General News Items

[ninathedog]

Gaza Freedom March News

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 1:56 PM
From: "Washington Report on Middle East Affairs" <[e-mail]>

ACTION ALERT

Contact: Delinda Hanley
[e-mail]
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gaza Freedom March News

The historic Gaza Freedom March planned for Dec. 31, 2009 has drawn more than 1,300 people from 43 countries to join the Palestinians of Gaza in a nonviolent, mass march to the Israeli border for a global call to Israel: “Lift the Siege of Gaza!” Conceived in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and of nonviolent resistance to injustice worldwide, people from all over the world have gathered to march—hand in hand—with the people of Gaza to demand that Israel open Gaza’s borders. Its siege has imprisoned Gaza’s 1.5 million men, women and children and prevented food, clean water, fuel and building supplies from reaching the needy, many of whom are cold and homeless this winter.

Marchers and supporters around the world are marking the one-year anniversary of Israel’s December 2008 assault on Gaza that left more than 1,400 dead. The international delegates planned to enter Gaza via Egypt during the last week of December. On the morning of Dec. 31, they hope to join Palestinians in a nonviolent march to the Erez crossing. On the Israeli side of the Erez border will be a gathering of Palestinians and Jews who are also calling on the Israeli government to open the border.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with President Hosni Mubarak and other Egyptian leaders for nearly three hours when he visited Cairo on Dec. 29, 2009. They held discussions on a possible prisoner swap between Israel and Palestinians and Israel’s partial settlement freeze.

Have you endorsed the Gaza Freedom March? Visit: salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/t/9750/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=2055

For more information see the following article and Mondoweiss posts from other marchers: mondoweiss.net/2009/12/egyptian-security-forces-detain-gaza-freedom-march-protesters-possibly-at-the-request-of-the-us-embassy.html

For more information contact the following participants:
Medea Benjamin | [e-mail]
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Egypt [phone]
Ann Wright | [e-mail]
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Egypt (19) 508-1493
Ziyaad Lunat | [e-mail]
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Roaming [phone] or [phone]
Ehab Lotayef | Egypt [phone]

Please also read the following updates from CODEPINK to see how Egypt has treated the marchers. See contact information for the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, DC below.

December 28:

At noon on Dec. 27 Egyptian security forces detained a group of 30 activists in their hotel in el-Arish as they prepared to leave for Gaza, placing them under house arrest. The delegates, all part of the Gaza Freedom March of 1,300 people, were Spanish, French, British, American, and Japanese. The Egyptian security forces eventually yielded, letting most of the marchers leave the hotel, but did not permit them to leave the town. When two younger delegates, a French and Japanese woman, attempted to leave el-Arish, the Egyptian authorities stopped their taxi and unloaded their luggage.

Another group of eight people, including American, British, Spanish, Japanese and Greek citizens, were detained at the bus station of el-Arish in the afternoon of Dec. 27. As of 3:30 PM, they were still being held.

Simultaneously, Egyptian security police broke up a commemoration of the Israeli invasion of Gaza organized by the Gaza Freedom March at Kasr al Nil Bridge, one of the main bridges connecting Zamalek Island, in the middle of the Nile, to Cairo. As a nonviolent way of commemorating the more than 1,300 Palestinians killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza that began a year ago on Dec. 27, 2008, Gaza Freedom Marchers tied hundreds of strings with notes, poems, art and the names of those killed to the bridge.

“We are saddened that the Egyptian authorities have blocked our participants’ freedom of movement and interfered with a peaceful commemoration of the dead,” said Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK, one of the March’s organizers.

Benjamin added that the Gaza Freedom March participants are continuing to urge the Egyptian government to allow them to proceed to Gaza. They visited the Arab League asking for support, various foreign embassies and the Presidential Palance to deliver an appeal to President Mubarak. They are calling their supporters around the world to contact Egyptian embassies and urge them to free the marchers and allow them to proceed to Gaza.

85-year-old Holocaust Survivor Hedy Epstein Begins Hunger Strike to Open Gaza Borders

Hedy Epstein, the 85-year-old Holocaust survivor and peace activist, announced that she will begin a hunger strike today as a response to the Egyptian government’s refusal to allow the Gaza Freedom March participants into Gaza.

Ms. Epstein was part of a delegation with participants from 43 countries that were to join Palestinians in a nonviolent march from northern Gaza toward the Erez border with Israel calling for the end of the illegal siege. Egypt is preventing the marchers from leaving Cairo, forcing them to search for alternative ways to make their voices heard.

Ms. Epstein will remain outside the U.N. building at the World Trade Center (Cairo) - 1191 Cornish al-Nil - throughout today, accompanied by other hunger strikers. “It is important to let the besieged Gazan people know they are not alone. I want to tell the people I meet in Gaza that I am a representative of many people in my city and in other places in the U.S. who are outraged at what the U.S., Israeli and European governments are doing to the Palestinians and that our numbers are growing,” Epstein said.

In 1939, when Epstein was just 14, her parents found a way for her to escape the persecution, sending her on the Kindertransport to England. Epstein never saw her parents again; they perished in Auschwitz in 1942. After World War II, Epstein worked as a research analyst at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi doctors who performed medical experiments on concentration camp inmates.

After moving to the U.S., Epstein became an activist for peace and social justice causes. Unlike most Holocaust survivors, one of the causes she has taken up is that of the Palestinian people. She has traveled to the West Bank, collected material aid and now she hopes to enter Gaza.

Dec. 28 Press Conference at United Nations building in Cairo

Former Vice President of the European Parliament Louisa Morgantini, Filipino Senator and president of the Transnational Institute Walden Bello, American novelist Alice Walker, Ronnie Kasrils, a former Jewish South African Minister of Intelligence, and 85-year-old Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein held a press conference at the United Nations building in Cairo, at the World Trade Center, to highlight the contours of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, on behalf of the Gaza Freedom March, an international coalition of 1,400 delegates from over 40 countries: the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, and dozens of other countries, attempting to lift Israel’s blockade of the Gaza strip. The delegation’s mission to Gaza is stalled in Cairo because the Egyptian government has refused to give them permission to proceed to Gaza, citing security concerns. Novelist Alice Walker says that the Gaza Freedom March will press on to Gaza. Filipino Senator Walden Bello agrees, saying, “We’ll get to Gaza, come hell or high water.

Gaza Freedom Marchers walled in behind police barricade in front of U.N. office in Cairo

Hundreds of activists staged a sit-in outside the United Nations building in Cairo demanding that the world body intervene to facilitate their entry into Gaza.

Egyptian security forces surrounded the demonstration while protesters chanted slogans calling for an end to the Israeli siege. A delegation headed by Filipino Senator Walden Bello held negotiations with U.N. representatives to ask for safe entry into Gaza for all marchers. U.N. attempts to reach out to the Egyptian government did not yield results, but the U.N. officials agreed to try to set up a meeting with the Foreign Ministry’s Chief of Staff and to deliver the group’s letter to President Mubarak.

Protestors dispersed at the end of the day promising to return with more creative actions. Eleven marchers – four Spanish, three Egyptians, one German, one Italian, one American and one northern Irish – vowed to spend the night at the U.N. building. Egyptian forces are surrounding them and there are fears for their safety.

Meanwhile, Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, 85, began a hunger strike to call the world’s attention to the current impasse. She was joined by eleven other hunger strikers.

“We are determined to enter Gaza, the criminal siege cannot continue,” said Ziyaad Lunat of the Gaza Freedom March organizing committee.

Contact the EMBASSY OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT:

CHANCERY
3521 International Ct. NW Washington DC 20008
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
202.244.5131
Email: [e-mail]
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CONSULAR SECTION
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

# # # #

Copyright © 2009
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
All Rights Reserved.


....................


Tell Egypt you stand in solidarity with Gaza!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 2:39 PM
From: "Sydney Levy, Jewish Voice for Peace" <[e-mail]>
Jewish Voice for Peace

Join us on:
Facebook Twitter

3 THINGS YOU CAN DO IN SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA:

(1) TELL EGYPT:
Let the Gaza Freedom Marchers in!
salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/t/9047/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1957

(2) ASK THE NY TIMES AND THE WASHINGTON POST:
Why are you not covering the March on Gaza?
salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1439/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1965

(3) PARTICIPATE IN A SOLIDARITY FAST FOR GAZA THIS THURSDAY:
Join Ta'anit Tzedek - Jewish Fast For Gaza
www.fastforgaza.net/

Dear Jennifer,

Over 1,600 JVPers have emailed the Egyptian authorities asking to let the Gaza Freedom Marchers get into Gaza. But Egypt is not relenting. It is determined to enforce the Israeli siege on Gaza.

We are asking you to contact Egyptian authorities again. Even if you've already done it, please do it again.

Over thirteen hundred people from 42 countries are now in Egypt, and they intend to participate in the Gaza Freedom March on December 31. And yet, Egypt is denying them access to the border. These freedom marchers did not travel all the way to Egypt to tourist around in Cairo, but to express their solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Hedy Epstein, the 85 year old Holocaust survivor and peace activist, announced that she is beginning a hunger strike in Cairo today as a response to the Egyptian government's refusal to allow the Gaza Freedom March participants into Gaza.(1)

Please join a one-day emergency fast on Thursday, December 31 to show solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Marchers.

Additionally, Egypt has stopped a convoy with humanitarian relief en route to Gaza. The convoy, organized by Viva Palestina, was stuck in the Jordanian port of Aqaba, and in order to satisfy Egypt's whims is now being forced to take a costly detour to the Syrian port of Latakia, and to sail from there to the Egyptian port of El Arish, and then to Gaza.(2)

And to make matters worse, news reports confirm that Egypt is building a new separation wall at the border to stop cross-border smuggling.(3) Unfortunately, the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza leaves Palestinians in the Strip with no alternative but the tunnels to survive. The solution to the smuggling will come when the siege is lifted, not when it is further entrenched.

We need to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

What's going on? Is it a coincidence that Egypt is the second largest recipient of U.S. military aid, after Israel? Or that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is visiting Egypt today?(4)

Tell Egypt to let the marchers in and to stop the wall!

Thanks!


Sydney Levy
Jewish Voice for Peace

(1) 85 year old holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein begins hunger strike to open Gaza borders [http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_1251.shtml] and
Gaza marchers on hunger strike in Egypt [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8433010.stm]
(2) Gaza aid convoy to change course [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/200912281583520582.html]
(3) Egypt's barrier along Gaza border called 'wall of shame' [http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-egypt-wall21-2009dec21,0,3083730.story]
(4) Netanyahu says will visit Egypt on Tuesday [http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BQ0MU20091227]

* Subscribe to our blog Muzzlewatch through Feedburner or Twitter.
* Inspired by what we're doing? Please donate now. Every donation makes a difference.
* Contact us directly at Jewish Voice for Peace. 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 550. Oakland, CA 94612 510-465-1777 [e-mail]

[ninathedog]

Protesters Gather in Cairo for March to Gaza

By MONA EL-NAGGAR
Published: December 29, 2009
The New York Times

CAIRO — More than 1,000 people from around the world were gathered here on Tuesday for a solidarity march into Gaza despite Egypt’s insistence that the Gaza border crossing that it controls would remain closed to the vast majority of them.

The protest, the Gaza Freedom March, was planned for Thursday and intended to mark a year since Israel’s three-week military assault on the territory. On Tuesday, hundreds of the frustrated activists gathered to press their case on the front steps of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate here, holding “Free Gaza” signs and chanting, “Let us go.” Some declared a hunger strike.

Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor, center, was among hunger strikers in
Cairo on Tuesday showing solidarity with Gazans.
Amr Nabil/Associated Press

About 100 French citizens staged a sit-in in front of the French Embassy, and some Americans pleaded for help at the United States Consulate.

The Egyptian government agreed to let 100 activists into Gaza on Wednesday, according to one of the organizers of the march.

The crossing, at Rafah, Egypt, has been closed for most purposes since the summer of 2007, when the militant group Hamas seized control of Gaza from the rival Western-backed forces of Fatah. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza, and the Egyptian government, citing its own security needs, closed the crossing, drawing criticism from within Egypt and across the Arab world.

International criticism of Israel spiked after the Gaza assault, which left as many as 1,400 Palestinians dead, including hundreds of civilians (actual number of Palestinian people killed: 1416. A list of names is available here: pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/19-03-2009.html). Thirteen Israelis were killed. While both sides were accused of war crimes, most of the outrage was focused on Israel because of its overwhelming military strength and the enormous differences in the death tolls.

International activists have been challenging Israel’s control of Gaza’s waters, sending in boats to bring in supplies and convey support; Israel has blocked many.

Egypt repeatedly refused to open its border ahead of the planned march, citing what its officials said were “security reasons,” but participants in the march flew to Cairo anyway, hoping the government would relent.

“We have not come to Egypt to create trouble or cause conflict,” organizers of the march wrote in an open letter to Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak. “We have come because we believe that all people — including the Palestinians of Gaza — should have access to the resources they need to live in dignity.”

The letter said the group, which is urging Israel to lift its blockade, raised tens of thousands of dollars for medical aid, school supplies and clothing to take to Gaza.

The Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, expressed frustration at the activists who came to Cairo despite the warning that the border was closed.

“Those who tried to conspire against us, and they are more than a thousand, we will leave them in the street,” he said.

One protester, Hedy Epstein, 85, a Holocaust survivor, arrived in Egypt from the United States on Saturday. She said she started a hunger strike on Monday.

“My message is for the world governments to wake up and treat Israel like they treat any other country and not to be afraid to reprimand and criticize Israel for its violent policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians,” Ms. Epstein said. “I brought a suitcase full of things, pencils, pens, crayons, writing paper to take to children in Gaza — I can’t take that back home.”

www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/world/middleeast/30egypt.html?_r=1

[fr33ksh0w2012]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

;D ;D ;D

[emeraldsun]

Happy New Year To All

A new Wings post for the New Year.......enjoy

And what a very different and exciting new year it “can" be for many of us (smile). 2010…the year of creativity, manifestations, and self expression. Or in other words, the beginning of the creation of the New World, as the first phase of the ascension process is finally complete and very over.

Where are we then, at this particular moment in time, how did we indeed get here, and where are we headed?

Although it may feel as though nothing much has been occurring of late, or perhaps there has been a great lull, there has indeed been a great amount of restructuring and preparing occurring for our very next phase.

The separation of the worlds occurred in September, so then, it really has not been too long since we broke off from the old reality and ventured into a very new one. This separation created enormous movement for the New Planet Earth, as she was pushed into a very new groove in the universe, now occupying a space within a very new and higher vibrating position.

During this time, anything and everything residing upon and within the earth was also pushed out of its old groove. An enormous amount of energy was required to create this movement, and many of us felt it with great intensity. During this time, everything was pushed, so any dormant or remaining darkness within us was moved up and out as well (just when we thought that most of our internal purging was over for awhile!). This was a massive undertaking and a monumental event.

Immediately preceding this process that pushed us into a very new location, many of us found ourselves in new homes, either through new changes with our current homes, or through literally moving to very new locations on the planet. Many were placed in new residences in order to be placed in spaces of peace, serenity, and comfort for the times to come. So then, there were many who arrived somewhere very new, only to feel as though nothing much occurred after their arrival, leaving many bewildered and perhaps even let down, but even so, things were indeed progressing on track at the higher and deeper levels. There was deep movement occurring, and it does take time to play out with all steps required.

So then, after the new locations were complete, or even for some, staying in their current locations, the massive movement occurred. After the earth and all her inhabitants arrived in a very new space, a grounding was then felt. A beautiful let down and time for a brief rest. And did many of us ever need it! We had indeed arrived somewhere very new.

This feeling of let down and grounding was brief, as after the earth arrived in her very new space in the cosmos, she then began a process of tilting in order to complete her alignment. This tilting process could be felt as up, and then down. Or high, and then low. And all the while, higher energies were present to create and assist with this process, and these higher energies moved even more energy within and without.

Darkness could then be felt. Depression, self-loathing, great negativity and futility, and panic and anxiety were but some of the symptoms of higher energy arriving and hitting any remaining lower vibrating energy within us. This higher energy resulted from our very new position in the cosmos. In addition, because we need to be prepared internally for this very new phase, most of us still had personal energies which needed to be balanced and aligned as well. At the same time, because we were really grounding into the New Earth now with our higher vibrating energy and the earth’s higher vibrating energy, very old and ancient energies of darkness that had been dormant beneath the surface of the earth, were also moved out of their old grooves. I can remember days of simply driving down the road and seeing these energies floating up and out of the earth’s surface, and thinking what a strange time it is!

But even more was occurring as well, as the massive pushing and re-aligning literally pushed energies together that would indeed be divinely connecting in times to come. Add to this, higher vibrating energies arriving through our crown chakras and creating massive sinus and head pressures, along with allergies and strange colds, and it is no wonder that we needed a break somewhere! There was so much going on at this time, that any regular or normal pattern was nearly impossible to report. I can remember feeling that a daily WINGS post was what was really needed!

We have been literally grounding now, in small and incremental steps since the separation of the worlds occurred in September of 2009. This process was due to arrive on the solstice of June, 2009, but as I have written now so many times (get ready for some old and boring energy here…), at our soul levels, we decided to separate from the old reality. Enough time had been given to all souls residing there, to open and expand, and this then, created a delay of six more months (on top of the added delay of over two years…and yes at soul levels we lovingly agreed to give the process more time).

So then, we let go of all our old lives which related to the first phase of the ascension process, left any baggage behind, and for many, left family and loved ones behind who were still unwilling to open, expand, and leave any lower vibrating patterns and behaviors behind them as well.

The repositioning of the New Earth and those residing within her then began in earnest immediately after the separation occurred. Again, after the repositioning was fairly complete, the grounding process began to intensify and to occur in small but accelerating steps, and we are now well on our way. So although it may have felt that things were dead in the water, much was indeed occurring in order to support our very new foundation. We are beginning a very New Earth, and this New Earth, of course, needs a new foundation.

The solstice of December 21, 2009, then, was a pivotal player as it greatly supported our grounding into the New Earth. The New Earth is now, of course, being created by us, and in this way, we are being pulled in as the rightful stewards and creators we came to be. The new earth herself is now vibrating higher, so in this way, the higher energies are now arriving from within her, and of course, from within each and every one of us as well. The earth is the key, as are we.

So where are we now? Where are we now in this process and what can we expect in times to come?

It may feel very empty right now, with some kind of a dis-connect now present, but this is only because we are smack in the middle of the process of connecting to ourselves. The higher realms now, is very much within us, and this is the process we are currently undergoing. This is where we need to connect, in order to create our very new foundation. We are in the process of remembering who we are and why we are here on this earth. We are in the process of remembering what we came here to do and to be. And this process will unfold all on its own, as we ground more fully into the New Earth. From the bottom up, every cell in our bodies will slowly fill up with these soul memories, with no real effort required. This will occur now with more rapidity, as the earth has now come to rest in her true and rightful new position in the cosmos. Therefore, it is now time.

In a very strange way, we may feel as though we are going backwards, or rather back in time (and I am not referring to the current Mercury retrograde here, although Mercury is indeed supporting our process). What is occurring, is that we are re-connecting with our true and authentic selves. We are backing out of (and are almost done with this phase) anything and everything within us, that has to do with the first phase of the ascension process. Although this process of backing out, or backtracking into the souls we came to be before the first phase began, has been occurring for most of 2009, this particular stage is a bit different.

During most of 2009, we let go of our old roles for the most part. Currently, we are re-connecting to our new roles. The reason we are backing into them, or perhaps feeling that we have gone back in time, is because we now get to be the souls we came to be in the first place. This means that we are re-connecting to and remembering, as well as simply becoming, who we came to be as the souls who arrived to create the New Planet Earth. These soul memories and blueprints were very intact within us when we arrived, but the first phase of the ascension process created different roles, as our intent at that time was to raise the vibration and consciousness of the planet in order to lay a foundation and arena that would enable and allow us to create this very new Earth. We needed to create it in higher vibrating energy. So although our roles were primarily about raising the vibration of the planet, during the first phase, we did indeed attempt to fulfill our roles in regard to creating the New Earth as well. NOW, we get to focus on these original roles alone, as it is FINALLY time for our visions to manifest.

Currently feeling that we are going back in time may manifest as finding ourselves suddenly touching base with very old friends from the past, and even keeping those new connections, or at some times, just touching noses once again and then moving on. We are connecting with those who knew us when. We are connecting with those who can rekindle the soul plans that we arrived with before the first ascension phase began. We are re-aligning with these old energies within us in all ways before we move on into our very next phase of creation and experience. This experience of connecting to old friends again, actually began many months ago, but then we abruptly changed plans with the separation of the worlds, moved into a new space in the cosmos, and now we are resuming this process of starting over once again.

Another scenario is also present. For some of us, we are completing the last tendrils of our old soul scripts before we can move on into our Heaven on Earth. These old soul scripts could not be completed, as the first ascension phase interacted with so much darkness, that our plans went awry so to speak, the first ascension phase became more intense than we had anticipated, and some of us could not create or complete a part of our soul scripts that we came to experience. During that time, darkness seemed to rule the roost, and thus, the surrounding vibrations were not high enough to enable some of us to do what we came to do.

Now that there has occurred a separation of the worlds, we are very free and clear from the old experience of the prior ten years or so, and some of us can now continue on with little resistance, what we originally came to experience. Nothing really “went awry” anyway…there was simply a freedom of choice. This freedom of choice went one way, and we then decided that as the light, we would still continue on, but simply go another way and then be able to experience the reality that we were accustomed to in all ways. This is the new reality that most of us are currently residing in. And in order to lay its foundation and set the new blueprint in all ways, some of us are now finally able to complete what we came to experience in order to prepare the New Earth for this phase. Again, seemingly going back in time, but really only having this experience in a New World that will sustain it, where-as the old reality would not.

In this way, we are now living in a world that will eventually make sense to us once again.

Another scenario currently present has to do with re-structuring and forming the new at the bottom levels. In other words, we are laying a new foundation for ourselves, either by re-structuring our businesses, our homes, ourselves, or much else, in order that we create a very new foundation for ourselves. We are creating now from the ground up, and this is why so much thrust in now on grounding and residing deep within the New Earth. Re-structuring is the first phase, and this is occurring now. In this way, much will arrive for us right now in effortless ways if it has to do with this theme. Things are indeed being divinely orchestrated.

After we re-structure, we will then propagate from what we re-structured or from the new foundation we laid, creating more and more tendrils, and our own individual new reality will then grow. After our own reality and our soul purposes or heart’s desires are fairly evident, we will then connect to the same with our brothers and sisters and create a very new grid for the New Planet Earth.

Living from the heart will become the norm. We will come to know that our hearts are our best navigators and we will use them often. Our hearts have been opening for quite some time these past ten years, simply because the first phase of ascension has opened so much in our upper back and neck areas, allowing for the sprouting of our angel wings. But in recent times, our hearts have opened for other reasons as well.

Although some of us may have known about living from our hearts intellectually for quite some time (and some of us are better at this than others!), because of all the pain and suffering many of us have recently seen or experienced, our hearts have opened even more (before this, they may have “closed” from the experience of departing from the old reality and needing to separate from it and leave it behind!). Having an open heart and giving and receiving love is perhaps the only thing that felt good and right during these recently challenging times after we left the old reality, and we can now remember this well and access this space of higher level being and feeling with more ease. In addition, when anything feeling “good” occurs for us as well, our hearts again open and we may feel like crying and may become very emotional. Gratitude and an open heart are frequently by-products in times of great suffering and challenge.

In addition, many of us will experience the real knowing that our “perfect” partners have arrived for us, as they will hold the keys to a special and divine opening of our hearts. And when this happens for us, the experience of it and the tears of joy we shed are nothing less than other-worldly and heaven sent. It is all about hearts now…all about hearts.

In these ways, mental, analytical, and thought processes will slowly be replaced by heart and feeling processes. We may find connections that make absolutely no sense intellectually, but our hearts are saying otherwise. Music will guide the way, as it creates states of feeling and expression that by-pass our thoughts and minds. In this way, we may find that we suddenly cannot get enough music, or have intense desires to create things involving sound. (For example, I have been getting immense hits for several weeks to create audio books, as writing is my greatest form of expression and sound will take them to a new level.)

Creating will also be a main theme for 2010. We will find (and are already finding now), that if we turn around, we may see that we have indeed already created a piece of what we may have only dreamed about in times past. We simply may not notice what is right in front of us, as we may be choosing to focus on things that are “seemingly” wrong, as this is much of what we have known in recent times past.

Re-structuring and laying a new foundation means that we are setting up for things to arrive. So of course, this usually involves our finances as well. This has been a very long haul in regard to arriving in a very new space. We may be very gun shy when it comes to starting over again. What has worked for me so far, is to put out a simple desire in a very non-attached sort of way, and then watch it manifest. And you would not believe all that has manifested. Simple things that are not drastically important for us are great things to begin with. This practice is a good way to get back in the saddle once again and to place us in positions of power once again, and I believe that this is what many of us are needing right now.

Thinking positively and having hope are vitally important as well. We can choose to know that things will indeed be different now, as we are without exception the true and rightful creators of our own reality.

This grounding in process is also designed to create a new power and confidence within us. If ever so slowly, we can come to know that we can again be in charge, even if the past few years seemed otherwise. We may have also learned what it is that we may want to create. This is because we have grown and come very far in regard to what the first phase of ascension created within us…taking us to higher levels of what we may want to create.

Yes, we are indeed starting all over again. We are going back to the soul identities that we once embodied when we first arrived on this earth, as we are very done with the process of raising the vibration of the planet through ourselves. We can now leave the past behind and begin again with our original soul plans intact.

Some pitfalls? As in the past, we all have free will and choice according to who we choose to be and what we choose to create. Fear and analytical thought can easily squash and can also determine what we create and experience. Also, when our new roles and contributions, or original soul identities begin to fill us up, with everything in the higher realms magnified, there can be a danger that they fill us up too much. This can create a posture of, “my thing is the only thing, and this is what everything should be about,” or also a predominant one now of a “don’t tell me what to do or believe” attitude, as when we begin to really express ourselves freely, we tend to want the freedom to do just that. Many of us are also tired of feeling like victims! But as we come to fully embody our original soul plans and purposes, we will also have an experience of being asked to contribute to a whole, as our piece will be highly visible to others.

So then, it can really help if we remind ourselves that our “piece” is simply only one piece, and it needs to fit in with many other pieces in order to create a whole. It will greatly help to acknowledge and revere the pieces that our brothers and sisters possess. For many years, I have seen this scenario unfold, and it only serves to dissolve any hope of creating a new reality, and most importantly, of ever having a chance to partner with anyone. In the beginning stages, this posturing may likely occur, as our new freedom of creation will be immense. But ultimately, we will need to come to realize that we do indeed need each other if we do not want to create absolutely everything by ourselves, and also, if we would like to have an experience that resides outside of our own individual groove and awareness. But who knows? It is up to us, so really, anything goes and anything may occur.

We are in the space of a New World now. Let’s hope we do not create the challenges and darkness that existed in the world we just left behind…

In this New World, we can, of course, create anything we choose. We can create an individual reality all our own, that greatly reflects who we are and what is meaningful to us. In his way, we can come to know that we need not become alarmed about anything occurring in areas that are not in our so called “jurisdiction.” There are many things that will be occurring in the old world very soon, but if we remember that we no longer reside there, we may gain some sense of security and comfort in knowing that what we are now creating, is very new and different, and very far from what is occurring there. As we gradually begin letting go of our fears from the past, and gradually get over being gun shy, our creating experiences and abilities will eventually become second-hand to us. This will most likely occur in an individual way first, before we eventually connect to others….starting from the “ground up” and then “propagating.”

Will there continue to be ups and downs? We are entering new territory, and ups and downs are usually part of the terrain. But again, who knows, because as always, it is up to us in regard to what happens. The main theme here now, is that WE are the ultimate creators. It is up to us in regard to what we create, and with whom. As I have written about so many times in the past, the combination of our energies will be what greatly contributes to moving the energies more quickly and intensely. When we come together, miracles indeed happen much more quickly, and this is when higher energies are regularly maintained as well. Because of the completion of the first ascension phase, WE are the ones holding the higher energies now, and when we combine these energies with the energies of another, we then create a new reality for ourselves. Add to this the fact that in the higher realms everything is magnified, and we now have an exciting recipe for “anything goes.”

As most of you are well aware, what you are reading here in no way needs to be your own reality and experience either. We have the new freedom now to create whatever it is we choose to create, and it is then, up to each and every one of us what wondrous realities we choose to create for ourselves.

As things begin progressing, if even ever so slowly from the bottom up, and as we come to see that we are indeed back at the helm, our very New World will then begin. All that lower leg, foot, and lower back pain that some of us experienced was simply in preparation for anchoring in to this new and exciting reality that will emerge ever so slowly from the ground up. Here’s to an exciting and miraculous 2010!

With much love and gratitude,

Karen

Link here:http://www.emergingearthangels.com/latest.html


emeraldsun

[ninathedog]

Activists allowed into Gaza after days of protest

The Independent
Friday, 1 January 2010

Hundreds of protesters gathered yesterday on Gaza's borders to mark the first anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, Israel's 22-day ground and air offensive on the territory in which 1,400 Palestinians died.

After days of pressure Egypt said it was allowing nearly 100 of the mainly foreign activists to cross into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip from its territory through the Rafah crossing. Some 1,400 activists from more than 40 countries have been in Cairo since Sunday attempting to march on Gaza, but Egypt has said the action is illegal and a threat to national security.

The activists have staged protests almost daily since Sunday, and members of the Gaza Freedom March claimed yesterday that they had been beaten by Egyptian riot police. Egypt imposes heavy restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and some foreigners. Cairo is also building a steel wall along its Gaza border to prevent smuggling.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/activists-allowed-into-gaza-after-days-of-protest-1854768.html

...........................


Egyptian police beat Gaza peace activists

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4tk2RiNIo

...........................

Sabbath in Gaza:
Ultra-Orthodox Jews make rare visit to
show support for Palestinians

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 9 hours ago

A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews were preparing Friday to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath in Gaza, in an unlikely show of support for Palestinians in the Hamas-run coastal territory.

Bearded and wearing black hats and coats, the four members of a tiny Jewish group vehemently opposed to Israel's existence were a rare sight in the poverty-stricken Palestinian territory.

Members of the Neturei Karta group have expressed support for the Iranian regime and for others who oppose the Jewish state, which they believe was established in violation of Jewish law. They made a similar visit to Gaza last year.

"It's crucial that the people of Gaza understand the terrible tragedy here is not in the name of Judaism," said one of the men, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of New York City, as the four prepared to observe the Sabbath at a Gaza City hotel.

SOURCE: Neturei Karta — www.nkusa.org/activities/demonstrations/20091215_viva_palestinaII.cfm
George Galloway, British MP and Leader of the second "Viva Palestina" convoy to
deliver aid to the citizens of Gaza (second from right), posed for a photo with
members of Neturei Karta who joined the aid convoy.

Gaza is still recovering from Israel's devastating military offensive a year ago, which was aimed at halting rocket fire from the territory. Thirteen Israelis and almost 1,400 Gazans were killed in the three-week war.

The four men are American and Canadian citizens. Israel bans its citizens from visiting the blockaded territory. Weiss and his comrades entered Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt.

Neturei Karta, Aramaic for "Guardians of the City," was founded seven decades ago in Jerusalem by Jews who opposed the drive to establish the state of Israel, believing only the Messiah could do that.

Considered marginal even among ultra-Orthodox Jews, the group's size is estimated at between a few hundred to a few thousand people.

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jvBLiuUs1jKnC7KiL82Gxzu6sF0w

.............

December 27, 2009 — Demonstration for freedom in Gaza and all of Palestine
held in New York City was joined by anti-Zionist Religious Orthodox Jews.
A rally also took place in London.

Freedom for Gaza and all Palestine

Speech delivered by Rabbi Mordechai Weberman of Neturei Karta International,
Jews United Against Zionism, at the march for Gaza December 27th, 2009, in NYC


With the help of the Almighty, A-Saloom Aleikem

On this first anniversary of the Zionist attack on Gaza, we have assembled together to condemn the terrible acts committed by the Zionists at that time. We were grief- stricken when we heard the news then, and we are deeply pained now that the tragedy has not yet ended. This was not the first Zionist attack on Gaza. Furthermore, the tragedy is not only in Gaza; all of Palestine is under this same unjust and illegitimate occupation.

A half a year ago, in July, a delegation went to Gaza representing Orthodox Jewish congregations of the United States, Canada, England, and Al-Quds - Jerusalem, Palestine. And presently, as we are standing here today, another delegation of Jewish Rabbis is on its way to Gaza to march in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The purpose of our being here today and of our missions to Gaza is threefold: firstly, to break the Zionist siege and bring to the suffering people of Gaza crucially needed medical assistance, secondly, to let the people of Gaza know that we feel their suffering, and thirdly, to let the world know that the acts committed by Zionists is against the Almighty and does not in any way represent the entire Jewish people, and certainly not the Jewish religion and the Torah.

We have to remember the tremendous distinction between Jews and Zionists, and between Judaism and Zionism. Judaism is spirituality, G-dliness, religion and compassion, Zionism is the transformation of Judaism into base materialism, selfish nationalism and the exclusion of the Almighty. In addition, how ironic it is that according to the Torah, Jews are not allowed to have their own sovereign State. Ever since the Temple was destroyed 2000 years ago, Jews have been in exile by Divine decree. We are strictly forbidden by G-d to establish our own state. This would be true even if that state were to be established in an empty, uninhabited land. Now that the Zionists have established their state in a populated land, at the expense of an entire people - the Palestinian people - the crime is much worse.

We condemn in the strongest terms the recent attack on Gaza, as well as the decades of occupation of Palestine. We hope for the ultimate redemption, when G-d will bring a spiritual change to the whole world and all mankind will come together to do His will wholeheartedly. We pray for the freedom of Gaza and the freedom of all of Palestine. We pray for the peaceful and speedy dismantlement of the entire State of Israel. We pray for a time when justice will be reinstated and the evil heresy of Zionism will end. Then we will once again be able to enjoy that peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs that historically always existed throughout the Muslim world.

Free, free Gaza! Free, free Palestine!

Judaism yes! Zionism no!

Thank you, Shukran,

A-Salum aleikem

www.nkusa.org/activities/Demonstrations/20091227.cfm

.......................

British Politician Praises Rosmah, Mahathir For Helping Palestinians

Bernama.com — Malaysian National News Agency
January 01, 2010 21:44 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 (Bernama) -- Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been singled out by a British politician for their exemplary efforts to help push for the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy to reach its destination in the Gaza Strip of Palestine.

George Galloway, a UK politician who is leading the convoy, had told the Al Jazeera TV network that the convoy, carrying essentials and medical aid for Palestinians trapped by an Israeli blockade, must be allowed to proceed.

In a report filed on Dec 28, entitled "Fighting to Break the Gaza Siege", the network had quoted Galloway as saying that medicines brought by the convoy "are in a race against time of their expiry date and are getting spoiled under the desert sun, whilst people in Gaza die for the want of them."

"The government of Turkey and the respected Premier (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan are trying their best, as is the former prime minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the wife of the current prime minister in Kuala Lumpur," he was quoted as saying in the report.

Calloway also said that he had written to Queen Rania of Jordan asking her to contact Madame Susan Mubarak, first lady of Egypt and the head of Egyptian Red Crescent.

He said there were more than 200 trucks and 500 people from 17 different countries who gave up their Christmas holidays to try and help one and a half million Arabs and Muslims in Gaza.

"We are four hours away, across the Red Sea from approaching Rafah but an Arab government will not allow us.

"The question is: What are 300 million Arabs going to do about this continued slow, quiet massacre of their brothers behind the wire?"

Galloway said the 500 members of the Viva Palestina Convoy to Gaza spent Christmas in a car park in Aqaba after Egypt refused to help them.

He said previously, so many Turks, Arabs and British were together in this town and they were fighting the first World War against each other.

However, he said, now they were fighting to break through the siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

"There will be enough time afterwards to review everyone's role in the sorry Christmas story but for now I am appealing to anyone and everyone to help us reach Gaza," he said.

-- BERNAMA

www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=465646

[ninathedog]

Rockets fired from Gaza strike Israel

Jewish Telegraphic Agency
January 1, 2010

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip exploded in a southern Israeli town.

The two Grad type rockets, which have a range of about 13 miles, hit the Israeli town of Netivot late Thursday. No one was hurt.

The Color Red early warning alarm reportedly did not go off.

The Aksa Martyrs Brigades on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for the killing of three of its members by the IDF in Nablus last week. The terrorists were murdered while refusing arrest for shooting to death 45-year-old father of seven Avshalom Meir Chai.

The attack Thursday night follows a mortar attack on Wednesday, which was the first attack from Gaza into Israel in two weeks.

Also on Wednesday, the Shin Bet, Israel's security service, released a report which showed that 566 rockets were fired on Israel from Gaza in 2009; most were fired in January, during Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. By comparison, 2,048 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza in 2008.

jta.org/news/article/2010/01/01/1009961/mortar-fired-from-gaza-at-israel

.......................

Israeli warplanes, tanks strike eastern, southern Gaza Strip

www.chinaview.cn
2010-01-02 06:11:09

GAZA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli F16 warplanes and tanks had carried out late on Friday night five successive air and ground strikes on targets in eastern and southern Gaza Strip, wounding five people, medics and witnesses said.

The witnesses said that Israeli F16 warplane fired two missiles, while tanks fired two shells that all landed at empty zones east and northeast of Gaza City, adding that five people were injured.

Paramedics said that local ambulances took five Palestinians from eastern Gaza for medical treatment at Gaza hospitals after they were injured. They said that the five have been lightly injured.

Meanwhile, Hamas security sources said that Israeli F16 warplanes carried out a fifth air raid on a post that belonging to militants from Islamic Hamas movement in southern Gaza Strip, no injuries were reported.

The five successive Israeli air and ground strikes came hours after militants from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) fired two Russian-made Grad missiles on Thursday night from Gaza at southern Israel.

The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) had claimed responsibility earlier on Friday for launching four mortar Shells at Israeli army vehicles near the borders between southeast Gaza Strip and Israel. No injuries were reported.

Israeli Radio reported earlier on Friday that two Grad rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed on Thursday night at an opened area in the Negev in southern Israel causing no harms or casualties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened two days ago that the Israeli army would respond to every single rocket that militants from Gaza fire at Israel.

The escalation of violence between Israel and Gaza militant had mounted as the Palestinians marked on Dec. 27 one year anniversary for launching a 22-day Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip that left more than 1,400 people killed.

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/02/content_12741855.htm

[michealm]

No Rise of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Fraction in Past 160 Years, New Research Finds

ScienceDaily (Dec. 31, 2009) — Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. In fact, only about 45 percent of emitted carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere.

However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase.

Many climate models also assume that the airborne fraction will increase. Because understanding of the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide is important for predicting future climate change, it is essential to have accurate knowledge of whether that fraction is changing or will change as emissions increase.

To assess whether the airborne fraction is indeed increasing, Wolfgang Knorr of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol reanalyzed available atmospheric carbon dioxide and emissions data since 1850 and considers the uncertainties in the data.

In contradiction to some recent studies, he finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades.

The research is published in Geophysical Research Letters.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184221.htm

===============

Washington slaps fee on plastic shopping bags
Dec 31 03:49 PM US/Eastern
Residents of the US capital may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets when they go grocery shopping once the city slaps a five-cent levy on each plastic bag issued at the checkout line.

The measure, which takes effect on January 1, 2010 and is the first such initiative in the United States, seeks to make consumers bear the brunt of clean up costs for the bags which currently are dispensed for free with a customer's purchases.

Plastic bags, while popular with shoppers, often end up clinging to tree branches, tangled in power lines, polluting rivers and clogging up storm drains.

"I signed this law in July to cut down on the disposable bags that foul our waterways," said Mayor Adrian Fenty in a statement last month, saying that one particularly urban waterway, the city's Anacostia River, has been particularly befouled by the plastic shopping bags.

"Our research shows that plastic bags are a major component of the trash in the Anacostia River," said Maureen McGowan, interim director of the city's environment department.

"By taking disposable bags out of production and out of the waste stream, everyone who goes to the store can help keep the waters clean," McGowan said.

And Fenty noted that part of the money collected will be spent toward cleanup of the Anacostia.

"We want everyone to know that you can save the river, and five cents, if you bring your own reusable bag to the store instead," the mayor said.

Under the new law, city businesses that sell food or alcohol must charge customers five cents for every disposable paper or plastic carryout bag. The law also requires that these bags be recyclable and carry a message encouraging recycling."

To prepare for the change, the city government has distributed some 122,000 reusable shopping bags to elderly and low-income residents who complain that their limited spending power will be further hampered by the levy.

The measure is opposed by the American Chemistry Council, which says standard issue plastic bags already are reusable and work just fine.

"Most major grocery and retail chains currently offer programs that allow shoppers to bring back plastic bags and all sorts of product wraps for recycling," the group said in a statement earlier this year in which it called the new levy "misguided and unnecessary."

www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.af09375837a21e6bf486e0c8aed43c9a.01&show_article=1

[galaxygirl]

Jan 3, 2010 4:49:38 GMT 4 @lumin8 said:

Thank you Emeraldsun for your kind words and thoughts.

Mom passed away this evening at 6:05pm. 85 years old to the day. I feel there is something special in her passing on the same day she came into this existence. A new birthday as it were, born again into a new experience. I now have 2 reasons to celebrate January 2nd.

Peace to you always
Lumin8

Dearest Lumin8 . . . my condolences for you on your mother's passing. I know you will miss her.

And congratulations to your mother on her passing on to her next soul experience. I know she will miss you.

My father died on this day in 2003 and I remember well having both of these sets of contradictory feelings. The most amazing thing that I remember was this strong sense in the days just after his passing was of his soul being returned to Source and to his waiting soul group. I could literally feel him being carried on a wave of light and I celebrated his release from his last pain and suffering. This comforted me a lot and kept me in the realms of infinity that Dan mentions on the ED thread.



Much love to you Lumin8,

GG

[lumin8]

Love to you GG and thank you so much for sharing.

Lumin8

[galaxygirl]

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/weather/article6975867.ece

Arctic freeze and snow wreak havoc across the planet
Charles Bremner in Paris and Richard Lloyd Parry Tokyo
January 5, 2010


A boy walks with his yak after fresh snowfall in Kufri, outskirts of Shimla, India

Arctic air and record snow falls gripped the northern hemisphere yesterday, inflicting hardship and havoc from China, across Russia to Western Europe and over the US plains.

There were few precedents for the global sweep of extreme cold and ice that killed dozens in India, paralysed life in Beijing and threatened the Florida orange crop. Chicagoans sheltered from a potentially killer freeze, Paris endured sunny Siberian cold, Italy dug itself out of snowdrifts and Poland counted at least 13 deaths in record low temperatures of about minus 25C (-13F).

The heaviest snow yesterday hit northeastern Asia, which is suffering its worst winter weather for 60 years. More than 25 centimetres (10in) of snow covered Seoul, the South Korean capital — the heaviest fall since records began in 1937.

In China, Beijing and the nearby port city of Tianjin had the deepest snow since 1951, with falls of up to 8in and temperatures of minus 10C. In the far north of China, the temperature fell to minus 32C. More than two million Beijing and Tianjin pupils were sent home and 1,200 flights were delayed or cancelled at Beijing’s international airport.

The same far-eastern weather system took its toll of Sakhalin, the Russian island off Siberia, which was hit by blizzards and avalanches. Farther west, in northern and eastern India, more than 60 people, mainly homeless, died of exposure. Thousands of schools were closed. In Uttar Pradesh, the state neighbouring Nepal, the authorities spent £1.3 million on blankets and firewood for needy households.

Western Russia suffered a deep freeze as snow swept across the Baltic and north-central Europe, leaving the worst devastation in Poland, where 13 people died, bringing the toll from the cold this winter to 122.

Up to ten skiers died or were missing in avalanches. The worst incident was in the Diemtig Valley in Switzerland on Sunday, when avalanches hit a group of skiers and then the rescuers who went to their aid. Eight people were pulled from the snow alive, but four died, including an emergency doctor, and three more were missing.

In Italy, emergency services struggled with rare cold and ice. Motorways in the northeast were closed and military helicopters were sent to Sicily with medical aid.

In the United States, heavy snow fell again on the northeast.

In Burlington, Vermont, a record 33in of snow fell in a weekend storm. The previous record in a three-day period was set in 1969. Residents of the Northern Plains were warned to expect lethally cold temperatures of about minus 30C.

The icy conditions of Western Europe, which broke records in half a dozen countries in December, are expected to last for at least another week.

Guo Hu, the head of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, linked this week’s conditions to unusual atmospheric patterns caused by global warming.

Meteorologists were also trying to find a pattern in the heavy rains that have hit equatorial regions and the southern hemisphere in the past week.

At least 20 people have been killed in flash floods in Kenya after torrential rains made thousands homeless.

In Australia, the authorities declared a natural disaster along the Castlereagh River as it peaked after torrential rain, forcing 1,200 residents to abandon their homes for high ground.

In Brazil, the death toll from flooding and mudslides over the past four days rose above 80.

Closer to home, forecasters have warned Britons to brace themselves for a freezing cold, bleak new year — this winter is set to be the coldest for more than 30 years.

[vishvasattva]

Earliest Image Yet of Our Universe
Hubble reaches 13-billion-year-old “primeval galaxies.”

© 2009 by Linda Moulton Howe

www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1659&category=Science

“To our surprise, the results show that these galaxies at 700 million
years after the Big Bang must have started forming stars hundreds of millions
of years earlier, pushing back the time of the earliest star formation in the universe.”
- Ivo Labbe, Ph.D., Carnegie Institute of Washington


“These galaxies are only 1/20th the Milky Way's diameter.
...Yet they must be the seeds from which the great galaxies of today
were formed.” - Pascal Oesch, Ph.D., and Marcella Carollo, Ph.D.,
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

“The faintest galaxies are now showing signs of linkage
to their origins from the first stars. They are so blue that they
must be extremely deficient in heavy elements, thus representing
a population that has nearly primordial characteristics.”
- Rychard Bouwens, Ph.D., Univ. California-Santa Cruz

[unable to post image due to right-click disabled at work]

Section of earliest image yet taken of our universe by the Hubble Space Telescope, only
600 - 700 million years after the Big Bang that started our universe. The circled objects are light
from “primordial galaxies” back 13 billion years ago of our 13.7-billion-year-old-universe
in this unprecedented view of thousands of galaxies in various stages of assembly.
Hubble Center: “This is the deepest image of the universe ever taken in near-infrared light by
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The faintest and reddest objects (left inset) in the image are galaxies
that correspond to ‘look-back times’ of approximately 12.9 billion years to 13.1 billion years ago.
No galaxies have been seen before at such early epochs. These galaxies are much smaller than the
Milky Way galaxy and have populations of stars that are intrinsically very blue. This may indicate
the galaxies are so primordial that they are deficient in heavier elements, and as a result,
are quite free of the dust that reddens light through scattering.” Object Name: HUDF WFC3/IR.
Credit: NASA, ESA, G. Illingworth and R. Bouwens, UC-Santa Cruz and the HUDF09 Team.

[emeraldsun]

A new Wings report from Emerging Earth Angels

Enjoy


The beautiful energy is here at last, if ever moving in oh so slowly. Like a heavenly tonic moving into our bodies, one cell at a time, it is ever so slowly filling us up and merging us with our very new and magical Planet Earth.

With our new Mother Earth now in a very new higher vibrating space, we are in the process of becoming one with her, and with our new space in the cosmos as well, and most assuredly, with our true and authentic selves. This step-by-step process is a vital piece for creating the very new foundation beneath our feet, as we cannot move forward or begin the New Reality until we complete some very important steps first.

So then, backing out of our old ascension roles, and most importantly, out of those spaces many of us went back to, in order to raise the planetary vibration as a last ditch effort, has been a process in itself. Even though we may be physically out of those spaces, we still need to energetically back out of them none-the-less. This is not the same as transmuting and releasing energies within us. This is very different as we went “back” into some darker energies where we had not been for quite awhile, and now we need to energetically “back out” of them, as parts of them are still in our awareness. This can cause fatigue, but as a group, we are nearly done now. Some have been done for awhile, others are very close to being complete.

The grounding in process that we are now experiencing is creating the new space that we are now embodying, or preparing to embody. Some symptoms of grounding can be felt as a feeling of being “down” and low, or rather not flying around up in the higher realms as some of us normally do. But the grounding is great, because once we are done, we will then open portals around us that will create openings for the higher realms, or higher beings, to come to us. Heaven will now be here, so we will not have the desire to go somewhere else “up there.”

We may also find that we have new desires to get physical. Walking, working out, exercising, and muscle toning, or simply really moving a lot can now be present. In addition, we may begin to gain some weight again, as we are subconsciously wanting to have a denser form that will keep us “down here,” like an anchor. In general, we may have a lot more energy now than in times past, and we may also want to be part of the physical world as well.

Our foundations may also be beginning to take shape. Things in our lives may be experiencing a re-structuring in order that they now fit us in every way, or at least, support the new endeavors and new “us” that is now emerging. Backing out occurred so that we could “come back” to our true and authentic selves. Because of this, we may experience a time when we simply do not wish to connect to anyone, as we need to be free and clear, in order to experience our true selves, and anchor in to that energy, before we begin to connect to others. Being in the presence of many others at the same time can thus feel like a great irritation, like we are swatting at flies, or at best, make us unusually irritable.

We are in a very New World now. We left the old world energetically in September of 2009, and as the weeks progressed, the entire planet split off and moved somewhere else in order to begin again. “But things still look the same to me!” you may be thinking. We had to start somewhere. We could not start with nothing, as that space of nothingness can be very uncomfortable for many, as some of us well know. So then, we held the “illusion” of the old reality in our conscious minds. What we remember and still hold in our minds, is what we will see. This is how energy works. We are basically in some kind of new reality “overlay” right now. A sort of duplicate of the Old World while we begin to create the New World. Nothing can exist unless we think we see it. I wrote a lot about this in my first books, and it is so nice to finally be back to that energetic space once again as a planet. And when we hold the Old World in our conscious minds, it will not only continue to exist, but will continue to create itself with where it is.

So then, what is happening is that we are keeping the Old World alive right here, while we begin the process of creating the New World. It is quite amazing to see how this process will unfold. First, we begin creating within ourselves. We restore ourselves to our true and authentic selves, or rather, who we came to be when we were born into a physical form this time around. The first phase of the ascension process spun off as much density as possible within us, so that our true and authentic selves, or what I commonly refer to as our “gold nuggets,” are what remained. And even so, we may have found that we are still uncovering aspects of ourselves which are out of balance with the New World. It seems to never end… aye!

But it does get better, because now that we are in a new vibratory reality, we will very naturally come into balance. I have been having this experience a lot of late. All that pushing energy in November and December brought much to my awareness of where I was personally “off,” and where I really needed to grow and expand. This time was emotionally painful for many. This experience of becoming aware of our density, or the lower vibrating aspects of ourselves, usually occurs when there is density surrounding us which can re-activate any lower vibrating dormant energies within us, or when there is a lot of pushing energy going on.

But what is occurring now, is that in a beautiful and magical way, these imbalances are correcting themselves, as these new and slowly moving energies begin to fill us up. No more intentional healing and fixing is really necessary then. I have never really seen this occur before (except when twin souls get together), and it is quite beautiful to experience. We are simply becoming a good and better fit for the New World, and these energies of the New World are what is making this happen. With higher vibrating energies surrounding us now, anything left within us that vibrates lower and had previously gone dormant with the first ascension phase, will no longer be activated. It is a very graceful and divinely beautiful process, and personally, I like it much better!

So back to how things are currently set to evolve: We will “expand out” with our new energy. First, we become our true and authentic selves, and then we move out from there. As these higher vibrating energies within us begin to build upon themselves, they will naturally “push out” and take up more space while they also add on more tendrils that relate to our true and authentic selves. And as they slowly and surely do this, a New Reality and New World will be created…one that will replace the illusion of the Old World that we are still keeping alive within our minds. It is a beautiful flowing and divinely graceful process. And one that was designed to create the new reality with ease and comfort!

Of course we can do this quickly if we choose, but that might make some of us feel a little crazy, and all these dimensional changes and openings make us crazy enough anyway. But ultimately, the choice is an individual one. I have finally been unpacking the last of my things and really becoming one with my new house. I recently bought a large home, as I have always had a dream, and was also guided that the time was finally here, of having a place that would be filled with many people and be a new reality all in itself. I have really been getting into the vision of my house of late, and with this, it is really growing as I continue to unpack and consult with contractors about needed changes for the future.

I woke up the other morning and smelled a wonderful breakfast cooking (I had gotten so involved with my vision that it even took form with smells!), and immediately and unintentionally jumped into a future reality where everything was completely different here, as it will be in times to come. I felt it with all my senses, and it was very real, as if it was happening right then and there. It was quite evident that I was in a very different space and reality. I had jumped into the future because I had been involved with it the most. Again, what consumes our thoughts will naturally place us there. I have not done any dimensional jumping for a while now, at least for the past two years since, uh, you know what was happening for so many of us with going back into the darkeness! For me, it was too much too soon, and a bit crazy making as well. I like to naturally grow into things, step-by-step, as in this way, I am then in alignment with them in all ways.

When we create new realities, what happens is that when enough of us share the same vision, it then becomes the norm for the whole. In this way, after we really anchor in within us, who we are and what we want our New World to look like, we will then begin connecting to others who have a commonality with us. As things progress, we will then begin creating new realities as we come together to form grids and shared foundations.

Our creating abilities are immense right now. I cannot tell you how many times I have had a thought or passing wish, and then it has shown up. Fine tuning and learning how to utilize the energies for optimum, focused, and appropriate creating will become a hot topic in times to come. And mastering the art of bouncing in and out of realities will be interesting, at best, until we get the hang of it. (I am experimenting with a lot of this now, simply because it seems to be occurring for me naturally and all on its own, but there will be those who will be much better guides and masters of this new way of creating than I will be!)

Dimensional jumping and telepathy are really returning with gusto for me of late, but I have been wired for this all my life. What this is indicating for me, is that we are returning to our true and authentic selves, after so much time with the first phase of the ascension process. What is very new, is the immediacy of creating. This has been very exciting and interesting to participate in. This experience of creating so quickly is occurring now because of our new residency in the higher realms, and what fun it can indeed be!

As we progress into a very new reality, over time, we will eventually come to find that creating money will no longer be necessary, as we can fully create without it. If the whole eventually grasps and becomes comfortable with this way of being, it will then become the new reality. And as always, it is entirely up to us how we will come together to create, and what we will come together to create. There will be, as always, forerunners who will forge ahead to show us the way, and in the beginning, our creations will likely be individual ones as we become familiar with these new and exciting ways.

Right now, for some, a “going back” was necessary before a move ahead was possible. For these souls, they did indeed jump across to the New Planet Earth, but before they will be able to move immediately into their new roles as the creators of our new planet, they needed to complete some soul scripts first. They were most certainly “allowed” to come on board, as it was their own soul decision, but now they just have a little catching up to do. In this way, it may appear that they have “gone backwards” into the old reality, but what they are actually doing, is having the experience that they came to have in the Old World, as it will balance their own energy and create a completion within themselves. They are having this experience in the “Old World Overlay,” not in the Old World that we left behind. These souls decided that they wanted to be a part of the New World, so in this way, they are now doing what is necessary to ready themselves for alignment. The difference between these souls and the souls who did not cross over, is that these souls are very willing and very ready to make the needed adjustments and changes within themselves. This will happen very quickly now for these souls, because of the surrounding energy that they now exist within.

The earth was created as a place for experiencing and creating…or rather experiencing our creations. So in this way, the souls mentioned above are simply having their experiences with all their senses and while in physical form. They could, perhaps, complete this process energetically alone, but having the physical experience was designed to be much more fun, and it also makes it much more real.

While I was in North Carolina with my family over the holidays, we spent some time playing some Wii games. I have to say, that I never had so much fun! I had no idea what Wii even was, and when my daughter first explained that we could play baseball through a television screen, I thought, “But that is a virtual reality that would exist in our minds! What about our physical form? What about being here on the earth?” She soon corrected me by explaining that the games are on the screen with players, but each person who played the game, got to literally swing a bat, throw a bowling ball, or even hit a tennis ball with an instrument they held in their hands while the action manifested on the screen. So then, our physical forms were very involved. It was a great game to play while it was snowing outside. Still not having a complete physical experience, but a half-way one, none-the-less.

Eventually, we will be able to simply create in form what we desire to be around us, and then have the corresponding experience that we desire. For me, when I found myself in a different reality inside of my home, it happened too quickly, and even seemed out of my control, as I did not expect it and it took me by surprise. This is what the first phase of the ascension process did for many of us. We were creating, or rather navigating at our soul levels, and being that there is not a huge preponderance of people who are acutely connected to themselves at soul levels quite yet, this time became very confusing and created a seemingly powerlessness scenario.

This is why it will be vitally important that we learn and grow, and master energy when we are ready, and when we are indeed in alignment with our very next step of evolutionary expansion.

So what is right before us now? January 15th. A pivotal day, if we choose to utilize the energies that this day will provide.

On January 15th, Mercury resumes its forward movement, we will experience a solar eclipse, and there will be a new moon….all on the same day! Going forward into our new direction will be greatly supported by the loving energy of these celestial bodies. What support we will have. Things are moving ahead indeed, as we set our course for a very new reality.

With much love and gratitude,

Karen


linked here: www.emergingearthangels.com/2010/wings1.8.2010.html

[auroralaura]

Hi Everyone,

I was just going to post some info I got via email about an earthquake (6.5) occurring in Northern California, but Dan beat me to it.

Hopefully no one is or gets hurt and hopefully there aren't any more or aftershocks that cause damage and injury.

I've never experienced an earthquake, but I have a few friends in Japan who have felt a few and they have told me that they can be rather scary to experience.

Thinking positive for those in the area!

AL

[ninathedog]

Oct 26, 2009 5:53:18 GMT 4 @ninathedog said:

Lebanon breaks hummus, tabbouleh Guinness record

By Omar Katerji
Special to The Daily Star
Monday, October 26, 2009

BEIRUT: Lebanon successfully made three entries in the Guinness Book of Records over the weekend for the largest plate and the largest plates of hummus and tabbouleh. The “Hummus and Tabbouleh are 100 percent Lebanese” festival took place on Saturday and Sunday at Saifi Market in Downtown Beirut. Thousands attended the two-day event marking Lebanon’s attempt to claim the two dishes.

The dishes were prepared un­der the watch of Guinness adjudicator Tallal Omar by 250 sous chefs from the Kafaat catering school. The 50 chefs were led by the famous Lebanese chef and culinary figure Ramzi Choueiri.

The first attempt for the largest hummus dish reached an incredible 2056 kilograms, shattering the previous record of 362.8 kilograms set in New York in 2006. The tabbouleh dish weighed in at an even more astonishing 3557 kilograms, which surpasses Israel’s previous record of 2359 kilograms.

Lebanese chefs pour hummus into a large dish in Beirut October 24, 2009 during an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for producing what they believe to be the biggest plate of hummus in the world. The dish, weighing 2,056 kg, was filled with 1,350 kg of the chickpea-based dish. The organisers claimed world records for both the size of the dish and the quantity of hummus produced.
REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON SOCIETY FOOD IMAGES OF THE DAY)



Lebanese chefs celebrate around a large plate of hummus after setting a new world record in Beirut. A Guinness representative was on hand to certify the record set by 250 Lebanese chefs and their trainees, who joined efforts to mix over two tonnes of the chickpea-based dip.
(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

Both dishes were prepared in the world’s largest plate designed by Lebanese engineer Joseph Kabalan which was designed to hold over 3 tons.

The event was organized by the International Fairs and Promotions group (IFP), along with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and the Industry Minister Ghazi Zaiter.

The event was held to affirm the origins of the dishes after the ALI’s claim that the specialties are sold internationally as Greek or Israeli dishes, undermining the cultural originality of the dishes and causing huge losses for the Lebanese economy.

At the event, Ghazi Koraytem, president of the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries called for the international recognition and registration of the dishes as being Lebanese in origin.

The festival, which attracted thousands of people to Saifi Market, was set up to include many stalls from Lebanese caterers and artisans. Famous presenter Michel Azzi acted as the master of ceremonies for the event, keeping the crowd lively and amused throughout the various stages of the record attempts.

At the event Azzi said: “We wish that the Lebanese could share this sense of unity all the time in all endeavors.”

At times the security struggled to keep the enthusiastic audience back away from the giant dishes. Mona, from Beirut, said: “This is an important issue to the Lebanese. If Israel attempts to break the record again, we will keep breaking it and prove that these dishes are Lebanese.”

The ALI has claimed their case is similar to the European Union court ruling in 2002 that ruled feta cheese to be Greek.

Geographical appellation rights exist for sparkling wine from the French Champagne region and Scotch whisky, and according to ALI, Lebanon should be able to patent hummus and tabbouleh dishes.

www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=107936

Middle East & Israel Breaking News » Middle East » Article
Israel tops Lebanon's hummus record

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jan 8, 2010 18:14 | Updated Jan 9, 2010 1:05
The Jerusalem Post

Israel took the upper hand in a new kind of Mideast conflict on Friday afternoon - one in which bullets were replaced by chickpeas.

video: www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1194419829128&pagename=JPost%2FPage%2FVideoPlayer&videoId=1262339434072
Israel wins hummus battle — 4-ton plate nearly doubles
Guinness world record set in Beirut.

Using a satellite dish on loan from a nearby broadcast station, cooks in an Arab village near Jerusalem whipped up more than four metric tons of hummus, the chickpea paste that is a staple - and a near-religious obsession - for many in the Middle East.

The cooks doubled the previous record for the world's biggest serving of hummus, set in October by cooks in Lebanon. That record broke an earlier Israeli record and briefly put Lebanon ahead.

Hundreds of jubilant Israelis, a mix of Arabs and Jews, gathered around the giant dish in the village of Abu Ghosh, many of them dancing as a singer performed an Arabic love song to the beige chickpea paste.

Just after midday, an adjudicator sent from London by Guinness World Records, Jack Brockbank, confirmed that the Israeli chefs now held the record. He put the exact amount ofhummus in the giant dish at 4,090 kilograms.

Lebanon and Israel have officially been at war for six decades. Three months ago, when the Lebanese chefs prepared their record-breaking dish, they called it a move to reaffirm ownership of a Lebanese food they claimed had been appropriated by Israelis.

"Lebanon is trying to win a battle against Israel by registering this new Guinness World Record and telling the whole world thathummus is a Lebanese product, it's part of our traditions," said Fady Jreissati, the Lebanese organizer, said at the time.

The driving force behind the Israeli hummus dish, Jawdat Ibrahim, an Israeli Arab restaurateur who became a millionaire after winning a lottery in the US, played down the conflict, saying "competition is a healthy thing."

"Today we have the hummus. Hopefully, we will have the talks for peace in our region," he said.

The hummus war has been simmering for some time. In 2008, a group of Lebanese businessmen announced plans to sue Israel to stop it from marketing hummus and other regional dishes as Israeli.

Lebanese tourism minister Fadi Abboud told The Associated Press that his country plans to beat the new record in the spring with an even bigger plate of hummus prepared on the border with Israel. "This way they can learn how to do hummus," he said.

"We have no objection that other people do hummus but they should know that it is Lebanese. They (Israelis) should find a name other than hummus because this is a Lebanese name," Abboud said.

Many in the Arab world see Israel as a Western implant in the region, though a majority of Israel's population is of Middle Eastern and North African descent. The chefs responsible for Friday's record were from the country's one-fifth Arab minority.

Israel launched two major military operations against Lebanon, targeting guerrillas threatening Israel's northern border, in 1982 and in 2006. Both campaigns left widespread devastation in Lebanon.

On Friday, a newscaster on Israel's Army Radio referred to the hummus clash as the "third Lebanon war."

www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1262339432714&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

[enki]

'Blazing ring' eclipse races across Africa, Asia

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AFP) – A solar eclipse that reduced the sun to a blazing ring surrounding a sombre disk plunged millions of people in Africa and Asia into an eerie semi-darkness on Friday.


The spectacle, visible in a roughly 300-kilometre (185-mile) band running 12,900 kilometres (8,062 miles) across the globe, set a record for the longest annular eclipse that will remain unbeaten for more than a thousand years.

An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but does not completely obscure it, thus leaving a ring -- an annulus -- of sunlight flaring around the lunar disk.

The Moon's shadow first struck the southwestern tip of Chad and western Central African Republic at 0514 GMT and then reached Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia before racing across India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Local media in the affected areas issued warnings about the dangers of looking directly at the sun, but fascinated onlookers thronged streets to witness the celestial phenomenon.

"It's getting interesting. Birds are singing. It's actually getting cold here," said John Saitega, a 34-year-old father of six in Olte Tefi, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Nairobi.

In India, where the eclipse was visible from the southern-most tip, astronomers and curious spectators watched in awe, using sunglasses and even ultra-dark welding masks as day turned into darkness.

There were cheers and applause in the city of Bangalore when clouds cleared just in time to show the Moon glide into position to cover about 85 percent of the Sun.

Veteran eclipse chaser Daniel Fischer from German astronomy magazine Interstellarum picked a vantage spot on a cliff in Varkala, 62 kilometres (38 miles) north of the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala.

"I?m thrilled. My first eclipse was Indonesia in 1983," said Fischer, who has witnessed 23 eclipses in total.

The Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched three small rockets on Thursday and another five on Friday to study the effects of the event on the atmosphere.

"We will compare the data obtained on normal days with data during and immediately after the eclipse to study the difference," project director P. Ratnakar Rao told AFP from Thiruvananthapuram.

The eclipse, which was followed live on cable television in India and China, temporarily put a halt to the world's biggest religious gathering in northern India.

Temples in Haridwar, site of the Kumbh Mela which sees millions of Hindus bathe in the holy river Ganges, were closed for the duration of the eclipse because the phenomenon is considered inauspicious, an organiser told AFP.

Residents in the Ugandan capital Kampala got a good view, although some were afraid of the intensity of the light, with many sharing dark glasses to gaze up at the sky.

"Can't it burn someone? You can't even look direct because I'm fearing for my eyes. I'm fearing it can burn me," said Angela Namukwaya, a shopkeeper in a Kampala suburb.

The maximum duration of "annularity" -- the time the moon is in front of the sun --- was 11 minutes, eight seconds at 0706 GMT, making it "the longest annular eclipse of the 3rd Millennium," according to NASA.

Only on December 23, 3043 will this record be beaten.

In China's capital, Beijing, a partial eclipse made a crescent of the setting orange sun before the lunar shadow expired over the Shandong peninsula at 0859 GMT.

"It's cool. The weather conditions are pretty good. It's really rather magnificent," said one male Beijing high school student, one of about 40 observing the eclipse from Coal Hill, overlooking the Forbidden City.