and Dr. Andrew Sewell (LSD/psilocybin
research), along with MAPS President Rick Doblin, Ph.D., and MAPS Program
Director and Clinical Research Associate Valerie Mojeiko will each give
presentations. The event will also feature a delicious 5-course tasting menu
courtesy of Sirius Catering and an art installation by Jelena Cvetkova, with
proceeds of art sales going to MAPS.

We have only thirty-five seats available for this special opportunity to
dine intimately with MAPS researchers and staff. Tickets 1-10 will sell for
a minimum donation of $45, tickets 11-20 for a minimum donation of $50, and
tickets 21-35 for a minimum donation of $55. To RSVP, ask questions, and
purchase tickets, please contact Logan MacSporren at
glassbreather@hotmail.com or 772-708-6810.

12. Camp with MAPS at Burning Man for MAPS' 20th Anniversary Celebration

Registration is now open for ENTHEON village at Burning Man, an
interactive theme camp on the Esplanade that is a co-creation of MAPS on the
occasion of its 20th anniversary, artists Alex and Allyson Grey, Robert
Venosa and Martina Hoffmann, and a great team from Chicago building much of
the infrastructure and organizing the community kitchen. Entheon Village is
hosting psychedelic elders Ann and Sasha Shulgin, numerous current
psychedelic researchers, several domes for art, a large tent structure for a
psychedelic research and culture lecture series and music concerts, a Zen
meditation center (Zendo) being built in Switzerland and transported to
Burning Man, and kitchen, showers, shade structures and places for about 250
people in tents and RVs. All you need to bring are your personal camping
structure and supplies, some extra food and water, and a helping hand.

The mission of Entheon is to demonstrate a future in which psychedelic
experiences, emergent from the underground, are a welcomed and integrated
part of society, and where art, spirituality and creativity is central to
that vision. Entheon will be a grounded gathering place offering an
intellectual, therapeutic, artistic and creative cornucopia of interactive
opportunities. The village of Entheon will merge science and healing, art
and spirituality in a site for celebration. As part of its offerings to the
Burning Man community, MAPS is assisting the Burning Man Rangers at
Sanctuary to provide support to people going through difficult emotional
experiences, about half psychedelic-related and half from other causes.

Please note that after you register on the website, you will be sent an
email to which you must respond before your registration is activated. If
you can pay your full camp fee up front, rather than making a deposit,
please do. Each individual must register separately -- the system does not
allow people to register in groups.

We are also accepting applications for volunteers who are interested in
working with us at Sanctuary. To receive more information and an application
to volunteer in Sanctuary, please contact Valerie Mojeiko at:
valerie@maps.org

Note for First-Time Burners: Camp fees for Entheon Village are separate from
tickets to the Burning Man event itself. Everyone MUST purchase their own
Burning Man tickets separately. These are for sale on the Burning Man
website. There you will find an extremely useful first-timers guide which is
recommended reading for anyone who has never been before.

To sign up for the ENTHEON village, click here:
http://entheonvillage.com/registration/

To visit the Burning Man website, click here: http://www.burningman.com

13. Limited Edition Ram Dass Portrait Now Available

We are pleased to announce the availability of signed portraits of Ram Dass
(Richard Alpert), the fourth in a special signed and numbered limited
edition of prints selected from Dean Chamberlain's Psychedelic Pioneers
Series. There are only 50 of these beautiful signed and numbered archival
pigment prints. The image is 11"x14" and is printed on fine-art matte paper.
Prints numbered 1-10 are offered at $1000 each, prints numbered 11-40 are
offered at $1500 each, and prints numbered 41-50 are offered at $2000 each.
Profits from the sale of these prints will be used for MAPS-sponsored
research in Switzerland into the use of LSD-assisted psychotherapy in
subjects with anxiety associated with end-of-life issues. MAPS is also
offering signed portraits of Albert Hofmann, Sasha and Ann Shulgin, and
Laura Huxley, also created by Dean Chamberlain. Please visit our online
store or contact orders@maps.org if you would like to purchase one of these
prints.

To purchase artwork online, click here:
http://www.maps.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_29

14. Three Prints of Alex Grey's Portrait of Albert Hofmann Now Available!

We are now making available for purchase three out of the series of 50
numbered prints of Alex Grey's portrait of Dr. Albert Hofmann, signed by
Albert, for sale for $3000. Forty-six out of 50 prints have already been
sold. Profits from the sales of the portraits will be divided between MAPS,
with funds restricted for LSD and psilocybin research and for supporting
Albert's writings, and Alex and Allyson Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
(COSM). Please contact orders@maps.org if you would like to purchase one of
these prints.

After these three prints have been sold, MAPS and COSM will auction off on
Ebay the last remaining print, numbered 1/50.

View Alex Grey's portrait of Dr. Hofmann here:
http://www.maps.org/sys/nq.pl?id=790&fmt=page

15. Calling Creative MAPS Supporters: New MAPS T-Shirt Designs and Calendar
Art

We are currently requesting submissions of art for the 2007 MAPS calendar.
If you have a piece of art that you think would go particularly well with a
certain month, or if you have something that is generally psychedelic and
would fit in anywhere, we'd love to see it! Keep in mind that we can only
use high-resolution digital images. The deadline for calendar submissions is
July 21. Please send submissions to: jag@maps.org

On that note, we're also seeking information about interesting and amusing
psychedelic- and marijuana-related events that took place on a specific date
to add to the dates featured in the 2006 MAPS calendar. If you have any
suggestions, please send them to jag@maps.org

View the 2006 MAPS Calendar here:
http://www.maps.org/calendar/

MAPS will also be producing one (or possibly two) new t-shirts to add some
variety to our MAPS-logo t-shirt and hoodie offerings. If you are inspired
to submit a t-shirt, hoodie, or bag design, please feel free to do so
anytime this summer. Submissions must be in by September 1st and will be
chosen by mid-September. The new t-shirt line will be out mid-autumn 2006.
Please e-mail t-shirt designs to: julia@maps.org

16. Classic 'Good Friday Experiment' Now Posted Online

Dr. Walter Pahnke's classic 1963 Harvard thesis, "Drugs & Mysticism: An
Analysis of the Relationship between Psychedelic Drugs and Mystical
Consciousness," better known as the 'Good Friday Experiment,' has been
scanned by MAPS and is now posted online in PDF format. This landmark study
evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious
experiences. Rick Doblin's undergraduate thesis "Pahnke's 'Good Friday
Experiment': A Long-Term Follow-Up and Methodological Critique," consisted
of interviews and questionnaires administered to most of the subjects in the
original study twenty-five years after the experiment took place.

This coming Tuesday, July 11, a prominent peer-reviewed scientific journal
will publish the first attempt to replicate the results of the Good Friday
experiment in over forty years, with a different experimental design and
several remarkable supportive commentaries from well-established scientists.

MAPS has also now posted an amazing and long-lost LSD session report from
Dr. Stan Grof, from 11-17-1970. We recently found this in MAPS' files, after
Stan's copy was burned up years ago in a fire that consumed his home and
collected papers. Stan took 250 micrograms of LSD and was wired to EEG
machines and other monitoring equipment. While under the influence of LSD,
Stan conducted ESP experiments and explored a range of unusual
mystical/spiritual states of mind. The session was conducted by Dr. Walter
Pahnke, who conducted the Good Friday Experiment, on which the new study was
loosely based. The new study and Stan's trip report both point to the
tremendous potential of psychedelic research, which we are only now starting
to explore again after decades of repression.

The classic 'Good Friday Experiment':
http://www.maps.org/books/pahnke/index.html

Rick Doblin's long-term follow-up study:
http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/lsd/doblin.htm

"Subjective Experiences During the LSD Training Session," by Dr. Stan Grof:
http://www.maps.org/research/cluster/psilo-lsd/grof1970.pdf

17. $25,000 Donation to MAPS for Erowid.org

MAPS Patron Member John Gilmore recently donated $25,000 to MAPS, restricted
for Erowid.org. MAPS serves as the fiscal sponsor for Erowid, an educational
website focused on providing information about psychoactive plants and
drugs. Erowid is the most frequently visited psychoactive drug information
site on the web.

We have completed the move to our new office location in Ben Lomond, CA and
are now back in full operation. From everyone at MAPS, thank you for your
support! We couldn't be doing what we do without you!

Have A Gently Jolting July,
Jag Davies, MAPS Director of Communications

--
Jag Davies
Director of Communications
MAPS
10424 Love Creek Rd.
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
jag@maps.org

************************
Advocating Science over Politics,
Replacing Fear with Facts:
MAPS The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Join Today: http://www.maps.org

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies

Invitation to Dreamtime July 13-16, Paonia, CO

2006-06-20T22:41:14Z

The Dreamtime Festival is an annual collaborative music and arts festival, and educational forum, located in the Rocky Mountains just outside of Paonia, Colorado.

The festival uniquely combines art, celebration, and music with an intention of learning and transformation.

Weaving themes of sustainability, personal development, creativity, holistic healing, gift economy, positive social change, ritual, social and personal responsibility, and manifestation - we dream the future together, and create a magical and unforgettable experience that serves ourselves and the world.

Participants come and camp for four days and enjoy live performances, music and world class bands on multiple stages, theme camps, art installations and an astounding number of workshops.

Dreamtime is an open canvas for dancing, interactive sculptures, costumes, fire performances, music, theater, spoken word, multimedia, fashion shows, DJs, a myriad of workshops, movement classes, nature walks, healing camps, yoga, acoustic performance and your inspired contribution.

Together in Dreamtime we envision and embrace our deeper dreams, learn, connect and co-create in an atmosphere of celebration, participation, creative expression and community.

Come and dream the future with us.

-- over 100 workshops in comfortable 30' yurts (4-5 to choose from at
any given time all four days)
-- multiple stages w/ amazing bands, performances and DJ's
(including the introduction this year of a vaudeville stage
organized by Dreamtime, in addition to the main stage)
Including: Kan'Nal, Arjun and Guardians, Human Revolution, and many more.
-- art installations (fire art, large sculpture installations and more)
-- outdoor progressive/art film fest with giant inflatable screen
-- large scale theater productions
-- theme camps: Serenity Healing Camp, Magical Mystical Muse, Red Tent,
Coyote Camp, body paiting, kids camp, hookah lounge, and too
many more to list.
-- outrageous costumes, transformational journeys, gift economy,
amaazing connections and community, and YOUR INSPIRED CONTRIBUTION
AND PARTICIPATION.

Dreamtime is a community event, and an officially registered 501(c)(3)
non-profit. Included in the Dreamtime goals is to be inclusive -
regardless of background, age, social group, financial situation, etc.
For those that are not able to afford a ticket, a limited number of
work trade volunteer tickets are available - but registration must be
completed online in advance.

ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST ARRIVE ON SITE NO LATE THAN JULY 7TH.
NO LATE VOLUNTEER ARRIVALS WILL BE ADMITTED.

To get your tickets, sign up to volunteer or contribute a workshop,
performance, art installation or theme camp, visit the Dreamtime website:

www.DreamTheFuture.org

or call 1.800.600.6185

posted in Cognitive Liberty - 0 replies